Laura Ling and Euna Lee's families breaking silence

I know that a lot of us have been watching the news since Euna Lee and Laura Ling were captured, wondering why there haven't been substantial news reports on their plight. Yes, we understood that it's a sensitive situation, that North Korea is unpredictable and that there were surely efforts going on behind the scenes. But as news reports about an American ship captain captured by pirates and then dramatically rescued and then more recently the flurry of news surrounding Roxana Saberi's trial, conviction, appeal and release, the silence around Euna and Laura weighed heavily on my mind.

They are, after all, not so different from us. But more brave. Certainly, I'm sure they knew there was some risk involved in the reporting they were doing, but like so many reporters who report in conflict zones and areas without free press, they did so because they felt compelled to report on the often desperate lives of North Korean defectors in the Chinese border region. They didn't work for big time news organizations and they weren't going to get famous or rich from their reporting, but they were trying to shine a light on stories that would otherwise go untold, unheard, unspoken.

My heart goes out to the Lee and Ling families and I'm sure I cannot imagine how difficult the decision to stay silent - and now to speak out - must be. We must do whatever we can to make sure that Euna and Laura are released! Their June 4 (June 3, in the US) trial is approaching and the Lings and Lees have decided that they can no longer afford to keep silent.

Here's an excerpt of a letter from Laura written to Lisa that was read at a recent vigil by one of her cousins, from their facebook page:
"When I first got here, I cried so much. Now, I cry less. I try very hard to think about positive things, but sometimes it is hard too. Some days I get to go outside and get some fresh air. In the early evening, I do some stretching. I also sit and meditate. I breathe deeply and think about positive things that have happened in the day. For example, I think “I’m lucky I made it through another day.” I’m lucky my family is working so hard to get me released. I’m thinking about you all constantly and how fortunate I am to have an amazing family. Stay strong and please take care of yourselves. That is my request. Know that I’m thinking of you and dreaming about being reunited with you all again.

All my love,

Laura"

They have been held in seperate cells for the entirety of their imprisonment and have been allowed only one visit. Laura's husband Iain wrote about how much he misses her and how it took three weeks for a package he sent to her (via the UK) to get to her on the Larry King Live blog at cnn.com.

Please, watch for the families on The Today Show during the 7am block on Monday morning, Larry King Live on Monday night at 9 pm ET (6 pm PT) and Nightline (not sure about the time). Lisa Ling, Laura's sister will be on with Laura's husband Iain Clayton, and Laura and Lisa's parents, Mary and Doug Ling. Euna's husband Michael Saldate and her daughter Hannah will also be on. They also plan to appear on Anderson Cooper's show sometime later in the week.

And please, if you possibly can, join one of the vigils being scheduled around the country for June 3 (which is, again, the trial date in North Korea). More information is on their facebook page, but here are the vigil locations:

Washington, D.C. VIGIL Organizers: Asia Liu, Max Neubauer, Wesley Della Volla, Daniel Beckmann, Joseph Hong
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81896567681

New York, NY VIGIL Organizers: Danielle Chang,
Gwendolyn E. Lindsay-Jackson, Crystal Sun Kim
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85102251771

***NEW*** CHICAGO: Rose Tibayan, Nancy Loo
Link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206839975710&ref=share

Birmingham, AL VIGIL Organizers: Lisa Anderson, Max Neubauer
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=84322779270

Portland, OR VIGIL Organizers: Meghan Miller Jedrzejczyk, Max Neubauer
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111689610930

San Francisco, CA VIGIL Organizers: Lynn Perkins, Mike Shen, Gibson Pearl
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112511386222

Los Angeles, CA VIGIL Organizers: Welly Yang,
Kristiana Velasco, Joe Omar Gonzales, Joyce Mar
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=79299243499

National Organizer: Brendan McShane Creamer
Email address: blove73@msn.com
Phone 215.699.4338

Please bring candles for the vigils.

You can also find more info on the facebook page about how to contact Governor Bill Richardson (who has previously been called upon to negotiate the release of American prisoners from North Korea) and the State Department.

- Nina Moon

Update: Here are more links:

Liberate Laura blog, not associated with family

YouTube photo montage of Laura and Euna