APPENDIX 1

TEXT OF MARCH 17, 1980, LETTER TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS FROM SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BONKER

Hon. BRIAN ATWOOD,

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

March 17, 1980.

Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. ATWOOD: On October 31, 1979 a joint hearing was held by the Subcommittee on International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on Africa, regarding human rights conditions in Africa.

In connection with this hearing, the following information has not yet been provided for the record:

1. A list of African countries where human rights violations have grown worse, instead of better.

2. A list of U.S. Embassies in African countries that have a full-time human rights officer, whose sole duty is human rights concerns.

3. An explanation of the resignation of Robert Remole, the human rights officer assigned to the Embassy in Zaire.

4. A list of African countries with the most free press.

I would greatly appreciate receiving the responses to the above questions no later than March 28th.

Sincerely yours,

DON BONKER,

Chairman, Subcommittee on
International Organizations.

(69)

APPENDIX 2

TEXT OF MARCH 27, 1980, LETTER TO SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BONKER FROM HON. J. BRIAN ATWOOD, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS

Hon. DoN BONKER,

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D.C., March 27, 1980.

Chairman, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I believe that a March 17 letter from Mr. Stephen Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, to Mr. Alan Van Egmond of the Subcommittee responds to the questions contained in your letter of March 17. I would like, however, to comment further on an issue raised by questions 1 and 4. Question 1 asks the Department to provide a list of African countries where the human rights situation has deteriorated. Question 4 asks for a list of African countries with the freest press.

We believe the best source of information on the human rights situation in the continent of Africa, as elsewhere, is our annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. These reports are prepared with great care and represent a significant investment of personnel and time, both in Washington and in our posts overseas. In preparing those human rights reports, scrupulous care is taken to avoid injecting subjective conclusions.

We believe it is valuable for the Department to present in this fashion a complete statement of the facts regarding human rights practices, but that the role of the Department should remain just that: providing a careful statement of the facts based on the best information available to us. To go beyond such a statement and engage in broad characterization or rank listings-which would be difficult to do, and whose validity would be ephemeral in any event-serves no useful foreign policy purpose. Indeed, it may only serve to complicate some of our diplomatic efforts. Others, however, may wish to draw upon the basic information available in the report in reaching their own conclusions on these matters. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,

J. BRIAN ATWOOD, Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations.

(70)

APPENDIX 3

A REPORT ON THE UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AFRICA, SUBMITTED BY RONALD E. PUMP, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nations-sponsored Seminar (GA. Res.

33/167) on the Establishment of Regional Commissions with
Special Reference to Africa convened as scheduled on the
morning of September 10, 1979, at the Unity Conference
Center, the site of the July 1979 OAU Summit Conference,
in Monrovia, Liberia and concluded its work two weeks later.
Representation eventually grew to approximately 75 persons.
It was readily appar-

ent to me from the outset that the delegates had come armed
with the commitment, conviction, and determination that as
a result of the human rights situation in Africa today some
meaningful instrument relating to human rights had to emerge
from the deliberations of the seminar, if only to avoid the
embarrassment of failing yet again. As evidence of the im-
portance attached to this effort, several countries sent
cabinet ministers, senior diplomats or high-ranking members
of the judiciary so that producing some tangible result from
the seminar became a matter of national interest and prestige.
Liberia, the host country, sent a large delegation headed by
its Minister of Justice, who was elected seminar chairperson.
The involvement of the specialized agencies of the UN in the

*The author is a practicing attorney in New York City. He attended the seminar as a representative of the International League for Human Rights, which received grants to defray a substantial portion of the costs. The views expressed are those of the author.

TEXT OF ΜΑΙ
FROM HO
CONGRESSI

73

seminar would ul

in his capacity

ad for considerable d

human rights effort was very evident by their widespread par.
ticipation and interest. Confidence in the outcome of the
seminar grew from an initial point where it was thought that
only a general proposal would be adopted to the final draft
proposal envisioning a commission with investigatory powers
recognizing the full panoply of civil and political, and
ecolo, social and cultural rights- far exceeding the
expectations of even the most optimistic participant.

Hon. DON BONI
Chairman, Sub
Affairs, Ho
DEAR MR. CH.
Deputy Assista
Mr. Alan Van E
in your letter of
raised by questi
African countrie
asks for a list of
We believe the
continent of Afric
Practices. These
investment of per
In preparing those
ing subjective conc
We believe it is
plete statement of
the Department st
facts based on the l
and engage in broa
to do, and whose
foreign policy purpo
matic efforts. Other
available in the rep
If I can be of any f
Sincerely,

No

are expected that the seminar would actually consider adopt

these recommendati 2. Edem Kodjo, als

A speak or even g

tes. Some viewed t

ing such strong language as "[A]frican states would be more valuable document

Justified in speaking with conviction of the scourge of

these deliberations

apartheid, racism, colonialism and foreign domination, ifeneral of the UN t

certain of them were not to subject their own citizens to

atrocious violations of human rights."

It was apparent that the seminar would not be a

for an African Commis ed to note that a

envisioned.

The

S

cusatory in nature, but conciliatory, avoiding direct att frican political states, bearing in mind the extreme sensitivity shown, the report on

certain governments at the recent OAU summit.

Delegates

th

and the restoratio

nevertheless spoke freely and at times with considerable ich hopefully will

cancer about human rights violations on the continent.

the next OAU summit.

opening session was addressed by President Tolbert of Li, with whom he met

and current Chairman of the OAU who gave an especially

quent and inspirational speech on human rights.

She would use his

go

As the serious considerat

evious U.N.-sponsore

Commission of Huma

gime was overthrown