Conflicts, crackdowns mar 2008 Asian rights record: HRWWASHINGTON (AFP) — Human Rights Watch (HRW) Wednesday blamed Asian giants China and India for abuses against their own citizens but also for backing military dictatorships such as Myanmar.
In its annual report for 2008, the New York-based group detailed worsening trends in much of Asia, including China's Olympic-year crackdown on civil liberties and its repression of protests across the Tibetan plateau.
Wars turned more bloody in Afghanistan, which saw the "worst violence since the fall of the Taliban," and Sri Lanka, where the government last January formally scrapped a ceasefire with the separatist Tamil Tigers.
Conflicts also flared up again in less-watched hotspots, including Muslim regions of Thailand and the Philippines, while Indonesian forces in remote West Papua "continue to engage in abuses ... with virtual impunity," it said.
HRW pointed to some progress in parts of South Asia, including the return to civilian rule in Pakistan after the end of the Pervez Musharraf presidency, and improvements ahead of polls in Bangladesh last month.
Elections in Nepal, where Maoists took power and the king abdicated, "marked a new era... after a decade of conflict that claimed over 13,000 lives."
But HRW also highlighted tighter restrictions on freedom of association, expression and religion in China, which it said "broke its promise to improve human rights in conjunction with its hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games."
In Tibet, where simmering anger against Chinese rule erupted into major protests last March, HRW said that following mass arrests of suspected demonstrators the whereabouts of several hundred detainees remained unknown.
HRW also criticised Asia's other population giant, India, for "serious abuses," including in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which was again rocked by major unrest in 2008.
The report pointed to India's "pattern of denial of justice and impunity" and a "failure to protect women, children and marginalized groups such Dalits, tribal groups and religious minorities."
India, as an emerging global player, was now often placing economic and strategic interests over rights concerns as it tried to compete with China in countries such as Myanmar, said HRW.
"As the world's most populous democracy, India might be expected to be at the forefront of global efforts to promote human rights," it said. "However, its current foreign policy often would make a confirmed dictator proud."
In Myanmar, also known as Burma -- which HRW said also draws support from China, Russia and Thailand -- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi went into her sixth straight year of house arrest, one of over 2,150 political prisoners.
"The Burmese military continues to violate the rights of civilians in ethnic conflict areas and extrajudicial killings, forced labour, land confiscation without due process and other violations continued in 2008," said the report.
When Cyclone Nargis struck the country last May, "more than two million people waited for weeks for relief operations to reach them" after the reclusive regime denied access to foreign aid groups.
Life in Asia's other hermit state, North Korea, remained even more dire, with the regime continuing to "enslave" citizens in prison camps and executing people for crimes that include hoarding food, said the report.
Reports that leader Kim Jong-Il suffered a stroke in September "could have far-reaching consequences for human rights and governance," the group said.
Across much of Southeast Asia, human rights were also on shaky ground.
In Thailand "the end of a military-installed administration has not led to the restoration of rights and democracy" as political tensions "led to protracted protests and occasional deadly clashes."
Cambodia "continued its drift toward authoritarianism" as Prime Minister Hun Sen consolidated power through flawed July elections, while a tribunal to address Khmer Rouge-era crimes made slow progress.
In its annual report for 2008, the New York-based group detailed worsening trends in much of Asia, including China's Olympic-year crackdown on civil liberties and its repression of protests across the Tibetan plateau.
Wars turned more bloody in Afghanistan, which saw the "worst violence since the fall of the Taliban," and Sri Lanka, where the government last January formally scrapped a ceasefire with the separatist Tamil Tigers.
Conflicts also flared up again in less-watched hotspots, including Muslim regions of Thailand and the Philippines, while Indonesian forces in remote West Papua "continue to engage in abuses ... with virtual impunity," it said.
HRW pointed to some progress in parts of South Asia, including the return to civilian rule in Pakistan after the end of the Pervez Musharraf presidency, and improvements ahead of polls in Bangladesh last month.
Elections in Nepal, where Maoists took power and the king abdicated, "marked a new era... after a decade of conflict that claimed over 13,000 lives."
But HRW also highlighted tighter restrictions on freedom of association, expression and religion in China, which it said "broke its promise to improve human rights in conjunction with its hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games."
In Tibet, where simmering anger against Chinese rule erupted into major protests last March, HRW said that following mass arrests of suspected demonstrators the whereabouts of several hundred detainees remained unknown.
