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Joy of Communism
2003-10-04 12:52 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41966-2003Oct3?language=printer
Opening a Window on North Korea's Horrors
Defectors Haunted by Guilt Over the Loved Ones Left Behind
By Doug Struck
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, October 4, 2003; Page A01
SEOUL -- Han, a Communist Party official in North Korea, was walking home from work when he heard he was in trouble. He had smuggled a radio back from China after an official trip. He listened to it late at night, huddled with earphones on and shades drawn, to hear music that brought him a whisper of sanity and took him away from the horrors of his day.
Now, someone had found it, or someone had told.
"It could have been my children who said something outside. It could have been my friend; one knew," said Han, 39, who spoke on condition he be identified only by his surname.
"If a farmer or laborer had a radio, he could have been released," Han said. "But I was an official. In my case, it would have been torture and a life sentence in a political prisoners' camp."
( Read more... )
Opening a Window on North Korea's Horrors
Defectors Haunted by Guilt Over the Loved Ones Left Behind
By Doug Struck
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, October 4, 2003; Page A01
SEOUL -- Han, a Communist Party official in North Korea, was walking home from work when he heard he was in trouble. He had smuggled a radio back from China after an official trip. He listened to it late at night, huddled with earphones on and shades drawn, to hear music that brought him a whisper of sanity and took him away from the horrors of his day.
Now, someone had found it, or someone had told.
"It could have been my children who said something outside. It could have been my friend; one knew," said Han, 39, who spoke on condition he be identified only by his surname.
"If a farmer or laborer had a radio, he could have been released," Han said. "But I was an official. In my case, it would have been torture and a life sentence in a political prisoners' camp."
( Read more... )