Daily Nebraskan
Page 5
Thursday, January 21, 1982
Letters. . .
Claim lacks evidence
Amnesty International conceives of it
self as an organization which combats
human rights abuses without regard to the
political orientation of countries in which
they occur. AI's commitment to impart
iality is, however, often challenged. William
Rusher, in a recent Daily Nebraskan essay
(Jan. 14) contends that AI de-emphasizes
human rights abuses in communist block
countries. He seems to have four reasons
for that conclusion.
First, Rusher contends that space in the
1981 AI Annual Report of the human
rights situation world-wide is alloted un
fairly. Second, he reminds us that the
Soviet population is not permitted to read
AI reports critical of the USSR. Third,
he asserts that AI has a biased view of the
world distribution of torture. Fourth, he
insists that AI press releases in the last
nine months are slanted.
The first, third and fourth reasons are
each disguised attempts to assume just
what it is that Rusher seeks to conclude. It
cannot be shown that AI's research is
biased by merely asserting that is is so.
What Rusher needs, and does not provide,
is a demonstration of instances where AI's
reports are inaccurate or complete. Accur
acy and completeness, as apposed to quan
tity of allegations, are the tests of impart
iality. Rusher's fourth reason suffers from an
additional difficulty. He invited us to sup
port a tally of nine months of press re
leases from an organization which has pur
sued research and investigation for over
twenty years provides a true account of
AI's objectivity.
His second reason is doubly curious.
AI is obviously not responsible for what
the Soviet people are permitted to read.
Next, if Rusher's conclusion were true,
why is the USSR so concerned to censor
AI reports and charges?
I conclude that Willian Rusher provides
no evidence for his claim that Amnesty
International is partial.
Jim Benders,
Chairman
Amnesty International USA Group
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