North Korean defectors rally in support of Venezuelan pro-democracy protesters
Image | The coalition
North Korean defectors demonstrated in downtown Seoul the weekend of August 17 to express their support for pro-democracy protesters in Venezuela.
Hundreds of protesters waved placards and shouted slogans condemning the violent repression by the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro against oppositionists following his victory in an allegedly rigged presidential election.
“We believe in democracy and human rights and urge everyone in Korea to pay attention,” a spokesperson said. “Even though we are 14,500 kilometers away, we want everyone in Venezuela to know we are not forgetting you.”
The protesters were from a coalition that included several defector-related organizations as well as South Korean civil society organizations across the political spectrum.
It is the first time that North Korean defectors in South Korea have spoken up in such a significant way on an issue that is not specifically related to North Korea or their own circumstances as escapees.
The crisis that erupted in Venezuela after the election on July 28 reminded South Koreans of the fate of their own first president, Syngman Rhee, who resigned in 1960 in the face of massive protests over rigged elections.
The government-controlled National Electoral Council in Caracas declared Maduro the victor, ignoring vote tallies at the precinct level issued by an opposition coalition indicating that another candidate, Edmundo González, had won by a clear margin.
Maduro’s security forces have subsequently cracked down on what he has characterized as an attempted coup, killing 25 protestors and arresting over 2,000.
(Image | StringerAL, courtesy of Shutterstock)
“We strongly condemn this fraudulent attempt to steal the election and the ongoing repression,” the Korean spokesperson said.
In a statement provided to NK Insider, the Korean protesters drew a parallel with North Korea.
“Venezuela is a cruel dictatorship responsible for crime, corruption and famine so horrible that 8 million people have escaped the country,” it said. “Even though the government cheated, the Venezuelan opposition was able to intelligently use technology, google apps, Starlink, and the internet to be able to record and analyze legitimate election results.”
“The dictatorship was not expecting the opposition’s bravery, their logistical skills, and their technical know-how. What they accomplished is the first time in democratic history that, using the electoral rules of a dictatorship, they were able to show not just that the regime was lying and had cheated but also prove that the opposition candidate had actually won the election.”
The protesters in Seoul criticized other countries for encouraging Maduro’s crackdown.
“To their shame, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are coming to the rescue of the dictator and proposing a new election,” it said, adding that oil interests are making the United States hesitate to “delay the obvious” and impose sanctions.
“Venezuela’s diplomatic machinery needs to listen to we Koreans and know that we are watching,” it said.
The statement was signed by several organizations, including Citizens Assembly for Ethical North Korean Human Rights Law and Unification, Committee for the Democratization of North Korea, Korea Elderly Human Rights Association, Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, North Korea Strategy Center, North Korean Human Rights Corporation, People for Successful Corean Reunification, SNK Global Center and the World Union for North Korean Women Defectors.
Seongmin is the director of the Korea Desk at the Human Rights Foundation.
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