HRW also criticised Asia's other population giant, India, for "serious abuses," including in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which was again rocked by major unrest in 2008.
The report pointed to India's "pattern of denial of justice and impunity" and a "failure to protect women, children and marginalized groups such Dalits, tribal groups and religious minorities."
India, as an emerging global player, was now often placing economic and strategic interests over rights concerns as it tried to compete with China in countries such as Myanmar, said HRW.
"As the world's most populous democracy, India might be expected to be at the forefront of global efforts to promote human rights," it said. "However, its current foreign policy often would make a confirmed dictator proud."
In Myanmar, also known as Burma -- which HRW said also draws support from China, Russia and Thailand -- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi went into her sixth straight year of house arrest, one of over 2,150 political prisoners.
"The Burmese military continues to violate the rights of civilians in ethnic conflict areas and extrajudicial killings, forced labour, land confiscation without due process and other violations continued in 2008," said the report.
When Cyclone Nargis struck the country last May, "more than two million people waited for weeks for relief operations to reach them" after the reclusive regime denied access to foreign aid groups.
Life in Asia's other hermit state, North Korea, remained even more dire, with the regime continuing to "enslave" citizens in prison camps and executing people for crimes that include hoarding food, said the report.
Reports that leader Kim Jong-Il suffered a stroke in September "could have far-reaching consequences for human rights and governance," the group said.
Across much of Southeast Asia, human rights were also on shaky ground.
In Thailand "the end of a military-installed administration has not led to the restoration of rights and democracy" as political tensions "led to protracted protests and occasional deadly clashes."
Cambodia "continued its drift toward authoritarianism" as Prime Minister Hun Sen consolidated power through flawed July elections, while a tribunal to address Khmer Rouge-era crimes made slow progress.
12 comments:
Hun Sen, can you show your iron fist to Kasit that damn fool Thai's FM???
I am waiting to see it now!
Hell no... Hun Sen is no body than a paper tiger. He is Iron Fist with only Cambodians but chicken to Thai and Yuon. Sometime he barks too loud at innocent people but silence when his neighbors invade his country.
You fuck and stupit talking about my government.If you good you have to do by youself and don't need government helping you bitch.
You just want Cambodian people make war again and you don't want Cambodian people getting peace forever.
hun sen is just another castro, pol pot or maois but indeed clown and slave of vietcong
To 3:35AM,
Could you please calm down and explain your point of view in a little more detail? I think that HRW assessment is fair and balanced. They only state the facts and those facts strongly indicate the drift toward authoritarianism in Cambodia. What would you call a regime when only one man has all the power (to suppress his own people only)? To show my point, here's an example: whenever PM Hun Sen wants a law it can be passed in matter of days. How about the so-calles anti-corruption law that Mr. Hun Sen or the CPP don't care much and the rest of the country wants it so badly, do we get it yet after 25-30 years? Don't be mad because someone points out the truth. Mr.Hun Sen always shows his iron fist against Khmers. How many times do you hear him complain about the illegal Vietnamese inmmigration as well as their encroachments into Cambodian territories near Khmer-VN border?
Hun Sen is trapped and he has to sleep with enenies to live.
Not all CPP Standing Committee members are thrill with Hun Sen arrogant and belligerent politics.
Hun Sen will be forced to retire from politics like his buddy Lon Do Hoc any time coming.
String puller Soc Anh will take the stage sooner than we all think.
Beijing and Tokyo will decide Cambodia future.
4:39 AM
I've suspected that he may be navigating himself into a corner. Evidently old tyrants are often replaced with new ones. Since his family has already robbed much of the land and resources from the kingdom. What would be left for the next thief, but to go after the old one. It would be wise from his position to consolidate as much power to preserve not only his wealth, but his life.
Yep,
3:35AM cool down..or go shoot your self in the nut..moron!
Great job by the CPP, and that is where Cambodia should be heading if it is to get out of the wood anytime soon.
Democracy will not work; it could only cause more suffering.
8:31aM YOU ARE RIGHT. CPP SHOULD CLOSE KI AND KICK ALL FOREINGE NGO AND FOREIGNE SUPPORT NGO OUT OF CAMBODIA! SOONER THE BETER!
CHEYO HUN SEN!
12:23! repeated it again...HUN SEN CHUY YOUR MOTHER?? man!, stupid bastard must be too horny..huh??
12:23AM! CHOY MY MOTHER! CHOY MY SISTER! CHOY MY DAUGHTER!
Thank mr. Hunxen!
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