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Current Events Focus on Human Rights Civil War in Sierra Leone (July 30) Crisis in Kosovo (July 27) Turkey: Focus on Human Rights (June 25) Violence in East Timor (July 23) Cambodia: Focus on Human Rights (July 22) China: 10 Years After Tiananmen (July 22) India: Human Rights Abuses Fuel Conflict (July 16) Monitoring the Northern Ireland Marching Season 1999 (June 30) The Case Against Anwar Ibrahim (June 16) Indonesia: The Post-Soeharto Period (June 7) Drugs and Human Rights in the United States (May 13) Arrests in Malaysia What You Can Do (April 15) The Pinochet Decision (April 15) More... |
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Selected Recent Reports from Human Rights Watch |
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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. Malaysia: Respect the Rights of Activists (July 30, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today denounced the charges filed on Wednesday against prominent Malaysian human rights activist Irene Fernandez and five others. The well-known human rights advocate was charged with "unlawful assembly" for her participation in a peaceful gathering on June 28 in support of residents protesting the demolition of an urban settlement at Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia. "Outrageous" Conduct by Virginia Department of Corrections (New York, July 29, 1999)—Human Rights Watch today denounced the Virginia Department of Corrections for sending a nonviolent inmate to a super-maximum security facility as punishment for insolence to Ronald Angelone, the department's director. Sierra Leonean Refugee Children Neglected (New York, July 29, 1999) -- Sierra Leonean refugee children have been neglected by the international community and face abuse in the camps where they should find protection, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today. The report documents the failure of the U.N. refugee agency to ensure the security of refugee camps and to prevent or respond to domestic violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation against refugee children. Assault on Independent Press in Iran Intensifies (New York, July 28, 1999) -- The assault by Iranian authorities against publishers and editors associated with the country's independent press has become wider and more intense in recent days. On July 25, the Special Court for the Clergy convicted Hojatoleslam Seyyid Mohamed Musavi-Khoeiniha, publisher of the daily newspaper Salam, on charges of misinforming the public. Civilians Summarily Expelled from Israeli-Occupied South Lebanon (July 28, Jerusalem and Beirut) -- For more than a decade, Israel and its auxiliary Lebanese militia have been expelling innocent civilians from their homes and villages in south Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch Welcomes Release of Children from Jamaican Police Lockups (New York, July 27, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today commended the government of Jamaica for acting swiftly to remove children from police lockups. The action followed the organization's release last week of a report documenting the detention of Jamaican children in filthy and overcrowded police lockups where they are deprived of proper sanitary facilities, health care, adequate food, and are vulnerable to abuse by older inmates and police officers. Kosovo Atrocities Recounted In Detail (New York, July 27, 1999) — Human Rights Watch today released a detailed report on how Serbian and Yugoslav forces besieged and terrorized the ethnic Albanian population of Glogovac town and the surrounding villages in Kosovo. Cuba Silences Dissent with Abuses, Oppressive Laws (Washington, DC, July 23, 1999) -- Forty years after the revolution, Cuba's Fidel Castro maintains control through intimidation, repressive laws, and by imprisoning dissidents, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba only makes matters worse, according to the report Cuba's Repressive Machinery: Human Rights Forty Years After the Revolution. Other international policies toward Cuba have shown more promise, but proved similarly ineffective in the absence of vigorous government support. ASEAN Should Address East Timor, Governance Issues (New York, July 23) — The annual meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers beginning this weekend in Singapore should address key human rights issues in the region that threaten to undermine regional stability and investor confidence, Human Rights Watch said today. It said that members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and participants from other countries should focus on difficult political transitions in Indonesia and Cambodia, the unchecked violence in East Timor, and the worsening human rights situation in Burma. U.N. Asked to Intervene to Protect Falun Gong's Rights (New York, July 22, 1999) — Human Rights Watch today strongly condemned the Chinese government's nationwide ban on the practice of Falun Gong. It urged the release of the organization's leaders and members arbitrarily detained in a nationwide sweep aimed at suppressing the group. Dismissal of Charges Against Cambodian Rights Workers Welcomed (July 22, 1999, New York) -- Human Rights Watch today welcomed the dismissal of charges against ten people, including two workers from the Cambodian human rights organization Licadho, who were arrested after demonstrations broke out in Sihanoukville, Cambodia in December 1998. Jamaican Children Endure Abusive Conditions in Police Lockups (Kingston, July 22, 1999) -- Jamaican children are frequently detained for months at a time in filthy and overcrowded police lock-ups, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. Sierra Leonean Rebels Frustrate Humanitarian Relief (New York, July 21, l999)-- Human Rights Watch called on rebels from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in areas under their control. There are currently 2.6 million civilians residing in areas under rebel control who are facing food shortages and a deteriorating health situation. Identities of Iran Detainees Must Be Public (New York, July 19, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today called on the Iranian authorities to release the names of the hundreds of students and others taken into detention following violent clashes last week, and to release those not implicated in any criminal conduct. Rights Abuses Behind Kashmir Fighting (New York, July 16, 1999)— In a new report published today, Human Rights Watch charges that human rights violations by all parties in Kashmir have been a critical factor behind the current conflict. Belarus Attacks Universities and Academic Freedom (Minsk, July 15, 1999) — The Belarusian government is stifling university activity and campus life in its Soviet-style attack on civil society. Uzbek Activist Sentenced to a Five Year Term (New York, July 14, 1999) Human Rights Watch today condemned the five year sentence handed down to an independent human rights activist. A Human Rights Watch representative monitored the trial in Tashkent. 