DATE=1/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226111
TITLE=HUMAN RIGHTS-OVERVIEW (L)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON
HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD. IT SAYS ABUSES CONTINUE IN MANY
PARTS OF THE GLOBE, THOUGH IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOTED IN SOME
COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CHINA. VOA'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: IN ITS OVERVIEW TO THE COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY HUMAN RIGHTS
ASSESSMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS STRONG AUTHORITARIAN
GOVERNMENTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD CONTINUED TO COMMIT
WIDESPREAD AND WELL DOCUMENTED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 1997. IT
WAS, THE REPORT SAYS, A DISMAL SCENARIO THAT IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
THE PROBLEM OF IRAQ'S DEFIANCE OF WEAPONS INSPECTIONS WAS
OBVIOUSLY ON THE MINDS OF STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS. IN
INTRODUCING THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON 194 COUNTRIES AROUND THE
WORLD, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOT POINTED TO IRAQ AS
A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY CONCERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS IMPORTANT.
/// TALBOT ACT ///
REGIMES THAT RULE BY REPRESSION AND VIOLENCE AT HOME ARE
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO THREATEN THEIR NEIGHBORS AND WORLD
PIECE AS A WHOLE. SADDAM HUSSEIN IS EXHIBIT 'A'.
/// END ACT ///
SOME HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOTED AROUND THE WORLD.
(OPT) THE REPORT SAYS CHINA TOOK SOME POSITIVE STEPS ON HUMAN
RIGHTS LAST YEAR, THOUGH SERIOUS PROBLEMS REMAINED. IT SAYS THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO DISSENT WAS SOMEWHAT MORE
TOLERANT THAN IN RECENT YEARS AND A FEW POLITICAL PRISONERS --
SUCH AS WEI JINGSHENG -- WERE RELEASED. BUT THE REPORT SAYS
THOUSANDS OF CHINESE REMAIN IN PRISON FOR PEACEFULLY EXPRESSING
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, OR RELIGIOUS VIEWS. (END OPT)
(OPT) ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, JOHN
SHATTUCK SAID THERE WERE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA.
/// SHATTUCK ACT ///
I BELIEVE WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, HISTORY WILL MARK 1997
AS THE TURNING POINT TOWARD PEACE AND JUSTICE IN BOSNIA.
/// END ACT ///
(END OPT)
BUT SOME OF THE COUNTRIES SURVEYED BY THE REPORT SHOWED LITTLE
IMPROVEMENT.
(OPT) THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT CHANGED
ITS NAME BUT NOT ITS RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES AND SECURITY FORCES
CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT KILLINGS, BEATINGS AND RAPE, AND THERE ARE
STILL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON BASIC RIGHTS. (END OPT)
(OPT) THE REPORT SAYS DESPITE THE TIMETABLE ANNOUNCED BY
NIGERIAN GENERAL SANI ABACHA FOR A TRANSITION TO MULTIPARTY RULE,
THERE WAS NO MEANINGFUL PROGRESS AND CHIEF MOSHOOD ABIOLA, THE
WINNER OF THE ANNULLED 1993 ELECTION, REMAINED IN DETENTION. (END
OPT)
(OPT) CUBA'S AGREEMENT TO A PAPAL VISIT ATTRACTED POSITIVE
ATTENTION ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, BUT, WHAT IT CALLED, FIDEL
CASTRO'S TOTALITARIAN STRUCTURE REMAINS UNCHANGED. (END OPT)
(OPT) THE REPORT SAID HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES PERSISTED IN IRAN,
THOUGH IT NOTED THAT PRESIDENT KHATAMI HAS PUBLICLY PLEDGED
SUPPORT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND INCREASED PERSONAL FREEDOMS. (END
OPT)
(OPT) THE REPORT FOUND SCANT PROGRESS IN HUMAN RIGHTS IN SYRIA
AND SAID, IN ITS WORDS, LIBYA'S ENDURING DICTATORSHIP SURVIVED
ANOTHER YEAR THROUGH INTIMIDATION AND DENIAL OF BASIC RIGHTS.(END
OPT)
(OPT) AND IN ALGERIA, THE REPORT SAYS, THE ALARMING BRUTALITY
OF MASSACRES AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN COMMANDED THE
WORLD'S ATTENTION AND AS MANY AS ONE THOUSAND CIVILIANS WERE
BEING KILLED EACH MONTH. (END OPT)
(OPT) RUSSIA WAS CRITICIZED FOR WHAT IT CALLED A BIG STEP
BACKWARD WITH PASSAGE OF A LAW RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
(END OPT)
(OPT) THE REPORT NOTED SAUDI ARABIAN RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOMS
INCLUDING BASIC FREEDOMS OF WOMEN. AND IT SAYS IN TURKEY THERE
WERE WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (END OPT)
THE ANNUAL STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT IS CRITICISED BY
SOME GOVERNMENTS AS REFLECTING ONLY WESTERN VALUES AND AS AN
EXAMPLE OF KIND OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM. THE STATE DEPARTMENT
CHALLENGES THAT VIEW BY SAYING HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL AND THE
ABUSES DETAILED IN THE REPORT ARE FACTS.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/KL
30-Jan-98 2:16 PM EST (1916 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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