A. Strong Protest
In view of the above, it must be urged that appeals for humanitarian
considerations or quiet diplomatic approaches be discontinued
in favor of protest in the strongest possible terms and actions
in dealing with the Chinese government. The observation is supported
by the modern Chinese short story, “The True Story of Ah
Q” by Lu Hsun (1881-1936), which has been recognized by
both the Chinese themselves and by foreigners as being “an
excellent description of Chinese national characteristics.”
B. Open Confrontation
The government of China must be strongly condemned for and confronted
with its defiance of the 1951 Geneva convention at all levels
and opportunities. As a first step, the government of China must
be urged, not appealed, to answer the attached questions, which
have been put forward to the government of China for years and
which the Chinese government has bluntly ignored.
It is proposed that at the end of this conference the attached
questions are put forward to the Chinese government for answer
in the name of the Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR)
and the participants of this conference today. Repeated reminders
will be made through a short announcement in the leading international
news media making reference to the unanswered questions to be
found in the LFNKR web site. The announcement to appear in the
leading international newspapers regularly, for example, may read
as follows:
“On 19 July 2004, the Life Funds for North Korean Refugees
(LFNKR) and the participants of the Tokyo Conference on 18 July,
2004, have asked the Chinese government questions on the issues
of the legal status of North Korean defectors in China and China’s
arbitrary detentions of humanitarian aid workers. As of this date
we have received no response. (The questions to be found in web-site:
http:www.asahi-net.or.jp/~fe6h-ktu/). This is our reminder to
the Chinese government.”
C. Documentation of Information.
It is important to attract greater attention and support from
the international community on this issue of Chinese arrogance
and defiance of rule of law. Crucial information will have to
be collected and documented for this purpose. All participants
are urged to make greater efforts to collect testimonies and evidence
of North Korean defectors who are executed in North Korea after
forcibly returned to North Korea by the Chinese authorities.
D. Leadership
Finally, we need real leadership on this issue, not just from
each of us here in this room, but also from key international
figures. If a Clinton, Carter, Gore or Kissinger were to step-up
and publicly condemn China’s actions, then it would send
a definitive signal to the Chinese Government that they can no
longer get away with forcibly returning North Korean refugees
to torture, forced labor and death, nor arbitrarily imprison humanitarian
aid workers. They would indeed give a powerful voice to an otherwise
voiceless population.
But regardless of what’s said and done, at the end of the
day, China must comply with international laws that it has signed…
this is absolute. And it is up to the international community,
especially the UN member states, to demand more and make it happen.
E. We would be wise to pursue the coordination
of protests at multiple Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide,
which holds the potential of a profound “multiplier effect”
on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese government.
F. It is recommended that
(a) a delegation drawn from the present LFNKR
conference be dispatched to meet with the newly appointed UN
special rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights to inform him/her
of documented human rights violations rights of North Koreans,
(b) and if possible, a second delegation be
sent to meet with representatives of the UNHCR in Geneva.
G. The international parliamentary league that
has demonstrated concern for the plight of North Korean refugees
in China deserves our enthusiastic coordination and support as
long as its goals remain parallel with those of the NGO community
on this issue.
H. We strongly urge the government of Japan
to officially recognize North Korean defectors in China as refugees.
I. In light of Japan’s position as the largest
donor in the world to the UNHCR, it is in the ideal position
to strongly urge the UNHCR to dramatically improve its performance
vis a vis North Korean refugees in China. If the UNHCR does not
respond and finds itself unable to carry out its mandate in China,
then we recommend the Japanese government suspend its donation
and insist that the UNHCR shutter its inactive Beijing office
as soon as possible.
