Human Rights Watch on sentencing of Aijalon Mahli Gomes

Human Rights Watch comments on the incarceration and sentencing of Aijalon Mahli Gomes:

The North Korean government's announcement on the sentencing of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, a US citizen, raises serious concerns about whether his trial was fair, especially given the lack of transparency and extremely harsh punishment for a vaguely worded charge.

"Trials in North Korea are notoriously unfair, and Gomes' appears to have been no different," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This whole episode looks like another North Korean charade, with a vague criminal charge and a lack of due process leading to a long prison sentence."

KCNA announced that Gomes admitted guilt on all charges, but did not provide any additional details to explain the "hostile acts" charge. The North Korean authorities did not indicate whether Gomes had legal counsel of his choice and was given an opportunity to mount a legal defense, whether the court proceedings were translated for him, or whether he will be able to appeal the ruling.

North Korea's judiciary is neither transparent nor independent. All judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and people's jury members are appointed by the ruling Korea Workers' Party. Some North Korean refugees have told Human Rights Watch that even when defense lawyers are allowed, their role is perfunctory at best.

In early February, Robert Park, a Korean-American missionary, was released from North Korea. Park had illegally entered North Korea on December 25 to appeal to Kim to end human rights violations. South Korean media reported that Gomes, a former English teacher in South Korea, had attended rallies in South Korea calling for Park's release. Friends of Gomes in South Korea told the media that he was a devout Christian and had probably entered North Korea in January in support of Park.

Aijalon Mahli Gomes sentenced to eight years of hard labor by North Korea

American Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, detained in North Korea for illegally entering the country, was sentenced to eight years of hard labor.

Gomes must also pay a fine of 70 million North Korean won, the North Korean agency said. According to on-line currency conversion sites, 70 million North Korean won is equivalent to approximately US$489,000. Using the newly devalued currency rate, it's closer to US$700,000.

KCNA referred to his illegal border-crossing as a "hostile act committed against the Korean nation." Gomes "admitted all the facts which had been put under accusation," KCNA reported.

Representatives from the Swedish embassy were allowed to witness Gomes' trial, KCNA reported.

Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Robert Park making a statement on North Korea repression

Chosun Ilbo reports that Aijalon Mahli Gomes, an American facing trial in North Korea, may have been inspired to enter the country by the incursion of a fellow American Robert Park just four weeks earlier. The two were friends.

Pyongyang says Gomes illegally entered the country from China on January 25. That was one month after Robert Park made his Christmas Day entry to North Korea, preaching a Christian message and drawing attention to North Korean repression of human rights. North Korea released Park last month.

In an e-mail from a spokesman, Park describes Gomes as one of his "closest friends" and says he plans a hunger strike in his support. Both Park and Gomes are connected to Pax Koreana, a Christian activist group in Seoul.

Jo says Gomes was probably inspired by Park's actions. But he says Gomes crossed into the North alone, with no help or encouragement from Jo or his group.

Boston man detained by North Koreans

A Boston man detained in North Korea is a quiet, devout Christian, who was so concerned about American missionary Robert Park held in Pyongyang that he was moved to tears at rallies, fellow activists said yesterday.

North Korea announced earlier this week that Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, would stand trial after entering the country illegally. Gomes, a Boston native who graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, had been in South Korea for several years teaching English.

It was not immediately clear why Gomes went to North Korea, allegedly on January 25th. However, activists in Seoul said he was an acquaintance of Robert Park, a fellow Christian who crossed into North Korea on Christmas Day in a bold bid to draw attention to the country’s human rights situation.

Jo Sung-rae of Pax Koreana in Seoul said Gomes, who contacted him in November about working with his rights group, met Park in Seoul last summer.