HUMAN RIGHTS: Cuba on Tenterhooks in U.N. Commission

GENEVA, Apr 16 (IPS) - The outcome of the vote on the Cuban situation by the United Nations maximum human rights body was postponed Wednesday, though it is evident that it will take place amidst high diplomatic tensions. Cuban dissidents say that regardless of the vote results, little will change on the island.

The debate in the U.N. Commission on Human Rights underwent a radical shift within a matter of hours as a result of reactions from Latin American and European delegations to the recent crackdown on dissidents and the execution of three hijackers on the Caribbean island.

Until Wednesday the discussion on Cuba had revolved around an initiative authored by Costa Rica, Peru, and Uruguay that called upon Havana to receive French jurist Christine Chanet, special rapporteur of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose mandate is to conduct a field assessment of the Cuban situation.

The text of the three Latin American countries, presented just after the Commission began its annual six-week sessions March 17, has been described in diplomatic circles as ”harmless” and even ”accommodating” with regards to Cuba.

But since mid-March, the Cuban authorities rounded up some 75 members of the political opposition, which although illegal had been tolerated by the government. The dissidents were then subjected to summary trials and given harsh prison sentences, of up to 28 years.

And then last Friday, again after "extreme" summary trials, three men found guilty of hijacking a passenger ferry in a bid to flee to the United States were executed by firing squad.

While the dissident movement on the island considers a U.N. Commission censure of the Cuban government a certainty, there is consensus that it would have little impact on the status of human rights in that country, due to the existing "political polarization."

Opposition activist Manuel Cuesta Morúa told IPS he thinks the fact that the crackdown on Cuban dissidents and the execution of the hijackers coincided with the Commission's session is a sign of the Castro government's scorn for the U.N. human rights body.

"It is also a way to disparage the international community" for not agreeing with the Cuban government's view of the world, said Cuesta Morúa, who pointed out that there are human rights controversies worldwide.

"I don't see why, then, Cuba can't be part of that controversy," said the activist, a representative of the is moderate opposition's panel for dialogue inside Cuba, and supporter of the notion that the United States should withdraw from the human rights debate in Geneva.

Just hours before the U.N. Commission vote was to take place Wednesday, Costa Rica withdrew from the "moderately-worded" motion and introduced an amendment that has the backing of the European Union and the United States.

The new Costa Rican text proposes the inclusion of a paragraph in the resolution on Cuba that expresses "deep concern" about the recent events on the island and that urges the Fidel Castro government to release the 75 detainees immediately.

Cuba responded straight away with a proposed counter-amendment, that includes two paragraphs for the resolution.

The first demands an immediate end to the "unilateral and illegal" blockade against Cuba that the United States has maintained for nearly four decades. The second calls on the U.N. to study the effects of ”terrorist acts” against Cuba launched from U.S. territory.

A procedural hitch forced the postponement of debate on the new initiatives until Thursday. A Commission regulation stipulates that a resolution proposal may only be put up for discussion 24 hours after its presentation.

The untimely filing of the new drafts caused confusion, which led some countries--like the United States--to simultaneously support the initiative introduced weeks ago by the three Latin American countries and the new Costa Rican amendment.

When Cuba, amidst smiles from several Commission delegates, noted the contradictory stance of the U.S. delegation, Washington envoy Kevin E. Moley responded that his country would support "anything" that demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Cuban government.

The debate maintained that biting tone. Cuba charged that the Commission "lacks credibility and prestige" because in 50 years it has never issued a condemnation against an industrialized country, "as if they never violated" human rights, thus victimizing the nations of the developing world.

The authors of the original draft resolution on Cuba--Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay--"have played the role of lackeys, serving the interests of the United States," said envoy Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, head of the Cuban foreign ministry's multilateral affairs.

Uruguay broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba last year, in the wake of Havana's reactions to Montevideo's vote in favor of a similar moderate resolution on the Castro government's human rights record.

Fernández defended last week's three executions because the punishment "was applied to terrorists and hijackers" according to Cuban law.

Those who hijack aircraft or boats in Cuba are just as much terrorists, said the diplomat, as those who hijack airplanes to crash them into the Twin Towers in New York.

He agreed to comment on the distancing by international personalities--such as Portuguese writer and Nobel laureate José Saramago--from the Cuban regime that occurred as a result the executions.

"We hope that our friends, who are many in all parts of the world, understand our reasons when the truth becomes to come out," said Fernández.

Havana's envoy added that his government supports the statements made by Argentina's President Eduardo Duhalde, who said Tuesday that his country's delegation to the Commission on Human Rights would abstain from the vote on Cuba.

Latin American sources said that of the 11 countries from the region that are on the 53-member body, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay would vote in favor of a resolution critical of Cuba's human rights record.

Expected to vote against or abstain are Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The Castro government issued a statement Tuesday night saying, "Condemning us in Geneva based on flagrant pressure (on Commission members) is what the owners of the world have been during for nearly 15 years," and accuses the United States of engaging in ”all sorts of blackmail” to put Havana in the dock once more.

