Honiton and Sidmouth Conservatives welcomed North Korean escapee, human rights advocate and democracy campaigner Timothy Cho to Honiton this week for a powerful event focused on freedom, faith and the importance of democratic values.
The event, held at the Honiton Conservative Club, brought together local members and residents to hear Timothy’s extraordinary story of survival under one of the world’s most oppressive regimes.
Timothy Cho is a two-time North Korean escapee who endured imprisonment on multiple occasions in both North Korea and China before eventually reaching Britain. After his parents fled the regime, he became part of North Korea’s so-called “enemy class”, a persecuted group systematically denied opportunities and freedoms by the state. Since resettling in the United Kingdom, he has become an internationally recognised advocate for human rights, religious freedom and democracy.
During the evening, Timothy spoke about life under the North Korean regime, the dangers of escape, political and religious persecution, and how living in Britain allowed him to discover freedom, education and opportunity for the first time.
He also reflected on the importance of defending democratic values and standing against authoritarianism and tyranny around the world.
Timothy currently serves as Secretariat of the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, is an Open Doors UK spokesperson for North Korea and regularly addresses international conferences and sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council on human rights abuses and religious persecution.
Chairman of the Honiton and Sidmouth Conservatives, Dominic Nancekievill said:
“Timothy’s story was both harrowing and inspiring. Hearing first-hand about the reality of life under totalitarianism was an incredibly powerful experience for everyone who attended.”
“It was a reminder that freedom, democracy, free speech and freedom of faith should never be taken for granted. These are values worth defending.”
“We are extremely grateful to Timothy for travelling to Honiton to share his experiences and insights with local residents and members.”
During his visit, Timothy also joined local Conservatives campaigning in Upottery, speaking with residents and hearing directly about the issues affecting the village and surrounding rural communities.
Honiton and Sidmouth Conservatives thanked the Honiton Conservative Club for hosting the event and said they looked forward to holding more events which engage residents on important national and international issues.
