Report from Roy and Kathleen Sneddon December 2005
Sent: Saturday, October 08, 2005 11:55 AM
The Roy Sneddon family traveled to China in September 2005 in our continual efforts to bring David home. We did not expect to locate him during this visit, nor to bring him home; however, our plan was to soften the hearts and open the minds of the local officials in an effort to rekindle the urgency to find David. That was our goal, and we feel that in it we were highly successful. Unexpectedly, we were able to meet with high government officials from both the U.S. and China. We are very grateful for the full cooperation and support from the American Embassy in China and the State Department in Washington, D.C.
Our family, Roy, Kathleen, and seven adult children (Michael, Jannene, James, Katherine, Cameron, Nathan and Jenny), spent nine days in China in our continuing search for David Sneddon. Through the efforts of the U.S. Embassy personnel in Beijing and those of the Consulate at Chengdu, we met with high level Chinese government officials in Zhongdian (Shangri-la) and Lijiang, Yunnan, PRC. In these meetings the siblings were able to share their thoughts and memories about David. For all in attendance, it was an emotional experience. Additionally, in Beijing we met with Ambassador Randt, and we had a lovely luncheon in Beijing with Yafei He, the Chinese Director General of Foreign Affairs for North America and Oceania. In each case we made friends for David’s cause and found people sharing common aspirations for their children. We provided a short document about David’s family written in Mandarin for each of the Chinese officials present at our meetings. You may view this as an attachment in English.
In our exit interview with Ambassador Randt we were able to express our gratitude for all the Embassy has done in David’s behalf. We reviewed with him our odyssey across China’s Yunnan Province, and what we feel was a productive meeting with Yafei He. The Ambassador was most gracious, considerate, and interested in our situation. The Embassy and staff of American Citizens Services have gone beyond the “second mile” in their continuing efforts to help.
We feel that our family’s visit to China was significantly more productive and useful than we could have anticipated. In our meetings with the Chinese officials we were able to put a family face on David with his attendant father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Family was common ground with the Chinese officials. They could now empathize, and in many cases hearts were softened in our behalf. As a side note, we find it significant that we were served a lot of hot water, but no tea and in the formal lunch with Yefei He, ample fruit juice (non alcoholic) was available for the traditional Chinese toast.
We retraced the steps David had taken, where he ate and slept and often saw his face on a “missing person” poster. David loved to visit with the local Chinese in their villages. Thus this final comment: Instead of asking “Why did he go alone?”, David’s siblings now comment, “We know why he came here — the mountains, the villages and most important the people!”
Thanks again for your continual interest and prayers in our behalf.
Roy and Kathleen Sneddon
I am sorry to hear about your lost loved one. I too have an adventurous son who plans to treck across part of China in 2014. Do you have any advise. Sincerely, Sandy
Dear Sandy,
I suppose that the key thing is that he not travel alone. That statement would not include someone he meets along the way. Insist (if possible) that his companion known to both of you and trusted for being level headed. In China many things are not what they seem and a second opinion is valuable. If he is going to Yunnan Province keep in mind that it is a long way from Beijing and doesn’t necessarily follow their rules. Insist on regular e-mails and registration with the State Department.
Kind regards,
Roy Sneddon
Dear Sheila,
Our experience with local people is quite good. At the local police known as the Public Security Bureau or PSB, and Foreign Affairs Office, what is said may not be the truth. Therefore, caution needs to be exercised around them. You must always tell the truth, but they may not. Officially Chinese put a positive face on things since there is no free press or expression as a counterweight. If your daughter is teaching English contracts and expectations with school officials may not be as was advertised. These are a few examples.
Kind regards,
Roy Sneddon
I am a Japanese human rights activist working on abduction issue and I was sorry to listen to your letter read out at Mr. Chuck Down’s symposium on November 11 at the Japanese Parliament Building.
I have started a letter writing campaign calling for the rescue of David to the White House. An English sample letter is shown at the bottom of the following website.
http://kenkato.iza.ne.jp/blog/entry/2515245/
Publicity will protect David and quicken his return. I explained David’s case to two Japanese Parliamentarians last week and asked for assistance. Japan is taking David’s case very seriously and we will do everything to rescue him.
I m praying for Dave all the time. He is one of my best friends we were roomates for a year.
Thank you for your prayers. We are sure that they help David.
Roy
North Korea’s connection to David’s disappearance wouldn’t be surprising at all. Yunan province is known to be one of the main regions in China where numerous North Korean defectors stay prior to their trespass to Southeast Asian states before finally departing for South Korea. It was confirmed in 2010 that North Korea’s undercover agents (http://www.koreaherald.com/business/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100927000216) had been deployed to the province in order to collaborate with Chinese authorities to find and deport defectors. And if an American who speaks fluent English, Chinese, and Korean travels around the region alone, he would almost immediately attract those agents’ attention.
And even if they had found out or known that David was unaffiliated with underground defection network, they still would have gladly abducted him for his unusually gifted linguistic abilities as well as American cultural background, which always can be useful assets. There are multiple cases during last decades where foreign civilians were to abducted to North Korea to be assigned as educators.
We believe he is in North Korea. The article which you reference parallels our information. See recent posts.
Roy
Thank you. We are in contact with them.
Roy
Thank you for your interest and concern. We are pursuing the North Korean connection with Senator Mike Lee from Utah.
Roy
Parents of David,
My hearts aches for you both. Your son is obviously very talented and has lots to offer. I used to work as a journalist and for the past few years have been doing extensive research on the North Korean country. Deep down I feel he is alive and being utilized for his knowledge. I am currently looking for employment in human rights. Please contact me anytime if you think I could help in any way. Being a father of three boys I can imagine your pain not knowing where he is and what he’s doing. Please try to keep your faith.
True with sincerity,
David M Cedrone
Dear David’s father,
just read the attached article (in Japanese) about your son yesterday, and knew about it. Very sorry to hear the unfortunate thing have happened. i think this is a very shocking thing for so many people. i wish that their heavy thick doors will be opened and your son will return to you.
also we need not let another sadness happen to any other good people, so that more and more people know about this, and be awared.
maybe by chain email or share facebook, then let 5 to 10 people they know, so many people will know this and be warned on their travel/business/study.
Best, yuki from Tokyo, JAPAN
第４部 日米関係の中の拉致事件（１）米国編 「平壌で英語教師」情報
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/130106/kor13010608390000-n1.htm
(re-attaching the same article) kindly delete if this is not neccesary.)