DATE=10/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239777
TITLE=AMNESTY/U-S-A (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY 
INTERNATIONAL HAS ISSUED A SCATHING CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES.  AMNESTY'S SECRETARY GENERAL PIERRE 
SANE HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON TODAY (TUESDAY), 
MARKING THE START OF A YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON 
AND HOPEFULLY PROMOTE SOLUTIONS TO WHAT THE GROUP CONSIDERS 
AMERICA'S HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS.  DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.

TEXT:  AMNESTY'S NEW 153-PAGE REPORT SLAMS THE U-S HUMAN RIGHTS 
RECORD IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING THE CONTINUED RESORT TO 
THE DEATH PENALTY, WIDESPREAD POLICE BRUTALITY, AND VIOLENCE AND 
INHUMANE TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IN AMERICAN PRISONS.

AMNESTY'S SECRETARY GENERAL, PIERRE SANE OF SENEGAL, SAYS THE 
MIS-TREATMENT OF DETAINEES EXTENDS INCREASINGLY EVEN TO 
ASYLUM-SEEKERS, THOSE DRAWN BY WHAT HE TERMED THE MYTH THAT THE 
UNITED STATES IS A HUMAN RIGHTS PARADISE.

                         ///SANE ACT///

         FOR THEM, THE HARSH REALITY OF THE WAY ASYLUM-SEEKERS 
         ARE TREATED IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO PUT A 
         DISCREDIT ON THE CLAIM OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
         THAT IT IS A CHAMPION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

                          ///END ACT///

THAT WAS THE DOMINANT THEME OF MR. SANE'S PRESENTATION HERE 
TUESDAY -- THAT ON THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE UNITED 
STATES IS GUILTY OF EMPLOYING A DOUBLE STANDARD.

                         ///SANE ACT///

         THE IRONY IN ALL THIS IS THAT WHILE THE UNITED STATES 
         REGULARLY JUDGES OTHER COUNTRIES USING INTERNATIONAL 
         HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
         HAS DEVELOPED, IT FAILS TO APPLY THOSE STANDARDS AT 
         HOME.

                          ///END ACT///

INITIAL U-S REACTION TO THE REPORT HAS BEEN MILD.  THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT PRAISES AMNESTY'S WORK AND SAYS IT WELCOMES THE 
ORGANIZATION'S SCRUTINY.  BUT STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY
BELIEVE THE U-S POLITICAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS REMAIN THE ENVY OF
THE WORLD.

MR. SANE SAYS HE EXPECTS TO HEAR MUCH HARSHER CRITICISM OF 
AMNESTY, AS THE ORGANIZATION PUSHES AHEAD WITH ITS YEAR-LONG 
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE GREATER U-S RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

HE SAYS AMNESTY WILL BE CHALLENGING U-S AUTHORITIES AND 
LEGISLATORS TO, AS HE PUT IT, PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS 
ARE TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES 
MATCH WASHINGTON'S VAUNTED DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE 
WORLD.

                         ///SANE ACT///

         THIS IS NOT A U-S BASHING CAMPAIGN.  IT IS NOT A 
         CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.  IT IS A CAMPAIGN 
         FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES.  WE BELIEVE THAT 
         IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION  IN THE UNITED STATES 
         CAN ONLY HELP STRENGTHEN OUR HAND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS 
         CAMPAIGNING ORGANIZATION IN IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS 
         EVERYWHERE.

                          ///END ACT///

MR. SANE IS PLANNING TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY PROMOTING THE 
AMNESTY CAMPAIGN.  AND THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE ISSUING A SERIES 
OF IN-DEPTH REPORTS OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, EXAMINING WHAT 
IT SEES AS AMERICA'S  MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/KL

06-Oct-98 12:27 PM EDT (1627 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.