P6_TA(2006)0357

North Korean asylum seekers, in particular in Thailand

European Parliament resolution on North Korean asylum seekers, in particular in Thailand

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on North Korea,

- having regard to the rules laid down in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto,

- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, in recent years, tens of thousands of North Koreans have fled from their home country because of repression and widespread hunger, some risking their lives in travelling through China to arrive in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea and other South-East Asian countries,

B. whereas the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

C. whereas Thailand has become a transit destination for North Koreans fleeing their homeland, thus putting the Thai authorities in a difficult situation vis-à-vis the DPRK, a country with which they have friendly relations,

D. whereas the number of North Korean, Burmese, Laotian and Chinese refugees in transit on Thai territory has considerably increased over the past year;

E. whereas the Thai authorities wish to enforce the law on illegal immigration;

F. whereas, on 22 August 2006, the Thai police arrested a group of 175 asylum seekers — 37 men, 128 women and 10 children — who had been hiding for the last two months in an abandoned house in the Thai capital, Bangkok,

G. whereas these asylum seekers, who form the largest group of North Koreans ever arrested in Thailand, were charged with illegal entry and brought before a court, where they were fined THB 6000 (USD 160) each and put into jail for 30 days because they were unable to pay,

H. whereas 16 members of this group have been granted refugee status by the Bangkok Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and are scheduled to leave Thailand in a few days for South Korea, which grants citizenship to defectors from the North,

I. whereas governments are bound by their obligation as parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto to grant the UNHCR access to all nationals, including North Koreans, seeking asylum in another country,

J. whereas the situation of the remaining asylum seekers remains precarious and needs to be resolved rapidly,

1. Deplores, as it has done in its previous resolutions, the fact that thousands of North Korean citizens flee their country because of repression, hunger and economic decline;

2. Urges the Thai authorities not to repatriate the North Korean refugees, since they and their families will face dire consequences;

3. Calls on Thailand, which is well-known for its long tradition of hospitality towards refugees and which is a responsible member of the international community, to seek, in close cooperation with the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations, to find a rapid and acceptable solution for the North Korean refugees by sending them to a third country of their choice after the expiry of their 30-day jail sentence;

4. Calls on countries able to take the refugees in to make this known at the earliest opportunity in order to ensure that they are not kept in detention;

5. Calls on the Commission closely to monitor the situation of North Korean refugees in collaboration with the UNHCR and, if necessary, to provide appropriate financial aid;

6. Calls on the Council and the Commission to address the question of North Korean refugees and asylum seekers during the forthcoming ASEM Summit (Asia-Europe Meeting) on 10 and 11 September 2006;

7. Calls on the Government of the DPRK to observe the special procedures established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

--------------------------------------------------