ID :
106180
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 10:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/106180
The shortlink copeid
N.K. human rights bill in line with Seoul's position: official
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- The ruling party's push to legislate a bill aimed at improving human rights condition in North Korea is in line with the government's approach towards the issue, a senior official said Friday.
The parliament's foreign affairs committee on Thursday endorsed the bill calling
for the improvement of human rights conditions in the North. If enacted into law,
the bill will be the first of its kind in South Korea. A similar bill was
scrapped in the previous National Assembly as the then ruling Uri Party opposed
it over concerns about relations with the North.
On Friday, a senior Unification Ministry official, requesting to be unnamed, told
Yonhap News Agency that "efforts to pass the bill are in line with the
government's direction."
The official pledged to effectively implement and realize the intent of the
legislation, saying the bill is part of "efforts to improve human rights for the
people of North Korea and substantially improve the livelihood of the people
through humanitarian support."
North Korea has long been labeled one of the worst human rights violators in the
world. The totalitarian regime does not tolerate dissent and holds hundreds of
thousands of people in political prison camps across the nation. Pyongyang has
bristled at any talk of its human rights conditions, calling it an attempt to
overthrow the regime.
During Thursday's committee meeting, the bill failed to win consent from members
of the main opposition Democratic Party, as they boycotted the vote and demanded
further deliberation due to the sensitive nature of the legislation.
The Democratic Party said in a statement said that they recognize the dire human
rights condition in the North but also argued that the bill was in effect an
"anti-North Korean" bill, insisting that it would lead to "prolonging of the
chilled ties between the two Koreas while strengthening clampdowns in the North
to consolidate the regime's security."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- The ruling party's push to legislate a bill aimed at improving human rights condition in North Korea is in line with the government's approach towards the issue, a senior official said Friday.
The parliament's foreign affairs committee on Thursday endorsed the bill calling
for the improvement of human rights conditions in the North. If enacted into law,
the bill will be the first of its kind in South Korea. A similar bill was
scrapped in the previous National Assembly as the then ruling Uri Party opposed
it over concerns about relations with the North.
On Friday, a senior Unification Ministry official, requesting to be unnamed, told
Yonhap News Agency that "efforts to pass the bill are in line with the
government's direction."
The official pledged to effectively implement and realize the intent of the
legislation, saying the bill is part of "efforts to improve human rights for the
people of North Korea and substantially improve the livelihood of the people
through humanitarian support."
North Korea has long been labeled one of the worst human rights violators in the
world. The totalitarian regime does not tolerate dissent and holds hundreds of
thousands of people in political prison camps across the nation. Pyongyang has
bristled at any talk of its human rights conditions, calling it an attempt to
overthrow the regime.
During Thursday's committee meeting, the bill failed to win consent from members
of the main opposition Democratic Party, as they boycotted the vote and demanded
further deliberation due to the sensitive nature of the legislation.
The Democratic Party said in a statement said that they recognize the dire human
rights condition in the North but also argued that the bill was in effect an
"anti-North Korean" bill, insisting that it would lead to "prolonging of the
chilled ties between the two Koreas while strengthening clampdowns in the North
to consolidate the regime's security."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
