AJA expresses regret on NK defectors

The Asia Journalist Association (AJA), represented by Ivan Lim, issued a statement in which it expressed regret and concern over the 31 North Korean defectors who were arrested earlier by the Chinese police and now in danger of being repatriated to North Korea.

North Korean defectors, sent back to the North before, were either publicly executed or are still in a state of being tortured at concentration camps. Their pursuit of freedom for better life is not a crime, the AJA went on to say.

AJA seeks to enhance the world peace, human life and their dignity regarding them as the highest value, along with the freedom of press and advancement of journalism. China is urged to show mature attitude over the repatriation issue, considering the fact that China, in the Group of Two with the United States, regards the world peace and human co-prosperity as their national goal, it said.

“We expect that the Chinese government would recognize the defectors as refugees and send them to the country where they want to go according to the international conventions on refugees,” it said.

6^th March, 2012

Asia Journalist Association