-Pennsyhania Studies in Human Rights ert B. Lockwood, fr Series Bator pes eee ae. Decolonization and the Evolution of International Human Rights Roland Burke PENNcopyright © 2010 University ofPeanshania Pest, [Aliph etre cept fr be quotation used for purposes of rerew oF ‘halt caon, none a th Book may be reproduced nay form By any thea withut writen persion from the publishes Pubished University of Peanyhania Press Pilea, Pennant 10108-4122 Proud inthe United Stator of Ameria om acidic paper wan7554s21 Library of Congest Cataloging Publication Dat Burke, Roland, ‘Decolonization and the eeuton of ftrnational human sighs / Roland [pcm — (Pensa staies in uma ih) shiv a7. 08122 42105 (ak pape) Inches bibliographical references and index 1 Human rights 2 Decolonization. Tie, Joon 3000 sede son20002 Cortents Introduction; The Politics of Decolonization and the roltion ofthe International Human Rights Project Human Rights and the Birth ofthe Thied World: “The Banding Conference 2, "Transforming the End nto the Means: The Thed 5. Putting the Stamps Back On: Apartheid, Antcoloniaism, andthe Accdeneal Bit of @ Universal Right to Petition “els Very Fitting’ Celebrating Freedom inthe Sha’ Iran, the Fis World Conference on Human Rights, ‘Tehan 1968 5, “According o Their Own Norms of Cviization” ‘The Rise of Cultural Rlaviam and the Decline of Human Rights Conclusion Notes Bibtiography Index Acknowledgments 18 ® ne 5, 1 335 3Introduction The Politics of Decolonization and the Evolution of the International Human Rights Project ‘tho tach cote ae nwo [Bear Roser inks tt ts ‘Selb arsed gee geht is ue hana lok fare, Dre Maer ges rin. Vane 120 (On 10 December 1948, an overwhelming majority of states adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ina momentous night sex sion of the United Nations General Assembly twas the culmination ‘Of neatly three years of intensive debate, negation, and far-reaching pilosophical inquiry. The final text drew on more than ity constr ons, countless written submissions, and the veligious and moral tradi tons of every major belief system i existence, Among the deegations ‘hat delivered thelr assent were those from Afghanistan, Egypt, Taiwan, India, Pakistan Liberia, Lebanon, Thailand, nd the Philippines. Only the communist bloc, apartheid South Alien, and Saud Arabia with held their endorsement. Not without reason did the UN proclaim the eclaation “common standard of achievement fr all peoples and all tations For the fifty-eight member General Assembly it was an aus pieious beginning tos mission to promote human rights around the lobe: "This isthe story of what happened after the passage ofthe Univers Declaration, a chore fify-cight members were joined by another ft ghana then ainoe iy caghtagnin, becoming tray global General Jssemby, Berween 1990 and 197, the process of decolonization trans formed the UN and the shape of human right discourse. The Asian, UAtvican, and Arab states that coalesced ito the self-conscious “Third World” brought a powerful new set of voices to those of 1948. These “Third World diplomats made pivotal contributions to some of the mostsigitcanc evens inthe UN human igh project. Their arguments ia eh determined the nena of ight. The votes Fra on autor sre oF bua igi the areas Covenant Theta ed to india om aon term ng pets head by a UN tat once fled chem af aa ere cir very pretence wasanesential prerequisite 0207 sr A felting on Dba of afl peoples nd a nations a Fn had ae amouty ane nde Unverel Deckarain. ae road ante eienson to the Moy of the ine age foe human sighs Through ech f these landmarks a ye UN il arg for tne eral importance ie Alcan paripaion, The imps ofthese sats 8 Ar ee ofthe rights program was at east os important that Le ae democrat, he Soviet lo, and the ever COM ae ee aon While the effects of the Cold War and the re of set ot nce have een documented ban impressie ar) aaa sokieary nflucee of deealontzaon ha et 1 Be fy eaplored in man ris hoy Ter tne of he macen hic Work waking from he eae EN act, Le than to esate the TAB OL Fame ne hat decor of the Haman Rois Dison, wae aa tna the ne of aconBdent group of Arab and Asn reg eT achwad counties are in revo he ecard in his see ener 1880 Flenor Roose and Charles Mati, joe in Neeson a the Unter Declaration, observed he ste Fa a: Wel before she high point of desonizaon, the meg eee Worl icc had already begun orator the human igh Proje academic Ieratre, 2 number of sholars haw recmered eee advan Asian ipomatsin dese foundational ears Mary ae oo Sa Wala, aul Gordon Laren, a Kenneth Cri te dot athe work fey Third Word gure inthe UN haan ae atu inthe te 1940 and easy 19504" Most ofthese sc Tih ogra hc mma aferma of te Univeral Declaration, ‘Surreal apparet Thy i 2 an sepa range tha predates the pineal ra of Than Sr Sete fo det with ony deere prio of Third World aca rc yar an whic decolotzason virally remade he have pradoney eccied bie \Ox. ‘between the late 1950s and mic the eae ateton Soe ahd igh o those vil yar and forgpten ves ee ng rom naman right ioriogrphy Hs the an ete neenee of Sesonzation onthe UN hasan ePtislbusoieinadeelimaeRehe jet 3 gh roam and an the ds dedi ih ancl “atonement radial aed she nan igh agen. Thro ene chong! scape eet chow te euoes OF rd ‘a pursatons and ee Ara, As, and Afean approaches 0 International humaa rights changed overtime. Using ON transcript, {eines and the peal paper of Key Morel atone provides 1 dead nataie of decolonization effect on Uy Yeas of UN cman rights debate, nd» dedeated anal othe Third Works {ctl pation ie aman igs dptomacy. “eft chapter metas the lace of hana ight tthe oon ingimomentoftne ThirdWera ste 1959 Asaatian Conference ang Itexplores the retonsip beeen aon maton the india eight, andthe china with which he decoloned Sut embraced the concept of unneraity At ann, haan righ tere bots cena feature ofthe plc vocabulary sd he sour: |STerou debate fen comment hina calenge the legitimacy of the Unrest Dedaraton, vas oced nto a ebatrasing retreat by the smaller Aras Astan, and African sates presen, which demanded {he dedaransyecogoton by the conference Final Communique In'haper3 right and nations ae dactmed in relation othe campaign for aright toselfdetermination The selfdeterminaton de- it