U.N. human rights body calls on Cuba to allow visit of human rights monitor

NAOMI KOPPEL, <a href=www.sfgate.com>Associated Press Writer Thursday, April 17, 2003
(04-17) 18:05 PDT GENEVA (AP) --

The top U.N. human rights group Thursday rejected an amendment criticizing a dissident crackdown by Cuba, instead approving a milder resolution calling for a U.N. rights monitor to visit the island.

The 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission, which regularly criticizes Cuba on its rights record, voted 31-15 against condemning the communist state's monthlong drive against dissidents and other opponents.

The rejected amendment expressed "deep concern about the recent detention, summary prosecution and harsh sentencing of numerous members of the political opposition" and called for them to be released.

Governments and human rights groups around the world have condemned Cuba for jailing dozens of dissidents. The crackdown was followed by the executions Friday of three men convicted of the April 2 hijacking of a ferry filled with passengers in a bid to get to the United States.

Cuban representative Juan Antonio Fernandez said "Cuba has been forced to bring to trial and condemn scores of agents of U.S. subversion in Cuba."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that despite the measure's defeat, the United States was pleased that the commission did pass a Cuba resolution.

"It sends a strong message of support for the courageous Cubans who struggle daily to defend their human rights and their fundamental freedoms. It shows the international community is attentive to the human rights situation in Cuba despite some hopes that we're not paying attention because we're occupied elsewhere."

The White House said Thursday that it is considering new steps against Cuba in response to the recent crackdown against dissidents.

The repression "only makes our policy goal of encouraging rapid, peaceful transition to democracy more relevant and more urgent and we ... are willing to consider steps to advance that policy goal in this climate," said Claire Buchan, a spokeswoman for President Bush, declining to elaborate.

The panel also voted 24-20 in favor of a resolution that simply urges Cuba to accept a visit by U.N. human rights investigator, French jurist Christine Chanet. There were nine abstentions.

Cuba has previously refused to allow Chanet to visit, claiming such a visit could infringe on its sovereignty.

Latin American countries voting in favor of the resolution included Mexico -- a longtime Cuban ally -- as well as Paraguay, Chile, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Argentina and Brazil abstained, while Venezuela voted against.

Cuban representative Juan Antonio Fernandez told the meeting that the resolution had been brought by Latin American "lackeys" working for the United States.

The commission also turned down a proposal 26-17, brought by Cuba itself, that criticized the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba.

U.S. Ambassador Kevin Moley defended the embargo.

"The United States doesn't have any interest in putting money in Castro's pockets. We aren't in the business of strengthening a regime which has repressed its people for 45 continuous years," he told reporters after the debate.

In other action, the commission:

• Urged Belarus to end repression, legitimize the election process, ensure freedom of the media and give power back to parliament.

• Voted against reprimanding Sudan over its human rights performance.