From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: The Torturers Lobby
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 01:09:48 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 350.0 **/
** Topic: The Torturers Lobby **
** Written  9:47 pm  Dec 15, 1992 by gn:tapol in cdp:reg.easttimor **
Subject: The Torturers Lobby

/* Written  8:55 am  Dec 15, 1992 by igc:apakabar in gn:reg.indonesia */
/* ---------- "The Torturers Lobby" ---------- */

   According to a December 15 AP story datelined Washington, ten countries 
with records of serious human rights abuses paid Washington insiders more 
than $24 million over the last two years to keep U.S. foreign aid flowing, 
according to a study released today.
   Five more countries with similarly dismal rights records paid
Washington lobbyists upwards of $18 million to groom their U.S. image
and pave the way for smooth trade and commercial relationships, the
study found.
   The flow of money and influence to those with the right contacts
often makes it difficult for the United States to take a hard line
against human rights abuses, according to the report, titled "The
Torturers' Lobby -- How Human Rights-Abusing Nations are Represented in
Washington."
   And often, the developing countries that hire lobbyists wouldn't be
able to afford to if it weren't for their foreign aid, said the report
published by the Center for Public Integrity, a watchdog group that is
funded by foundations, corporations and news organizations.
   "Should the U.S. taxpayer in effect subsidize lobbyists hired by some
of the world's most persistent abusers of human rights?" asked Charles
Lewis, the center's executive director.
   Among recipients of millions of dollars in lobbyist-driven U.S. aid
are Turkey, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt,
Israel, Guatemala and Angola's UNITA rebels, the report said. Each of
the countries has been identified as a human rights abuser.
   Colombia and Peru, two other aid recipients, have lobbied for
favorable trade and commercial treatment despite their human rights
records, the report added. And China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- while
they do not receive cash aid -- lobby Washington to maintain close
political and commercial ties despite a backdrop of human rights
criticisms, it said.
   By far the top firm doing business with the countries in the study
was Hill and Knowlton, the Washington public relations giant, which
received at least $14 million in fees from Kuwait, China, Turkey, Peru,
Israel, Egypt, Angola and Indonesia in 1991-92.
   Others among the top recipients were the firm of Cleary, Gottlieb,
Steen and Hamilton, which did $6 million in work for Kuwait; White &
Case, which took in $3.4 million from Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey and
Morocco; Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly, $3.3 million from Nigeria,
Kenya, UNITA and Morocco; and Sawyer Miller Group, $3.1 million from
Colombia.
   Kuwait, which waged an expensive image campaign in the United States
after it was invaded by Iraq, was the top spender, at $12.5 million, the
report found.
   The center's yearlong study began well before President-elect Clinton
vowed to take aim at influence peddling by barring administration
officials from lobbying their former agencies for five years after
leaving.
   At the same time, some of his closest advisers have come under fire
for their representation of foreign interests. "Up until now, no
administration has tackled head-on the thorny policy and ethics problems
raised by former government officials and other political insiders who
become foreign agents," the report said.
   "Clinton, if he has the political courage to do so, can attempt to
change future policy. If he doesn't, his administration risks ...
becoming captive of Washington and beholden to monied interests," it
concludes.

** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **