human-rights

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Bangladesh - Government challenged over torture of editor in Sylhet - 10.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders today called on the interim government to order an investigation into torture and misuse of power against journalist Noor Ahmed in Sylhet, north-eastern Bangladesh. The worldwide press freedom organisation was reacting to a just-released investigation report by human rights body Odhikar revealing that the journalist was arrested and tortured in 2007 by members of the Rapid Action Battalion in Sylhet.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 10-Oct-2008 19:27

Vietnam - Trial of two journalists will be test for press freedom and the fight against corruption - 10.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders today called on the Vietnamese judges due to try journalists Nguyen Viet Chien and Nguyen Van Hai starting on 14 October to dismiss the case and release them."By putting Nguyen Viet Chien and Nguyen Van Hai on trial, the authorities have chosen to revenge themselves on daring journalists who revealed embarrassing cases and brought greater freedom to the Vietnamese press", said the organisation.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 10-Oct-2008 13:10

Uzbekistan: Journalist Sentenced to 10 Years
With Repression Continuing, EU Should Not Drop Sanctions Uzbek authorities should immediately and unconditionally release an independent journalist sentenced on October 10 on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said today. Solijon Abdurakhmanov, a journalist known for his critical reporting, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling drugs, an offense he did not commit.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 10-Oct-2008 07:00

Burma - Military government paralyses Internet - 9.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders condemns the way the Burmese military government has paralysed the Internet, silencing online dissidents and carrying out regular raids on Internet cafés, while hacker attacks have blocked access to the leading websites with news and information about Burma for the past few weeks.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 09-Oct-2008 19:02

International - World Day Against Death Penalty: urgent need for abolition also concerns journalists - 9.10.2008
On the eve of the 6th World Day Against the Death Penalty tomorrow, Reporters Without Borders would like to highlight the fact that this archaic form of punishment, whose continuing use is a political and human rights outrage, is still being used against journalists and those who defend free speech.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 09-Oct-2008 18:47

Viet Nam: Growing fear, growing discrimination
The Vietnamese government must end its intimidation and attacks against Catholics and ensure protection against violence by state-sponsored groups, Amnesty International said today
Source : Amnesty International | 09-Oct-2008 07:00

Thailand - Local newspaper editor gunned down, fourth journalist murdered this year - 7.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the murder of Wallop Bounsampop, the editor of Den Siam, a local newspaper in Chonburi province (to the south of Bangkok), on 5 October.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 07-Oct-2008 13:10

Sri Lanka - TV reporter dies in suicide attack attributed to the LTTE - 6.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders voiced shock and dismay at the death of Sirasa TV reporter Mohamed Rashmi, who was killed today in a suicide bombing blamed on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels against former General Janaka Perera that left at least 27 dead and more than 80 injured.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 06-Oct-2008 19:13

Malaysia - Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin goes on trial for "sedition" - 6.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders condemned the trial for sedition opening today against Raja Petra Kamarudin, the 58-year-old editor of the online newspaper Malaysia Today.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 06-Oct-2008 19:06

Bangladesh: Stop Denying Killings and Torture
Address Rights Abuses and Hold Security Forces to Account The Bangladesh interim government should use its last months in office to seriously address persistent rights abuses rather than deny that they are happening, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the government. Human Rights Watch remains deeply concerned about continuing reports of torture and extrajudicial killings by state security forces and the government?s failure to hold those responsible to account.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 06-Oct-2008 07:00

Kyrgyzstan: Protect Lesbians and Transgender Men From Abuse
European Institutions Should Help End the Violence Lesbian and bisexual women and transgender men face violent abuse, including rape, in Kyrgyzstan, both in family settings and from strangers on the street, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today. The report calls on the Kyrgyz government to acknowledge the problem and protect the victims, and on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other European institutions to step up their response to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 06-Oct-2008 07:00

Vietnam: End Crackdown on Catholics
Peaceful Protesters Beaten, Arrested, and Harassed The Vietnamese government should immediately release Roman Catholics arrested for holding peaceful prayer vigils in Hanoi and hold accountable police and others responsible for attacking Catholic parishioners, Human Rights Watch said today. The protesters have been calling for the return of church properties confiscated by the government.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 04-Oct-2008 07:00

