MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina and Brazil rap Cuba on human rights

Argentina and Brazil members of the Geneva United Nations Human Rights Commission asked this week full respect for human rights in Cuba, in line with the recent majority position of the committee.

The joint declaration comes a few days after the Argentine-Brazilian abstention on the crucial vote of a United States sponsored declaration condemning Cuba for not cooperating with UN and not receiving a Humans Rights Commission delegation in the island.

In the release Brazil and Argentina recall that it's the obligation of all governments to guarantee the full implementation of all human rights since these are universal, independent and indivisible.

They also call on the Fidel Castro regime to adopt a fresh approach such as that which enabled the "liberation of several political prisoners".

Apparently the change of stance from the two South American countries follows Cuba's defence statement arguing that its population enjoys the highest levels of education and health in Latinamerica.

In related news the Human Rights Commission rejected Thursday a request from Cuba to investigate the situation of detainees in the United States naval base of Guantanamo in Cuban territory.

Eight countries of the 53 in the Human Rights panel supported Cuba, 22 voted against and 23 abstained.

The supporters included Guatemala, Mexico, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sudan and Malaysia.

The Cuban resolution proposal stated its "deep concern", --endorsed by UN experts--, regarding detention conditions of alleged terrorists retained in the US military base and requested Washington to authorize an "impartial and independent" mission to investigate the claims.