NEW YORK (June 11, 2009)—The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is profoundly
concerned about a resolution passed in Honduras on June 3rd by the
General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), repealing
the 1962 resolution barring Cuba from the OAS and opening the
possibility of Cuban government participation in all the OAS's governing
bodies. This decision sets an appalling precedent for the defense of
democracy and human rights in the Americas.
"The historic injustice committed by the OAS was not in approving the
1962 resolution against the Cuban dictatorship. Rather, it was in
failing to approve similar resolutions during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s
against other dictatorships that had the support of the United States,"
said Thor Halvorssen, president of HRF. "Dictatorships are despicable
because they destroy the freedom and dignity of human beings—because
they render life meaningless. Whether they call themselves
Marxist-Leninist, fascist, national-socialist, leftist, or rightist is
irrelevant from the perspective of the person who is left without
freedom, dignity, and humanity," added Halvorssen.
On April 21, HRF sent a letter to Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General
of the OAS, criticizing his stance on Cuba and exposing the Cuban
government's antidemocratic behavior and blatant disregard for human
rights. (See letter here.) According to data cited from seven human
rights reports prepared by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(IACHR), the current Cuban government is guilty of having perpetrated
countless instances of summary executions, arbitrary detentions,
torture, rape, and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading
treatment of men and women for political reasons. In a report issued
February 25, the IACHR confirmed that the Cuban government still
persecutes, beats, and jails those who disagree with the regime, and
that political prisoners in Cuba continue to suffer cruel, inhuman, and
degrading treatment. According to the same report, the Cuban
government's official justification for this infringement on basic
liberties is that it is perpetrated against "mercenaries" of the United
States government and acts as an "answer to the growing anti-Cuban
aggressiveness of the empire."
"These are the two paradoxes," added Halvorssen. "Instead of suspending
those governments that are increasingly antidemocratic, the OAS promotes
the reincorporation of the continent's most antidemocratic government.
And instead of abandoning the archaic language of the Cold War, the new
resolution of the OAS seems to be based upon this same language. Nobody
speaks with conviction about the need to respect the current standards
of democracy and human rights and these are, in fact, 'concerns'
relegated to a mere mention in the resolution's preamble," he said. "The
governments of the Americas are turning a blind eye to the fact that
Cuban government participation in an organization that prides itself on
promoting democracy and human rights actually legitimizes the
destruction of democracy and violations of human rights in the
hemisphere," Halvorssen declared.
"Just as the dictatorship of Pinochet was not absolved, history will not
absolve the dictatorship of Castro," said Halvorssen, in response to a
statement made by the Honduran head of state, according to Granma, the
official newspaper of the Cuban government.
HRF also announced that the sixth letter in its project, "Mr. Insulza
and the Inter-American Democratic Charter," will fully address this
resolution and the Cuban government's influence on the increasingly
antidemocratic character of various governments in the continent. HRF
has strongly criticized Mr. Insulza for failing to implement the
Democratic Clause against those governments that currently violate the
essential elements of democracy.
HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending
human rights in the Americas. It centers its work on the twin concepts
of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals
include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak
freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter
their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal
treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to
participate in the governments of their countries; HRF's ideals likewise
find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right
to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and
coercion in matters of conscience. HRF does not support nor condone
violence. HRF's International Council includes former prisoners of
conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón
J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.
Contact: Javier El-Hage, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486,
info@thehrf.org
Contact: José Miguel Insulza, Organization of American States, (202)
458-6836, jinsulza@oas.org
HRF: OAS Perpetuates Injustice with Resolution in Favor of Cuban
Government (11 June 2009)
http://www.thehrf.org/media/061109.html
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