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Current Events Focus on Human Rights Lebanon Pullout: The Human Rights Dimensions (May 30) Sierra Leone: Violations of the Peace Accord (May 26) China, Trade and Human Rights (May 24) China: Human Rights Deteriorate (May 23) Indonesia: Transition and Regional Conflict (May 12) Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe (April 25) Race and Human Rights (May 3) 56th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights - Geneva (April 27) Violence in East Timor (April 21) Turkey: Focus on Human Rights (March 28) HRW Challenge to Candidates (US Elections 2000) (March 13) More... |
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Sierra Leone Rebels Forcefully Recruit Child Soldiers (Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 31, 2000)—The rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra Leone is forcing children, including demobilized child soldiers, to join its ranks and engage in combat, Human Rights Watch said today. The rights group has documented abductions of children as recently as early May. Vietnam: Release Pro-Democracy Activist (New York, May 31, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today called for the immediate release of Vietnamese dissident Ha Sy Phu. Police in Lam Dong province put Mr. Ha under house arrest on May 12, 2000, and threatened to charge him with treason under Article 72 of Vietnam's Criminal Code. If put on trial and convicted, Mr. Ha could face a sentence from seven years imprisonment to the death penalty. Bosnia: Bijeljina's Minorities Unable to Return Home (New York, May 31, 2000) More than four and a half years after the war ended in Bosnia and Hercegovina, many ethnic minorities are still unable to repossess their homes in the Bosnian Serb town of Bijeljina, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Burmese Refugees in Bangladesh Need Protection (New York, May 30, 2000) -- The governments of Burma and Bangladesh should take urgent steps to provide protection for thousands of Muslim Rohingya refugees who have fled gross human rights abuses in Burma's Arakan state, Human Rights Watch said today. Sierra Leone: Fresh Reports of RUF Terror Tactics (Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 26, 2000)—Human Rights Watch today charged that the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone is imposing a reign of terror on the Masiaka area of Sierra Leone. Masiaka, located about fifty miles east of the capital Freetown, is near the front line of fighting between the RUF rebels and the pro-government forces. It is also near the site where two international journalists were killed on Wednesday by RUF rebels U.K. Arms May Go to Abusive Forces in Sierra Leone Human Rights Watch is very concerned that British-supplied weapons may be made available to government-allied groups known to have committed gross human rights abuses. We are also gravely concerned about recent credible reports that child soldiers are being re-recruited and may as such be the recipients of some of these arms. PNTR for China: No Quick Fix for Human Rights (Washington, May 24, 2000) -- Granting PNTR (permanent normal trade relations) is not a quick fix for China's serious human rights problems, Human Rights Watch said today following the vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to end the annual review of China's trade status. Sustained pressure, from the U.S. and other key trading partners, is needed to push Beijing to comply with its international human rights obligations. Rights Group Sounds Alarm on Turkish Prisons (Ankara, May 24, 2000)-- Human Rights Watch today warned that Turkish government plans for a new prison regime may violate international standards. No New U.S. Missiles for Israel (New York, May 24, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on the United States not to proceed with the proposed sale to Israel of new air-to-ground missiles until Israel gives assurances that the missiles will not be used in attacks on civilian targets in Lebanon. The Pentagon recently announced the potential sale of forty-one U.S. AGM-142D missiles and is negotiating another contract that includes the sale of 480 AGM-114L3 missiles. China Commission Should Be Strengthened (Washington, May 23, 2000) -- A proposed bipartisan commission on China should be strengthened, Human Rights Watch said today, as the House of Representatives prepared to vote on permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) for China. A bill sponsored by Rep. Sander Levin and Rep. Doug Bereuter would create a joint Congressional-executive body to monitor China's human rights and labor practices. South Lebanon: Rights Crisis Looms (Jerusalem, May 23, 2000) -- A dangerous situation is emerging in south Lebanon as the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army (SLA) disintegrates and abandons military positions recently vacated by the Israeli army, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Agenda for Cambodia's Donors (New York, May 23, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today called on Cambodia's international donors to put human rights high on the agenda during the Consultative Group on Cambodia (CG) convened by the World Bank, scheduled for May 24-26 in Paris. Prime Minister Hun Sen will participate in the meeting. Renewed Attacks on Palestinian