March 16
NORTH KOREA:
Video shows executions in North
Video footage of the brutal execution of 3 North Koreans was scheduled to
be shown on Japanese TV yesterday, according to a human rights group that
released captured images of the footage.
The footage, recently obtained by Japan's N-TV, shows the brief trials of
11 North Koreans. Three were given death sentences, and the other 8 were
ordered to serve 15 years hard labor.
After a judge handed down the death sentences, a voice in the video is
heard saying,"Carry out immediately." The accused are then tied to stakes.
6 soldiers stand in a line, and 3 shots are fired at each of the
detainees, felling them.
The executions allegedly took place on March 1 and 2 in Hoeryeong, North
Hangyong province, a town near the Chinese border.
One of the accused was charged with fleeing the country and human
trafficking, according to a voice heard on the video.
Defectors have detailed open executions in North Korea in the past,
prompting concerns in the international community. The video is believed
to be the 1st one broadcasted showing such violence in the isolated
country.
A Seoul-based Internet site specializing in North Korean affairs,
www.dailynk.com, also reported yesterday about public executions, quoting
a North Korean defector now living in China. The defector was reportedly
at the scene when the executions took place.
According to the Web site, the North Korean police chief informed the
residents of Hoeryeong about the open trials on the morning of March 1.
During the brief trial, another man received a lifetime prison term on
charges of smuggling the remains and military dog tag of a U.S. soldier
who died during the Korean War.
"North Korea has been denying that it staged open executions," said Han
Ki-hong, president of a Seoul-based rights group, the Network for North
Korean Democracy and Human Rights. "Now that the video record is released,
the North will face fierce criticism from the international community."
(source: Joongang Daily News)
CHINA:
Death penalty for Beijing highway official
Bi Yuxi, a former top communications and highways official in Beijing, was
sentenced to death Wednesday for corruption.
The court will review his sentence in 2 years allowing him the possibility
of surviving if his behaviour in prison is good.
Bi, the former vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of
Communications, took bribes of over 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) and
also spent some State-owned money, 3 million yuan (US$360,000), without
authorization between 1993 and 2004, according to the Beijing No 1
Intermediate People's Court.
Bi, 62, was chairman and Party secretary of the Beijing Capital Highway
Development Company, a State-owned enterprise responsible for the
operation of 8 roads in the capital city.
All his personal property will be confiscated, according to the judgement,
and he will be fined 30,000 yuan (US$3,600).
Bi expressed regret for his crimes, the reason for his death sentence
coming with a 2-year reprieve.
Most of Bi's bounty has been recovered. The court said Bi interfered in
bidding for highway construction and helped others to get promoted when he
was working between 1993-2004.
Court sources said he took US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, renminbi, cars,
computers, watches and gold bars in bribes. Bi also used State cash, 3
million yuan (US$360,000), to buy investment endowment insurance for 15
staff at the Beijing Capital Highway Development Company in 2001, also
against the law, the judgement said.
Bi appeared calm after the court decision, the Legal Evening News
reported.
He did not say whether he would appeal.
His daughter and son-in-law were in court to hear the judgement. "I should
have served the people well, but I forgot my obligations and
responsibilities when I began to take bribes,"said Bi in a confession to
the Beijing Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.
"At first, I merely made some small profits. Later, I began to accept
enormous bribes," Bi added.
His crimes were discovered when the Fifth Ring Road project, which opened
to traffic in 2003, was being audited.
Auditors found the cost of some parts of the road were much higher than
what could be considered a reasonable price.
Bi was arrested in August last year.
(source: China Daily)
