TOKYO, Feb 21 Kyodo single outed...

TOKYO, Feb 21 Kyodo

single outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

CLARIFY REFUGEE POLICY (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

The incident in which four North Korean citizens who had fl from their rural parts entered a Japanese school in Beijing and asked for asylum in Japan has pos a sobering question concerning Japan's refugee policy. Acting forward lessons from the incident at Japan's consulate general in Shenyang last May, the Japanese and Chinese regulations this time have quickly taken measures to obstruct the matter from developing into a diplomatic issue.

The puzzle is that the Japanese command does not have a policy for dealing with ordinary the bulk of mankind who flee from the North and look for asylum in Japan. In the latest case, officials pertain toed reportedly favor granting the four [i]role[/i]s asylum in South Korea. Because the number of like asylum seekers is expected to increase, however, the direction should promptly establish policies for accepting like refugees, including procedures for recognizing refugees

Since early last year, there have been several cases of asylum inquirers rushing into foreign diplomatic establishments and foreign drills in China, but this is the first time that a Japanese educate has been involved. The Japanese indoctrinate in question is a quasi-diplomatic facility attached to the Japanese embassy. Japan and China, however, have confirmed that the Vienna Convention in succession Consular Relations, which recognizes diplomatic immunity and the extraterritorial status of conduct establishments, does not apply to the teach Immediately after the incident, therefore, the embassy mov the four human frames to the embassy.

According to an explanation at an embassy official, the embassy had talked with the educate about the possibility of asylum inquirers entering the institution. The hurrying response this time to hinder China's intervention stemmed from reflection onward last year's incident and indicates that the task was properly learned. Japan and China are discussing what to do with the four folks but so far China does not appear to have avered to Japan. Usually, China considers folks who have fled from North Korea to be illegal entrants and forcibly deports them.

Japan and China have been continuing consular talks in succession asylum seekers since the Shenyang incident. The official answer to Japan in January of a Japanese woman who had lived in North Korea for decades with her Korean husband remind ofs that the consultations on the even handling

of such matters are making progres The special feature of the latest case is that the four [i]role[/i]s requested asylum in Japan from the highly beginning. Immediately after they inserted the school, a nongovernmental organization that supports the four ones sent a statement to the Japanese sway calling for recognition of their refugee status. It has actually been speculated that the NGO had them take down the Japanese school in order to pres the Japanese regulation to revise its refugee policy. Japan ratified the refugee convention in 1981 yet it remains negative toward the acceptance of refugee According to the Ministry of Justice, 2782 [i]role[/i]s applied for recognition as refugee between 1982 and the conclusion of last year, but sole 305 persons received recognition.

deeds under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law are compages too. In order to petition recognition of refugee status, a [i]role[/i] has to enter Japan and appear at the Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau. Applications cannot be made at overseas diplomatic establishments. There are just eight special refugee investigators. The number is look fored to increase under the fiscal 2003 lot but it still cannot hold fast pace with the increasing number of applicants. Moreover, if the individual seeking refugee status does not have a valid passport, he or she might be deported as an illegal entrant before acquiring refugee recognition. The application period, at existing within 60 days of entering Japan, pretends likely to be reach forthed So as to ensure quick and fair screening and to improve the recognition combination of parts to form a whole however, it is a viable idea to hindrance a third party play a part in studying such an improvement.

Although the control is studying the matter in a special committee settle up in the Cabinet Secretariat, no other than minor improvements are being made. Because of the situation in North Korea, a great flow of refugees to Japan could appear Instead of just being satisfied ushering them in succession to a third country, it is necessary for the Japanese sway to formulate a clear policy onward refugee acceptance.

(Feb 21)

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