Human Rights Abusers Of The World

The following comes from the Department of State Web Site:

U.N. Must Not Shrink from Naming Human-Rights Abusers, U.S. Says

Boschwitz addresses human rights concerns at U.N. Human Rights Commission


Former Senator Rudy Boschwitz, head of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), expressed the Bush administration’s concern with human rights abuse throughout the world in a March 24 statement to that body’s 61st session.

Boschwitz said that reinforcing positive developments in human rights is integral to the committee and added, “though some of you would prefer to dispense with Item 9, it is not sufficient for this body to condemn the abuses but shy away from naming the abusers.”

The commission consists of 53 member states and meets for six weeks in March and April each year in Geneva to review observance and violations of human rights worldwide, to consider new ways to promote and protect human rights, and to encourage countries to respect the basic rights and freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the commission's most noted achievements was the preparation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948.

The 61st session of the commission is meeting in Geneva from March 14 through April 22. Over 3,000 delegates representing observer nations and nongovernmental organization, in addition to the 53 members of the commission, are participating in the session.

Discussion of agenda Item 9, the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, began on March 23 and was scheduled to continue throughout March 24.

In his prepared statement, Boschwitz praised human rights and democracy progress in Afghanistan and the January 30 elections in Iraq, noting the courage demonstrated by voters in both those countries.

He also cited other examples of progress throughout the Middle East including: successful presidential elections for the Palestinian Authority, improved rights for women in Morocco, decentralization initiatives in Jordan, and introduction of penal codes for sexual harassment and the completion of a contested presidential election in Algeria.

But the senator said that many other parts of the world have taken “perceptible movements” away from freedom and democracy, while, in other portions of the globe, freedom remains elusive.

Regarding the former Soviet republics, Boschwitz praised recent democratic progress in Ukraine but expressed concerns about violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Chechnya and condemned the September 2004 terrorist assault on a school in Beslan. Additionally, he urged the commission to “send a powerful signal” to Belarus to “halt its assault on its own citizens’ rights and to take swift steps to uphold its international human rights commitments.”

In Asia, the United States remains “concerned about the Chinese government’s lack of commitment to improve its poor human rights record, despite the willingness of my and other countries to help,” Boschwitz said.

He also said that human rights will continue to be an integral part of the U.S. agenda with North Korea and noted that the United States will soon name a special envoy on human rights in North Korea, as mandated by the North Korea Human Rights Act (2004).

In addition, Boschwitz cited the poor human rights situation in Burma with the continued house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detainment of political prisoners, and abuse of ethnic minorities.

The senator expressed U.S. concern with the continued violence by Jinjaweed militias in Sudan's Darfur region saying, “We have made it clear to Khartoum that we will not normalize relations or re-examine bilateral sanctions until the government keeps its promise in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and until violence has ended in Darfur.”

In the Western Hemisphere, he noted the rejection of democratic processes and continued harassment and intimidation of pro-democracy activists in Cuba and the “steady deterioration of democracy” in Venezuela.

“Cuba has repeatedly been censured by this Commission, and has brazenly ignored [commission] resolutions requiring it to take action,” Boschwitz said.

Other countries whose human-rights records are of concern to the United States include Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Zimbabwe, according to Boschwitz’s statement.

“As the primary institution for the protection of human rights in the UN system, our message to these true patriots of their nations must be that you are not ignored and you are not forgotten, and we will not excuse those who are responsible for your oppression,” Senator Boschwitz said.

Okay, here are some key quotes from Mr. Boschwitz's address to the chairman of the U.N. and editorialized comments by me:


"Mr. Chairman,

As President Bush's representative to this 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, let me assure you that he views these proceedings as key to his Administration's efforts to promote human rights and democracy worldwide, part of what he calls his 'forward strategy for freedom.' (By the way, thanks for letting the U.S. back..... the U.S. was kicked out in 2001 for opposition to treaties to abolish land mines, the International Criminal Court and availability of AIDS drugs to all countries in need.)
"The United States particularly values this segment of the Commission -- when we focus on the situation of human rights in specific countries around the world. We are convinced that reinforcing positive developments when they occur is an important part of the work of this body.

My fellow delegates, though some of you would prefer to dispense with Item 9, it is not sufficient for this body to condemn the abuses but shy away from naming the abusers. Speaking clearly about all those regimes that commit such abuses is necessary if this Commission is to retain its credibility.

