Aijalon Gomes
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Aijalon Gomes' Rescue. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2010. |
Aijalon Mahli Gomes is an American teacher from Boston, Massachusetts, who was detained in North Korea on January 25, 2010 for illegally entering the country. On August 27, 2010, it was announced that former U.S. president Jimmy Carter secured Aijalon's release.
He was recruited to teach in the GEPIK teaching program in Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea, in 2008 by Footprints Recruiting .
Gomes is a Christian who sympathized with the plight of North Koreans, and the general consensus among those who know him is that he crossed into North Korea to act as a missionary and for humanitarian reasons.[1]
He was tried by North Korea, and on April 6, 2010, he was sentenced to eight years of hard labor and fined $700,000 (USD).[2] He was allowed to speak to his mother by phone on April 30, 2010.[3]
In June 2010, North Korea threatened "harsher punishment" by "applying a wartime law to him" if the United States continued its "hostile approach" in the follow-up to the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.[4] Gomes was reported to have been hospitalized after attempting suicide in July 2010.[5]
Before Gomes's freedom was secured by former US president Jimmy Carter, the American government sent a consular envoy to Pyongyang to discuss his release but Gomes remained in North Korea.[6] In August 2010, the country agreed to release Gomes, but only if Jimmy Carter came to get him.[7] Carter agreed to the trip[8][9][10] and arrived in Pyongyang on August 25.[11] On August 26, North Korea released Gomes in response to Carter's visit.[12]
[edit] See also
- Robert Park (activist)
- 2009 imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea
- Human Rights in North Korea
[edit] References
- ^ Xaykaothao, Doualy. "Why Did Aijalon Gomes Cross Into North Korea?". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129390797&ft=1&f=1004. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Mar 20, 2010 (2010-03-20). "Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News". Atimes.com. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LC20Dg01.html. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Portland, ME | American in jail in North Korea speaks with mother on the phone". WCSH6.com. 2010-01-04. http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=117295&catid=2. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "North Korea threatens US prisoner Aijalon Gomes". BBC News. 2010-06-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10401853.stm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ by Ravi SomaiyaJuly 09, 2010 (2010-07-09). "American Prisoner Attempts Suicide in North Korean Gulag". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/09/american-prisoner-attempts-suicide-in-north-korean-gulag.html. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Yonhap News" (in (Korean)). Yonhap News. 2010-08-17. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/08/17/13/0301000000AEN20100817000100315F.HTML. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ Lee, Matthew (24 August 2010). "Official: NKorea agrees to release Aijalon Mahli Gomes-- to Jimmy Carter". Daily Record. http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100824/UPDATES01/100824008/Jimmy+Carter+heading+to+NKorea+to+free+imprisoned+American+. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Lim, Bomi (23 August 2010). "Carter to Go to North Korea to Release Prisoner, Reports Say". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-24/carter-plans-to-travel-to-north-korea-in-effort-to-free-detained-american.html. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Jimmy Carter - North Korea | Bill Clinton | Aijalon Gomes". Mediaite. 2010-08-24. http://www.mediaite.com/online/jimmy-carter-heading-to-north-korea-to-rescue-american-citizen/. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Exclusive: Jimmy Carter headed to North Korea on rescue mission | The Cable". Thecable.foreignpolicy.com. http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/23/exclusive_jimmy_carter_headed_to_north_korea_on_rescue_mission. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "Ansalatina - Norcorea: Carter en gestiones para liberación de estadounidense". ansa.it. 2010-01-03. http://www.ansa.it/ansalatina/notizie/fdg/201008251624383957/201008251624383957.html. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ "North Korea releases Boston man held since Jan. to ex-President Carter; gov't grants amnesty". Minneapolis Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/nation/101589218.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ. Retrieved August 26, 2010.[dead link]
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