United States: Bush Signs Law on Child Soldiers
Measure to Prosecute Recruiters Abroad Puts Commanders on Notice Under a new law signed today by US President George W. Bush, leaders of military forces and armed groups who have recruited child soldiers may be arrested and prosecuted in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The law could apply to leaders of dozens of forces that have recruited and used child soldiers in over 20 armed conflicts.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 03-Oct-2008 07:00

Burma - Journalist and opposition member Ohn Kyaing arrested again - 2.10.2008
Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association call for the immediate release of well-known former journalist Ohn Kyaing, who was arrested at his home yesterday. A member of the National League for Democracy, the main opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, he was freed in 2005 after spending 15 years in prison for writing ?seditious pamphlets.?
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 02-Oct-2008 19:01

China - United Nations - Open letter to Margaret Chan, WHO director, about the contaminated milk powder scandal - 2.10.2008
The latest developments in the Chinese contaminated milk powder scandal show very clearly that the system of censorship imposed by the government has had a disastrous impact on the health of tens of thousands of new-born babies in China and other countries to which its milk products are exported. Reporters Without Borders urges Margaret Chan to intercede with the authorities in Beijing as quickly as possible on this matter.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 02-Oct-2008 13:24

China: Release Jailed Rights Activist Hu Jia
Exonerate or Grant Medical Parole to Olympics Dissident The Chinese government should immediately exonerate or grant medical parole to imprisoned human rights activist Hu Jia, Human Rights Watch said just ahead of the sixth-month anniversary of his flawed conviction. Human Rights Watch also called on the government to cease the harassment and surveillance of Hu?s wife Zeng Jinyan and infant daughter Qianci.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 01-Oct-2008 07:00

Thailand - Another provincial correspondent of Bangkok daily gunned down - 30.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the murder of Jaruek Rangcharoen, the Bangkok-based Matichon daily's correspondent in the central province of Suphanburi. He was shot several times in the head as he shopped in a local market while on his way home on 27 September. The killing is thought to be linked to his reporting on local government corruption.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 30-Sep-2008 19:22

China - Financial weekly closed for three months for reporting on a public bank - 29.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders today condemned a three-month ban slapped on financial weekly China Business Post, accused of having broken the law in an article on the Agricultural Bank of China.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 29-Sep-2008 19:10

Australia - Federal police violate confidentiality of reporter's sources by raiding his home - 26.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders is very disturbed by this week's raid on the Canberra home of Philip Dorling, a reporter for the Canberra Times daily, by federal police seeking classified defence documents cited in a story reporting that close allies Japan and South Korea were priority targets for Australia's spies as well as countries such as China and North Korea.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 26-Sep-2008 13:01

Released prisoner rearrested in Myanmar
Amnesty International confirmed on Friday that one of the seven prisoners of conscience freed this week, U Win Htein, was re-arrested a few hours after his release.
Source : Amnesty International | 26-Sep-2008 07:00

Burma: One Year After Violent Crackdown, Repression Continues
UN Should Press Military Leaders to Keep Their Promises The international community should demand accountability from the Burmese military government for the brutal crackdown in September 2007 on monks, activists, and other civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. Repression in Burma has increased and the military government has failed to deliver on promises it made a year ago, despite international efforts at mediation.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 25-Sep-2008 07:00

Afghanistan - Fixer released after being held arbitrarily and mistreated by US military for 11 months - 24.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders welcomes the US military's release of Afghan journalist Jawed Ahmad, who worked as a fixer and interpreter for Canadian broadcaster CTV. After being held for 11 months for having Taliban contacts, he was freed on 22 September as a result of lawsuit brought by US and Afghan human rights groups in the United States.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 24-Sep-2008 19:14

China - Detained cyber-dissident Huang Qi finally allowed to see his lawyer - 24.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders is very worried about detained cyber-dissident Huang Qi, who was able to see his lawyer, Mo Shaoping, yesterday for the first time since his arrest on 10 June in Chengdu, in the western province of Sichuan. Until yesterday, the authorities had refused to allow any visit by his lawyer.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 24-Sep-2008 13:07