ee gesing nna nin tnt nd he tenon beeen the trugge orsoerigty and he suger igh The nphostEdcterminaon comps Dan wh wo sandy ne that cle sovereignty for som sae, and one that Gaede Incas onda edo Fors decade, thee two anagornic fac Toofanielonialom coord, ual gradually one began fake pre {lene ve ih the, consing erly 0 the 1960s ‘Chaps 3 ane ass he sting plc shi of the 1605, hich lowed Aitcan decolonization and the prlieaton of author {inn opines stron both Asean Alin The impacto he changes tm one a the mot inprtanc UN debates that onthe Fightopetion, Sinofocurof Chapter Begining the le 140, Arab Asian delegates were among the mon pationatesdwocates of right fo tinwothunan sighs dese petion the UN Therap fed hnruted'y both the Sve oc and the Western ates meal, the jel he i pon mth ch ete conn he [iced wnen the mejor of Third World sates were ruled by author ian segues that aoa guarded their soreeigay | cps tment dln ace {a April 1068, Two decades after the adoption ofthe Universal Declara tion the pole eghts once eobraced by aniolnialnanals at» Banduog were sbject to uaprecedented attack Development mode dan rk iberaionsragle were cevated at dhe {ene itn human right platform, A confident Afo-Aian MeO sng ceding, and sidetined the co superpowers Os era gone othe Third Woe anal on adios) vey oct ee democracies reacted defense and abandoned “ite often supose defined hc polis ms er ces the provenance of cra relat AMY OT me Mn ac of thie ieology inthe tore of Tht dca macy im ee 1970s. During the late IOs and throws Worl in ere-Asian delegates were the most vocal champions oe ey They made arent demands for ineial PGA sake) plank inthe atack om colonia, while he Coons) of pended wh elerated arguments about in owen ao creme of tert ovracas teririe: Yet in the late 19605 Oe tural treo beg precious reversal coieldent i) (6 staf auirorariangovernmentsn saan Ata The 7 7 [spread of auc of universality ima profoundly undemorai se a he brs weve of maionalit Tears, these gOverMED a rae rig asa Western imposition, and emphasized 0 aon erat chin Third World counties, The most xtreme oer ieee the very post of wera! ura fh | BRRDE cy ummpcachatyanicotonial i he 1808 wat ened ‘deeply spect by the 1980s.

‘Gares Malt tne Lebanese piloopher who had pled cereal ral in the ces ofthe Unreal Desration ai lamented te a ‘ence of Wena tad Tnfune 19, the ees os repo {Shiny alegton of human sighs bose, Malik qusoned wy Brit Sina the US. had fled take 4b ad Mal was wong ‘Thy hath face the opposing wih the Soviet Uni By May 150s public rca wer onder arr ner eve Shai wih Peano Roose, he wed the Wests fake 3 more pose Greapprowh othe UN prog He pent repued Rove rons tim canton, “ogo tony and w be carta Deca ofthe pec teed of te “peat powers” Unnpree by cation, he pres for ester eneship. Nove goto move te alice ue forts lea the re ofthe ld more than you ave ben ong sofa Store ominouy hc highlighted the consequences of conte ammo lence one prt ofthe grest Wencrn dncraci. If ou don lead theetot he world tho are ors whe wld > ‘uring he pal decade ofthe 19505 when he wo man is conan were bong aie ipo from th mow power We indemocrcy vin sence wil the debe proceeded round hem | Sonido the vecenors othe 1948 Unie Delration th cov ants doninaed te human rigtsagend for ote than iteencar Weft lOasinini a tehimn Pon # ‘following the campaign of US, Senator Join Bricker, who sought an amendment io restit the president treaty making powers, Secretary of ‘State John Foster Dulles withdrew American support from thecorenants jn 1988, Dulles chen instructed the State Department not to paripate in conenant debates. The consequences were predictably corrosive for “American influence in the human right program. Ins report fom the 1957 General Assembly, our years after Dulles decision vas pat {nwo effect, the US. delegation complained that ther instructions de rmaned a “postion (that is defensive or pase” for “almost ewe thinds ofthe time of the Committee”® Under orders not to partite, the US. representation mournfully "sie in allence for approximately half the Commitee sesion and raises its hand only to abstain when votes retaken" 'As they witnessed thee growing irelevance, these US. dilomats pleaded fora change in insrctions relating 10 the covenants which Were alienating friends and compromising any future US. Inf wence Every time the US. refused to offer an opinion stats among the ‘other delegates was diminished. Friendly regimes, lke thos from Pakistan, Iran, the Philippines, Liberia, and Canad, time ane again fruilssy sought out the opinions and leadership ofthe United Stats. Frustrated by ination, these states complained their American cot terparisthatoursilence might be misimerpreted ae lack ofiterest™ Given the sation, that was an altogether explicable *misnerpretae tion” fr them to mae, ‘Such pious non-intervenion was nota policy that could be reversed atthe State Departments convenience—when the US, chose te speak ‘gain, it was questionable whether anyone would be interested in hear ing what ith to say. One day, the delegation wrote there would be thuman rights questons that simply required U.S participation, Frail: ing on these “vital points the report advised, “willbe difcuk i we have remained silent during ll the rex ofthe debate"® When the con ‘nants were finally Bnished, the damage would persist The delegation ‘warmed that"We wll have lot the momentum of our leadership. “Little Domagogues” Versus Fourmill Heiresses: The Nature of Third ‘World Diplomacy ‘The relative priorities accorded to the human rights programm were re fected in the quality of persone! rent bythe West and the Thi! Nord, ‘Apart from towering igure Uke René Casin and Eleanor Rooser, or almost two decades between 1950 and 1990 the general performance of ‘Western diplomats was typialy weaker than that oftheir non Mestera ‘counterparts, Humphrey complained in 1954 tha governments ha “gotten ino the habit of employing the Third Committe ‘as a berth for politically important people who they want to honor with the experience ‘faving sit in a UN, Commitee This practice wems to have been tore common among the Wester democraces—Which sent misteses {and eectio fundraisers to represen them inthe Born rights program, Teas