COMMISSION URGES HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN IRAQ, CUBA, EAST TIMOR

Press Release
HR/CN/805

COMMISSION URGES HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN IRAQ, CUBA, EAST TIMOR

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 16 April (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights this morning harshly condemned what it called "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror" on the part of the Government of Iraq. It also adopted resolutions criticizing human-rights situations in Cuba and East Timor.

Chairman's Statements were read out expressing concern about the human-rights situations in Colombia and Liberia.

In a resolution on the situation in Iraq, the Commission strongly condemned the massive and extremely grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Government of Iraq, resulting in "all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror"; condemned its suppression of freedom of thought, expression, religion, information, assembly, and movement; condemned summary executions, including political killings; condemned systematic torture in its most cruel forms carried out by the Government; and called upon the Government to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international law involving human rights. It extended the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on Iraq for another year. The measure was passed on a roll-call vote of 31 in favour and none opposed, with 22 abstaining.

A representative of Iraq charged that the measure illustrated the bitter truth that some countries insisted on politicizing human rights and making them a political tool to establish political agendas -- that instead of cooperation and dialogue, the language of condemnation, threat and ugly words were reflected in the resolution.

In reference to the state of affairs in Cuba, the Commission regretted profoundly numerous reports of violations of human rights and urged the Government to ensure freedom of expression and assembly and freedom to

demonstrate peacefully, to allow political parties and non-governmental organizations to function freely in the country; and called for the Government to release numerous persons detained for political activities and to grant access to prisons by non-governmental humanitarian organizations and international humanitarian agencies. It decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Cuba for another year. The resolution was passed on a roll-call vote of 19 in favour and 10 opposed, with 24 abstentions.

A representative of Cuba said the text was an example of the lack of objectivity and of the politicization that were plaguing the Commission and was "part and parcel" of the hostile policy of the United States waged against Cuba for the last 37 years.

On East Timor, the Commission welcomed the continuing efforts of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights to investigate human-rights violations and its decision to establish an office in Dili, East Timor, along with commitments of the Government of Indonesia to continue dialogue under the auspices of the Secretary-General for achieving a just solution to the question of East Timor. But it expressed deep concern at the continuing reports of violations of human rights there, including reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention and at a lack of progress made by Indonesian authorities towards complying with commitments undertaken in statements agreed by consensus at previous sessions of the Commission. It called on the Government to bring about the envisaged assignment of a programme officer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Jakarta office of the United Nations Development Programme, and to provide this officer with unhindered access to East Timor, and to provide access to East Timor for human-rights organizations. The resolution was adopted by a roll-call vote of 20 in favour and 14 opposed, with 18 abstentions.

A representative of Indonesia said the majority of the sponsors of the resolution on East Timor were European countries, which clearly demonstrated the true political character of the measure, and charged that such a "subjective and highly politically charged resolution" do a disservice to the new United Nations Secretary-General's commitment to continue his good offices to help find a just and comprehensive solution to the East Timor question.

In a Chairman's Statement, the Commission acknowledged the efforts carried out by the Government of Colombia in the field of human rights and its willingness to cooperate with its Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups, but said it remained deeply concerned that the situation of endemic violence and the situation of internal armed conflict affecting many parts of the country had resulted in serious consequences, including thousands of deaths, the increasing involvement in such killings of so-called paramilitary groups, and serious and continuous abuses and violations of human rights and humanitarian law by both State agents and guerilla groups, including numerous enforced

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disappearances. Colombia should continue to strengthen its support of those who promoted human rights, the Commission said, and it urged the guerilla groups in Colombia to respect norms of international humanitarian law.

In the case of Liberia, the Commission urged in a Chairman's Statement for the Centre for Human Rights to provide, at the end of the election scheduled for the country and upon the request of the Government of Liberia, advisory services and technical assistance to enable the nation to revive its ailing human-rights mechanisms. It further called on the UN Secretary-General to consider sending international electoral monitors and human-rights monitors to Liberia, at least during and after the election.

