(10 Dec 1994) Eng/Nat
The 34 leaders attending the Summit of the Americas finally began getting down to business today. But as they arrived for the first formal discussions of the gathering, protestors expressed anger that human rights is not on the politicians' agenda.
Protestors from Amnesty International were out early to greet the Summit of the Americas leaders. The group feels that not enough attention is being paid to human rights issues at the Miami meetings.
Free trade and economic issues have been the focus of the weekend long summit. The protestors claim the meetings fail to address the major issue of human rights throughout the hemisphere.
SOUNDBITE:
"Well, it's obviously missing the point. It's assuming that free trade will actually bring forth a better life for everyone. And there's another myth that's being posited here, and that is that democracy by itself, elections by itself, by themselves, bring forth a better world for people. We've seen time and time again, regardless of the electoral system, regardless also of whatever nice words the leaders put forth to the public, unless there's a direct effort aimed at ending human rights violations, they will continue as they have in the Americas."
SUPER CAPTION:
Amnesty International Protestor
Meanwhile, the 34 leaders attending the summit began arriving at the Vizcaya Mansion, site of today's meetings. U-S President Bill Clinton was one of the first to appear. Clinton would like to see the Summit produce an agreement on a hemispheric free-trade zone, stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
Haitian President Aristide was also one of the early arrivals. While not a major player in the negotiations, a pact would go far in benefiting his young government, relying on U.S. aid to try and rebuild infrastructure.
While free trade would be the topic of today's meetings, there are other agenda that may be brought up before the closing of the Summit of the Americas tomorrow.
Mexican President Ernest would like to see the rest of his Latin American counterparts join him in condemning Proposition 187, the controversial law passed in California denying basic public services to illegal immigrants.
However, the main business of today will be a discussion of economic issues and trade.
It doesn't appear that many controversial issues will be addressed at the meetings, a move that has drawn criticism from various different directions. Interest groups would like to see discussions on human rights, the Cuban question and immigration policy. Without these issues being addressed, some observers say any agreement coming out to the Summit of the Americas would ring hollow.
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