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Human Rights Institute
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Contemporary Issues in Human Rights This weekly electronic newsletter is researched and written by students in Professor Rachel Taylor's Contemporary Issues in Human Rights class. The contributors read widely in their areas of focus and choose the week's most important human rights stories to highlight. Information in the write-ups comes from the sources provided and has not been independently verified.
March 28, 2007
Minority Rights | Counterterrorism and Human Rights | Freedom of Expression Human Rights Defenders | Migration and Human Rights | Corporations and Human Rights Human Trafficking | International Criminal Law | UN Human Rights Mechanisms Women's Rights | Human Rights in Europe | Human Rights in the Middle East Human Rights in Africa | Human Rights in the Americas | Human Rights in Asia
Thematic Roundup
by Tiphanie Miller UN Turned Away from Darfur Camp Sudanese soldiers denied John Holmes, the UN's new emergency relief coordinator, and his envoy entrance to the Kassab camp in northern Darfur. The conflict in Darfur has killed more than 200,000 people, and displaced millions more. The Kassab camp is supposed to be a sanctuary for more than 20,000 people who have fled the violence inflicted by the pro-government Janjaweed militia. In the past six months, the BBC has reported on the rapes of women and girls in the camp, and the exclusion of Holmes from the camp is another example of how the humanitarian community has been increasingly denied access to refugee camps in the region. Holmes discussed with Khartoum the necessity of opening channels for humanitarian aid, and said that he hopes increased international pressure will lead to more access for the UN and other aid groups. Holmes will continue his visit to Chad and the Central African Republic, two countries that have received refugees from Darfur. Ultimately, Holmes was able to visit a different camp before he ended his time in Sudan. (See this news story from the BBC, this map of the refugee crisis, and this article from the UN on Holmes's trip to Sudan.
Special Rapporteur Releases Report on Indigenous Rights Rodolfo Stavenhagen, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, presented his report (available in Spanish) to the Human Rights Council on March 20, 2007. In his report, Stevenhagen noted that while the rights of indigenous peoples were now fully part of the human rights agenda, a gap between human rights norms and their implementation still existed. Indigenous peoples still continue to be the victims of major human rights violations. As indigenous territories continue to decrease, and as the natural resources of indigenous populations continue to be excavated and abused, more indigenous populations suffer. In addition, as more countries begin to prohibit social protests, the rights of indigenous populations continue to be infringed upon; women and displaced indigenous peoples are particularly affected. The report also contains recommendations and best practices for implementing those recommendations. (See the UN press release.)
Convention Protecting the Rights of the Disabled to be Opened for Signatures Friday Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, encouraged states to protect the rights of the disabled by implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A new commission will also be established to monitor the progress being made with regard to the rights of the disabled, a group that constitutes 10% of the world's population. Arbour hopes to raise the profile of disabled individuals, and to facilitate the creation of partnerships between NGOs and states to implement the provisions of the Convention. Sheikha Hessa al-Thani, the Special Rapporteur on Disability, said that the document brilliantly merges issues of social development and human rights. According to Ambassador Don Mackay of New Zealand, who is also chair of the ad hoc committee on the Convention, the document changes the concept of disabilities from one focused solely on social development to one that acknowledges the human rights consequences of discrimination and the unjust treatment of disabled individuals. (See the UN press release, and information about the Convention.)
Counterterrorism and Human Rights by Joseph Sant Egypt Passes Troubling Constitutional Changes A series of amendments to Egypt’s constitution have been approved by the Egyptian Parliament and, as of March 27, by popular referendum. Many of the changes include anti-terrorism laws that would greatly expand the security powers of the government. An amendment to Article 127 would allow authorities to arrest suspects, search their homes, wiretap their phones, and read their mail without a warrant. Another amendment allows the president to refer any “terrorist crime” to any judicial authority. Opponents to this change fear it will allow the president to send suspects of his choosing to unreviewable military tribunals. Amnesty International lamented the changes as “the greatest erosion of rights in 26 years.” (See articles from Turkish Daily News and USA Today.)
