Difference between revisions of "Human Rights in Bai Lung"

Revision as of 20:44, 16 February 2006

The human rights record in Bai Lung has been extremely difficult to full assess due to its closed and secretive nature of the country. The Bai Lungese government or more specifically, Chen Jong Sun, makes it near impossible for most foreigners to enter the country and even those who migrate/visit are strictly monitered by the local authorities. Although aid workers are given slightly more freedom than their immigrant counterparts, their activities are strictly monitered and subjected to harsh scrutiny and forbidden to enter certain places and regions of the country. Since citizens are unable to leave the country freely, the nation's human rights have been compiled from a mixture of defectors, ex-pats and refugees stories.

While it is difficult to determine a clear picture of the current situation of the country, it is very clear that Chen controls virtually all activities within the nation. Citizens are not permitted the right to free speech, and the government detains and (usually) execute those who criticise the regime. The media is controlled by the government and frequently praises the administration of Chen, who remains unelected leader of the country. Any newspapers who print liable material about Chen's regime will result in the termination of the company and the execution of virtually all of it's employees. The use of concentration camps and torture to control the population and to punish offenders are a common sight in Bai Lung and are documented in many sources.

The country's economic and political powers are better known to the outsider world. Although there are many minor parties, the People's Democratic Republican Workers Party of Bai Lung holds virtually all power in the government. The only legal radio, television and news orginisation are operated and regulated by the government. Unlike North Korea which the government runs a command economy and markets are actually illegal, the Bai Lungese government allows markets to be semi-legal as long as they don't do anything that might upset Chen. Since the mid-1960's, there was a severe shortage of food supplies nationwides, which is widely believed to have cause a famine which taken the deaths of at least 15 million Bai Lungese each year. In 2006, an East Pacific Food Program reported that the average 8 year old Bai Lungese boy is 15 pounds less and is 5 inches shorter than a boy of the same age in North Korea. The Food Program reports noted that the country has lots of suitable locations for irrigation despite the severe famine. They also noted that Chen's regime is responsible for the famine and they also mentioned that he uses planes to deliberately drop salt into the crops in order to kill any plants. As a result of Chen's deliberate interference of irrigation, there has been a rise in the black market which chewing gum dominates the grey sector (roughly 95% of the black market).

Civil Liberties

Individual rights are severely restricted. Dissent against Chen or having Nationalistic sentiments are illegal; citizens who wish to travel to another province must obtain permission before doing so. Religions, whether main or cults are illegal with the exception of Christianity (both Protestants and Catholics) and Buddhism are strictly regulated by the Governor. Pyongjing, was once a centre for the Bai Lungese Christianity group and the constitution provides for "the freedom of Religious belief and to construct building for religious use". There have been several sources indicate that anyone who proselytize or practice religion outside of designated groups are subjected to arrests, torture and execution.

Those who want to see Chen are required to fill in an application form which are available directly from the palace or in the governor's office. The form is then sent to the Central People's Bank and requires at least 2 working weeks and even then the vistor is not guaranteed a chance to visit him. The lucky ones who do visit him are never to be seen again (usually).

Freedom of Expression

Unlike in North Korea which they have constitution which allow any individual the right to protest, Chen forbade anyone from protests of any kind. Criticism of Chen is strictly curtailed and those who do make such statements are often tracked down by Internal Security Bureau (ISB) and arrested only to be sent to concentration camps for correction purposes. Frequently, detainees are executed after ISB are done with them and are of no use. Chen distributes all radio and television sets; citizens are not permitted to alter them to make it possible to recieve broadcasts from other nations(exceptions are broadcasts from China, Dannistaan and North Korea) and doing so carries stiff penalties.

There are many civic organisations but virtually all of them appeared to be operated by Chen. They routinely praise and perpetuate the peronality cult of Chen. Defectors noted that the glorification of his personality cult is one of the main elements of nearly all books, movies and plays produced with the country.

Freedom of Religion

Although Bai Lung declares itself an atheist state, there is a small minority of Buddhists, Christians and Hal'vonist (approx 15,000, 12,000 and 7,000 respectively). It is unknown how many specific numbers of priests in the country and some sources indicate these religious orginisations exists and primarily meant to facilitate interaction with other countries. It is known that a small number of Christianity groups within Bai Lung are known to active and smuggle a large number of bibles and other religious materials. With the exception of Hal'vonists, possession of a Bible is illegal and defectors have reported that smuggler are often executed for doing so. As of 2006, Chen is insisting on closely supervising all faiths.