North Korea: Is Kim Jong-il losing it?

Recommended reading on North Korea:

Is the Dear Leader losing his grip?
By Andrei Lankov
Asia Times 5 March 2010

As Lankov notes: "Contrary to oft-stated accusations, Pyongyang leaders are neither irrational nor ideology-driven; they are a bunch of brilliant Machiavellians, very apt at exploiting the fears and controversies of their enemies and their partners alike."

North Korea has been playing the game brilliantly for a long time: perfectly timed provocations, perfectly timed negotiations, perfectly in control. However, two recent miscalculations, which amount to real strategic errors by the regime, might indicate that it is not business as usual in Pyongyang. In fact, the serious nature of these strategic errors leads Lankov to question whether Kim Jong-il is losing his grip.

"Over the past year or so," writes Lankov, "something strange has begun to happen in Pyongyang. The North Korean leadership has taken some actions that have clearly damaged the interests of the ruling clique. It seems that the once formidable manipulators have for some reason lost their ability to judge and plan."

The two strategic errors in question are: (1) serious miscalculations in Pyongyang's currency reform, which led to unforseen (by the regime) and undesirable results – in particular, massive inflation; (2) serious miscalculations in the recent round of concession-seeking provocations, whereby unusual haste may have caused the plot to backfired and blown Pyongyang's game out of the water, possibly forever (or at least for a while).

Helpful links:
Daily NK
North Korea Economy Watch

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Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 043 | Wed 17 Feb 2010

NORTH KOREA: WORLD'S WORST PERSECUTOR

Tuesday 16 February was North Korean president 'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il's birthday. As very little news makes it out of the 'Hermit Kingdom' to 'trigger' a prayer bulletin, we will take this opportunity to focus on the unsurpassed suffering in North Korea. The isolated state follows an ideology known as 'juche' which is essentially Stalinism mixed with the cultic, idolatrous adulation of the 'Eternal (but dead) Leader' Kim il-Sung and his son, the ruling 'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il.

Like his father before him, Kim Jong-il has perfected the art of maintaining power. According to a recent report in the Guardian (4 February) up to 40 percent of the State's income is derived from illegal activities such as drug-trafficking, sales of weapons and missile technology, and the production of counterfeit US dollar bills. Much of that income is spent buying the loyalty of party officials and the military. Meanwhile the masses are kept isolated, ignorant, brainwashed, impoverished, dependent, starving, weak and terrorised. So any effort to stir up a popular uprising would be doomed, as those with power have too much to lose and those with everything to gain are powerless.

The State runs a gulag of concentration camps / penal labour colonies. Built according to the Stalinist model and housing some 200,000 prisoners, they rival anything the Soviets or the Nazis ever ran. Christianity is a political crime because it recognises an authority greater than Kim and advocates the worship of Someone other than Kim. Merely possessing a Bible risks public execution. Open Doors estimates that as many as 70,000 Christians may be incarcerated. To ensure that the contaminant of a political criminal is totally expunged, their whole family to three generations will also be incarcerated. Many don't survive more than a few years as prisoners are worked, tortured and starved to death. Prisoners, including family units, are even used as guinea pigs in chemical weapons testing. (Click here for the 2004 BBC documentary on North Korea, Access of Evil)

In 2002 famine, the result of regime mismanagement, led to the spontaneous rise of markets. Whilst illegal, the markets flourished because of corruption. By 2004, the regime had given up trying to control the markets and so it announced it would be moving to a market economy. However, it didn't take them long to realise that the openness and independence that came with market activity could undo decades of myth-making and propaganda. By 2006 the regime was clamping down and re-Stalinising the State, closing markets, shutting down communications and forcing people back into totally unprofitable mines and industries solely for the purpose of control and indoctrination. By 2008 North Korea had returned to deep isolation. Starvation loomed in 2009 and markets sprang up again. So this time they changed the currency. North Korea expert Kim Young Hwan told Daily NK (20 January) that he sees the re-denomination as the regime's attempt to 'deal a blow to people's thinking', lest they think they can act spontaneously, solve their own problems, and not be dependent on Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-il is presented to the North Koreans as a divine, Messiah-like figure. Whilst he was actually born in the former Soviet Union in 1941 during his father's exile there, the myth is that he was born in 1942 in a log cabin on the top of North Korea's highest mountain, Mt Paektu, under a double rainbow and a bright star. There is (supposedly) nothing this 1.57m (5ft 3in) god-man cannot do. Though Western media frequently portray Kim as a crazy, vain, spoilt playboy (which he is) he is also an exceptionally cruel, master manipulator who knows exactly what he needs to do to stay in power and is prepared to do it.

