"Voices from the North" (KC)

When working with North Korean refugees, I am reminded of the Aesop fable "The Man and the Lion."

The lion had complained that lions would be accurately represented "when the lions write history." Instead of the statue of Hercules tearing apart a lion, "If a lion had made it, the man would be under a lion's paw."

According to the North Korean regime's version of its country, the people there are perfectly happy being ruled over by them and never want to leave, except when the government needs them to do so. Even though North Koreans go through occasional famines or have their families ripped apart for minor transgressions, the regime reserves the right to make decisions about how North Koreans can live their lives and when and where they are allowed to travel.

It continues trying to block information from the outside world, threatens to annihilate loudspeakers, air balloons or radio stations sending in outside information, and denounces as "traitors," "cowards" and "human scum" the handful of North Koreans that have escaped its clutches.

But what do North Koreans have to say about it? We can trust North Korea's organized band of criminals as much as any kidnapper assuring outsiders that the hostages are content. Almost from birth, North Koreans are brainwashed by the regime and not allowed to think or speak for themselves. They aren't free to leave to find their place in the world either, unless they are willing to risk their lives by going through what is usually an expensive and dangerous escape.

It isn't easy for North Korean refugees to tell their stories. I have seen many want to stop during the middle of interviews or to have second thoughts after the interview is over. Unlike North Korea controlling their movements, we make it clear that the doors and windows are open for them to leave at any time. If they seek to tell their stories, then we hope to provide platforms for them to do so.

It is the lions telling the story.

As one North Korean refugee told me a few years ago, the regime says it is strong, but its fear of allowing North Koreans to speak their own minds or to be exposed to outside information is proof of the regime's weakness.

British-American intellectual Christopher Hitchens once said that North Korea is the "worst country in the world." After listing North Korea's many crimes, he explained succinctly: "A system where you can't live but you can't leave is the definition of hell." North Koreans aren't allowed to live as they wish, to think what they want, or to leave to find their place in the world without threats from the regime. Even after escaping, they aren't really free from a regime sending agents to dig up information to target family members of escapees.

When we had our second English speech contest for North Korean refugees back in August 2015, it happened to coincide with the deadline North Korea had set that day. The regime was threatening to blow up loudspeakers on the southern side of the peninsula. Our contest proceeded as planned, and the deadline came and went without any destruction. It was a reminder, however, that the North Korean regime continues trying to block information from the outside world and that speaking out comes with risks for refugees that those of us born outside North Korea never have to consider.

Aesop didn't write about North Koreans, but their stories could fit in nicely in the story of "The Man and Lion," with the other viewpoint being considered. Today will be an opportunity for more voices from the North to be heard, not just one voice from the regime.

Many people have been inspired by great and interesting books.

Freedom Speakers International (FSI) has been working with five North Korean refugee authors who want to publish books in English. Based on our current progress, the first book will be published in December 2021, and four books will be published during 2022.

To help us kickstart this project, one of our donors has pledged $3,000 in seed funding and challenged us to match his donation. By supporting this project, you can receive the following benefits:

* Founding Member: You can be listed on our Website as a founding member of FSI's Book Publishing Project.

* North Korean refugee postcard. To thank you, we will send you a North Korean refugee postcard for any donation of at least $5.

* Ambassador. In addition to the above, work with FSI staff to market and promote the books to the world.

What's the number one question from some potential donors and curious people: How will we spend your donation to help us kickstart this project?

* INCENTIVE STIPEND: About one million books are published every year, but probably another 20 million books are unfinished and a countless number of people say "I want to write a book." Writing can be a lonely process, people want updates even when the only update is, 'I'm still writing." This stipend can encourage refugee authors as they are writing their books and also remind them that others are waiting for their books.

* MARKETING: There are marketing costs with any books. Your donation will help us inform more people about the books published through this project.

* PROOFING-READING & TRANSLATION: We have some volunteers who are helping us with getting the books prepared. In the end, we will need to pay professional editors to review the final versions of books to make them completely ready for publication, and professional translators to confirm some tricky language.

You can make your donation monthly or one-time to help us kickstart this project. Books change lives. We will empower North Korean refugees, to share their experiences and to change the lives of the people who read what they have written.

P.S.: Of course, if you wish to remain anonymous, that's fine too.