DATE=3/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247460
TITLE=U-N IRAQ RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR IS ACCUSING IRAQ OF
HAVING ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS OF ANY 
COUNTRY SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO.  THE INVESTIGATOR, MAX 
VAN DER STOEL, A FORMER DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER, HAS BEEN BANNED 
FROM VISITING IRAQ SINCE HIS FIRST AND ONLY VISIT IN 1992.  THE 
INVESTIGATOR BASES HIS ASSESSMENT ON REPORTS FROM WITNESSES 
OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY AND FROM PRIVATE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.  
DETAILS FROM LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA.

TEXT:  IN HIS JUST-RELEASED REPORT, U-N INVESTIGATOR VAN DER 
STOEL SAYS THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ REMAINS BLEAK.  HE 
SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS THERE SINCE HE 
SUBMITTED HIS LAST REPORT TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

//OPT// AT THAT TIME, MR. VAN DER STOEL REPORTED ON IRAQ'S 
SO-CALLED "PRISON CLEANSING" CAMPAIGN.  SINCE THEN, HE SAYS HE 
HAS RECEIVED THE NAMES OF MORE THAN 200 PRISONERS REPORTED 
EXECUTED BETWEEN LAST OCTOBER AND DECEMBER FOR THEIR ALLEGED 
PARTICIPATION IN THE MARCH 1991 UPRISING.  THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL 
NUMBER OF PRISONERS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED SINCE AUTUMN 
1997 TO 25-HUNDRED. //END OPT//

THE U-N INVESTIGATOR IS HARSH IN HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE IRAQI 
GOVERNMENT.

                     ///VAN DER STOEL ACT///

         IT IS A REGIME WHICH FEELS THAT IT CAN ONLY REMAIN IN 
         POWER BY RUTHLESSLY SUPPRESSING ANY SIGN OF DIVERSE 
         OPINION OPINION DIVERSE FROM THAT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND 
         OF ITS LEADER SADDAM (HUSSEIN).

                          ///END ACT///

//OPT// THE U-N REPORT DESCRIBES GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS 
COMMITTED BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING IN THE 
SOUTHERN MARSHES OF THE COUNTRY.  IT ALSO COVERS THE 
DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF THE KURDS IN NORTHERN 
IRAQ. //END OPT//

MR. VAN DER STOEL SAYS THERE'S A POLICY OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST 
IRAQ'S SHIITE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.  HE SAYS SEVERAL INTERNATIONALLY 
RESPECTED SHIITE RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN MURDERED.  HE SAYS 
THE LATEST OCCURRED LAST MONTH WHEN AYATOLLAH AL-SADI AND HIS TWO
SONS WERE KILLED.

                  ///SECOND VAN DER STOEL ACT///

         IT IS ONE MORE INDICATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
         RUTHLESS IN THE SUPPRESSION OF ANYBODY WHO DARES TO COME
         FORWARD WITH AN IDEA IT DOESN'T LIKE.  THE GOVERNMENT 
         HAS PROMISED FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS.  LET US HOPE THAT 
         THEY COME FORWARD WITH MORE CONVINCING RESULTS THAN WHAT
         HAS BEEN PRODUCED SO FAR.

                         ///END ACT/// 

 U-N SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR MAX VAN DER STOEL CONDEMNS IRAQ FOR 
WHAT HE CALLS ITS FAILURE TO RESOLVE THE CASES OF MORE THAN 600 
PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEARED DURING THE COUNTRY'S OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT 
NINE YEARS AGO.  HE CALLS THE IRAQI REGIME A THREAT TO PEACE AND 
SECURITY IN THE REGION. (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/PCF 

31-Mar-99 9:45 AM EST (1445 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.