First Conviction Obtained Before Guantanamo Military Commission David Hicks, an Australian citizen detained at Guantanamo, entered a guilty plea to the charge of providing material support to a terrorist organization. Hicks was accused of training in an al Qaeda camp where he learned kidnapping and urban fighting techniques. Before the plea hearing, two of the three lawyers representing Hicks were prohibited from participating in the proceedings. Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees continue to challenge the trial system established by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 because of its paucity of protections for defendants. For example, evidence obtained through coercion is admissible. (See this article from the New York Times and press release from Human Rights Watch.)
UK Criticized for Extraordinary Rendition Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are criticizing the British government for deporting national security detainees to countries with known records for torture, unfair trials, and brutal treatment. A ruling weeks ago in a British court upheld the deportation of “national security” defendant Abu Qatada. Qatada claimed that if he was deported to Jordan he would be tortured. The UK government argued that it met its obligations when it obtained a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Jordanian government that would provide for fair treatment for Qatada.
by Kartik Sharma
International Rights Group Warns Against Resurgence of Soviet-Era Abuses Helsinki: The International Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (the IHF) released its annual report chronicling human rights abuses in the former Soviet republics on March 27, 2007. The report notes a general trend towards human rights violations in the region and specifically cites the repression of “virtually any expression of dissident [sic]” in countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and increasingly Russia. Draconian practices such as systematic torture and the imprisonment or institutionalization of a large number of dissidents and political activists are prevalent in the area and have been justified primarily by citing concerns about terrorism. (Click here for an IHR report on Uzbekistan.) Egypt Adopts Draconian Constitutional Amendments Cairo: On March 27, 2007, the Egyptian government rushed through constitutional reforms that would grant it sweeping powers to curtail civil and political rights. Although the measure was put to a referendum, it was boycotted by the main opposition groups including the Muslim Brotherhood, and independent groups estimated voter turnout at five percent. Among the 34 constitutional changes is a ban on all parties based on religion and the inclusion of permanent “security powers” that are usually wielded only during times of emergency and can be used to bypass constitutional freedoms. The reforms also abolish the judicial supervision of the electoral process. (See articles from the BBC and the International Herald Tribune, and a press release from Amnesty International.) Conference Highlights Repressive Yemeni Press Laws Sana’a: In a conference organized by the freedom of expression group Article 19, Yemeni journalists called for reform of the country’s press laws. Among other things, they called for the abolition of provisions of the criminal code that penalize the publication of articles considered sacrilegious as well as those that criticize the sovereign. The laws have been used to suspend the publication of newspapers such as Al-Nida’a. Other key areas of concern cited by the conference are the lack of access to information for journalists and the total control exercised by the government over radio broadcasting. (See articles from the Yemen Observer and IFEX.)
by Venir Cuyco Judicial Harassment of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Morocco Amnesty International reports that Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State are being subjected to judicial harassment for their work as human rights activists; the two men are advocates of the right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. The men, who have been in detention for more than six months, are facing charges that include belonging to an unauthorized association and inciting violent protests against the Moroccan administration of Western Sahara. Before their arrest, their organization published a detailed report highlighting dozens of allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture, and ill treatment committed by Morocco’s security forces. Click here for Amnesty International’s appeal to Moroccan authorities as well as background information on Sabbar and Sbai, their organization, and on the general state of other human rights defenders in Western Sahara. Human Rights Defenders Protest Thai Junta’s Rule Pro-Democracy Lawyers Arrested in Vietnam by Sunil Varghese Human Rights Group Contends Draft UAE Labor Law Does Not Protect Migrant Workers from Inhuman Working Conditions The United Arab Emirates has come under fire for inadequately protecting the human rights of its foreign workers, who make up 95% of the country’s total work force. In response, the UAE Labor Ministry has published a draft of a revised labor law for public comment. This Sunday, Human Rights Watch issued a 15-page report contending that the