The Latest News Last updated Sunday, August 31, 2003 News Archive   |   Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch Contribute to HRW   |   Join the HRW Mailing List Current Events Focus on Human Rights Background on War in Iraq  (September, 2003) Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (July, 2003) Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (July, 2003) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (November, 2002) Iraq: End Deliberate Attacks on Civilians (New York, August 30, 2003) Today's car bomb attack in the Iraqi holy city of al-Najaf was a deliberate attack on civilians that violates the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said. Uzbekistan: Uzbek Rights Activist Kidnapped and Beaten (New York, August 30, 2003) The Uzbek government should fully investigate the kidnapping and severe beating of a human rights defender in Tashkent, Human Rights Watch said today. Malaysia: Don't Return Indonesian Asylum Seekers (New York, August 29, 2003) Malaysia should not deport dozens of asylum seekers detained by the police in a recent crackdown, Human Rights Watch urged today. Most of the detainees have fled the war-torn Aceh province in neighboring Indonesia. Peru: Prosecutions Should Follow Truth Commission Report (Washington, D.C., August 28, 2003) -- The findings of Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission underscore the need to prosecute the perpetrators of gross human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. Egypt: Government Contempt for Basic Political Rights  (Letter) (New York, August 28, 2003) -- The Egyptian government’s decision to charge five anti-war activists under emergency legislation shows its contempt for the most elemental right to peaceful dissent, Human Rights Watch said today. Ukraine: Women Facing Job Discrimination   (in Ukrainian) (New York, August 27, 2003) - Gender discrimination in Ukraine is cutting women out of the work force while the Ukrainian government is doing nothing to stop the problem, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. Vietnam: Supreme Court Should Overturn Cyber-Dissident's Conviction (Français) (New York, August 26, 2003) - Vietnam's Supreme Court should overturn the politically motivated espionage conviction of Internet-dissident Pham Hong Son and order his release, Human Rights Watch urged today. U.N.: U.S. Should Not Undercut Protection of Aid Workers (New York, August 25, 2003) The United States should not shortchange protection for humanitarian aid workers in its misguided campaign against the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said today. The proposed Security Council resolution supporting the safety of aid workers should be immediately placed before the Security Council for a vote and adopted without delay. Answer ‘Chemical Ali´ with a tribunal (August 25, 2003) -- The capture in Iraq on Thursday of Ali Hassan al-Majid offers an extraordinary opportunity for Iraqis to bring some measure of justice to tens of thousands of victims of Baath Party rule. But this can only happen if he is put on trial before a tribunal that is fair, impartial and independent. Iraq: "Chemical Ali" Should Get Fair Trial (New York, August 22, 2003) Iraqi Gen. Ali Hassan al-Majid ("Chemical Ali") should be prosecuted on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today. International judges, prosecutors, and investigators should participate in the trial so that it is fair, impartial, and independent. Tunisia: Release Journalist Now (New York, August 22, 2003) The Tunisian government should release journalist Abdullah Zouari immediately and unconditionally, Human Rights Watch said today. Argentina: Senate Votes to Annul Amnesty Laws (Washington, D.C., August 21, 2003) -- The Argentine Senate’s vote to annul the country’s amnesty laws is a major victory for justice, Human Rights Watch said today. The vote to strike down the laws, held on Thursday morning, was 43 to 7 with one abstention. Australian PM's China Comments Undermine Bid to Lead U.N. Body (New York, August 21, 2003) - Prime Minister John Howard's failure to tackle human rights issues in China undermines Australia's bid to lead the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Refugee Advocate Arthur C. Helton (New York, August 20, 2003) Human Rights Watch mourns the loss of Arthur Helton, a leading advocate for refugees and internally displaced persons, who was among the victims of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. Cambodia: Arrest Murderer of Political Activist's Daughter (New York, August 20, 2003) -- The Cambodian government should arrest the village chief implicated in the murder of an opposition activist's 16-year-old daughter, Human Rights Watch said today. Kyrgyzstan: Continued Persecution of Political Prisoner (New York, August 20, 2003) Continued imprisonment of Kyrgyzstan’s main opposition leader puts the fairness of future elections there in doubt, Human Rights Watch said today. Bangladesh: Brutality Fueling HIV/AIDS (New York, August, 20, 2003) — Bangladesh is stoking an emerging AIDS epidemic with violent police abuse of sex workers, injection drug users and men who have sex with men, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. Iraq: Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Sergio Vieira de Mello -- (New York, August 19, 2003)The death of U.N. Special Envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello is a shocking loss not only to the United Nations and people of Iraq but to the cause of human rights, Human Rights Watch said. Iraq: Attack on U.N. Headquarters Condemned (New York, August 19, 2003) Today's attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad is a war crime and a serious blow to the international community's efforts to assist Iraqi people, Human Rights Watch said today. Uganda: Idi Amin Dies Without Facing Justice (New York, August 18, 2003) – Idi Amin, who died Saturday, should have faced justice for his crimes, Human Rights Watch said. Angola: Resettlement Process