Tillerson criticized as insensitive to human rights
WASHINGTON — Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of State, came under withering fire Thursday for what critics said was an insensitivity to human rights abuses around the world.
Several senators, both Democrats and Republicans, said they were disturbed by his unwillingness during testimony Wednesday to acknowledge govern- ment abuses in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Russia and elsewhere.
Plans to hold a second round of hearings were scrubbed after a rocky first day that saw several testy exchanges between Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., and committee members.
A vote has not been scheduled, but Tillerson’s confirmation does not ap- pear in jeopardy in the GOP-controlled committee or Senate.
But his answers on human rights — rather than his personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin — led a key Republican on the committee, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, to refuse to say if he would vote for Tillerson.
When Rubio pressed Tillerson to condemn Putin for what he said were “countless” killings of political dissidents, journalists and others, Tillerson said he did not have enough information to do so.
Human rights groups echoed those concerns, noting that recent administrations have all emphasized human rights as a core part of U.S. foreign policy.
“Tillerson’s commitment to human rights in the U.S. and abroad is in serious question,” Margaret Huang, executive director of Am- nesty International’s U.S. branch, said Thursday. “His rhetoric suggests that under his leadership the State Department would not pressure human rights violators even in the face of overwhelming evidence.”
In his testimony, Tillerson refused to characterize atrocities in Syria, where Russian-backed Syrian forces have bombed civilians, as war crimes.
He declined to condemn Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for a well- documented campaign of extrajudicial killings of supposed drug dealers. An estimated 6,000 people have been killed.
“Tillerson’s claims that he cannot pass judgment on these countries’ abuses until he has access to U.S. intelligence briefings ignores the U.S. government’s own previous findings,” said Sarah Margon, Washington director of Human Rights Watch.