Trapped in cages built for animals. Beaten, chained and forced to stand in torturous poses. Left to subsist on snakes and rats. The damning UN report on North Korea's crimes against humanity contains shocking allegations, but its message of misery is driven home even more powerfully by eight sketches drawn by a man who survived more than two years in Pyongyang's hell on Earth. The drawings, released as part of the 400-page report, lay bare the brutality of a regime that has practiced torture on its people, undeterred, for years.
"This was the first thing that I saw: there it said that 'if you run, you die,'" Kim Kwang-Il, the 48-year-old artist and one of some 300 witnesses the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights spoke to in compiling the report. Kwang-Il's sketches offer a rare glimpse inside a prison camp, where photographs are forbidden. Some depict the torturous poses inmates are compelled to assume for hours at a time, under threat of beatings by chains and ropes. "We are supposed to think there's an imaginary motorcycle and we are supposed to be in this position as if we are riding the motorcycle," he said, describing one such torture. "And for this, we pose as if we are airplanes ourselves. We are flying. And if we stand like this there's no way that you can hold that position for a long time. You are bound to fall forward. Everybody in the detention center goes through this kind of torture," said Kwang-Il, who now lives in South Korea.
Another heart-wrenching sketch shows a starving inmate trying to catch a rat.
"Because we starved so much and did not have enough to eat, we would find snakes in street," said Kwang-Il, who now lives in South Korea. "How do you eat a snake in the street? But for us the first one to find it was the person who got to eat it. Everybody raced to catch those snakes and that's because we were so starved."
The UN report castigated the Hermit Kingdom for its ruthless treatment of people, depicting a brutal nation "that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world."
"Crimes against humanity have been committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the state," the U.N.'s high commissioner on human rights stated in a report released Monday. "These crimes against humanity are ongoing because the policies, institutions and patterns of impunity that lie at their root remain in place."
Kwang-Il served 29 months in a North Korean labor camp after he was caught smuggling pine nuts across the border. Other survivors told the UN panel during its yearlong investigation of conditions in the secretive communist dictatorship. One witness described how a female inmate gave birth inside a camp. When a guard heard the baby's cries, he beat the mother as a punishment. And when she begged him to let her keep the baby, he forced her to drown the newborn.
Experts say it is common for prisoners in North Korean camps to lose up to half their body weight, or starve to death altogether. Many who survive are permanently disfigured from being chained to walls for days or even weeks at a time. The cruel regime not only punishes those it brands as criminals or disloyal, it also imprisons and tortures members of that person's family and succeeding generations, according to those who made it out of Pyongyang's gulags alive..
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, estimate that more than 200,000 North Koreans are being held in camps similar to the one depicted in Kwang-Il's sketches. Other activist groups, like Open Doors USA, estimate that number to be even higher, reporting that the secretive nation has detained about 400,000 of its citizens -- many of them Christians. In North Korea, the practice of Christianity is illegal. Owning a Bible is a crime, and any person caught with one is sent - along with three generations of his or her family - to prison.
Pyongyang refused to cooperate with the investigation and denied the commission of inquiry access to North Korea. Last May, North Korea sent a letter saying it "totally and categorically rejects the Commission of Inquiry," said Michael Kirby, the chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay pressed Tuesday for North Korea to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the report.
"We now need strong international leadership to follow up on the grave findings of the Commission of Inquiry. I therefore call on the international community, in line with the report's recommendations, to use all the mechanisms at its disposal to ensure accountability, including referral to the International Criminal Court,'' Pillay said in a statement.
Please continue to cry out to the Lord for the plight of suffering people in North Korea. This has got to stop and this wicked regime must be reformed or removed so that the two Koreas can be reunified and these horrors are ended.
There will be an on-site prayer initiative in Afghanistan, March 25-30. An international team of six or seven ministry leaders will join with local and expatriate believers, focusing on the national elections happening the first week of April. This is a very crucial time for the nation. Please pray for His anointing and protection on the team and those they meet with and for the right person of God's choosing to become the new president.
Additional prayer concerns from believers in the country:
The situation with President Karzai has not been solved yet. In each of our prayer meetings we bring this up to the Lord, but we feel that more prayer is needed that Karzai signs the agreement between his and the US Government.
As a matter of fact the relationship between the two is getting worse. Now president Obama tells Karzai that the US is planning for a full pull-out of the country http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26346115.
Please pray for patience for the American government. If they go ahead with the "zero plan" it would be disastrous for our country. But our prayer can and will make the difference.
Every day that the treaty is held back is a lost day for Afghanistan. The weekly incident list reports a total of 568 separate incidents in the country, that is 113 incidents more than the week before! We need your prayers that the security situation will not raise in face of the upcoming election and that president Karzai signs the paper. That would definitely bring more stability to the country which the people are longing for.
At the same time we need your prayers for the neighbouring country where the peace negotiations with the Tal... terrorists took place during the last weeks. We praise Him that instead of reaching an agreement they began fighting each other. This is a good opportunity to pray that the Government comes to realise that covenants with people on jihad (holy war) mean nothing to them. They only succumb as long as they get their way. If this "peace" talk would be taken up again it would mean a total set-back for both of our countries. Please pray fervently that the opposite will happen and the present situation of confusion between both sides will last.
