Sanctions Against Uzbekistan Reviewed Again; Malaysia Asked to Reconsider Mass Migrant Expulsion Plan; Pakistan and Sri Lanka's Torture Record Discussed on International Day against Torture

By:  Lindsey Brady
Impunity Watch Managing Editor, News

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - The European Union suspended sanctions against Uzbekistan six months ago and human rights grops warn that if the sanctions were suspended indefinitely it would "leave the West with no leverage to seek improvements in the country's human rights record" according to ISN Security Watch.   Uzbekistan has been commended with improving its human rights record by abolishing the death penalty, the right of habeas corpus, the endorsement of an International Labor Organization child labor convention and the release of political prisoners. 

Veronika Szente Goldston, advocacy director at Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division clarified, "we chose not to call for the sanctions to be reinstated, even though we did make it clear that obviously, despite the fact that there have been positive steps in the right direction, the overall human rights situation remains atrocious and the criteria as such had not been met."  In April of 2008 Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to the EU and detailed some of the issues they were concerned about the most.  In the letter HRW writes, “civil society continues to operate under conditions of extreme government repression; defenders who have been fortunate enough to escape imprisonment, as well as their families, are under constant threat and harassment.”

For more information, please see:

ISN Security Watch (EurasiaNet) - Uzbekistan:  Human Rights and Sanctions Freeze - 27 June 2008

Human Rights Watch - Letter to EU on Uzbekistan Sanctions Review - 16 April 2008

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - On Friday, June 27th, Amnesty International pleaded with Malaysia to change its current plans to expel tens of thousands of Filipino and Indonesian illegal immigrants.  Amnesty International is concerned that this expulsion could lead to great numbers of human rights violation.  Specifically the human rights organization is fearful of "cruel treatment of detainees, punishment including flogging under immigration laws, and lack of adequate health care in detention for women, children and other vulnerable groups."  A majority of the illegal immigrants are thought to be asylum seeksers who fled from the dangerous and "conflict-ridden" Mindanao region of Southern Philippines.

Amnesty International supports its fears by pointing to a similar government plan to deport a large population of illegal migrants.  In 2002 a mass expulsion led to the deaths of children due to the incidents of disease and dehydration in the detention centers where the migrants were held.  Today, many of the illegal immigrants are settled in the Sabah region of Malaysia.  K. Shan, Amnesty International's campaigns coordinator declared that a royal commisson was needed to study the migration issue and asked the Malaysian government, "as a member Asean and the United Nations Human Rights Council, to demonstrate strong commitment in upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights."

For more information, please see:

The Star - Amnesty International:  Set up Royal Commission on Sabah Migration Issue - 27 June 2008

International Herald Tribune - Amnesty Warns of Rights Violations in Malaysia's plan to Expel Illegal Immigrants - 27 June 2008

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LAHORE, Pakistan - June 26th is the internationally recognized United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon spoke out on that day of recognition to state "in a year in which we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us reaffirm our commitment to the inalienable right and inherent dignity of all women and men."  Other speakers spoke at a seminar organised by the United Nations, Information Centre, Islamabad, European Commission and an NGO (SACH).  The aim of the seminar was to raise the level of awareness globally in order to put an end to torture.  Jan de Kok, Ambassador of the European Commission congratulated the government of Pakistan for being a signatory of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) this year.

Although Pakistan was commended for signing on to CAT and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, some are arguing that Pakistan is not making an effort to uphold the meaning behind these conventions.  The Daily Times says detainees in Pakistan are still being tortured in order to obtain confessions.  Sources from Pakistan's law enforcement state, Abdul Wahab Baloch, was arrested in late May 2008 for demonstrating nuclear testing in Pakistan and severely tortrued during his six-day detention.  The sources tell the Daily Times that the government has allowed those governement officials who conducted or allowed the torture to go unpunished. 

China also pointed to Sri Lanka's lack of committment to ending torture.  The spokesman for the Sri Lankan government stated "with regard to torture, it is well known that it exists all over the world."  UP Asia Online comments that Sri Lanka should not only do more to end torture but points to the success of South Korea and Hong Kong in training their law enforcement to conduct their duties without the use of torture.

Daily Times - UN day to Support Torture Victims not Observed - 26 June 2008

7th Space Interactive - Secretary-General says International Day in Support of Torture Victims is Call to Take Action Against Perpetrators of All Forms of Cruel, Inhuman Treatment - 26 June 2008

The Post - Speakers Call for End to Torture From Society - 27 June 2008

UP Asia Online - Sri Lanka Indifferent to Torture Charges - 27 June 2008