draft law was in violation of international labor standards. The proposed law punishes striking workers and does not protect workers’ rights to organize or to bargain collectively. It also completely excludes all domestic workers, who are particularly at risk for exploitation. (See this Human Rights Watch press release, and news articles from the Manila Times, the Financial Times, and the International Herald Tribune.) Humanitarian Crisis in Angola Nears End as 410,000 Angolan Refugees are Successfully Repatriated The UN High Commissioner for Refugees was in Angola last week to mark the close of the UN’s three-year program to help repatriate Angolan refugees. Hundreds of thousands of Angolans fled the country during its 27-year civil war, which ended in April 2002. The war created a severe humanitarian crisis that the UNHCR has been working hard to resolve. The UNHCR program transported people from camps into Angola and provided them with food and reintegration assistance. UNHCR has pledged to continue to aid in programs to reintegrate the refugees. (For more, see information from UNHRC, especially this story.) UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism to Visit the United States The United States has faced criticism for using the fight on terrorism as a pretext to tighten its immigration policy in violation of human rights laws. Martin Scheinin, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, issued a report decrying “the use of racial or religious profiling, sharing of information between countries, new forms of long-term or even indeterminate detention, and the denial of guarantees of legal procedure.” Schein will visit the United States in May to engage in a further inquiry on this subject. He has spoken out about the country’s now defunct “Voluntary Interview Program,” in which male immigrants from suspicious countries were held for special questioning. Almost all those questioned were Arab and/or Muslim. (See news articles from the International Herald Tribune, Prensa Latina, The News, Stuff, and the Sydney Morning Herald.)
by Eric Rahn International and Non-Governmental Organizations: Rampant Abuse Is Likely to Result from Burmese Pipeline Construction, Human Rights Watch Warns Human Rights Watch recently issued a strong warning to businesses considering involvement with the construction of proposed pipelines to carry Burma’s vast supply of natural gas to potential buyers. “The decision to invest in Burma’s extractive industries is no ordinary business move,” said Arvind Ganesan, HRW’s director of business and human rights programs. “Lives are at risk. Companies have a responsibility to make sure their investments do not lead to abuses.” Noting the commission of numerous human rights atrocities by the military – including confiscation of land, displacement of villagers, use of forced labor, and deployment of violence as a means to silence protestors – HRW called for all companies who choose to partner with Burma’s state-owned enterprises to find some means to assure investors and consumers that the construction projects were accomplished without complicity in human rights violations. (See the Human Rights Watch press release.) Furthering a Human Rights Culture: Coca-Cola – USAID Partnership Announces Next Round of Water Projects in Africa Coca-Cola recently announced that it would increase, by $7 million, its funding for projects it is undertaking with the United States Agency for International Development. Initially begun in 2005, the partnership has already helped provide access to safe and sustainable supplies of water for over 300,000 people the world over; $3 million has already been invested. The next round of projects will provide assistance in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Coca-Cola entered the partnership with the recognition that water, in addition to being one of the primary resources the company needs, is a shared resource which must be protected and preserved in communities around the world. Dr. Dan Vermeer, Director of Global Water Partnerships at the Coca-Cola Company, explained, "Our relationship with USAID is a positive example of how public-private partnerships can provide localized support to those with the greatest needs for water and sanitation services while ensuring water resources are managed to serve future generations." (See story from CSR Wire, and the USAID press release.) Corporations Behaving Badly: Victims of Chevron’s Alleged Environment Abuse Gain Support of Ecuador’s New President in Pending Lawsuit Newly elected Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced that his administration would support plaintiffs in a suit filed against Chevron for their alleged dumping of 18 billion gallons of oily wastewater into the Amazon jungle. The pledge came after a meeting between the President and his environmental minister, the plaintiff’s attorneys, and other administration officials. The support will come in the form of assistance in collecting evidence. "We will not allow more pillaging, neither of our environment nor of our people," said President Correa. Chevron denies any allegation of wrongdoing, asserting that they followed Ecuadorian environmental law and, subsequently, spent $40 million on clean-up. (For an admittedly slanted but comprehensive overview of the underlying facts, see the Amazon Watch site.)
