Speech #930117581

Present circumstances should afford Chile the opportunity not for recrimination but reconciliation. Granted that these are troubled times for Chile. when governmental fear and reaction often hold sway over reason and compassion. nevertheless the military junta still has a responsibility to insure respect for human rights within its borders. Humane treatment of prisoners. respect for the right to asylum. publication of lists of prisoners. and consideration of the rights of refugees not only meet the standards of international law. but are conducive to the enlightened selfinterest of the government in power. Due to my concern in this area. I cosponsored the following resolution introduced by Congressman FRASER: Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the observance of human rights in Chile. Whereas in the aftermath of the change of government in Chile there is widespread concern over the possible danger to human lives and human rights in that country. Whereas thousands of people are being held in custody including former cabinetlevel officials. members of both Houses of Congress. students and professors of universities and nonChilean nationals who are political refugees from their home countries. Whereas the Government of Chile has stated an intention to apply military justice to those being held in custody. Now. therefore be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring). That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should request the Government of Chile to undertake the following: (a) to ensure protection of human rights of all individuals. Chilean and foreign. as provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international legal instruments guaranteeing the granting of asylum. safe conduct and humane treatment of prisoners as provided in Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. the Declaration on Territorial Asylum. and the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. and (b) to publish as soon as possible the names of those being held in custody and the charges against them. The above resolution calls on President Nixon to ask that the military regime in Chile respect human rights and heed the provisions of various international conventions on the issue. By such action. the administration would not only underline its adherence to certain principles of international law. but go on record as opposed to any regime which justifies repression in the name of political stability. and brands any form of dissent as indistinguishable from treason.