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Current Events Focus on Human Rights 56th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights - Geneva (April 27) Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe (April 25) Violence in East Timor (April 21) China: Human Rights Deteriorate (March 29) Turkey: Focus on Human Rights (March 28) Clinton's South Asia Trip: Human Rights Concerns (March 25) Kosovo: Focus on Human Rights (March 21, 2000) HRW Challenge to Candidates (US Elections 2000) (March 13) Caucasus and Central Asia Page (March 9) The Pinochet Decision (March 3, 2000) Colombia - The Violence Continues (February 25) Civil War in Sierra Leone (February 2, 2000) More... |
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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. UN to Monitor Harassment of Rights Workers (Geneva, April 27, 2000) Human Rights Watch today hailed the decision by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to name an envoy to monitor the treatment of human rights defenders around the world. The group said the decision capped off a "relatively successful" six-week session. "Security" Used to Cover Abuses Against Tutsi and Hutu (New York, April 27, 2000) -- The Rwandan government is using the pretext of security to cover human rights abuses against Rwandan citizens, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The report details cases of assassination, murder, arbitrary detention, torture and other abuses perpetrated chiefly by soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, and by members of a government-backed citizens' militia called the Local Defense Force. Harassment Escalates Against Serbia Government Critics New York, April 26, 2000) —The Serbian government's crackdown against its critics has intensified dramatically since the end of the NATO war,according to a report published today by Human Rights Watch. Especially hard hit are opposition parties, the independent media, student movement, nongovernmental organizations, and civic activists in Serbia. Clinton Should Pressure Ivanov on Chechnya (New York, April 25, 2000) —Human Rights Watch today urged the Clinton Administration to keep up the pressure on Russia for a credible investigation into atrocities committed in Chechnya. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights voted in Geneva today to express grave concern over widespread human rights violations in Chechnya. The United States voted in favor of the resolution. President Clinton is meeting today with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. U.N. Chechnya Vote Welcomed (New York, April 25, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today welcomed the passage of a United Nations resolution expressing grave concern about Russia's conduct of the war in Chechnya. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, at its annual meeting in Geneva, voted 25 to 7, with 19 abstentions, in favor of the resolution, capping several weeks of frantic diplomacy in which Russia tried to stave off such criticism. Iran Media Crackdown Condemned (New York, April 25, 2000) In a letter sent last night to Iran's top judicial authority, Human Rights Watch condemned the escalating harassment, intimidation and punishment of the country's independent journalists and publishers. United Nations Showdown Over Chechnya (Geneva, April 21, 2000) -- With a showdown brewing next week over Russian atrocities in Chechnya, Human Rights Watch today urged the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to insist on a thorough investigation of reported war crimes. Indonesia: Aceh Needs Comprehensive Justice Effort (New York, April 19, 2000)-Human Rights Watch today challenged the Indonesian government to systematically prosecute widespread atrocities in Aceh. The call came as a long-delayed human rights trial was finally set to begin in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital. Rights Group Deplores U.N. China Move (Geneva, April 18, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today strongly deplored the decision of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights not to consider a resolution criticizing China's human rights performance. Release All Fifteen Lebanese Hostages (New York, April 18, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on Israel to release immediately all Lebanese it holds as hostages and to compensate them for their unlawful detention. Israel holds fifteen Lebanese hostages inside Israel and an undisclosed number at al-Khiyam prison, a facility administered by its auxiliary militia, the South Lebanon Army (SLA), in Israeli-occupied south Lebanon. U.N. Human Rights Commisson Urged to Vote on Abuses (Geneva, April 17, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today called on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to vote on difficult issues rather than always striving to reach "consensus." Adjournment Welcomed in Trial of Iranian Jews (New York, April 13, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today welcomed the decision of Judge Sadik Nourani to grant the request of defense lawyers to adjourn the espionage trial of thirteen Iranian Jews until the first of May. The organization also supported the defense lawyer's request that the ten defendants still in custody be released on bail for Passover. Chechnya Investigation Called a Whitewash (New York, April 16, 2000) -- On the eve of Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin's visit to Britain, Human Rights Watch has released a report documenting Russian forces' massacre of civilians in the village of Alkhan-Yurt, in Chechnya. Trial of Iranian Jews Should be Postponed (New York, April 13, 2000) Human Rights Watch today urged officials presiding over the espionage trial of thirteen Iranian Jews to make public the official charges against the defendants, and