DATE= APRIL 2, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07718
TITLE= EDITORIAL: IRAQ RIGHTS SITUATION
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
APRIL 2, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
DIPLOMATS APPOINTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ARE NOW
ACCOMPANYING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ. THEIR WORK SHOWS
THE WORLD'S DETERMINATION TO DENY SADDAM HUSSEIN THE ABILITY TO
DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
FORGOING SUCH WEAPONS IS NOT IRAQ'S ONLY OBLIGATION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ALSO
REQUIRE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO END HIS REPRESSION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
SO FAR, IRAQ HAS NOT LIVED UP TO THESE OBLIGATIONS. LAST
DECEMBER, THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S "MASSIVE AND EXTREMELY GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF
HUMAN RIGHTS AND OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW." THESE
VIOLATIONS RESULTED IN "AN ALL-PERVASIVE REPRESSION AND
OPPRESSION SUSTAINED BY BROAD-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND WIDESPREAD
TERROR." THE IRAQI REGIME CARRIES OUT SUMMARY EXECUTIONS,
POLITICAL KILLINGS, DISAPPEARANCES, AND ARBITRARY ARRESTS. IT
ALSO USES "WIDESPREAD, SYSTEMATIC TORTURE IN ITS MOST CRUEL
FORMS."
THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S LATEST HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT
DOCUMENTS THAT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IN 1997 CARRIED OUT MASS
KILLINGS OF POLITICAL DETAINEES. IT ALSO COMMITTED POLITICAL
KILLINGS IN THE ETHNIC KURDISH REGIONS OF NORTHERN IRAQ.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONTINUED TO
RESTRICT SHI'A MUSLIM RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AND FORCIBLY RELOCATE
SHI'A INHABITANTS OF THE SOUTHERN MARSHES TO MAJOR CITIES. THE
SADDAM HUSSEIN REGIME'S ABUSES AGAINST THE ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY INCLUDE FORCED RELOCATIONS, TERROR, AND ARTILLERY
SHELLING.
FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO
EVADE ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS. THOSE OBLIGATIONS
INCLUDE ENDING EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND
HALTING THE REPRESSION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. UNTIL IRAQ ACTS TO
FULFILL ALL ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS, SANCTIONS AGAINST THE
SADDAM HUSSEIN REGIME WILL CONTINUE.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
01-Apr-98 3:18 PM EST (2018 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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