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DATE=4/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248613
TITLE=SOMALIA RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A UNITED NATIONS INVESTIGATOR SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES 
MUST BE INTEGRATED INTO NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT BRINGING PEACE TO 
SOMALIA, OTHERWISE THEY WILL  NOT  SUCCEED.  LISA SCHLEIN IN 
GENEVA SAYS THE INVESTIGATOR HAS SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE U-N 
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DESCRIBING GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN 
RIGHTS  BY MEMBERS OF THE WARRING FACTIONS
TEXT: THE REPORT PAINTS A PICTURE OF UTTER CHAOS AND MAYHEM IN 
SOUTHERN SOMALIA.  IT SAYS MORE THAN 30 CLAN-BASED FACTIONS ARE 
FIGHTING IN THE COUNTRY.  AND THIS RESULTS IN GREAT LOSS OF LIFE,
FAMINE AND DISEASE.
THE U-N INVESTIGATOR, MONA RISHMAWI, SAYS THE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN
SOMALIA.  SHE SAYS THE PEACE PROCESS WHICH IS GOING ON IS 
EXTREMELY WEAK. AND, THE PEOPLE NEGOTIATING PEACE ARE THE VERY 
SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING HORRENDOUS CRIMES IN SOMALIA. 
AS ALWAYS, MS. RISHMAWI SAYS IT IS THE CIVILIANS WHO ARE 
SUFFERING.
                      /// RISHMAWI ACT ///
         I SPOKE ABOUT HUGE DISPLACEMENT, I SPOKE ABOUT VIOLENCE 
         AGAINST LIFE, HOSTAGE TAKING, TREATMENT OF MINORITIES, 
         PILLAGE, ATTACKS ON HOSPITALS. IT'S AS IF YOU ARE IN A 
         WAR ZONE. RAPE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE.  THESE ARE 
         VIOLATIONS THAT TAKE PLACE IN A VERY SERIOUS MANNER.
                        /// END ACT /// 
MS. RISHMAWI NOTES THAT SOMALIA HAS NO JUDICIAL SYSTEM.  
THEREFORE, CRIMES ARE COMMITTED WITH IMPUNITY.  THE U-N 
INVESTIGATOR SAYS MANY OF THESE VIOLATIONS CONSTITUTE WAR CRIMES 
OR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. 
SHE SAYS INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW COULD BE USED TO 
PROSECUTE THESE PEOPLE.  SHE SAYS MANY OF THEM TRAVEL ABROAD.  
WERE THEY TO BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, SHE SAYS, THEY COULD BE 
PROSECUTED IN COURTS OF LAW IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
                    /// 2ND RISHMAWI ACT ///
         I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ACTIVE POLICY OF 
         PURSUING THESE PEOPLE.  BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ONE HAS TO
         BE AWARE THAT SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT THESE PEOPLE 
         COMMIT, AT LEAST SOME OF THEM QUALIFY AS INTERNATIONAL 
         CRIMES.  AND IN THE PEACE TALKS, THIS HAS TO BE PUT ON 
         THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
                        /// END ACT /// 
MS. RISHMAWI SAYS THERE IS AN INVESTIGATING COMMISSION IN 
HARGEISA INTERVIEWING PEOPLE ABOUT SEVERAL MASS GRAVES.  THEY 
DATE BACK TO 1988-89. SHE SAYS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE MURDERED 
AND BURIED IN THESE GRAVES.  SHE SAYS THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE 
ACTS ARE KNOWN.  MANY OF THEM LIVE IN MOGADISHU AND ABROAD. 
MS. RISHMAWI SAYS THE U-N MUST PRESERVE EVIDENCE UNTIL THOSE WHO 
COMMITTED THESE CRIMES CAN BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/ALW
26-Apr-99 10:22 AM EDT (1422 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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