To pooh-pooh an issue like North Korean human rights but be devoted to issues like the import of US beef? (Via. The Marmot)
The passion is present, now we just need to move them away from non-existant problems.
Update: Maybe it’s stuff like this.
While China recovers from a devastating earthquake, we should remember a tragedy perpetrated by man
Civic groups advocating human rights for North Koreans urged China last week to stop repatriating those fleeing the impoverished communist country. The call was made before President Lee Myung-bak kicks off his four-day visit to China on Tuesday. The groups demanded Lee put forward a firm stance on North Korean defectors staying in China during a scheduled summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The rights groups, including Justice for North Korea, said that China should provide shelter to North Korean defectors who they claim are refugees. They expressed growing concerns that Chinese authorities might round up more and more North Korean defectors and forcibly send them back home ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They have been staging a 444-day campaign to stop the forced repatriation of the defectors. The campaign is scheduled to end on the Aug. 8 opening of the Games.
This come amid reports that North Korean guards are sniping would be defectors as they are crossing the Tumen river.
I’ve been wondering what drives China to rid the country of North Koreans. What is in their interest in increasing crackdowns and increasing bounties?
If China wants to fix its image before the Olympics, sheltering refugees until they head for another country would help very much.
The answer is to keep the North Korean regime afloat. Then why is such a powerful nation so beholden to a nation that cannot even support itself?
