What would you have done...

[Antares]

A couple of years ago, a group of North Koreans broke into our school begging for asylum. Let me start with the basics; my school is an international educational institution owned and run by the American Government, but unlike the US Embassy, it is not off-limits to Chinese law (it used to be). My school flies up to nine international flags (never counted them. I remember China, US, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Japan etc) since we have over 40 nationalities. Let's just say the hapless Koreans mistook the school for an UN institution. Before the principal could arrive at the scene, however, there were already police dressed in rags; they were immediately arrested (I have reasons to believe one of the 'Koreans' was a spy). Although they breached school security, I could not help but feel sorry for them, and this is not a common occurance. I was marvelling; they crossed Yalu, possibly very difficultly; made their way down south and arrived in Shanghai, then was finally arrested and sent back. I could only imagine what could have happened to them (I've heard from sources that those trying to escape were executed); I also felt distaste for the government for sending them back, possibly to their deaths. If you could decide, what would you have done?

[Kotetsu]

As an upholder of my country's law, I would send them back.

As a compassionate human being, I would grant them asylum and ensure their safety.

The latter has greater importance to me than the former, so I'd have taken the latter course of action, aware of the possible political repercussions. I could not send the nine desperate persons to their deaths.

[raconteur213]

Severely tax them. They would be happy to oblige and the country would make out as well.

[Serket]

Australia has huge problems with people smugglers trying to get people over here from the middle east and south east asia.

I think we should let the come in, and give them jobs and support them until they get going, then tax them heaps, after all the have to pay back the government for the cost of keeping them.

[dandylion]

It depends. Why were they running away in the first place? If they had committed a big crime I'd send them back. Otherwise, I'd let them live and tax them.

[thod]

Pick the best looking one and offer to hide her at my place in return for being my servant/sex slave.

[Motor Jax]

well, if they committed a crime, yeah send them back

but i would let them stay and treat them like any other citizen

they wouldn't be citizens, as they would be aliens

but i would help support them if they are looking for safety

i mean, i'd also be stoked that they picked MY country to escape to

why mistreat them for wanting to get out of their own country?

[TheLastMohican]

Provided they were simply trying to escape from the communist regime, I would help them to do so. I will not observe any laws that are contrary to my beliefs. Therefore, I would not care about the Chinese jurisdiction that mandated that they be sent back, or the North Korean jurisdiction that mandated that they stay. Any opportunity to thwart tyranny should be taken advantage of.

[Alida]

let them stay, unless it puts me personally in danger or at disadvantage.

I wouldn't let them get to information, just in case they're spies.

asylum sounds good. Put them in some safe, comfy place where they can hang out and not get in trouble.

[eternaltriangle]

Who could be against cheap labour?

[Antares]

It depends. Why were they running away in the first place? If they had committed a big crime I'd send them back. Otherwise, I'd let them live and tax them.

... It's North Korea... It should be obvious why they'd want out.

[Agile]

Had to vote other. While I feel comfortable letting anyone and everyone into my country, I would need to set it up such that it couldn't be overrun by its people...that a majority couldn't control it and dominate any minority. Assuming I could insure that, anyone and everyone would be welcome to live there, and pay taxes (if any).

Agree with TLM. As long as they don't invade us.

[TheLastMohican]

Agree with TLM. As long as they don't invade us.

Even then. Let 'em come, I say! There's no way any other country can keep up an occupation of the Ozarks.

[Antares]

Agile: I wouldn't be as comfortable as you with just letting them in by large numbers. Like the occasion of my school, fine. A whole shipment? Whoa! :scared: I would keep them for cheap labor though. Their pay can't get any lower than whatever is issued in DPROK (if at all. I don't know if they get food rations or money); they'd have more freedom, worker's protection and food from the factory cafeteria. Their lives just improved a whole lot. If they happen to become successful at what they do and earn a fortune, then all the better. The government'll tax them a bit more than citizens as soon as they're financially independent. If they're well off, then more money for us. I don't think it's that easy to get Chinese national though. They're not letting any foreigner in. Their population is large enough already.

[sriv]

Give them some arms and tell them to fight to the death.

[BlackHawk]

Your school is located in South Korea, correct?

I think that ordinary North Korean citizens with no affiliations with the government there should be granted asylum if they successfully flee their country. They are simply people seeking the chance for a better life. People with this possibility are often the hardest workers and biggest contributors to some societies, if we want to look at it from a position of national economic benefit.

Edit: Oh, China. duh. the Yalu . . .

[Rafaelsk]

Why would they have to recieve another treatment different from the rest ?
They are another human beings, just like any other.

[TheLastMohican]

Why would they have to recieve another treatment different from the rest ?
They are another human beings, just like any other.

Maybe because they are international fugitives?

[Claptonian]

Why would they have to recieve another treatment different from the rest ?
They are another human beings, just like any other.

Seconded.

[TheLastMohican]

^ I must ask for clarification on this. I think the fact that they are being treated differently by the North korean government requires that we also must treat them differently in some way. In fact, no matter what we do with them, it will be different from other citizens. I don't know what course of action would count as equal treatment.

[ShaiGar]

Australia signed the UNDHR. Sure we did not ratify it, but we signed it so I believe we have a moral imperative to ratify.
Article 13.(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.





State means "Nation". We should all have the right to move to any part of this planet that we choose. We should not all have rights to Social and economic welfare. I am a hypocrite saying this because I survived on welfare for 3 years.

I voted Citizenship.

[thod]

State means "Nation". We should all have the right to move to any part of this planet that we choose.

This would mean Oz would be flooded with migrants from the third world seeking work. There would be a massive drop in living standards as pay rates fell and housing costs rose. Many of these would turn to crime in absence of work. The current citizens would be unable to compete and claim welfare bankrupting the state. The water supply in Oz is so critical it simply couldnt support the expansion in population that would occur.

[ShaiGar]

So we exercise a little healthy genocide? Doesn't mean they shouldn't be granted citizenship... Even posthumously.

[Serket]

UNDHR Art 13 applys to movement within your OWN state, not others.

[ShaiGar]

Oh yeah. I skip words reading things sometimes. It gives a skewed view of things.

[Antares]

Maybe because they are international fugitives?

Agreed. And as a country's government, your foremost priority should be your own citizens, and that involves stopping the good jobs get taken away and the country overflowed. Ideally, we should treat everyone the same, but acting from the point of view of a government of a country, the social contract demands that I take care of the country first.