Thank you so much for standing with us in your prayers,
Anonymous Christians in Afghanistan
Our parliament and governmental elections will take part on Sunday, April 6th, followed by the local elections in the Autumn. There is a governing mid-right coalition, with a more and more autocratic and over-controlling policy. There is a quite weak wide-left coalition, heavily attacked and mocked by the government-controlled media. We have a strengthening far-right party with great slogans and self-confidence. None of them seem to meet the people's need and care for God's will.
Lately some evangelical Christians formed a political movement, that last summer founded a new party, called "ANSWER", that put on its banner the reformation of Hungarian politics on Biblical basis, willing to serve the nation in a godly way. So far they could stand up candidates in 15 electoral districts out of the 200.
1. Please pray for these new Christian electoral candidates and their movement, as they face strong political pressure in this totally new situation.
2. Pray also for more experienced and skilled candidates to join to this movement and change their political views according to God's will.
3. Please pray for Hungarians during the electoral campaign to be sober and wise to protect and favors those candidates, who are the most suitable and willing to use political power according the will and ways of Jesus Christ, who has the supreme power over Hungary too and is willing to come back soon to rule over the whole created world.
Szabolcs Szatmari
Budapest, Hungary
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
We are writing to you on behalf of the International Prayer Council to invite you to Skopje Macedonia in June this year to take part in the European Trumpet Call to be held there on June 18-21. Our brothers and sisters in the Balkans have put out a call to the rest of Europe to come together to pray for the Balkans and our Continent.
To help with administration we are asking everyone to make their own arrangements. A website has been established http://europeantrumpetcall.org more information will be on the website in the coming weeks.
We look forward to seeing you in Skopje. This is an important time for the church across Europe to stand in the gap on behalf of our nations and the Continent. Please pass this information on to other National prayer leaders that you know.
Praying God's blessing on your life and ministry,
Ian Cole, Birmingham England
Ioan Peia, Bucharest Romania
Sounding the trumpet for a "set time!" "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!" Joel 2:1
We are writing to invite your prayerful participation in a key prayer and worship initiative during Passover and Easter this year, April 11-21st. Significant timing issues are converging during Easter this year requiring our attention as follows:
The Christian church's Palm Sunday-Easter week (April 13-20th) and Jewish Passover Feast (April 15-21st) coincide this year.
On the Sabbath just prior to Palm Sunday, Friday-Saturday 04/11-12/2014 the scripture reading for Jewish synagogues around the world is Amos 9:7-15 which includes Amos 9:11 and the call to restore the "Tabernacle of David," i.e. houses of prayer that God is raising up and connecting.
04/13-14 is a 24 hour global day to pray for the 04/14 window (age group 4-14) the largest unreached people group in the world).
04/15 Passover starts and is the date of one of 4 red moons scheduled to appear on Jewish feast days (passover and feast of tabernacles) over the next two years.
What is God saying in the midst of these converging signs? We believe that He is calling His people to converge for spiritual breakthrough, both individually and corporately. The power of agreement in intensifying times is vital for breakthrough and Kingdom advance. When we agree with God and with each other, heaven will come to earth. We are writing to engage you in agreement to help build bridges between houses of prayer, regions, and nations with a common focus. The strategy is very simple and can be engaged by families, small prayer groups, churches, to larger regional efforts. With such convergence, we are encouraging mobilization for the following:
Vision: Mobilize corporate gatherings in your houses of prayer, groups, churches, cities, regions and nations that inspire worship, prayer with Passover dinner/fellowship.
Purpose:
Honor God on His timeline
Inspire unified focus
Encourage building of relationships, bridging of cities, regions and nations in common purpose.
Plan:
Encourage corporate prayer/worship with celebration of the feast of Passover/Lord's supper, preferably weekend of April 11-12th or during the April 11-21st time-frame.
Encourage building of altars in regions with corporate prayer/worship and celebration of Passover. It is a simple means to re-consecrate the land to the Lord
Continue gatherings on Passover and Feast of Tabernacles 2014 and 2015 with key focuses to be established to encourage agreement and building of relational strength
Please RSVP (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you intend to participate or have any questions. More information is available, guidelines and Christian Seder, for those who would like them just contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We are available to assist and encourage and will have conference calls to mobilize this effort. Gatherings do not need to be large and complex, but with focused intent on honoring the Lord on His timeline and building into relationships in your regions (following the great commandments of Jesus Matthew 22:37-40). We look forward to hearing from you! It is time for the healing of the nations and honoring God on His timeline.
On the wall and building,
Fred and Sue Rowe
Transform World Celebration Challenge facilitators
I attended the IPC conference in November in New York and returned home all excited to share how God can use children in Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. I reported to my National body and was encouraged to share what I received with the entire Assemblies Of God, which is the denomination I am a part of. January 31st I had my first meeting with one of the sections. A number of children were filled with the Holy Spirit.
