Incendiary weapons in Syria; Out of School in Jordan: HRW Daily Brief

Incendiary weapons in Syria; out of School in Jordan; attacks on Yemen hospitals; opposing Thailand’s junta; will Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi speak out in China?; targeting LGBT people in Indonesia; and South Sudan horrors...

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Syria has been using incendiary weapons in civilian areas, Human Rights Watch reported today. Incendiary weapons cause excruciatingly painful burns and start fires that are hard to extinguish, and should be banned globally. Their use in Syria has increased significantly since the Russian Federation began its joint military operation with the Assad government.
From earlier today: Despite Jordan’s efforts to enroll refugee children in its public school system, over 80,000 children who fled the horrors of Syria in hope of a future are missing out on an education, a new Human Rights Watch report released today has found. Donors need to step up their support to ensure refugee children can get the schooling they need and deserve.
Airstrikes on hospitals have long become routine in Syria. Now hospitals are becoming a target in Yemen, too. An airstrike on a hospital in the northwestern part of the country killed at least 11 people and wounded 19. It is the fourth such strike on a hospital carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in less than a year.
A prominent Thai student activist, who has been on a hunger strike since August 7 in protest against his detention, should immediately be freed, Human Rights Watch said today. Jatupat Boonphatthararaksa was arrested while distributing publications criticizing a new constitution which enshrines military rule in Thailand.
As Aung San Suu Kyi prepares for her first trip to China since her party swept to power in Burma’s elections, the Nobel Peace Prize winner should make sure two issues get attention: the fate of thousands of Burmese refugees in China, and that of imprisoned fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. By raising their cases Suu Kyi would show true leadership in support of human rights.
Up until now, Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has remained silent amidst a government-led torrent of abuse targeted at the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Will he use the occasion of the country’s Independence Day on August 17 to defend the rights of all Indonesians, including LGBT people?

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