At least 44 Malayan box turtles will be released in the protected forest in Cambodia to contribute to restoring the ecosystem in the area. The plan was shared in a news release issued on Feb. 15 by the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB). ACCB, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), has been working on a conservation breeding programme for endangered turtle species, including Malayan box turtles. Some of their offspring, hatched and reared, have reached a size suitable for introduction to the protected forest, added the release. A joint technical team conducted health assessments of the 44 Malayan box turtles to make sure only those who were healthy would be released. The Malayan box turtle pilot reintroduction is a collaborative project with the Ministry of Environment, the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, ACCB, and WCS, with support from the Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation and Allwetterzoo Munster. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse WASHINGTON, A State Department spokesperson on Saturday reiterated calls for North Korea to begin a reform process to improve human rights, as this month marks the 10th anniversary of the release of a landmark U.N. report on the reclusive state's rights situation. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, issued a statement on the 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) report that accused the North Korean regime of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations and made related recommendations. "We call on the DPRK to initiate a reform process to implement the recommendations of the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry and to respect human rights," Miller said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We also urge the international community to take immediate action to address the egregious human rights situation in the DPRK and for Member States to respect the principle of non-refoulement," he added. The COI report included recommendations that Pyongyang under take "profound and institutional reforms without delay" to introduce checks and balances on the powers of the nation's leader and the ruling Workers' Party, including the introduction of an independent and impartial judiciary and a multiparty political system. Miller pointed out that a decade after the report's release, reports indicate that the situation in the North has only worsened. "(North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un continues to exploit his citizens, including through mass mobilizations and the monopolization of food distribution, in support of the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," he said. The spokesperson stressed that promoting respect for human rights and human dignity in the North remains a "top priority" for the U.S. government. "We remain committed to shining a spotlight on human rights abuses and violations, promoting accountability for those responsible for them, and increasing access to independent information inside the DPRK," he said. Source: Y onhap News Agency
