SC scared to face up to the human toll

of conflict in Iraq- Amnesty

 

keralamonitor.com February 11, 2003.

LONDON, Feb 11 -- Is the Security Council (SC) scared to face up to
the human toll of conflict in Iraq? Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty
International, asked Tuesday.

"The humanitarian and human rights consequences of war must be given high
priority by the Security Council. When war is contemplated against a country
whose people have been suffering from severe violations by their government
and more than a decade of sanctions, the need for such an assessment is even
more important", said Miss Khan in a statement. Amnesty International wrote

last week to the President of the Security
Council to express concern that the likely impact on civilians of possible
military action against Iraq has not received the attention it deserves and
should be debated in an open session attended by all members of the United
Nations.

The human rights group today welcomed a move by South Africa to request
such an open debate and added "It is imperative that the President of the
Security Council grant this request. A full, informed and open debate by the
Security Council on the human rights and humanitarian consequences of any
military action is urgently needed".

"Such human rights and humanitarian consequences must be carefully
considered and balanced against the threat that Iraq is said to constitute to
peace and security, if the Council is to properly fulfil its responsibilities
under the Charter".

Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the current human
rights and humanitarian situation in Iraq may rapidly deteriorate in case of
military action. In particular, there is a risk of renewed human rights abuses
by the Iraqi authorities, armed opposition groups, other parties involved in
the military operations, and reprisals on ethnic or other grounds.
There is therefore a clear need for close scrutiny of, and expert advice
on, the human rights situation in Iraq.

"Regrettably, human rights concerns in this context have not been examined
by the Security Council", Amnesty added.
"Human rights monitors in Iraq would make a significant contribution to the
protection of human rights not only in the current circumstances but also in
any future scenario", Miss Khan said.

"Their mandate should cover human rights abuses in Iraqi territory by any
party, and their reports should provide the UN system with authoritative
information on the human rights situation and advice on remedial action", she
went on.
Amnesty International understands that an assessment of the humanitarian
risks of conflict in Iraq has already been carried out by the United Nations.
Amnesty International has today mobilised its global membership to lobby
the Security Council for a full UN debate. The organisation has also called on

the Security Council to ask the UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan for an urgent public briefing on the impact of
military action on civilians in Iraq and other countries.

Russia yet to declare position on recent report of Powell on Iraq-Yakovenko.

Russia yet to declare position on recent report of Powell on Iraq-Yakovenko.
MOSCOW, Feb 11 -- Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko
said on Tuesday that his country will soon declare its position on the recent
report of Powell on Iraq before the UN Security Council.
He said in a statement carried by Interfax News Agency that the Russian
experts prepared a detailed assessment for the data included in Powell's
report before the Security Council. He did not give any further details.

keralamonitor.com