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December 1, 2008 10:42:38 AM CST


human rights

human rights news stories

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Burmese Monks Back in Streets

More than 100 march
as rights group slams junta over recruiting child soldiers

(Newser) - Picking up their quashed demands, more than 100 Burmese monks marched in defiance of the military junta today in the first marches since the government crackdown on pro-democracy protests late last month. "This is very significant... we are very encouraged to see the monks taking up action," one Burmese human rights watcher told the BBC. More »

More about:  Burma Myanmar human rights Aung San Suu Kyi Buddhist monks

Athletes Urged to Tackle China

New Republic wants sportsmen to condemn Olympic hosts

(Newser) - US athletes have a moral imperative to take a stand at the Beijing Olympics, the New Republic ’s editors assert: The American delegation should follow Lee Bollinger’s example of “spectacular rudeness” next summer, condemning the Chinese for their brutal human rights record. It’s unethical to be hosted by a country that tortures political activists, they argue, and be silent. More »

More about:  China 2008 Beijing Olympics human rights athlete Black Power

Fading US Sway Leads to Darfur, Burma Inaction 

China is ignoring rights abuses for economic interests, Time says

(Newser) - Diminished US influence is allowing human rights violators in Darfur and Burma to get away with murder, Harvard expert Samantha Power writes in Time . America is speaking up louder than ever, but Uncle Sam’s diplomatic nadir makes for “a void in global human rights leadership.” China has most influence over both pariahs, importing Sudanese oil and exporting weapons to Burma. More »

More about:  China Burma Darfur human rights Olympic Games genocide US

Rice Criticizes Putin's Iron Fist

She meets with human rights activists in Russia, offers support

(Newser) - Condoleezza Rice criticized the "concentration of power" in the Kremlin today and pledged support to human rights activists, the BBC reported.  In Russia for already-tense talks on a proposed missile defense shield, Rice also questioned the independence of the judiciary. One rights leader, however, said the stain of Guantanamo Bay and Abu-Ghraib brings accusations of the pot calling the kettle black. More »

More about:  Condoleezza Rice Vladimir Putin human rights Russian democracy

Warrants Served for Pinochet Family, Staff

Indicted helped Chilean dictator to launder $27M into US accounts

(Newser) - Arrest warrants for embezzlement were issued today in Chile for associates of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, including his widow and five children, the BBC reports. The warrants allege that the accused helped Pinochet hide $27 million of state money in US bank accounts. The former dictator died in 2006 while awaiting trial for human-rights abuses committed under his regime. More »

More about:  human rights Chile Michelle Bachelet Augusto Pinochet

Envoy Leaves Burma After Talks

Warned junta against quelling protests, met Suu Kyi this morning

(Newser) - UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari left Burma today after meeting with a top general and a second meeting with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, released from house arrest for the talks. Gambari, who was attempting to open dialog between the military junta and dissidents whose protests were brutally suppressed last week, had cooled his heels for four days before Gen. Than Shwe agreed to see him, the BBC reports. More »

More about:  Burma Myanmar human rights Aung San Suu Kyi Ibrahim Gambari Yangon

Bush Unloads on Burmese Junta

Prez announces new sanctions, visa ban at UN

(Newser) - President Bush told the UN General Assembly today that the US will tighten economic sanctions on Burma and impose a travel ban on its military junta leaders. The US has long maintained an embargo against the country, which is now in its eighth day of anti-junta protests. “The people’s desire to freedom is unmistakable,” Bush said. More »

More about:  George W. Bush Zimbabwe Middle East Burma Cuba Myanmar Sudan human rights Aung San Suu Kyi economic sanctions human rights abuse

Mugabe Critic Quits Over
Sex Scandal

Archbishop's supporters suspect regime is behind adultery lawsuit

(Newser) - An archbishop and prominent critic of Robert Mugabe's regime has resigned his Catholic Church leadership position after being accused of having an affair with a married woman. Pius Ncube remains a bishop, and his supporters say they see the authoritarian Zimbabwean regime behind the scandal, which Ncube calls "a state-driven, vicious attack," the LA Times reports. More »

More about:  Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe scandals Catholic Church sex scandal Vatican human rights resignation

US, China Grow Closer Despite Touchy Issues

Bush accepts Olympics invitation; talks recalls, environment with Hu

(Newser) - President Bush accepted an invitation today from China’s president to attend next summer’s Olympics, a gesture that will likely anger human rights activists but may increase pressure on Beijing, the Times reports. In a 90-minute meeting in the eve of the APEC summit, Hu Jintao and Bush also discussed climate change and recalls of Chinese-made toys. More »

More about:  George W. Bush China climate change United States Australia military human rights Olympic Games Hu Jintao toy recalls

In China, Yahoo
Names Names

Lawsuit accuses net giant of complicity in torture, human rights abuses

(Newser) - Yahoo asked a US federal court yesterday to dismiss a human rights lawsuit accusing the company of abetting the Chinese government. Two imprisoned Chinese journalists accuse the Web giant of passing along information about users that led to the arrest, imprisonment, and sometimes torture of writers and dissidents, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. More »

More about:  China lawsuit Yahoo torture human rights ethics

Lay Judges
to Join Bench
in Japan

Will citizens temper Japan's courts, where 99.9% are found guilty?

(Newser) - Japan will give citizens the gavel in an effort to counteract its judicial system’s prejudice for presuming guilt. Six citizens and three trained jurists will sit on criminal cases, and the majority will rule, Bloomberg reports. The new system follows a clamor of criticism about forced confessions, inhumane treatment of death row inmates and Japan’s 99.9% conviction rate. More »

More about:  United Nations Japan human rights judge execution conviction death row confession Council of Europe

Pakistani Court Frees Terror Suspects

Bin-Laden go-between among dozens released before trial

(Newser) - Dozens of Pakistani terror suspects have been released from jail without trial following orders from the nation's supreme court that they be freed. The bold move by the judiciary against President Musharraf's tenuous rule is bound to elicit protests from the US and Britain. The most notorious prisoner released is Al-Qaeda suspect Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan. More »

More about:  Pakistan al-Qaeda Pervez Musharraf terrorist Osama bin Laden human rights prisoners

Psychologists Won't Impose Gitmo Ban

Group votes to list interrogation techniques it won't help with

(Newser) - The American Psychological Association has voted not to ban members from assisting with interrogations at Guantanamo and other military prisons, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Instead, the group approved a measure listing specific procedures members won't help with, including sleep deprivation and water-boarding. "If we remove psychologists from these facilities, people are going to die," said an Army psychologist. More »