UN Human Rights Body to Scrutinise US Abuses

[Judi Lynn]

UN Human Rights Body to Scrutinise US Abuses
By Thalif Deen
Inter Press Service
September 20, 2005

The U.N. Human Rights Committee, scheduled to meet in Geneva next month, has written to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) calling for any available evidence of human rights abuses by the United States -- particularly in the aftermath of its global war on terrorism.

The 18-member committee, comprising of independent human rights experts, will take up "issues of specific concerns relating to the effect of measures taken (by the administration of President George W. Bush) in the fight against terrorism following the events of 11 September 2001," the day the United States was subject to terrorist attacks.

The primary focus will be "on the implications of the USA Patriot Act on nationals and non-nationals, as well as problems relating to the legal status and treatment of persons detained in Afghanistan, Guantanamo, Iraq and other places of detention outside the USA."

The U.S. Congress adopted the USA Patriot Act in October 2001 in order to provide "appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism." But virtually all human rights organisations, both domestic and international, have criticised the Act as seriously threatening civil liberties and freedoms in the United States. "The USA Patriot Act was destined to foster abuses, as it weakened the system of checks and balances on law enforcement while setting aside due process safeguards under the law," says Jumana Musa, advocacy director at Amnesty International USA.
(snip/...)

http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/un/2005/0920unhrcommittee.htm

[superconnected]

1. Good

Even if they can't catch dumb dumb I hope they can convict him of war crimes. Or at least bring up that it should be before a world court.

[JuniperLea]

2. and so it begins

I'm not surprised. This drunken bastard has embarrassed us all and now we will all pay his bar tab.

[rodeodance]

3. this is not going to go over well with the bushies and those who hate the

UN

[jmatthan]

4. John Bolton's responsibility is to derail this

eom

[struggle4progress]

5. kick