Another measure approved dealt with extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Commission demanded that all Governments ensure that such practices were brought to an end, that they combat impunity for such offenses, and that they carry out exhaustive investigations into reported cases of disappearances.

The Commission will reconvene at 3 p.m. to continue action on draft resolutions and decisions in a meeting that may last as late as midnight.

Chairman's Statements on Colombia, Liberia

In a statement by the Chairman on the situation of human rights in Colombia, MIROSLAV SOMOL (Czech Republic) said the Commission on Human Rights warmly welcomed the opening of the permanent Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Santa Fe de Bogota. It would have expected the office to open more promptly, and hoped that it would initiate its operational activities immediately. The office was to assist the Colombian authorities in developing policies and programmes for the promotion and protection of human rights and to observe human rights violations in the country.

Mr. SOMOL said the Commission acknowledged the efforts carried out by the Government of Colombia in the field of human rights and its willingness to cooperate with its Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups. Notwithstanding the above, the Commission remained deeply concerned that the situation of endemic violence and the situation of internal armed conflict affecting many parts of the country had resulted in serious consequences for human rights. The Commission was deeply concerned at the persistence of thousands of violations of the right to life, and the increasing involvement herein of so-called paramilitary groups. The conflict entailed serious and continuous abuses and violations of human rights and humanitarian law by both State agents and guerilla groups. Colombia should continue to strengthen its support of those who promoted the defense of human rights. It also urged the guerilla groups in Colombia to respect norms of international humanitarian law. It remained deeply preoccupied at the numerous cases of disappearances and called for the urgent adoption of more effective legislative,

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administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and terminate acts of enforces disappearances.

Mr. SOMOL said the Commission remained concerned at the alarming level of impunity, in particular concerning abuses by State agents that continued to fall under the jurisdiction of military courts. It welcomed important advances made in a number of cases of gross human rights violations by the Human Rights Unit in the Office of the General Prosecutor. The Commission was deeply concerned about the persistence of the practice of torture and called on the Government to combat torture and ill-treatment as well as the impunity which permitted them to continue. The Commission believed that the implementation of recommendations of international human rights bodies was not sufficient and the Commission expected the activities of the new human rights office in Bogota would contribute to improve the human rights situation in Colombia.

Through another Chairman's statement, on the situation of human rights in Liberia, the Commission welcomed substantial progress made in the demobilization and disarmament of the warring factions; urged all Liberians to move speedily towards reconciliation and the creation of a viable political and democratic order in the country; noted with appreciation that several political parties had been registered with the newly restructured Election Commission; noted the need for the strength of the peacekeeping troops on the ground to be increased during the election period; and called upon all States and relevant organizations to provide Liberia with technical and financial assistance to cope with the humanitarian situation.

The Commission also stressed the need for cohesion among the factions/parties currently divided along ethnic lines to abide by the terms of the Abuja Accord and the nation's electoral law and encouraged the Group of Nine West African States that met monthly in Monrovia to give impetus to the issue of cohesion among the factions and to act as a check on any excesses of the factions; urged the Centre for Human Rights to provide, at the end of the election and upon the request of the Government of Liberia, advisory services and technical assistance to enable the country to revive its ailing human-rights mechanisms and called on the UN Secretary-General to consider sending international electoral monitors and human-rights monitors to Liberia, at least during and after the election.

Action on Resolutions

Through a resolution adopted following a roll-call vote with 31 countries voting in favour, no votes against, and 22 countries abstaining on the situation of human rights in Iraq (document E/CN.4/1997/L.95), the Commission strongly condemned the massive and extremely grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Government of Iraq, resulting in an all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by

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broad-based discrimination and widespread terror; condemned the Government's suppression of freedom of thought, expression, religion, information, assembly, and movement; condemned summary executions, including political killings; condemned systematic torture in its most cruel forms.