by Sarah Yeomans UK Signs European Convention against Human Trafficking
UN Proposes New Fund to Fight International Human Trafficking
Survivors of Human Trafficking Seek Compensation in Nepal by Xander A. Meise Croatia Takes Steps to Capture Domestically-Indicted War Criminals International Criminal Court & Special Court for Sierra Leone Bicker Over Charles Taylor’s Treatment The fact that the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) has been trying the ex-Liberian President, Charles Taylor, on the premises of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague rather than in Freetown has been raising questions of procedure. The main question is which tribunal’s rules should apply to Taylor’s treatment. The ICC had authorized the placement of video cameras in the room where Taylor met with defense counsel for “security reasons.” The SCSL backed defense measures to remove the cameras. After a private debate between the ICC and the SCSL, the ICC agreed that the video surveillance rules would not apply to “legal visits.” Taylor is being held and tried at The Hague rather than in Freetown at the request of the SCSL president, who was concerned about Freetown’s regional stability should Taylor be detained and tried there. (See article from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting.)
Human Rights Watch Offers Summaries of Key ICC Decisions Human Rights Watch has released a brief summary of key ICC decisions to help practitioners interpret the Rome Statute and understand the operations of the Court. The summaries are grouped around issues of “admissibility,” “victims’ participation,” and “confirmation of charges.” (For the full text of ICC decisions, see the Court's website.)
by Andrene Smith The State of the World’s Children
Mozambique – Tropical Cyclone Favio
Statelessness in Sri Lanka by Amy Steiner
The UN Human Rights Council heard a presentation of the 2006 report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Yakin Erturk. The report focused on whether states are exercising due diligence to prevent, investigate, and punish violence against women. Ms. Erturk said no country or society has fully established equality between the sexes, and violence against women is still a universal phenomenon. She hopes the Council will strengthen the violence against women mandate. (See this UN article on the Human Rights Council meeting, the Special Rapporteur’s questionnaire and the countries that responded, and the 2006 report of the Special Rapporteur.) March 26, 2007: Experts Develop International Law Principles on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The principles were developed March 26 following a UN Human Rights Council session, and are known as the Yogyakarta Principles after the city where they were adopted. The principles establish legal standards for governments to follow to ensure basic human rights related to sexual orientation and gender equality. The experts behind the principles include a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the former chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women. The principles are accompanied by detailed recommendations to states. They also include recommendations directed to the UN, non-governmental organizations, and the media. (See article by Human Rights Watch, which supported the work of the experts and the Yogyakarta Principles.) March 26, 2007: Canada Budgets $300 Million to Fight Cervical Cancer and Pay for HPV Vaccines The Canadian government is providing funding to support the launch of a national program for the HPV vaccine. The $300 million will be put into a third-party trust and made available to the territories and provinces over a three-year period. There is no mandatory vaccination program in Canada, but the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the girls ages nine to 13 be vaccinated, as well as women who may already be sexually active but not infected with the virus. The total cost of vaccinations is estimated to be over $860 million. (See articles from Toronto Globe and Mail--fee required, and from Medical News Today.)
Regional Round-up
by Pierre Bernheim
Since Georgia briefly detained four Russian officers on spying charges last September, Russia has deported hundreds of Georgians. According to Georgia's Minister of Justice, Georgia is now bringing a case against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights because of hundreds of “flagrant abuses of the human rights” committed during these deportations. Several deportees have died from medical conditions during their deportation. (See this article from the BBC and this press release from the European Court of Human Rights.)
Russian Political Opposition Under Pressure Russia, which within the next year will hold both parliamentary and presidential elections, has been accused of committing human rights violations against those who protest against the Kremlin. Around 30 anti-government protesters were arrested while demonstrating in the city of Nizhny Novgorod on March 24, 2007. Organizers complained that local authorities have systematically denied them permission to demonstrate, making it easier to justify the arrests of demonstrators. By this process the Kremlin is trying to silence the opposition. (See this article from the BBC.)
Poland Condemned by the European Court of Human Rights On March 20, 2007, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Poland had violated the human rights of a woman who was denied a therapeutic abortion. The woman, who became almost blind after giving birth, now cannot take care of her two children. Although the current law in Poland authorizes therapeutic abortions, the doctor in this case refused to practice an abortion after five minutes and without looking at the woman’s ophthalmology file. Poland is currently considering a new law that would completely ban abortion. The text will be examined this week in Parliament. (See this press release from the European Court of Human Rights.)
