China prohibits vigils in commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre; palm oil corporations devastating impact on communities and the environment in Indonesia; US admits killing civilians abroad; Pakistan's government fails to protect journalists from attacks; camp shutdowns in Iraq leave thousands of displaced people without access to essential needs; Denmark plans asylum centers outside the EU; European Parliament to vote on the EU's failing global vaccinations strategy; and mass surveillance in New York City.

Get the Daily Brief by email.

 

The Chinese government has banned public commemorations for the Tiananmen massacre of pro-democracy protesters in June 1989. Vigils are prohibited in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, a continuation of censoring public discourse on the violent crackdown.

Palm oil plantations Indonesia are causing tremendous harm to the surrounding communities and the environment and the government fails to enforce its own policies and laws. A new Human Rights Watch report shows there has been no improvement in government protection of residents and the land, and in fact new laws could facilitate the abuses.

The US military admits responsibility for killing 23 civilians in conflicts abroad throughout 2020. NGOs argue that this number is highly inaccurate and conservatively estimate at least 85 victims.

A recent series of attacks and growing pressure on journalists who criticize Pakistan's government are cause for serious concern. The Pakistani authorities have failed to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that all journalists can do their jobs securely.

Recent closures of displacement camps in Iraq have stripped thousands of displaced people of essential services during the Covid-19 pandemic, with inadequate government plans for their return home.

Denmark has adopted legislation to open asylum centers outside the EU. The Danish government has recently pushed forward plans to extend its restrictive asylum policy to Syrian refugees, falsely arguing it was safe for them to return to Damascus

Next week, the European Parliament will vote on the EU's approach to global vaccinations. The European Commission is trying to defend its blocking of wider vaccine production globally with failed arguments largely taken from the pharmaceutical industry.

Finally, a report from our colleagues at Amnesty International highlights the extent of surveillance in New York City. According to the group, local police can use over than 15,000 cameras to track people using facial recognition.