UN observer accuses the US of wanting to destroy the Human Rights Commission

GENEVA Jean Ziegler, UN Special Observer at the UN, accused the US of wanting to destroy the UN Human Rights Commission.  He made the comments after US authorities refused to meet with him in Washington to discuss the US embargo on Cuba.

According to Ziegler the "Bush regimes not only wants to destroy and minimize the Commission, but also wants it moved to New York, a move which would give the Bush administration ample control of the organization", adding that the Bush administration is censuring the UN Special  observers.

He pointed out that the US government had denied his request to meet with heads of the US Department of State to discuss the embargo and it's implication to food supply in Cuba, adding that he had planned a visit to Cuba to hear both sides of the story.  

In a press conference, the UN Observer accused the US of giving preferential treatment to those who go along with their vision of the world while at the same time impeding the work of those who don't share the same vision.

A UN spokesman confirmed to the press that Washington had rejected petitions made by Ziegler to interview top Washington officials.

The Special Observers, are composed of 41 members, all who independent experts chosen by the Commission to examine Human Rights in a variety of countries;  their jobs is to investigate topics relating to the rights of children, women , hunger, housing, education, as well as, torture and arbitrary detention. 

Ziegler lamented that, "while developing countries were opening their doors to the UN Special Observers the US was denying access to a UN representative".

As a result Mr. Ziegler has for the moment stopped it's investigations and fact gathering relating to the effects of the embargo on the Cuban people.

Finally, it should be noted that Jean Ziegler was named UN Observer in September 2000 relating to hunger - a position which he held until 2003 when he was again chosen for a term of 3 years.  It is equally important to note that he was chosen for the second term over the objections of - you guessed it - the United States and Israel. 

Cubadebate