DATE=3/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247460
TITLE=U-N IRAQ RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR IS ACCUSING IRAQ OF
HAVING ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS OF ANY
COUNTRY SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO. THE INVESTIGATOR, MAX
VAN DER STOEL, A FORMER DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER, HAS BEEN BANNED
FROM VISITING IRAQ SINCE HIS FIRST AND ONLY VISIT IN 1992. THE
INVESTIGATOR BASES HIS ASSESSMENT ON REPORTS FROM WITNESSES
OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY AND FROM PRIVATE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.
DETAILS FROM LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA.
TEXT: IN HIS JUST-RELEASED REPORT, U-N INVESTIGATOR VAN DER
STOEL SAYS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ REMAINS BLEAK. HE
SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS THERE SINCE HE
SUBMITTED HIS LAST REPORT TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
//OPT// AT THAT TIME, MR. VAN DER STOEL REPORTED ON IRAQ'S
SO-CALLED "PRISON CLEANSING" CAMPAIGN. SINCE THEN, HE SAYS HE
HAS RECEIVED THE NAMES OF MORE THAN 200 PRISONERS REPORTED
EXECUTED BETWEEN LAST OCTOBER AND DECEMBER FOR THEIR ALLEGED
PARTICIPATION IN THE MARCH 1991 UPRISING. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF PRISONERS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED SINCE AUTUMN
1997 TO 25-HUNDRED. //END OPT//
THE U-N INVESTIGATOR IS HARSH IN HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT.
///VAN DER STOEL ACT///
IT IS A REGIME WHICH FEELS THAT IT CAN ONLY REMAIN IN
POWER BY RUTHLESSLY SUPPRESSING ANY SIGN OF DIVERSE
OPINION OPINION DIVERSE FROM THAT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND
OF ITS LEADER SADDAM (HUSSEIN).
///END ACT///
//OPT// THE U-N REPORT DESCRIBES GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
COMMITTED BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
SOUTHERN MARSHES OF THE COUNTRY. IT ALSO COVERS THE
DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE KURDS IN NORTHERN
IRAQ. //END OPT//
MR. VAN DER STOEL SAYS THERE'S A POLICY OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST
IRAQ'S SHIITE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. HE SAYS SEVERAL INTERNATIONALLY
RESPECTED SHIITE RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN MURDERED. HE SAYS
THE LATEST OCCURRED LAST MONTH WHEN AYATOLLAH AL-SADI AND HIS TWO
SONS WERE KILLED.
///SECOND VAN DER STOEL ACT///
IT IS ONE MORE INDICATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
RUTHLESS IN THE SUPPRESSION OF ANYBODY WHO DARES TO COME
FORWARD WITH AN IDEA IT DOESN'T LIKE. THE GOVERNMENT
HAS PROMISED FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. LET US HOPE THAT
THEY COME FORWARD WITH MORE CONVINCING RESULTS THAN WHAT
HAS BEEN PRODUCED SO FAR.
///END ACT///
U-N SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR MAX VAN DER STOEL CONDEMNS IRAQ FOR
WHAT HE CALLS ITS FAILURE TO RESOLVE THE CASES OF MORE THAN 600
PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEARED DURING THE COUNTRY'S OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT
NINE YEARS AGO. HE CALLS THE IRAQI REGIME A THREAT TO PEACE AND
SECURITY IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
31-Mar-99 9:45 AM EST (1445 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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