HRW says “No Double Standards†Oh! My Foot!
Posted on July 15th, 2011
Malin Abeyatunge
According to print media, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-quote Human Rights Watch (HRW) latest report ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has urged US President Obama to investigate into allegations of detainee abuse authorized by former President George W. Bush and other senior officials, same as the US call for inquiry against international crimes that are committed in places like Darfur, Libya, and Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ unquote.
This turn of the events by HRW is unbelievable and incomprehensible. HRW along with Amnesty International, ICG etc have been blamed and criticized by many countries for being ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-acting with Double StandardsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Is this a subtle attempt to avoid being castigated as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Double Standards of HRWƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚?
In addition to the tortures and abuses, thousands of civilians have been killed by the USA- UK led invasion on Iraq and Afghanistan almost a decade ago. But HRW has taken so long to urge for a criminal investigation against USA. I believe that this is a just an eyewash. Having got bored or fed up of bashing small nations like Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (we dared to listen to their crap) as 99% of HRWƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s reports on Sri Lanka appear to be reproduced and parroted from Tamilnet without any substantiated facts or figures. Are we to believe that HRW will continue to remind Barack Obama over and over ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to initiate an investigation the way they were chasing after Sri Lanka like rabid hounds? I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t think so and we can just wait and see. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Speaking with The Irrawaddy recently, Deputy Director of HRW’s Asia Division Phil Robertson alleged to have said quote ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Torture is always wrong,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ said Robertson. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-No matter who does it. Human Rights Watch does not take sidesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ unquote. This statement is the biggest joke for the century by HRW. Do we have to remind them how and to what extent that HRW took sides of LTTE terrorist outfit belittling the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government to crush the scourge of LTTE terrorism?.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Or, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is this a one-off call from HRW on USA knowing very well that that Obama will never take action as he is also responsible for war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ post-Bush administration.
US States department and their reps like Robert Blake, Butenis etc have been continuously calling investigation on War crimes of Sri Lanka and will they eat their own words now? ThatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a million dollar question.
HRW is only insisting on torture on the detainees, but completely dumb and deaf of thousands of civilians killed during the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya. Will the HRW urge for separate investigation on the war crimes committed by USA, UK and allied forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya? I have my doubts. That will be a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-big fishƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to handle.
Malin Abeyatunge
14/7/2011
July 15th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
HRW has no credibility when it comes to human rights issues. If they want to redeem even the little good reputation they had before getting trapped by the Tigers, then they need to strongly back those who are demanding that the Tamil Diaspora need to be held accountable for thosands of Children abducted and some made into suicide bombers, as well as ethnic cleansing of non-Tamils by the Tigers and the distruction of a countriy’s rconomy.
July 16th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Dear Marlin Abeyatunga…It is always heartening to see your articles re: double standards by all three groups suppose to promote human rights, questioning sovereign states ONLY from smaller countries.
The very countries who represesnt these groups are the ones who continue to walk into countries & try assist in regime change etc.
Yes! its thoughtful people like you can inform the general public how so called “international community” including India fail to put tjeir houses in order, before asking others to do so.
Thanks again for your article ~ Gamunu