IRONY DEPICTS AS NORTH KOREA MOURNS DEATH OF THEIR LEADER

The news is all over globally, scenes of desolate Korean residents are mourning the death of their ‘Dear Leader, Kim Jong- II. For exposing their patriotism is their right but some issues must be solicited if Kim Jong deserves such tears especially when men are shown on the screen emotionally weeping for him.  

Kim Jong has been on international news for all wrong reasons. He has severally defied UN sanctions over his nuclear extension plans his people notwithstanding the injustice they have suffered from his iron fist rule inclusive; hunger, rights abuse, imprison and isolation. What is there to cry for when North Korea residents are living under freedom limitations? To make it more badly, they have branded the despot as their Dear Leader.

Naked irony is seen here; first the remarks from international society. Us Secretary for State Hillary Clinton has given a speech acknowledging the mourning period of Kim Jong, which is from December 17-29^th. Nevertheless it is known how the relationship between the two states have been bitter as US campaigned over its nuclear   plans. On the other hand, North Korea has not been pleased with US’s military personnel in South Korea about 30,000 soldiers minding that South Korea is t North’s rival.

Of course the no nonsense Republican John McCain has put it right for the world to hear.

“I hope he is in a warm corner of hell…the world is  better off without Kim Jong II who is gone to join Gaddafi, Bin Laden and Hitler. The world is better place now that Kim Jong II is no longer in it.” That is John McCain who is not far from his political counterpart former US president George w. Bush who denounced North Korea as a member of an “axis of evil” that also included Iran and Iraq. For George bush, Kim was a tyrant who starved his people to build nuclear weapons.

This is neither fabrication. Recent past, March 2010, North Korea sunk South Korea’s ship killing 46 sailors. Eight months later, North Korea again shelled South Korean island killing two solders and two civilians all that attributed to the late Kim Jong’s directions.

Like China’s Mao Zedong, the leader has developed a cult of personality from the 24 million population whom majority live below a dollar day. He is feared like a god. Maybe like father-like-son. During 1980’s, a party newspaper was quoted that Christians must not go to Jerusalem but rather visit Korea. It urged people not to fear God but fear the great man, Kim II Sung, Kim Jong’s father whom he took power upon his death on 8^th July 1994. Now his 24-yaer-old inexperienced son is expected to take over from him.  

Now are the tears worth it? Is the world forgetting how is North Korean arsenal of atomic weapons and nuclear facilities that are sailed through rogue states including Iran and Syria touching formidable challenge to international security? Where are the outstanding speeches coming from or the world leaders are are short sighted? If that is how world leaders behave then I don’t blame the anchor who was full of tears as she broke the news on North Korea state television stating; “it is the biggest loss for the party….and it is our people and nation’s biggest sadness!”  It is totally against journalistic   principals according to my journalism lecture who taught me to report the news and not to be in news.

Back closer to home, the trend is the same. We have worshipped party kingpins, tribal chiefs that we have limited our thinking that they are leaders to be held accountable. That is why stiff necked fools take machetes to maim and cause harm simply because their ‘Dear Leaders” has said so. We need to think how to choose leaders or we will face the fate of North Korea yet again pretend to cry when such leaders meet their designated doom.  

CHWEYA ITEBA NAIROBI.