SPECIAL ISSUE: Tibet at the UNCHR's 52nd Session in Geneva (18 March - 26 April, 1996)

The next day, Mrs. Madeleine Albright, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, again speaking as a Guest speaker said: "Unfortunately, this democratic trend, although widespread, is not universal. Too many governments continue to rely not on the consent of the governed for their authority, but on coercion. Their policies warrant this Commission's interest and repudiation. For the Commission was established to provide a voice for those denied by their own governments the right to speak. And no one has a greater claim to the protection of the Universal Declaration than the targets of repression--the political prisoners of Cuba or China, those doing forced labour in Burma, the victims of torture in Nigeria or Iraq, or the subject of religious persecution in Sudan or Iran."

Again as the Commission concluded its work on 20 March, Zhang Yishan of China in a "right of reply" said that Guest Speakers had been generously accommodated by the Commission and incorporated into the Commission's tight schedule. Such speakers should cherish this privilege and help the work of the Commission; but this speaker abused her status as a guest speaker and ignored the requests of most members for dialogue and cooperation. He added, this superpower had always acted this way, and on the slightest pretext resorted to sanctions against sovereign countries, claiming it was safeguarding freedom and human rights.

In reaction, Mrs. Geraldine Ferraro, Head of the US Delegation, speaking in a "right of reply" said that she was delighted to hear the delegates from Cuba and China had listened to the guest speaker, if not as closely as they might have. As all knew, human rights were universal and could not be denied on the basis of national sovereignty. The United States looked forward to a deeper and more thorough discussion of the human rights situation in China as the meeting progressed, she remarked.

Then Mr. Pang Sen of China, exercising a second "right of reply", said that his delegation was surprised that the United States called itself a law-abiding State--one that would always safeguard human rights. History did not support the stance. In his delegation's view, the United States did not respect the Commission or its procedures. Hegemonists would one day come to a bad end.