Saturday, November 30, 2013
North Korea Detains 85-year-old in Barbaric Political Gamesmanship
The North Korean State Media claimed today that an elderly American Korean War veteran, detained while visiting the country in a group tour, has apologized for "crimes" during the Korean War and for "hostile acts" against the state during his current trip. North Korean authorities released video showing 85-year-old Merrill Newman, wearing glasses, a blue button-down shirt and tan trousers, reading his alleged apology, which was dated November 9, although this couldn't be independently confirmed. Pyongyang has been accused of previously coercing statements from detainees. There was no way to reach Newman and determine the circumstances of the alleged confession. But it was riddled with stilted English and grammatical errors, such as "I want not punish me." Newman reportedly wrote : "I have been guilty of a long list of indelible crimes against DPRK government and Korean people." Newman purportedly wrote the four-page statement, adding : "Please forgive me." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has accused Newman of trying to contact men he trained during the Korean War and of bringing into the DPRK an e-book criticizing North Korea. The statement alleges that Newman says if he goes back to the US he will tell the truth about the country - a possible indication that Newman could be released. The apology can be seen as Pyongyang taking steps needed to release Newman, said Yoo Ho-Yeol, a professor of North Korea studies at Korea University in Seoul. North Korea likely issued the confession in the form of an apology to resolve Newman's case quickly without starting legal proceedings, Yoo said. North Korea is extremely sensitive about any criticism and regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of seeking to overthrow its authoritarian system through various means - claims that the US and South Korea dismiss. The State Department has repeatedly warned Americans about traveling to the country, citing the risk of arbitrary detention. North Korea has detained at least six Americans since 2009, including two journalists accused of trespassing and others, some of whom are of Korean ancestry, accused of spreading Christianity. Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary and tour operator, has been detained for more than a year. North Korea sees missionary work as a Western threat to its authoritarian government. Whatever the reasons behind the detention, it could hurt impoverished North Korea's efforts to encourage a growing tourism trade seen as a rare source of much-needed foreign currency. ~~~~~ Dear readers, some things require few words. This disgusting display of state terrorism aimed at a defenseless 85-year-old man, must remind all of us just how barbaric the North Korean regime is. First, all freedom-loving human beings should stop all non-official travel to North Korea immediately. This includes Dennis Rodman, who has been pandering to the Dear Leader's love of basketball to enhance his own personal access to world media. Second, while the US has not provided aid to North Korea since 2009 because of the DPRK refusal to stop its nuclear weapons program, Americans should contact their Congress members to demand that no aid distributed to North Korea by the UN should be paid for with US funds. Third, this dispicable act should remind all the world of the almost unimaginable dangers inherent in countries like North Korea and Iran possessing a nuclear arsenal.
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4th, if you're a Veteran of the Korean Conflict then DON'T GO THERE!!!
ReplyDeleteI would have been surprised if the North Koreans had nit taken advantage of an 85 year old Korean War vet traveling in a group tour and probably talking out of line as vets sometimes do.
ReplyDeleteLet' s review I can freely travel to North Korea, but not Cuba? The North wants these opportunities, and we willingly seem to accommodate .
I feel sorry for the Vet, but if its not somewhat his own fault then it's another strike against Obama's policies.
I can travel to Vietnam but won't. I could travel to Cambodia but certainly won't. Thailand, no.
"I didn't leave ANYTHING THERE , that I didn't bring home"
Learn this lesson ... VETS ARE MARKET IN TRAVEL GROUPS & THERE ARE LINGUISTS AROUND ALL THE TIME TO LISTEN IN.
Surprised ? not really. Why are we still allowing anyone - including Dennis Rodman - to travel to North Korea. Sports star, old warrior, little old ladies, Koreans, not even missionaries or international aid people.
ReplyDeleteWe need to make them yell "uncle" because of sanctions. maybe the people will overthrow the regime that grand father started and grandson is now carrying the touch for.
hardball is played on both sides of the net. if only on one side it's ...Game-Set-Match North Korea
It seems that the Obama people does not want to upset the North Koreans. I haven't heard one thing from the administration over this latest international embarrassment for the USA.
ReplyDeleteAye, another notch in Obama's belt.
