E/CN.4/2000/9
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three months before, to seven months after, their delivery. Medical care is free
for everybody.
702.
Concerning Soon-ok Lee, the Government indicated that she had never been
detained. It also denied the existence of the Kaechon Reform Institution.
Republic of Korea
Regular communications and replies received
703.
By letter dated 29 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the
Government that he had received information on the poor conditions in many
prisons. In many prisons medical care is reportedly inadequate, particularly in
relation to the health care needs of women. Prisoners are allegedly frequently
held in solitary confinement for long periods, sometimes even years, are
deprived of sleep for several days, questioned throughout the night, threatened
and beaten.
704.
The Special Rapporteur transmitted information on the following
individual cases.
705.
Park No-hae was reportedly arrested in March 1991 by members of the
Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) and interrogated for over 30 days.
He was allegedly severely beaten and, for the first 10 days of interrogation, he
was allowed to sleep only for a few hours each night. The Government replied on
14 December 1999 (see para. 708 below).
706.
Baik Tae-ung a leader of the Socialist Workers League, Sanomaeng, was
reportedly arrested in April 1992 by members of the ANSP. After his arrest, he
was reportedly interrogated for 22 days during which time he was allegedly
deprived of sleep for long periods, beaten and injected with drugs, purportedly
in an attempt to extract a confession. The Government replied on 14 December
1999 (see para. 708 below).
707.
Kim Nak-Jung, the former Co-President of the Minjung Party, was
reportedly detained from 25 August to 15 September 1992 by members of the ANSP
who accused him of having met four North Korean agents between 1990 and 1992. He
was allegedly beaten by a group of ANSP agents using clubs, particularly on his
fingers, resulting in scars and bruising on his head and arms. He was also
allegedly deprived of sleep for long periods causing him to faint during
interrogation. The Government replied on 14 December 1999 (see para. 708 below).
708.
Yang Hong-Kwan was reportedly arrested by agents of the ANSP in September
1992. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly stripped, beaten, forced to do
repeated physical exercise and deprived of sleep. As a result of this alleged
mistreatment, he reportedly made a confession. The Government replied to the
above four cases together on 14 December 1999. It indicated that the four men
were released on 15 August 1998 under a general amnesty. The Government stated
that none of the men had filed any complaint nor any lawsuit for State
compensation for any alleged torture. The Government advised that since being
released, Park No-hae has freely engaged in various literary activities, and
Baik Tae-Ung has moved to the United States to undertake graduate studies.
709.
Oh Jeung-Eun, Han Sung-Ki and Jang Suk-Jung were reportedly detained by
four ANSP agents at the Seoul District Prosecution Office, from 31 August to
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