The Latest News Last updated Monday, March 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  (April, 2003) Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (February, 2003) Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (February, 2003) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (November, 2002) Iraq: Feigning Civilian Status Violates the Laws of War (New York, March 31, 2003) Feigning civilian or noncombatant status to deceive the enemy is a violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today. Vietnam: UN Delegates Should Condemn Internet Arrests (New York, March 31, 2003) Vietnam's use of espionage charges against peaceful dissidents clearly violates Vietnam's international human rights obligations and this practice should be strongly condemned by delegates at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights now meeting in Geneva, Human Rights Watch said today. Violence Against Nigerian Political Activist (New York, March 29, 2003) A recent attack on the home of a political activist in Nigeria highlights the need for additional efforts to protect government critics in the crucial pre-election period, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S.: Oklahoma Should Halt Execution of Juvenile Offender (New York, March 29, 2003) Oklahoma should spare the life of juvenile offender Scott Hain, Human Rights Watch said today. The state parole board hears Hain’s clemency request on March 31; if it does not act favorably on Hain’s petition, he will be put to death on April 3. Iraq: Impending Inter-Ethnic Violence in Kirkuk (Arbil, March 28, 2003) As U.S. and coalition forces prepare an assault on the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, U.S. forces have a responsibility to prevent the eruption of inter-ethnic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Iraq: Coalition Attack on TV Station May Be Unlawful (New York, March 26, 2003) Iraqi TV may not be targeted solely because it is being used for propaganda purposes, Human Rights Watch said today. The U.S. military command in Qatar announced that on March 26, coalition forces attacked Iraq’s main TV station in Baghdad. The United States said that the attack was intended to damage Iraq’s “command-and-control assets." U.S. “Operation Liberty Shield” Undermines Asylum Seekers’ Rights (New York, March 26, 2003) The United States should rescind its new policy of detaining all asylum seekers from countries where terrorist organizations have been active, Human Rights Watch said today. U.N.: Counter-Terrorism Watchdog Needed (Geneva, March 26, 2003) – The United Nations should appoint a high-level expert to monitor the impact of counter-terrorist measures on human rights, Human Rights Watch urged today. Egypt: Torture of Anti-war Demonstrators Continues (Cairo, March 26, 2003) Egyptian authorities should act immediately to stop continuing arrests and torture of anti-war demonstrators, three leading international human rights groups said today. Turkey: Avoid Past Errors In Northern Iraq (New York, March 26, 2003) Turkish authorities should be taking steps to avoid repeating past violations in any operations in northern Iraq, Human Rights Watch said today. Serbia: Emergency Should Not Trump Basic Rights (New York, March 25, 2003) Certain restrictions on rights imposed by the Serbian government in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic may not be justified under international law, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic today. NATO: Focus on Arms Trafficking (New York, March 25, 2003) NATO should make the fight against arms trafficking a top priority in Central and Eastern Europe, Human Rights Watch said today. On March 26, foreign ministers of the seven countries invited to join NATO are expected to attend the signing of the accession protocols in Brussels. Texas Governor Urged to Halt Execution of Mentally Ill Man (New York, March 24, 2003) Governor Rick Perry should halt the scheduled execution next week of paranoid schizophrenic James Colburn, Human Rights Watch said today. Colburn was sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of Peggy Murphy and is slated to be put to death by lethal injection on March 26. Iraq Must Not Parade POWs (New York, March 24, 2003) – It violates the Geneva Conventions for either the Iraqi or the U.S. government to deliberately expose prisoners of war (POWs) to the media, Human Rights Watch said today. Egypt: Crackdown on Antiwar Protests (Cairo, March 24, 2003) Hundreds of antiwar activists and demonstrators have been detained in Cairo and some are being tortured by police, Human Rights Watch charged today. Iraq: Warring Parties Must Uphold Laws Of War An Affront to His Victims (New York, March 19, 2003) – The conduct of all warring parties in Iraq will be under unprecedented scrutiny and they should strictly adhere to the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing letters to the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Iraq. UK Foreign Secretary Suggests Immunity for Saddam An Affront to His Victims (London, March 19, 2003) – Any formal offer of guaranteed immunity for Saddam Hussein would be a travesty of justice, Human Rights Watch said today. Uzbekistan: New Strategy from EBRD Tashkent Must Meet Benchmarks (New York, March 19, 2003) – The Uzbek government should make urgent progress in meeting the specific benchmarks in human rights set by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in its new country strategy for Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch said today. Egypt: High Court Overturns Conviction of Rights Activists Saadeddin Ibrahim and Ibn Khaldun Center Colleagues Vindicated in Ruling (Washington, D.C., March 18, 2003) – EgyptÕs highest court has demonstrated its independence and good sense by acquitting Dr. Saadeddin Ibrahim and several associates of all charges against them, Human Rights Watch said today. Persian Gulf: U.S. Cluster Bomb Duds A Threat (Washington, March 18, 2003) – Dangerous explosive duds from cluster munitions used by allied forces in the 1991 Persian Gulf War are still being found and destroyed in Kuwait at the startling rate of 200 per month, according to official documents obtained by Human Rights Watch.   (Briefing Paper) Armenia: Human Rights Defender Imprisoned, Office Set On Fire Armenian authorities should release a human rights defender detained by police on March 15, Human Rights Watch said today. Police detained Arthur Sakunts, leader of the Vanadzor branch of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA), the day after the organization’s office was firebombed. Ukraine: Informal Political Censorship (New York, March 17, 2003) – The Presidential Administration of Ukraine blatantly violates freedom of expression through explicit instructions on how television stations may cover the news, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today that included examples of these directives. Tunisian Human Rights Lawyers and Associations under Siege (New York, March 17, 2003) – Lawyers in Tunisia are paying a stiff price for their growing human rights activismy. In a briefing paper released today, Human Rights Watch documents a series of recent measures that heighten pressure on lawyers who criticize the government. Serbia and Montenegro: Sjeverin "Test Case" Resumes (New York, March 15, 2003) – A war-crimes trial reconvening in Belgrade district court on March 17 offers an important test of the rule of law in Serbia, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper issued today. Iraq: Expulsions of Kirkuk Region Minorities Continue (Washington, March 14, 2003) – Iraq´s practice of expelling Kurds, Turkomans, and Assyrians in the oil-rich regions of Kirkuk and turning their property over to Arab families from the south continues, Human Rights Watch said today.   (Report) Serbia and Montenegro: Djindjic Assassinated (New York, March 12, 2003) Human Rights Watch expressed sorrow at the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic today. Djindjic was a leading force behind the progress Serbia has made in respect for human rights and the rule of law since the October 2000 fall of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Human Rights Watch said. Argentina: Supreme Court Should Resist Army Pressure Argentina's Supreme Court should resist army pressure and respect Argentina's human rights treaty obligations in a key decision expected soon on the constitutionality of the country's amnesty laws, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the chief justice. These laws have blocked most prosecutions for human rights abuses during military rule in Argentina, when an estimated 15,000 people "disappeared." United Nations: Big Powers Must Act on Human Rights (Geneva, March 12, 2003) – The United States and the European Union have a special responsibility to pull the United Nations Commission on Human Rights back from the brink of disaster, Human Rights Watch urged today. Sierra Leone Indictments Welcomed (New York, March 11, 2003) The Sierra Leone Special Court's announcement of its first seven indictments is a tremendous step forward for the cause of justice in Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today. D.R. Congo: Civilians at Risk of Revenge Killings in Ituri (New York, March 11, 2003) All parties involved in the renewed combat in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must prevent killings and other abuses of civilians by their troops, Human Rights Watch said today. First Judges at New Global Court (The Hague, March 11, 2003) The inauguration of the first eighteen judges at the new International Criminal Court (ICC) will help to thwart U.S. efforts to undermine the court, Human Rights Watch said today. Tibet: More Detentions in Sichuan Province (New York, March 11, 2003) Two Tibetan businessmen have been detained by Chinese authorities, apparently on suspicion of leaking information on the torture and trial of other Tibetan activists, Human Rights Watch said today. Armenia: Election Marred by Intimidation, Ballot Stuffing (Yerevan, March 7, 2003) Widespread ballot stuffing and intimidation marred Armenia’s presidential election runoff, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S. Should Release Some Guantanamo Prisoners (New York, March 6, 2003) -- The United States has no legal basis for continuing to hold captured Taliban soldiers at Guantanamo Bay, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Liberia: New Accounts Detail Abuses (New York, March 6, 2003) Five nurses held for three months in 2002 by Liberian rebels have provided detailed accounts of their mistreatment, Human Rights Watch said today. Qatar: Prosecute Iraqi Official for War Crimes (New York, March 6, 2003) Qatar should arrest and prosecute Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, a visiting senior Iraqi official suspected of responsibility for crimes of genocide, mass murder and torture, Human Rights Watch urged today. U.S.: State Department Fails to Designate Partners as Violators of Religious Freedom (Washington, March 5, 2003) The U.S. State Department's designation today of countries that deny religious freedom once again failed to single out some of the world's most egregious violators, Human Rights Watch said today. Turkmenistan: President Niazov Should Keep Promise, Release Imprisoned Ecologist (March 5, 2003) A coalition of human rights organizations today condemned the three-year sentence handed down to Turkmen environmental activist Farid Tukhbatullin. Turkey: Plans for Northern Iraq Raise Concern (New York, March 5, 2003)—The record of the Turkish military in combating Kurdish rebels at home raises serious concerns about its engagement in northern Iraq during or after any war, Human Rights Watch warned in a briefing paper released today. Women Stripped of Property in Kenya (Nairobi, March 4, 2003) Women throughout Kenya lose their homes, land, and other property due to discriminatory laws and customs, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Human Rights Watch said property rights abuses in sub-Saharan Africa perpetuate women's inequality, doom development efforts, and undermine the fight against HIV/AIDS. Uganda: Drop Treason Charges Against Child Abductees (New York, March 4, 2003) The government of Uganda should drop treason charges against two boys formerly abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Human Rights Watch said today. Turkmenistan: Court should release ecologist Farid Tukhbatullin (New York, March 3, 2003) Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the International League for Human Rights, and the Memorial Human Rights Centre urge the authorities to release prisoner of conscience Farid Tukhbatullin and drop all charges. Egypt: Prosecute Visiting Iraqi Officials Involved in War Crimes (New York, March 1, 2003) Human Rights Watch today called on the Egyptian authorities to arrest and prosecute two visiting senior Iraqi officials implicated in crimes of genocide, mass murder and torture. Nigeria: OPC a Continuing Threat to Security (New York, February 28, 2003) Militia and vigilante violence continues to pose a real threat to security in Nigeria, especially in the period leading up to elections in April 2003, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Burundi: Attacks on Civilians Growing (New York, February 28, 2003) Recent attacks by government troops, and the pullout of the main rebel force from a ceasefire agreement, are combining to put civilians in Burundi in growing danger, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Armenia: Mass Arrests Before Runoff (New York, February 28, 2003) Mass detentions of opposition campaign officials threaten the integrity of Armenia’s March 5 presidential election runoff, Human Rights Watch said today. Since Saturday, police have arrested at least 150 supporters of Stepan Demirchian, the challenger to incumbent President Robert Kocharian. More...