Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004
Source: New York City Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2004 Newsday, Inc.
Contact: http://cf.newsday.com/newsdayemail/email.cfm
Website: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/printedition/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3362
Author: Letta Taylor, Latin America Correspondent

U.S. LAW ASSAILED AS RISK TO TERROR FIGHT

Mexico City - Global efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking will 
be curtailed under a new U.S. law that suspends foreign aid to nations that 
won't back Washington's stance on an international court, legal and human 
rights groups said yesterday.

Under a provision in a sweeping spending law signed Wednesday by President 
George W. Bush, Washington will freeze aid to nations that don't sign pacts 
with Washington exempting U.S. nationals from prosecution before the 
International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

Between eight and 50 nations will be disqualified from receiving money 
under the U.S. government's Economic Support Fund, which helps U.S. allies 
promote democracy and combat terrorism, drug trafficking and internal 
conflicts.

Court supporters slammed the new measure as a bullying tactic that would 
curtail programs that help Washington's interests while alienating valuable 
allies. Human Rights Watch also called U.S. opposition to the court 
hypocritical in light of reported U.S. abuse of detainees in Iraq and 
Guantanamo Bay.

"This latest sanction shows that the president would rather allow drug 
trafficking and terrorism than support the prosecution of war crimes and 
atrocities," said Brian Thompson of Citizens for Global Solutions in 
Washington.

The International Criminal Court, which opened two years ago and boasts 100 
member nations, is the first permanent world tribunal to judge genocide, 
war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bush opposes the court on grounds 
that U.S. citizens could be subjected to politically motivated charges. 
Supporters including the European Union counter that the tribunal has 
numerous safeguards against frivolous prosecution.

Officials from Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, two countries targeted for aid 
freezes, said their governments would continue refusing to sign agreements 
shielding U.S. nationals from the court but declined to comment immediately 
on the cuts.

The measure would withhold $250 million for economic and social development 
in Jordan, but Bush can waive the freeze for that key U.S. ally.

Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela stand to lose $32.5 million 
for promoting democracy and free trade, and fighting drug trafficking and 
corruption. Caribbean nations could lose all or some of $9 million for 
fighting the flow of illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants - including 
potential terrorists - to the United States.

Legal experts fear Ireland could lose $12 million for a visa program and 
Northern Ireland peace initiatives.
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