Comments on: Help Release Laura Ling and Euna Lee http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/ The Amnesty International USA Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:29:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Welcome Back Laura Ling and Euna Lee! | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-5938 Welcome Back Laura Ling and Euna Lee! | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:26:33 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-5938 [...] our several previous posts have explained, Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested while filming footage on North Korean [...] [...] our several previous posts have explained, Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested while filming footage on North Korean [...]

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]]> By: Americans http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-5589 Americans Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:53:30 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-5589 Did we learn anything? THink before you act...these girls must think. Laura Ling will write a book = lots of money. What a joke!!!! The girls should wirte thank you cards to every taxpayers. Did we learn anything? THink before you act…these girls must think. Laura Ling will write a book = lots of money. What a joke!!!! The girls should wirte thank you cards to every taxpayers.

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]]> By: LuLu http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4422 LuLu Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:38:46 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4422 "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me"...a song kindergarteners sang...they are so much wiser than the adults of this world...I hope they don't get influenced by us. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”…a song kindergarteners sang…they are so much wiser than the adults of this world…I hope they don’t get influenced by us.

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]]> By: replyforall - join the mission http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4409 replyforall - join the mission Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:27:34 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4409 [...] sponsor accompanying our users’ causes in the replyforall signature, there will be a link to Amnesty International’s online petition.  We are urging our users to both sign the petition and make sure that [...] [...] sponsor accompanying our users’ causes in the replyforall signature, there will be a link to Amnesty International’s online petition.  We are urging our users to both sign the petition and make sure that [...]

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]]> By: The Latest on U.S. Journalists in North Korea | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4278 The Latest on U.S. Journalists in North Korea | Human Rights Now - Amnesty International USA Blog Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:09:59 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4278 [...] Director T. Kumar fills MSNBC in on the latest on Congressional attempts to free U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  The pair were sentenced to 12 years in prison in North Korea earlier this month.  Watch the [...] [...] Director T. Kumar fills MSNBC in on the latest on Congressional attempts to free U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  The pair were sentenced to 12 years in prison in North Korea earlier this month.  Watch the [...]

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]]> By: Eric http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4127 Eric Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:31:18 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4127 North Korea's qualification for the World Cup raises a major moral dilemma and begs the question of why NK is even allowed to compete in international football. For many years, South Africa was banned from World Cup competition because of its policy of apartheid. Without denying the evil of apartheid, it's safe to say that NK is guilty of crimes against humanity that are far worse than what happened in South Africa. A comparison to the Holocaust would be quite apt (though no one ever speaks of NK in such terms). Yet, NK has never been banned from international football. Why not? And, more specifically, why not now? Especially in view of its current behavior, the presence of NK in the World Cup field is truly shameful. FIFA could, and should, expel NK from the World Cup now. But it probably won't happen. Like the IOC, FIFA makes decisions that are politically convenient. Compare FIFA's treatment of South Africa vs. North Korea and the conclusion is obvious: the rights of black Africans are worth fighting for (as it should be), but those of the North Korean people aren't. And who knows what NK would do if it were banned from the WC...maybe launch a nuclear missile directly at Seoul. FIFA and the world are afraid. What a wretched world this has become when a pariah state effectively has the upper hand. North Korea’s qualification for the World Cup raises a major moral dilemma and begs the question of why NK is even allowed to compete in international football. For many years, South Africa was banned from World Cup competition because of its policy of apartheid. Without denying the evil of apartheid, it’s safe to say that NK is guilty of crimes against humanity that are far worse than what happened in South Africa. A comparison to the Holocaust would be quite apt (though no one ever speaks of NK in such terms). Yet, NK has never been banned from international football. Why not? And, more specifically, why not now? Especially in view of its current behavior, the presence of NK in the World Cup field is truly shameful.

