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Peace Prize needs new rules

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12 October, 2000The leader of the global union for metalworkers reacts to the announcement that Kim Dae-jung has been selected as this year's choice for the prestigious Nobel award.

GENEVA: Reacting to the announcement in Oslo this morning, October 13, that President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea had been awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace, Marcello Malentacchi, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation, said in his opinion column of today that the Norwegian Royal Academy had selected probably one of the less deserving of the 150 candidates being considered.
What was most scandalous were some of the motivations given for awarding the Prize to Mr. Kim, declared Malentacchi. Upon announcing the Committee's decision, its chairman stated: "Kim Dae-jung is a central defender of universal human rights."
"The Committee should have asked the South Korean trade unions about that," remarked Malentacchi, "and checked on what Mr. Kim has been doing since he was elected president of the country."
Read his new opinion on the associated link.