남태평양 小國 키리바시Kiribati가 北에 발급한 여권 국제범죄에 이용

[B-DRAGON]

■"北에 발급한 여권 국제범죄에 이용돼 부끄러워"

박수찬 기자

 

입력 : 2013.03.13 03:07

남태평양 小國 키리바시Kiribati 대통령의 고백

호주와 미국 본토의 중간에 있는 남태평양의 섬나라 키리바시 공화국의 대통령이 "돈벌이 때문에 2004년까지 북한 사업가들에게 여권을 발급했었다"고 고백했다. 북한인들이 소국(小國)의 여권을 불법으로 취득한 뒤 국제사회의 눈을 피해 무기 거래 등의 활동을 하고 있다는 주장은 이전부터 있었지만 해당 국가의 지도자가 이를 시인한 것은 이번이 처음이다.

키리바시의 아노테 통<사진> 대통령은 최근 호주 라디오방송에 출연해 "세금 수입 때문에 북한인에게 여권을 발급한 적이 있다"며 "이들이 국제적인 범죄와 연계돼 있다는 지적이 나오고 있는 데 대해 부끄럽게 생각하며 여권 발급을 중단했다"고 밝혔다.

 

이에 앞서 작년 말 일본의 대북 인권단체인 '아시아인권'은 "평양 출신인 한철, 주옥희가 키리바시와 인도양의 섬나라 세이셸의 여권을 가지고 활동했다"며 "이들은 미얀마 등으로 불법 무기 수출을 한 혐의를 받고 있는 북한 동신국제무역공사의 이사들"이라고 주장했다.

당시 공개된 자료에 따르면 한철과 주옥희는 2005년 키리바시 정부로부터 여권을 받았다. 2007년에는 세이셸 여권도 발급받았다. 이 나라들은 일정 금액 이상을 투자하는 외국 투자자에게 여권을 주는 제도를 운용해 왔으나 국적 세탁 등의 우려가 커지면서 2000년대 초반을 전후해 제도를 중단했다고 밝혀왔다.

외교통상부 관계자는 "1979년 영국에서 독립한 키리바시는 국제사회에서 중립적인 성향을 보여온 국가여서 이 나라 여권을 소지하지면 북한 여권에 비해 다른 나라를 여행하기 쉽다는 점을 노린 것 같다"고 말했다.

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■Kiribati voters go to the polls

By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney

Voters in the tiny South Pacific nation of Kiribati are going to the polls to cast ballots in a general election.

A total of 146 candidates are contesting the election, in which education and employment are dominant themes.

The Kiribati archipelago comprises more than 30 coral atolls that straddle the equator.

Some of the atolls are threatened by rising sea levels, an issue which is a key concern for many voters.

Fishing and farming

Most of the candidates in the Kiribati election represent either the Pillars of Truth party or the main opposition.

All 44 MPs are contesting the ballot, including the President, Anote Tong, who led the last government.

The population of just over 100,000 is growing, but job opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce.

The economy is based on fishing and subsistence farming. The average annual income is less than US$700 (£350).

Most of the islands of Kiribati are low-lying coral atolls that lie on top of a submerged volcanic chain and are surrounded by reefs.

Rising sea levels are causing great alarm.

Kiribati has asked its neighbours across the South Pacific to take in environmental refugees if the worst should happen and communities are inundated.

The signs are not good. Storm surges and unusually high tides have destroyed some homes. They have also contaminated farm land and supplies of drinking water.

■Kiribati profile

 

 

The 33 atolls that make up Kiribati - the former Gilbert Islands - occupy a vast area in the Pacific. They stretch nearly 4,000 km from east to west, more than 2,000 km from north to south, and straddle the Equator.

The country won independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. Many of the atolls are inhabited; most of them are very low-lying and at risk from rising sea levels.

Kiribati - pronounced Kiribas - used to lie either side of the International Date Line, but the government unilaterally moved the line eastwards in 1995 to ensure the day was the same in the whole country.

This was a shrewd move as Kiribati marketed itself as the first inhabited place on Earth to greet the new millennium on 1 January 2000. The world's media descended on Caroline Island, renamed Millennium Island, to record the event.

