By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – There are two recent cases that implicitly demonstrate the abuse problems in the South Korean military.

In June, Sergeant Lim opened fire on his fellow soldiers. Five soldiers were killed and seven were injured. They were returning to their base after training, and, surprisingly, it was not a shooting spree since the sergeant aimed at each one of the victims. He attempted to commit suicide, but was arrested with severe injury.

In April, Private Yoon died in his military base after being beaten to death by his senior troops. Yoon had suffered from habitual abuse and bullying at the hands of his fellow troops. This incident was unknown to the public until the Korean civic group, the Center for Military Human Rights, revealed it.

These two cases have several similarities. First, at the outset, there were bullying problems. Second, Both Lim and Yoon faced their situations by themselves without any help from outside. The only difference is that Yoon had endured his suffering until he died while Lim exploded his anger through extreme retaliation, murdering his comrades. Several Korean media stated that if Lim did not kill the aggressors, he would have ended up like Sergeant Yoon.

What the 20-year-old private, Yoon, had suffered is close to torture. He was denied food and forced to consume phlegm and his own vomit. He was beaten with fists, feet, and mop handles until they broke. When he became groggy, he was hooked up with intravenous drip to be revived and beaten again as he woke up. He was ordered to hold “horse-riding” stances for hours and forced to have an irritating salve rubbed on his genitals. On April 6, he was forced to eat frozen food right after being punched and kicked. He died thereafter.

One of the key causes leading to such severe military violence is the closed environment of the military. Its strict and conservative hierarchy system tends to obscure the violence even after someone dies. This tendency is related to promotions of higher rank officials. Moreover, a strong “pecking order” within Korean society makes its people more vulnerable to bullying problems not only in the military but also at work places and in schools.

In Yoon’s case, several officials did recognize Yoon’s situation, but did not take action to intervene. The military officially confirmed his cause of death as choking. However, after the public outcries, it changed its report to “death from shock” by intensive physical abuses. The military has since brought murder charges against the suspects in Yoon’s case.

In addition to the characteristics of the military and society, the conscription system makes the violence function as a vicious circle. In South Korea, it is mandatory for all male citizens to join the military for 2 to 3 years. When lower rank soldiers become senior ranks, they repeat the violations that they have suffered on the new soldiers.

According to a statistical inquiry, there are 152 dead bodies, which are classified as death from “failure to adjust to military life,” kept in the military morgue. Their families have refused to take the bodies until the “truth” is revealed by independent investigations that include civil experts. In recent five years, over 120 soldiers have died in the military and 80 of them were classified as “suicides.” Allegedly, some of the bodies with “suicide” tags are not even real suicide cases.

In South Korea, people who could legally avoid the military duty by substituted work or low levels of physical condition are called “sons of god.” Private Yoon’s mother, Ahn Mi Ja, said to CNN that “I wanted to do to them exactly what they did to my son.”

For more information, please see:

CNN – South Korean soldiers face murder charge amid bullying claim – 4 September 2014

The New York Times – Outrage Builds in South Korea in Deadly Abuse of a Soldier – 6 August 2014

Asian Human Rights Commission – SOUTH KOREA: Military camps or government run torture centres? – 28 August 2014

BBC – South Korea military under fire over abuse – August 27 2014

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – The human rights group Amnesty International (AI) released a 65-page report about situations in Thailand under martial law since the coup on May 22. It criticized the period as a “100 days spiral of repression” and calls for restoration of civil rights.

Richard Bennett, the Asia-Pacific director of AI, commented that “the Thai authorities should end this disturbing pattern of repression, end human rights violations, respect its international human rights obligations and allow open debate and discussion.”

The report pointed out several cases of systematic oppression and human rights violations. According to the report, hundreds of civilians have suffered from arbitrary arrests, detentions, and inhuman treatment as detainees at the hands of the military. Thai courts allegedly discriminated against people depending on their political stance and denied bail in “lese majeste” cases.

The report included an interview with Kritsuda Khunasen, a “red shirts” member. She claimed that she was illegally arrested by the military and tortured while being detained. “If I was too slow when answering, didn’t speak, didn’t answer the question in a direct manner, or said I didn’t know, I was beaten with a fist to my face, head, stomach and body,” she said. She also reported that she was blindfolded and handcuffed with duct tape. Eventually, she was forced to make statements as interrogators guided her.

The report revealed that at least 665 Thai people, including politicians, academics, journalists, and activists, have been detained or arrested since May 22. Some of them have had no opportunity to contact their families or lawyers. The report also said the military shut down more than 200 websites and closed several television and radio stations. Most of them had held negative views toward the junta. Under the current martial law, people can be arrested when there are more than five individuals gathered together on streets. The report described the country as being in “enforced silence.”

In response to the report, the spokesperson of the junta officially denied the allegations of human rights violations. National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the formal name of the junta, announced through its spokesperson, Colonel Winthai Suvaree, that “We have never violated people with opposing political views. There has been no physical violence or threats.”

He went on to say that the detained or arrested people had been involved in situations that caused social unrest in Thailand. The NCPO also asked human rights groups to “carefully and thoroughly consider this issue so they do not become the tools of those who have hidden agendas.” They denied any discrimination in court summonses.  

