Human rights commission condemns restructuring of OAS.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Pablo Bachelet

WASHINGTON _ The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has issued an unusual statement condemning an organizational restructuring of the Organization of American States as detrimental to the commission's political autonomy.

"The new structure designed by the Secretary General of the OAS affects its independence and autonomy," the commission said in a statement late Thursday.

The commission used to report directly to former OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, who gave the institution broad operational leeway on personnel and budgetary decisions. He also was protective of commission staff members when ambassadors complained …