CHINA – Pwersahang pinagtatrabaho ang ilang North Korean sa Chinese-flagged fishing vessels na hindi dumaong sa kalupaan sa ilang dekada, ayon sa isang report.
Saad pa ng naturang report na inilabas nitong Lunes, Pebrero 24, na ang mga North Korean na ito ay nakatatanggap ng physical at verbal abuse, kasabay ng mahirap na kondisyon.
Matagal nang pinagkakakitaan ng North Korea ang mga mamamayan nito sa pagpapadala sa mga ito sa ibang bansa para magtrabaho, partikular na sa China at Russia.
Sa 2017 UN Security Council resolution, na suportado ng China, inoobliga nito ang mga bansa na i-deport ang mga manggagawang North Korean upang mapigilan ang mga ito na kumita ng foreign currency na gagamitin naman ng Pyongyang sa nuclear at ballistic missile programs nito.
Sa kabila nito, inakusahan ng mga analyst ang Beijing at Moscow na sinusuway ang naturang panuntunan.
“North Koreans onboard were forced to work for as many as 10 years at sea — in some instances without ever stepping foot on land,” ayon sa report.
“This would constitute forced labor of a magnitude that surpasses much of that witnessed in a global fishing industry already replete with abuse.”
Ang ulat ay resulta ng mga panayam sa ilang Indonesian at Filipino crew members na nagtrabaho sa Chinese tuna longliners sa Indian Ocean sa pagitan ng 2019 at 2024.
“They never communicated with their wives or others while at sea as they were not allowed to bring a mobile phone,” ayon sa isang crew member.
Sinabi rin ng isa pa na ang mga North Korean ay nagtatrabaho sa barko ng halos pito hanggang walong taon, sabay sabing:
“They were not given permission to go home by their government.”
Tinukoy din sa report na ang mga barkong ito ay sangkot sa shark finning at panghuhuli ng malaking marine animals tulad ng dolphin, at nagsusuplay sa European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea at Taiwan.
“The impact of this situation is felt around the world: fish caught by this illegal labour force reaches seafood markets around the world,” pahayag ni Steve Trent, CEO at founder ng EJF.
“China bears the brunt of the burden, but when products tainted by modern slavery end up on our plates, it is clear that flag states and regulators must also take full responsibility.”
Wala namang alam ang Beijing sa naturang kaso.
“China always requires its offshore fishing activities to abide by local laws and regulations and relevant provisions of international law,” sinabi ni foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian sa isang briefing.
“Cooperation between China and North Korea is carried out in accordance within the framework of international law,” dagdag ni Lin. RNT/JGC
