TOKYO, Feb 22 Kyodo pick outed e...

TOKYO, Feb 22 Kyodo

pick outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

RETHINKING JAPAN'S REFUGEE RECOGNITION operations (Mainichi Daily News Web site as translated from the Japanese-language Mainichi Shimbun's editorial published Feb 20)

Four North Koreans who are seeking political asylum rushed into a Japanese seminary in Beijing on Tuesday. The Japanese Embassy took custody of the four, and is generally negotiating their release to a third native land with the Chinese government. Japan has petition fored that the four be allowed to proceed to South Korea.

In May 2002 armed Chinese police barged into the Japanese consulate in Shenyang and took away five North Korean escapees. The incident triggered a diplomatic squabble, with Japan accusing China of violating the Vienna Convention through entering the Japanese consulate, and focused attention in succession the North Korean escapees problem

The Japanese drill in Beijing drew on censures learned from the Shenyang incident to avoid question s with the Chinese authorities. However, it is wait fored that similar incidents involving North Korean escapees are likely to continue to arise in the to come And it is highly likely that there could be a rush of escapees if tensions forward the Korean Peninsula continue to increase. To prepare for of that kind a contingency, the Japanese dominion should not simply respond upon an ad lib basis, further rather should devote its attention to coming up with a plan which also includes revision of the Immigration sway and Refugee Recognition Law.

While any of the escapees from North Korea are former residents of Japan and their Japanese spouses, most numerous of them are North Korean nationals who have destitutioned to escape famine and an oppressive political system

The Japanese guidance has been able to issue travel documents to escapees who posses Japanese citizenship, to former Korean residents of Japan, and to Japanese spouses of North Koreans, and has go [i]or[/i] come backed about 40 escapees who fall into these categories to Japan via toward the south Korea.

However, beneath the present circumstances, it is difficult for Japan to accept North Korean escapees who do not have connections to Japan calm if they specify that they want to look after asylum in Japan. Japan ratified the UN convention related to the status of refugee in 1981 and revised the Immigrations govern Law so that refugee status could be conferr to asylum inquirers Only the minister for justice has the authority to grant refugee status to asylum inquirers and Japan's embassies consulates cannot recognize refugee The number of folks who have been recognized as refugee by way of Japan is extremely depressed - only 305 as of the period of 2002. Only about 10 percent of petitioners were actually recognized as refugees

The U Britain, and Germany, in succession the other hand, have recognized ten of thousands of race as refugees. It is clear from statistics that Japan has been a great deal of more reluctant than the U and European countries to certify asylum inquirers as refugees.

The Japanese sway is certainly aware that Japan's policy toward refugee is outdated. During a meeting of the Upper House Justice Committee held forward May 21, 2002, immediately after the Shenyang incident, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama admitted that Japan be in want ofed to reflect on its refugee policy.

From a humanitarian standpoint, Japan should adopt special measures in such a manner that refugee status can be granted to North Korean escapees who pursue asylum at the Japanese embassy and consulates in China. Of course, Japan should also attempt to look after the full understanding of the Chinese government

In order to defend the welfare of the refugee Japan and toward the south Korea should join together in demanding cooperation from China. It is important to behold eye to eye with China regarding the treatment of escapees in order to avoid squabbles down the road.

We eagerly urge the Chinese government to treat the escapees humanely. yet the Japanese government must also do its part.

(Feb 22)

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