INR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS NO 5, MAY 16, 1977[SANITIZED] - 1977/05/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00763431
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 16, 1977

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INR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS*
No. .5, May 16, 1977
EAST ASIA
Philippines
On May 13, President Marcos ordered the release of
Mrs. Trinidad Herrara, the leader of a Catholic Action
movement in Manila,.and called for an investigation into
charges that she had been tortured. He also ordered the
court martial of a lieutenant and the arrest of any others
involved in her arrest and interrogation. (UNCLASSIFIED;
Reuter 724)
Our Charge/reported on May. 14 that he planned to advise
the Minister of Finance that he will recommend that the
US executive director of the World Bank vote in favor of
the IBRD loan for the Philippines:
--on the ground that the government has moved
expeditiously in the Herrara investigation; and
--on the assumption that it will pursue the case
vigorously and decisively. (CONFIDENTIAL; Manila 7341)
Our Commercial Attache in Manila has talked to three
US businessmen who have been requested by Philippine Govern-
officials to help improve the human rights image of the
Philippines. One of the businessmen considered the approach
a threat, i.e., if the companies did.not assist in improving
the Image, "difficulties" would arise. The other two men
did not interpret the approach as a threat. (CONFIDENTIAL;
Manila 7260, 7324, 7336)
On May 15, a British television program reported
"detailed allegations" of torture and human rights viola-
tions in the Philippines. Former detainees who claimed to
have personal knowledge of torture were interviewed. Also
interviewed was Defense Minister Enrile, who replied to
* This round-up covers countries receiving development or
security assistance or likely to make FMS cash purchases.
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the allegations by saying:
"Some of the Philippine clergy are picking
up isolated cases of abuses of the military
to argue that there are widespread abuses.
This is not so." (UNCLASSIFIED; Reuter 326.-7)
South Korea
According to a clandestine report, the following
number of persons have been arrested and turned over to
prosecution under Emergency Measure 9:
January 1 - April 26, 1977 56
May 1975 - April 26, 1977 520
(SECRET/NOFORN/NOCONTRACT; CIA 315/05510)
Embassy Seoul reported on May 9 that the Korean Govern-
ment has authorized the Korean National Council of Churches
to form a committee to visit the Myongdong prisoners and
inspect their condition. (CONFIDENTIAL; Seoul 3804)
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina
President Videla said at a news conference in Caracas
on May 12 that he could not set a date for Argentina's
complete return to "institutionality," although efforts
were being made in that direction. In reviewing various
possible reasons for the disappearance of persons, he
mentioned that it might be a result of "excessive repression
on the part of the public forces." He denied that there
was any disdontent among the armed forces over the arrest
of the former President, General Lanusse. (UNCLASSIFIED;
FBIS 106)
Chile*
The wife of Carlos Lazo, who has been detained in Chile
for the last four years, asked Embassy Paris on May 9 for
US assistance. She said that she believes that international
political pressure is necessary to obtain his release. She
has requested assistance from the French also, and Socialist
leader Francois Mitterand has agreed to enlist the aid of
Willy Brandt through Socialist International channels.
(CONFIDENTIAL; Paris 13662)
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Embassy Santiago on May 10 commented as follows on
this case:
--Lazo is one of two remaining persons involved in
the 1974 air force mass trial who are still
incarcerated.
--The Chilean board which considers requests for commuta-
tion of sentences has made no decision on his release,
probably following instruction from top levels of
the government.
--It is difficult to believe that Lazo's release would
worsen Chile's international position.
=It is doubtful that US pressure would be effective
in this case.
--Senator Jackson has a continuing interest in the case.
(LIMITED OFFICIAL USE; Santiago 3863)
Colombia
President Lopez told Assistant Secretary Todman, May 9,
that Columbia's human rights record is "virtually unequaled."
He warned, however, against actions which could be inter-
preted as intervention. He commented that it would be better
for the US "to take a more pragmatic attitude towards such
happenings rather than trying to act like an international
policemen." He agreed with Todman that it is useful to
pursue a multilateral approach to human rights. (CONFIDENTIAL;
Bogota 4247)
AFRICA
Ethiopia
When our Charge(informed a Foreign Ministry official on
May 12 that the US had abstained on two IDA loans, the
official characterized our human rights policy as "hypocriti-
cal and politically inspired." Our Charge' noted that the
government may take negative decisions regarding our AID
operation in Ethiopia. (CONFIDENTIAL; Addis Ababa 3001)
Senegal
The Chief Justice of Senegal wrote our Ambassador
in Dakar that the Secretary's human rights speech "strikes
a very responsive chord in me." (LIMITED OFFICIAL USE;
Dakar 3261)
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WESTERN EUROPE
Spain
Strikes, demonstrations.1. and violence in the Basque
region over the weekend protested the failure of the
Spanish Government to release "all" political prisoners.
Five persons were killed and dozens were injured. The
demonstrators claimed that there are still 33 Basques being
held for political offenses.. The government has replied
that, with the recent release of 286 prisoners:
�
--only 110 political prisoners are still being. held;
--27 of those are Basques;
--their cases are being studied with a view to
possible pardon. (CONFIDENTIAL; Madrid 3802)
INTERNATIONAL
A non-governmental organizations international
symposium on torture was held in Geneva on May 5-6. The
symposium was financed by Jean-Jacques Gautier, a lawyer
and former Swiss banker who has been working on a draft
convention against torture. Discussion of.the role of
governments in combatting torture was led by an American,
Frank Newman, of the International League for Human Rights.
He said, inter alia:
�"Most State Department people are anti-human rights."
--In the US, the only governmental sector speaking out
against torture is Congress.
--The President is only carrying out the will of Congress,
but he has to drag the State Department along.
.--Human rights organizations should be established in
geographic regions; such as the court in Strasbourg. .
(LIMITED OFFICIAL USE; Geneva 3703)
On May 12, three African nations were elected to the
UN Human Rights Commission (HRC)--Ivory Coast, Senegal,
and Egypt. USUN comments that the election of Senegal was
notable as a tribute to the personal reputation of Keba
DeBaye, the Senegalese representative on the HRC. Also
notable were the quick defeats of Ethiopia and Burundi.
(LIMITED OFFICIAL USE; USUN 1536)
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