Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un4ngoalgeria012809.html
UNITED NATIONS, January 28 -- Algeria's terrorism complaint against Rachid Mesli, the human rights advocate who spoke for the non-governmental organization Arab Commission for Human Rights at the UN in Geneva last June, resulted on Wednesday in the group's suspension from the UN for one year. Click here for previous coverage by Inner City Press.
By a vote of 18 in favor and one abstaining, the group will also be required to turn over a list of all of its "members and associates" before it can be considered for reinstatement. We hope this sets an example, Algeria's representative said after the debate and vote, in the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. But what sort of example does it set?
Mesli has been granted refugee status in Switzerland. He was accused of terrorism in 1999, in a trial criticized by Amnesty International. Most countries on the UN's Committee on NGOs said that a conviction in any member state is enough to establish guilt. While neither Algeria nor the UN's head staffer for the Committee, Hanifa Mezoui, would agree to release to the Press any part of the complaint, Inner City Press obtained a copy of Algeria's January 14 letter and attachments, and puts them online here. Egypt called this the product of "a competent court whose verdict is unquestionable."
Egypt ultimately made the proposal that a list of all members and associates be provided. The U.S. said it did not oppose such forced disclosure, but wanted more evidence of Mesli's guilt. The US agreed that the Arab Commission for Human Rights should be sanctioned for allowing Rachid Mesli of the separate, unaccredited group Alkarama, to testify in its place.
The United Kingdom, which had initially expressed reservations, ultimately voted in favor of the punishment. After the vote, the UK's representative said it "seems heavy-handed."
Guinea, on the other hand, in the run-up to the vote said that the punishment should be more harsh. India said that "the UN must respect each member state" and the verdicts its courts reach. One wondered if Pakistan clearer those charged with involvement in the recent Mumbai bombings, if India would respect such a verdict.
While the U.S. belatedly spoke of due process, it has in the past bounced groups from the UN over the objections of other states. A game of chicken took place on Wednesday morning, with the US Mission, now under Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and Susan Rice, seeming not to want to stand alone in voting no, or even to call for a vote. Sensing weakness, Egypt and Cuba pointed out that unless a member asked for a vote, it would be adopted by consensus. Ultimate the U.S. did call for a "recorded vote, for the record." The US was informed that the roll call would do just as well. And then it went 18 in favor, none against, and the lone abstention.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4ngoalgeria012809.html
