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Category Archives: Human Rights

Chosun Ilbo border-crosser documentary footage shown on BBC

30-May-08
Newsnight last night screened a 17 minute extract from the Chosun's documentary on North Korean border crossers in Northern China. A very brief extract, together with the BBC reporter's write-up, can be found on the BBC website here. The Chosun Ilbo website says that there will be more extended versions of the footage screening on BBC World over the next few days. Unfortunately, being on BBC World, no-one in the UK will be able to watch it unless they have premium cable TV: it's not available on Freeview as far as I can see. Here's the details on the BBC World site - also here. Update: the full 17 minute Newsnight piece can be found here. Thanks to Colin Bartlett for pointing this ...
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Ambassador Ja in the House of Lords

05-Mar-08
In the very same room where, nine months ago, two DPRK defectors told their stories, last night the DPRK ambassador addressed members of both Houses of Parliament and answered questions. It was disappointing that so few MPs were there ((Those present included John Stanley and Gordon Prentice)), but their absence made sure there was plenty of room for members of the public -- journalists, academics, human rights activists and others -- to join the gathering. Ambassador Ja Song Nam was introduced by Lord Alton, chair of the All-Party British-North Korea Parliamentary Group, who presided over the evening's proceedings. Lord Alton was joined by Baronesses Cox and Williams. Ambassador Ja started by giving some historical background to the current nuclear issue, highlighting the difficulty ...
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North Korea: new approaches - conference report

23-Jan-08
The panel and attendance list of the 8th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights & Refugees was a who’s who of North Korean experts and Koreanists in general ((The Chatham House Rule was invoked, and a strict reading of that implies that I can’t say who was in the audience, but at least the speakers are a matter of public record)). As expected, there was no representation from the DPRK embassy. Given that more than one panellist characterised past conferences as “people getting together to bash North Korea and feeling better afterwards” that was hardly surprising. But this conference was billed as exploring new approaches, so maybe a different attitude might have been fondly hoped-for this year. Instead, the ...
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Amnesty International spotlights Comfort Women issue

08-Nov-07
Just received Still waiting for justice after 62 Years Gil Won Ok ('Grandma Gil') and Ellen van der Ploeg were among many women used as wartime sex slaves by the Japanese military. They have campaigned unceasingly for justice and for an apology for 62 years. Amnesty International UK is the inal venue of a speaking tour that has seen these tireless women cross Europe to tell their story. We welcome them to the Human Rights Action Centre where they will tell us of the challenges they have faced in their campaign for justice and give us an opportunity to add our voices in support of their campaign. They are calling for the Japanese government to publicly apologise to these women ...
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North Korea - Behind the Headlines

07-Sep-07
As often happens with events related to Korea, one has to make choices. On 20 September one has to choose between the Anglo-Korean Society Chuseok dinner and something more sombre. Earlier this year two reports were published on North Korean human rights by Anti-Slavery International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Meanwhile the BBC have been working on a documentary, extracts from which will be screened on 20 September. Here are the details: Spotlight on Slavery North Korea - behind the headlines 7.00pm, 20 September 2007, This event will provide insights into different human rights issues in North Korea including a screening of part of the documentary Access to Evil. Access to Evil features footage from inside North Korea where more than one hundred thousand of people ...
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The fate of North Korean returnees

10-Aug-07
"The only way I'm going back to Korea is in a coffin" said a North Korean woman now living in China. Her story, recently told in the Daily Telegraph, is typical of the experience of a certain category of North Koreans in China. What that category is called depends on your orientation -- economic migrants, illegal border crossers, refugees -- but one thing is clear: if you get caught by the Chinese police you are likely to get sent back to North Korea, and a less than friendly welcome awaits. The Telegraph article coincides fortuitously with the publication of a report on forced labour in North Korean prison camps by Anti-Slavery International, the UK-based human rights organisation. ASI's report, based on ...
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New report presents evidence of crimes against humanity

20-Jun-07
Christian Solidarity Worldwide yesterday launched a new report, seven years in the making, which concluded that there is a prima facie case that the DPRK regime is guilty of crimes against humanity. The report has had input from lawyers familiar with the international human rights regime and is based, inter alia, on interviews with 80 North Koreans in three continents - including both prison camp guards and their former prisoners. The report was launched yesterday at a breakfast meeting at London's Foreign Press Association, and then made its way to the Houses of Parliament where the report was highlighted as part of an evidence session following the annual general meeting of the All-party British-North Korea Parliamentary Group. Two North Korean defectors ...
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British-North Korea Parliamentary Group meeting

08-Jun-07
The All-party British-North Korea Parliamentary Group is holding an evidence session at 11:00am on Tuesday 19 June in the Moses Room in the Houses of Parliament. The purpose of group, chaired by Lord Alton, is to engage in dialogue with the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; to develop links between parliamentarians in both countries; and to foster democracy and democratic institutions. At the session on 19 June, North Korean defectors will share first hand experience of life inside the North Korean political prison camp system. All are welcome, and the session is likely to last around 90 minutes. You are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes early to clear security. Access via the St Stephens entrance to the Houses ...
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Amnesty at Chatham House

22-Mar-07
Rajiv Narayan's talk at Chatham House last week about Amnesty International's activities and concerns on the Korean peninsula was timely but yet somehow seemed to miss the point. I was reminded about the story of a drunk who was found grovelling on the pavement underneath a streetlamp at 3am. A concerned passer-by asked him what he was doing. "Looking for my wallet. I dropped it in that dark alleyway over there." "So why aren't you looking for it in the alley?" was the obvious question. "Because I can see better over here, where the light is". So, because Amnesty has access to the South and no access to the North ((and I guess the way to get access to the North is ...
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Nobble your vicar

19-Jun-06
The organisation of the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea has been impressive. The website has been up for ages, allowing ample time for word-of-mouth. And then a week or so ago there was a bulk mailing. I happened to be around at the vicarage the other day for a meeting of the church finance committee and saw on the coffee table a flier which was basically a print of the home page of www.prayfornorthkorea.org. And the vicar didn't just have it on display because he knows I've got this Korean thing going: he had just opened his post and this is what had just come out of the envelope. Someone has been stuffing envelopes and sending mailshots to, ...
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