This page is maintained by Michael
Katz-Lacabe and Margarita
Lacabe. Last updated Oct. 21, 1996.
Oct. 14
(Reuters) - China/Poland - Mandugeqi and his wife Yinge, human rights activists for
China's
Mongolian minority, had their possible extradition delayed today by a Warsaw court. The couple
is seeking asylum in Poland and could face the death penalty if returned to China. Polish
prosecutors have asked the court to rule whether the couple could be extradited if China agreed
not to impose the death penalty.
(Reuters) - Germany/Indonesia - German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, during his visit to
Jakarta Oct. 25 to 29, will raise human rights with Indonesian government leaders, according to a
government spokesman. Nobel Peace Prize winner and East Timor activist Jose Ramos-Horta,
said "No other country in Europe has the weight, the influence on Indonesia as Germany,"
(Reuters) - Morocco - Seven Moroccan groups, including the independent Moroccan
association and organization of human rights, today called on the United Nations to establish an
international court of justice. The groups also asked the Moroccan government "to take all
necessary political and diplomatic measures in order to put its weight during the current General
Assembly meeting to materialize the court project."
(Reuters) - Israel - A two-day conference devoted to the release of Mordechai Vanunu was
opened in Tel Aviv today. Nobel Peace Prize winner Joseph Rotblatand actress Susannah York
appealed to Israel for Vanunu's freedom. Vanunu was sentenced to 18 years in prison for
revealing details of Israel's nuclear program. After luring Vanunu from England to Italy, the Israel
Mossad secret service kidnaped him and took him to Israel. Vanunu was held incommunicado for
six weeks.
(Reuters) - Bosnia - UN human rights rapporteur Elisabeth Rehn said today that elections
in Bosnia should be delayed if human rights conditions are not met.
(Reuters) - Argentina/England - Argentine army chief Gen. Martin Balza will visit London
next month at the invitation of British Gen. Charles Guthrie. His visit is significant as he is the
only military head to survive a recent shakeup and was the first military head to publicly
apologize for human rights abuses committed by the Argentine military during the "Dirty War."
(UPI) - Honduras - US National Labor Relations Board secretary general Charles
Kernaghan is in Honduras inspecting garment factories for evidence of worker abuse and
exploitation. Together with Barbara Brigs, they began inspecting garment factories in Choloma,
La Lima, and Villanueva.
(Reuters) - Burma - Belgian brewer Interbrew NV said today that it was asking its
distributors to stop any possible sales in Burma. Heineken and Carlsberg stopped selling and
investing in Burma earlier this year.
`(Reuters) - Burma/Ireland - Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Dick Spring said today that
he deplored "the practice of torture, summary and arbitrary executions, forced labor, abuse of
women, political arrests, forced displacements of the population and restrictions an the
fundamental rights of freedom, of speech, movement and assembly" that have been reported in
Burma. He also sought a full investigation into the death of James Nichols, who died while in
custody in Burma.
(Fresno Bee) - California - Catherine F. Campbell, an appellate lawyer in Fresno,
California, was awarded the State Bar's 1996 President's Pro Bono Service award for her work on
behalf of prisoners and their families. Campbell is the president of Prison Focus, a nonprofit
human rights groups and is co-director of the Central Valley institute for Criminal Justice.
(DPA) - Cambodia - The Khmer Nation Party plans to protest against the head of Burma's
military junta, General Than Shwe, when he begins a four-day visit on Wednesday. The
Cambodian government has threatened to use force if the KNP demonstrates at Phnom Penh's
Independence Monument.
(Compass Newswire) - Algeria - Anwar Haddam, a US-based Algerian opposition figure,
release a statement this weekend accusing the jailers at El Harrach prison near Algiers of abusing
prisoners and fomenting unrest to justify a massacre of prison inmates. He also asked for
Algeria's creditors to pressure the government to permit independent observers into the prisons,
where he claimed that prisoners were beaten and denied regular access to their families.
(Boston Globe) - Nigeria - Chief Anthony Enahoro, leader of Nigeria's National
Democratic Coalition, said that exiled Nigerians may soon form a government in exile in a speech
to a Boston audience. Enahoro, who fled from Nigeria five months ago, also pledged to
prosecute Abacha in international court for crimes against humanity.
(BBC) - Nigeria - Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a human rights activist detained in Nigeria, has
reportedly been rushed to a hospital for eye treatment. Fawehinmi's family and doctors have
reportedly been denied access to him although a court has ordered that they be granted such visits.
