Noguchi May Face Hurry-Up Trial in China
STATEMENT
The trial of Takayuki Noguchi, the Japanese aid worker arrested by China last December, will take place in early May, reports Yomiuri Shimbun, the leading Japanese newspaper, in a 2 May article by Hong Kong based reporter Yasuharu Seki.
Noguchi, who was working for our organization, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR), was arrested late last year for attempting to help two Japanese-born North Korean refugees escape from China (more details here).
North Korea Freedom Day Rally in Washington DC
Attendees from around the world demonstrated their concern and support for North Korean refugees.
Marc Guttman’s Tribute to Noguchi
At this moment my friend, Takayuki Noguchi, is sleeping in a prison in China, where he has been trapped for 4 months. Tak’s crime is aiding people escaping from the oppression of governments.
NK Refugee Killed by Chinese Border Guard
Chinese border guard on horseback fired on unarmed NK refugees
Reports have reached our organization that a 20-year-old North Korean defector was shot and killed on 2 April when a group of 24 defectors were stopped while attempting to cross the border from China into Mongolia.
Six members of the group, all men, succeeded in reaching Mongolia. The 17 defectors arrested include a 2-year-old child and a woman six months pregnant. The defectors have begun a hunger strike, insisting on relocation to a third country.
Christian Solidarity Alerts EU to NK Prisoner
Contacts EU and UK Leaders
Below is the text of an appeal sent by Christian Solidarity Worldwide to EU and UK leaders on behalf of Mr. Park Yong-chol.
China to Prosecute Noguchi
On the 118th day following his arrest, charges were filed against Takayuki Noguchi at the intermediate people’s court in Nanning, China on April 5.
Noguchi’s prosecution was confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Noguchi, a member of the NGO Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR) is the first Japanese to be arrested and tried for attempting to rescue two Japan-born North Korean refugees hiding in China.
Tokyo Demonstration for Hunger Strikers
Hiroshi Kato of LFNKR addresses the Chinese embassy
A demonstration was held at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, by The society to Help Returnees to North Korea, jointly with LFNKR. This demonstration was in response to reports of a hunger strike by North Korean refugees detained in Tumen, who are protesting China’s plan to repatriate them to North Korea.
In addition, a letter addressed to President Hu Jin Tao of China was handed to embassy personnel. The letter requested the release of detained refugees to a third country, as well as the release of humanitarian aid workers still imprisoned in China.