{"id":3839,"date":"2018-08-28T16:28:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T07:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=3839"},"modified":"2018-11-13T18:02:21","modified_gmt":"2018-11-13T09:02:21","slug":"public-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2018\/08\/news\/public-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e 'Crowd trials' carried out nationwide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo) Inmates of the \"Disciplinary Labor Center\" being sent to work sites. Taken by Shim Ui-cheon in East Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, September 2008 (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

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2018\/Jul<\/span><\/abb><\/span>\/19<\/em><\/p>\n

It has been reported that \"crowd trials\" (public trials), which are openly held in plazas in all parts of North Korea, are frequently taking place. <\/span>The people put on trial are those who were arrested for non-socialist and anti-socialist acts, and it appears that the aim of the trials is to instill fear in residents to strengthen social control. (Kang Ji-won)<\/span><\/p>\n

On July 17, a reporting partner residing in North Korea said during a telephone call with ASIAPRESS,<\/span><\/p>\n

\"I heard from a police officer that crowd trials are being carried <\/span>out across the country and that one will be held soon in <\/span>\u25cf\u25cf<\/span> City, where I live. On June 29, two men and two women were put on a crowd trial in Rason City.\"<\/span><\/p>\n

What is North Korea\u2019s crowd trial?<\/span><\/p>\n

A crowd trial is a way of judging and executing criminals according to the 'political agenda' of the authorities, rather than provisions stipulated in the constitution and laws. The purpose is to create a sense of fear among as many residents as possible. It is characterized by the gathering of a crowd and is held in provinces, cities, towns, and villages all around the country. Although the reporting partners also mentioned the terms \u2018mass trial\u2019 and \u2019public trial\u2019, North Koreans generally use all of these words to refer to the same thing.
\nNext page: Mobilization in local communities and the workplace...<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6<\/span> Mobilization in local communities and the workplace<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

The reporting partner continued to testify about the charges and proceedings of the crowd trial in Rason based on information obtained from a police officer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The charges in the crowd trial were anti-socialist acts such as watching South Korean movies, using drugs, and non-socialist acts including being unemployed, polygamy, and unauthorized residence. The trial proceeded while blocking the entry of Chinese people or other foreigners, and each neighborhood\u2019s Inminban (residents' meeting at the lowest administration level where a number of households are grouped together) and enterprises were obligated to be present.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the reporting partner, the slogan \"Let's root out anti-socialism!\" appeared during the exhibition and the authorities are planning to hold further crowd trials in other areas to make an example of non-socialists, with a trial to be held soon in <\/span>\u25cf\u25cf<\/span> City.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, the reporting partner said that the offenders in this crowd trial would not be able to \u2018get away by paying bribes or using personal connections\u2019 because of the severity of the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crackdowns on anti- and non-socialist behavior by the North Korean authorities have been strengthened this year, but have intensified since the April summits with South Korea, China and the U.S. It seems that the authorities are taking precautionary measures against residents fantasizing about the outside world and laxity of control.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners by bringing Chinese mobile phones into North Korea.<\/p>\n

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