Amnesty slams UN human rights forum<\/p>\n
GENEVA (Reuter): The main United Nations human rights forum
\napproached the end of its annual session yesterday having let
\nChina off the hook again, but determined to step up
\ninvestigations in Africa, particularly Nigeria and Zaire.<\/p>\n
The 53-member forum approved a raft of resolutions condemning
\ntraditional transgressors -- including Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Iraq
\nand Israel. It sent the toughest message to Indonesia to curb its
\nalleged abuses in East Timor since a 1993 motion.<\/p>\n
For the first time, the UN Human Rights Commission formally
\nurged states to consider abolishing capital punishment.<\/p>\n
But the human rights group Amnesty International, in a
\nstatement, slammed the body for sidestepping abuses elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\"During its session, the Commission confronted Indonesia about
\nviolations in East Timor and appointed a special rapporteur on
\nNigeria. But once again, major human rights violators including
\nAlgeria, China and Turkey escaped scrutiny by the UN primary
\nhuman rights body.\"<\/p>\n
For the seventh year in a row, China averted censure despite
\nalleged repression and Western concern for political prisoners.<\/p>\n
\"China exploited the divisions within the Western Group to its
\nown advantage to avoid a vote on a draft resolution mildly
\ncritical of its human rights record,\" Amnesty said.<\/p>\n
Amnesty accused some member states, who this year backed away
\nfrom co-sponsoring a Western resolution on China, of having bowed
\nto commercial interests. Denmark presented a motion which
\nBeijing's delegation succeeded in quashing.<\/p>\n
\"France's decision to block European Union consensus on China
\nearned it applause from the Chinese government and confirmation
\nof lucrative business contracts,\" Amnesty said. \"With millions of
\ndollars on the line, any commitment to human rights principles
\njust faded away.<\/p>\n
\"For now, China has suppressed Commission scrutiny. This
\ndiplomatic victory was achieved through threats and bullying
\ntactics and because countries like Australia, Canada, France,
\nGermany, Greece, Italy and Spain put business before human
\nrights,\" the group added.<\/p>\n
Turning to Africa's Great Lakes region, Amnesty said the
\nCommission was \"almost irrelevant\" in the face of \"some of the
\nworst human rights abuses since the Second World War\".<\/p>",
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