to grant the request of defense lawyers for a short postponement of the trial in order to allow them to meet with their clients. "Disappearances" in Lebanon (New York, April 13, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on the Lebanese government to commit adequate time and resources to effectively investigate the cases of an estimated 17,000 Lebanese civilians who were kidnapped or "disappeared" during the civil war of 1975-90. The organization made its call on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the start of the war. Blair Should Take Tough Stand with Putin (London, April 13, 2000) -- Prime Minister Tony Blair must take a tough stand on Chechnya when he meets on Sunday and Monday with Russia's president-elect, Vladimir Putin, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Blair sent today. Russia's President-elect Vladimir Putin's Forthcoming Visit to U.K. I write with regard to the forthcoming visit by Russia's president-elect, Vladimir Putin, to urge that you use this opportunity to send a principled message about the consequences of Russia's brutal actions in the context of the war in Chechnya. Tunisia Intensifies Crackdown on Critics, Closes Publishing House (New York, April 12, 2000)-- Human Rights Watch today strongly condemned the action by Tunisian authorities to close down Editions Aloés, an independent publishing house in Tunis. Police sealed off the organization's office on the evening of Monday, April 10. Editions Aloés, founded and directed by longtime human rights activist Sihem Ben Sedrine, specializes in works of philosophy, art, and natural history, and has become a meeting place for Tunisian writers, artists, and human rights defenders. Cambodian Human Rights Workers Intimidated, Threatened with Arrest (New York, April 9, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today condemned threats of arrest against staff members of the Cambodian human rights organization Licadho (the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights). The threats are reportedly because of its role in providing humanitarian assistance to victims of labor abuse, including ethnic Vietnamese minorities. New U.S. Mines Would Violate Treaty (Washington, D.C., April 7, 2000) Human Rights Watch today charged that the Pentagon is pursuing a replacement for antipersonnel mines that violates the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. The United States has said it will join the treaty in 2006. Sharif Trial No Vindication of Pakistan Courts (New York, Apr. 6) — Human Rights Watch today expressed concern over the military government's characterization of the Nawaz Sharif trial as a fair and transparent process, but welcomed the court's decision not to impose the death penalty. Investigations Needed for Chechnya (Geneva, April 5, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today expressed skepticism that a Russian investigation in Chechnya would reveal and punish the perpetrators of extensive atrocities there. The organization called on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, now meeting in Geneva, to reject the notion that a Russian inquiry is any substitute for an international investigation and to establish a thorough and transparent investigation by the United Nations instead. Two International Organizations Protest Ongoing Harassment of Tunisian Journalist (New York, April 5, 2000) In a joint letter sent today to Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) strongly protested the Tunisian authorities' continued harassment of journalist Taoufik Ben Brik solely for exercising his internationally guaranteed right to freedom of expression. Russian Forces Blockade and Brutalize Chechen Village (Moscow, April 5, 2000)—Russian forces have blockaded more than 4,000 civilians in the Chechen village of Tangi Chu. According to reports collected by Human Rights Watch, Russian soldiers have repeatedly detained and beaten young men, extorting bribes for their release. In at least one instance, Russian soldiers threw a grenade at a funeral. The village is also suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Russian troops cutting off a water pipeline. Censored Chilean Journalist Wins Human Rights Prize (Washington, DC, April 4, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch announced today that an exiled Chilean journalist, Alejandra Matus, is among the recipients of this year's Hellman-Hammett Awards, given to writers who have been victims of persecution. Prominent writers and journalists from all over the world have been recipients of this award since its establishment over a decade ago. Malaysia Urged to Lift Ban on Rallies (New York, April 1, 2000)— Human Rights Watch today condemned Malaysia's escalating crackdown on opposition speech and urged the government to lift its ban on public rallies in the capital. The ban, implemented on March 25 for an indefinite period, applies to all outdoor gatherings in Kuala Lumpur of more than four people. The ban comes on the heels of restrictions on the popular opposition newspaper Harakah, the Islamic opposition party PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia), and the critical media. Crackdown on Angola's Independent Media Condemned (New York, March 31, 2000)—Human Rights Watch today called on the Angolan government to stop its ongoing crackdown on press freedom in Angola, and urged the government to abide by the rule of law and respect press freedom. Human Rights Watch has registered twenty-seven cases of harrasment against journalists in Angola in the last twelve months. Russian Soldiers Executed Seven Men in Chechen Village (Nazran, March 31, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today released fresh evidence of Russian forces committing summary executions in a Chechen village. More... |
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