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According to reports presented by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea on the year 2006, these prisoner camps were created following the Soviet ideology of exterminating the ones who were different: religiously, politically, etc. The reports, which include interviews and surveys made to North Korean survivors that escaped to China, have detailed information on the horrendous treatment that prisoners receive inside the establishments. Entire families - that include minors and elders- are locked away for political crimes of other family members. At the same time, women who have been repatriated to North Korea after getting pregnant by Chinese men when they illegally fled to the neighbor country are forced to abort. Amnesty International is worried that the camps have been growing since there’s a period of economic and political instability in the country since the Kim Jong- un became the new leader on December 2011. The main difference between these camps and common prisons around the world is that many of the captives have been retained without facing a trial. Many of the arrests start when people disagree with the political leaders. This in a society with no liberty of expression can be considered an “act of treason”.

The so-called “labor colonies” or labor camps are built in high mountains

Since the 1970’s, North Korea has been governed by a communist and autocratic government. The country follows a political ideology called Juche which was

initiated by its first and eternal – as he called himself- President, Kim Il- Sung. Liberty of expression is forbidden inside the country. The fear of a rebellion might be the

principal reason for the creation of labor camps in North Korea. Recent documents show that more than 150,000 North Koreans are incarcerated and retained as political

prisoners inside prisoner camps. It seems that there is information that North Korea cannot retain from coming out to light.

By: Camila Cantuarias

Prisoner camps under the Juche ideology

“Lenin lived, Lenin lives, Lenin will live”Kim Il-Sung

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to prevent prisoners from escaping. The camps also contain electrified fences. The rates of death are high. The prisoners are forced to work in awful conditions that include torture and of course malnutrition.

There are beatings held by the supervisor of the cells and if not, by other inmates. In case a prisoner needs treatment, he is not given one and the forced labor and lack of food increase the diseases until the prisoners die. The U.S. Committee for International Rights in North Korea, established also in the year 2006, explain in an extended investigation that many of the inmates have witness executions. The executions have also been to the ones that have not wanted to supply electricity to the country’s capital, Pyongyang, since this is a civic duty. It’s seen as an act of treason to not want to help to build a prosperous country.

Detainees have explained that the camps are divided in two areas. The first area is for the ones that have created the worst crimes which are standing against the regime. The other part of the camp is for the ones that escaped and crossed the borders or for making a critic against the government’s policy. The first prisoners are never released for which they are considered traitors. The other ones might be released after a couple of months.

However, the fact to be send to a camp has many repercussions in their lives. If they ever leave the camps their resident card is confiscated. These people are not able to vote and are not entitled to get normal rations of food and do not get the same medical treatment as other North Koreans. In case they are still working in the camps, families are spread apart by being given different work so they can’t spend time together.

In spite that there’s been a political change in the country, there are no expectations in the improvement of political or economic relations with other countries. However the most important change must be to restore the civil rights that have been lost during this socialist government and improve the conditions of living of the inhabitants of North Korea. It’s important to remember that the Declaration of the Human Rights established that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” And that cannot be taken away by anyone under any circumstance.

There are beatings held by the supervisor of the cells and if not, by other inmates. In case a prisoner needs treatment, he is not given one and the forced labor and lack of food increase the diseases until the prisoners die.