not the most impressive demonstrauon of nacional wil ‘Mary Lord, Ekenhiowers representative othe Commisoa on Human Rights, embodied the perils af rewarding olical ales with a UN ap- ointment Heres tothe Pilkbury flour fortune, Lord had been heavily Invohed in Esenbower electoral fundraising” She ha very ite know fee of aman right, and sills diplomatic experince. Although Lord [gral grew into a teasonably capable representative, her eat years ‘were marked by gales. Before she took up the pos, she mistakenly an ‘ounce th the U.S had nocsgned the Univeral Declaration beemise itwas too edmmonistic, Eyen US allie were appalled at her proposals to the 188 Comuniasion on Haman Rights, though admittedly she had ben given remarkably bad insrictions” bythe time she had become proficient in the work ofthe commission, she was rapidly approaching Feplacement bythe ppeinte of anew administration "Adecade alter Lor's departure, Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moyn: than castigated the continuing weakness of US, diplomats involved a the UN prograt, and the mindset of the State Department that had "ppointed them. His opinion was encapsulated in an infamous August 1972 cable o Secretary of State Kissinger. (One plumpminded American oficial ter anoher ha ent rein ‘iy wom to prolonged dander on American democracy a soa a ‘Sete of ttltariandrtsorhip. You Know wy? ecsuve we ent tape en I ome women to hone conference And why di we do tha? Becrse the Irdnone Ga Wario onthe ith Floor dik uc thing done mater™ Moynihan, who viewed human rightsas the cental struggle of the Coli War intodaced a vastly more assertive sve of diplomacy into the Ge feral Assen, and repudiated the traditional policy of neglect and de- featam. Yet his appearance came after nearly twenty year of rately ineffecuve US. human right diplomacy in the UN, and it was dif ‘il indeed to prove thatthe State Department was now serious about human rights, particularly when much of twas no. ‘When compared to thei Third World counterparts, both Western and Soviet diplomats were often a 2 marked dsadvantage by the very texitence oftheir detailed instrctions. Monitored and assed by large foreign service bureaucracies, delegates from the West had only mod text acape for iniativ, and were accordingly les effective geting things done inthe committee and the Commission on Human Rights ‘eFoistouein an tonne 1 the veteran New Zealand delegate, observed that in "the great debates people who had to rely on speeches wten for thea, oF on detailed instruetions from ther governments, were like the ‘cronbowmen at Crec}absolutely outmaneuvered bythe nore mobile 15° A similar analysis of Western failure was noted by Hium- phrey in a 1954 diary enuy “In most cases these people can do litle ‘more than read outa statement prepared by someone ese" Because of {hislack of autonomy, a half dozen capable people are abieby their ma ‘enerng to contro the committe in their own interest" More often ‘han aot these “capable people” were from the Arab and Asan group, Inching the one Humphrey identified as most capable fal Jamil Baroody, who represented Saud Arabia" ‘Baroody exemplified the impact that a confident, autonomous, and agile delegate could have on the course of huntan rights debate. nad {on to Being among the most intellectual and energetic members of the UN, Baroody was granted virtually unprecedented levay by King Fai One of Baroody’ loudest erties, U.S. Ambassador Wiliam F Bucdleycserved tha this maneuverability was a central reason for his effectiveness. Unlike his peers, Baroody was not afraid of anybody” oF fperiting "under any verain.™ This temmed from the cust Fas hha in Baroody Buckley argued that it was “not conceivable that King Fal would reproach him on account of anything he sa.” Wahout "igi instructions, Baroody was vas more influential and often more printed. By contrast, autonomy and flexibility wee actively punished when praciced by Western delegates In one prominent example, Mary Lords Sicessor, Marieta Tree, almost lost her job after adding asingle word tor draft declaration on racial discrimination in 1964." Tree was one of Ambassador Adlai Stevenson's mistresses, and had been an imporeant ‘spporter of hi presidential campaign" This dot sve her from the vath ofthe State Department, however, which on leaning of her initiative promptly advised her that a repeat occurence would ee her ‘recalled and sacked the next morning. Tree's future elfors appear to have been unevenly consonant with State Department wishes Par slosialy, the greater Us level of government instruction, the les able 2 delegate was of actually getting something done inthe fecuiar and ‘dynamic atmosphere ofthe Third Commies” “The “Title demagoguer” derided by Humphrey embody the contra: ditery and mulfaceted natute of Thied World human sights diplo ‘macy Figures like Bedia Afnan, Charles Malik, Carlos Romulo, and _Jam Baroody resist eaty generalization. lagi delegate Aftan insured ‘the inclusion of equal rights for women in the human righs covenants And denounced cultural relativism, but he fought relentlessly againttthe proposed High Commissioner for Human Rights. Malik was arg [Sy more committed to ant-eommunigm than was Dulles, but he voted. “hh dhe Soviet Union to ensure that colonies received equal rights. Ro Thule was bitter anticlonil, ot he castigated the lypocrisy of Soviet, colonialism. and thus alienated a potent ally io the fight against, European colovialias. Baroody had been among the eight delegates trio abstained onthe Universal Decration, yt in conjunction with Humphrey he developed a serious proposal fr staying individual com plain from the victims of human rights siolaions. This book docw- fens the impact ofthese complex Bgures, and countess others, who Came wo shape the human rights project just as muchas che celebrated Western heroes of human rights, his the story of those who challenged Rowscrelt and Cassin, and rapidly drove John Humphrey to despa "These figures ad those who joined them i the following decades, made he debate on human rights a global one, for good andl. Atcrw ‘al points, they Upped the balances favor of universality and cleared ‘feay the objections of a defensive imperialism. In