Human Rights Lawyers Our organizations are deeply concerned that the Acting Council of the Palestinian Bar Association continue to remove Palestinian human rights lawyers associated with human rights organizations from its list of practicing lawyers. Sierra Leone: U.S. Urged to Support Criminal Tribunal (New York, May 19, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urging her to support the establishment of a criminal process to bring to justice gross abusers of human rights in Sierra Leone; to work to strengthen the United Nations mandate and capacity in that country to protect civilians; and to work for enforcement of the U.N. arms embargo against Sierra Leonean rebels. Sierra Leone: Expedited UN Criminal Tribunal Urged (New York, May 19, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council urging the Security Council to establish a criminal process to bring to justice gross abusers of human rights; to strengthen the U.N. mandate and capacity in that country to protect civilians; and to address violations of the U.N. arms embargo against Sierra Leonean rebels. Sri Lanka: Donors Should Demand Protection for Civilians (May 19, 2000, New York) --As the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continue to battle on the outskirts of Jaffna town, Human Rights Watch today expressed grave concern about the safety of some five hundred thousand civilians on the Jaffna peninsula, and their urgent need for humanitarian assistance. NATO Should Promote Responsible Arms Sales Human Rights Watch is very concerned by the proliferation of small arms and the sale of surplus weapons, including heavy weapons such as tanks and helicopters, to areas where they risk fueling violent conflicts, contributing to humanitarian crises, and endangering human rights. Sierra Leone Government Troops Torture and Reportedly Execute RUF Rebel Suspects (New York, May 18, 2000)— Human Rights Watch today expressed grave concern about credible reports that government-allied forces in Sierra Leone were torturing and executing suspected members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group responsible for brutal abuses against civilians in Sierra Leone. Fair Trial Urged for Rebel Leader Sankoh (New York, May 17, 2000)—Human Rights Watch urged today that the Sierra Leonean leader Foday Sankoh should receive a fair trial for his crimes. Indonesia: Aceh Trial - Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Call for Full Accountability (New York and London, May 17, 2000)—Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch today called on the Indonesian authorities to hold military leaders accountable for gross rights abuses in Aceh. Indonesia: Human Rights and Independence Actions in Irian Jaya (New York, May 17, 2000)-- Human Rights Watch today called on Indonesian authorities to stop harassing organizers of peaceful rallies in Irian Jaya, where a popular pro-independence movement has publicly emerged over the past two years. But the international rights group also welcomed steps the new administration of Abdurrahman Wahid has taken toward respecting basic rights in the province. Case Against ex-Chad Dictator Debated (Dakar, Senegal, May 16, 2000) A Senegalese court today announced that it would render a decision on June 15 on the exiled dictator of Chad, Hissein Habre, who has been indicted here on torture charges. The court will rule on Habre's motion to dismiss the case. Sierra Leone: Jackson Urged to Make Forceful and Public Stand on Protection of Civilians Horrendous human rights abuses against civilians have characterized this conflict, and the current crisis demands a strategy to protect the civilian population. Accordingly, we strongly urge you to put the issue of protection of civilians in Sierra Leone on the forefront of your agenda and to ensure that the U.S. government makes a forceful and public stand on this issue. This includes actively providing support to countries that are willing to send their troops to Sierra Leone for that explicit purpose. Eastern Congo Ravaged (New York, May 16, 2000)—The Rwandan army and its Congolese allies have massacred and raped civilians in eastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Their opponents, Hutu and Mai Mai armed groups, are also committing atrocities against the civilian population. Attack on Palestinian Human Rights Lawyers Condemned (New York, May 15, 2000) On 10 May 2000, the Acting Council of the Palestinian Bar Association removed at least nine human rights lawyers associated with human rights organizations in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas from its list of practicing lawyers. Arms Embargo on Sierra Leone Rebels Neglected (New York, May 15, 2000)—Human Rights Watch called today for a tightening of the United Nations arms embargo on Sierra Leonean rebels, and highlighted reports of weapons shipments to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels over the past year. Peru: Presidential Runoff Election (HRW - Letter) Although a month has passed since the widely questioned April 9 poll, President Fujimori has yet to take any significant action to comply with the recommendations of national and international observers, including the Electoral Observation Mission of the OAS and the National Democratic Institute/Carter Center. New Peacekeeping Authority Needed in Sierra Leone (New York, May 11, 2000)—Human