No matter which way we look at the evidence, the practical outcomes of what were, undoubtedly, good intentions, are, at best mixed. NGO's don't work well together. Some demonstrate surprising political ignorance. As often as not, speaking in particular from CLC Missions' experience,our collective efforts are overshadowed by the diversion of resources into "turf-wars", bitter-infighting and senseless character assassinations.
Add to these divisions frequent failures to come up with practical action plans, tailored as closely as possible to the recognizable self-interests of those we target politically, results of our actions are as often counterproductive,or ineffectual, as they are effective. Three to four years ago, few would dispute that there was an effective "underground railroad" of guides and safehouses capable of moving thousands of displaced North Koreans out of China to South Korea,or other destination countries, via Laos,Mongolia, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. A few years ago Immigration authorities largely turned a blind eye to the efforts of aid workers helping to move the displaced on to third countries. Many were forcibly returned to North Korea, that is true, but it is also true that NGO's maintaining a low profile and working quietly were largely left alone.
The crunch point came when some NGO's, decided pretty much unilaterally, that high profile attempts to "rescue" would be more effective.In particular high profile "rescues" which were more intended to raise the profile and attract funding for NGO groups like Human Rights Without Frontiers.
"Rescue stars",HRWF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_in_Hong_Kong
HRWF Int'l (02.04.2008) - Website: - Email: - On Thursday 27 March at 11.55 am (Laos time), 12 North Korean citizens made their way to the embassy of South Korea in Vientiane with the help of Human Rights Without Frontiers to ask for protection and political asylum.
From Heidi Maas
18 years ago