subsequent years, ‘Avan and African diplomats repudiated that univers vision wit even treater fore. Tae evolution of UN human rights acuity registers, with {reat precision, a parallel evolution that occurred in the Third World sel he hurian rights agenda advanced in the era of the Bandung (Conference mareharply dstine fem hat which emerged late. Decolo dination inigated a global human rights debate bu the fault ines of thar debate often cu cross changing aniolonial movement. ‘Recognition ofthis complenity is crucial for understanding the state ofthe modern UN rights sytem. The UN Human Rights Counc ofthe ary ewentyfi century rehearses many ofthe same arguments that ‘rere popularized in the 197, when confident dictatorships dominated the General Awembly and the “NocthSouth” divide hardened ito a felon bridged antagonisen on human rights questions. This study Chars the chaaging character of that seemingly crystalline “South” from the moment of its oficial birth in 1958, and the myriad way in which ittransfemed the fret thirty years of UN human rights promo ion. Historical exploration problematzes the easy oversimplifiations that are so often made about the role of the Asian, African, and Arab Mater Devolorzation’s impact on the human rights enterprise can- hot be captured in 2 sngle historical moment, of defined solely by the ims ofits max prolife ideologues. The Third Word of 1950s spoke ‘vith just ae much legitimacy as that of che 1970s, and what itsaid then vas much les amenable tothe defenders of authoritarianism, Chapter 1 Human Rights and the Birth of the Third World: The Bandung Conference ‘ram meting noc pn Te nl nm te carly and isi. ees Ce Re Pipe de 86 ‘dertn ti tie of i Contes enotonshin, “riyundmnal oor my per econ ea ‘gon Teche och won Uno ‘test oar Balad ares econ ans [te tt eaten nd none eone sats Sears neg i Tauro ste Spree lg ates 08 op ‘owl feonsttontonerwee fon 5 ‘The 1955 Asan-Afican Confrence in Bandung, Indonesia was land snark inthe emergence ofthe non-aligned movement and th bith of {he Third World Clebrated a turng pit innternatnal is, ‘spartpantsincadd the si independent ates o Ati, og with ‘italy alo Asia The mecing at Bath, which was so ral othe later development tides of nonalignment and Atro-As lida, ao sered ars ky point of origin fr the huran rights agenda that ‘would be pursed bythe decolnized sates n the General Asem Listas imporeanty te proceedings reese the previlingattade toward human rights amongst the leaders of the natcent Third Word Tht speeches st Bandung marked owt many ofthe baie contours hata dee ay UN han igh be sch ha on ‘While the iplcion ofthe AsanAfrican Conference or interna ional relations have Deen widely acknowledged, ile scolaship has been dewted wo conference signfance for human right, sen theMh considerable prominence of human ight a the conference, is vital Seecnc ommos acount a srprising MaryAnn Glendon, er ARSE tory ofthe founding ears of the UN human rights regime, Rasodeed bal generally nv ment Gendon argued hat Ef Gimenson. The conference ‘signaled touble ahead” despite the “tran of eal comand the Final Communiqué nial “pposiion othe recognttoa of the Universal Declaration by the Chic sree trcaged fare sruggcs oer the unesalty of human rights? Unig se Bandung vas schieed in Glendon view “through shared Beton of the dominance of 4 Kew rich and powerful counries™ ‘Tisants Western mood? at Bandung ver quik! found expresion in Tanatetiation ofthe Deciaraton as an fntrument of neocons stan atadhs omits unvesaly in the name of eultral nego, se dctrinaon of peoples, or national sovereign Paul Cordon Lauren another leading historian on the cary fun dations of te human eghs movement, has presented» move posite {merpretaon, but ha soplied the dys ofthe conference de- tute! Aconding toh account, the conference provided “unparalled iraon and selfconfidence for Ans and AMrcans” an ote fot "eacup frasttions? and "reese from the psychological eas of rena infringe” es sigicance was fr Laren, primarily in ‘recon the shape ofthe intermatonal sem and the mindset of o- {onal peoples In particular, be lauds the reogaton ofthe Univers Declaration bythe delegates" However he i too sanguine om the role payed by Chinese Prener Zhow ala and neglects to mention the d Hat between communist China and the smaller states om the question {human rights Closer esamination of the conference record reveals that Zhou ma certainly noe song the gallery of Third World Heroes Lire has pease for “advancing the eau Of nternatonal human gh at Bandung? {ony he cous ofboth Glendon an Laue, hi caper argues thu the legacy ofthe Bandung Conference contained a dine ire mixture of bth poke and nega possi forthe colon oF the nerational aman rights project tthe UN. Kw show that Sie the human ight objectives of stcolnialism and antracin,s0 TIGER purwed bythe Afvosan states sn the 1960" and 970, Src indeedCoublshed as priority concerns at Bandung they coe Thea wats more general concern fr cv and politi righ, one chat ‘Sic to uations all aver the word. Anteolonalin was 0 Sncived of as a struggle for human rights, the two concep proceed {Syropehern the campaign or freedom and independence. The com {eeenee marked a high plot in support for the wnersaliy of human rights among the Third World states. On the Bandung agenda, support sor rights was Balanced, albeit precariously, with the intense desire for rational iberaton. Tha fragile arrangement would lar collapse, but ithad yetto do sowhen the conference opened in Apri 1955. jandung as History: Assembling the Third Word, April 1955 “The Bandung Conference was held at moment when the Cold War had ‘become an extablahed feature in the world system, Collective defense arrangements cottinved to proliferate throughout the work, osiying poner alignments and formalising the polarization between East and {West Thit geogrephical extension of the Cold War was symbolized by ‘the Maghdad Pat (later CENTO), which was agreed onlymonths before ‘the conference opened, Hostiltes appeared possible in North Asia the ‘Korean War had ended in a precarious armistice, and negotiations fora ‘permanent settlement had filed in Geneva in 1954 There was exalt Ing tension over Formosa, which became a major