The Latest News from Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch
The Latest News

Last updated
Tuesday, August 31

Current Events
Focus on Human Rights

Violence in East Timor (August 31)

Civil War in Sierra Leone (August 30)

Cambodia: Focus on Human Rights (August 24)

China: 10 Years After Tiananmen (August 23)

Crisis in Kosovo (August 6)

Turkey: Focus on Human Rights (June 25)

India: Human Rights Abuses Fuel Conflict (July 16)

Monitoring the Northern Ireland Marching Season 1999 (June 30)

The Case Against Anwar Ibrahim (June 16)

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Selected Recent Reports from Human Rights Watch

Attack Against Colombian Human Rights Defenders Condemned
(Washington DC, August 30, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today condemned the August 29 bomb attack against the offices of the Popular Training Institute (Instituto Popular de Capacitación, IPC), a well-known non-governmental organization based in Medellín, Colombia, that works on issues involving human rights, development and peace.

Sierra Leone Rebels Violating Peace Accord (Press Release, August 30, 1999)
(New York, August 30, 1999)—Human Rights Watch today called on the Sierra Leonean rebels from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to honor their promises to release abducted children and prisoners of war.

More Deaths Inevitable in East Timor Unless Donors Act
(August 27, 1999, New York)— More deaths in East Timor are inevitable unless immediate, collective pressure is brought to bear on the Indonesian government to stop its regular security forces from aiding proxy militias, Human Rights Watch said today, in the aftermath of four and possibly five deaths in Dili on Thursday.

Security Council Condemns Use Of Child Soldiers
(New York, August 26, 1999) -- The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers welcomed last night's Security Council resolution condemning the effects of war on children. The Coalition expressed disappointment, however, that the Council failed to call for stronger measures to stop the use of child soldiers.

U.N. Should Insist On International Standards For Khmer Rouge Trial
(August 24, 1999, New York)— Human Rights Watch today urged that any tribunal established to try Khmer Rouge leaders should adhere to the highest international standards. The group criticized as inadequate a U.N. proposal for a domestically-constituted tribunal in Cambodia with international participation, although it noted that the plan has some positive elements.

Tibetan Detained At Risk Of Mistreatment
(New York, August 23)--A Tibetan who was detained in China along with two foreigners investigating the impact of a World Bank project is at serious risk of torture or ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch said today. The international monitoring group called on the World Bank along with the U.S. and Australian governments to make high level appeals for immediate access to the detained Tibetan translator, Tsering Dorje, and call for his release.

World Bank Should Intervene On Detentions In China
(New York, August 19)-- Human Rights Watch today called on the World Bank to intervene at the highest levels with officials in Beijing to help secure the release of two foreigners detained in Qinghai Province, site of a controversial new World Bank project.

Northern Ireland Case Journalist Target Of Government Harassment
(New York, NY, August 19, 1999)—In letters sent today to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam, Human Rights Watch questioned the U.K. government's pursuit of Northern Ireland journalist Ed Moloney. The international monitoring group charged that forcing a journalist to reveal confidential materials could have an immediate chilling effect on free inquiry into governmental accountability in Northern Ireland.

Uzbek Torture Victims Sentenced To Prison Terms
(New York, August 18, 1999) -- Disregarding allegations of torture, an Uzbek court today convicted six men with ties to a banned political party in a high-profile political trial. The men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 8 to 15 years for participation in a "criminal society" and for using the mass media to publicly insult the President of Uzbekistan, among other charges.

Jordan Urged To Detain Iraqi Number Two For Trial
(New York, August 18, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today asked the government of Jordan to hold Iraq's number two leader, Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, for trial or for extradition on charges that he is among those responsible for crimes of genocide, torture, and mass murder.

Civilian Killings By Warring Parties In Kisangani
(New York, August 18, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today expressed grave concerns about widespread shelling and fierce fighting over the last few days in the streets of Kisangani. The fighting is between Rwandan and Ugandan regular forces backing competing factions of the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). The factions are headed by rebel leaders Emile Illunga, who is backed by Rwanda and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, who is supported by Uganda.

Austria Blasted for Release of Iraqi
(New York, August 18, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today criticized the Austrian government for releasing a senior Iraqi leader accused of genocide, mass murder and torture.

