NGO says North Korea conducts public executions for theft, watching South Korea media
Record ID:
903270
NGO says North Korea conducts public executions for theft, watching South Korea media
- Title: NGO says North Korea conducts public executions for theft, watching South Korea media
- Date: 19th July 2017
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP (TJWG), SARAH SON, EXPLAINING ABOUT MAP OF SUSPECTED BURIAL SITE GROUPING NEAR KILLING SITES INSIDE NORTH KOREA VARIOUS OF MAP INDICATING SUSPECTED BODY SITE GROUPINGS BY PROVINCE INSIDE NORTH KOREA SON SPEAKING FRONT COVER OF JULY 2017 REPORT BY TJWG ON "MAPPING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN NORTH KOREA" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP, SARAH SON, SAYING: "There're certainly the types of sites that we have been looking for, collected in this way, systematically, in this way hasn't been done before. So the fact that we are mapping sites that potentially provide important data on the locations of bodies that have been victims of the regime's abuses in a way that may help map patterns of abuse that may link victims' families with the remains of their loved ones. I think it's very important." SATELLITE MAP OF HYESAN CITY IN NORTH HAMGYONG PROVINCE SHOWING SUSPECTED SITES (MARKED IN ORANGE) WITH DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE SON POINTING TOWARDS STATE SECURITY AGENCY ON MAP (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP, SARAH SON, SAYING: "But I think the more important and powerful reason for them is that they are a powerful tool of control by the creation of fear. And I think the fact that the victims' families, co-workers, and even children from local schools are sometimes summoned to watch these events in public spaces on river banks and school grounds and sports stadium, in the market even, is indicative of the fact that this is a means of deterrence, a means of inciting fear, and establishing at least outward unwavering loyalty to the regime, and essentially its leaders." SON'S FINGER POINTING AS SHE EXPLAINS ON MAP OF SUSPECTED KILLING SITES BY PROVINCE SUSPECTED NUMBER OF KILLING SITES INSIDE NORTH HAMGYONG PROVINCE, NUMBER READING "222" (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP, SARAH SON, SAYING: "So with regard to crimes related to South Korea, we did have reports of people having been executed on the basis of distributing South Korean media. What we don't know, what we can't confirm or even corroborate at this stage of our research is whether this sentence was passed as a consequence of that charge alone, or in combination with other charges." SATELLITE MAP OF HYESAN CITY'S SUSPECTED SITES WITH DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2017 03:50
- Keywords: North Korea execution regime NGO
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QDTZ5X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: North Korea carries out public executions on river banks and at school grounds and marketplaces for charges such as stealing copper from factory machines, distributing media from South Korea and prostitution, a report issued on Wednesday (July 19) said.
The report, by a Seoul-based non-government group, said the often extra-judicial decisions for public executions are frequently influenced by "bad" family background or a government campaign to discourage certain behaviour.
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) said its report was based on interviews with 375 North Korean defectors from the isolated state over a period of two years.
Reuters could not independently verify the testimony of defectors in the report. The TJWG is made up of human rights activists and researchers and is led by Lee Younghwan, who has worked as an advocate for human rights in North Korea.
It receives most of its funding from the U.S.-based National Endowment for Democracy, which in turn is funded by the U.S. Congress.
The TJWG report aims to document the locations of public killings and mass burials, which it says had not been done previously, to support an international push to hold to account those who commit what it describes as crimes against humanity.
North Korea rejects charges of human rights abuses, saying its citizens enjoy protection under the constitution and accuses the United States of being the world's worst rights violator. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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