United Nations Radio

Vitit Muntarbhorn

INTRO: And now we turn to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the DPRK. In a recent report prepared by Vitit Muntarbhorn, the human rights Special Rapporteur in the DPRK, the human rights situation in the country was described as "abysmal". Gerry Adams reports:

Narrator: Mr. Muntarbhorn is the independent United Nations expert monitoring the situation in the East Asian nation. He notes in his latest report, which he recently presented to the UN, that nine million people in the DPRK are suffering from food shortages:

Vitit:Food shortages have been at the heart of the want factor confronting the general population since the mid 1990s. Food grants based on rations provided by the state to its people were provided from the early days of the regime through a public distribution system, PDS, as a means of state control over its inhabitants. From the mid 1990s, there were rampant malnutrition and other tragedies inflicted on the population, partly due to natural disasters and partly due to mismanagement by the authorities. The regime then started to accept foreign food aid to alleviate the chronic situation. In 2009 the aid situation is still desperate.

Narrator: Mr. Muntarbhorn found that pervasive oppression imposed by the authorities ensures that the people live in continual fear and are pressed to inform on each other:

Vitit: The state practices extensive surveillance over its inhabitants. Throughout the years, the authorities have bred a culture of mistrust, a policy of divide and rule that permeates families and communities.

Narrator: The independent UN expert says the media in the DPRK is heavily censored, forming the backbone of an enormous propaganda machine. Reading books from the Republic of Korea, the ROK, is punishable as a crime of espionage. Computer ownership and use of the internet without permission are forbidden and it is prohibited to watch foreign films. As far as freedom of movement is concerned, it's restricted:

Vitit: Internally, travel permits are required if people wish to leave or travel across the country. For external travel, an exit visa is required. There has been a long standing outflow of people persecuted by the authorities who have left the country spontaneously and clandestinely without travel permits.

Narrator: Other abuses included corporal punishment and torture. In his report, Mr. Muntarbhorn makes a number of recommendations to the Government, including measures to ensure effective provision of and access to food in cooperation with the UN and other agencies. The Rapporteur, who has served in the position since the mandate was established in 2004, will present his final report of his tenure to the Human Rights Council in 2010.
Gerry Adams, United Nations.

(duration: 2'37")