CUBA Invites Visit of UN Torture Investigator

[magbana]

Cuba invites visit of UN torture investigator
Posted by: "Simon mcguinness" [e-mail] simonmcguinness1
Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:27 am (PST)
Cuba invites visit of UN torture investigator

IRISH TIMES: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 06:49
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0129/breaking4.html

Cuba is inviting the UN special investigator on torture to visit the country
this year, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez said last night.

Snr Perez announced the planned visit of Manfred Novak as he elaborated on
plans for Cuba to testify next month before the UN Human Rights Council on
the situation in the Communist nation.

"Cuba is a country where in the last 50 years there has not been a single
person ''disappeared'', case of torture nor extrajudicial execution," Snr
Perez said.

For decades Cuba refused to cooperate with the UN Human Rights Commission or
receive investigators, claiming they were part of US efforts to besmirch and
undermine the revolution.

The UN Human Rights Commission was reorganized into the Human Rights Council
with less western influence in 2007. Cuba has cooperated with the new body
and is a member.

Mr Novak has the title of "Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." The U.N. special rapporteur
for food visited Cuba in 2007.

UN member governments must present a report on the human rights situation in
their country to the U.N. Human Rights Council every four years .

Cuba at times imprisons opponents of the one-party state for subversion and
the dissidents charge prison conditions they suffer often amount to cruel
and unusual punishment.

The government labels all opponents as mercenaries working for the United
States and denies charges of unsanitary prison conditions, poor food, and
other abusive treatment.

Elizardo Sanchez, president of the illegal but tolerated Cuban Commission on
Human Rights, said inviting Novak appeared to be a positive step, but
questioned the government's sincerity.

"The visit could be positive if the government is sincere, something which I
do not see at this time," he said.

The group puts the number of political prisoners on the island at 219.

Perez insisted his government was sincere in preparing its human rights
report and inviting the U.N. investigator.

"Cuba has prepared for next month in a serious, broad and participatory
manner that has included nongovernmental organizations," Perez said.