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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| UN Rights Body Rebukes North Korea for Grave Abuses |
| 2005-04-14 |
| The United Nations on Thursday censured North Korea for "widespread and grave violations" -- including torture, executions and forced abortions -- drawing a sharp rebuke from the secretive communist state. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights, whose 53 member states are holding an annual session, urged Pyongyang to cooperate with its special investigator on the Democratic Republic of Korea. The resolution, brought by the European Union (EU) and Japan, was adopted by a vote of 30 countries in favor, nine against and 14 abstentions, including South Korea. It expressed deep concern at torture, public executions, arbitrary detention, "infanticide," imposition of the death penalty for "political reasons," the existence of a "large number of prison camps" and extensive use of forced labour. The United States delegation denounced North Korea's "deplorable human rights record." U.S. delegate Sasha Mehra took the floor to say that in North Korea, "150,000 to 200,000 people were believed to be held at detention camps in remote areas for political reasons." "Defectors report people dying of torture, starvation, disease and exposure or a combination of causes," she added. "We stand with the victims of the brutal regime." But North Korea's delegation reacted angrily, accusing the forum of "politicisation, selectivity and double standards." "The fundamental purpose of this resolution is to overthrow the state system of the DPRK," said member Choe Myong Nam. Rest at link. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #3 |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-04-14 11:05:05 PM |
| #2 |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-04-14 2:21:55 PM |
| #1 |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-04-14 1:50:34 PM |