Criticism on US Human Rights policies abound

Criticism is getting heavier on the United States, particularly on their policies for Human Rights. The world questions how ethically correct for the US politics to intervene in to domestic issues of other countries under the disguise of straightening Human Rights violations of these countries. Criticism within the country was not so little too. War veterans struggling to overcome combat trauma and efforts of their families managing life with it and the economy recession have been categorised as key social issues that have negatively affected the people of US.

Political and Human Rights experts continue to question certain policies of the US administration that contradicts globally accepted norms and ethics to protect human rights. These are hardly veiled attacks on President Obama himself and his close associates in the US administration on defence, foreign policy and homeland security.

The recent criticism by former US President Jimmy Carter, published on New York Times could be bust of this internally boiling heat. Carter says "our government's counter terrorism policies are now clearly violating at least 10 of the declaration's 30 articles" as he further explains that it includes the prohibition against 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.'

"Recent legislation has made legal the president's right to detain a person indefinitely on suspicion of affiliation with terrorist organisations or "associated forces," a broad, vague power that can be abused without meaningful oversight from the courts or Congress (the law is currently being blocked by a federal judge). This law violates the right to freedom of expression and to be presumed innocent until proved guilty, two other rights enshrined in the declaration," Carter says in the article.

Questioning the inevitable deaths of nearby innocent women and children during drone attacks on enemy territories Carter continues to say that "Top intelligence and military officials, as well as rights defenders in targeted areas, affirm that the great escalation in drone attacks has turned aggrieved families toward terrorist organisations, aroused civilian populations against us and permitted repressive governments to cite such actions to justify their own despotic behaviour."

He says, "At a time when popular revolutions are sweeping the globe, the United States should be strengthening, not weakening, basic rules of law and principles of justice enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But instead of making the world safer, America's violation of international human rights abets our enemies and alienates our friends."

The full article appeared in the 'New York Times' Magazine on June 25 is as follows.

A cruel and unusual record

by Jimmy Carter

The United States is abandoning its role as the global champion of human rights.

Revelations that top officials are targeting people to be assassinated abroad, including American citizens, are only the most recent, disturbing proof of how far our nation's violation of human rights has extended. This development began after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and has been sanctioned and escalated by bipartisan executive and legislative actions, without dissent from the general public. As a result, our country can no longer speak with moral authority on these critical issues.

While the country has made mistakes in the past, the widespread abuse of human rights over the last decade has been a dramatic change from the past. With leadership from the United States, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 as "the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." This was a bold and clear commitment that power would no longer serve as a cover to oppress or injure people, and it established equal rights of all people to life, liberty, security of person, equal protection of the law and freedom from torture, arbitrary detention or forced exile.

The declaration has been invoked by human rights activists and the international community to replace most of the world's dictatorships with democracies and to promote the rule of law in domestic and global affairs. It is disturbing that, instead of strengthening these principles, our government's counter-terrorism policies are now clearly violating at least 10 of the declaration's 30 articles, including the prohibition against "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Recent legislation has made legal the president's right to detain a person indefinitely on suspicion of affiliation with terrorist organisations or "associated forces," a broad, vague power that can be abused without meaningful oversight from the courts or Congress (the law is currently being blocked by a federal judge). This law violates the right to freedom of expression and to be presumed innocent until proved guilty, two other rights enshrined in the declaration.

In addition to American citizens' being targeted for assassination or indefinite detention, recent laws have cancelled the restraints in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow unprecedented violations of our rights to privacy through warrantless wiretapping and government mining of our electronic communications. Popular state laws permit detaining individuals because of their appearance, where they worship or with whom they associate.

Despite an arbitrary rule that any man killed by drones is declared an enemy terrorist, the death of nearby innocent women and children is accepted as inevitable. After more than 30 airstrikes on civilian homes this year in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai has demanded that such attacks end, but the practice continues in areas of Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen that are not in any war zone. We don't know how many hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed in these attacks, each one approved by the highest authorities in Washington. This would have been unthinkable in previous times.