Distinguished Delegates,
We find ourselves in an extraordinary era of progress for human rights and democracy. Around the world -- mostly notably in the broader Middle East and Eurasia -- freedom is on the march."

"In the three years since the fall of the Taliban regime, the people of Afghanistan have struggled against terrorism and traditional ethnic, religious and tribal cleavages, to extend fundamental rights to women and minorities, open their society to unprecedented political competition and freedom of expression, and to craft a new constitution faithful to their values and way of life." (By the way, there's now many thousands of Afghanis exterminated courtesy of carpet-bombing from 30,000 ft. by the U.S. while trying to kill one man, who's still missing to this day.... Gore Vidal once said that bombing Afghanistan to eliminate terrorism is like bombing Palermo, Sicily to eliminate the Mafia)

On January 30, Iraqis took an important step toward democracy, when millions braved violence and threats to cast their votes in the most democratic and transparent election in their history." (Once again, an unnecessary war, still being fought under false pretenses, maiming 100,000+ Iraqi civilians and 1,500+ U.S. soldiers, paved the way....)

"Sadly, as we look around the globe, some states with long, democratic traditions or more recent democratic transitions, have taken perceptible movements back toward patterns of political authoritarianism, constraints on freedom of the press, restrictions on political competition, and executive influence over their judiciaries.

My government shares others' concerns that Ukraine's recent progress stands in contrast to current trends in it's giant neighbor, Russia, where regression toward the concentration of power in the Kremlin poses questions for that country's democratic transition." (They're probably sore that we took over their major oil supplier in aforementioned faulty war. What have they done for us though, I mean, except warn us repeatedly about hijacked airplanes and Al Qaeda days before 9/11?)

"The Government of Venezuela has increased its control over the judicial system and its interference in the administration of justice, packing the Supreme Court with loyalists and using the judiciary to harass political opponents." (That's upcoming for the U.S., when Bush packs the Supreme Court with friends. Our supreme judiciary has only harrassed enough to determine the outcome of a presidential contest in 2000, nothing major....) "The Venezuelan Government has brought criminal charges of "defamation" against individuals for making statements critical of government officials or the military." (See, here in America, we can openly criticize the president too.... as long as it's a mile away from wherever he happens to be and inside a fenced area)

More To Come.... Stay Tuned.....

And We're Back.....


Cuba: "The majority of the 75 dissidents jailed in 2003 remain incarcerated. While 14 were released late last year, we note that these people were seriously ill and should never have been imprisoned in the first place. Moreover, the Cuban Government continues to hold at least 300 other political prisoners." (Ummm..... Guantanamo Bay? Ever heard of it?

Or, better yet, how about stuff that happens in the U.S. of A.? Following Info from soundvision.com:

1. The US government has secretly arrested about 1,200 non-US citizens in connection with the investigation into the 9/11 terror attacks, although the government has not disclosed the exact number. Most of them are from the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. A number of these people were arrested during random meetings with law enforcement officials or the suspicions of neighbors based on their being Muslim, Arab or South Asian, according to an August 2002 Human Rights Watch report.






"Mr. Chairman,

The U.S fully supports efforts by the Commission and others to help governments seeking to transition to greater freedom. We enthusiastically support the High Level Panel's recommendation to beef up the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to give advisory services and offer that help." (Office of High Commisioner: Louise Arbor, from Canada. Good thing the U.S. has been getting buddy-buddy with our Northern neighbors lately....) "We co-tabled a resolution at the Commission's last session to make the High Commissioner's office a focal point in the UN for promoting democracy and rule of law, and made a voluntary contribution to fund that function. Yet this Commission must speak up on behalf of the international community to identify those regimes unwilling to seek help and deserving moral opprobrium." (I'm trying to identify one often forgotten....)

"As I have just highlighted, freedom and the ability to choose one's government" (see Black Box voting scandals, Diebold voting machines, etc....) "still elude many people in many portions of our globe." (We understand completely) "But let the message of these deliberations be one of hope and promise to the oppressed. As is the mandate of this Commission, let our work on Item 9 of the Commission's agenda be the embodiment of the United Nations' commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who live in tyranny and hopelessness. As the primary institution for the protection of human rights in the UN system, our message to these true patriots of their nations must be that you are not ignored and you are not forgotten, and we will not excuse those who are responsible for your oppression."