BS: Why is Kofi Annan Silent re human rights

Subject: RE: BS: Why is Kofi Annan Silent re human rights
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 May 04 - 10:17 AM

New York, 13 May 2004 - Secretary-General's press encounter upon arrival at UNHQ (unofficial transcript)

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, may I ask you a quick question? [US Defense] Secretary [Donald] Rumsfeld has made an emergency trip to Iraq. What do you think about this worsening scandal over the prisoner photos, and is it making your job more difficult as you try to assist in the transition over there?

SG: There's no doubt that the mistreatment of the prisoners has caused a real and deep damage. We are carrying on with our work. And Mr. Brahimi is in touch with a large group of Iraqis and I hope they'll be able to focus on the work ahead in establishing an interim government without letting the prison issue drag, hold them back.

Q: Also this week, we saw the horrible images of the beheading of an American civilian. Have you feared that these images would lead to retaliation like that, that the killers claimed it's retaliation? What is your reaction to that?

SG: I think I've already made a statement as to how horrible that was and, of course, I've also condemned the mistreatment and mishandling of the prisoners. And I think we need to really urge everyone to respect the international norms and the rules of law and treat prisoners decently in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Thank you very much.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is Kofi Annan Silent re human rights
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 May 04 - 09:59 AM

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD; SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS; UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Thursday, May 20, 2004


BRAHIMI MEETS RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE IN IRAQ
The Secretary-General's Special Advisor, Lakhdar Brahimi, today met the representative in Iraq of the International Committee for the Red Cross, Pierre Gassmann. Their discussion focused on the situation of detainees being held in Abu Ghraib and other prisons and detention centers in Iraq. In this context, a number of issues were discussed including due process rights, the whereabouts of the detainees and the conditions of their detention.

Brahimi said he was concerned about the situation of the detainees and had raised these issues publicly, both in Baghdad and in his report to the Security Council last month. He urged the ICRC to engage with the new caretaker government to find solutions to all the outstanding problems regarding the detainees.

Subject: RE: BS: Why is Kofi Annan Silent re human rights
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 May 04 - 09:58 AM

Press Release HR/4740   IK/434
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS

OF ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS BY COALITION FORCES
(Reissued as received.)


GENEVA, 3 May (UN Information Service) –- The Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Theo van Boven, issued the following statement today:

"The Special Rapporteur on torture is seriously concerned about recent reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of Iraqi detainees by United States of America and United Kingdom military forces serving under the Coalition Provisional Authority.

The freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right. The prohibition of torture is explicitly affirmed in article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the treatment of prisoners and protection of civilians, and in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The Special Rapporteur calls upon all countries with forces serving in Iraq to take prompt and effective steps to investigate, prosecute and impose appropriate sanctions on any persons guilty of the alleged violations, as well as provide an effective remedy and adequate reparation for the victims of these abuses."

Subject: BS: Why is Kofi Annan Silent re human rights
From: GUEST,Disgruntled UN supporter
Date: 07 May 04 - 08:06 AM

Kofi Annan and the UN have, unbelievably, remained pretty silent about the broadening US human rights scandal in Iraq. In fact, it begs the question, if Paul Bremer has been vocal about the need to release Iraqi prisoners, and improve prison conditions for those needing to remain in detention, why the hell haven't we heard anything from the UN about this?

Human Rights Watch, check. Red Cross, check. Amnesty International, check.

The entire human rights community knew what was going on. Of course, they don't have the bully pulpit Kofi Annan has. So the question remains, why didn't that spineless idiot speak out about these human rights abuses? Oh--probably for the same reason he couldn't find his tongue about the genocide in Rwanda as it happened. Apparently Annan believes it is the UN's role to stand by silently and watch these human rights atrocities occur, and comment after it is all said and done?