Prosecution of Iraqi in Austria Urged
(New York, August 17, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today called on the Austrian authorities to prosecute a senior Iraqi leader accused of genocide, mass murder and torture.

Arrests In Xinjiang
(August 13, 1999, New York)— Human Rights Watch today called for the immediate release of a prominent businesswoman and five others arbitrarily detained earlier this week in the Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

Jordanian Law Excuses Murder
(Washington, DC- August 11, 1999)--In a letter to Jordanian Prime Minister Abdur-Ra'uf Rawabdeh released today, Human Rights Watch condemned the "honor killings" which continue to take place in Jordan. The international monitoring group cited the killing of eleven women thus far in 1999 in the name of "family honor" in Jordan and criticized Jordan's government for policies that minimize the gravity of such crimes--and allow the perpetrators to go free.

Public Airing Needed in Northern Ireland Case
(New York, NY, August 10)—Human Rights Watch today released a letter (see below) calling on Northern Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to explain publicly the recent decision not to prosecute the police officers accused of David Adams' assault in February 1994.

Geneva Conventions Honored on 50th Anniversary
(New York, August 10, 1999) -- On the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions [August 12, 1999], Human Rights Watch hailed the emergence of a new era of enforcement of the important protections codified a half century ago.

Hollywood Rallies For Human Rights Activist
Approximately twenty leading American filmmakers, including Oliver Stone and Jonathan Demme signed a letter this month condemning the detention of Suh Joon-sik. Korean courts accuse Suh, a former political prisoner and long-time human rights worker, with compromising national security.

Police Killings In Tamil Nadu, India
(New York, NY, August 6)— Human Rights Watch today condemned the latest in a string of brutal police attacks on the Dalit ("untouchable") community in Tamil Nadu, India. The international monitoring organization urged the state government of Tamil Nadu to take immediate steps to investigate and prosecute members of the police and administration responsible for the killing of seventeen Dalit tea plantation workers in Tirunelveli district on July 23.

Human Rights Groups Demand Information on Thousands of Detainees and Missing Persons from Kosovo
(Pristina, August 6, 1999) -- Six human rights groups, four from Kosovo and two international, called today on the Serbian government to release information about the thousands of ethnic Albanians who are known to have been taken into custody by Serbian forces during the NATO bombing campaign between March 24 and June 15, 1999. More than 2,000 Albanian Kosovars are in detention in Serbia, while at least 1,500 others are unaccounted for, and the lists are growing daily.

No Rule of Law in Azerbaijan
(New York, August 5, 1999) -- Azerbaijani security forces regularly torture those in custody, and get away with it, according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch. The international monitoring group charged that Azerbaijan has failed to enact legal reforms and that corruption is rampant in the criminal justice system.

Iran Threatens Revolutionary Court Trials for "Incitement"
(New York, August 3, 1999) The head of Tehran's Revolutionary Court stated on August 2 that his office was investigating some of the students arrested following demonstrations and peaceful protests earlier this month.

Harassment and Violence Against Serbs and Roma in Kosovo
(New York, August 3, 1999) — Human Rights Watch today released a detailed report documenting how ethnic Serbs and Roma (Gypsies) face fear, uncertainty, and violence in Kosovo. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 164,000 Serbs have left Kosovo during the seven weeks since Yugoslav and Serb forces withdrew and the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) entered the province.

Closure Threatens Civilians In Sri Lanka
(New York, August 2, 1999)— Human Rights Watch today expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka in the wake of the closure by the Sri Lankan army nearly five weeks ago of the only supply route to two crucial districts in the Vanni region of the island — an area under partial control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

New Arrests And "Disappearances" Of Iranian Students
(New York, July 30, 1999) The arrests of Iranian students in the wake of protests against the violent raid on Tehran University student dormitories on July 9 are continuing. Human Rights Watch has learned that at least five students who attended a student meeting on July 23 have not been seen since they left the meeting and are believed to be in detention.

Sri Lanka: HRW Condemns Killing Of Neelan Tiruchelvam
(July 30, 1999) Human Rights Watch today reacted with sorrow to Thursday morning's murder of Neelan Tiruchelvam, one of Sri Lanka's leading human rights advocates.

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