Rights Watch today called for new, augmented forces to replace UNAMSIL, the United Nations operation in Sierra Leone, in order to make a coordinated effort to defend Sierra Leonean civilians. In an open letter to Kofi Annan released today, it urged the U.N. Secretary-General to ensure that members states grant the international forces in Sierra Leone the means and capability to do the job. The letter is available at http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/05/sl-letter0511.htm. Aceh: Conditions for Long-Term Peace (New York, May 12, 2000) Human Rights Watch welcomed the start of a new round of talks in Geneva between Indonesian government officials and Acehnese rebel leaders, amid reports that the two sides would sign a cease-fire agreement later today. It urged, however, that the cease-fire agreement be followed by a peace process in which justice and protection of civilians are top priorities. Crimes of Ex-Chad Dictator Detailed (Dakar, Senegal - May 12, 2000) A French doctor who treated hundreds of Chadian torture victims and the president of Chad's truth commission will give testimony before a Senegalese court next week in the case against the exiled dictator of Chad, Hissein Habre. The court will also hear from three former detainees who were mistreated in Habre's jails, human rights organizations announced today. Senegal Must Try Ex-Chad Dictator (Dakar, Senegal - May 10, 2000) On the eve of a key court hearing in the prosecution of the former dictator of Chad, Hissein Habre, human rights organizations stressed Senegal's legal obligation to bring Habre to justice. U.N. Must Not Forget Sierra Leone Civilians (New York, May 9, 2000)—Human Rights Watch today called on the chief of United Nations peacekeeping to strengthen the resolve and capacity of troops under U.N. command to fully protect civilians in Sierra Leone. The U.N. official, Bernard Miyet, is expected to arrive in Freetown today. Tunisia: Police Beatings of Rights Defenders (Brussels, May 8, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today condemned Tunisia's ongoing repression of the country's human rights defenders. The international monitoring organization cited the severe beatings on April 26 of three prominent activists in a Tunis police station. The beatings reportedly left Ali Ben Salem, an elderly lawyer, with a fractured shoulder and Sihem Ben Sedrine, a woman in the forefront of the country's human rights movement, with a fractured rib and vertebrae and facial injuries. Israel, Hizballah: Attacks on Civilians and Infrastructure Condemned (New York, May 6, 2000) Human Rights Watch today deplored the accelerating war on civilians and civilian infrastructure as Hizballah guerrillas and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) turn from fighting each other to attacking private homes, power stations, and other civilian facilities. Burmese Refugees in Thailand at Risk (New York, May 6, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today called for increased protection of Burmese refugees in Thailand. As the annual Asian Development Bank meetings begin in Chiang Mai from May 6-8, the international human rights group expressed concern over a worrisome shift in the implementation of Thai refugee policy. New Turkish President Sezer Urged to Act on Freedom of Expression (New York, May 5, 2000)--The new president of Turkey is well-positioned to make progress on human rights and should take immediate steps to expand freedom of expression in Turkey, Human Rights Watch said today. Civilians the Real Target in Sierra Leone (May 4, 2000, New York)—Human Rights Watch today condemned the recent killings and hostage-taking of United Nations peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, while noting that civilians had been enduring similar abuses by the rebels for several years. Activists and Intellectuals Detained in Iran for Participating in a Conference (Washington, DC, May 3, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today condemned the April 30 arrest of six prominent Iranian activists for participating in a conference on the future of Iran. The conference was held in Berlin on April, 7-8, 2000. Vietnam: Silencing of Dissent (New York, May 3, 2000)— Human Rights Watch said today that Vietnam's human rights performance continues to fall far short of international standards, despite economic and social changes since the late 1980's. Iran: Fear for Detained Journalist (New York, April 28, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today expressed its grave concern for the well-being of a detained Iranian journalist, Akbar Ganji, and called on the Iranian authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure his security. Tunisia: Release Detained Activist (New York, April 28, 2000) --Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International today called for the immediate release of Jallal Zoughlami, brother of journalist Taoufiq Ben Brik, who has been on hunger strike since April 3. Free Speech Punished in Lebanon (New York, April 27, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today criticized the Lebanese government for suppressing peaceful anti-Syria protests in recent days. The largely student-led protests have called for the withdrawal of Syrian military and security forces from Lebanon. More... |
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