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West 'failing to act on human rights crises'



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Published Date: 28 May 2008
By David Barrett
WESTERN governments were accused today of failing to tackle human rights abuses.
Amnesty International said administrations seemed "impotent" to combat crises around the globe.

The organisation's annual checklist of human rights outrages showed people are still tortured or ill-treated in at least 81 countries.

Men and wom
en also face unfair trials in at least 54 countries and are denied free speech in at least 77, the annual report said.

Amnesty challenged world leaders to "apologise for six decades of human rights failure" and to make a new commitment to work for improvements.

Irene Khan, Amnesty International's secretary-general, said: "Injustice, inequality and impunity are the hallmarks of our world today. Human rights flashpoints in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and (Burma] demand immediate action.

"Last year was characterised by the impotence of western governments and the ambivalence of emerging powers to tackle some of the world's worst human rights crises, from entrenched conflicts to growing inequalities which are leaving millions of people behind."

The report renewed criticism of the UK for its policy of deportations to unstable countries, secret terror hearings and failing to investigate fully alleged state collusion in killings in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.





The full article contains 205 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 27 May 2008 10:19 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Maisie from Morningside,

morningside 28/05/2008 01:46:39
The 'West' is neither the world's policeman nor the world's nanny.
If Ms Khan and other paid employees of Amnesty International wish to confront alleged abuse in Gaza, Burma and such they are free to do so - planes leave for these destinations everyday.

Good luck!!!
2

Guga II,

Rockall 28/05/2008 01:58:02
#1 Maisie. In that case, why did the "west" get involved in Iraq? It wasn't because of the big lie about Weapons of Mass Delusion, it was purely to bring about regime change.

The "west" only seems to be willing to pick on countries they know can't hit back, and which have oil; or, like Afghanistan, where they are building an oil pipeline.

Incidentally, since we don't have freedom of speech in the Hootsmon comments sections, maybe we should report them to Amnesty International.

3

eric,

28/05/2008 08:22:15
we have kids being starved to death here in britain.
4

sam the god,

28/05/2008 12:25:23
Send this crank (Irene Khan) to these countries and get her to complain directly to the relevant governments. We will see how long she lasts.
5

Proximaking,

Dundee 28/05/2008 13:04:59
I was a member of amnesty international for years but after having it out with them for the umpteenth time about how they were sidelining themselves I left. They have an ethos of "Protect the Human" but as I pointed out time after time their money isn't being spent protecting the human these days but is increasingly spent on issues such as rape of women after their husbands and sons have been murdered. Rape of women is seen as the greater crime in all of their literature and the deaths of the men and boys is seen as something that is unfortunate but "what can we do about it". Sadly amnesty international is another great organisation that started off with great ideals when run by men but has degenerated into a feminist PC backwater now that it has women at the helm. Are women incapable of seeing beyond narrow feminist issues? Almost certainly yes, all you have to do is see how much money is being syphoned off into the WAN (Women's action network) side-show. I can't see Amnesty International lasting much longer as increasingly it is turning away from real life and death issues to equality issues that would sort themselves out anyway once the men and boys weren't being murdered with impunity. Look after the pennies amnesty international and the pounds will look after themselves.
6

postmark54,

Chongqing, China, 28/05/2008 14:16:32
Like I've said so many times before, Amnesty International is just a toothless watchdog, they report to their financial supporters, and don't give a damn about the truth, their only concern coming in the form of how many donations they can sucker out of who ever. They only report things, have no power or influence, they're an expensive joke, and they are dealing themselves out what could have been a good thing, if they actually gave a damn about anyone.
7

Stefan,

NYC 28/05/2008 14:47:15
#6, #7. Couldn't agree more. They spend all their time attacking the policies of the govt's where their offices so comfortably reside while I've not heard a word spoken in criticism of the despotic regimes that often commit said atrocities. Only accusations against their hosts for not acting against the same. I stopped buying a lot of products from companies that contribute to this cabal. Unfortunately, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream was one of them, but my pants now fit again.
8

Media 1,

SOUTH AFRICA 28/05/2008 15:29:06
Why must the West say anything? Besides, what should they say? Do it our way?
It is naive to think that the West is some shining example of Human Rights. Sure it is true that within Western nations there is order, good human rights, a tendency to help your fellow man, freedom to a degree in both movement and speech. But outside of our cosy worlds western governments behave attrocisously! We all know they do, so to suddenly believe that they should do more is nonsense. THEY WONT!
And why should a Burma who hate the West suddenly pander to Western requests? That isnt practical.
It is all a series of monologues and performances and nothing ever changes
9

CombatVet68,

28/05/2008 20:46:57
#2 Guga II

Look Guga II, the reason we went into Iraq was so that George W Jr could kick Sadams butt after Sadam tried to have his daddy bumped off! If it had been your daddy Sadam tried to have assinated wouldn't you do the same if you had all these wonderful high tech weapons and the power to use them?

I do agree that the UK and the US are not the world policemen! Billy Clinton proved that in Somalia. He was a coward then, as when he ran off to avoid the draft during the vietnam conflict.

