S.Korean group to begin legal action against China`s torture

S.Korean group to begin legal action against China`s torture. August. 06, 2012 05:58. shcho@donga.com.

A civic group based in South Korea will begin the process to get the world to condemn China’s alleged torture of a South Korean human rights activist and urge Beijing to apologize. The Chinese government has flatly denied the allegation that it has tortured activists who try to help North Korean defectors in China.

Choi Hong-jae, spokesman for a committee on response to the release of activist Kim Young-hwan, said Sunday, “This issue is entering a phase that requires long-term efforts and that is difficult to address in a short time,” adding, “We will start legal action against China as early as this week.”

The committee is considering civic and criminal suits against the Chinese government, and will also hold a news conference for foreign journalists Monday on plans to submit additional appeals to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Special Rapporteur against Torture under the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Kwon Eun-gyeong, chief of the international affairs team at the committee, said, “The document we submitted in May, when Kim was detained, was an urgent appeal for his release, but the document we will submit this time will be an allegation letter that includes details about the torture. We will speed up the process to mail the letter to get it delivered in time for the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Council in September.”

A South Korean government source said, “We will support the committee`s activities and continue urging China to give an explanation.”

As for Beijing’s claim Friday suggesting that Kim was treated in a civilized and humanitarian way, the source said, “Even if Kim’s activities were illegal, he shouldn`t have been tortured,” adding, “It`s totally illogical for China to claim that it gave good or civilized treatment.”