(AI) - Papua New Guinea - Amnesty International called on the Papua New Guinea
government to investigate yesterday's killing of Theodore Miriung, Premier of the Bouganville
Transitional Government. The organization noted that extrajudicial executions have previously
been committed by the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces and the Bouganville Revolutionary
Army.
Oct. 15
(Reuters) - China - A relative of jailed Chinese dissident Wang Dan said today that Wang
would likely be tried behind closed doors soon. The family has not been notified yet of Wang's
trial date.
(UPI) - Algeria -Hamoui Moukrane, manager of the Ech-Chorouk El-Arabi newspaper in
Algiers, was killed today by suspected guerillas. Human rights groups report that more than 60
journalists have been killed since the current Islamic insurgency arose in 1992.
(Reuters) - Chile - The newspaper La Epoca reported that a military judge called upon the
Supreme Court to grant an amnesty to all human rights cases involving military officers.
(BBC) - Albania - A report issued by the Democratic League of Kosovo on Oct. 11 stated
that as many as 331 Albanians suffered Serbian police repression during September. The Council
for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms reported that 53 Albanians were arrested
arbitrarily in September.
(WP) - China/US - Wang Xizhe, a Chinese dissident, was granted permission to enter the
US yesterday following his escape from China during a recent roundup of dissidents.
Oct. 16
(Reuters) - Croatia - The Council of Europe today decided to admit Croatia after a
six-month delay over concerns about human rights. Croatia will officially become a member of
the Council, which promotes democracy and human rights, on November 6.
(Reuters) - Turkey - Sanar Yurdatapan, a musician and human rights activist, was detained
by Turkish police for producing a documentary about Kurdish journalists who were killed in
southeast Turkey. According to Umit Efe, of the Human Rights Association, Yurdapatan was
taken into custody yesterday.
(Reuters) - East Timor/France - The French Embassy in Jakarta evicted three East
Timorese seeking political asylum Wednesday. Diplomats have said that some embassies
appeared to ignore how local security guards employed by foreign embassies deal with break-ins
by East Timorese. Another diplomat said that some embassies appeared to be ignoring their
commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to asylum.
(Reuters) - Peru - Another 45 innocent prisoners who were wrongly imprisoned under
Peru's anti-terrorist laws and faceless tribunals were released today by the Peruvian government.
Since a commission was formed to investigate the cases of innocent prisoners, 76 prisoners have
been released. The Peruvian Congress voted last week to extend for one year use of the faceless
tribunals for prosecution of suspected terrorists and guerillas.
(Reuters) - Egypt - Government newspapers reported today that two girls, ages three and
four, died after a government doctor tried to circumcise them at their homes. After persuading the
fathers of the girls to bury them in secret, the doctor fled. Maha Atiyah of the Egyptian
Organization for Human Rights, said "We strongly condemn this practice."
(The Record) - Algeria - The banned Islamic Salvation Front accused the Algerian
government of complicity in the deaths of civilians and condemned the silence of the world
community.
(The Prague Post) - Armenia - Tigran Janoyan, the lawyer for Ruben Hakobyan, reported
that Hakobyan was beaten and seriously injured after his Sept. 26 arrest by a group of men that
included Defense Minister Vazgen Sarkisyan. Hakobyan is the only member of Parliament for the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun party.
(HRW) - Turkey - Charges have been brought by the Turkish government against Ertugrul
Kurku and Ayse Nur Zarakolu for translating and publishing a November 1995 Human Rights
Watch report entitled Weapons Transfers and Violations of the Laws of War in Turkey. They
were charged under Article 159/1 of the Turkish Penal Code for "defamation and belittling of the
state's security and military forces."
Oct. 17
(Reuters) - Turkey - Forty-eight Turkish police will be tried tomorrow for beating to death
Metin Goktepe, a leftist journalist, while he was detained. The Human Rights Association says
that 21 people were killed while in custody during August. The group Reporters Without Borders
(RSF) said in a statement, "At this time it must be remembered that the state has not begun any
investigation into the killing since 1988 of 20 journalists on duty." The group has sent a
delegation to observe the trial. Members of the European Parliament will also observed the trial.
None of the accused are under arrest.
(Reuters) - China - While in South Africa, Chinese human rights activist Harry Wu said
that western countries appeared interested in China as a market rather than achieving human rights.
(Reuters) - Turkey - Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller said today that Turkey would
improve its human rights record, stating "We are ready to do everything necessary to bring our
country's human rights to the most advanced level."
