unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/04/89)
UN HUMAN RIGHTS SUB-COMMISSION CONCLUDES REVIEW
(Received from the UN Information Service.)
GENEVA, 28 August -- At its extended meeting tonight, the Sub-Commission
on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities concluded its
review of further developments. It discussed among other things: respect for
the right to life, elimination of chemical weapons and traditional practices
affecting the health of women and children.
Experts taking part in the debate were Claire Palley, from the United
Kingdom; Stanislav Chernichenko, from the Soviet Union; Asbjorn Eide, from
Norway; John Carey, from the United States; Ion Diaconu, from Romania; Alfonso
Martinez, from Cuba; and Halima Warzazi, from Morocco; as well as observers
from Cuba and the International Movement for Fraternal Union among People and
Nations.
Discussions
CLAIRE PALLEY, expert from the United Kingdom, referred to numerous cases
of the alleged use of chemical weapons in the twentieth century and underlined
the difficulty of investigating and proving their use. There seemed to be a
potential relationship between the use of chemical weapons and other weapons
of mass destruction. The Sub-Commission should continue to deal with the
potential use of all weapons of mass destruction under various agenda items,
and insist on including a ban on the use of herbicides in the international
convention banning chemical weapons. Any convention should specify which riot
control agents could be used, given the fact that some of those agents were
lethal.
She referred to the use by Iraq of chemical weapons against its Kurdish
population, a position strongly disputed by Iraq. There was, however,
evidence of the victims' wounds, medical condition and suffering, and many
eyewitness stories, she said. Analysis of soil samples had led the United
Kingdom Government to conclude that there was "convincing evidence" that
chemical weapons had been used against her Kurdish population. United Nations
investigation was thus badly needed. She also referred to the use of gas at
Ttibilisi in 1989, and the alleged use of chemical weapons by Angola. She
asked what weight the Sub-Commission should attach to such allegations as that
concerning Angola. Reports, casualties, various symptoms, accounts by
individuals and other circumstantial evidence amounted to a prima facie case.
She believed that the correct course for the Sub-Commission was to use the
Secretary-General's investigation machinery. The Sub-Commission should, in
turn, continue its role of a "watch dog".
STANISLAV CHERNICHENKO, expert from the Soviet Union, pointed to the
particular importance of the questions. He shared the indignation over the
use of chemical weapons expressed by the expert from the United Kingdom,
calling them one of the most terrible and "convenient" weapons. That
increased the need, he said, both for the prohibition of their use and their
production, under effective control. He called upon the Sub-Commission to
give some thought to the question of dealing with the problem of chemical
weapons without duplicating the work of the United Nations disarmament bodies
directly engaged in that problem with all its complex technical aspects. In
his view, the Sub-Commission's discussion and decision on that question should
be based on the humanitarian approach. It should raise its voice in support
of the earliest prohibition of those weapons.
ASBJORN EIDE, expert from Norway, shared the views on the dangers of
chemical weapons expressed by the expert from the Soviet Union. The essential
point was to prevent the spread and use of such weapons in the future.
Concern about the use of those weapons by law enforcement personnel should
also be taken into account.
JOHN CAREY, expert from the United States, supported the appeal to make a
broad prohibition of chemical weapons. He shared the view that the
Sub-Commission should focus on the human rights concerns relating to the
danger presented by chemical weapons, but should not be afraid of the
technological aspects of that problem and make the necessary efforts to inform
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