From: Bill Cochrane (billc@WAIKATO.AC.NZ)
Date: Wed May 21 2003 - 18:52:57 EDT
G'dday A point on the discussion on Cuba: Maybe some body has suggested this before but in terms of the relative human rights situation in Cuba might I suggest comparing the Amnesty International country report for Cuba with some of its surrounding countries. Taking Mexico for instance the 2002 report summary states "A leading human rights defender was murdered and many others received death threats. New legislation on indigenous rights failed to resolve the conflict in Chiapas. Arbitrary detention and torture remained widespread. There were reports of ''disappearances' and extrajudicial executions. Impunity for such crimes remained the norm. Pressure increased for full and effective investigations of past human rights violations. More military personnel were assigned posts in the Attorney General's Office. Intense international and national pressure led to the release of two prisoners of conscience, but their convictions were not overturned nor their torturers brought to justice. Another prisoner of conscience remained in prison. At the end of the year the Senate approved the ratification of a number of international human rights treaties. Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court remained pending." Or Jamaica " Reports of police brutality and excessive use of force continued. At least 148 people were killed by the police, many in disputed circumstances. Detention without charge or trial and ill-treatment were reported. Conditions of detention frequently amounted to cruel and inhuman treatment. At least 50 people were on death row at the end of the year. Twenty-seven people, including two soldiers, were killed in disturbances in Kingston in July." While for Cuba "A number of prisoners of conscience were released in 2001, but several new arrests indicated that the Cuban authorities had not renounced curbs on the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, association and assembly. Short-term detention and other forms of harassment continued to be used to repress the activities of journalists, political activists and others. An unofficial moratorium on executions was said to be in force. No executions were reported during 2001, although the courts continued to hand down death sentences. The four-decades-old embargo against Cuba by the USA continued to contribute to a climate in which fundamental rights were denied. However, for the first time the USA sold agricultural commodities to Cuba in the wake of a hurricane in November. Both countries denied that this signified a change in overall relations. In November, UN General Assembly members voted overwhelmingly to condemn the embargo, for the 10th consecutive year." Though any abuse of human rights is reprehensible I would suggest that when looking at the human rights record of neighbouring Central American countries I feel I'd probably stand a better chance of survival, as a habitual dissenter, at the hands of the Cuban authorities than the Mexican in Chiapas. Bill Cochrane
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