The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) yesterday debated whether or not to submit to its standing committee a proposed “Recommendation on Free Information Access for North Korean People”. However, the discussion failed to reach a conclusion.
The recommendation proposal as submitted by non-standing commissioner Kim Tae Hoon, includes provision for: ▲ disseminating leaflets inside North Korea; ▲ loud speaker broadcasts; and ▲ electronic displays along the DMZ.
Kim argued for the recommendation on the basis that “providing information to North Korea would be granting the right to know to North Korean residents, and it would present us with an opportunity to resolve human rights problems.”
However, opponents of the plan argued that such activities come under government jurisdiction, and are not the job of NHRCK, which is mandated as a fully independent government body to deal with human rights issues on the Korean Peninsula. They contended, therefore, that activities of this ilk involving North Korea should remain the preserve of government.
Therefore, despite a heated discussion, no conclusion was reached, and the issue was ultimately postponed to the next meeting.
In a telephone interview with The Daily NK following the decision, Kim said, “It is extremely regrettable that such an obvious matter cannot get passed,” and added, “We should approach North Korean human rights issues with sincerity, rather than with the logic of politics.”
“This recommendation is designed to help the North Korean people to know freedom and truth. We have to help them realize their awareness of human rights by giving them a great deal of information,” Kim went on.
In conclusion, Kim asserted, “The North Korean people do not even recognize that their suffering and violations of their human rights are wrong. It is the Commission’s duty to inform the North Koreans that they are masters of their country.”
An NHRCK standing committee debate can be initiated with two or more commissioners’ consent for a recommendation.