The Commission called upon the Government to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international law involving human rights; to bring the actions of its military and security forces into conformity with international standards; to cooperate with United Nations human-rights mechanisms, in particular by receiving a return visit by the relevant Special Rapporteur; to restore independence of the judiciary and abrogate all laws granting impunity; to abrogate all decrees prescribing cruel and inhuman punishment and to ensure that torture no longer occurred; to cooperate with the Tripartite Commission to establish the whereabouts of the remaining several hundred missing persons from the Gulf War; to cease immediately its repressive practices aimed at Iraqi Kurds in the north, Assyrians, Shi'a, Turkomen, the population of the southern marshes,and other groups; to cooperate with aid agencies and non-governmental organizations; to release all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States still held in detention. The Commission decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further year.

The following Countries voted in favour: Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Zaire.

The following countries abstained: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Cape Verde, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH ALDOURI (Iraq), speaking before the vote, said the draft resolution L.95 was no different than the previous resolutions on this issue. The draft resolution expressed the bitter truth that some countries insisted on making human rights a political tool for their own agendas. Instead of cooperation and dialogue, the draft resolution contained language of condemnation and threat. Iraq was effectively cooperating with all humanitarian organizations and had set free all its prisoners of war immediately after the military aggression on it had stopped. Therefore, referring to this issue at the Commission was merely an attempt to find reasons for the continued siege on Iraq. Iraq also had agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on the "oil-for-food" formula, but five months later no food had reached the Iraqi people and only 5 per cent of contracts for medicines had been approved. Moreover, the draft resolution referred to allegations of

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widespread human rights violations in Iraq -- that was either completely baseless or exaggerated. Iraq was already cooperating with United Nations human-rights mechanisms, but the draft resolution called on it to do so. As for the Special Rapporteur on Iraq, he was limited by his anti-Iraq position and his unbalanced and selective way of dealing with human rights in the country. With respect to the proposed deployment of international observers for human rights in Iraq, the Government refused this idea totally as flagrant interference in internal Iraqi affairs.

DHARAR ABDUL-RAZZOOQI (Kuwait) said he thanked the sponsors of the draft resolution on human rights in Iraq for mentioning for the first time Security Council resolution 686, which called for the release of all Kuwaiti and third-national prisoners of war in Iraq. The Security Council had adopted this resolution under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which meant it was obligatory and that the United Nations had an effective mechanism to implement it. Putting this mention in the draft resolution meant it had to be implemented. Kuwait had received no information on its missing Kuwaiti nations in Iraq in six years. International pressure would keep the heat on until the missing persons were released. The Commission should help and vote yes on the draft resolution.

MOHAMMED-SALEH DEMBRI (Algeria) said he welcomed the recognition of Kuwait by Iraq and the process of growing democracy there, although there was still progress to be made. Harmonious dialogue with Iraq was the best way to overcome remaining problems. Every effort had to be made for the return of the missing Kuwaitis and third nationals in Iraq. Algeria was surprised that the Commission had not seen fit to mention, even in passing, the human-rights situation in Iraq as a result of the embargo, with children dying through lack of medication and food. The draft was not a balanced paper; Algeria urged that an addition be made to address the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people due to the embargo. Algeria also had other reservations regarding the draft, and it would abstain on the draft resolution if voted on.

MOUNIR ZAHRAN (Egypt) said that after reading the draft on Iraq it was necessary to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq; sovereignty must be respected for the entire country. At the same time it was essential to respect human rights in Iraq; therefore, all Kuwaiti prisoners should be released, and the fates of the missing cleared up. Progress had been made through Security Council resolutions on the Gulf War, but such resolutions had to be implemented properly, and that included the exchange of oil for food and medication; rights to health and food must be addressed, and so that particular Security Council resolution should be implemented immediately. There seemed to be some contradiction in the wording of the Commission's resolution, and Egypt felt there should be no double standards in matters of human rights. Some paragraphs talked of sending observers and human-rights monitors, which would have serious political connotations and impacts; the

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opinion of the State concerned therefore had to be sought. Egypt would vote no on that particular aspect of the resolution.

