| Submit your comments on this article |
| International-UN-NGOs |
| UN human-rights chief stands with Liu Xiaobo's jailers |
| 2010-12-12 |
| Wow. When even the Boston Globe sees through the bullshit... UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has made a mockery of her office by skipping todayÂ’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for laureate Liu Xiaobo. PillayÂ’s office first said she couldnÂ’t be in Oslo because of a previous commitment, and insisted more recently that she wasnÂ’t actually invited. But she surely could have attended if she chose. Pillay, a South African, played an honorable role in the struggle against apartheid. But if she canÂ’t withstand pressure from China to snub the Nobel ceremony, how can her UN Human Rights Commission be expected to defend other dissidents who are jailed and tortured by UN member governments? Ummmmmmmm...they can't? And the Globe is shocked! Shocked! The moral failure isnÂ’t PillayÂ’s alone. Nineteen governments declined invitations to the Oslo ceremony. Some may have feared ChinaÂ’s wrath. Others share BeijingÂ’s desire to repress its own citizens with no outside meddling. But a UN Human Rights Commission has no purpose if not to stand with Liu, who was imprisoned for his role in a manifesto for democratic reform. They throw some great banquets though... Pillay tried to compensate by calling this week for the release of all political prisoners jailed for promoting democracy. Liu is just one of thousands of prisoners of conscience in China. But PillayÂ’s presence in Oslo would have been the clearest possible gesture of solidarity. Jeez, and I'll bet there's some decent restaurants in Oslo too... |
| Posted by:tu3031 |