UNHRC rejects Guantanamo investigation

On April 21, the United Nations Human Rights Commission rejected a Cuba-proposed resolution calling for an "impartial and independent fact-finding mission" into human rights abuses at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay. The 53-state body voted the proposal down by 22 votes to eight, with a whopping 23 states abstaining. Those in favour were Cuba, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sudan, Mexico, Guatemala and Malaysia. More than 540 detainees are held in the camp, all of whom the US claims are exempt from the Geneva Conventions. Juan Antonio Fernandez, the Cuban UNHRC delegate, told Aljazeera: "Not even one of the EU members dared to challenge the threat of a hegemonic superpower."

From Green Left Weekly, May 4, 2005.

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From GLW issue 625