It is indeed a tragic state of affairs to know that hundreds of thousands suffer torture, rape, slavey, starvation, etc., at the hands of evil men. Hopefully one day, when we have the technology, we can just punch a botton and instantly obliterate anyone who engages in such evil deeds. We could have smart missiles set up to launch while the despot is in his slumber at his palace. Instant resolution.
10

John Blackley,

Florida 28/05/2008 21:12:51
I don't know about everyone else in 'the west' but I'm busy.
11

Jock MacTamson 2,

Highlands 29/05/2008 12:08:55
Agree with many of the comments above and I am so tired of people pointing the finger at the West for "doing nothing" about problems or "doing something out of self interest" depending on which point they are trying to make.

This woman Khan has the cheek to blame the West for not stoping the Middle East, African, Asia killing, raping, torturing and running mini empires of fear and exploitation.

Lets hear the criticism of the Saudi's for treating women like a possession or non muslims like aliens with limited rights.

Lets hear the criticism of Pakistan, India, most of Africa, Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc for being the people who do the terrible crimes. If a women is raped I blame the rapist. If a man is killed I blame the killer. If a nation falling to bits I blame the leaders.

As for her questioning 'How dare the British government deport a known terrorist who lives on benefits while assisting directly or indirectly to jihadists who wish to destroy our culture, children, history and freedoms'. She is more concerned with the rights of the monsters who may be tortured by their own countries when they return but yet does not care about the rights of innocent people who this person is trying to kill. It makes me so f**king angry.

I now no longer contribute to any of these "do-gooder" talking shops.

The only way to stop the problems like Somalia, Sudan and Burma is to leave them to work it out for themselves. Let them learn that killing each other all the time means everyone is dead.

In the west when we got it wrong in history we did not get the UN and Redcross food and supplies. We died and the ones that did not learned that constant war just destroys everything.

Let them evolve socially. Lets also stop exploiting them. Too many people blame the West for destroying all these cultures yet this is how people have developed throughout history. The bigger nations are successfull they take over the smaller ones and foster the successfull method of governme
12

Allan(handofgod137),

29/05/2008 12:53:36
If they want "The West" to solve these countries problems, then the only solution is for us to start empire building again!
13

Biker,

Ayr 30/05/2008 08:40:44
I take great issue with the comments by #6 and #7 regarding Amnesty International. This organisation is responsible for uncovering many of the disgusting and murderous antics of rouge governments around the world. As for being responsible to their paymasters. Postcrap your way wide of the mark as they are a charity with few full time paid members.
Amnesty will happily take issue with Suadi Arabia as well as China and indeed the UK has come in for much comment over the past few months. They dont care what the political bias of the country is. If there is injustice they will report.
14

postmark54,

Chongqing, China, 30/05/2008 13:19:05
#14 Biker,
I never said anything about them not being a charity, that's the biggest problem, for they report what people want to hear, whether the truth or not, as long as they get funded. They are absolutely useless by the very fact that they're powerless, they just like to tattle, and we all know how much we like people who tattle. They will talk about any country and situation, point fingers at anyone, there again, as long as the money keeps coming in.
Come on Biker, I'm stating my opinion here, for I truly believe what I've been saying all along about them, so there's no need for you to get personal with me and call me names. Many people agree with me, as I'm sure that many people disagree with me, but they're all opinions, let's just leave it at that.
15

57Nomad,

california 01/06/2008 12:17:06
I was watching tv when LiveAid was being prepared and interviews were being conducted. During an interview the show's producer, Bob Geldoff, said, "I take this as an indictment of the West, whose storage houses are bursting with grain." That's more of a paraphrase than a quote, but it is very close.

I couldn't believe my ears. This guy is slagging the very people he is begging money off of. Suppose our silos weren't bursting with grain? What then? Where were they hoping to get the food from to feed the starving Ethiopians? Someplace in the East? Bulgaria?

Sheesh! What a bunch of backseat drivers. If IA feels the West is complicit in the lack of human rights by governments around the world they need look no farther that their own reaction to the liberation of Iraq. Cruel dictator, torturer, murderer, despoiler of Kuwait. Well, we removed him. The people have a democracy and they risk their lives to vote. Things are much better for the entire region the way things are than the way they were, you'd think AI would think that was a good deal, but noooooooo. Short of force, what is the answer to the denial of human rights? Taunts? Sour looks? Stern sounding resolutions? Once the despot knows that he will not be confronted with force, he laughs at you. What do they want us to do?
16

Biker,

Ayr 02/06/2008 00:54:00
postmark. How do you suppose the information on Human Rights Violations becomes exposed? By the work of Amnesty and Witness and many others. because they find fault with your adopted regime does not make them wrong. In fact all of their research is thorough and complete. As I say, they report the fact as they are and really cannot be denied. For instance, Amnesty has requested of various governments (including China)the complete figures for judicial executions. So far stall and deny. And far from doing it for the money, it is all done for ethical reasons. Let me post you a copy of the magazine, even you would find it interesting.
17

Biker,

Ayr 02/06/2008 01:01:07
57Nomad. The reason Geldof attacked the very people he was trying to get aid from was for shock tactics, and also to embarrass them into capitulation. Which he did to good effect.
As for the liberation of Iraq, dont make me laugh. The US/UK entered the area illeagaly, almost destroyed the infrastructure and dissplaced many thousands of people. be honest, the reason for the invasion was not for altruistic reasons, but to control the area and oil. The rebuilding of the destroyed areas went (Via Halliburton) to solely US concerns. And the battle continues. The removal of Saddam cannot be the justification for the ditruction of the country. neither can the blatant missmanagement. To call everyone but the US backseat drivers is dissengenuous at best.

 

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