State & Local Monday, F Page 2 The Battalion Monday, February2] MSC SCONA speaker says death penalty violates human rights By Karen Broyles The Battalion An Amnesty International official said governments need to re think their policies on capital punishment and human rights during the MSC Student Conference on National Affairs Saturday. , Curt Goering, acting executive director of Amnesty International, said the United States and 60 other countries have subjected their citizens to the most cruel punishment, the punishment of death. "Executions without trials in China and execu tions in the United States after lengthy trials have the same result," Goering said. "The destruction of a human being has oc curred." Goering also stressed the importance of non-gov ernment organizations promoting and defending human rights. 'There must be pressure on the United Nations Goering by outside groups to counter the government pressure on them to leave things alone," Goering said. Non-government organizations have been more vocal in promoting human rights than government officials, he said. "The actions of these organizations and the public have made a dif ference," he said. "The lobbying and the submissions that have been made have helped where government officials alone can't or won't get things done." Goering said some governments think human rights should be left up to the governments to protect. "But there are still men, women and even children who are being held prisoner because of their beliefs," he said. "As long as there are still prisoners of conscience, there is a need for groups like Amnesty International." Despite the continuing violation of human rights in many countries, Goering said progress is being made. The establishment of a temporary bureau for prosecuting interna tional war crimes was one example. "It will be an important step if this temporary committee is replaced by a permanent one," he said. Goering said the creation of a new position. High Commissioner of the United Nations, serves as a warning signal to areas of the world with increasing violations of human rights. "The high commissioners job will be to pinpoint areas where human rights violations could escalate if no intervention takes place," he said. Goering said procedures for responding to human rights violators are being created and standards for enforcing human rights have been drafted. CONTACT LENSES ONLY QUALITY NAME BRANDS (Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Sola/Barnes-Hind) Disposable Contact Lenses Available $ 79 00 For Standard Clear or Tinted FLEXIBLE.WEAR Soft Contact Lenses (Can be worn as daily or extended wear) L + FREE SPARE PAIR SAME DAY DELIVERY ON MOST LENSES. ASK ABOUT OUR “BUY MORE PAY LESS” PRICING Call 846-0377 for Appointment *Eye exam and follow up visits not included CHARLES C. SCHROEPPEL, O.D., P.C. DOCTOR of OPTOMETRY 505 University Dr. East, Suite 101 College Station, TX 77840 4 Blks. East of Texas Ave. & University Dr. Intersection J4. r r Aggielife - Margaret Claughton, Jennifer Gressett, Paul Neale, Traci Travis and ClaudiaZao Sports writers — Mark Smith, Drew Diener, Nick Georgandis, Jose De Jesus Ortiz andSte" Doreen Opinion desk - Jay Robbins, Lynn Booher, Roy Clay, Erin Hill, Michael Landauer, )enny Magee, Melissa Megliola, Frank Stanford, Jackie Stokes, Robert Vasquez and Dave Winder Graphic Artist - Pey Wan Choong Cartoonists — Boomer Cardinale, Chau Huang, George Nasr, Kalvin Nguyen and Gerardo Quezada Clerks- Eleanor Colvin, Wren Eversberg, Jennifer Kerber, Tomiko Miller and Brooke Perkins The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except Uni'*' holidays and exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at 0 Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University T Division of Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices 01 3 Reed McDonald Building. Newsroom phone number is 845-331 3. Fax: 845-2647. Advertising: For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For class advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising offices are in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-5408. NC *Adt *Doi *501 22 Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50pe r! year. To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 845-261 1.