These policies clearly affect American foreign policy. Top intelligence and military officials, as well as rights defenders in targeted areas, affirm that the great escalation in drone attacks has turned aggrieved families toward terrorist organisations, aroused civilian populations against us and permitted repressive governments to cite such actions to justify their own despotic behaviour.

Meanwhile, the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, now houses 169 prisoners. About half have been cleared for release, yet have little prospect of ever obtaining their freedom. American authorities have revealed that, in order to obtain confessions, some of the few being tried (only in military courts) have been tortured by waterboarding more than 100 times or intimidated with semiautomatic weapons, power drills or threats to sexually assault their mothers. Astoundingly, these facts cannot be used as a defence by the accused, because the government claims they occurred under the cover of "national security." Most of the other prisoners have no prospect of ever being charged or tried either.

At a time when popular revolutions are sweeping the globe, the United States should be strengthening, not weakening, basic rules of law and principles of justice enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But instead of making the world safer, America's violation of international human rights abets our enemies and alienates our friends.

As concerned citizens, we must persuade Washington to reverse course and regain moral leadership according to international human rights norms that we had officially adopted as our own and cherished throughout the years.

Jimmy Carter , the 39th president, is the founder of the Carter Center and the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

Courtesy: The New York Times

Jimmy Carter -

Jimmy Carter, throughout his career as a politician have strongly emphasized human rights. He tenure as the 39th President of the United States of America (1977 - 1981) experienced a period of international stagflation, which persisted throughout his term.

After leaving office, Carter and his wife Rosalynn founded the Carter Center in 1982, a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that works to advance human rights. He has travelled extensively to conduct peace negotiations, observe elections, and advance disease prevention and eradication in developing nations. Carter is a key figure in the Habitat for Humanity project, and also remains particularly vocal on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

US hypocrisy is revealed - D.E.W. Gunasekara

"This is truly an eye-opener," said Senior Minister (Human Resources) D.E.W. Gunasekara commenting on Jimmy Carter's views and Human Right policies of the US Administration. "I'm happy to hear the US hypocrisy is being revealed," Gunasekara said adding that Carter's comment is an eye-opener for the US Administration.

Today the credibility of US Administration is attacked and challenged throughout the world, Gunasekara said. "As a Human Right activist Former US President Cater seems trying to emphasise the urgent necessity for the US to gain their credibility on Human Right policies," he added. As he further stated this is also a good eye-opener for the fraction of Sri Lankans who lavishly adore the US demands and criticisms on Sri Lankan Human Rights.

Actions of the US administration is part and parcel of the power and economic strength the country is enjoying, Gunasekara said. "This is the fifth year the US is trying to rebound from the economic recession. They used a large amount of public money to salvage banks and institutes. We see contradictions emerging in the society," said Minister Gunasekara.

US should protect Human Rights - Prof. Tissa Vitharana

Commenting on the article by Jimmy Carter, Professor Tissa Vitharana, Senior Minister for Technology and Research said that the US Government need to take appropriate action to protect human rights properly. "I'm happy that former President Jimmy Carter, correctly and fairly stated the situation of Human Rights and Democracy in US," Prof. Tissa Vitharana said.

He said that US administration puts pressure on countries directing human rights allegations and economic barriers, specially those countries whose foreign policy is not in line with that of the US. "Comparing the magnitude of human rights violations US could be a major violator. Though they point their finger at Sri Lanka, we don't have major violation of rights on minorities except few cases that needed to be investigated," Minister Vitharana added.

Human rights, a doctrine US preaches but does not practice - Senior Lawyer Gomin Dayasri

Human Rights is a doctrine US preaches but does not practise; it's one rule for their foes and another for friends. Why was Jimmy Carter silent and blind till now if he is a champion of Human Rights? Was he deaf and dumb before the present outburst?

Violation and Protection of Human Rights is an arranged fight with US sponsoring both sides. Americans started it with Red Indians and has now taken it to the Islam world. The latest ruse is to fund NGO outfits to penetrate countries and play hidden role in espionage while talking on human rights. Most of the human rights organizations are funded by the US government agencies in a covert manner and to gain credibility criticizes to the US government. Don't be fooled by Jimmy Carter-look at his record in his time as President. What was his policy towards South America's lawfully elected governments. He is playing for his glory!