This has nothing to do with Mexico, but I feel compelled to post it.
As many people have probably seen in the news, two American journalists who were working in North Korea were arrested for 'illegal entry,' and sentenced on Monday to 12 years in prison. I haven't really been following it that much, but a website I like wrote an article about it, and after reading through the article, I began reading other readers' comments. The comments mainly focused on the injustice of it all, but also about the prison labor camps that exist in North Korea. As I began to read more about them, I realized: they're awful, awful places. Obviously, the words 'labor prison camp' don't conjure up images of kittens chaseing butterflies across puffs of clouds, but still. I was in shock about what goes on at these camps. The government (which is essentially made up of Kim Jong-il) created these horrible places and tries to keep them secret from the international population. But, as you'll see in the link below, survivors of the camps are working to making the atrocities committed in the prisons known to the international community. People accused for practically no reason spend time in these prisons, usually dying before they are released. Even if they make it out, they find no recompensation from the government for their injuries, deformities, anguish, etc. Even family members of the 'accused' are thought to be guilty and are forced into the camps. Even children. *insert shiver of disgust, here*
The article below was written by Sun Ok Lee, a survivor of one of the prison camps. Please beware before you read it, of the following: its very, very graphic and ultimately, heartbreaking. Some of the things Sun describes sound like they came from the history books when talking about concentration camps and the Holocaust. And she was there during the 1990s..and I have no reason to believe anything has changed since she was released. I became more and more nauseous as I read it. So be careful. I had to stop a few times because I just couldn't even believe what I was reading. Its also a pretty hefty read, and needless to say, depressing.
I don't really know what my thoughts are yet on all of this...but I do know my heart is broken for the people living in North Korea. The complete lack of human rights, respect, protection, love, etc. They deserve to be saved from this awful hell. And I guess passing on this article is one way to help them...raising awareness is a first step. When people become passionate about something, thats when changes can be made. So take a half hour of your day and read the article, say a prayer for these people, and maybe think about passing it on.
http://ncafe.com/northkorea/SunOkLeeTestimony_w_llus.pdf