(Reuters) - Tunisia - An appeal by Najib Hasni, a Tunisian lawyer and human rights
activist, was rejected by a Tunisian high court today. The 1996 US State Dept. Human Rights
Report on Tunisia states that some observers think the government prosecuted Hasni for fraud
because he defended Islamists in court and spoke freely with human rights activists.
(Reuters) - East Timor/Philippines - Philippines president Fidel Ramos said today that he
had not decided whether Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta would be allowed to enter
the Philippines during the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
forum to be held on November 25.
(Reuters) - Indonesia - The editing license of Goesti Erman, editor-in-chief of the
Indonesian magazine Detekip & Romantikm, was withdrawn by the government-backed
Indonesian Journalists' Association on Wednesday for employing members of the unrecognized
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). The AJI was formed in 1994 after three weeklies were
banned by the Indonesian government.
(Reuters) - Nigeria - The Nigerian human rights group Constitutional Rights Project today
condemned a rise in the sale of children into bonded labor, prostitution and slavery.
(US Newswire) - USA/East Timor - Senator Patrick Leahy today hailed the launch of the
East Timor Human Rights Centre in Fitzroy, Australia.
(UPI) - Cambodia/Burma - Cambodian Co-Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh today said
that organizers of demonstrations against visiting Burmese leader Than Shwe were interfering in
foreign affairs and contradicting the spirit of Khmer culture. In a vocal attack against Khmer
Nation Party leader Sam Rainsy, Ranariddh said that "if you are Khmer you have to abide by our
traditions...our tradition is to warmly welcome and to provide hospitality to the guests of the
nation, to the guests of the King."
(Tampa Tribune) - Latin America - A number of Latin American countries are considering
re-introducing the death penalty as violent crime surges. El Salvador legislators approved the
death penalty in a preliminary vote last Friday. Six other countries are debating the death penalty,
including Argentina, Peru, and Ecuador. Guatemala executed two convicted child-killers last
week by firing squad and the Chilean Supreme Court affirmed the firing squad death sentence of a
convicted child-killer on August 19. Ecuador abolished the death penalty in 1897. Bolivia,
Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela abolished the death penalty long ago.
Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Mexico retain the death penalty for crimes against the state, such as
treason.
(IPS) - Sudan - The Sudanese government denied claims by Amnesty International that it
imposed death sentences on people involved in a coup plot earlier this year.
(Tass) - Russia - A delegation of the Russia Duma visited North Osetia among complaints
that human rights of ethnic minorities and refugees were being violated. Boris Ozdoyev, the
chairman of the Ingush parliamentary commission on law and order, said that more than 50
articles of the Russian constitution were being violated in North Osetia.
(BBC) - Iran - The Society for Islamic and Christian Studies has expressed its regret
concerning the suspicious death of Priest Mohammad Yusefi, the deputy bishop of the Christian
church in Sari.
(AFP) - Lebanon - Onsi Shamel Zebrian, a 27-year-old man convicted of killing a police
officer, was executed today in Lebanon by firing squad.
Oct. 18
(Reuters) - Turkey - A Turkish appeals court today confirmed the 20-month suspended
sentence of author Yasar Kemal for writing an article in a book on freedom of expression. Kemal
received a five-year suspended sentence on the condition that he not repeat the offense.
(Reuters) - Turkey - The trial of 48 policeman charged in the beating death of Turkish
journalist Metin Goktepe was delayed for a few hours today because of overcrowding in the
courtroom. More than 200 people, including journalists and independent observers, packed the
courtroom in Aydin.
(Reuters) - Zaire/Switzerland - Swiss TV reported today that the visa of President Mobutu
Sese Seko of Zaire will not be renewed when it expires on October 27. Mobutu will reportedly
move to a villa in the south of France when his visa expires. Mobutu came to power in Zaire in
1965 with the support of western countries, but his government was accused of widespread
human rights abuses.
(Reuters) - Mexico - The Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Centre in a statement
issued today, condemned recent attacks on journalists by what it said could be government
security forces. After covering an anti-government march on October 12, Reuters freelance
reporter Jesus Ramirez and journalists Mauricio Laguna and Martin Reyes were held by armed
men for several hours. The armed men told the journalists that they recognized them as journalists
and wanted to perform a routine security check. The journalists were taken to the subway, where
they were threatened with death and robbed of their belongings.
(Reuters) - Honduras - Honduran ombudsman Leo Valladares today said that 2,600 pages
of recently declassified documents from the US State Department show that more people than
previously thought may have been "disappeared" by Honduran death squads who were aided by
American and Argentine agents. According to Valladares, the documents detail more than the 184
disappearances that were previously known. Valladares is now seeking access to Argentine files
because witnesses reported that Argentine agents did the work of CIA agents who were prohibited
from certain actions. The CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency have not yet released
documents to Valladares.