Burma - Joy at U Win Tin's release after 19 years in prison - 23.09.2008
On 23 september, U Win Tin emerged from Insein prison still dressed in prisoner clothes after benefiting from an amnesty announced by the military government. ?It is unacceptable that he was made to serve 19 years in prison for peacefully advocating democracy but today his release is an historic moment. We hope other journalists and prisoners of conscience will also be freed", said Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 23-Sep-2008 19:11

Malaysia - Interior minister orders blogger held for two years under draconian security law - 23.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders ?strongly condemns? yesterday's decision by the interior minister to order the detention of blogger Raja Petra ?RPK? Kamarudin, the editor of the Malaysia Today news website, for two years under Malaysia's draconian Internal security act (ISA). Arrested on 12 September, Raja Petra has been transferred to Kamunting detention centre, northeast of Kuala Lumpur. He is accused of insulting Islam.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 23-Sep-2008 19:03

Afghanistan - France - French parliamentarians asked to condition France's military involvement on lasting respect for free expression - 22.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders has written to the leaders of all the political groups in the French national assembly and to the parliamentary defence committee's two rapporteurs, Pierre Lellouche and François Lamy, asking them to make sure during today's debate on the presence of French troops in Afghanistan that ?France's involvement also aims to ensure lasting respect by the Afghan authorities for press freedom and human rights.?
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 22-Sep-2008 19:02

US: Reconsider Visa Revocation of Pakistani Activist
The US Department of Homeland Security should immediately reconsider the visa revocation of a widely respected Pakistani human rights advocate. On September 12, 2008, US officials suddenly and inexplicably revoked the travel visa of Amina Masood Janjua, who was scheduled to fly that day from Geneva to Washington, DC, for meetings about people believed to have been ?disappeared? in Pakistan.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 22-Sep-2008 07:00

Malaysia - Condemnation of a worrying wave of arrests - 19.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders today condemned the arrest of blogger Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, nicknamed Kickdefella, on 17 September 2008.?Malaysia is experiencing a wave of arrests that are worrying for freedom of expression. Four people have been arrested for criticism of the regime in the past five days,? the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 19-Sep-2008 19:13

Singapore - Blogger Gopalan Nair gets three months in prison for insulting judge - 18.09.2008

Source : Reporters Without Borders | 18-Sep-2008 19:05

China - Tibetan TV news presenter arrested in eastern Tibet - 18.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders is deeply worried about Tibetan TV presenter Washu Rangjong's arrest by Chinese military police officers at his home in Amdo Golok, in the east Tibetan district of Sertha, on 11 September.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 18-Sep-2008 18:50

China - Reporters Without Borders website blocked again inside China - 17.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders discovered today that access to its main website (http://www.rsf.org) has again been blocked within China. The site had been accessible since 1 August, a week before the start of the Olympic Games.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 17-Sep-2008 19:07

Burma - 11 Sakharov Prize winners call for the immediate release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - 16.09.2008
With just weeks to go to the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Sakharov Prize on 10 December 1988, an informal network of 11 of its past winners today calls on the Burmese authorities to immediately release Aung San Su Kyi and all other political prisoners.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 16-Sep-2008 19:12

China - Two Tibetan documentary filmmakers held for past six months in Tibet - 16.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders calls on the Chinese authorities to release Dhondup Wangchen (picture), who made a documentary about Tibet, and Jigme Gyatso, his friend and camera assistant. They have been unjustly detained since March 2008 for filming interviews with Tibetans, above all in the Amdo region of Tibet
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 16-Sep-2008 18:57

United Nations - UN urged to stop discriminating against Taiwanese journalists - 16.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders deplores the UN's refusal to issue accreditation to the Taiwanese media for the 63rd session of General Assembly that opens in New York on 16 September.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 16-Sep-2008 13:23

Malaysia - Use of internal security law is serious press violation, interior minister told - 16.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard has written to Malaysian interior minister Syed Hamid Albar reiterating the organisation's call for the release of blogger Raja Petra ?RPK? Kamarudin, who has been held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 12 September.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 16-Sep-2008 13:03

