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Human Rights - U-N must speak out



DATE=        APRIL 23, 1998
TYPE=        EDf America
 .ITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-07751
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  HUMAN RIGHTS -- U-N MUST SPEAK OUT

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
APRIL 23, 1998.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    AS HISTORY HAS SHOWN, NATIONS THAT VIOLATE THE FUNDAMENTAL 
RIGHTS OF THEIR PEOPLE OFTEN VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF THEIR 
NEIGHBORS AS WELL.  THAT IS ONE REASON WHY THE UNITED NATIONS 
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MUST SPEAK OUT AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS 
VIOLATIONS WHEREVER THEY OCCUR.  THE COMMISSION MUST ALSO BE 
ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE-SCALE CRISES.  AS NANCY RUBIN, 
CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION, TOLD COMMISSION MEMBERS 
THIS MONTH, DEVELOPING SUCH AN EARLY WARNING FUNCTION IS CRITICAL
TO PREVENTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

    A CASE IN POINT IS KOSOVO.  THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO 
JUSTIFICATION, SAID AMBASSADOR RUBIN, "FOR SHELLING VILLAGES, 
BURNING HOUSES AND MURDERING INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.  
WE HAVE SEEN ALL TOO MANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT ETHNIC INTOLERANCE AND
HATRED HAVE PRODUCED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.  [SERBIAN] 
AUTHORITIES NEED TO END REPRESSION AND FIND A WAY TO LIVE IN 
PEACE WITH THE KOSOVAR ALBANIANS."

    ANOTHER CASE THAT CRIES OUT FOR ATTENTION IS ALGERIA.  
TERRORISTS HAVE BRUTALLY MASSACRED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND WOMEN
AND GIRLS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO HORRIBLE ABUSES.  THE ALGERIAN 
GOVERNMENT MUST FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT CITIZENS 
CONSISTENT WITH THE RULE OF LAW.  THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF 
GREATER ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT OPENNESS TO FOREIGN PARLIAMENTARY 
DELEGATIONS AND JOURNALISTS.  THE U.S. IS ALSO ENCOURAGING VISITS
BY THE U-N SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR ALGERIA.

    IN AFGHANISTAN, MASSIVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS HAVE BEEN 
COMMITTED BY ALL FACTIONS.  IN PARTICULAR, THE TALEBAN'S 
TREATMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS HAS BEEN DESPICABLE.  THE U.S. URGES
ALL PARTIES TO PUT INTO EFFECT AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, FOLLOWED 
BY NEGOTIATIONS TOWARD A SETTLEMENT.

    AS U.S. CHIEF DELEGATE RUBIN SAID, THE FIRST DUTY OF THE U-N 
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MUST BE TO STAND UP FOR THOSE WHOSE 
RIGHTS ARE THREATENED OR ABUSED.  IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSION 
MUST BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE -- SO THAT WHEN THE ALARM IS SOUNDED, 
ACTION IS TAKEN.

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.
(1803 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice o
22-Apr-98 2:03 PM EDT