dscusion point for the delegates at Bandung, Most of Asia was now independent, but the _decoloniation process had ye to transform the Avian colonies, with ‘only Ghana and Sudan close to achieving full sovereign. Armed cam paigns for independence continued in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Kena. The ANC was resurgent in South Africa, pushed by the more activist leadership of the Youth League [Atthe United Nations, the human rights project had entered a tran ‘tonal phase, wth the West ceding its early dominance States chat had been independen:for less than a decade, ike the Philippines and India _were beginning te play 1 major role inthe abrence of U.S leadership. During the 1935 sion of the Commission on Human Rights at the LUN; the few Thirk World delegates present were some of the most ac- tive and committe. Jobn Humphrey, hist director ofthe UN Human Rights Division, would later comment that “the delegations with the _srongest posi convictions were now wichout any doubt those which represented the Third World” and observed “the growing importance “of estes like the self determination of peoples and racal dissimina- ton” in the Conansson." These topice would only gin momentum in the wake ofthe conference, becoming nating less an the anual rainaays ofthe UN agenda ‘Bandung assent the most influential antiolonial politicians of te era One ofthe principal organiers,Javanarlal Sehr, the Rest. prime minister offodia, had been imprisoned seven times by she British In his aptation for independence. Nera was an unyieding defender cof human rights and democratic society, having endored the Sankey Declaration of Human Rights of 1940. He had framed much of his opM6 ome potion to British rule in democratic terms. Nehru would become the ‘ading exponent of non-lignment a apolitical philosophy, an idea that developed int a formal coalition of tates in 1961. ‘Covfuniier of the nor aligned movement Gamal Abdel Nasser was avother prominent nationalist figure at Bandung. Nasser established ‘te modera, independent Egyptian republic leading the Pree Officers movement that deposed King Farouk uly 1952 A stsong opponent of ‘honiaim, Naser had succesfully negotiated an agreement withthe Trih in October 1954 that removed Brush troops from Egypt, ending iscventy two year presence. Ever confident, charsmati, and aggressive, Nasser advocated pan-Arab uniy as the solution o both conventional imperialist domination aod the plight of the Palestinian people." An onic Figure for iuich of the Arab word, he would become the most, Ghirable eager ofthe region, his appeal surviving che disastrous Six Day Nar of 196" and years f domes authoritarianism “Wile markedly different rom these nationalist heroes, Chinese Pre- rnier Zhou Enlai was nonetheless one of the most outspoken crtes of Clonillam, having witnessed dhe effects of iperial power both in his Tomeland and during his travels in colonial Asa. He elevated antiol- Halism and Affo-Asian friendship to major objcives of Chinas foreign policy and in December 1963 would embark ona tour of thirteen Asian Fhe Alvan countries attempting orally support for a second Asian {ican Conference. Like Nehrw and Naser, Zhou stood out as an in essive and threatening new vice from region that had finally begun {Dfind selfexpression. Despite stracting a diverse range of tates, including. many with “conflicting Weological postions few at Bandung were in doubt of the meeting's historic characte, Communist and non-aligned leaders Vere enthusiastic about the prospect of 2 new and independent bloc ‘eshaping the international stem. Communist hou nominated tan (Sent of important historic significance," one that had “inspired all Sppresed peoples and nations" Chief exponent of non alignment Melina, claimed that Bandung marked “the political emergence in ‘orld aflais of over half the word's popalation ...a great movement inhuman history" Nelr’s neutralise counterpart, Indonesian Pres dent Ahmed Sukarno, announced that twas "a new departure in the Natory ofthe worl with the African and Aslan leaders meeting for the first time asthe representatives of Tre, sovereign and indepen: peaeeaan Leaders fom the pro-Western consngentof states were similary con- sinced af the conference’ portance. Philippine delegate Carlos Peis Romulo, already stand ot figure in bodh the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly, described his delegation and Nehruas bing on “opposite sides ofthe fence He neverheles celebrated the fplering im Bandung athe coming of age of Asiaand Africa” and a omentof “historical exuberance" Ceylonese Prim: Minister Sirfohn ‘Rotrawala, who launched a seathing stack on ‘communist colonial’ atthe conference, nominated i ata “erleal juncuure not on ‘he history ofthe Asian Atian region but in he hinory of mankind ‘Charles Malik, par ofthe Lebanese delegation and amajor contributor “othe Univeral Declaration of Human Rights, was another ferce oppo ‘nent of both communist rtalitarianism and the neuralist doctrine Yet Ihe vasequally effusive on the significance ofthe conference, noting that ‘e"the word historic is fen sed aboutallsortsof things. the ‘asc of the Bandung Conference, iis fully jusiied™ “The enthsianm across Asa and ica was matched with an equiva ental in Western polieal circles, which anticipated the birth of antWextern bloc" US. Secretary of State John Focter Dulles warned thas the conference would diminish Western infiuence im the former ‘lenis nd encourage "communist engulfaent” of he emerging pose ‘colenial world. This woul, he feared, lead to the creation of “2 very Sold block of anti Western votes nthe United Nations as che new sates ‘ere progressively admitted tothe international bod:® Dulles argued that ifthe Bandung Conference could be stopped “vithou strong-arm methods" the “US would welcome such (an} outcone,” though open \Gppostion was not advisable because such a course “would probably tong a bad reaction” from the countries involved.” Evropean colomial ppones such as the Netherlands, Briain, and France were conceried ‘boat the eoluton of s communisthacked “antvhite” coalition of ‘AlfrAsian states unied by racial solidarity and antisonialis.