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Posted on 01/19/2003 9:38:30 AM PST by Dog Gone
GENEVA (Reuters) - Libya, long accused by human rights activists of major abuses, is set to win the chairmanship of the U.N. top rights body Monday despite firm opposition from the United States.
Diplomats said that the North African country of President Muammar Gaddafi would be chosen by the U.N. Human Rights Commission to preside at the coming annual session at which the health of rights around the world will be scrutinized.
For the first time since the Commission was founded in 1947, the decision will go to a vote after Washington said it could not reward Libya's "terrible conduct" and demanded a ballot.
Libya, which is still not fully free of U.N. sanctions imposed for its alleged role in the Lockerbie airliner bombing, has been nominated by African countries whose turn it is by U.N. tradition to make the choice.
"There will be enough votes in support, there is no doubt about that. Even the Americans are certain Libya will win," said one European diplomat.
So far only Canada has said it will back Washington in the secret ballot in the 53-state Commission, where there are a number of countries whose rights records have often been questioned, including Cuba, Sudan and Algeria.
The seven European Union members of the Geneva-based body failed to agree a common position and each will decide for itself, European diplomats said.
Asian and Middle Eastern states are increasingly opposed to the singling out of states for criticism during the annual sessions and would reject any bid to stop African countries using their right to name the chairman, diplomats added.
The six-week Geneva session is set for March 17-April 25.
REPORTS OF TORTURE
"Libya's record as an abuser of human rights is well known. It is also a country under U.N. sanctions because it has yet to fulfill the conditions related to the bombing of Pan Am 103," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher in announcing Washington's position. Sanctions were suspended in 1999 after Libya handed over two agents for trial over the 1988 bombing in which 270 people died. One agent was subsequently convicted and jailed.
Tripoli's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Najat Al-Hajjaji, who will take over as Commission chairwoman, declined to comment ahead of the vote. But Libya has in the past dismissed Washington's objections as "lies."
Various U.N. human rights committees have expressed concern at reports of torture, prolonged detention and extrajudicial killings in Libya where the unpredictable Gaddafi has governed since taking power in a 1969 coup.
"Over the past three decades, Libya's human rights record has been appalling," said Joanna Weschler of the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch.
Human rights activists and officials are worried that the controversy generated by the choice of chairman could further damage the standing of the Commission which has shown increasing reluctance to speak out strongly against rights abuses.
"Libya's election poses a real test for the Commission. Repressive regimes must not be allowed to hijack the U.N. human rights system," Weschler added.
U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Sergio Vieira de Mello has backed calls for reform which would include conditions for Commission membership, such as the ratifying and implementation of all major human rights accords.
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