[USFK Forums] Panel compiling bill in slapping sanctions on N Korea [Asahi]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Friday, February 17, 2006

Panel compiling bill on slapping sanctions on North Korea

The Asahi Shinbum, 02/16/2006
By TARO KARASAKI, Staff Writer

A Liberal Democratic Party panel charged with overseeing the North Korean abduction issue agreed Thursday to draw up a bill that would oblige Tokyo to slap sanctions on Pyongyang if no progress is made in the dispute.

The panel approved a gist of the proposed North Korea human rights bill created by a team of lawmakers who have been pushing for the use of sanctions. Members said they hope to have the bill submitted and approved during the current regular Diet session.

According to the outline, the proposal will spell out the responsibility of the central government in coordinating with local governments to raise public awareness of human rights violations by North Korean authorities.

It will also require the state to work with other governments and international organizations in investigating Pyongyang's human rights wrongdoings.

In addition, the gist calls on the government to annually report to the Diet any progress made in resolving the abduction issue as well as findings related to the North's human rights violations. It seeks the swift execution of sanctions if no improvement is evident.

A source close to the lawmakers said the bill could be ready in a few weeks, but added that the timing for submitting the bill would depend on the situation surrounding North Korea.

"We hope to have the bill passed so as to strengthen our card for applying pressure against North Korea," Lower House member and panel head Ichiro Aisawa told reporters after the meeting.

The proposed bill comes amid growing mistrust of the Kim Jong Il regime after recent high-level talks between the two countries aimed at resuscitating normalization dialogue failed to produce concrete results.

Tokyo has been seeking the return of surviving abductees, the handover of those responsible for the abductions as well as a thorough investigation into the reasons for the disappearances.


(IHT/Asahi: February 16,2006)


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