Friday, April 15, 2005

Castro Rejects Human Rights Resolution

What a surprise! Cuba has said it will not co-operate in any form with a resolution passed against it by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. And why not?

The resolution, brought by the US, calls for the renewal of the mandate of a UN envoy to investigate alleged human rights abuses on the communist island.

The envoy was appointed in 2003, but Cuba has never allowed her to visit. She might demand to see more than Fidel wants to show her.

Christine Chanet recently urged Cuba to release imprisoned dissidents and allow its people freedom of expression and freedom of travel. We all know that's not happening while the Castro crew is in power.

This year, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque described as disgraceful the fact that Ukraine and Mexico - sometimes sympathisers with Cuba - voted in favour of the resolution.

He also said it was pathetic that all European Union members of the commission voted against Cuba, and warned that as a consequence, Cuba's recently improved relations with Europe will be reviewed. Chirac has probably already asked for terms.


1 comment:

Stacy said...

UN members being responsible? Surely you jest! I know that the countries sitting on the special commissions are placed there simply by alphabetical order, but I will never get past Cuba being on the Human Rights Commission.