|
The answers that Kim Chang-kook, the head of the Human Rights Commission, gave during the National Assembly meeting Monday regarding human rights abuses in North Korea are simply astonishing. It is incomprehensible how he, who was determined to resolve all universal human rights problems, finds it a taboo to speak of the North's innumerable violations.
Even a primary school student can answer whether human rights are violated more in North Korea than South Korea. Asked the same question, Kim was evasive, saying that he lacked numerical data or knowledge of the situation in North Korea. It is hard to believe that Kim has not come across the annual reports on North Korea made by international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International or our government agencies.
It is unlikely that Kim is wholly ignorant of the human rights situation in North Korea. Different opinions exist over whether the commission should deal with human rights violations in North Korea. Still, it is unacceptable that the commission, after making an anti-war declaration in which it expressed concerns for Iraqi civilians, is completely ignoring the human rights abuses being perpetrated on North Koreans, who under our constitution are equal citizens as South Koreans.
The human rights problem in North Korea is becoming is attracting international attention as United Nations Human Rights Commission prepares a resolution on the issue. At this point, it is embarrassing that Seoul believes silence and ignorance are the best policies. Our rights commission often stresses its independence from the government; but now, when it should raise its voice, it chooses to shy away from dealing with North Korean issues, raising doubts as to its reason for existence.
April 16, 2003
|
