Ji Seong-ho, President of NAUH -
This upcoming December 3 is the International Day of Persons wigh Disablilities whish was designated by th UN in 1981 to promote and understanding of the human rights and well-being of persons wigh disabilities across the world. "Human rights" are inherent to all human beings, but people in North Korea do not even know the world "human rights" exist, let alone the meaning of it.
I lived in North Korea for 25 years as a severely disabled person after I lost an arm and a leg in as accident. I was treated as a "defective product". As a disabled person, I desperately needed help form others. But, I could not expect any protection from the state and I was even tortured and beaten by the authorities. I did not know I had to complain to anyone or tell the world what I had suffered.
After food rations ended due to severe shortages that had continued under the dictatorial regime. I had to earn a living by selling coal. One day in March 1996 when I was just 14 years old, I was hanging on the outside of a moving train and suddenly fell from the train after I fainted from hunger. My left hand and left leg were severed on the railway track. I had to undergo surgery without an anesthetic, which caused me immense pain.
I did not want to become a burden on my family, so I took a risk of crossing the border between North Korea-China, relying on crutches, to find food to survive. Oneday, I was caught by the army that took the meager amout of rice I managed to get away from me and tortured me. I was tortured for the reason that I, being a "deformed", had been begging around and undermined the dignity of the state and the authority of the dear leader. There was no legal procedure involved in the punishment. The brutal torturers did not look like a human being at all when they called me "byeongsin" and tormented me.
Still, the North Korean regime is committing systematic and widespread human rights abuses to maintain its grip on power and justify the three-generations of power succession. The shameless regime claims that North Korea is the heaven of human rights' and the 'heaven for the disabled' in an apparent attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of people around the world. The regime even recently had disabled persons appear on TV for its propaganda broadcasting. This is nothing but a deceitful act that aims to avoid pressure from the international community, including the UN, which has raised issues concerning the grave human rights situation in North Kores.
North Korea is a spurious country that strains to show the world how 'happy' the people are and emphasize the greatness of the dear leader. People with disabilities in North Korea are living death, suffering from starvation and pain every day due to the persistent economic difficulties. This is why I want to and should speak for them who cannot escape from the large prison nor say anything about their agony.
The International community should unveil the ugly face of the North Korean regime, pay careful attention to the suffering of the North Korean people and save the dying. I sincerely ask all the peop;e who are interested in the human rights issue of North Korea to join forces to give a glimmer of hope to the people in North Korea.
On the day the North Korean people have freedom, persons with disabilities in the country will also be able to enjoy a true sense of happiness. Sincere interest and participation in the improvement of the human rights of the persons with disabilities in North Korea will be a catalyst for change in the country.
Note :
Ji Seong-ho is a North Korean defector and freedom activist. Growing up in the midst of North Korea’s great famine in the mid-1990s, he helped support his family by stealing coal and selling it. While doing so, Ji Seong-ho fell off a train and crushed his left hand and foot; portions of his limbs were amputated forcing him to move around on crutches.
In 2006, Ji Seong-ho escaped North Korea with his brother. They crossed into China via the Tumen River where Ji Seong-ho nearly drowned. After crossing over, Ji Seong-ho urged his brother to leave him fearing his disability would get them both captured. With the help of brokers and religious groups, he trekked across China on his crutches and eventually reunited with his brother in South Korea.
Since escaping, Ji Seong-ho has raised awareness about North Korea and encouraged activism to improve his country’s human rights situation. He founded the organization Now, Action, Unity, Human Rights (NAUH) and initiated various projects geared towards helping North Koreans and preparing for the Korean peninsula’s unification.
