U.S. excluded from OAS Human Rights Commission

GRANMA SANTIAGO DE CHILE.— For the first time in the history of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United States has been left out of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which has just ended its 23rd General Assembly here.

PL comments that George Bush’s government unsuccessfully promoted Cuban-American Rafael Martínez, brother of current U.S. secretary for Housing and Urban Development Mel Martínez, for a position in that agency.

However, Washington’s nominee only received 15 out of 33 possible votes; his failure marks the first time that the IACHR has worked without a U.S. representative, informed OAS officials.

The 33 participating countries elected lawyers from Brazil, El Salvador, Paraguay and Venezuela.

Guatemalan Marta Altolaguirre, who has presided over the panel to date, was not re-elected, nor was Argentine lawyer Juan Méndez. Both have traditionally received Washington’s support.