U.S. commission to Beijing: do not repatriate North Koreans
Washington (AsiaNews) - The Chinese government must stop repatriating North Korean exiles who are fleeing from the Stalinist regime of Kim Jong-il: this regime, in fact, after capturing them treats them "in an inhumane manner, especially if they are Christians". The request comes from the United States commission on international religious freedom, which has published a report on North Korea entitled "A Prison without Bars".
The commission emphasises the anti-religious component of the operation. The torture and pressure exerted against those who are repatriated, in fact, "serve as a warning to the rest of the population, which must link religion to extreme suffering". Based on interviews with the refugees - both prisoners and prison guards - the text describes the Chinese attitude on the question as "an issue of special concern".
It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of North Koreans in China: most of them entered the country illegally, and are used as a source of free manual labour, under the threat of repatriation. The commission asks the Chinese government to respect international treaties on the right to political asylum, and to change its policy on the question immediately, as the country "prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing".
Until now, Beijing has defended itself against the accusations by citing an obscure treaty, signed 25 years ago by Beijing and Pyongyang, that imposes repatriation on those who leave North Korea without documents.
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