"The empire (United States) has created in Geneva an atmosphere of full persecution and terror against diplomats of the Commission's member countries," says the communiqué, which also says the European Union has been servile in supporting the "clumsy maneuver of the United States" to condemn Cuba.

In contrast to the delay on the Cuban question, the U.N. Commission took a significant decision in rejecting a European proposal to censure Russia for the human rights situation in Chechnya.

The war in that autonomous republic, which declared its independence in 1991, has claimed thousands of lives. Most of the Muslim population wants independence from Russia, which reclaimed control over the territory in 1999.

What was noteworthy about the vote Wednesday was that Islamic countries on the Commission on Human Rights voted against the European initiative, which sought to censure Russia for violations committed by its armed forces against Chechen civilians.

The resolution was rejected, with 21 votes against, 15 in favor and 17 abstentions.

International human rights organizations report that Russian troops have raided Chechen villages, looting local businesses and carrying out arbitrary arrests.

Meanwhile, another resolution sponsored by the European Union was approved. The text denouncing the systematic and serious violations of human rights in North Korea received 28 votes in favor, 10 against and 14 abstentions.

14 April 2003
Text: U.S. Critical of Prison Sentences for Cuban Dissidents
(Kirkpatrick addresses U.N. Commission on Human Rights)
(540)

Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, head of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, has expressed criticism of the Cuban government's imposition of long prison sentences on 75 human rights dissidents.

Kirkpatrick told the commission April 14 during its session on Item 17: Defenders of Democracy, it was an "unwelcome coincidence" that Cuba took its action in April, while the commission was discussing the promotion of human rights.

The 59th session of the Commission on Human Rights is meeting in Geneva from March 17 to April 25.

Following is the text of Kirkpatrick's statement:

(begin text)

Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick
Statement of the United States of America
Item 17: Defenders of Democracy

Madame Chairperson,

The United States delegation believes that human rights depend on democratic institutions. Promoting democracy, encouraging its spread is the centerpiece of our foreign policy. The United States government supports programs to build civil societies and democratic institutions, to promote transparency and increase civil engagement.

We think we should be clear about who it is we refer to as human rights defenders: They are, especially, persons who take serious risks to expand the domain of liberty, often risking their freedom or even their lives in the process. It is an unwelcome coincidence that the very same time this Commission was spending six weeks discussing the promotion of human rights, the government of Cuba imposed long sentences on 75 persons -- doctors, librarians, academics, journalists.

The Cuban regime would have us believe that all these individuals were organized by the U.S. government to subvert it. But an examination of their activities gives the lie to such a claim. Many of the 75 were involved in the Varela project to peacefully petition the Cuban government to permit an alternative to its one-party unelected legislature. Others were merely trying to disseminate literature and news prepared by independent organizations.

The sentences of the 75 dissidents handed down April 3-7 range between 12 to 26 years at trials lasting less than a day for each. The names of these authentic human rights defenders are appended to our statement.

A second testimony to the quality of Cuban justice could be seen last week at the summary trial and execution of three Cubans charged with attempted hijacking of a passenger ferry to Florida. No one was hurt in the attempted nhijacking except the three executed. Yes, they committed a crime, but they, like everyone, deserved due process and a reasonable sentence.

Once again the representative of Cuba spoke today of a U.S. effort to lure Cubans to the United States. He should ask himself instead why so many Cubans are so eager to leave their homes for a strange country with a strange language.

Once again, for the fifth, sixth, seventh time, the Cuban delegate referred to a U.S. blockade of Cuba. But the Cuban delegate surely knows that the U.S. government has only once, in 1962, established a blockade of Cuba at the time of a crisis in the U.S.-Soviet relations growing out of the Soviet move to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba. It was removed once the crisis was past.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

10 April 2003
Text: Secretary of State Colin Powell Urges an End to Repression in Cuba
(Calls on Fidel Castro to release jailed dissidents)
(220)

Secretary of State Colin Powell, describing the Cuban government's recent crackdown on dissidents as "the most significant act of political repression in decades" by Cuba, issued a formal statement April 10 urging Cuban President Fidel Castro to "end this despicable repression" and free the jailed dissidents.

Following is the text of Powell's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 10, 2003

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL

End the Repression in Cuba

In recent days, the Cuban government has undertaken the most significant act of political repression in decades. Nearly 80 representatives of a growing and truly independent civil society have been arrested, convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms in summary, secret trials. Their only crime was seeking basic human rights and freedoms.

We call on Castro to end this despicable repression and free these prisoners of conscience. The United States and the international community will be unrelenting in our insistence that Cubans who seek peaceful change be permitted to do so. We are working with our partners on the Human Rights Commission in Geneva to develop a resolution that condemns Cuba's abysmal human rights performance in the strongest possible terms.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

09 April 2003
Text: U.S. Lawmakers Condemn Violations of Human Rights in Cuba
(Resolution calls for release of political prisoners, free elections)
(1180)

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution that condemns "systematic" human rights violations in Cuba, and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners and for free elections in that Caribbean nation.

