Agence France Presse / Kate Millar
GENEVA, April 27 (AFP) - The United Nations human rights commission ends its annual discussions here Friday having condemned Russia over its military action in Chechnya, but China again slipped through the net.
China's ploy to see off any condemnation by the UN human rights commission sparked a wave of angry protest from international human rights groups while the United States put on a brave face.
The US-sponsored draft resolution condemning China's human rights record could not even be introduced after China garnered enough support for a "no action motion".
Active lobbying and potential riches from the opening up of China's markets, which prompted Latin American countries to abstain from voting, were among explanations for China's success, according to one European diplomat.
Despite attempts to reach a compromise, Russia, another member of the UN Security Council, did not escape a resolution by the 53-member body which called on the government to set up an independent inquiry into accusations of rights violations in Chechnya.
The resolution expressed grave concern over continued violence in Chechnya, and in particular reports "indicating disproportionate and indiscriminate use of Russian military force" including attacks against civilians.
Moscow condemned the resolution, which was presented by the European Union and supported by the United States and several eastern European states, as having been passed in the "best cold war tradition".
Its adoption followed a high-profile visit to Chechnya by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson who presented her findings early on during this year's session.
The former Irish president pulled back from initial demands of last year for an international commission of inquiry, calling instead after her trip for a national response by Russia.
"I firmly believe it requires a sustained, effective national response," she told the commission. "I have offered expert advice and support should the Russian authorities decide to establish such an inquiry."
Despite China's procedural coup -- used successfully every year over the last decade except 1995 -- demonstrators and human rights groups ensured China's record remained high on the agenda.
Members of the banned spiritual movement Falungong gathered several times in front of the UN's European headquarters to protest a crackdown on what China has called an evil sect.
And human rights groups claim the vigor with which China went about opposing the US-sponsored draft resolution against it highlighted how seriously Beijing takes the commission.
"The energy deployed by China to escape condemnation by the Commission of Human Rights is a measure of the interest Beijing has in this UN organ," Human Rights Watch Geneva representative Joanna Weschler said.
Twenty-two of 53 commission members supported the Chinese "no action" motion while 18 voted against, 12 abstained and Romania was not present for the vote.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright travelled to Geneva on March 23 to lobby for the resolution. It was the first appearance by a secretary of state before the UN rights body, and was an indication of the importance of the resolution for Washington.
"By sponsoring a resolution on China, we have helped draw the attention of the world and the Chinese authorities themselves to China's poor human rights record, and the plight of the Chinese people," Harold Hongju Koh, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, said in a statement after the vote.
"We hope this will help to improve human rights conditions in China," he said.:
