U.N. Torture Panel Quizzes U.S.
By NAOMI KOPPEL, Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) -- Confronted with criticism of American police for using stun guns, the United States told a U.N. panel today it is ''utterly committed'' to wiping out torture but admitted its record is not perfect.
Torture is ''denounced as a matter of policy'' in the United States, Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh told the U.N. committee against Torture, which is examining Washington's first report on its compliance with a U.N. torture convention it ratified in 1994.
But ''we acknowledge continuing areas of concern within the United States,'' Koh said. ''From time to time allegations of torture do arise, particularly within the difficult domain of law enforcement.''
On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused the United States of ''institutionalizing'' torture, especially in prisons and police forces.
In a report to the committee, the human rights group said the United States has used an ''increasingly punitive approach
toward offenders,'' which has facilitated torture and ill-treatment. The London-based group pointed to the use of pepper spray, tear gas and electric-shock devices and noted
the use of pepper spray against demonstrators protesting meetings of the World Trade Organization in Seattle in December.
At a news conference later, Koh said his country's record ''ranks near the very top'' and said the United States should not
be criticized for slowness in signing human rights treaties. ''Other countries ratify these treaties and then they don't obey
them. We obey these treaties and then we ratify them,'' he said.
Koh said he could not comment specifically on the Seattle case. But, he said, the use of chemical sprays and electric shocks is
only allowed to control prisoners in dangerous situations, never as a punishment.
''My own view is that these are being used completely within the law. ... I think there are a lot of misstatements in the Amnesty report, frankly,'' he said.
William Yeomans, a Justice Department lawyer, told the committee that there had been successful prosecutions of U.S. law enforcement officials. They included the conviction of four New York City police officers for the severe beating of Haitian
immigrant Abner Louima.
Committee chairman Peter Thomas Burns of Canada commended the United States for admitting that torture did happen, but asked why the report had not been produced earlier. He also expressed concern about the use of stun belts and guns, which Amnesty said could cause serious pain without leaving marks on the body and could also be set off
accidentally.
The committee likely will issue its conclusions next week.
AP-NY-05-10-00 1131EDT<
So much for us and our "increasingly punitive approach toward offenders." No guns, no stun guns, no pepper spray. Maybe we could just lay down a trail of crack leading into the jail and get the crooks in that way. What was the smell of that New World Order again?
By NAOMI KOPPEL, Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) -- Confronted with criticism of American police for using stun guns, the United States told a U.N. panel today it is ''utterly committed'' to wiping out torture but admitted its record is not perfect.
Torture is ''denounced as a matter of policy'' in the United States, Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh told the U.N. committee against Torture, which is examining Washington's first report on its compliance with a U.N. torture convention it ratified in 1994.
But ''we acknowledge continuing areas of concern within the United States,'' Koh said. ''From time to time allegations of torture do arise, particularly within the difficult domain of law enforcement.''
On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused the United States of ''institutionalizing'' torture, especially in prisons and police forces.
In a report to the committee, the human rights group said the United States has used an ''increasingly punitive approach
toward offenders,'' which has facilitated torture and ill-treatment. The London-based group pointed to the use of pepper spray, tear gas and electric-shock devices and noted
the use of pepper spray against demonstrators protesting meetings of the World Trade Organization in Seattle in December.
At a news conference later, Koh said his country's record ''ranks near the very top'' and said the United States should not
be criticized for slowness in signing human rights treaties. ''Other countries ratify these treaties and then they don't obey
them. We obey these treaties and then we ratify them,'' he said.
Koh said he could not comment specifically on the Seattle case. But, he said, the use of chemical sprays and electric shocks is
only allowed to control prisoners in dangerous situations, never as a punishment.
''My own view is that these are being used completely within the law. ... I think there are a lot of misstatements in the Amnesty report, frankly,'' he said.
William Yeomans, a Justice Department lawyer, told the committee that there had been successful prosecutions of U.S. law enforcement officials. They included the conviction of four New York City police officers for the severe beating of Haitian
immigrant Abner Louima.
Committee chairman Peter Thomas Burns of Canada commended the United States for admitting that torture did happen, but asked why the report had not been produced earlier. He also expressed concern about the use of stun belts and guns, which Amnesty said could cause serious pain without leaving marks on the body and could also be set off
accidentally.
The committee likely will issue its conclusions next week.
AP-NY-05-10-00 1131EDT<
So much for us and our "increasingly punitive approach toward offenders." No guns, no stun guns, no pepper spray. Maybe we could just lay down a trail of crack leading into the jail and get the crooks in that way. What was the smell of that New World Order again?