® Much ‘ofthis anxious speculaton would later seem prescient, though the im- mediate outcomes of the conference bore only vague resemblance to the prophecies of Dulles au his European counterparts Preoccupied “wit near tectonic realignments in international rdatons, few ofthe “Werem policy makers devoted much space to pondering the question Lob vat Bandung would mean for human rights. For the partlpans themselves, though, human rights were not pushed aide bythe exuber anes of tational eration, Hunan Rights at Bandung: From Absolute Monarchies to Arab Natonalisms yer before the conference began, human rights were highlighted 3s 2 central sue for discussion in an appeal fom Mahmoud Abou Fath, fo Zgyptian senator who was living in exile after bis newspaper had been ippresed by Nasser In his leter to the Bandang delegates, Fathexhorted the conference not to ignore human right in the clamor 9 ‘condemn colonialism: EA ty eno a ee cyan an gi ees es ale o cor enceacinumnrie cra Fada er a i oP reboot nei stew anol ait he ows people 1 extent to which the conference tal ted up 10 Fath's anbitios ‘Tisdand open to debate: Few of the sates represented at Bandung Baer ftly cai wo have impeccable human rights records, How ate ian rg mee cent the pital debate at Bandung, and ‘nel ch of he lexicon forthe area frcrances and a Pettona by te abcnbed naoal eaders. lant anccolonais aerate wth pofasing slr support fora set of univers atin human eights was a ditintive feature ofthe optic a eee eye he whe psc ahs amr my ved in speeches to te conference, with oly the "Sidi oarmore immediate preoccupations of racism ad onlin cares estes prominent. The president ofthe Conference, Iadone Sin tutte Miniter Al Sstroamidjp mente his opening speech TL the wort was sa lng way of” om oth racial equality and et Fr human righ" Of the owentyfive delegates who gave a Urebesin te opening sein on 1B Api 1955, no fever than eleven Gree tama right The speeches came fom an extraordinarily {Ente cllection ef tates snd encom the fll spectrum of po SBE ems in atendance The peers ranged from His Royal High- Me rags Minister Sarr Mohammed Naim of Afghanstan an “tit mena. to Prine Miniter Zhou Enlai of comment China, enue sock cologealy doparateregimesas Egypt tan Japan, ran, Lebanon, Than, Turkey, South Vitam, and Yemen. Huma sigh nere again a majo feature ofthe closing session when fout delegations nominated thir recognition as one of the achiewe fers the conference Aan sepsemtate Sadar pated he Fe pate snd ated as one. forthe achievement of common see Nhe protection of human rights"? Naser of Egypt endorsed SESS cranchdns succes? notes ease ofthe “deep concern and fall support which al the Asiatic snd African countries have shown with egard to questions of human rights" Hs views were echoed by Prime Minister Mohammed AN head ofthe Pakistan delegation, who extolled Tnuman sights as one ofthe core beliefs that defined the AiayAican tte toward world affairs, li pronounced that among othe things. “the peoples of Aslaand Afia.. stand fr the fundamental principles of human rights and self-determination,”” Hloquent endorsement for universal rang out alongside the bun “dant rhetoric on AffoAsan ditinetvenes. Speakers embraced both the Universal Declaration and the Draft Covenants on Human Rights, ‘weaving universaliy with national and curl particularity Prince Wan ‘of Thailand, for instance, asserted a common basi for rghts. Western tnd Easter religions, he argved, “all tach the same Ieton—the dig: rity and worth of man, faith ia fundamestal human igh, and respect. for fundamental freedom forall without distinction 38 to creed, color ‘or race™ Given the biter debates of the 19908 on cultural specifiy land “Asian Values” the language ofthe Fnal Communiqué ofthe con erence, which dedaved “full spport fr the “fundamental principles ‘of Homan Rights is sunning The Banding states, @ mumber of which ‘would goon to ead the “Asian Values" crude, recognized the Universal Declaration ax common standard of achievement forall peoples and all ratlone jus asthe Ceneral Asterbly had done seven years previously." Endorsement of the Univers Deciaration aa valid normative wtandard forall was perhaps the most promising development for human right at Ban-ng At least in principle, the delegites agreed that human right ‘were unter. This was not the case two decades ater, Philippine representative Romulo, whe had been heavily invoked in the drain ofthe Univeral Declaration, described the Bandung Coa- ference asamajor victory for human righ and the democratic stem, ‘representing a serious commitment to these concepts on the part af the decolonized regimes. In his 1956 assessment, Romulo exalted the tshumph of Bandung for democracy and india igs. Democracy had its day in court at Bandung and emerged with Aying colors, [eur ape by mont f the delegates bees the people they fepesented ad east tha fot with feedom Tey dd ot take tat poston because they seeps pre In at yal on he eae orkerinor tn athe ato ST lpn apes oe “These “ideal of freedom” had been “enshrined in the Magna Carta of England, the Declaration ofthe Rights of Man by France, the Decagp-pte ee tae eet wn cmt tr reece ears wea ns nO at de oie Fc en ee feeactagascgaaced usec cal pt Se ade tne et as ig er eck i es ae Seer oes ete edd ngs ieee pains eee ‘The Huinan Rights Dehato in the Political Committee: Chinese Obstructionism, ThirdWorld Enthusiasm “The wrumph of universality at Bandung was far rom pre-ordained. As ‘Charles Mat explained in 1955, human sights were a major point of ‘Contention, dividing communist China from many of the other Asian ind African states especially those sympathetic tothe West ‘one of be bv suc on whch we wre sary died was te ques ons oa gs Vache ate uname Hn Rigi or ao mat these rar forthe moxt part social and econo aM See sere esate ran hs ht soul 2 be ae i wal and by he dee tation ae the persona pl eae cede eedom of hough to eedon oC expresion, eile pt chcon Soon har too the cone human ane erpided.. Libera To the Comes, the freien of Cmte meant lon et Fe tn Arc fom foi Western rue Bu tose fOr shal benamiteio othe raaon of fede, esd at much eee Te an era om gh Toas recto mean recto of aise that, endo lp feed oie, 0 ue ot aa een nr tobe hee human big, Andes repels Jeu nts lnc