Human Rights in the Middle East by Babak Mohassel
Earlier this month, the Iranian government arrested and detained 26 prominent women’s rights activists. The women were peacefully holding an assembly outside of an Iranian court to protest the arbitrary arrests and prosecution of four Iranian women involved in an earlier demonstration. Eyewitnesses informed Human Rights Watch that the Iranian authorities arrested all of the women when the four defendants joined their supporters after leaving the courtroom. According to Human Rights Watch Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division, “There are absolutely no legal grounds for arresting these women under international or Iranian law.” Although most of these activists were released from confinement within days, their detention and arrest sent an alarming message to the international community of human rights advocates. Although Iran is not a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, it is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and is bound by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Both the ICCPR and the UDHR guarantee the fundamental rights of women; Article 20 of the UDHR and Article 21 of the ICCPR also guarantee the right to exercise peaceful assembly. Furthermore, the Iranian Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly in Article 27. (See Human Rights Watch's photo slide show and press release on this situation, as well as an earlier press release from February. See also this report from NPR, with profiles of the women. Finally, see Amnesty International for a press release about the arrests and a short overview about violence against women.) Hrant Dink, a journalist who advocated for the human rights of the Armenian minority in Turkey, was murdered on January 19, 2007 in Istanbul. Radikal newspaper uncovered pictures of his murderer Ogun Samast in February 2007 “holding up a Turkish flag, flanked by smiling government employees.” International organizations such as Article 19 called upon Turkey to fully “investigate the murder of Mr. Dink and prosecute those responsible for it.” As a forceful voice in defending human rights, Hrant Dink was prosecuted three times under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for “insulting Turkishness.” It is the broad legal applicability of Article 301 to criminalize the activities of human rights advocates that has led prominent international organizations such as Amnesty International to conclude, “Article 301 is a threat to freedom of expression and must be repealed now.” The charges of “denigrating Turkishness” under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code have been used to put on trial at least 50 individuals, including the Nobel prizewinner Orhan Pamuk, who have peacefully expressed dissenting opinions in Turkey. Turkey is a state party to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 10 of the ECHR guarantee the right to freedom of expression. As a state party, Turkey is legally bound to observe its obligations under these conventions and repeal Article 301, which international organizations such as Article 19 have found “illegitimately suppresses the right to freedom of expression.” (These NGO statements discuss the killing of Turkish-Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink and provide recommendations for Turkey regarding freedom of expression: Article 19, IFEX, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International. See also this article from the BBC about freedom of expression in Turkey.) Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in which to live. But while the Human Rights Council has been considering the situation of countries like Iran and Uzbekistan, it has been silent on Iraq. Irene Khan, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, criticized the Council for not giving countries like Iraq “the attention they deserve” and asked the Council to take a “truly protection-oriented approach” rather than a “politics approach.” In its reports, the UNAMI HRO (The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office) has found that while the new government has paid significant attention to human rights and the establishment of the rule of law in recent months, human rights violations “particularly against the right to life and personal integrity, continued to occur at an alarming daily rate.” UNAMI HRO has highlighted the need to build the rule of law in Iraq; if this is not done, there will continue to be more victims of human rights violations and most of them will be civilians. UNAMI HRO collected data showing that during 2006 “a total of 34,452 civilians have been violently killed and 36,685 wounded.” These deteriorating human rights conditions have created immense waves of refugees and of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In its March 21, 2007 press release on Iraq, Amnesty International estimates that 2 million refugees have fled Iraq and 1.7 million have become IDPs. The organization further concludes that there are “an estimated 50,000 people fleeing their nation every month.” (See the UNAMI HRO's reports, information on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights's work in Iraq, an article from Human Rights Tribune on the threat on limiting the powers of Special Procedures, Amnesty International's statement on the Council, Amnesty's country information on Iraq, Amnesty's statement asking the U.S. Congress to support Iraqi refugees, and this report from the Monitoring of Human Rights in Iraq Network.
