[Editorial] Koreans` Human Rights Humiliated by Mexico

Korean citizens living in Mexico made a shocking announcement, which makes all of us outrageous and furious. They announced that they were stripped off nude and searched by the Mexican police officers. It was an announcement that they "would not disclose to husbands and siblings." Mexican officers coerced them into taking off all of their clothes by saying, "If you resist, you will get disadvantages." When female Koreans tried to cover their private parts with hands, the Mexican guys ordered them not to cover. Korean men were also forced to get nude before Mexican female interrogators.

We just feel like crying with the victimized Korean women, who burst into tears after the disclosure. How could Mexico treat Korea and Koreans this way! It`s a resentful, outrageous violation of Koreans` human rights. What has Kim Dae Jung administration done? Why did our fellow Koreans have to suffer this shame and mistreatment from Mexicans? We can`t just stop ourselves shaking with fury and anger. The Mexicans ruined the self-esteem not only of the Koreans in Mexico, but also that of Korea as a sovereign nation and all Koreans.

It was extremely unusual to round up 32 Koreans in Mexico. The Mexican government mobilized hundreds of police officers and collectively arrested nationals of a certain country. It`s an outrageous act against another country.

The Mexican authorities even arrested US citizens and a couple with young kids, who visited Mexico for investment purposes. Mexican press and media have rolled up their sleeves and pasted the Korean community in Mexico as a home of drugs and weapons trade.

Nonetheless, Kim Dae Jung administration is just sitting on its hands. At first, the administration just closed its eyes. Later, when the public began to boil with anger, it grudgingly and belatedly recalled Mexican ambassador to verify the facts. Last year, a Korean in China was executed by the Chinese authorities. But Kim Dae Jung administration only got to know of it one month after the execution. Kim Dae Jung administration should make a strongly protest and appeal to the Mexican government. It`s a serious matter. The Mexican government violated the human rights of our fellow Koreans and all Koreans. Our government should demand that the Mexican government should punish all the officials involved and should make an apology. It is also necessary to find out whether other human rights violations were committed.

What`s the point in having a government, which negligently fails to protect its citizens and take care of its citizens who are abused by another countries? How could the government demand loyalty on the part of its citizens when it closes its eyes to its citizens being humiliated overseas?