Highly Flawed (Luanda, August 15, 2003) – The Angolan government and the United Nations are failing to ensure the safe and voluntary return of millions of Angolans to their homes, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Argentina: Holding Rights Abusers Accountable (Washington DC, August 14, 2003) -- The Argentine Chamber of Deputies' vote to annul two laws that shielded the military from prosecution for past human rights violations sets a welcome and historic precedent for Latin America, Human Rights Watch said today. U.N.: New Standards for Corporations and Human Rights (Geneva, August 13, 2003) The United Nations has taken an important step forward in developing human rights standards for corporations, Human Rights Watch said today. Uganda: Domestic Violence Worsens AIDS (Kampala, August 13, 2003) The Ugandan government's failure to protect women from domestic violence and discrimination increases women's risk of contracting HIV, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Mexico: Set Back for Human Rights (New York, August 12, 2003) — The dismissal of Sub-Secretary for Human Rights Mariclaire Acosta is a serious blow to the credibility of President Vicente Fox's human rights agenda, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez announced late Monday that he was firing Acosta and eliminating her post. Peru — Truth Commission Under Pressure Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission needs support from all political sectors in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. Recently the commission has been the target of aggressive attacks by its political opponents in advance of the public release of its findings. U.S. Should Take Saddam Hussein Alive   (Letter) (New York, August 12, 2003) – The U.S. government should take Saddam Hussein into custody if at all possible and make him stand trial, rather than killing him, Human Rights Watch said today. Uzbekistan: Rights Defender Faces Discriminatory Charges (Tashkent, August 12, 2003) An Uzbek rights defender on trial for alleged homosexual conduct should be released from custody immediately, Human Rights Watch said today. West Africa: Taylor Must Face Justice (New York, August 11, 2003) Nigerian authorities must arrest Liberian ex-President Charles Taylor and deliver him to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today. Lebanese Lawyer and Rights Activist Arrested (New York, August 9, 2003) The Lebanese government should immediately release lawyer and human rights activist Dr. Muhamed Mugraby, Human Rights Watch said today. Dr. Mugraby was arrested on August 8 on apparently politically motivated charges of "impersonating a lawyer." Colombia - Aerial Anti-Drug Program Needs Safeguards (New York, August 7, 2003) - The Colombian government should not resume anti-drug surveillance flights unless they include effective safeguards to prevent the unlawful use of lethal force, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent to President Alvaro Uribe today. Sri Lanka: Rights Groups Say LTTE-linked Killings Continue with Impunity (New York, August 7, 2003) - There is convincing evidence that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are taking advantage of the ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government to murder political opponents, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said today.  (Briefing Paper) Leading Rights Groups Urge Security Council to Ensure Management Reforms do not Undermine Rwanda Tribunal (New York, August 7, 2003) - As the U.N. Security Council considers changes in the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), human rights groups urged the Council to safeguard the independence of the ICTR and its capacity to render justice fully and impartially.   (Letter) U.S. Punishes Latvia in Campaign Against the ICC (New York, August 6, 2003) - In a new and troubling phase of its campaign to undermine the International Criminal Court (ICC), the U.S. government is now punishing some of its closest allies, including Latvia, by jeopardizing their military capacities.  (Latvian)  (Deutsch) Indonesia: Transfer Convicted General From Aceh Officer Responsible for Violence in East Timor (London, August 5, 2003) The paltry sentence given to Major General Adam R. Damiri after his conviction on charges of crimes against humanity by a Jakarta human rights court demonstrates again that the process has been a sham. Côte d'Ivoire: Mercenaries and Militias Must Go (New York, August 5, 2003) The Ivorian government should immediately disband civilian militias and investigate abuses by its security forces and Liberian mercenaries in western Ivory Coast, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.    en Français Liberia: Peacekeepers Should Not Be Shielded from Justice (New York, August 1, 2003) -- International peacekeepers in Liberia should not be granted immunity for the crimes they are trying to prevent, Human Rights Watch said today. Belgium: Universal Jurisdiction Law Repealed (Brussels, August 1, 2003): The Belgian Parliament's repeal of its landmark "universal jurisdiction" statute is a step backwards in the global fight against the worst atrocities, six human rights groups said today. Nonetheless, some cases already being investigated by Belgian courts will continue, including those concerning Rwanda, Guatemala and Chad's Hissène Habré. Egypt: Activist Begins Hunger Strike as Detention is Extended (New York, August 1, 2003) State security prosecutors in Egypt who extended the detention of antiwar activist Ashraf Ibrahim should instead release him immediately, Human Rights Watch said today. Ibrahim, who launched a hunger strike in protest of the 15-day extension issued on July 30, has been held without charge or trial for three months. New Crackdown on the Press in Sudan (New York, August 1, 2003) The government of Sudan must restore the license of the country's largest English-language newspaper and allow it and other newspapers to publish freely, Human Rights Watch said today. More...