Argentina and Brazil rap Cuba on human rights

[bemildred]

If you know the history of Brazil and Argentina, there is a rich
irony in this, but I expect it will be ignored.

Argentina and Brazil members of the Geneva United Nations Human Rights Commission asked this week full respect for human rights in Cuba, in line with the recent majority position of the committee.

The joint declaration comes a few days after the Argentine-Brazilian abstention on the crucial vote of a United States sponsored declaration condemning Cuba for not cooperating with UN and not receiving a Humans Rights Commission delegation in the island.

In the release Brazil and Argentina recall that it’s the obligation of all governments to guarantee the full implementation of all human rights since these are universal, independent and indivisible.

They also call on the Fidel Castro regime to adopt a fresh approach such as that which enabled the “liberation of several political prisoners”.

MercoPress

[Bridget Burke]

1. Fidel should know better than keeping "several" political prisoners.

Disappearing them is much more efficient.

You can get rid of thousands by torturing & raping them, then drugging them & pushing them out of airplanes over the ocean.

[NuttyFluffers]

8. exactly, very 'pot, meet kettle'

there must be something behind the scenes, because argentina and brazil have no room to say anything like that.

[TahitiNut]

2. It's not fair to blame Fidel for the political prisoners ...

... at Guantanamo Bay. :grr:

[redqueen]

3. Brazil?

Who is it that routinely murders the street children there? Citizens or police?

[Judi Lynn]

4. Bush must have had Condoleeza lean on them with enthusiasm

Can't believe they indulged him.

Nestor Kirchner was even a tortured prisoner during Argentina's Dirty Wars against the terrifying suspected "leftists."

Here's the thread on Argentina's trial against Scilingo, resulting in an appropriate guilty, and over 460 years. Stupendous!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1405022

[Robbien]

5. Shouldn't the headline be the UN voted against investigating Guantanamo

The closing paragraphs said

In related news the Human Rights Commission rejected Thursday a request from Cuba to investigate the situation of detainees in the United States naval base of Guantanamo in Cuban territory.

Eight countries of the 53 in the Human Rights panel supported Cuba, 22 voted against and 23 abstained.

The supporters included Guatemala, Mexico, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sudan and Malaysia.

Isn't the fact that the UN supports the US treatment of political prisoners at Gitmo an issue which merits a headline?

[bemildred]

6. Hey, it's rigged. They need a secret ballot.

I did find the fact that only 22 out of 53 voted for this telling.
But I don't really see why Brazil and Argentina found it necessary
to throw the Bushites this sop. I think Lula and Kirschner are
conventional enough guys that Chavez and Castro make them a bit
uncomfortable, so that may be part of this.

[Robbien]

7. For Argentina this may be all about money

just found this article which said Argentina is in the US right now trying to arrange loans.

http://english.people.com.cn/english/200102/09/eng20010209_61928.html

Cuba's press refuted Thursday Argentina's complaint against Cuban President Fidel Castro's harsh words on the country, upgrading the verbal war between the two countries on diplomatic dispute. Castro, in a six-hour speech before international economists in Havana last Saturday, accused Argentina of "licking the boots of the Yankees"

. . .

In a separate statement from the United States, where he is currently on an official visit, Argentine Foreign Minister Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini said he intends to meet Friday with Argentine ambassador to Cuba Oscar Torres Avalos, who was recalled from Havana in order to inform his government of the ties between Argentina and Cuba in the wake of Castro's verbal attack. Giavarini also threatened to take further actions.

. . .

After clarifying that Cuba deeply respects, admires and has warm feeling for the Argentine people, Gonzalez noted "We won't accept threats, nor blackmail," saying "Cuba cannot be sacrificed on the alms' altar the United States provides."

Rodriguez Giavarini, visiting Washington to arrange finance loans, considered Castro's remarks as a serious offense against the Argentine people and withdrew his ambassador in Havana.

[Mika]

10. Right on, Cuban ambassador Alejandro Gonzalez

After clarifying that Cuba deeply respects, admires and has warm feeling for the Argentine people, Gonzalez noted "We won't accept threats, nor blackmail," saying "Cuba cannot be sacrificed on the alms' altar the United States provides."

A diplomatic way of accusing the Argentine gov of licking the boots of the US gov for money.




www.stopbolton.org

[Durant]

9. Poor Fidel..

that's a boot to the butt he wasn't expecting.