MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

13.6.2006

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Jonas Sjöstedt, Giusto Catania,
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the death penalty in North Korea

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0361/06

European Parliament resolution on the death penalty in North Korea

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on North Korea;

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on a universal moratorium on the death penalty,

A.  whereas a North-Korean citizen, Mr Son Jong Nam, was reportedly tortured, according to UN sources, by the National Security Agency, and then sentenced to death without a trial, and without the benefit of any of the procedural safeguards required by international human rights law;

B.  whereas late April, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions called upon the North Korean government to postpone the execution and review the conviction;

C.  whereas on 5 May 2005, the government of DPRK replied to the concerns expressed by characterising the UN experts' letter as a "product of conspiracy" undertaken by "hostile forces to defame, disintegrate and overthrow the state and social system of the DPRK";

D.  whereas Son has been charged with "betraying" his county and sharing information with South Koreans after a visit to China where he reportedly met with his brother; whereas Son Jong Hoon is sentenced to public execution;

• 1.Affirms once again its call for the abolition of the death penalty and for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment, including in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea;
• 2.Calls on the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to suspend the scheduled execution and abide by its international human rights obligations;
• 3.Calls on the EU Council to do its outmost to convince North Korea to abandon the scheduled execution of Son Jong Nan;
• 4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Security General and the government and parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.