His Excellency Hu Jintao
President, People’s Republic of China
c/o His Excellency Zhou When Zong
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Dear Mr. President:                                         

            We are writing with concern about the North Koreans who have fled to China and to urge you to work with the international community to resolve this issue.  We realize that as China is preparing to welcome the world for the Beijing Olympics this summer, that there is increased pressure to resolve the issue of North Korean refugees in China.   We believe that by working with the international community this crisis can be resolved in a way that benefits China and protects the safety of these refugees.

            We urge you to end your policy of repatriating the North Korean refugees to North Korea where they face punishment, torture and sometimes execution for leaving their homeland.  We ask that you allow these refugees access to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the humanitarian organizations willing to assist in their protection, and allow them safe passage to countries that have promised resettlement.  As you know, these refugees have automatic South Korean citizenship under Articles 2 and 3 of the Republic of Korea’s constitution, and furthermore refugees have already been safely resettled in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries in recent years.  We are ready and willing to work with China to assist you in addressing this refugee crisis, most of whom are women being exploited by traffickers.

            We respect China’s right to protect its border and concerns about the North Korean population in China.  Instead of attempting to resolve this crisis by forcefully repatriating these North Koreans, we urge you to work with the international community and look forward to your reply.

                                                                        Sincerely,