(BBC) - Belarus - Tatstsyana Pratsko, chairwoman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee,
presented a report on human rights in Belarus. The report stated that there are severe restrictions
on civil rights and civil liberties and articles of the constitution that keep the power of President
Alyaksandr Lukashemka are being violated.
(BBC) - Morocco - Muslim political prisoners at Kenitra Central Prison have started an
open-ended hunger strike to protest their "slow death by being denied the right to medical
treatment and medicine through cheating and procrastination..." They also appealed to legal and
humanitarian organizations to "support us and intervene with the competent authorities to stop this
deprivation of medical treatment and medicine and to let us exercise our right to treatment in
humane conditions."
(BBC) - Burkina Faso - Chief Warrant Officer Hyacinthe Kafando, the former head of the
presidential security force, who recently sought protection at the French Embassy in the Ivory
Coast, has disappeared, according to human rights activists in Burkina Faso. An estimated 25
soldiers close to Kafando were arrested last week in Ouagadougou.
(AFP) - China - Tao Feng was sentenced to death by a Chinese court today after he
admitted killing well-known writer Dai Houying. Dai was known as a human rights supporter,
and she was questioned by authorities because of he support for the 1989 pro-democracy protests.
(The Guardian) - World - Mandela, a documentary film about South African President
Nelson Mandela was set for its British premiere today at the Human Rights Watch International
Film Festival. The film was produced by Jonathan Demme and directed by Jo Menell.
(Gannett News Service) - USA - The Death Penalty Information Center issued a report
Friday that provided anecdotal evidence that judges are being pressured to impose the death
penalty. The report stated that 32 of the 38 states that impose the death penalty elect their judges.
Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Penny White, who appeared at a news conference with
the Death Penalty Information Center, was turned away from the Supreme Court after a campaign
by the Republican Party and Tennessee Conservative Union labeled her soft on crime.
(DPA) - Turkey - The Turkish Association for Human Rights (IHD) said today that
people were "still being systematically tortured" in Turkey, despite Turkish government claims to
the contrary. IHD Chairman Akin Birdal said that 33 people were tortured to death in detention
last month in Turkey. He also said that an initiative to improve human rights announced yesterday
by Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller was "nothing more than maneuvering under growing pressure
from Europe and European human rights organizations."
(BBC) - Slovakia - Jacques Santer, chairman of the European Commission, called for
Slovakia to improve its human rights record concerning freedom of expression and the activities
of non-government organizations before Slovakia can be a candidate for EU expansion.
(HRW) - Worldwide - Human Rights Watch announced its new site on the World Wide
Web at http://www.hrw.org
Oct. 19
(Reuters) - Peru - Fourteen innocent prisoners were released by the Peruvian government
today, bringing to 99 the number that have been released at the recommendation of a new
government-appointed commission.
(DPA) - Burma - Construction has begun on the Yadana pipeline in Burma. Human rights
organizations have accused the Burmese regime of numerous human rights abuses in connection
with project, including forced relocation of villages and forced labor.
(BBC) - Turkey - Oya Gokbayrak, a member of the executive board of the Families of
Prisoners Association, known for its regular demonstrations against the disappearance of
government opponents, was arrested in Istanbul for possession and sale of heroin.
Oct. 20
(Reuters) - Jordan - The Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) accused the
government of Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul-Karim al-Kabariti of using torture and
intimidation to push through unpopular policies. According to AOHR, freedom of expression has
been curbed, legislation abused, detainees tortured and people arbitrarily arrested in the 8 months
since Kabariti's government came to power.
(Jerusalem Post) - Israel - The Israeli Medical Association said that "chaining patients to
their bed should be prevented" in response to two boys, 13 and 16, who were cuffed to their beds
for four days in Hadassah-University Hospital after being wounded in clashes with Israeli forces.
After complaints by human rights groups, the hand and leg cuffs were removed.
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AFP - Agence France Presse
AI - Amnesty International
AP - Associated Press
BBC - British Broadcasting Company
CTK - Czech News Agency
DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
GNS - Gannett News Service
HRW - Human Rights Watch
IPS - Inter Press Service
LA Times- Los Angeles Times
NYT - New York Times
PROVEA - Programa Venezolano de Educacio'n en Derechos Humanos
UPI - United Press International
WP - Washington Post
This page is maintained by Michael
Katz-Lacabe and Margarita
Lacabe. Last updated Oct. 21, 1996.