U.S. slams China, North Korea and Iran

In its annual report on human rights for 194 countries, the State Department also denounced North Korea's “deplorable” record, “egregious” abuses in Myanmar as well as “numerous and serious” violations in Cuba.

Chinese authorities pressed on with the repression of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, the western region where China's Han majority engaged last year in deadly clashes with local Uighurs.

It said “the detention and harassment of human rights activists increased, and public interest lawyers and law firms that took on cases deemed sensitive by the government faced harassment, disbarment and closure.” China also imposed “tight government controls” on Tibetans, who faced restrictions on practicing their religion and severe repercussions if they tried to escape to Nepal, the State Department said Thursday.

China on Friday rejected the report lashing out at Washington for using the issue as a “political instrument” to interfere in its affairs. Related article: China reacts angrily

China's State Council, or cabinet, issued its own report on alleged U.S. human rights violations in retaliation.

“As in previous years, the (U.S.) reports are full of accusations of the human rights situation in more than 190 countries and regions including China, but turn a blind eye to, or dodge and even cover up, rampant human rights abuses on its own territory,” the State Council said, according to Xinhua news agency.

The State Council said the United States had used the rights issue as a “political instrument to interfere in other countries' internal affairs, defame other nations' image and seek its own strategic interests.”

The report said “the situation in the North Caucasus region of Russia worsened as the government fought insurgents, Islamist militants, and criminal forces.”

It cited reports saying both sides “engaged in killings, torture, abuse, violence, politically motivated abductions, and other brutal or humiliating treatment.” The State Department slammed North Korea's human rights record as “deplorable,” saying Kim Jong-Il's reclusive Stalinist regime engages in summary executions, torture, forced abortions and infanticide.

The report said the junta in Myanmar continued its “egregious human rights violations and abuses during the year,” including increased military attacks in ethnic minority regions, such as in the Karen and Shan states. It also continued to imprison and abuse its political opponents.

The State Department said Iran's already “poor human rights record degenerated” in 2009, particularly with a deadly security crackdown after disputed presidential elections in June. Aside from human rights, the United States is seriously concerned about Iran's and North Korea's nuclear ambitious.

Iran was also cited as a key example of governments that fuel anti-Semitism, often under a new guise of denouncing Zionism or Israeli policies. Egypt, a U.S. ally, was also blamed. “Traditional and new forms of anti-Semitism continued to arise,” particularly after Israel launched its three-week offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008, the report said.

The State Department expressed “growing concern” over discrimination against Muslims in Europe, citing in particular a ban on construction of minarets in Switzerland.

It reported that U.S.-backed governments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq had mixed records last year. The report said Sri Lanka violated human rights last year as it dealt a final blow to Tamil Tiger insurgents and clamped down on media freedom, but there were some signs of progress following the victory by government troops.

It saw progress in human rights in parts of South Asia, as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal all solidified democracy.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email