In an amended resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (document E/CN.4/1997/L.92), the Commission strongly condemned all such offenses; demanded that all Governments ensure that such practices were brought to an end; noted that impunity continued to be a major cause of continued human-rights violations; reiterated the obligation of Governments to carry out exhaustive investigations into such offenses; encouraged Governments of States in which the death penalty had not been abolished to comply with international standards for its imposition; requested the relevant Special Rapporteur on the subject to enhance further his dialogue with Governments; to pay special attention to extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions of children; to pay special attention to such executions where the victims were individuals carrying out peaceful activities in defense of human rights; urged him to draw the attention of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to situations where early action might prevent further deterioration; urged Governments to undertake all measures to prevent loss of life during public manifestations, internal and communal violence, public emergencies, or armed conflicts; strongly urged all Governments to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and respond to communications from him; and expressed concern that a number Governments had not replied to specific allegations in the report of the Special Rapporteur.

ALEXEI ROGOV (Russian Federation) associated itself with consensus on L.92 concerning extrajudicial and summary executions. It urged the Special Rapporteur to keep closely to his mandate and not extend its interpretation into areas that did not fall within his competence. Also, Russia could not accept selective interpretation on the part of the Special Rapporteur of the provisions of Commission resolutions. For example, according to the resolution on hostage-taking, all thematic rapporteurs should have considered consequences of hostage-taking in their reports; however, such considerations did not appear in the report by the Special Rapporteur.

In a resolution adopted following a roll-call vote with 19 countries voting in favour, 10 votes against, and 24 countries abstaining on the situation of human rights in Cuba (document E/CN.4/1997/L.94), the Commission called upon the Government of Cuba to permit the relevant Special Rapporteur to visit the country; expressed particular concern that the Government had failed to carry out its commitment to cooperate with the Commission, in conformity with articles 55 and 56 of the United Nations Charter; regretted profoundly numerous reports of violations of human rights and urged the Government to ensure freedom of expression and assembly, freedom to demonstrate peacefully, including by allowing political parties and non-governmental organizations to function freely in the country; called upon the Government to carry out the Special Rapporteur's recommendations and to end all violations of human rights, including detention and imprisonment as

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well as harassment of and threats against human-rights defenders and others engaged in peaceful exercise of their rights, and to grant access to prisons by non-governmental humanitarian organizations and international humanitarian agencies; called upon it to release numerous persons detained for political activities, including those specifically mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur; called upon it to ensure worker's rights; and decided to extend the mandate of the Rapporteur for one year.

The following countries voted in favour: Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.

The following countries votes against: Belarus, Bhutan, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

The following countries abstained: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Ukraine.

LI BAODONG (China), speaking before the vote, said resolutions on Cuba had been discussed by the Commission year after year; the resolution was simply a result of politicization and was used to serve the foreign policy of a certain super Power. It had nothing to do with human rights and with the legitimate business of the Commission, and should be rejected. It was a case of a large country bullying a small one. What should be condemned by the Commission was not Cuba but a certain big power. That power should also end its long-running economic blockade of Cuba. Cuba should in fact be commended for unremitting efforts to improve human rights in the country, and for making much progress. China would vote against this ill-conceived resolution.

ARUNDHATI GHOSE (India) said it had friendly relations both with the United States and Cuba. However, this bilateral issue, which had been coming up at the Commission for seven years, was losing its utility. There was a need to examine if this process was effective or whether it merely exacerbated the strain in relations between the countries. It was time to look at the effectiveness of the approach to issues before the Commission, and the possibility that they could be handled in a different way.

