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Updated:3/20/02 |
| Statement
of U.S. non-governmental organizations on human rights conditionality,
September 26, 2001 September 26, 2001 Dear Member of Congress, We write to urge you to reject any wholesale request to lift human rights restrictions on U.S. military assistance and training around the globe and to encourage you to maintain reasonable human rights guidelines in intelligence operations. In the terrible aftermath of September 11th, there is an understandable rush to address potential security threats, and we welcome sensible measures to improve public safety. Yet our nation must not rush to take steps that we will later come to regret. It is in times of crisis that our commitment to democracy, civil liberties and human rights is tested. It is important
to recall that many of the current limitations and conditions on U.S.
assistance were established as prudent safeguards for U.S. policy. Most
include waiver provisions in cases of national security concerns. The
conditions on U.S. aid evolved in response to severe human rights crises
in specific countries. These provisions establish congressional intentions
that U.S. policy be consistent with the principles of democracy and human
rights. They are not intended to hinder effective foreign policy, and
in fact support effective policy by establishing a careful system of checks
and balances. Congress should act to preserve these protections while
working with the administration to evaluate the applications of conditions
on a case-by-case basis, with sufficient opportunity for deliberation
and congressional oversight. Another restriction highlighted in current debate is the set of CIA guidelines regarding recruitment of assets who violate human rights. It is important to note that these guidelines permit the recruitment of any kind of informant, but require supervisors' permission when these informants are known human rights violators. This is a reasonable guideline which has never led the CIA to turn "down a field request to recruit an asset in a terrorist organization,'' according to CIA spokesman Bill Harlow. These guidelines evolved not to restrict payment for information vital to national security but rather to prevent routine, institutional relationships with abusive individuals and institutions without regard to the impact on democracy and human rights. The guidelines were issued in the aftermath of a disturbing case in which the CIA, five years after Congress placed a ban on military aid to Guatemala, maintained close institutional relationships with Guatemalan intelligence agencies involved in the murder and torture of many innocent civilians, including American citizens. While intelligence collection and analysis must obviously be improved, human rights considerations regarding intelligence relationships and covert action continue to be crucial. In addition, there are human rights conditions or restrictions on assistance placed on a few countries with particularly extreme problems in the areas of human rights, democracy, or civilian control of the military. These conditions were not placed lightly or in an arbitrary manner, and they should not be removed or waived without careful consideration. As lawmakers, like all of us you are struggling to make sense of the terrible events of September 11th and to adapt to a new and harsher reality. We urge you in this difficult moment to continue to exercise your responsibilities to oversee executive action, and not to lose sight of our nation's ideals of democracy, liberty, and respect for human rights in your search for a strong response. Sincerely, Alexandra Arriaga
Rev. John L. McCullough
Heidi Boghosian Bill Goodfellow and
Robert White John Isaacs J. Daryl Byler Thomas Hart
Terry Collingsworth Tamar Gabelnick Steve Bennett Martha Honey Sanho Tree Maria Luisa Vera,
R.S.M. J.E. McNeil Greg Davidson Laszakovits Graham Russell
Miriam A. Young Valora Washington,
PhD. Corinne Whitlatch Ted Lewis Kurt Biddle Deborah Pierce Fred Rosen Megeen White and
Joseph Nangle, OFM Judy Cannon, R.S.M. David A. Moczulski,
OFM Neil Jeffrey Alice Wolters and
Mark Saucier Linda Mushburn Kevin B. Zeese Ricardo Vargas Meza Marilyn Moors Jeff Winder Rhoda and Mark Berenson Sister Michelle Balek,
OSF Kathy Thornton, R.S.M. Kevin Martin Maral Kitissou, Ph.D. Karen Orenstein Ronald E. Hampton Judy Carle, R.S.M. Joe Volk Janet Chisholm and
Richard Deats Cristina Espinel
and Barbara Gerlach M. Rojas Alayza Mubarak Awad Kimberly Theidon Marie Dennis James Matlack Stan De Boe, OSST Ken McEldowvrey Wes Callender Margaret Swedish Susan Thompson Alice Zachmann Kathryn Ledebur
Jean Stokan Mavis Anderson |
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