Rights groups slam U.N. panel vote on China

GENEVA, APRIL 19. Rights groups reacted with fury after China again diverted a condemnation at the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Many called into question the credibility of the U.N. panel after China thwarted the U.S.-sponsored motion with a procedural motion.

``For how much longer will the world play this game with China? How many more victims of human rights violations will be disregarded in the name of realpolitik?'' asked the Amnesty International in a statement yesterday. The Chinese delegate resorted to a `no-action motion' - a move which has successfully prevented the issue being aired at annual sessions of the Commission for the past decade with the exception of 1995.

While 22 members of the 53-member panel voted for the no-action motion, 18 opposed, 12 abstained, and one delegate was absent. Among those who voted in favour of the Chinese motion were Russia, Cuba, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco and Venezuela. Those who abstained included Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador.

The Amnesty, however, branded the motion as a ``loophole ... to stifle debate and escape censure,'' warning that the procedure ``brings into questions the purpose and function'' of the U.N. Commission.

Beijing hails vote

In Beijing, China trumpeted its success in quashing the U.N. debate on its rights record and said the U.S. was using the issue to topple its Communist system. ``Once again the U.S. attempt to use the human rights issue to interfere in China's internal affairs was defeated,'' Xinhua said.

- AFP, Reuters

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