----- Original Message -----
From: Walter Lippmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: CubaNews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 6:38 AM
Subject: [CubaNews] U.S. Human Rights Record Criticized
April 2, 2001
U.S. Human Rights Record Criticized
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 4:34 p.m. ET
GENEVA (AP) -- U.N. representatives of North Korea and Cuba on Monday
accused the United States of ignoring its own human rights violations, especially
among the poor and minorities, even as it judges other countries.
``Every year the United States accuses other countries of serious
problems. But it is well known that the most serious violator of human rights is the
United States,'' said North Korea's delegate, Jo Sung Ju, speaking at the U.N. Human
Rights Commission's annual meeting.
He cited the use of the death penalty against minors and widespread
poverty in the United States.
``Racial discrimination, child abuse, killing, trafficking, drug abuse and
police brutality are taking place as a usual practice,'' he said in a rare speech by a
North Korean diplomat to the 53-nation body. ``Rape and murder committed by U.S.
troops abroad are a serious problem.''
Jo lashed out following a statement Friday by U.S. chief delegate Shirin
Tahir-Kheli, in which she described North Korea as one of the ``world's most serious
human rights violators.''
Tahir-Kheli accused North Korea's communist government of using a
``draconian'' legal code to deny all basic rights, like freedom of opinion, assembly
or worship.
The U.S. delegate also condemned serious abuses in Cuba and said
suppression in China was worsening.
On Monday, Cuban Ambassador Carlos Amat Fores accused the United States of
sponsoring U.N. resolutions critical of Cuba merely to justify Washington's own
``genocidal policy of aggression and the economic blockade it has imposed for more tha
n 40 years.''
``There is a massive and flagrant denial of human rights to tens of
millions of people within its own borders,'' he declared, adding that about 15 percent
of the U.S. population lived below the poverty line and were excluded from proper
education and health care.
Cuba is routinely criticized by the U.N. commission for suppressing
democratic freedoms. Havana hopes to beat the U.S.-backed resolution this year with
support from Latin America and some vote abstentions from Europe.
In recent years, the commission also has passed critical resolutions on
Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Sudan and Afghanistan under a procedure whereby a special
investigator is appointed to monitor the situation.
In the heavily politicized debates, China has managed to use its muscle
with other developing nations to block critical resolutions for the past decade, and
will likely head off a U.S.-sponsored resolution again this year.
China's ambassador Zonghuai Qiao accused the United States of double
standards in a speech Friday.
``The U.S. concern for human rights is a sham, what it really practices is
power politics,'' he said. ``The U.S. advocacy for humanity is a fake, what it really
pursues is hegemonism.''
Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company
April 2, 2001
U.S. Human Rights Record Criticized
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 4:34 p.m. ET
GENEVA (AP) -- U.N. representatives of North Korea and Cuba on Monday
accused the United States of ignoring its own human rights violations, especially
among the poor and minorities, even as it judges other countries.
``Every year the United States accuses other countries of serious
problems. But it is well known that the most serious violator of human rights is the
United States,'' said North Korea's delegate, Jo Sung Ju, speaking at the U.N. Human
Rights Commission's annual meeting.
He cited the use of the death penalty against minors and widespread
poverty in the United States.
``Racial discrimination, child abuse, killing, trafficking, drug abuse and
police brutality are taking place as a usual practice,'' he said in a rare speech by a
North Korean diplomat to the 53-nation body. ``Rape and murder committed by U.S.
troops abroad are a serious problem.''
Jo lashed out following a statement Friday by U.S. chief delegate Shirin
Tahir-Kheli, in which she described North Korea as one of the ``world's most serious
human rights violators.''
Tahir-Kheli accused North Korea's communist government of using a
``draconian'' legal code to deny all basic rights, like freedom of opinion, assembly
or worship.
The U.S. delegate also condemned serious abuses in Cuba and said
suppression in China was worsening.
On Monday, Cuban Ambassador Carlos Amat Fores accused the United States of
sponsoring U.N. resolutions critical of Cuba merely to justify Washington's own
``genocidal policy of aggression and the economic blockade it has imposed for more
than 40 years.''
``There is a massive and flagrant denial of human rights to tens of
millions of people within its own borders,'' he declared, adding that about 15 percent
of the U.S. population lived below the poverty line and were excluded from proper
education and health care.
Cuba is routinely criticized by the U.N. commission for suppressing
democratic freedoms. Havana hopes to beat the U.S.-backed resolution this year with
support from Latin America and some vote abstentions from Europe.
In recent years, the commission also has passed critical resolutions on
Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Sudan and Afghanistan under a procedure whereby a special
investigator is appointed to monitor the situation.
In the heavily politicized debates, China has managed to use its muscle
with other developing nations to block critical resolutions for the past decade, and
will likely head off a U.S.-sponsored resolution again this year.
China's ambassador Zonghuai Qiao accused the United States of double
standards in a speech Friday.
``The U.S. concern for human rights is a sham, what it really practices is
power politics,'' he said. ``The U.S. advocacy for humanity is a fake, what it really
pursues is hegemonism.''
Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company
