Articles by Human Rights Watch
HRW calls for immediate release of imprisoned Cameroonian journalist
(HRW/IFEX) – In a letter sent to the president of Cameroon on 2 June 1998, HRW welcomed his call to resolve the case of a wrongfully-imprisoned journalist. Pius Njawe, of “Le Messager”, was convicted of “spreading false information” after he published an article raising the possibility that President Paul Biya had suffered heart trouble during […]
HRW urges Indonesian government to dismantle barriers to academic freedom
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is the full text of a statement made available by HRW on 1 June 1998: (New York, May 28) — In an open letter today to new Indonesian Education Minister Juwono Sudarsono, the Human Rights Watch Academic Freedom Committee urges the government to dismantle immediately the mechanisms of control over academic […]
Reforms needed after Soeharto’s resignation
(HRW/IFEX) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated that though the resignation of Indonesia’s long-serving President Soeharto is an important first step toward reform, it is still unclear whether his successor, President Habibie, has the will or the ability to do away with Indonesia’s authoritarian political system. According to Sidney Jones, Asia director of HRW, […]
Journalist charged
(HRW/IFEX) – According to information released by HRW on 21 May 1998, the Federal Security Service (FSB) is pressing espionage charges against military journalist Grigory Pasko, who was arrested on 20 November 1997. HRW is concerned that the charges against Pasko may be connected to his environmental activities and thus may violate article 19(2) of […]
Speaker of Iranian Parliament asked to condemn comments endangering women lawyers
(HRW/IFEX) – According to Human Rights Watch, on 19 May 1998, three international human rights organizations expressed concern to the speaker of the Iranian parliament over comments made by one parliamentarian about women lawyers in Iran. The three organizations — Human Rights Watch, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, and the International Federation of Human […]
HRW condemns move to put government above the law
(HRW/IFEX) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) today condemned a draft law the Hong Kong government is rushing through the Beijing-selected legislature which would constitute an exceptionally grave setback to the rule of law in China’s new Special Administrative Region (S.A.R). The bill, which would exempt both the S.A.R. government and organs of the Chinese government […]
HRW calls for more action in the DRC
(HRW/IFEX) – As President Clinton recognizes the efforts of civil society in Africa, civil society activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are facing new attacks from their government. On April 2 1998, Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Congolese authorities are cracking down on numerous independent voices–including journalists, academics, development experts, and […]
HRW calls for more action against China
(HRW/IFEX) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon British Prime Minister Tony Blair to use the first ever European Union (EU)-China summit to define concrete benchmarks for human rights improvements in China and Tibet. In a letter made public on 1 April 1998, HRW urged Blair to use the London summit to present Chinese […]