FIFA could, and should, expel NK from the World Cup now. But it probably won’t happen. Like the IOC, FIFA makes decisions that are politically convenient. Compare FIFA’s treatment of South Africa vs. North Korea and the conclusion is obvious: the rights of black Africans are worth fighting for (as it should be), but those of the North Korean people aren’t. And who knows what NK would do if it were banned from the WC…maybe launch a nuclear missile directly at Seoul. FIFA and the world are afraid. What a wretched world this has become when a pariah state effectively has the upper hand.

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]]> By: Eric http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4120 Eric Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:50:16 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4120 I can't understand why anyone here is defending NK or saying that these two women should suffer the consequences of their actions. Sure, "do the crime, do the time" applies in free, democratic nations where justice is (at least in theory) a fair process, and punishment is not cruel or grossly disproportionate to the crime. Our notions of fair justice simply do not apply in NK, and as a result I view this as a hostage situation, not a legal one. Simply put, because of the incredibly atrocious ways prisoners are treated in NK, along with the huge number of political prisoners there, NK should not be accorded the respect and recognition that most other nations receive when foreign nationals are being tried (e.g. if an American is accused of a crime in Canada, the US will respect Canada's sovereignty and justice system because it is perceived to be fair). Because NK's behavior is so far removed from international norms and basic human decency, it must be regarded as a rogue state not worthy of the usual recognition under international protocol. Anyone who says Laura Ling and Euna Lee deserve their punishment in NK ought to read the book "Eyes of the Tailless Animals" by Soon Ok Lee. With the possible exeception of losing a loved one, reading this book may be the most soul-shattering experience of your life. It is this book that best describes the future for Laura Ling and Euna Lee, unless they can somehow be rescued. To do so, it may be necessary to drop all sanctions against NK and let them have as many nukes as they want. South Korea and Japan would not be happy with this, but their leaders should also read "Eyes of the Tailless Animals" and then they might understand. If even those enormous concessions to NK fail to get Ling and Lee released, the only remaining option would be war, which NK already seems to be provoking. NK has about 1 million troops stationed north of the DMZ. Wiping out these troops along with NK's missile launching capability could require deploying a large portion of the US nuclear arsenal (hundreds of warheads, perhaps even 1000-2000). Yes, you read that correctly--I am raising the possibility of a massive nuclear attack on NK. How else does anyone think we can rid the world of its most despicable cancer, a diabolical regime that has ravaged its people and threatened its neighbors for almost 60 years? The NK regime will never collapse on its own, and any non-nuclear attack would be certain to fail. The possibility that these two journalists will fall victim to the unspeakably cruel NK gulag may just be the final straw that breaks the world's tolerance of NK's existence. I can’t understand why anyone here is defending NK or saying that these two women should suffer the consequences of their actions. Sure, “do the crime, do the time” applies in free, democratic nations where justice is (at least in theory) a fair process, and punishment is not cruel or grossly disproportionate to the crime. Our notions of fair justice simply do not apply in NK, and as a result I view this as a hostage situation, not a legal one. Simply put, because of the incredibly atrocious ways prisoners are treated in NK, along with the huge number of political prisoners there, NK should not be accorded the respect and recognition that most other nations receive when foreign nationals are being tried (e.g. if an American is accused of a crime in Canada, the US will respect Canada’s sovereignty and justice system because it is perceived to be fair). Because NK’s behavior is so far removed from international norms and basic human decency, it must be regarded as a rogue state not worthy of the usual recognition under international protocol.

Anyone who says Laura Ling and Euna Lee deserve their punishment in NK ought to read the book “Eyes of the Tailless Animals” by Soon Ok Lee. With the possible exeception of losing a loved one, reading this book may be the most soul-shattering experience of your life. It is this book that best describes the future for Laura Ling and Euna Lee, unless they can somehow be rescued. To do so, it may be necessary to drop all sanctions against NK and let them have as many nukes as they want. South Korea and Japan would not be happy with this, but their leaders should also read “Eyes of the Tailless Animals” and then they might understand.

