In an astoundingly stupid move the UN has announced they will suspend and censor the organization “Reporters without Borders” (RwB) for daring to pass out a leaflet pointing out that Libya wasn’t a very good choice to head the UN’s Commission on Human Rights. Libya was elected, over the US and Costa Rica who were also candidates, by Arab and European members of the UN during the run up to the Iraq war as a way to piss off the Americans. The current Libyan dictator is one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the world plus he has a history of executing political rivals as well as financing terrorist attacks upon civilian airliners.
The decision means RwB will not be able to present evidence of violations of press freedoms during UN meetings, including next year's annual session.
The group's press credentials are being revoked as the result of a vote by the UN's Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), which is in charge of accreditation. Over the last decade the UN’s Ecosoc has been packed with many of the world’s most brutal and repressive regimes as a way to head off UN inspections into their horrendous Human Rights practices. Ranking member’s on the commission include China, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Belarus.
RwB condemned the suspension, calling it a "farce of the kind that increasingly characterizes the commission on human rights".
Here’s a link to the BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3093137.stm
So know we have dictators using the UN to officially censor news groups which point out repressive human rights violations around the world. Isn’t the UN just a wonderful organization?
The decision means RwB will not be able to present evidence of violations of press freedoms during UN meetings, including next year's annual session.
The group's press credentials are being revoked as the result of a vote by the UN's Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), which is in charge of accreditation. Over the last decade the UN’s Ecosoc has been packed with many of the world’s most brutal and repressive regimes as a way to head off UN inspections into their horrendous Human Rights practices. Ranking member’s on the commission include China, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Belarus.
RwB condemned the suspension, calling it a "farce of the kind that increasingly characterizes the commission on human rights".
Here’s a link to the BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3093137.stm
So know we have dictators using the UN to officially censor news groups which point out repressive human rights violations around the world. Isn’t the UN just a wonderful organization?
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