The top UN Human Rights Commission narrowly passed...

The top UN Human Rights Commission narrowly passed a US backed resolution criticizing Cuba and calling on it to accept a visit by an international monitor. The resolution, sponsored by Honduras, was adopted by the UN Human Rights Commission by 22 votes to 21, with 10 abstentions. It said that Cuba "should refrain from adopting measures which could jeopardize the fundamental rights, the freedom of expression and the right to due process of its citizens." It added that it "deplores the events which occurred last year in Cuba," referring to the sentencing of 75 dissidents to prison terms ranging from six to 28 years on charges of working with US diplomats to undermine Cuba's socialist system. The resolution also called on Cuba to accept a visit from the UN human rights expert on Cuba, Frenchwoman Christine Chanet. Cuba had refused to receive Chanet, claiming such a visit could infringe its sovereignty. In a report based on meetings with activists, human-rights investigators and other governments, she said the sentencing of the dissidents represented an "unprecedented wave of repression". She said she also was concerned that Cuba suspended a moratorium on use of the death penalty and executed three Cubans who hijacked a ferry to try to reach the US.