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TITLE: UN Rights Forum Condemns Russia Over Chechnya |
AUTHOR: Stephanie Nebehay |
PUB: Reuters |
DATE: April 20, 2001 |
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The United Nations on Friday strongly condemned Russia for its "disproportionate'' use of force in separatist Chechnya and called for "credible criminal investigations'' into alleged war crimes by some servicemen. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights easily approved a resolution presented by the European Union (EU), overriding vocal objections by countries including Russia and China. The public roll-call vote at the 53-member state forum, holding its annual six-week session in Geneva, was 22 countries in favor and 12 against, with 19 delegations abstaining. China took the floor to accuse the United States of blocking agreement on a chairman's statement -- a milder form of rebuke than a resolution -- which had been under negotiation between the EU and Russia for the past month. The EU text also strongly condemned "terrorist activities and attacks...perpetrated by Chechen fighters'' such as hostage-taking and sought the immediate release of all hostages. It also called on Russia to establish a national independent commission of inquiry, but did not endorse calls by watchdog groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to set up an international commission of inquiry into abuses. ``The Commission basically did the right thing today,'' said Joanna Weschler of the New York-based Human Rights Watch. ``But the shabby investigations into abuse launched by Russia show that only an international commission can establish the truth.'' It was the second time the main U.N. human rights forum has condemned Russia on Chechnya. A similar text last year was the first time in its more than 50- year history it had rebuked a permanent member of the Security Council. Before the vote, Russia's envoy Oleg Malguinov took the floor to reject the "unacceptable'' resolution and said that his country would not consider itself to be bound by the text. "It doesn't reflect reality, developments in the situation, real measures taken by the government and the real perspectives for dealing with the situation,'' the Russian told the forum. Russia Seeks Rejection Of Text "We call on those who are against politicization, bilateral disagreements, diktats and pressure to vote against the resolution,'' Malguinov said. "If all the same the resolution is adopted, then the Russian Federation will not consider itself bound by the provisions.'' The Russian envoy also accused one delegation, which he did not name, of having blocked consensus on a chairman's statement. "That delegation more and more uses the Commission on Human Rights for its own political ends, to pursue a policy of double standards and to have its own monopoly on the truth,'' he added. China's delegate declared "Regrettably, due to the obstruction of the United States of America, agreement could not be reached on a chairman's statement.'' There was no immediate reaction from the U.S. delegation. In a heated debate on Wednesday, China defeated an attempt by the United States to scrutinize its record and criticize alleged persecution of groups including the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement and the Tibetan minority. Russia Backs Chinese Move Russia has supported China in its move for a "no action'' motion to quash all debate. "The question of Chechnya is an internal affair of Russia. China is always opposed to any form of terrorism, extremism and separatism,'' China's delegate added. The EU text "strongly condemns the continued use of disproportionate and indiscriminate force by Russian military forces, federal servicemen and state agents, including attacks against civilians...as well as serious violations of human rights, such as forced disappearances, extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, torture...'' It expressed concern about the "slow pace of investigating alleged serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by federal forces, federal servicemen and the personnel of law enforcement agencies against civilians.'' It urged Russia to ensure that "both civilian and military prosecutors' offices undertake systematic, credible and exhaustive criminal investigations and prosecutions of all violations, in particular of those members of federal forces, federal servicemen and the personnel of law enforcement agencies against civilians allegedly implicated in war crimes.'' Vlaidmir Kalamanov, special representative of President Vladimir Putin for the Protection of Human and Civil Rights in the Chechen Republic, told the Commission on April 5 that Russia was investigating more than 60 cases of alleged crimes by Russian soldiers against Chechen civilians. This included 22 who are charged with murder, he said. END |