ony ager some he eo For vome of the deletes, the strugte against colonialism was an a pect the struggle for human righ. China asserted that aniclonial- Pe eetbicy Gancemea with the elimination uf feign domination tude attainment o sovereignty, These conflicting notions offteedom weld erupt inte animonious debate when the conference atemptcd To define colonialism in ts Final Communiqué ‘The conference's Polcal Commitee, and later its special eight member drafting sub-committee, spent most of Wednesday, 20 Apri, the fiw day allotedto working on the communiqué, discussing human right" Ineo long meetings, the delegations debated the inclusion of Ihuman rights theofficial Asian Afrcan platform. Eaay inthe Rest ‘meeting, Malik put forward a proposal forthe conference to recognize the 1948 Univeral Declaration. His initave won backing fom Gey ‘on, Ian, Iraq, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey. and South Vietnam, Teas opposed by China, India, Indonesia, and North Vetta, with Zou Enlai the opposition leader." While all agreed in principe that the conference should endorse human sights in some form, thespecBcs ‘of the question were bitterly contested, with Zhou reluctant to offer any ‘ffrmation of the Uaversal Declaration, as the Chinese regims had not ‘conuibuted tits drafting The Indian and Indonesian objectons were ‘more a show ofsuppot for Zhou than any substantive rejection ofthe 1048 tet na had played am integral role in its preparation i the UN ‘Commission on Human Right, through the work of Uni representa uve, Hansa Mehra. The rights section ofthe 1960 Indonesian constiti- ‘ion was drawn from the Universal Declaration ‘Recognition ofthe Univeral Declaration was the principal wurce of ‘confice rather than a more fundamental cetique of individual ght Djslal Abdo, acting head of the Iranian delegtion, reported Chinas efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 1948 decision. Human right, he observed, “seemed simple enough to discuss” but there was some controversy over what those rights actualy were, tha a whether human "ight shouldbe lived agin by the Gonference” in preference tan ‘endorsement ofthe Univeral Declaration.” An nota Betsh ob Serer atthe conference, Roderick W. Parkes, Counselor to tke British "Eman Jakarta, ered that there watat the outset... pood deal ‘of rather woolly dicusion about a definiion of Human Rights” but ‘thatthe delegates “eventually fll bak on the United Nations Chas ‘and Declaration" ‘et Zhou's resistance meant that recognition ofthe Universal Dectx ration was fat from a fovegone conclusion. Hs basic anguthent on the ‘eed for representation had obvious application to many ofthe Ban- ‘ing states which tad been smiary absent from the drafting proces ‘Malik ater recouneed the incident in detail ata meeting with Australian dliplomats, He obmered that "the problem of human right” absorbed “practically the whale of Wednesday" As one of the architects of the Declaration, Malik ability explain the text ad to persade the ot ers was critical. On the most elementary level, was Malik whe brought long a printed Universal Declaration to the meeting for cielation ‘among the partclpents. Much more vital was the knowledge he held. Along with Romuld,22 cape ie Malik brought countless hours of experience from the Commision serena Righs to Bandung, Well aware of his role ahe UN po cence delegates ately sought out Maik explanations and Shing ce oeteocament ne Bandages he reported ar eed aqui and agin by members ofthe conference (0 tll Uranaout tae Dera” and wry noted hae he kad “had somes iy tego the Based product ook us three year to worl saint ant warned his Bandung compatris, who Bd ony days to Mt fcr much deliberation and pressure from thesmallerstates, Zhou te eee ttater phrasing of wxnowledgment The conference would ea Gee of the Univeral Deciaraton Romulo atribcd Zhou con TRE ie Iuronp spontaneous suport inthe conference” forthe seemed ts pspes Far rom a compromise sclion, Rowulo postal he Final Communiqués document tat ull supported the Gana Dectaracon of Human Right” an inerpretaion that est see inclusion ofthe phrase“ common standard of achievement.” Shi dicey reproduces the unter tanguage approned by the URMAdion tloughe the agreed esl “a very simple one expres TEN Ae Sontercners supporto the United Nains Decaration of Fun sees Haman Riga bythe acount of these Bgures «majority Ser inept Bevtng were prepared © defend the at of he ianocl Dectratin against the premier of the mow populous tein the word. “dag Zhou had culated reputation aa pragmatic mde, ie Eons ndicated hac be ws no supporter of human righ Neeithcles he was careful o frame his oppostion I manner that Weer Rlggers rejection ofthe princes comainedin the Unerat Dears instead focusing on Bs regime exckson rom the body aecreaeate nn his decrson of the human cigs dete, Ro pesSeportd that Zhou caged objection io ay conference wate. J paeiesed on a United Nations precept principle, or posidon Tae ed hat his countrys excosion rom the UN Fa denied the Regi to para in the formulation” ofall ofthe organice elcid declaration Maik’ pereption wa sia, and te understond the Chine obrctonism at an ep We Cr? ue mprem upon us he fact that thy mee nt presen athe ‘nea Raion, that therefore they could not Be response forthe decisions of the United Nations “Chines noi tothe Unter Declaration made 9 reference fo ancnitmance ef the exe and watistead focused on te mich broader ese hc nee for epresentaton. Parks, the unofical Brish ob- eter remand that Zou made "a good propagnids pointy asking Wesson 2 for an adjournment to study this document, ised by an organization ‘fhe war not x member Australian Kelth Shana, also acting Shan unofficial observer, found the Chinese opposition essentially 2 feneri protert guint thei excision from the UN. Shana commented fhm while "difficulties about the Chinese ative towards the United [Nations first arose in the discussion .