DATE=4/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / RIGHTS / AFRICA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261485
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
INTERNET=
INTRO: The United Nations Human Rights
Commission has condemned six African countries
for what it calls gross violations of human
rights. Lisa Schlein reports resolutions on
Burundi, Rwanda, Congo-Kinshasa, Equatorial
Guinea and Sierra Leone passed by consensus,
whereas the resolution on Sudan was adopted after
a vote.
TEXT: The 53-member United Nations Human Rights
Commission adopted the Sudan resolution by a vote
of 28 in favor, no votes against, and 24
abstentions. The resolution expresses deep
concern at the impact of the armed conflict on
the human rights situation. It condemns cases of
enforced disappearances, the use of children as
soldiers and the abduction of women and children
for forced labor.
/// Opt /// It denounces the murder and attacks
against U-N as well as humanitarian personnel, in
particular by the Sudanese People's Liberation
Army. It calls on the government and rebels to
grant full, safe and unhindered access to all
humanitarian agencies. /// end opt ///
Turning to Burundi, the Commission condemns
widespread violations of human rights, in
particular reports of massacres, enforced
disappearances and arbitrary arrests and
detention. It denounces the murder of U-N
personnel and urges that the perpetrators be
brought to justice. It calls on the government
to dismantle all so-called regroupment camps and
facilitate the return of the displaced people to
their villages. About 300-thousand mainly Hutu
civilians have been herded into these camps by
the Tutsi-led government.
On Rwanda, the resolution expresses concern over
the effectiveness of the witness protection
program on the International Tribunal for Rwanda
and calls for its improvement as a matter of
urgency.
/// Opt /// It expresses concern on the sale,
supply and shipment of arms in the Great Lakes
region of Central Africa. It condemns the
illegal sale and distribution of arms and all
other forms of assistance to former members of
the Rwandan armed forces, Interahamwe, and other
insurgent groups saying it undermines peace and
stability in the region. /// end opt ///
The U-N Human Rights Commission expresses deep
concern about the adverse impact of the war in
Congo-Kinshasa on the human rights situation in
that country. These include summary executions,
disappearances, torture, beatings, arbitrary
arrest and detention without trial. It notes
those targeted for abuse include journalists,
opposition politicians, human rights activists
and people who have co-operated with the United
Nations. The resolution calls on all parties to
the conflict to fully implement the Lusaka cease-
fire agreement.
The U-N Commission calls on the government of
Equatorial Guinea to abide by international human
rights treaties, which guarantee economic, social
and cultural rights and which protect women and
children from all forms of discrimination.
/// Opt /// It says conditions still exist that
lead to violations and abuses of human rights and
offers the good services of the U-N to help the
government overcome these problems. /// end opt
///
On Sierra Leone, the resolution expresses grave
concern at the continuing abuses of human rights
and humanitarian law committed with impunity
against civilians.
/// Opt /// It says crimes perpetrated by one of
the former rebel groups (the Revolutionary United
Front Armed Forces Revolutionary Council) and the
ex-Sierra Leone Army include rapes, abductions,
hostage-taking, summary executions, mutilations
and forced labor. It accuses them of targeting
and abusing women and children, including the
recruitment and use of child soldiers. It calls
on the government to investigate all reports of
human rights abuses. /// end opt /// (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/PT
18-Apr-2000 15:32 PM EDT (18-Apr-2000 1932 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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