When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 the Soviet regime was spread wafer-thin, while the people had been enlightened, strengthened and emboldened through glastnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). In the end, the Wall fell because, due to prayer -- not just circumstances, the Soviets knew it was over and the guns fell silent (no massacre). Pyongyang 2010 is the opposite: the regime is concentrated, fortified and confident, while the people are physically weak and without options or hope. But despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation, there can be no doubt that divine power is capable of anything the divine imagination determines. 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.' (Jesus in Luke 18:27 ESV.)


PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT:

• God's unrestrained mercy will spill over North Korea, frustrating the wicked (Psalm 146:9b) and delivering the oppressed. (Psalm 40:11-13)
  
  
• Jesus Christ will build (Matthew 16:18) sustain (1 Corinthians 1:8) and perfect (Hebrews 12:2) his Church in North Korea.

On behalf of the Church in North Korea we pray: 'So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.' (Isaiah 37:20) -- the prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah, right before the Lord, in answer to his prayer, defended and saved Jerusalem (v33-37).

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This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.

You may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email to join-rlpb@hub.xc.org

Nepal: secular or Hindu?

Nepal running out of time
By Dhruba Adhikary, 4 March 2010

Writing from Kathmandu for Asia Times on-line, Dhruba Ahikary comments: "Nepal's transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular republic is not going smoothly, and not just over the fast-approaching May 28 deadline for the nation's new constitution."

Apart from the issue of federalism, the question of whether Nepal should be a secular or a Hindu state is back in play, causing alarm amongst religious liberty observers.

The small royalist Rashtriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-Nepal) is calling for a referendum on Nepal's status.

Adhikary continues (with some debatable analysis): "Hinduism, the third-largest religion after Christianity and Islam, is known for its tolerance towards other faiths. Nepal, with a sizeable Muslim population, does not possess the type of religious rivalries seen in India.

"This, however, is undergoing a subtle change. There are growing feelings that too much tolerance could impact on Nepal's Hindu way of life, especially if there is a lack of reciprocity from other faiths. The concern has grown since the proselytizing activities of Western groups that had entered Nepal in the garb of non-governmental organizations were exposed.

"The Hindu backlash against Nepal becoming a secular state has grown since 2006 when the monarchy first fell and the state was established, but the leaders of some prominent political parties believe the recent popular movements may also be a power play by right-wing elements. And they are also jittery about a possible revival of the monarchy. [. . .]

"Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (popularly known as Prachanda) has now become one of two important figures who concede that the secularization of Nepal was a mistake. The other person is none other than the incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav. [. . .]

"If Nepal's secularization was a mistake, this could be rectified when Nepal receives its new constitution. There is no need for a simultaneous restoration of the monarchy, which ceased being the custodian of the nation's Hindus after the notorious palace massacre of 2001. Nepal could now learn to stand as a Hindu republic, not a kingdom."

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There is indeed a popular groundswell of support for Nepal restoring its status as a Hindu State, if not a Hindu monarchy.

Special ritual Hindu prayers and sacrifices have been undertaken in Kathmandu with the objective of the restoration of Nepal as a Hindu State. The organiser of the yagna (ritual prayers), Kali Baba, has already threatened that he will self immolate unto death if Nepal is not declared a Hindu state soon. Nepal’s deposed King Gyanendra has visited the yagna and expressed support for a declaration of Nepal as a Hindu State.
See: Nepal’s ex-King favors revival of Hindu State, hold talks with senior NC leader
9 March 2010, Telegraph Nepal

According to Nepalnew.com, over 200,000 devotees including many dignitaries have visited the yagna. "Many political leaders including those from the Unified CPN (Maoist), the party which does not believe in existence of god in principle and officially advocated for a secular nation, have also visited Kalidas Baba's Mahagya. Reports say, the Maoist leaders visited the Yagya at night to avoid media attention."