- oa Human Rights and SelE ‘Determination +. Hemay be assumed that wherever releence tothe United Nations occurs these difcultes were aso present™™ hon’ evasive tacts teatied tothe intensity ofthe ater delegates Aefense ofthe Universal Declaration He had witnessed the apparent en- {Huss with which the Asan and African speakers addressed human rights evident from the fre sesion ofthe conference. Ax outright di ‘nis! would have damaged the Chinese position, and risked alienat ing the allies twas so assiduously courting. At the same time, Zhou teas pursuing international recogakion of his regime. Unsurprisingly, Ihe mas prepared to exploit every opportunity that presented uel for this purpowe The Political Committers agenda was mos foruitous for the Chinese premier, allowing him to expres his governments enucely reasonable resentment at being outside the UN, while siltaneosaly {roiling any serious discussion ofits position om human eights. Any Sch debate could have disredited the communist tate in the eyes of the smaller Atican and Asian states, 2 numberof which already viewed ‘communi with some suspicion, “The Chinese sand was notin any meaningful sense a hasingerof| the cultural reativs dismissal of universal human rights that would ‘become so prominent later in the century. Although Ziow's own per sonal cont and statements demonstrate Hie shmpatiy for human Fights, he was avare of the sensitvies of the other paricipant, and this constrained him to 3 more conservative mode of opposition atthe ‘conference. Ax Romo noted, widespread support for = reference £0 hhaman rights persaded Zhow to accep a postive acknowledgment of the Univeral Declaration. Even if he had fl his audience would be feceptie toa Grade agains himan right, much more probable tha any sch challenge would have been articulated inthe terms of his Fesoced political discourse, Marsiam-Leninism, “Zhot's rectance to offer fll endorsement reflected his ecogni tion of the Universal Declaration as sgnifican and potentially threat ‘ening document. According to Malik, the Chinese considered i an [nportan text which tiey Could not support without sero delbers- ‘on While Zhou forced a weaker version of the human ight Section, ‘he overall phrasing of che Final Communique's human rights section twas generally cegarded a highly promising td perhaps tronger than might have been expected. "We managed atthe end to add a phrafe24 oso wihich was very satisfactory” noted Malik, who hoped that “the Chinese Tew vat they were doing when they accepted” Mal, who had developed s working relationship with Zhou, wasn a tanto to soverve the prime minister’ atitude toward ihe Urinersl Declaration, In aseeret conversation Between Malikand ‘Phou on the morning of 5 Apel 1055, he subject of human rights was gain nine. Zhou ced his inkial opposition to any reference to the UEincset Declaration as one of the "many mistakes” he had made in the canference, and noted that he “too ad to crave the indulgence of the Committee and even later to apologize” fr his tance" While the ncesty of his concession and apology i highly suspect. the fact that ‘Thou nae moved to this reversal, and identified his initial opposition ce diplomatic evor further demonstrates the strength of support ‘ee hurhantrights among the emerging nations China was attempting tocouft Opposing a reference tothe Universal Decaraion, even fr aseaderaie reasons, was a significant tactical misstep. By 1968, twas loser to a tactical necessiy asthe current of opinion turned, and ‘Atlin fro the debates of 1948 became a rallying eryfora number of Thi World dictators and diplomat Fotowing the conference, Zhou paid conspicuous lip service to human Tight and cynically professed his governments support for them He referred to the human eights provision of the Final Commun luc ln his assessment of the AsiamAfetcan Conference tothe Standing Coznmivice ofthe Chinese National People's Congress. His report of 18 Hay HSS noted that the conference “declared its support of the funda renal principles of human rights” and further asserted, with breath- ‘Dking bypoctay, that “respect for fundamental human rights” was one [Tule principles that the “Chinese people consistently stand for" and ‘She which China has consistently observed" “China's concession on the status of the Universal Dedaration was certainly perceived 14 noteworthy by other states. Abdoh, ating head Gfitne Traian delegation, described ita a somewhat significant” step Trward, because signaled Chinese recognition of the United Nations tur duo because i indicated that China “subscribed to acceptance of the prinipes of human rights" An appraisal of the conference and tr oecomes by the National Assembly ofthe Republic of Korea singled ‘Ou the Chinese move as one of the chief pose outcomes ofthe con foresee, which was a succes for the antecommunist world” because, Sung other things, “eomaninist China was forced to endorse the Uni waalEDeclaraton of Human Rights" Australian Foreign Minister Rickard Caney highlighted the incision of respect for human right" In ie Final Communiqué at one ofthe “important additonal pring pet that made the document more atractve than the orginal Five Denpes of Cente pnt by oa and Neb, ad on of the renons the communique "ould be regarded a generally accept ie the fee workd™ eee “Jeslous Guardians: Human Rights, National Sveri and Non-Interference a - ei {human ight ee esis for the emerging AS and ian {ode at Reading auonergcnee und repent ese seep aetna atscata cay eigeal eieaclomatc “Geulon cop pst ey np ts ee ‘tly precceupe th ending enlace on the sor gor ts Eh ey ad gino hat mylene logs $end imptnment or eter or epee ti Ge sess iseistong wi casi papid ie Spay fornia Ye ay ad yee he Ce ee oteoan Seed Gare tglu neem hh peop fet wn acct were ee tee ite the ping ef ees yeni Za SES oi ant dann uaenreca ndeene ce Ania (Shauarsoe eeu luipan her ore oan pat at “enh lpm er cape che spac foe plu Neto iaciaa cfens era eine iatcaaai tiers ‘Seiad coats Mice vicars phew cope at Fron habs ered cere erp Sercfcaecocae oper irdung we artlotinzvemios Saari Trent chnt eyuionsihinded Mah ne of heed Uglies asec ceufaiel meee a iS nora uated akong Seoiear ac tdcen cen see cc hen he a as em ma Tecan eee eranecas “The repellant emphanson sate svereigty and non Interence nthe cate eee renin tenon roe Ofte ple ore eeu Won Roa catende mies nateecaes ae creme ee eae oaeraee sas thn oem ae Fe ee ert Nene een aa saci ca sore ont of tempers cae eh wi veering Ue Sec e egy Sagan, ee ovopaen ins ee of he