By JR Breen
Contributing Writer
North Korean refugees are holding nightly candlelit protests in downtown Seoul to draw attention to the plight of those suffering in their country's concentration camps.
A planned protest outside the American embassy during President Barack Obama's visit last week was thwarted by security forces who blanketed downtown Seoul.
Unify Korea 2009 had planned a two day hunger strike to coincide with Obama's trip, hoping to have a ``24/7 presence'' outside the embassy, but they were unable to gather anywhere near the building.
``There is so much security around Gwanghwamun and they didn't permit us (entry),'' said an organizer, speaking on Thursday, who wished to be identified only as Park, due to the sensitive nature of his work with North Korean refugees.
Unify Korea 2009, an activist group of North Korean refugees, South Koreans and some foreign nationals, stage regular protests for the ``liberation of North Koreans.''They had hoped to gain wider recognition from the Obama visit.
The group has held numerous other demonstrations, the most significant of which was a demonstration held on the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
North Korea is believed to still operate six prison camps around the nation, which hold 154,000 political prisoners, according to a report by the BBC in October.
``(Obama) knows about the concentration camps; he knows about all the issues,'' said Park. ``Our hope is that we get to him.''