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Blair backs Bush in Geneva
Campaign slams shabby deal on Cuba
LONDON APRIL 13: The UK government is to co-sponsor a US instigated
resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva condemning Cuba
for
alleged human rights violations, it was finally revealed today.
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign in Britain condemns this decision as a
shabby
deal that sacrifices principle for the sake of courting favour with
the
new administration of George Bush.
Says CSC Chair, former trade union leader Ken Gill: "CSC has campaigned
for the past six months to persuade the Blair government to distance
itself from this resolution. But to no avail. It is clear that once
again
the UK is doing Washington’s bidding with scant regard to its own,
or the
UN’s interests."
The Geneva Human Rights Commission, which meets every year, has been
the
scene for a showdown over Cuba for the past ten years. No other country,
not even gross human rights violators such as Saudi Arabia, Colombia
or
the United Arab Emirates have been subjected to an annual resolution
by
the UN body. Yet every year the US has been behind the move which even
Amnesty International says is not the best way to deal with Cuba.
In a letter to CSC, Amnesty International’s Alan Hogarth writes:
"The Commission resolution is widely perceived as a US-driven initiative
and may not be the best means to further the protection of human rights
in
Cuba."
Says Ken Gill: "This resolution is a disproportionate treatment of Cuba
and should not be allowed. It is only brought by the US as a means
to
justify its continuing 40-year economic blockade of the island which
has
been condemned as a breach of the UN charter and international law
by the
UN General Assembly on nine occasions.
"This blockade is itself a gross violation of the human rights of the
Cuban people and deserves to be condemned in Geneva."
New US Secretary of State Colin Powell two weeks ago declared that it
was
a "US policy priority" to get the condemnation of Cuba passed in Geneva.
Britain had refused to commit itself to supporting its transatlantic
ally.
But, as revealed in the Guardian newspaper today (Diary Friday 13th),
the
Foreign Office has now thrown its weight behind Washington once again.
Ken Gill adds: "This is a shameful and shabby deal. The resolution on
Cuba
is a misuse of the Human Rights Commission which undermines the status
of
the body itself. The UK officially says it has a policy of constructive
engagement with Cuba, but this decision to support the US again is
perhaps
the most destructive thing Britain could have done."
Note to editors: Cuba Solidarity Campaign is one of 1,600 similar
organisations in 136 countries around the world that campaign against
the
illegal US economic blockade of Cuba. It is a voluntary organisation
made
up of individuals and affiliates and counts on the support of 26 national
trades unions including the NUJ, NUM, T&G, ASLEF, RMT, CWU, BECTU,
UNISON
and the NUT.
see Felipe Perez Roque's speech at Geneva
see response to a UK government minister on the Human Rights issue
back to Manchester CSC group home page
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Cuba Solidarity Campaign
c/o Red Rose Club, 129 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG
Tel. 0207 263 6452 Fax. 0207 561 0191
E.Mail: office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk
World Wide Web
http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk
see response to a UK government minister on the Human Rights issue