Continue reading the main story

Kiribati gained independence from the UK in 1979

Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring

Kiribati's economy is weak and is affected by rises and falls in the world demand for coconut.

Fishing licences, foreign aid and money sent home by workers abroad also play their part, as does a trust fund set up with revenues from phosphate mining on the island of Banaba. The mines were depleted by 1980, precipitating the evacuation of much of the population.

Kiribati is home to the South Pacific's largest marine reserve.

It is also one of the low-lying Pacific island states seen as highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and global warming, and frequently lends its voice to calls for action on climate change.

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  22 MARCH 2011, COUNTRY GUIDES 

■Hawaii Flyfishing

Join us for a day of guided bonefishing in one of the most amazing eco-systems on earth! We target TROPHY BONEFISH, fly-cast exclusively, and practice catch & release. We have good shots at large fish daily, most often seen as pairs or in small groups; occasionally they are tailing, but generally just hungry, happy, and did we mention BIG! Our Bonefish average six pounds with fish exceeding ten pounds seen regularly. Bonefish of these proportions are commonly eight to twelve years old and can be extremely wary, they are difficult to fool and will challenge even the most seasoned angler. Our goal is to put you in the right place at the right time for a shot at a GIANT BONEFISH, perhaps the FISH OF A LIFETIME.

Unique Hawaiian Bonefish Flats

OAHU is fringed with some amazing coral reefs, HARD CORAL FLATS, and sandy channels that provide extremely unique Bonefish habitat. This wonderful ocean environment and WORLD CLASS FISHERY coupled with stunning views of the Ko’olau Mountains, Honolulu, and Waikiki make for a one-of-a-kind fly-fishing destination.

Oahu Bonefish Water

The picture-perfect postcard weather we enjoy in Honolulu can occasionally be fickle for fly anglers. The cooling Trade Winds on Waikiki Beach may be blowing 20 to 25 on exposed flats and definitely test your tightest loops. Broken cloud cover is common and light showers come and go daily. This wind and weather along with a mottled coral bottom can make spotting, hooking and landing fish tough; all part of the addiction of chasing these MONSTER BONEFISH. To hedge our bets we choose flats each day with careful considering given to wind, weather, tide conditions, and the angler’s level of experience.

Hawaii Fly Fishing Gear

No light weight trout tackle here; these fish are big, strong and hard to land. Bring an 8 or NINE-WEIGHT fly rod, Saltwater taper floating lines and lots of backing. It also doesn’t hurt to have a back-up rod and an extra fly line. Generally 9-10 foot salt water tapered leaders will do it, and make sure to bring FLOUROCARBON TIPPETT. We recommend 15 to 20lb. this heavy leader will help to drive your fly into the wind and also give you a bit more confidence that you have a chance of landing your fish when he has you wrapped around a coral head 100 yards into your backing. On our guided trips we provide Yeti coolers, Sage & Echo Fly Rods, Abel Reels, Simms wading boots, Monic & Rio Fly Lines.

Maverick Flats Skiff

Maverick Boat Company is well known for manufacturing the world’s most advanced technical poling skiffs. We access the flats with a state-of-the-art MBC Hewes Bonefisher 18. This is without question the best technical poling skiff for the varied water and weather conditions we encounter while Bonefishing in Hawaii.

Hawaiian flats fishing requires a shallow-draft hull for bones in only inches of water, a stable platform for a wide range of daily conditions including wind and waves, and the possibility of two anglers, and absolute safety to get you to the fishing and back each day.

My 18 carries 4 oversized US Coastguard approved life vests, throw cushions, anchor and chain, fire extinguisher, tackle, raingear, and other personal items. Lucky for you, you’ll never see any of it when you store your gear or manpurse. It is essential to have a variety tackle, and proper safety equipment on board to be ready for anything, and we are.

Fishing with this Maverick skiff allows us to cover lots of water and make a strong presentation when it counts. In addition to fishing out of the boat, when conditions allow it, we wade as well. Please let us know your preference and we will do our best to put you on fish, however you like.

 

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