CUBA SOCIALISTA - Statement by Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Jorge Iván Mora Godoy, on the Draft Resolution entitled The Question of arbitrary detentions in the area of the United States naval base in Guantánamo, submitted by Cuba.

Statement by Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Jorge Iván Mora Godoy, on the Draft Resolution entitled “The Question of arbitrary detentions in the area of the United States naval base in Guantánamo”, submitted by Cuba.

It has been extensively published that for two years over 600 people, including minors, have been arbitrarily detained at the Guantánamo Naval Base, a portion of the Cuban territory illegally occupied by the United States. On that site persists one of the most abominable practices of massive and systematic human rights violations of the modern era. It is a picture of flagrant infringement on the international human rights instruments, on international humanitarian law and on International Law.

This is the essence of the draft resolution presented by Cuba. Document L.88/Rev.2 is, as we all know, a fundamental draft for the Commission on Human Rights. It does not seek condemnation. It requests information and cooperation.

Once again, the force of pressures has been felt in this venue, as well as in the capitals of the whole world. The United States has reached the limit of threatening and blackmailing the countries that have nationals of their own at the Naval Base, stating that if they cast a vote in favor of the Cuban resolution or sponsor it, for that matter, they would prevent or hamper the contacts with, the release or transfer of those people to their countries of origin. What shamelessness and dishonor!

In order to prevent this Commission from being able to pass judgment on the resolution tabled by Cuba, an attempt is made to resort to procedural schemes so that the CHR cannot speak out on its bottom line. Those who hypocritically stated that by principle they never prevent a fundamental issue from being examined by the Commission are now ready to support the Empire, resorting to false pretexts, to keep the governments from expressing their views freely. They have fully exposed themselves to the world public opinion in a striptease of double standards.

But furthermore, they have confirmed that their objective in this Commission is not the genuine promotion and protection of human rights but vested political interests.

Tangible is the fear of Western countries and some in Latin America to stand up with dignity to the fascist practices of the US Administration lest they receive reprimands and retaliations.

The hypocrisy of the champions and advocates of human rights against the countries of the South has been unveiled. Their cowardice will no longer be concealed.

We have learned that with the complicity of the European Union and several Latin American countries, the United States and its allies are poised to present a disguised no action motion after Cuba ends this statement. But this Commission must not lend itself to such scheme. Therefore, Cuba will not force a vote on this issue. It believes in the value of its denunciation and in the imperative need to put an end to the shameful human rights violations at the Guantánamo Naval Base.

Those who accused Cuba and other Third World countries yesterday are today’s accused. Their authority and prestige are already beyond salvation.

Our proposal will continue to live on in the conscience of those who are incapable of speaking the truth; it will continue being a pending subject for this Commission and will become a moral dilemma for the credibility of this body. It will chase after them like the shadow does the body.

For all those reasons, Cuba will not insist on submitting draft resolution L.88/Rev.2 to a vote at this session. Cuba reserves the right to go back on this issue at the forthcoming session and in any other forum that it deems appropriate.