by Matthew Hay Brown
While condemning “in the strongest terms” the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Amnesty International warned Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf against using the attack as a pretext for further repression – and urged the Bush administration to watch carefully.
“The killing of Benazir Bhutto must not be allowed to become a setback to civilian governance or indeed lead to a further crackdown on civil liberties,” said Catherine Baber, director of Amnesty’s Asia Pacific program.
The group has been highly critical of the Pakistani leader, and its American branch joined with other human rights groups this month at a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to press for reform.
While Musharaff heeded the U.S. call to lift the state of emergency he declared in November, Amnesty said, the organization remains “deeply concerned” that the U.S. government has not made an “unequivocal call” for the restoration of an independent judiciary and the lifting of restrictions on the media.
“Pakistan is at a dangerous crossroads,” said Alex Arriaga, Government Relations Director for Amnesty International USA.“If it cannot rely on an independent judiciary, some of the most dangerous aspects of martial law will become enshrined in its legal and political system, leaving the people’s human rights in the balance.
“The United States government must press its ally, which has used the ‘War on Terror’ to justify its actions, and put an end to this slippery slope,” Arriaga said. “Without these steps, the Bush administration will further acquiesce that fundamental rights can be denied, and those who oppose Musharraf are likely to face intimidation – or even death.”
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Comments
It's 7:25 PM EST, and not one posting has made it up to the Swamp since 3:00 PM or so, SEVEN (7) entries ago.
What is wrong with afternoon/early evening posting times?
Mark, Frank, please help. These entries will fall off the front page before one posting makes it.
We see these entries and think, hey, the ChiTrib wants responses, but then nothing.
Posted by: C.Morris | December 27, 2007 7:29 PM
To those wanting Musharaff scalp - be careful what you ask for.
At the moment there's no proof that Musharaff had anything to do with Bhutto's assassination.
Ironically enough, pushing to dump Musharaff is similar to the push to dump Saddam Hussein. It's called the law of unintended consequences.
Pakistan has nukes - easy does it.
Posted by: Doug Zook | December 27, 2007 7:29 PM
C Mo,
Maybe this is a consequence of Zell "shaking things up" at the Tribune. One of those cases where less is less. I heard The Trib recently received a huge shipment of brooms.
Posted by: dt | December 27, 2007 8:35 PM
Good thing they have nukes to protect themselves, eh 25%?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | December 27, 2007 8:37 PM
Without knowing crap about Pakistani election rules I'd like to suggest that so-inclined Pakastanis go ahead and vote for Bhutto.
Send a message.
Posted by: Doug Zook | December 27, 2007 10:03 PM
When we fail to look for the truth, we fail to see reality. Reality does not fail us.
Intentional ignorance of the truth is complicit approval of the lie.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | December 27, 2007 10:26 PM
President Musharraf...Don't do a crackdown.
The war on terror is just a bumper sticker...just ask presidential candidate John Breck Girl Edwards.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 28, 2007 2:39 AM
C.Morris,
Give em' a break, they're still partying...I'm sure that Jan. 2nd 2008 things will get back to normal...hope you and wifey had a Merry Christmas.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 28, 2007 3:36 AM
You're right as always Zooker.Our crazies have invested 10 billion of our tax dollars into their crazy.
But,the really BIG question of the day is this.
With our crazy on another vacation,what does Condi have to say about all this?
Posted by: Raving Loon | December 28, 2007 11:08 AM
Zook, well said. I don't trust Musharraf for a second, as I think he could do a lot more to go after AQ than he is doing, but at least there have been no nuclear incidents under him. He seems to understand that the only sane reason to have nukes is as a deterrent. If some militant group gained power in Pakistan, I doubt they would appreciate this point of view.
Posted by: Herbie H. | December 28, 2007 11:41 AM
Musharaf did it.
Posted by: Rehan Mehdi | December 29, 2007 11:53 AM