I am the National Sunday School Director Of this denomination and we have a group of children drawn from most of our sections, whom we encourage to live for Christ daily and share the Gospel. This group is known as the KING'S ENVOYS so on FEBRUARY 15TH ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE (125) of them met and we shared with them about prayer and how God can use them to pray for others.
The tables were turned as three children came forward and prayed for the Superintendent and the Executive Presbyter. Just as we were about to close the C.E.D. Director Rev. Lynette Smith who was at the Conference in November arrived and closed in prayer. She later told me that there was such a great Presence of God in the building that could have caused an explosion of The Holy Ghost!
Tessa Smith This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
It was a privilege for me to be part of an international team that spent five days in Afghanistan to pray for the nation (March 25-30) and its historic electionthat was about to take place on April 5. We arrived to the sound of big bomb explosions as the Taliban were trying to destabilize the election process by attacking polling centers and international observers.
On Friday afternoon, March 28th, when the international Christian community normally would have met for worship, five suicidal Taliban attackers blew up a massive car bomb outside the venue and attempted to rush in and kill as many of the believers as possible. Our team would have undoubtedly been there as well, but, by God's mercy, the meeting had been called off for that day. However, nineteen adults and children were there for a tea party to welcome the new pastor. As the weapons fire began, when armed guards next door fired upon the Taliban, those at the tea party hid in a bathroom until the Afghan special forces rescued them. A woman and five children across the street were also protected during the attack and escaped without harm. All five Taliban extremists were killed or blew themselves up in the process and unfortunately two other Afghans were also killed.
This incident gave extra impetus to our prayer and we stayed up till midnight interceding that day with an encouraging sense of the Lord's presence and guidance in prayer. We also prayed with NGO workers and local believers and had other strong times of prayer within our team as the Lord led us to focus on various issues- the growth of the church, the election, the development of women and their rising status, the new generation and children in prayer, and of course the overthrow of the Taliban and their violent extremism. It was an anointed and encouraging time!
Subsequently, one prayer initiative participant wrote about the election on April 5 : "There were no problems at all. I think only on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. So to sum this up, the election went very well. I understand there are a few reports of ballot stuffing, but very few. The Afghans I know are excited about the election. In the 2009 election, I was here and there were 2000 explosions in Kandahar City, this election there were no explosions...Yesterday morning, as I was walking in the city, I felt like the Lord said it is a new day and that he was going to come and move mightily in this nation. I looked around and it was very clean air all day, no dust. I felt like this was a sign from the Lord for what he was bringing to this land. Interestingly, throughout the day, Afghans said that today was the beginning.
About 40 years ago there was a Christian church in Afghanistan, and it was destroyed by the government. Within 24 hours the government of Afghanistan was destroyed and has been in war ever since. We believe that since the (former) Islamic government or Taliban attacked the church here, it will be destroyed as well."
Another expat worker wrote to say: "The elections yesterday went fine. Huge turnouts, in spite of the threats by the Taliban, and in spite of the rain and cold. And no report of any terrorist attack on election polls! Some places ran out of ballots and had to look for more. You and your team were here at exactly the right time!!!"
What an awesome privilege and responsibility the Lord has put before us in praying for the nations! He stands ready to answer even a few intercessors banding together to listen and pray out His heart for their nation (Matthew 18:18-20). He will use their prayers in the Spirit to bring new hope and change where things look desolate and discouraging.
John Robb
IPC Chairman
This coming Sunday and Monday will be an exciting opportunity to pray and worship with the children and youth of our world!
The heat of the battle is intensifying in our families, churches, and nations. In this critical time of history, we believe a united call to release our children, youth, and families is a key to changing nations. Therefore, we are asking pastors, leaders, educators, and parents to unite, empower, and release the voices of the children and youth in prayer and worship.
Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.
Global Prayer and Praise is a collaborative worldwide initiative asking leaders to empower the children, youth, and families of nations to raise their voices together for the release of God's justice. With the participation of various organizations including The International Prayer Council, Children in Prayer, YWAM, IHOPKC, 4/14 Window Movement, Global Day of Worship, Transform World, TheCall, Arise International, and numerous others, we believe this is a God movement.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them"
(Matthew 19:14). Will you let them come?
For 24 hours, on the weekend of April 13 - 14, 2014, there is a worldwide call for all children, youth, and families to unite in prayer and worship of Jesus our Lord. We invite local communities to gather together to pray, knowing that they are joining countless others around the world.
HOW TO PARTNER AND HELP THIS INITIATIVE
1.Visit the Global Prayer & Praise website for more information: globalprayerandpraise.com
2. Get the word out to believers, organizations, denominations and networks, especially those who focus on children and youth. (please feel free to forward the link on this article)
Ask those with current ministries to children and youth to gather and host prayer & praise events however big or small.
Include an announcement in your bulletin and newsletter.
Announce on Palm Sunday and invite families to participate.
Would you extend a personal invitation to those in your network to participate?
Eunice Barruel, Founder and Executive Director
www.globaldayofworship.com
001-757-287-1029
We have heard that Egypt, Nepal, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, the USA and many other nations are participating by holding special events for children and youth. Pray that these many events will be used by the Lord to catalyze children in prayer and tri-generational praying in the nations of the world.