MOHAMED-SALEH DEMBRI (Algeria) said it was clear that this yearly resolution was based, regrettably, on a truly unfortunate matter of bilateral relations between two countries; this was the type of situation that could be far better resolved in a spirit of better understanding and more clear dialogue, and also in light of the need to make efforts to go beyond currently prevailing situations. Repeating this exercise this year would not mean an improvement in the situation between the two countries concerned, and would

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lead to confrontation. Algeria had explicit reservations about the text of the resolution.

AGUS TARMIDZI (Indonesia) said he would have hoped that the problems between Cuba and the United States could have been resolved bilaterally. He concurred with the remarks of the Indian delegate regarding the repeated submission of similar resolutions on Cuba.

CARMEN HERTZ CADIZ (Chile) said that while concerned over the observance of human rights in Cuba, and intending to vote in favour of the draft resolution, the delegation felt the draft resolution contained elements that were hard to take. It referred to situations already covered by the Commission in 1996 -- it was not necessary to repeat them. Chile expressed concern at the increasing politicization that characterized the resolution, as evidenced by the introduction of elements that dealt with bilateral clashes and did not serve the interest of human rights.

CARLOS AMAT FORES (Cuba) said year after year this draft resolutions came up in an exercise that was part and parcel of the hostile policy of the United States waged against Cuba for the last 37 years. Each time fresh lies were added. Cuba always stated precisely its views about this immoral exercise, which absolutely flouted the principles of the Commission. No one was fooled. The resolution was an example of the lack of objectivity and of the politicization that were plaguing the Commission. To win passage of this measure, blackmail and extreme pressure in various forms were brought to bear on other countries by the United States. It did not matter; the resolution ran against the tide of history; Cuba would continue to write its own history, with dignity and pride. This tiresome yearly exercise would be rightly denounced by history. Cuba remained willing to work in a spirit of understanding and dialogue with those who were willing to respect its sovereignty.

In a resolution passed by a roll call vote of 20 in favour, 14 against, and 18 abstentions on the situation of human rights in East Timor (E/CN.4/1997/L.96), the Commission welcomed the continuing efforts of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights to investigate human-rights violations, and its decision to establish an office in Dili, East Timor; the commitments by the Government of Indonesia to continue the dialogue under the auspices of the Secretary-General for achieving a just solution to the question of East Timor; expressed deep concern at the continuing reports of violations of human rights in East Timor, including reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention; at the lack of progress made by Indonesian authorities towards complying with commitments undertaken in statements agreed by consensus at previous sessions of the Commission; and that the Government had not yet invited thematic rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission to East Timor; and called upon the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for human

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rights in East Timor; to ensure the early release of East Timorese detained or convicted for political reasons and to clarify further the circumstances surrounding the violent incident that took place in Dili in November 1991; to ensure that all East Timorese in custody were treated humanely and that all trials were conducted in accordance with international standards; and to cooperate fully with the Commission and its thematic rapporteurs and working groups and to invite these rapporteurs and working groups to visit East Timor. The Commission also called on the Government to undertake all necessary action to upgrade the memorandum already agreed on technical cooperation into the envisaged memorandum of understanding, and requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the followup to the memorandum of intent; to bring about the envisaged assignment of a programme officer of the Office of the High Commissioner at the Jakarta office of the United Nations Development Programme, and to provide this officer with unhindered access to East Timor; and to provide access to East Timor for human-rights organizations.

The following countries voted in favour: Angola, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mozambique, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.

The following countries voted against: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe.

The following countries abstained: Algeria, Argentina, Belarus, Benin, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Uganda, Zaire.

ARUNDHATI GHOSE (India), speaking before the vote, said that of 14 country resolutions in front of the Commission, 10 had been presented by the European Union related to developing countries. The Commission needed to examine what it was achieving with these resolutions. Already three countries had decided not to cooperate with the Commission, although they would continue to cooperate with other United Nations human-rights bodies and with international organizations. Was that what the Commission wanted? Was it seeking to make a political point? This issue needed examination. Indonesia remained committed to implementing the Chairman's Statement on East Timor adopted last year and to cooperating with all human-rights mechanisms. It had taken steps and adopted a policy of transparency in East Timor, which was open to visits from representatives of Governments. The issue under consideration was essentially political: India was taken aback that former colonial powers felt it was their right to continue to exercise sovereignty over countries which were no longer their colonies.