Uzbekistan: Free Human Rights Activist
Government Critic Held on Fabricated Charges, Ill-Treated in Custody Uzbek authorities should drop all charges against a human rights defender and opposition activist who faces politically motivated prosecution and immediately release him, Human Rights Watch said today. The trial against Akzam Turgunov resumes on September 16, 2008 in the remote town of Manget. Human Rights Watch also called on the authorities to ensure that Turgunov gets medical care for burns he suffered from ill-treatment in custody.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 16-Sep-2008 07:00

Myanmar activist at risk of torture
An anti-government activist leader in Myanmar remains at risk of torture following her arrest last Wednesday.
Source : Amnesty International | 16-Sep-2008 07:00

Five Activists Win Human Rights Watch Awards
Honored for Courage in Exposing Abuse and Seeking Justice Five brave and selfless advocates of human rights from Burma, Congo, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan have been awarded the prestigious 2008 Human Rights Defender Awards, Human Rights Watch said today. All five have been persecuted and threatened for their work. One winner, Saudi lawyer Abd al-Rahman al-Lahim, is, which Human Rights Watch urges the Saudi government lift so that he may receive his award in person in London.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 15-Sep-2008 07:00

Japan should adopt death penalty moratorium
Three men were executed in Japan on Thursday 11 September 2008. Amnesty International has called for the government to immediately adopt a moratorium on executions.
Source : Amnesty International | 15-Sep-2008 07:00

India: Army Killings Fuel Insurgency in Manipur
Government Should Heed Own Commission and Repeal Laws Fostering Impunity (New Delhi, September 15, 2008) ? The Indian government should fully prosecute army, paramilitary, and police personnel responsible for killings and torture in the northeastern state of Manipur, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 15-Sep-2008 07:00

Malaysia - Two leading journalists arrested under Internal Security Act - 12.09.2008
Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrests today of two journalists - Raja Petra Kamarudin, the editor of the online newspaper Malaysia Today, and Tan Hoon Cheng, a senior reporter for the Chinese-language daily Sin Chew - under the the Internal Security Act (ISA). They could be held for 60 days.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 12-Sep-2008 19:04

Afghanistan - President asked to intercede in case of ex-journalist sentenced to 20 years in prison for publishing translation of Koran - 12.09.2008
Freedom of expression organisations Reporters Without Borders and Article 19 call on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to intercede on behalf of former journalist Ahmed Ghous Zalmai and Mullah Qari Mushtaq, who were sentenced yesterday by a Kabul court to 20 years in prison for publishing a Dari translation of the Koran. Dari is the Farsi (Persian) dialect spoken in Afghanistan.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 12-Sep-2008 18:49

Nepal: End Cycle of Impunity and Deliver Justice to Victims
New Government Should Investigate Past Abuses and Prosecute Perpetrators (Kathmandu, September 11, 2008) ? The new Maoist-led government of Nepal should investigate and prosecute those responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances during the country?s decade-long armed conflict, Human Rights Watch and Advocacy Forum said in a joint report released today.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 11-Sep-2008 07:00

Uzbekistan: Release Independent Journalist
Trial of Government Critic Begins Uzbek authorities should drop all charges against an independent journalist facing politically motivated prosecution and release him, Human Rights Watch said today. Salijon Abdurakhmanov, a journalist known for his critical reporting of the authorities, goes on trial on September 12, 2008, in Nukus, the capital city of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, 1,100 kilometers west of Tashkent.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 11-Sep-2008 07:00

Vietnam: New Round of Arrests Target Democracy Activists
Prominent Blogger Sentenced to Prison Human Rights Watch condemned a crackdown on democracy activists in Vietnam this week, coinciding with the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte for bilateral talks on security issues, economic ties, and human rights.
Source : Human Rights Watch | 11-Sep-2008 07:00

China - ?Huang Qi did what any Chinese citizen would have done in his place? - 10.09.2008
After speaking yesterday with Zeng Li, the wife of imprisoned cyber-dissident Huang Qi, Reporters Without Borders today publishes a transcript of her comments, in which she describes his arrest as ?unfair and unacceptable.? ?Huang is the victim of the Chinese judicial system's lack of independence,? Reporters Without Borders said.
Source : Reporters Without Borders | 10-Sep-2008 19:05