IMPACT OF THE US STAND ON HUMAN RIGHTS 6 JUNE 1977[SANITIZED] - 1977/06/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06627980
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 30
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 6, 1977

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laq
6 June 1977
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
MEPIORANDUM
IMPACT OF THE US STAND ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Initial international skepticism about the seriousness of the
Carter administration's commitment to the fostering of human rights
was dispelled early this year by presidential statements and US
initiatives in bilateral relations and international forums. Sus-
picion over US motives has persisted, however, and despite recent
policy statements by senior US officials there still is some con-
fusion over the lengths to which the US may be prepared to go in
pursuit of human rights objectives. This memorandum surveys reac-
tion to the US stand. A regional listing of significant develop-
ments is provided at annex.
****h******h
Introduction
The US stand on human rights has prompted a number of govern-
ments to move toward bettering their human rights performance. This
has occurred principally where the regime has been anxious to pre-
serve cooperative relations with the US, has not felt publicly chal-
lenged or specifically prodded by Washington, and is relatively con-
fident about its internal security situation.
Even in these cases, however.:,there has been a notable reluc-
tance to accept the US stand at face value. Public expressions of
understanding about US concerns have been matched by private assess-
This memorandum was prepared by the Office of Regional
and Political Analysis. Inquiries may be directed to
the International Issues Division,
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ments of Washington's emphasis on human rights as a ploy designed
to pressure other countries into comporting themselves in accor-
dance with US policies generally.
Attribution of such ulterior motivation, the connection of
human rights to other issues, and a marked propensity to inter-
pret US pronouncements and actions in egocentric terms have been
characteristic reactions of countries with the most cause for un-
ease over the US stand. Repressive practices have intensified in
some cases, and bilateral relations have suffered in a number of
instances.
There is strong public endorsement of the principles that
underlie the US stand in some countries, but in many cases it is
coupled with considerable worry over the potential for adverse
international political consequences. Applause for Washington's
espousal of human rights principles, therefore, is not always
accompanied by approval of specific US initiatives. The advent
of what many foreign observers view as a new element of uncer-
tainty in international affairs has thus affected a broad range
of international relationships.
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Latin America
US human rights initiatives have aroused considerable resent-
ment in several Central and South American countries ruled by military
regimes that have felt directly challenged. They have denounced US
statements and actions as unwarranted and unacceptable interference
in strictly internal affairs.
Argentina and Uruguay rejected all US military assistance after
Washington linked aid cuts to human rights violations in those
countries. Brazil, already angered by US pressure to modify its
nuclear deal with West Germany, condemned the State Departments
preparation of a report on its human rights practices as an affront
to its sovereignty and renounced the 1952 military assistance agreement.
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Guatemala and El Salvador also rejected military assistance con-
ditioned on US judgment of their human rights situations.
The Latins are angered by what they regard as US failure to
understand and make allowances for their political and internal
security problems. The Southern Cone military regimes, especially,
are convinced that their countries' experiences with political
disintegration, insurgency, and terrorism fully warrant tough
internal security measures. The Argentines, for example, insist
that they will not deviate from the practices they deem indispensable
in their continuing war with leftist terrorists no matter what
outside criticism they incur.
The Latins are also resentful over the fact that they were
not considered important enough to US interests to be treated
specially (like South Korea). They have questioned US qualifica-
tions for making international moral judgments and have voiced
suspicion that the US has ulterior motives for its human rights
stand. The latter view is particularly strong in Brazil, where
the human rights issue is viewed as an adjunct to US pressure on
nuclear matters.
The Southern Cone regimes have been commiserating with each
other, and they may be considering joint moves to convince the
US that it has seriously underestimated the costs of alienating
them. The Latins undoubtedly would prefer to forgo polemics and
halt any deterioration in their relations with Washington. But
the military regimes are determined not to take any actions that
could be construed as caving in to US pressure.
Latin reaction to the US stand has not, of course, been
entirely negative. Venezuela and Costa Rica, two of Latin
America's few remaining democracies, have strongly endorsed
US initiatives, and expressions of support for the US stand have
also been forthcoming from Mexico and Bolivia. Prisoner releases
in Paraguay and Peru were directly responsive to US concerns.
