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May 1, 1992

Behind Closed Doors

Torture and Detention in Egypt

Despite insistent denials by senior officials, torture by Egyptian security forces frequently takes place while political and security suspects are held in incommunicado detention. Middle East Watch bases this finding on numerous accounts gathered from residents of cities and towns throughout Egypt regarding incidents that took place from 1989 to early 1992.
May 1, 1992

Empty Reforms

Saudi Arabia’s New Basic Laws

On March 1, 1992, King Fahd ibn Abdel-Aziz issued three major laws: the Basic Law of Government, the Consultative Council Law and the Law of Provinces.
May 1, 1992

Human Rights Accountability in Sri Lanka

The issue of accountability for past human rights abuses gained considerable prominence in the 1980s as unprecedented global political change focused attention on the crimes of ousted regimes. Unlike most of the nations experiencing radical political change and facing accountability issues, however, Sri Lanka’s political system remains intact.
May 1, 1992

The Struggle for Land in Brazil

Rural Violence Continues

This report focuses on the chronic problem of impunity in Brazil in the context of the struggle over land use and agrarian reform. It highlights four states and concludes that impunity—or government failure to enforce criminal laws, permitting and encouraging further criminal behavior in the context of the struggle for land—exists in these regions and throughout Brazil.
April 20, 1992

Greece: Improvements for Turkish Minority

Problems Remain

The Greek government has taken significant steps to improve conditions for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace during the past year. Ethnic Turks can now buy and sell houses and land, repair houses and mosques, obtain car, truck and tractor licenses, and open coffee houses and machine and electrical shops.
April 15, 1992

Indonesia: Attempts To Intimidate Activists in North Sumatra

On February 10-12, 1992, workers in the Medan [North Sumatra] Canning Company, which cans fish, went on strike. The strike was successful, and wages were raised after labor and management agreed on a settlement with the Ministry of Manpower. After the settlement, however, on February 16, five women involved in the strike were taken by the district military command (KODIM 0201) and held overnight.
April 10, 1992

Dominican Authorities Ban Creole Radio Program and Crack Down on Protesters

In February, the Dominican Republic's telecommunications chief suspended the Creole-language news program of a popular Dominican radio station based in the southwest region of the country, near the Haitian border. After receiving complaints from Haiti's de facto military rulers, the Dominican authorities barred Radio Enriquillo from transmitting its news program in Creole, the Haitian language.
April 1, 1992

Bad Blood: Militia Abuses in Mindanao

This report, based on a five-week visit to Mindanao in January and February 1992, provides fresh evidence that the military has failed to control its militia, the Citizen Armed Force — Geographical Units (CAFGU).