KontraS (Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) urges the Indonesian government to take an important role in a series of massive human rights violations that have occurred in North Korea.
This is important to be delivered remembering in the near future the representative of the North Korean government will come and meet with the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 13-16 May 2012.
The second highest leader of the North Korean government Kim Yong-nam and the Indonesian President SBY will attend the meeting to focus on the nuclear program and the recently failed rocket launch. KontraS views that the meeting’s agenda is very pragmatic, given the agenda of the meeting did not touch the fundamental problems of a series of massive human rights violations against the people of North Korea.
As part of an international subject, KontraS sees that the Indonesian government has an obligation to participate in maintaining world peace as it is stated in Indonesia’s constitution. Due to this Indonesia should play an active role in initiating, creating and realizing progressive steps between countries in order to achieve world peace, one of which is obtaining peace for the people of North Korea. This is certainly consistent with the active role that had been taken by the government of Indonesia in several key positions such as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, member of the Human Rights Council as well as several other key positions at the international level.
KontraS also takes note of the number of gross human rights violations that have been done by the North Korean government. Referring to the reports issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korea, Mr. Marzuki Darusman, we are highly concerned with the issue of freedom of __EXPRESSION__ in North Korea and the limitation and punishment towards the media and all forms of association and __EXPRESSION__s that are regarded as hostile to the government. As a result, there are currently no opposition parties known as politically independent and civil society organizations and international Internet networks are only accessible to a small minority, a few high rank officials and foreign diplomats. Independent media, free access of internet, freedom to run a CSO, and access for international journalists, that are currently lacking in the DPRK, should be present as an important entity for an open society.
Furthermore, it is also noted that some human rights violations continue to occur, especially in camps and/or detention centres. Many of them have experienced torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments if the inmates are suspected of lying or seen not working quickly. The forms of punishment include beatings, forced exercise, sitting motionless for long periods of time and humiliation. The existence of forced labour, inadequate food, beatings, lack of medical attention and unhygienic conditions has caused many inmates to fall ill and die in custody or shortly after his release from custody.
KontraS as a part of the civil society that focuses on human rights issues at the national and international level urges the Indonesian government in its meeting with Kim Yong-nam to:
• Facilitate a constructive dialogue with the North Korean government relating to the human rights violations in North Korea as a part of Indonesia’s mandate as written in its constitution.
• Requests the North Korean government to give an opportunity for KontraS as one of the representatives of the civil society in Indonesia to meet with the civil society in North Korea.
• Ask the Kim Jong Nam to Invite UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Situation in North Korea, Mr. Marzuki Darusman, to North Korea
Jakarta, May 10, 2012
Executive Committee of KontraS
Haris Azhar, Coordinator
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