LONDON -- Terrorism is a serious threat to our societies and way of life. We must give top priority to combating it, but if we ignore or undermine the protection of human rights in the process we shall endanger the principles of humanity for which we are purportedly fighting.
To gain Russian support over Iraq and Iran, the Americans and the British have downplayed Russian repression in Chechnya. Because they recognize the growing power of the Chinese economy, they generally refrain from criticizing Chinese suppression of independence movements in Central Asia and Tibet and too readily forget political prisoners.
In Iran, the focus is on the country's nuclear program rather than on the students and other dissidents who are persecuted by religious zealots. Member governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are reluctant to take tough measures against the military despots in Myanmar. British criticism of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is not backed up by international action.