32 Writers From 22 Countries to Receive Hellman/Hammett Grants (New York, July 14, 1999) -- African writers received the lion's share of this year's Hellman/Hammett grants, a clear indication of the hazards confronted by those in the writing profession on the African continent. Of the thirty-two grant recipients, fourteen come from African countries, five hail from Iran, and four from Vietnam. Assault on Iranian students condemned (New York, July 13, 1999)— Human Rights Watch today called on Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to ensure that an independent public inquiry is carried out into the July 9 attack on students at Tehran University dormitories by the extremist group Ansar-e Hezbollah and police. U.S. Should Support Geneva Conventions Enforcement (New York, July 12, 1999) Human Rights Watch made public today a letter to President Clinton calling on the United States to support the first-ever conference of the Geneva Conventions signatories, scheduled for July 15, 1999. The conference will discuss measures to enforce the Fourth Geneva Convention (Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War) in the occupied Palestinian territories. U.N. Must Clarify Position on Sierra Leonean Amnesty (New York, July 12, 1999)—Human Rights Watch today called on the United Nations to clarify its position on the amnesty provisions of the Sierra Leone peace accords. The accords were signed last week in Lome, Togo, by the government of Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and the special representative of the U.N. Secretary-General. The U.N. representative added a handwritten disclaimer that the U.N. would not recognize the amnesty as applying to gross violations of human rights. Uzbekistan rights activist disappears in custody (New York, July 11, 1999) Human Rights Watch reported today that the whereabouts of Uzbek rights activist Ismail Adylov remained unknown more than 24 hours after he was detained by police on Saturday, July 10. UN Role in Sierra Leone Peace Deal Condemned (New York, July 8, 1999)- Human Rights Watch today condemned the United Nations for acting as moral guarantor of a peace agreement that includes a blanket amnesty for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone's civil war. Bahrain: Harsh Sentence Against al-Jamri Condemned (New York, July 8, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch condemned the sentence issued yesterday against Sheikh `Abd al-Amir al-Jamri by Bahrain's State Security Court. The sixty-two-year-old Shi'a religious leader was sentenced to ten years in prison and ordered to pay 5,709,247 Bahrain Dinar (more than US$15 million) in damages for property losses incurred during several years of political unrest in Bahrain. The sentence cannot be appealed.
Censorship, Restrictions Stunt Internet Growth in Mideast (Washington, July 8, 1999) - Censorship, restrictions on access, and high prices are stunting Internet growth in the Middle East and North Africa, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The report charges that in many countries in the region, information cannot be freely exchanged via the Internet. Annan Must Reject Amnesty for Sierra Leone Crimes (New York, July 7, 1999)—Human Rights Watch today called on the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to reject any peace agreement for Sierra Leone that includes a general amnesty. The organization also released fresh evidence of ongoing rebel atrocities in Sierra Leone. Refugees in Tanzania Confined Unfairly (New York, July 7 1999) — Tens of thousands of refugees, some of whom have lived in Tanzania for more than two decades, have been rounded up by the Tanzanian army and confined to camps for the past year in the western part of the country, Human Rights Watch charged today. East Timor: Stop Militia Violence (July 6, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch said today that fresh attacks on United Nations personnel by pro-Indonesia militias in East Timor demonstrate that governments supporting the UN mission there need to get much tougher with the Indonesian armed forces. Large-Scale Massacre in Pusto Selo (Postoselo) (New York, July 2, 1999)-Three ethnic Albanian survivors of a large-scale massacre in Pusto Selo (Postoselo in Albanian), a village near the town of Orahovac, have described to Human Rights Watch how Serbian security forces shelled their village, captured surrendering villagers, and executed at least 106 men. Cycle of Killings in Kashmir Fuels Conflict (New York, July 1) — Two civilian massacres in the past two days have shown how human rights abuses are fueling the conflict in Kashmir, Human Rights Watch said today. East Timor: Donors Must Register More Forceful Protest (July 1, 1999) -- Human Rights Watch today called on all major donors to the United Nations operation in East Timor to step up pressure on the Indonesian armed forces to disband civilian militias in East Timor. Congolese Human Rights Defenders in Peril at Home and Abroad (New York, July 1, 1999)—Human Rights Watch today accused the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) and the government of President Laurent Kabila of stepping up their harassment of Congolese human rights defenders. Hong Kong: Statement by Human Rights Watch Statement by Human Rights Watch to the Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeEast Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee July 1, 1999 More... |
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