Category Archives: LFNKR
Noguchi Gets Rare Sunday Trial
The trial of Takayuki Noguchi, the Japanese aid worker arrested by China last December, was convened at 9:00AM Sunday, May 9, China time in Chong Zuo Intermediate People’s Court. The time seemed deliberately chosen to minimize public attention. Noguchi was technically given an “open trial,” but Chinese authorities avoided announcing the trial date to the media or to LFNKR, though this information had been repeatedly requested.
Noguchi May Face Hurry-Up Trial in China
STATEMENT
The trial of Takayuki Noguchi, the Japanese aid worker arrested by China last December, will take place in early May, reports Yomiuri Shimbun, the leading Japanese newspaper, in a 2 May article by Hong Kong based reporter Yasuharu Seki.
Noguchi, who was working for our organization, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR), was arrested late last year for attempting to help two Japanese-born North Korean refugees escape from China (more details here).
North Korea Freedom Day Rally in Washington DC
Attendees from around the world demonstrated their concern and support for North Korean refugees.
Marc Guttman’s Tribute to Noguchi
At this moment my friend, Takayuki Noguchi, is sleeping in a prison in China, where he has been trapped for 4 months. Tak’s crime is aiding people escaping from the oppression of governments.
China to Prosecute Noguchi
On the 118th day following his arrest, charges were filed against Takayuki Noguchi at the intermediate people’s court in Nanning, China on April 5.
Noguchi’s prosecution was confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Noguchi, a member of the NGO Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR) is the first Japanese to be arrested and tried for attempting to rescue two Japan-born North Korean refugees hiding in China.
Tokyo Demonstration for Hunger Strikers
Hiroshi Kato of LFNKR addresses the Chinese embassy
A demonstration was held at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, by The society to Help Returnees to North Korea, jointly with LFNKR. This demonstration was in response to reports of a hunger strike by North Korean refugees detained in Tumen, who are protesting China’s plan to repatriate them to North Korea.
In addition, a letter addressed to President Hu Jin Tao of China was handed to embassy personnel. The letter requested the release of detained refugees to a third country, as well as the release of humanitarian aid workers still imprisoned in China.
Report on European Support for Aid Worker Noguchi
Europe showing more concern for North Korean Refugees
Our group’s secretary general, Mr. Hiroshi Kato, and Mr. Sang Hun Kim, prominent South Korean human rights activist, returned from Europe where they met with leaders of several institutions. During their visit they met strongly positive responses, thanks to direct help from Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights Without Frontiers, who organized the meetings.
Ebook – NK Prison Camp Eye Witness Accounts
Interviews with Survivors, Former Guards
The world was shocked on February first 2004, when BBC ran an hour-long feature clearly documenting North Korea’s biological experimentation on political prisoners in the highly secretive camps. Such stories are not new, however.
For more than ten years, a group of human rights activists have been working with newly-defected North Koreans, interviewing and collecting stories. Stories that “normal people” in the civilized world could scarcely believe.