Lawyers group seeking interview with North Korean restaurant defectors

Posted on : 2016-05-16 17:05 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
MINBYUN arguing that in accordance with human rights standards, defectors should have access to a lawyer
Family members of the Ryukyung Restaurant workers who defected to South Korea gave an interview on Apr. 28 to North Korea’s Uriminzzokiri TV
Family members of the Ryukyung Restaurant workers who defected to South Korea gave an interview on Apr. 28 to North Korea’s Uriminzzokiri TV

As debate continues about the circumstances surrounding the defection of a group of employees at a North Korean restaurant in China that the South Korean government abruptly announced just before the Apr. 13 general elections, MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society has asked South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) for an “emergency interview” with the employees.

With North and South Korea offering conflicting explanations about the waitresses’ entry to South Korea - the North says they were lured and kidnapped by the NIS, while the South says they defected voluntarily - MINBYUN contends that the women should be allowed to freely express their viewpoint with the aid of an attorney in accordance with international human rights standards.

“On May 13, we submitted a request to the NIS for interviews with the women in order to clear up a number of allegations about the group defection and in the interest of transparent and open review,” MINBYUN’s unification committee said on May 15.

MINBYUN intends to hold an emergency interview and press conference with Lee Eun-gyeong and 11 other employees of the North Korean restaurant overseas on the afternoon of May 16 in front of the center for North Korean defectors where the employees are being questioned by the NIS.

“In an interview with CNN and through the United Nations Human Rights Council, the families of the women who entered South Korea have been asking to meet with their daughters and for them to be returned to the North, but the South Korean government merely repeats the claim that their defection was voluntary without providing any kind of information,” MINBYUN as explanation for their interview request.

The group of employees who entered South Korea on Apr. 7 have reportedly been interrogated by the NIS at the defector center for nearly 40 days and are completely cut off from the outside world. Under these circumstances, the North Korean families of the employees have used an interview on CNN to ask for a chance to meet their daughters and find out whether they really wanted to defect.

According to Pyongyang, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service lured and kidnapped the North Korean women. It also claims that the women are asking to meet with their families at Panmunjeom and that they are on a hunger strike at the defector center.

In accordance with the recommendations about the detention of North Korean defectors made by the United Nations Human Rights Council on Nov. 5 of last year, MINBYUN argues that the women should be guaranteed the right to receive the assistance of a lawyer throughout their detention period.

In light of previous incidents, it is highly probable that the NIS will reject or ignore MINBYUN’s request for an interview. In this event, MINBYUN plans to keep demanding that the women’s right to an attorney be recognized through administrative lawsuits. The group is also considering the option of filing a petition for a habeas corpus review after receiving power of attorney with the help of an international body.

The NIS intends to inform MINBYUN about its plans regarding the group‘s request for an interview on the morning of May 16.

By Kim Jin-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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