02 December 2002
Boucher Denounces Human Rights Abuses by Iraqi Regime
(Says U.S. endorses Iraqi opposition meeting in London in mid-December) (1030) State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein is one of the most prominent abusers of human rights in the world. "[I]t's important to remember what Iraqis suffer from. They suffer from a regime that uses rape as a method of interrogation, that uses torture as a method of interrogation, that uses all sorts of human rights abuses as methods of oppression and repression of their own population. It's a regime that's gassed its own people. It's a regime that the people would certainly be better off without. And it's a regime that's taken the money for the people and channeled it into weapons programs and palaces instead of food and health care and education for them," Boucher said at the State Department briefing in Washington December 2. The spokesman made his comments on the day the British government released a dossier concerning alleged human rights abuses in Iraq. Boucher also said the U.S. government endorses an Iraqi opposition meeting dealing with the future of Iraq which is scheduled to take place in London December 11-13. "It's a conference that we endorse because these groups have been instrumental in . thinking about the future of Iraq, including the constitutional future, the federal future, the integrity of Iraq -- all things that we support in terms of what should happen in Iraq after Saddam Hussein," Boucher said. Boucher said the United States does not support any particular decisions that may emerge from the meeting, such as the formation of a provisional government in exile. Following are excerpts from the transcript of Boucher's briefing containing some of his comments about Iraq: (begin excerpt) QUESTION: The British have released a 23-page human rights report which has documented torture, rape and terror that Saddam Hussein and his regime have conducted. Were you discussing that in London? MR. BOUCHER: No, as a matter of fact, I wasn't. We've talked frequently with the British and others about the human rights abuses by this regime, and you can see that we've documented it a number of times and we'll continue to do so. And I think particularly as we approach Human Rights Day and people look at the various human rights situations around the world, it's important to remember what Iraqis suffer from. They suffer from a regime that uses rape as a method of interrogation, that uses torture as a method of interrogation, that uses all sorts of human rights abuses as methods of oppression and repression of their own population. It's a regime that's gassed its own people. It's a regime that the people would certainly be better off without. And it's a regime that's taken the money for the people and channeled it into weapons programs and palaces, instead of food and health care and education for them. So I don't think, you know, these are not the only human rights abusers in the world, but they are certainly among the most prominent, and that needs to be remembered, particularly as we head towards Human Rights Day. QUESTION: Richard, on the human rights question, why wouldn't all of those things that you just listed be grounds for at least giving the Iraqis one more chance to comply, and if not comply with other UN resolutions that would criticize and prohibit that sort of behavior, for taking matters into the hands of the international community? MR. BOUCHER: The international community, I think, has made clear that the chief issue on its mind at this point is disarmament, is the threat that Iraq poses by developing weapons of mass destruction, the threat to its own people, to its neighbors and to the world. That's the issue that we're focused on. That's the one we've dealt with. We've also made clear that we expect Iraq to comply with other UN resolutions, many of which get to the point of how they treat their own population. But I have to say the most prominent one on the minds of the international community right now is the question of disarmament. QUESTION: Can I just follow up? Was there at any point -- and in my own reporting I've found that there was no draft. Did the US at any point try to attach consequences for those sorts of things within the UN -- within the Security Council resolution that was passed about three weeks ago? MR. BOUCHER: I think you've known of all the drafts that we've made and released on that subject, so I think those provisions were essentially the same throughout. ----- QUESTION: What's the status of the Iraqi opposition meeting? I know that's one thing that Under Secretary Grossman was supposed to be discussing in London today, but is it on? MR. BOUCHER: I think the Iraqi opposition plans a meeting in London December 11 to 13. I think that's what they've been talking about. You'd have to check with them on how it's being organized and how definite it is. But we've discussed this with them. We know that the people we've talked to are committed to a conference that's as large and practical as practical, and one that takes place as soon as possible. They are now in the final stages of preparing a conference and they would have to give you any details. QUESTION: Okay. I know that some of those involved in this conference want to put forward some kind of a blueprint for a possible government-in-exile. Is that your understanding? And if so, is this a conference that the US endorses as it now stands? MR. BOUCHER: It's a conference that we endorse because these groups have been instrumental in sort of thinking about the future of Iraq, including the constitutional future or the federal future, the integrity of Iraq -- all things that we support in terms of what should happen in Iraq after Saddam Hussein. So we think it's important for them to discuss what kind of mechanisms can be used to represent Iraq's diversity, to carry forward the work of the conference. But as far as any specific decisions on, you know, creating a provisional government or anything like that, no, that's not something that we have supported. That's not something we have supported. (end excerpt) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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