Botswana afbryder de diplomatiske forbindelser med Nordkorea

Laurits Holdt

FN-rapporten, der dokumenterede den nordkoreanske stats systematiske overgreb mod landets befolkning, har nu fået Botswana til at afbryde alle diplomatiske forbindelser med Nordkorea.

Rapporten fra FN, der beskriver den nordkoreanske regerings systematiske overgreb mod befolkningen, har nu fået Botswana i det sydlige Afrika til at sige stop.

Onsdag meddelte regeringen via sin officielle Facebook-side, at den afbryder alle diplomatiske forbindelser med Nordkorea med omgående virkning.

I meddelelsen hedder det bl.a. at rapportens indhold kræver en kraftig reaktion fra det internationale samfund.

Det fremgår også af meddelelsen at Bortswana allerede i 2013 afbrød det bilaterale samarbejde med Nordkorea, fordi landet i Botswanas optik udgjorde en trussel mod den internationale fred og sikkerhed.

Her følger meddelelsen fra Botswanas regering:

BOTSWANA SEVERS TIES WITH DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NORTH KOREA)

Gaborone, 19 February, 2014 – The Government of the Republic of Botswana wishes to announce that it has decided to terminate, with immediate effect, diplomatic and consular relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

It will be recalled that early last year Botswana suspended bilateral cooperation with North Korea as the result of the threat posed by that country to international peace and security.

The Government’s decision is informed by the recently released report of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea which details systematic, widespread and grave human rights violations by North Korean authorities.

The Government of Botswana does not wish to be associated with a Government which continues to display such total disregard for the human rights of its citizens.

The deplorable acts catalogued in the United Nations’ report are startling and warrant strong condemnation by the international community.

As a member of the International Community of nations, North Korea has the responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of its people and respect for human rights which have unfortunately for too long been seriously lacking in that country.

Botswana wishes to underscore that the severing of diplomatic relations is not in any way targeted at the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea.

Meanwhile, Botswana wishes to convey its heartfelt sympathies to the people of North Korea who are currently subjected to inhuman treatment under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.