Civic groups calls for gov`t aid to UNHCR

A total of 17 civic groups, including the Lawyers Association for Democratic Society and the Catholic Human Rights Committee, issued a joint statement on Wednesday in connection with the closure of the Seoul liaison office of the U.S. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), calling on the government to swiftly provide personnel and material aid to the international organization for the continuous implementation of its refugee relief work here.

These groups pointed out that the UNHCR had asked the Korean government to take sincere steps to help it conduct refugee relief programs, but said the government failed to comply with the request, saying only that that it would consider the matter. In this manner, the government prompted the closure of the U.N. office, the joint statement said.

Noting that Korea's election as a member of the UNHCR executive committee was tantamount to a pledge to give positive support to the organization, the groups demanded that the government adopt a more sincere and forward-looking stance on refugee relief programs.

Chung Hyun-Jung, manager of the Seoul liaison office, who was dispatched from the Korean UNHCR office in Tokyo, said he would take charge of refugee affairs from the lawyers' association office in Socho-dong, southern Seoul, on a temporary basis.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry said the government plans to operate the Seoul branch of the UNHCR as an independent body from early next year at the earliest.