Participants of side event regarding communication rights adoped
following statements. Also we need your sign on.
For more information, please contact to:
Toshi (JCA-NET)
ogr@nsknet.or.jp
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STATEMENT: Japanese government should apologize to Democratic People's
Republic of Korea and conference paticipants
2003, 12th, January.
We, participants of the side event of the Asian Regional Conference
for World Summit at the United Nations University, strongly condemned
Japanese government (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications) did not invite delegates from Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the Asian Regional
Conference for World Summit on the Information Society, while North
Korea is a member of the United Nations and they are considered as a
fully qualified stakeholder of the conference.
The Asian Regional Conference for World Summit on the Information
Society should be a place where all the stakeholders related to
information and communication societies including governments, private
sectors and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) can participate in
without any conditions. Even the United Nations (UN) already
expressed, "The World Summit on the Information Society will provide a
unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a
high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this
revolution and its impact on the international community. It aims to
bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations
agencies, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media
representatives and civil society in a single high-level event."
Japanese government stated officially that they have no diplomatic
channel between Japan and North Korea, so they could not send
invitation. We can never accept such an excuse made by Japanese
government. Japanese government could invite some suitable person,
who is not necessarily a government delegate, from North Korea if they
really tried to do so. However, the truth seems to be different. We
are informed that Japanese government decided not to invite North
Korea for the reason of the political circumstances in Japan.
The Asian Regional Conference for World Summit on the Information
Society is the place where not only those who are favourable to
Japanese government, but all stakeholders in Asia are expected to
discuss over the various aspects of ICTs. Japanese government must
recognize the fact that Asia is characterized as a region of great
diversity; North Korea is obviously one of unique country in this
diverse region and, in a sense, one of the important players.
Moreover, this type of UN related fora is seeking regional and global
cooperation overcoming the present political, economic and social
differences.
We hope Japanese government apologize to North Korean government for
not inviting them and also to participants who were deprived of a
chance to discuss various issues with North Korean people. And we
demand Japanese Government include those apologies to Final Report of
this conference in order to make sure that all stakeholders including
North Korea can participate WSIS meetings.