Human Rights Watch Digest

Georgia/Russia: Use of Rocket Systems Can Harm Civilians
Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about the use of indiscriminate weapons.
(New York, August 12, 2008) - On August 11, 2008, Human Rights Watch in South Ossetia saw Russian military trucks, including at least two Uragan 16-round multiple rocket launchers and four trucks with rockets, being moved toward South Ossetia’s administrative border with Georgia. Read more

China: Olympics Harm Key Human Rights
Chinese Government, IOC Wasted Historic Opportunity for Reform
(New York, August 6, 2008) – The 2008 Beijing Olympics will open tainted by a sharp increase in human rights abuses directly linked to China’s preparations for the games, Human Rights Watch said today. The games open on August 8, 2008. The run-up to the Beijing Olympics has been marred by a well-documented surge in violations of the rights of free expression and association, as well as media freedom. Read more

Burma: No Rights Reform 20 Years After Massacre
Olympics Open on Bloody Anniversary
(New York, August 7, 2008) – Twenty years after the uprising in Burma, the military government continues to sharply restrict fundamental rights and violently suppress dissent, Human Rights Watch said today. The anniversary falls as the Olympic Games open in Beijing, while the Chinese government gives crucial support to Burma’s repressive regime.Read more

US: Hamdan Trial Exposes Flaws in Military Commissions
Tribunal Handicaps the Defense
(Guantanamo Bay, August 6, 2008) – The trial of Salim Hamdan, a Yemeni who has admitted to serving as Osama bin Laden’s driver and mechanic, exposed fundamental flaws of the US military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Human Rights Watch said today. The six-member panel of military officers today found Hamdan guilty of providing material support to terrorism, but acquitted him of a conspiracy charge after two days of deliberations.Read more

Israel: Stop Plans for New West Bank Settlement
US Should Cut Aid Equal to Construction Cost
(Jerusalem, August 6, 2008) – The Israeli government’s plan to back a settlement in the occupied West Bank violates international humanitarian law and should be stopped, Human Rights Watch said today. Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian population caused by the Israeli-only settlements and infrastructure also seriously infringe on the right to freedom of movement and other basic rights of Palestinians in the West Bank.Read more

US: Migrant Detainees Suffer From Inadequate Medical Care
Improve Treatment of HIV-Positive Immigrants in Detention
(Mexico City, August 5, 2008) – Inferior medical care for HIV-positive immigrant detainees threatens their health, and ultimately their lives, Human Rights Watch said today at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – the agency charged with providing health care services to detainees – fails to ensure timely HIV prevention and treatment services, putting many at risk of infection, resistance to treatment, and even death.Read more

Colombia: Proposal Threatens 'Parapolitics' Investigations
Proposed Constitutional Changes Harm Accountability, Favor Uribe Allies
(Washington, DC, August 4, 2008) — President Álvaro Uribe’s proposal to amend Colombia’s constitution would hurt accountability for politicians who collaborated with paramilitary death squads, Human Rights Watch said today. One of the Uribe administration’s proposed amendments would remove all investigations of members of Congress from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which now has exclusive authority to try sitting congressmen. Read more