Human Rights and Religious Liberty

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Article 18 "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Friday, May 07, 2004

Vietnam: Nguyen Vu Binh on hunger strike [RSF]

The cyberdissident began a hunger strike on 5 May 2004 at the end of his appeal trial. Vu Binh is protesting against the court's decision to uphold his sentence of seven years in prison followed by three years house arrest. Reporters Without Borders has repeated its condemnation of this unfair sentence that has pushed the human rights activist to risk his life. [more]

10:39:59 AM

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Sudan accused of 'ethnic cleansing'. CAIRO -- Sudan is waging a bloody campaign of "ethnic cleansing" in the western Darfur region, killing thousands of people and driving more than 1 million more from their homes by bombing villages, shooting men, and raping women, a prominent human rights group said today. [Boston Globe -- World News]
10:29:02 AM

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Sudan 'starving Darfur refugees'. Two reports accuse Khartoum of abuses, with the UN saying civilians in Darfur are being systematically starved. [BBC News | World | UK Edition]
10:20:35 AM

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NORTH KOREAN ESCAPEE ASKS CHRISTIANS ROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY THAT REVIVAL BREAKS OUT IN HIS COUNTRY
Says he left North Korea because he was “starving to death”

By Dan and Peter Wooding

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (ANS) -- A North Korean escapee, who said that he fled his country because he was “starving to death” has issued an urgent prayer request to Christians around the world.

“Please pray for a great revival in my country,” said the man, who asked only to be known as “Mr. Lee”. He went on, “I want every North Korean to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and only by God’s power is that possible. When I lived in North Korea, I never once heard about Jesus and so I know it will take a miracle for so many in my nation to be saved.”

The North Korean said that he was an arts teacher in North Korea where his whole family’s income was only $1 US per month.

“Back in 1996, I decided to make a trip by boat to China to sell some goods there so my family and I could survive,” he said. “When I went back to North Korea, I was arrested as a smuggler and sent to prison for a month.”

He revealed that he then decided to try and go back to China and he succeeded and then something extraordinary occurred.

“While I was in China, I met three missionaries from South Korea who traveled there as missionaries,” he explained. “They shared the Gospel with me and there and then I gave my life to Jesus Christ.”

Eventually, he began the tortuous escape route that took him to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and then he was able to finally get to South Korea where he was welcomed with open arms.

Still, he said he missed his family and was “mourning” for them, but as he’s grown in his faith, he said, “I was able to overcome my fears.”

The North Korean now attends the Manmin Joong-Ang Church in Seoul and concluded by saying, “One day I want to become a minister.”

Note: The isolated communist nation of North Korea still remains atop the Open Doors “World Watch List” of countries where Christians are persecuted. The annual list ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith.
10:14:02 AM

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