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AGUS TARMIDZI (Indonesia) said the majority of the sponsors of the resolution on Indonesia were European countries, which clearly demonstrated the true political character of the measure. The resolution also followed hard on the heels of a report prepared by Amnesty International that had targeted Indonesia; in fact, Amnesty International had been carrying out political campaigns to besmirch the good name of Indonesia. Meanwhile, at the Commission baseless allegations had been launched by certain quarters, including José Ramos-Horta, alleging acts of brutality on the part of Indonesian armed forces towards some East Timorese detainees. However, Mr. Ramos-Horta had staged some obvious scenes designed to create a dramatic impact by manipulating original pictures of demonstrators who happened to be hospitalized after injuring themselves when they broke through glass windows and doors at a hotel in Dili. He also had introduced fake pictures of blindfolded persons made to look as if they had been tortured by the military. The international community should not be taken in by those and other fabrications. Indonesian troops would never resort to practices such as torture, nor would they succumb to any provocation to do so. In addition, past draft resolutions and last year's Chairman's statement had been drafted without willingness for cooperation or compromise with Indonesia. It was therefore unfair to claim that it was Indonesia that was unwilling to cooperate, since it had sought to influence these measures but had not been listened to. Such a subjective and highly politically charged resolution as this one would do a disservice to the new UN Secretary-General's commitment to continue his good offices to help find a just and comprehensive solution to the East Timor question.

MOUNIR ZAHRAN (Egypt) said he was commenting on the situation in East Timor after hearing the comprehensive statement of Indonesia. Egypt had taken part in attempts to have a Statement by the Chairman on this issue. Egypt rejected the use of the Commission for political purposes and refused the use of human rights as an excuse to achieve political ends. Egypt reaffirmed the need to promote and protect all human rights, but felt that the resolution should not have been submitted. The draft would more likely hamper efforts and make parties not cooperate with the Commission. Egypt supported the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative on the subject; welcomed the perseverance of the Government of Indonesia; and hoped the Commission would continue its cooperation and that a memorandum of understanding on an agreement for the provision of technical assistance and advisory services could be signed.

IFTEKHAR CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said that, once again, another Asian developing country had been targeted. The cause of human rights would only advance if it was discussed in a spirit of consensus and dialogue. The time had come for the Commission to review its mechanisms. His delegation was satisfied with the explanations given by Indonesia.

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MOHAMED-SALEH DEMBRI (Algeria) said his delegation had misgivings about the text of the draft. It had been expecting a Statement by the Chairman and instead had found a presented without open consultations. The African Group had met with the European Union, but the latter had not mentioned the resolution. Was this an example of greater politicization? Were some trying to make the Commission a war machine against Third World countries? Algeria did not think this was intended, but the resolution was quite contradictory. Furthermore, Indonesia had defended its case eloquently.

HAMIDON ALI (Malaysia) said the resolution on East Timor would negate the efforts undertaken by Indonesia and the Centre for Human Rights to enhance the human-rights situation in East Timor. Malaysia favoured cooperative approaches and so would vote against the resolution.

YONG SHIK HWANG (Republic of Korea) said his delegation welcomed the efforts of Indonesia to improve the situation in East Timor. Based on the progress achieved, it had expected that consensus could be reached in the form of a Chairman's Statement. Korea had decided to abstain on the draft. The United Nations Secretary-General should continue his efforts of good offices to resolve the issue.

LILIA BAUTISTA (Philippines) said when a country had done its best to cooperate with the Commission, and in view of the fact that the situation in East Timor was under negotiation with the office of the Secretary-General, the Philippines would vote against the resolution.

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