U.S. SAYS RIGHTS WORSENED IN ASIA LAST YEAR [RFA]

Human rights throughout East Asia remained dismal in 2003, despite modest advances in China’s legal system, the State Department said in its annual report on human rights around the world. In China, “although legal reforms continued, there was backsliding on key human rights issues during the year, including arrests of individuals discussing sensitive subjects on the Internet, health activists, labor protesters, defense lawyers, [and] journalists,” the report said. Beijing also continued to block Western media from entering the country, it said. [more]

10:27:54 AM    

Uzbekistan: Human Rights Defender Detained [HRW]

Uzbek authorities have arrested another human rights defender on what appear to be politically motivated charges, continuing Uzbekistan’s crackdown on civil society, Human Rights Watch said today. [more]

10:24:23 AM    

Thailand: End Crackdown on Burmese Fleeing Abuses
Thai Government Policy Puts Thousands of Burmese at Risk [HRW]
Thailand must end its crackdown on Burmese fleeing rights abuses in their military-ruled homeland, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. [more]

10:18:59 AM