Evidence of meeting #52 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regime.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:05 p.m.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
With that in mind, I will follow up on a question my colleague posed. Mr. Jang, you expressed a thought that the regime itself is in a process...or at least that there is the feeling that the regime is going to fall. My colleague posed the question: are we ready for that?
In terms of what you've just expressed in terms of the state of mind of the population, it seems to me that most revolutions—the Arab Spring, the Civil War, all these revolutions—came about through a rejection of certain attitudes, of political attitudes and so forth. But this would be the rejection of a lifestyle, their own lifestyle, their own connection with the world. How do you feel the change of regime or the fall of this regime is going to play out with the people of North Korea when this sort of ideology, this deification, falls to the ground, when it crumbles to the ground?
2:05 p.m.
As an Individual
For the North Korean people, the farther you go up, they realize that something is wrong; those in the higher classes realize that something is wrong. But why isn't a revolution happening? It's probably because if you do something wrong, the three generations of your family are going to be punished. That collective punishment by association is probably the biggest threat. They need to betray their families to do this and to participate in an uprising.
Just because of my words, three generations of my family could be sent to a labour camp. That's what's happening. That is perhaps the most evil law in North Korea.
Among the North Korean people now, a lot of people believe it's not right, but I think that at this point they need some urging and help from the outside world. The free outside world needs to keep giving them information, to keep encouraging them, and to keep assuring them that, yes, this regime is wrong. They need to keep encouraging them and telling them that this cultification and deification are wrong and to have these North Korean people truly believe that in their hearts, and to have more people in North Korea believe that.
I think that for North Korea to change we need to have change in the attitudes of the free countries in the world, and North Korea needs to become more courageous. So do we. I think the North Korean human rights act needs to be more than just a declaration. I think it needs to give comfort and courage to people of North Korea, and I think that it truly will give the North Korean people more courage in what they are doing.
Thank you.
2:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Thank you, Mr. Benskin.
Thank you to both of our witnesses. You've provided very, very good testimony.
Mr. Lee, go ahead, please.
2:10 p.m.
President, Council for Human Rights in North Korea
Before I leave I want to leave this formal report of the commissioner of inquiry. I hope you can accept this.
2:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Our clerk will accept that. That will enter the records of our committee and will be available to all members of the committee. Thank you very much.
Thank you, colleagues. We'll be meeting again on Tuesday. It will be an in camera planning meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.