U.N. Rights Chief Blasts Terror War
By CLARE NULLIS, Associated Press Writer


GENEVA (AP) -- Departing U.N. human rights chief Mary Robinson, in a bleak
assessment of the state of human rights, accused governments of hiding
behind the ongoing war on terrorism to trample civil liberties and crush
troublesome opponents. "Suddenly the T-word is used all the time," Robinson
said, referring to terrorism. "And that's the problem."

The United States, Russia and China were among the nations she said were
ignoring civil rights in the name of combating international terrorist
groups. "Everything is justified by that T-word," the 58-year-old former
Irish president said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I hope
that countries will put human rights back on the agenda because it tended
to slip after September 11." Robinson argued the Bush administration set
the tone by holding detainees from Afghanistan without charge at the U.S.
naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She also criticized Washington's
opposition to the new International Criminal Court. "The world needs
leadership in human rights and the United States could give great
leadership. It's not giving it at the moment, unfortunately," said
Robinson, who leaves her post Wednesday.

When Robinson took other governments to task for abuses in the post-Sept.
11 era, they often cited the United States as an example in arguing that
human rights standards have changed, she said. "And I've had to say the
standards have not changed," Robinson said. "The United States must be seen
to fully uphold international human rights and humanitarian standards. The
attacks on New York didn't just kill many innocent people - they were an
attack on freedom and democracy, and we must uphold these standards. And we
can do that and effectively combat terrorism." Robinson said a number of
countries were using the excuse of fighting terrorism to clamp down on
legitimate opposition and curtail freedom of expression. She singled out
Russian military operations in the restive republic of Chechnya and China's
clampdowns on Muslim Uigurs and in Tibet.

It was Robinson's willingness to use her office as U.N. High Commissioner
for Human Rights to criticize such big powers that made her a darling of
activists like Amnesty International. But it ultimately caused her
downfall. Robinson initially wanted to quit last year at the end of her
four-year term, saying she was frustrated by a lack of funding. She was
persuaded by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to stay an additional year,
then she let it be known she was willing to remain in office until 2005.
That offer was declined, diplomats have said, because of U.S. annoyance at
her criticism of the Guantanamo detention camp and her perceived
anti-Israel stance, and anger in Moscow over her persistent clamoring for
an inquiry into the suppression of Chechen rebels. "I do most of the work
constructively, diplomatically ... but there are times when there must be a
voice in the United Nations for the victims of violations," Robinson said.

One of Robinson's last visits was to China, where she said she had mixed
feelings. On the one hand, she said, China has made big strides in
technical programs to educate police, prison officers and judges about
human rights treaties. "But on the side of the reality of human rights, I'm
very worried," she said, citing recent arrests of labor leaders to quell
unrest, the detention of a well-known AIDS activist and the continuing
widespread use of the death penalty.

Despite her gloomy overall assessment, Robinson said she took heart from
her perception that human rights are being increasingly accepted as a
fundamental part of development. Asked what she considered the worst human
rights violation, she said, "Extreme poverty." She said the United States,
in particular, needs to show more recognition of economic and social
rights. Robinson said she felt no bitterness at being eased out, saying she
will be campaigning for a "more ethical globalization and a fairer world."
She also wants to use her contacts to tap universities and foundations for
more resources to promote human rights in developing countries. Robinson
said she was confident that her successor, Sergio Vieira de Mello, a
Brazilian diplomat who headed the interim U.N. administration in East
Timor, is capable and committed.

And she offers him one bit of advice given to her by an Irish poet friend:
"If you become too popular in that job, you're probably not doing a good
job."