The AI report concluded with several pages of a “recommendation” section. It demanded that the NCPO restore civil liberties, end the martial law, and prevent alleged torture and mistreatment. The report suggested the establishment of a new “independent complaints system” to investigate the alleged torture and mistreatment of detainees. The report also insisted that the military should not have the legal immunity provided by the interim constitution and martial law.

For more information, please see:

Bangkok Post – Regime rejects Amnesty torture, repression claims  – 13 September 2014

Bangkok Post – Amnesty International launches anti-coup report – 11 September 2014

Reuters – Thai junta tells rights group to ‘get its facts straight’ – 11 September 2014

BBC – Thai coup leaders ‘must end repression’ – Amnesty – 11 September 2014

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

KASHMIR, India/Pakistan – Massive flash flooding in Kashmir, a disputed region in the Himalayans’s administered by India and Pakistan, as well as in adjoining regions in northern and eastern Pakistan have killed more than 450 people so far. Omar Abdullah, chief minister of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, said the current flooding is the worst to hit Kashmir in decades. “This is an unprecedented situation and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Please don’t panic, we will reach you, I promise,” Abdullah said on Twitter. Six days of rain in at the Indian administered region of Kashmir have caused the worst flooding the region has seen in more than 60 years decades.

Both countries’ militaries have rushed to rescue stranded flood victims. Although rain slackened over the weekend, thousands of people remain trapped in their homes. Many residents of the region expressed anger at the lack of warning and government preparedness for the disaster, even knowing that these massive flood events have become an annual phenomenon. Modi flew to Kashmir on Sunday to survey the region, calling it a “national disaster,” and promised about $200 million for relief efforts and compensation for the flood victims.

The flooding has left hundreds of villages in the region submerged in dangerous floodwaters, displacing thousands of local residents. The natural disaster has promoted the Indian and Pakistani governments to temporarily improve their relations, which have become tenser in recent months following new rounds of border fire and disagreements that led India to pull out of high-level bilateral talks

“It is a matter of great distress that the retreating monsoon rains have played havoc in many parts of our two countries,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a letter to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. “In this hour of need, I offer any assistance that you may need in the relief efforts that will be undertaken by the government of Pakistan. Our resources are at your disposal.” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responded saying: “We also feel the pain of the people of Indian Kashmir and are ready to help in whatever way possible to mitigate the suffering of the people affected by the floods.”

Despite these friendly communications, it’s unlikely that either country will do much to collaborate in the relief effort as tensions remain high in the region. India and Pakistan have been bitterly divided over the administration of the Kashmir region since the Line of Control was drawn following the 1947 war between the two states. India and Pakistan have fought reportedly along the de facto boundary separating Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir which has become one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world.

Violence broke out once again along the Line of Control on Wednesday as about two dozen Indian soldiers fought militants even as flood rescue operations were under way elsewhere in the region. “Three militants were shot dead by the Indian troops in Kashmir after a 10-hour-long gun battle,” Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.

Environmentalists in New Delhi have expressed concerns that the death toll and devastation in Kashmir was alarming and the government should acknowledged that massive flooding in the region is getting worse as a result of climate change. “The Kashmir floods are a grim reminder that climate change is now hitting India harder,” Chandra Bhusan, head of climate change team at the Centre for Science and Environment said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have said that this year’s monsoon rains had killed more than 1,000 people in India alone.

For more information please see:

India Today – LIVE updates on Jammu and Kashmir floods: Over 1,10,000 people rescued so far, many still await help – 11 September 2014

Al Jazeera – Thousands still stranded in flood-hit Kashmir – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Kashmir flood relief operation ‘too slow’ – 10 September 2014

Reuters – Tempers flare as mass flood evacuations begin in Kashmir – 10 September 2014

BBC News – Kashmir flood relief operation a major challenge – 9 September 2014

Bloomberg – Modi’s Kashmir Flood Relief May Earn Him Muslim Goodwill – 9 September 2014

 

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HONG KONG, China – College students in Hong Kong will boycott classes for a week. This strike seeks  to push Beijing to meet demands for democracy in Hong Kong.

According to the Hong Kong Federation of Students,  college students in Hong Kong decided to boycott their classes for a week beginning September 22^nd. This was planned in reaction to the Chinese government’s decision regarding the Hong Kong election next year. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) ruled out the open nomination for the election of a Chief Executive in Hong Kong. This position is largely considered to be the actual leader of Hong Kong’s administration. Instead, it will allow only 1-2 candidates who are pro-Beijing and no other pro-democracy figures.

Besides the college students, other citizen-wide protests have already been implemented. Some Pro-democracy organizations have planned an “Occupy Central” campaign as a way of protesting Beijing’s decision. The organizers of Occupy Central announced that they would mobilize 10,000 activists to paralyze the center of Hong Kong’s financial district.

“If the NPC makes such a drastic decision at this stage, there is no point for further dialogue. Why wait, then,” said one of the organizers of the campaign.

