Medal of Freedom undeserved
The awarding of the highest US civilian honour, the Medal of Freedom, to former Australian Prime Minister John Howard this month (left) was staggering to human rights activists familiar with his record.
Even more galling was the same award given to Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe.
The Presidential Medal is intended to recognise an "especially meritorious contribution" to world peace and US security interests. Past recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Ronald Regan, Mother Theresa, Vaclav Havel, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
Outgoing US President George W. Bush has awarded 78 of the medals during his two terms in office.
Howard, Uribe and a third recipient of the Medal on 13 January, Tony Blair, were chosen by Bush "for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad."
In his 11 years in office (1996-2007), Howard showed disdain for human rights and the United Nations. His government violated the rights of asylum seekers, indigenous peoples, sexual minorities and workers, and undermined the civil and political rights of all within its jurisdiction with extensive 'anti-terror' and sedition legislation.
In contrast with former UK Prime Minister Blair, Howard did not insist on the rights of his countrymen in US custody at Guantánamo Bay.
Presenting the Medals, Bush described both men, 'gallant man of faith' Tony Blair and the 'Man of Steel' John Howard — known ironically in his homeland as Honest John — as "the sort of guys who . . . tell you the truth and keep their word."
Others have accused them of war crimes.
Since Uribe became President of Colombia in 2002, there has been "a dramatic increase in reports of extrajudicial killings of civilians by the Colombian Army." His government has also failed to demobilise paramilitary groups that have "massacred, raped, and forcibly displaced thousands of Colombians in recent decades." Meanwhile, Uribe makes frequent verbal attacks on his country's human rights defenders.
The choice of Uribe for this prestigious award has been condemned by 7 leading human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International-USA.
Howard's nomination has also been criticised. "John Howard is hardly a Nelson Mandela," says Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
That human rights discourse can be so corrupted and men like Howard and Uribe hailed as its champions ought to be sobering for the human rights community. Language is powerful and human rights language carries great moral weight. We must be vigilant in contesting its misappropriation.
