Christian Solidarity Worldwide has condemned the deportation of nine North Korean refugees from Laos to China after which they were forcibly repatriated to North Korea, saying the refugees could face “detention, torture and even execution”.
The nine North Koreans, who are aged 15 to 23 years, arrived in Laos around 10th May and were on their way to South Korea when they were caught by Lao authorities. Despite reports that the South Korean embassy in Vientiane had requested the people be transferred into their custody, the group was deported to China and, according to a South Korean foreign ministry official, were believed to have been repatriated to North Korean on 29th May.
Mervyn Thomas, CSW”s chief executive, says the organisation condemns the decision of the Lao authorities to deport the refugees.
“We urge the Lao authorities to return to their policy of transferring all North Korean refugees into the custody of South Korean officials,” he said, adding that the organisation was also “deeply concerned” about the refugees” subsequent deportation to North Korea.
“We strongly urge the North Korean government to respect the human rights of the nine North Koreans, acknowledging the special protection given to persons under 18 years by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to refrain from treating the nine individuals as criminals, as has been their habit in the past, granting them full freedom.”
Both China and Laos have ratified the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which prohibits the forcible return of people to states where they face a substantial risk of being tortured.
