Freedom fighter Liam

Reporter: Iram Ramzan
Date published: 15 August 2014


A YOUNG man from Saddleworth who is passionate about human rights issues is trying to raise more awareness of the plight of the people in North Korea.

Liam Bluer, a former Saddleworth School pupil from Dobcross, has been working as a volunteer for “Liberty in North Korea”, an organisation that empowers the North Korean people to drive progress inside their country, as well as rescuing refugees.

Liam (27), who is currently in Guatemala studying Spanish, hopes to get a job working for a non-governmental organisation in Latin America.

He completed his masters in social anthropology and social development at the University of Manchester two years ago, focusing on human rights issues after an internship where he was working alongside Burmese refugees at Thailand’s border.

He then went to South Korea with the organisation and spent 10 weeks in California as a “nomad”, helping to spread the word in schools, colleges and churches. His team in California helped raise £21,500 to go towards rescuing refugees.

Every year, thousands of North Koreans risk their lives to escape political persecution and economic hardship.

If they are caught trying to escape in China, the Chinese government will send them back, where they will face harsh punishments including brutal beatings and internment in a political prison camp. Their families will also be punished.

Liam said: “They have no freedoms, no freedom of movement — they can’t even go to a different city without special permission. There’s no freedom of religion or information. Watching Hollywood films is a crime. The government tries to control every aspect of their lives.

“Some want to escape for a chance to have freedom. Their potential as human beings is just stifled by what the government does.

“They’re just people like us. They have every right to have all the opportunities what we take for granted.”

To donate visit https://fundraise.libertyinnorthkorea.org/helpliamsavelives