According to Telegraph Nepal: "Nepal’s deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala-Jost has said that the demand for Hindu State must be listened and be incorporated in the new constitution.

"'It would be unwise not to address the genuine demands of 85 per cent Nepali Hindus', she said adding and 'How can we only incorporate demands of Janajatis and ignore voice of the Hindus?'"

see also: Hindu state to be addressed : DPM (The Himalayan, 21 Feb)

And it looks like Pranchada has indeed undergone religious conversion for political gain.
see: Buffalo Worship pays in Nepal politics. Telegraph Nepal, 22 Feb 2010

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Christian Solidarity Worldwide has published an excellent report on the threat to religious liberty posed by anti-conversion measures likely to be incorporated into Nepal's new constitution.

Nepal: Religious freedom and the new constitution
1 March 2010

CSW notes: "The Constituent Assembly (CA) of Nepal, created by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and elected in April 2008, took the fundamental decision to abolish the monarchy and declare Nepal a secular republic. However, this decision, with significant implications for religious freedom, is yet to be enshrined in law, and can only be regarded as a statement of intent until it is reflected in a new constitution. As Nepal formalises the transition from Hindu monarchy to secular republic, in the promulgation of a new constitution due in May 2010, the right to freedom of religion and belief must be protected if the transition is to be a successful one. . .

"The current interim constitution fails to protect religious freedom in a manner consistent with the provisions of international law. There is no religious freedom at all for those whose own religion is not 'handed down to him or her from ancient times paying due regard to social and cultural traditions', either because their religion does not have the character of being handed down in that way, or because they have changed religion. The provision that 'no person shall be entitled to convert another person from one religion to another' is in violation of the freedom to manifest religion or belief under Article 18 of the ICCPR. The stipulation that 'no person shall act or behave in a manner which may infringe upon the religion of others' is ill-defined, and open to abuse."

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A Hindu nationalist backlash against the transition to secularism was inevitable. Indeed, I wrote a piece only a week after the May 2006 declaration of a secular state, entitled, "Nepal: Hindutva forces rally against Nepal's reforms" (26 May 2006) which noted: "Not long after Nepal's new House of Representatives (HoR) passed the resolution to declare Nepal a secular democracy, the Hindu rhetoric to start to rise – both in Nepal and in neighbouring India."

Hindu nationalism is essentially about Hindus seeking to preserve their caste privilege through the establishment of a Hindu State.

NIGERIA: Why is Jos such a tinderbox?

This headline from The Times says it all:

500 butchered in Nigeria killing fields
8 March 2010
By Jonathan Clayton, Africa Correspondent and Ruth Gledhill

The blood-curdling massacre of possibly 500 predominantly Christian ethnic Berom in Jos South in the early hours of Sunday 7 March has been widely reported.

Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gregory Yenlong, described the attack on the Berom villages as ethnic cleansing.

So why is Jos such a tinderbox?

TRENDS

With foresight and good governance, individual trends can be managed. Multiple trends can also be managed, although that is obviously more difficult. The real trouble occurs when trends collide like two chemicals to cause an explosion, or merge like two rivers to cause a flood. Jos is a perfect example of the chaos that erupts upon a confluence of trends.

Consider these trends:

(1) Nigeria has a massive rate of population growth (double the world average).

(2) Nigeria has a rapid rate of urbanisation.

(3) Nigeria's southward migration of Hausa and Fulani Muslim pastoralists is putting great pressure on Nigerian's ethnic-religious fault-line. Pushed out of the Sahel by drought, the Muslim immigrants are drawn to the arable lands and industrial towns of sub-Saharan Africa which are populated by settled, mostly Christian African tribes.

(4) Nigeria has not been immune to the global revival of fundamentalist Islam. (Note: Islam is essentially a political construct with a religious element -- not the other way around.)

The first two trends portend (especially in third-world or developing state) increased competition for jobs, land and resources, as well as escalating crime and violence.

Add in the third trend -- immigration -- and much of this competition takes on "settler" vs "indigene", as well as ethnic (i.e. Fulani vs Berom) and religious (Muslim vs Christian) dimensions.

