January 29 2004

'Access to Evil: This World' broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm on February 1.








For more details please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/default.stm

Christian Solidarity Worldwide welcomes the broadcast of the BBC film 'Access to Evil', which highlights the severe human rights violations which CSW has been highlighting for a number of years.

CSW is at the forefront of drawing attention to human rights abuses inside North Korea in the UK, EU and UN and is one of the organisations that has co-operated with the BBC in the production of this film.

The film, which is due to be broadcast at 9pm on Sunday February 1 on BBC2 and again on BBC World, shows for the first time documentary evidence of chemical weapons testing on North Korean prisoners. The 'Access to Evil' film contains testimonies from victims and perpetrators of human rights violations. It documents horrific forms of torture and murder carried out in the interrogation centres and prison camps of North Korea. The film also provides interesting insights to life inside North Korea, as the crew were able to film inside the country.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said: "We are delighted this film has been made and hope it will have a lasting benefit for the millions of people inside North Korea who are suffering in this secretive state.

"For too long the horrendous suffering of the people of North Korea, especially those imprisoned in unspeakably barbaric prison camps, has been met with silence. With the broadcasting of this film, all excuses for inaction are gone. It is imperative that the international community does not continue to turn a blind eye to these atrocities which should weigh heavily on the world's conscience.

"CSW has been working hard for the last few years to highlight the abuse of prisoners inside camps in North Korea. Co-operating with the BBC in the making of this programme represents an excellent step forward in helping raise awareness of the appalling human rights abuses in North Korea and the persecution of Christians in these terrible camps."

Concerned about the very serious nature of the human rights situation in North Korea and the silencing effect of the extreme secrecy of the country, CSW made a pioneering fact finding visit to the Chinese border with North Korea in 2000 to interview North Koreans in hiding. CSW has now interviewed some 60 people who have escaped from the regime and presented its findings in the CSW Report on Human Rights in North Korea. This report was later attached in full as a first annex to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee's 2002 report.

In March and April 2003, CSW was at the forefront of lobbying for an unprecedented United Nations resolution on human rights in North Korea. CSW has also carried out a number of protests including a demonstration at the opening of the new North Korean mission in London which received widespread media attention. Please visit the North Korea resources section of the CSW website at http://www.csw.org.uk/northkorea.htm for more information. You can also order resources such as the CSW video and CD Rom on North Korea from the website or by ringing 020 8942 8810 or by emailing admin@csw.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The BBC said of its programme, 'Access to Evil: This World BBC': "Crisis talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons continue, but away from the show-city of Pyongyang, This World has found evidence that North Korea is testing chemical weapons on women and children, the families of dissidents and political prisoners held in their secret jails.

"While North Korea tries to win concessions in return for axing its nuclear programme, Olenka Frenkiel hears testimonies from witnesses of the regime's brutal crimes against its own people, not only the victims but the perpetrators too. Most shocking of all, a former North Korean intelligence officer and head of security in one of the prison camps describes specially made glass gas-chambers concealed in a cave where prisoners of all ages are sent to their deaths. He says he saw men, women and children forced to breathe poison chemicals until they died while Government scientists looked on. Again, for the first time, documentary evidence corroborates his testimony."

Human rights groups including CSW are deeply concerned about the widespread and systematic human rights violations against North Koreans. There are believed to be more than 100,000 people in prison camps inside North Korea. Among the many violations of basic rights are the systematic use of torture and the use or arbitrary and brutal imprisonment, characterised by violence, extreme deprivation, starvation food rations, intense forced labour, frequent accidents and disfigurement and high death tolls. Further grave sources of injustice are the lack of due process, the regular use of arbitrary and public execution and the punishment of whole families for the crime of one family member.

The severity of the repercussions against individuals and their families mean that North Korea has largely succeeded in silencing reports of the atrocities committed within its borders. Alongside this, the extreme isolation and secrecy of the state has prevented the flow of information out of the country, while restricting freedom for external monitors to enter and assess the country.

A further issue of grave concern is the mistreatment of those North Koreans who have left to go to China and are subsequently repatriated. Cruel treatment awaits many such returnees and those who are deemed to have been in contact with South Koreans and missionaries are subject to especially harsh penalties, such as long term imprisonment or execution. A number of eyewitness accounts report that women who are found to be pregnant by Chinese men are subject to forced abortion where this is possible or, where the pregnancy is more advanced, are kept in detention until they give birth, when their baby is them smothered to death in front of them.