by Meghan C Fennelly This week’s update takes us around the continent from Somalia to Zimbabwe to the Democratic Republic of Congo to explore human rights in conflict. SOMALIA: African Union peacekeepers continue their work on a tenuous cease-fire after violence flared in Somalia last week, prompting U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to call for an end to the death and displacement of innocent civilians. In the past week, the downing of a plane from the UN-authorized African Union Mission in Somalia, reports of bodies dragged through the streets, and the closing of an Al-Jazeera news bureau in Mogadishu have turned international attention to a worsening human rights situation. Reports of mass exodus from Mogadishu since last month have followed as the Transitional Federal Government backed by Ethiopian troops has sparred with various factions in the country. (See this article from Forbes for background information, statements from the Security Council and the Secretary-General, and a report from AllAfrica.com on the closure of Al-Jazeera.) ZIMBABWE: President Mugabe is expected to attend an emergency summit of southern African leaders in Tanzania this week to discuss the growing political and economic crisis in his country. The summit is hosted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the leaders of fourteen countries—including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana—are expected to attend. Bleak announcements about the country’s worsening food crisis came from the government this week as it declared 2007 a drought year with two-thirds of the country’s staple crop of maize ruined. Mugabe’s term in office expires in 2008, and news coverage this week focused on political change in the country. (See this International Crisis Group report for recommendations for political reform in Zimbabwe, the Association of Zimbabwe Journalists' critique of the ICG Report, and the Heritage Foundation's report on how the U.S. should respond to Zimbabwe.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Several hundred people are estimated to have been killed in Kinshasa this week in the first outbreak of violence since last year's presidential election. Relative calm had followed October's elections, in which Joseph Kabila was elected; this presidential election was the first in more than four decades. But this week's clashes between military forces loyal to former Vice President and opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba and government forces raised concern. Kabila released statements assuring his respect for the Constitution, while the U.N. Mission in the country condemned the losses of life, damage to property, looting, and risks to civilians in Kinshasa. (See this report from the U.N. Mission in DR Congo, this editorial from OpEd News on the press coverage of the DRC violence, this editorial on Kabila from BusinessDay, and this statement of the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.)
by Ingrid Fuentes Ecuadorian Lawmakers Clash with Police
Cuban Officials Break Up Protest by Prisoners’ Wives Interpol Issues Warrant for Bombing in Argentina
by Woo-Suk Jun
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denied his government’s responsibility for recruiting comfort women during World War II. However, historical records and the testimony of surviving comfort women provide substantial evidence for Japan’s atrocities. Abe’s denial seems to be motivated by politics, because his supporters, from Japan’s political right, deny the existence of comfort women in the war. However, Abe reportedly also made a brief apology to the comfort women. The United States is now considering introducing a nonbinding resolution requesting Japan to acknowledge its brutal atrocities during the war and to issue a true apology to the affected countries, such as China and South Korea, and the comfort women. (See the New York Times, the Associated Press, the Guardian Unlimited, MWC News, and ABC-7 Los Angeles.)
Contrary to Vietnam’s developing economic situation, its human rights situation is deteriorating. Although Vietnam has normalized relations with the United States, the government is persecuting tribal peoples that helped the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War (1964-1975) and seriously violating their human rights. Vietnam also has a problem with international trafficking in persons; most of the trafficking cases are related to infants and young women. In addition, according to the U.S. government, many human traffickers have relations with the Vietnamese government. Finally, threats to freedom of speech and freedom of the press are very serious. To take one example, Nguyen Vu Binh, a former journalist, was arrested and accused of “spying” because he allegedly put some information online that was helpful to pro-democracy groups. (See OpEdNews.)
According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Bangkok South Criminal Court is denying people the right to public, fair, and speedy trials. It is not only a basic principle of criminal law and procedure but also common sense that a judge cannot sentence an accused if there is no evidence of guilt. In addition, if there is not adequate evidence, any accused under detention should be released without delay. But, according to the news, two of four accused were imprisoned for seven years before receiving bail, although no material evidence has ever been offered against them. In addition, although the right not to incriminate oneself is very important, forced confessions are used in Thailand. Based on the many human right violations related to the right to a public, fair, and speedy trial, it can be argued that judicial reform in Thailand is urgently needed. (See Monsters and Critics.com.)
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