With 20/20 hindsight it is clear what Mr. Newman's problem is. He was not just a "grunt" in the Korean War but was in a unit that particularly caused damage to the North Koreans. In my opinion this in itself probably would not have have been a concern if he had not raised the issue, but he apparently wanted to find any former South Korean unit members who might still be alive in the DPRK. Discussing this certainly opened the can of worms that led to his detention and who knows what fate.
ReplyDeleteGiving him the benefit of the doubt - he is/was an unsuspecting soul that thought he could do something good and decent. At 85 he could well have a slight memory problem.
"Barbaric Political Gamesmanship" at it's finest by those who are good at the craft.
Everyone has a job to do and Mr. Newman thought this was his. Now Obama's job is to get him out of there ASAP even if takes a trip by Dennis Rodman to talk to his "old buddy" in Pyongyang.
Mr. President you have one of our war hero's locked up in North Korean.No one cares about the why's and where fore's of the circumstance. He is a citizen of the USA and a hero of a rotten war ... GET HIM OUT NOW and forget about the accolades.
There are estimated to still be some 560 South Korean POW’s from the Korean War that are still alive and being held as POW’s by Pyongyang. As of 2008 79 South Korean POW’s have escaped and returned home. The first was in 1993
ReplyDeleteSeveral hundred of a known 900 American POW’s that were not returned by the North Korean government, may still be alive and being held as POW’s. Plus add to that the few servicemen that were detained by various other countries in war torn regions as pawns or ‘chips” to play in the big game.
Vietnam is another story all together. But I cite these facts as supportive to my firm belief that the USA government gives only “lip service” to detained American serviceman/travelers that get caught up in the web of International politics. Unless you have walked the preverbal mile in these captured soldier’s shoes, you have absolutely no comprehension of what their detention has been or still is like. I do.
We need to outlaw the travel to these barbaric countries. And we need a standing team of Lawyer’s and Foreign Affairs experts standing at the ready all the time to spring into action at the slightest hint of a POW or detained traveler someplace, standing at the world Court or the UN’s front door. A POW is like a kidnapped child – after 48 hours hope for getting them back dwindles rapidly.
A visit by some Rodman type private citizen is a small price to pay for the release of a brave if foolhardy American seeking to better other people’s lives. However, Washington really can’t get into the business of buying the release of official hostages.
ReplyDeleteThe more funds that the U.S. government invests in releasing private prisoners in foreign lands; the more valuable they will come to be seen by their captors — thus creating a greater incentive to grab Americans in the future. The problem goes well beyond the North. It’s why Washington takes the tough but sensible position of refusing to ransom kidnap victims, unlike many other governments. Refusing to buy hostages’ freedom seems harsh, but groups ranging from the Taliban to Somali pirates have helped fund their activities with money earned by Westerners.
A willingness to dicker also inevitably invites policy as well as financial demands. Americans would be particularly vulnerable because of their government’s promiscuous interventions around the world. Changes, big or small, might be desirable -- occupying other nations has proved to be far more costly than predicted -- but Washington can’t change course every time a U.S. citizen is threatened. Officials should take the risk to Americans into account when designing policies around the world. However, Uncle Sam shouldn’t change those policies because Americans have been placed at risk.
When private citizens like Kenneth Bae (still in N. Korea after a year) and Mr. Newman are the authors of their own plight, they must assume some of the responsibility for their actions abroad. One of the nation’s strengths is people’s willingness to risk their lives and freedom to help others. Often they are doing what the U.S. government cannot or does not want to do — act within other countries without official approval, back insurgents or human rights activists, proselytize their faith, and more. However, in challenging the local authorities when Washington is unwilling to do so, such people must understand that they are acting on their own. If the U.S. government doesn’t sponsor and oversee their activities, it cannot be expected to take responsibility for them if things go wrong.
Indeed, active government efforts to win the release of activists who violated other nations’ laws could be taken as evidence that the freelancers actually were official agents. That could force Washington to bear the political consequences of actions of which it did not approve, complicate international relations already likely to be difficult, and raise the price for the release of future American prisoners. Every U.S. traveler would be at risk if other governments decide that arresting someone is the most effective way to get Washington’s attention.
Sorry I forgot the spacing
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