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Prospects
The impact that US human rights initiatives will have over
the next several months will depend in large part on how the US
chooses to press the issue. Protestations as to the universality
of US concerns are unlikely to dissuade most governments vulnerable
on the issue from continuing to interpret even general US actions
or pronouncements as being directed particularly at them.
Some of the other countries that have reacted negatively to
US human rights initiatives seem to be rethinking their positions.
They are also hoping for a "cooling off" period that would permit
a resumption of less antagonistic bilateral relations and allow
the development of strategies for coping with the new situation.
This is especially the case in Latin America, where there is a
feeling that the US is in the process of moderating its tactics
for pursuing human rights objectives. Disappointment of such
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expectations would give added impetus to discussions among the
Southern Cone countries about convincing the US that they are
vitally important to its interest.
Criticism of alleged US disinterest in the world wide advance-
ment of social and economic justice is likely to increase if the
less developed countries conclude that the US plans to link human
rights to international economic issues by seeking to further its
human rights objectives in international financial institutions
whose charters call for loan decisions to be made strictly on the
basis of economic considerations. The "North-South" dialogue,
moreover, could become considerably more contentious generally if
controversy over human rights were to severely damage US relations
with nations (like Brazil) that have played significant moderating
roles in the articulation of LDC demands.
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SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO THE US STAND ON HUMAN RIGHTS
LATIN AMERICA
JANUARY
27 Three members of Paraguayan communist party are released
after spending almost 20 years each in prison.
28 Political rights are restored to eight persons in
Uruguay.
FEBRUARY
10 Eleven women and their 17 children are released from a
Paraguayan detention facility for political prisoners.
28 Argentina and Uruguay reject US military assistance
tied to their human rights performance.
A state of siege is imposed in El Salvador following
demonstrations protesting fradulent presidential
elections.
MARCH
3 Brazil rejects all US military assistance for fiscal
year 1977.
11 Brazilian President Geisel renounces the military assis-
tance agreement with the US that was signed in 1952.
The decision follows publication of the State Department's
report on human rights.
The Guatemalan government notifies the US that it declines
in advance any US military assistance conditioned on US
judgment of Guatemala's human rights practices.
11 Venezuelan President Perez praises President Carter's
human rights initiatives in a major address to his coun-
try's congress.
Sixty-four additional Paraguayan political prisoners are
released.
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MARCI I
12 Chilean President Pinochet dissolves remaining political
parties and strengthens sanctions against all partisan
political activity.
15 In a press conference Colombian President Lopez supports
the promotion of human rights through an international
entity and declares Colombia's opposition to interference
in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
17 El Salvador rejects US military assistance.
APRIL
1 President Geisel suspends the Brazilian legislature for
two weeks in response to its veto of a government amend-
ment to reform the judiciary.
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15
Nicaragua describes the US decision to link its military
aid to human rights conditions as "interference in the
internal affairs of Nicaragua."
Mexico announces that it has stopped legal proceedings
against 424 persons charged with political crimes and
declares that there are no more political prisoners in
Mexico.
The Paraguayan government refuses to grant formal safe
conduct out of the country to three communist party
members released in January, who have been in asylum
in the Peruvian Embassy since 25 February. The government
claims they are not wanted for arrest and therefore are
free to go.
15 Brazilian President Geisel issues a series of decrees
aimed at reducing the influence of civilian politicians
in the government.
25 Peru extends the emergency suspension of civil guarantees
another 30 days; these measures went into effect after
street demonstrations last July.
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APRIL
26 Peruvian President Morales Beimudez announces amnesty
for 314 persons, including several political prisoners.
28 The Archbishop of Asuncion comments favorably on
Paraguay's human rights progress. He has previously
been highly critical of the government on the issue.
MAY
3
The pro-government press in Nicaragua praises Secretary
Vance's Law Day Speech.
16 The Argentine Catholic Church issues its first formal
criticism of the government's antisubversive campaign.
The Church warns that government repression ultimately
will prove counterproductive.
20 Brazil's nominal opposition party, the Brazilian
Democratic Movement, forms a permanent advisory
commission on human rights to monitor reports of viola-
tions.
22 El Salvador's President Molina charges that leftist
priests are involved in subversive activities. He
denies accusations that his government is persecuting
the Catholic Church.
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Panama's General Torrijos pardons several women serving
prison sentences for subversion and announces that some
political exiles will be allowed to return.
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