The resolution passed the House April 8 by a vote of 414 to 0, with 11 members voting "present." The resolution says Cuba's government continues to repress all peaceful attempts by the Cuban people to bring democratic change to the island by denying universally recognized liberties, including freedom of speech, press, and assembly.

Following is the text of the resolution:

(begin text)

108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 179

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the systematic human rights violations in Cuba committed by the Castro regime, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and supporting respect for basic human rights and free elections in Cuba.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. MCCOTTER, and Mr. PALLONE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on [date unspecified].

RESOLUTION

Whereas the Cuban Government continues to repress all peaceful attempts by the Cuban people to bring democratic change to the island by denying universally recognized liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly, association, movement and of the press;

Whereas on March 9, 2003, many of Cuba's prominent dissidents issued a statement titled "Joint Statement" to the European Union, wherein they reaffirmed their view of the Cuban Government's "total vocation to immobility and its refusal to respect internationally recognized human rights or accept the existence of legitimate political opposition" and further stated that "in recent times the Cuban Government has intensified its political and social repression";

Whereas commencing on March 17, 2003, the Cuban Government carried out a massive, island wide crackdown on members of Cuba's pro-democracy movement, which included the arrest of over 80 dissidents, among them many who signed the "Joint Statement"; activists of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society, promoters of the Varela Project, independent journalists, and numerous members of Cuba's nascent independent civil society;

Whereas the Cuban Government arbitrarily searched the homes and confiscated personal items belonging to pro-democracy activists;

Whereas independent journalists were among those incarcerated in this massive crackdown, including Raul Rivero, known as the dean of the dissident independent journalists in Cuba;

Whereas independent librarians, who make their homes available so that the Cuban population may have access to publications otherwise censored by the Cuban Government, also became victims of repression, as many were arrested, their homes ransacked and searched, and publications and other belongings confiscated;

Whereas Marta Beatriz Roque, and other leaders of the "Assembly to Promote Civil Society", an island-wide movement seeking to coordinate the various sectors of Cuba's nascent independent civil society who work for a democratic transition, were incarcerated and face lengthy sentences, including life sentences;

Whereas activists who have collected or signed petitions for the Varela Project were also incarcerated in this crack-down and may also face life sentences;

Whereas more than 80 pro-democracy leaders who work for a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba and have been incarcerated and sentenced under "Law 88" and "Law 91", two draconian totalitarian laws that call for long sentences of 10, 15, or 20 years, or life imprisonment, or even death for pro-democracy activity;

Whereas there is concern for the well-being and safety for all of Cuba's political prisoners, particularly Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leyva, who is a blind human rights activist incarcerated since March of 2002 without being formally charged, and Leonardo Bruzon Avila, who has been denied medical attention according to Amnesty Inter-national, despite the effects of a prolonged hunger strike while in prison.;

Whereas a plea for solidarity was made from within the notoriously harsh prison in Cuba known as "Combinado del Este" and signed by 21 political prisoners, among them Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, Francisco Chaviano, Rafael Ibarra, and Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez" to the member states of the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission;

Whereas the Cuban Government has carried out "summary trials" to expeditiously sentence pro-democracy leaders to try to intimidate and silence other pro-democracy activists on the island, while world attention is primarily focused on Iraq;

Whereas the Castro regime has engaged in mass arrests of dissidents while the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, of which Cuba is a member, is meeting in Geneva;

Whereas certain member countries of the Latin American and Caribbean group (GRULAC) at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights are currently drafting a resolution on the violations of human rights by the Cuban Government;

Whereas the Cuban Government has repeatedly violated the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, and other international and regional human rights agreements, and has violated the mandates issued by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;

Whereas foreign diplomats and members of the international press have been barred by the Cuban Government from being present at the "summary trials"; and

Whereas pro-democracy leaders on the island have come together to call for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners, and are requesting international solidarity with the internal opposition, as reflected in a March 31, 2003, statement signed by some of the most prominent dissidents on the island: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives --

(1) condemns the brutal crackdown of the Cuban Government on the island's peaceful pro-democracy movement;
(2) calls for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners;
(3) supports the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties, including freedom of expression, assembly, association, movement, press, and the right to multiparty elections;
(4) calls on the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, to work with the member countries of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution that includes the strongest possible condemnation of the current crackdown of dissidents and of the gross human rights violations committed 19 by the Cuban Government; and
(5) calls on the Latin American and Caribbean group (GRULAC) at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to exclude Cuba from its slate of candidates for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and urges all member nations to oppose renewing Cuba's membership on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights until the Government of Cuba adheres to international human rights standards, such as those delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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