Reportedly, at least 11 higher education institutions pledged to join the boycott, including government-funded institutions such as Hong Kong University, Shue Yan University, Chu Hai College, and Hang Seng Management College. The Federation of Students is seeking other citizens’ participation including, younger students.

For example, another students’ group called “Scholarism” is planning to strike too. Scholarism formed three years ago to petition for more nationalistic curriculum in schools. The core members of the group consisted of high school students in Hong Kong. In addition to the class boycott, Scholarism holds “Citizen Classrooms” at a church where they lecture about political reform and civil obedience issues to high school students.

“Hong Kong people should fight for our own universal suffrage and democracy. Our candidates should not be decided by Beijing. We must have equal rights to vote and to be elected. Beijing’s decision does not meet this requirement,” said Chen, a 17-year-old student.

The students seem to be experiencing pressure at home regarding their activities. Lu, another 17-year-old student, said “Although I joined the civil disobedience, my family and friends have got a lot of pressure. Personally, I hope my family can understand my decision.”

Another student, Zhang, reported that his parents allowed him to join the protest, on condition that he avoid activities that disrupt his studies or could be deemed illegal. “I want to fight for democracy . . . If we don’t fight for it now, our future generations may not have the chance to enjoy a truly fair and democratic universal suffrage,” Zhang said.

Hong Kong was a British colony, but returned to China in 1997. The Chinese communist government announced that the political independency of Hong Kong would be guided by the principle of “one country, two systems.” However, some activists in Hong Kong criticize that the Chinese government is trying to extend its power over Hong Kong by affecting the territory’s democracy.

The Chinese government warned against any foreign interference with this issue. The government considers the people in Hong Kong to be in collusion with outside forces. Bejing said it will not tolerate the use of Hong Kong “as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland” of China.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera – China rebukes ‘foreign meddling’ in Hong Kong – 30 August 2014

BBC – China rules out open Hong Kong chief executive poll – 31 August 2014

South China Morning Post – Thousands of students plan week-long classroom boycott in push for democracy – 1 September 2014

The Standard – Student chiefs on move for mass class boycotts  – 2 September 2014

Voice of America – Hong Kong Students Discuss Class Boycott – 4 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Hong Kong Students to Boycott Classes If Democracy Demands Aren’t Met – 21 August 2014

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

GENEVA, Switzerland – One person commits suicide every 40 seconds in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Report. Among regions, Asian countries have the top suicide rate compared to others. The U.S. remained as the average level. The report is based on the statistical information gathered in 2012.

The WHO estimated that at least 800,000 people kill themselves each year. The most suicide-prone countries were Guyana (44.2 per 100,000) followed by North Korea (38.5), South Korea (28.9), and Sri Lanka (28.8). These countries’ rates were nearly 40 times higher than the countries with the lowest rate. The average rate of the 174 WHO member countries was 11.4. The suicide rate also seems to be affected by the wealth of the countries. Nearly 75.5 percent of the total suicides were committed by low and middle income countries.

The South China Morning Post reported that the Korean peninsula is “one of the most suicidal regions in the world.” The article explains that South Korea’s suicide rate began climbing after the economic crisis of the 1990s. South Korea’s suicide problem is well documented; it has kept the highest rate for the last 10 years among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). A main factor is the extreme stress on the public caused by high competition spread over the society. Statistics Korea, a government branch, reported that the leading cause of death of Korea’s youngest generations, groups ranging from 10s, 20s, and 30s, was suicide rather than traffic accidents and diseases.

The WHO supposed that the main cause of the high suicide rate in North Korea is poverty and stress of living in a restrictive environment. Sandra Fahy, professor of Sophia University in Tokyo, reported that North Korea’s penal system also likely intensifies the suicide problem. In North Korea, criminals’ punishment can be extended to three generations of their family, and it often happens that entire families kill themselves to avoid the collective punishment.

Japan’s suicide rate was 18^th in the world, but 4^th among the high income countries following South Korea, Lithuania, and Russia. Japan had 29,442 suicides in 2012. India has the highest rate in south east asian countries. India’s rate was 21.1 per 100,000, meaning approximately 258,075 people killed themselves in 2012 alone.

The WHO called for government action to address the suicide issue. Even though the number of suicides in the world has slightly fallen from 883,000 in 2000, the recent report warns, “For each adult who died of suicide, there were likely to be more than 20 others who made one or more suicide attempts.” In other words, the Report’s statistics show the number of people who ‘succeeded’ to suicide, not including those who attempted but failed. Moreover, the Report emphasized that each suicide has a continuing ripple effect. One suicide can induce others to commit suicide or economically affect the lives of surviving families.

 

For more information, please see:

South China Morning Post – Two Koreas top of global suicide charts, for different reasons – 6 September 2014

The Guardian – North Korea’s suicide rate among worst in world, says WHO report – 4 September 2014

Daily Mail – The suicide map of the world – 4 September 2014

The Guardian – Suicide kills one person worldwide every 40 seconds, WHO report finds – 4 September 2014

The Japan News – Japan suicide rate ranked 4th among high-income countries, WHO report says – 5 September 2014

Bernama – India Tops Suicide Rate In Southern, Eastern Asia In 2012: WHO – 5 September 2014