BBC: Madrid bombs fuel fears on rights *

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 09:55:15 -0700
From: bobr () bobrosenberg phoenix az us
Subject: BBC: Madrid bombs fuel fears on rights *
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To: dave () farber net

Dave

Perhaps for IP, in case any civil libertarians are among your readers.

--

Cordially,
--
Bob Rosenberg, Principal
R.G. Rosenberg & Assoc.
Public Policy Consulting & Advocacy
P.O. Box 33023
Phoenix, AZ  85067-3023
LandLine:  (602)274-3012
Mobile:  (602)206-2856
bob () bobrosenberg phoenix az us

“An informed public is the most potent of all restraints upon misgovernment.”
U. S. Supreme Court, Grosjean vs. American Press Co., 297 U.S. 233, 250 (1936)

I yearn for the day when eternal vigilance doesn't have to be quite so bloody
vigilant!

"Eternal Vigilance" is supposed to mean citizens watching their Governments,
not the other way around....

**********************************************



Madrid bombs fuel fears on rights *
A proposal to monitor nations' anti-terrorism laws may lose support, the UN's
human rights chief warns.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/3510856.stm

*******************

Madrid bombs fuel fears on rights
The UN's human rights chief has said the Madrid bombings make it less likely
that nations will allow an independent expert to monitor anti-terrorism laws.
However Bertrand Ramcharan, of Guyana, said that it was important to protect
human rights as well as people.
The UN Commission on Human Rights meets on Monday and will discuss a Mexican
proposal that a UN expert look into whether any laws breach rights.
The United States, among other nations, opposes the suggestion.
Mr Ramcharan said: "Precisely at the time we are trying to protect people we
must be even more vigilant to protect human rights."
Mr Ramcharan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was talking to BBC 
News
Online's Talking Point programme.

Sharp divisions
The 53-nation commission starts its six-week annual meeting in Geneva on 
Monday.

The Mexican proposal reflects the fears of pressure groups about the lack of
scrutiny of individual countries' anti-terrorism laws.
The groups say the laws often allow long periods of detention without charge,
unsafe extraditions and other curtailments of human rights.
The issue provokes sharp divisions of opinion among member nations.
Outgoing Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, who will address the meeting on
Wednesday, will be one of those expected to strongly oppose the Mexican plan.
The defeated Spanish Popular Party, like the US government, argues that
governments have an overriding duty to protect their citizens.
But Mr Ramcharan argued that it was "very easy for security forces to slide 
into
excesses".
He added: "It is the duty of a democracy to make sure that even as it fights
terrorism, it does so within the law."
Rory Mungoven, global advocacy director of Human Rights Watch, said the Madrid
attacks might "reinforce the trend for governments to justify abuses in the
name of counter-terrorism".

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/3510856.stm

Published: 2004/03/15 00:53:04 GMT

© BBC MMIV

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