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Date Posted: 13:16:56 09/09/02 Mon
Author: Mary Robinson
Subject: Rights & 'T' word

>U.N. Rights Chief Blasts Terror War
>
>Sat Sep 7, 8:26 PM ET
>
>By CLARE NULLIS, Associated Press Writer
>
>GENEVA (AP) - Departing U.N. human rights chief Mary
>Robinson, in a bleak assessment of the state of human
>rights, accused governments of hiding behind the
>ongoing war on terrorism to trample civil liberties
>and crush troublesome opponents.
>
>
>AP Photo
>
>
>
>"Suddenly the T-word is used all the time," Robinson
>said, referring to terrorism. "And that's the
>problem."
>
>The United States, Russia and China were among the
>nations she said were ignoring civil rights in the
>name of combating international terrorist groups.
>
>"Everything is justified by that T-word," the
>58-year-old former Irish president said in an
>interview with The Associated Press. "I hope that
>countries will put human rights back on the agenda
>because it tended to slip after September 11."
>
>Robinson argued the Bush administration set the tone
>by holding detainees from Afghanistan ( news - web
>sites) without charge at the U.S. naval base at
>Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She also criticized Washington's
>opposition to the new International Criminal Court.
>
>"The world needs leadership in human rights and the
>United States could give great leadership. It's not
>giving it at the moment, unfortunately," said
>Robinson, who leaves her post Wednesday.
>
>When Robinson took other governments to task for
>abuses in the post-Sept. 11 era, they often cited the
>United States as an example in arguing that human
>rights standards have changed, she said.
>
>"And I've had to say the standards have not changed,"
>Robinson said.
>
>"The United States must be seen to fully uphold
>international human rights and humanitarian standards.
>The attacks on New York didn't just kill many innocent
>people — they were an attack on freedom and democracy,
>and we must uphold these standards. And we can do that
>and effectively combat terrorism."
>
>Robinson said a number of countries were using the
>excuse of fighting terrorism to clamp down on
>legitimate opposition and curtail freedom of
>expression. She singled out Russian military
>operations in the restive republic of Chechnya ( news
>- web sites) and China's clampdowns on Muslim Uigurs
>and in Tibet.
>
>It was Robinson's willingness to use her office as
>U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to criticize
>such big powers that made her a darling of activists
>like Amnesty International. But it ultimately caused
>her downfall.
>
>Robinson initially wanted to quit last year at the end
>of her four-year term, saying she was frustrated by a
>lack of funding. She was persuaded by U.N.
>Secretary-General Kofi Annan ( news - web sites) to
>stay an additional year, then she let it be known she
>was willing to remain in office until 2005.
>
>That offer was declined, diplomats have said, because
>of U.S. annoyance at her criticism of the Guantanamo
>detention camp and her perceived anti-Israel stance,
>and anger in Moscow over her persistent clamoring for
>an inquiry into the suppression of Chechen rebels.
>
>"I do most of the work constructively, diplomatically
>... but there are times when there must be a voice in
>the United Nations ( news - web sites) for the victims
>of violations," Robinson said.
>
>One of Robinson's last visits was to China, where she
>said she had mixed feelings.
>
>On the one hand, she said, China has made big strides
>in technical programs to educate police, prison
>officers and judges about human rights treaties.
>
>"But on the side of the reality of human rights, I'm
>very worried," she said, citing recent arrests of
>labor leaders to quell unrest, the detention of a
>well-known AIDS ( news - web sites) activist and the
>continuing widespread use of the death penalty.
>
>Despite her gloomy overall assessment, Robinson said
>she took heart from her perception that human rights
>are being increasingly accepted as a fundamental part
>of development.
>
>Asked what she considered the worst human rights
>violation, she said, "Extreme poverty." She said the
>United States, in particular, needs to show more
>recognition of economic and social rights.
>
>Robinson said she felt no bitterness at being eased
>out, saying she will be campaigning for a "more
>ethical globalization and a fairer world." She also
>wants to use her contacts to tap universities and
>foundations for more resources to promote human rights
>in developing countries.
>
>Robinson said she was confident that her successor,
>Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian ( news - web
>sites) diplomat who headed the interim U.N.
>administration in East Timor ( news - web sites), is
>capable and committed.
>
>And she offers him one bit of advice given to her by
>an Irish poet friend: "If you become too popular in
>that job, you're probably not doing a good job."

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