Published Friday, April 20, 2001 in the
Miami Herald
The following is an excerpt from the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights' report condemning Cuba, which passed on a 22-20 vote on Wednesday in
Geneva.
The Commission expressed once again its concern about practical consequences
of the adoption of the Law for the Protection of the National Independence and
Economy of Cuba, and regretted the other steps taken by the government of Cuba
that were inconsistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other
relevant human-rights instruments. [The Commission also]:
- Took note of the conditional release of three members of the Grupo de
Trabajo de la Disidencia Interna; stressed, however, its deep concern about the
continued repression of members of the political opposition and about the
detention of dissidents and all other persons detained or imprisoned for
peacefully expressing their political, religious and social views and for
exercising their right to full and equal participation in public affairs and
called upon the government of Cuba to release all those persons.
- Called upon the government to open a dialogue with the political
opposition.
- Invited the government of Cuba to afford the country full and open contact
with other countries.
- Recommended that the government take advantage of the technical cooperation
programs of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- And called upon it to grant invitations to thematic mechanisms of the
Commission to visit Cuba, including the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur
on the question of torture.
Copyright 2001 Miami Herald |