If even those enormous concessions to NK fail to get Ling and Lee released, the only remaining option would be war, which NK already seems to be provoking. NK has about 1 million troops stationed north of the DMZ. Wiping out these troops along with NK’s missile launching capability could require deploying a large portion of the US nuclear arsenal (hundreds of warheads, perhaps even 1000-2000). Yes, you read that correctly–I am raising the possibility of a massive nuclear attack on NK. How else does anyone think we can rid the world of its most despicable cancer, a diabolical regime that has ravaged its people and threatened its neighbors for almost 60 years? The NK regime will never collapse on its own, and any non-nuclear attack would be certain to fail. The possibility that these two journalists will fall victim to the unspeakably cruel NK gulag may just be the final straw that breaks the world’s tolerance of NK’s existence.

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]]> By: Academy of Art University http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4065 Academy of Art University Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:02:02 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4065 Euna Lee is a 2001 graduate of the Academy of Art University. We have compiled an online petition to call for the immediate release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Please join us by adding your name: http://www.academyart.edu/petition Euna Lee is a 2001 graduate of the Academy of Art University. We have compiled an online petition to call for the immediate release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Please join us by adding your name: http://www.academyart.edu/petition

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]]> By: john http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4048 john Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:51:33 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4048 Belinda, i do believe journalists have the right to be everywhere -- in general. By this i mean, the people have the right to know EVERYTHING that is happening on their land. State Secret Previlege as under Bush & Obama i don't believe in. The law protects its very evasions by the powerful, & under its own name !! i'm against such "legal"dark curtains. No , friend, i agree with you that the U.S. shouldn't barge into the lands of others.That's why i spoke of invasion. But you make me rethink --- i don't think paparazzi should invade privacy where no crime has been committed. No borders are sacred short of invasion. Journalists serving invading interests fall into violation of the rights of the invaded peoples, not the law of state regimes which oppress their own populations. i draw distinctions between the two. Belinda, i do believe journalists have the right to be everywhere — in general.

By this i mean, the people have the right to know EVERYTHING that is happening on their land.

State Secret Previlege as under Bush & Obama i don’t believe in.

The law protects its very evasions by the powerful, & under its own name !! i’m against such “legal”dark curtains.

No , friend, i agree with you that the U.S. shouldn’t barge into the lands of others.That’s why i spoke of invasion.

But you make me rethink — i don’t think paparazzi should invade privacy where no crime has been committed.

No borders are sacred short of invasion. Journalists serving invading interests fall into violation of the rights of the invaded peoples, not the law of state regimes which oppress their own populations. i draw distinctions between the two.

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]]> By: Belinda http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/help-release-laura-ling-and-euna-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-4031 Belinda Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:46:40 +0000 http://blog.amnestyusa.org/?p=2387#comment-4031 Okay, first--Euna Lee is the mother of the 4 year old, and it was her first overseas assignment. She's a video editor, and pretty obviously was on the assignment because she speaks Korean. Regardless if she sought out the assignment or if she was pushed into taking it by her higher-ups, it's her choice, even if she had no real idea of the dangers. And John--do you really believe this? "Journalists are supposed to be everywhere — every single where !!! And no border is sacred unless we’re talking of invasion." Journalists are not above the law of any country. Journalists don't get a free pass to just break any law that inconveniences them. Is the US government supposed to rescue every citizen? There's no proof that these two actually crossed into North Korea. Okay, first–Euna Lee is the mother of the 4 year old, and it was her first overseas assignment. She’s a video editor, and pretty obviously was on the assignment because she speaks Korean. Regardless if she sought out the assignment or if she was pushed into taking it by her higher-ups, it’s her choice, even if she had no real idea of the dangers.

And John–do you really believe this?

“Journalists are supposed to be everywhere — every single where !!! And no border is sacred unless we’re talking of invasion.”

Journalists are not above the law of any country. Journalists don’t get a free pass to just break any law that inconveniences them. Is the US government supposed to rescue every citizen? There’s no proof that these two actually crossed into North Korea.

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