Add in the fourth trend -- the revival of fundamentalist Islam -- and we get, in the already volatile mix, increased polarisation of peoples; increased Muslim intolerance towards Christians; Muslim demands for Sharia law; and Muslim striving for dominance (political and social).

So while most commentators are saying that the Jos crisis is not religious, I would say that the revival of fundamentalist Islam is an integral element in the mix -- akin to fuel on fire.

Given an inch. . .

In 1991, President (General) Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) (a military dictator) introduced reforms to make local governments more autonomous and democratic. At the same time, as the the daily Sun news reports, "Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida created Jos North Local Government to respond to the 'need' of the settlers [Hausa and Fulani Muslims] to feel a sense of belonging". ( Undercurrents of the Jos mayhem, By Chinelo Agina. The Sun (Nigeria) 17 Feb 2010)

The Sun News continues: "For many years, the Beroms and the Anaragutas, the original owners of the local government, co-existed side by side with the Yorubas, the Hausas and the Fulanis who had come there to settle, but after a while, the Hausas and Fulanis, who had increased in population started agitating for an Emir (a King), an Hausa who will represent them and protect their interests at the state and national levels.

According to the Sun, they were also demanding that the Local Government Chairman of Jos North be a Hausa or a Fulani. Of course the Beroms vehemently objected to this, fearing that if such discrimination were permitted, then Muslim tribes would dominate and Christians would lose their rights.

Dr Aliyu U. Tilde comments that the creation of Jos North Local Government gave the Hausa and Fulani Muslims "a sort of majority assurance", whereby they could "use their number in a democracy to mitigate [their] vulnerability. That is why some natives see the creation of Jos North as a deliberate attempt by Babangida to protect [or advance] the Hausa/Fulani.

"The Hausa, however, became dominant in the heart of Jos City, the old Jos, where their parents and grandparents were among the first to settle. That area formed Jos North Local Government where all commercial and government activities take place. This raised a unique situation where the non-natives are the dominant ethnic group of the capital city."

(See also: Jos crisis: When a mining city becomes an eternal killing field
By Charles Kumolu. 8 March 2010)

In November 2008, a Berom Christian from Jos South was named the winner of the Jos North local government chairman elections. While this was widely cited as the cause of the November 2008 Muslim rioting left at least 300 dead, around 10,000 displaced, and "settler" vs "indigene" ethnic-religious tensions higher than ever, the rioting actually started before the result was known. Furthermore, as Christian Solidarity pointed out, the Muslim rioters did not target political institutions. Rather, "rioters armed with guns, spears, machetes and other weapons immediately attacked Christian businesses, churches and the homes of clergymen". A local source informed Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW): "As usual they took Jos by surprise, and are now hiding behind election results to launch and excuse their mayhem." Sixteen churches were razed in that riot, and four Christian pastors were killed. (See: CSW press release Jos, Nigeria – ‘Inaccurate reporting’ causes resentment among Christian community. 1 Dec 2008)

Many in the Christian community believe that the "settlers" / Hausa and Fulani / Muslims are intent on driving the "indigenes" / Berom / Christians out of Jos -- or at least forcing their surrender.


Comments from the Anglican Archbishop of Jos, Ben Kwashi:

Violence Is Not Religiously Motivated, Nigerian Archbishop Says
By ROBERT MACKEY, 8 March 2010

This insightful article includes three film clips, one of which (the last one) gives an excellent overview of the crisis.

While the headline says the "violence is not religiously motivated", what Archbishop Kwashi is saying is that the tribes are not fighting over alleged blasphemies or apostasies; the nature of Jesus or the preaching of the gospel.

However, as I noted earlier, Muslim supremacy and Muslim domination are integral to Islam which merely uses its religion as a means to advance its political agenda. As such, I would maintain that the violence is motivated and fuelled by Islam -- both the Muslim's striving for domination, and the Christian's legitimate fear of dhimmitude (the highly vulnerable, second-class status of Jews and Christians subjugated under Islam).

FINALLY

For suggestions regarding prayer see:

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB) 046
Nigeria: explosive situation needs defusing.
By Elizabeth Kendal. 10 March 2010