Last March, Current TV reporters Laura Ling and Eung Lee were arrested at the Chinese – North Korean border while making a report on human trafficking. They were trialed and sentenced to twelve years of hard labor under a Korean tribunal that declared them in a very bullshit and unclear verdict as guilty of “grave crimes”. We all remember how last month Bill Clinton came to the rescue and negotiated their release with Kim Jong II.
The story from their own words:
“When we set out, we had no intention of leaving China, but when our guide beckoned for us to follow him beyond the middle of the river, we did, eventually arriving at the riverbank on the North Korean side. He pointed out a small village in the distance where he told us that North Koreans waited in safe houses to be smuggled into China via a well-established network that has escorted tens of thousands across the porous border.
Feeling nervous about where we were, we quickly turned back toward China. Midway across the ice, we heard yelling. We looked back and saw two North Korean soldiers with rifles running toward us. Instinctively, we ran.
We were firmly back inside China when the soldiers apprehended us. Producer Mitch Koss and our guide were both able to outrun the border guards. We were not. We tried with all our might to cling to bushes, ground, anything that would keep us on Chinese soil, but we were no match for the determined soldiers. They violently dragged us back across the ice to North Korea and marched us to a nearby army base, where we were detained. Over the next 140 days, we were moved to Pyongyang, isolated from one another, repeatedly interrogated and eventually put on trial and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.”
This is their first statement after their 140 days of unjustified imprisonment, where they thank all the people around the world that didn’t leave them lone.
September 3rd
Im just glad their story has a happy ending and the damage wasn’t too severe. There are SOOO many stories out there that were so much worse and from many other countries besides North Korea. It’s the sad state of this world that leaves so many victims.
September 4th
Cases like these just remind us of how unfair and outrageous politics can be. Doesn’t it leave you with a feeling of despair?
September 8th
N here I was just thinking it was acid reflux…but yes, that would be anxiety and disappointment in the “humanity” of the human race sitting in the pit of my stomach.
October 8th
Its an Outrageous situation that the world has to notice. International community has to put pressure on Corea, Burma and other MF states that live upon the people’s patience. Good work on this blog. It’s very refreshing to find this kind of stuff here.
October 14th
I wonder what did Clinton bargain for those girls.
October 15th
I think it’s a great thing that this blog can feature different and relevant stories. Congratulations G.
October 21st
I’m very glad Iconshock let’s me use this blog for something more than show casing icons. Thank you very much for your interest kind readers.
October 22nd
The world is shit. I too wonder what did Bill Clinton deal with Corea.
November 6th
Republicans are shit.
December 3rd
I have a similar question myself. why did they release the journalists? it wasn’t because Bill is a nice guy. They had to give something… what?