Human Rights in the News

BBC -- Growing Settler Violence In the West Bank
Olmert's words earlier in the week seem more powerful in light of this article from the BBC. A growing number of Israeli settlers, now a few hundred, in the West Bank are engaging in acts of violence against Palestinians. These acts of violence both contribute to a cycle of violence and hinder the Israeli military by forcing it to divert resources to intervene in these instances of violence. With more resources being spent on policing Israeli settlers, less resources are available to protect Israelis from militant attacks..

BBC -- Congo rebellion expands
A rebel general in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has shifted his goals. Formerly claiming to only seek the protection of his ethnic Tutsi group, he now claims, "We are going to liberate the people of Congo". The general announced he was walking out of a peace deal signed in January. There are 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers currently in the country.

NYT -- Zimbabwe: Life Under Hyperinflation
Zimbabwe's hyperinflation, stemming from irresponsible government practices, has dramatically damaged human rights in a country that was one of the most successful in Africa. The article explains the horrible conditions and denial of human rights that has resulted. Hyperinflation has denied education, health care, food, due process, and fair pay for work to a staggering number of individuals. Political wrangling over control of ministries between President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, is delaying the process. The Finance and Home Ministry, which might have a shot at stopping the hyper inflation, is among the ministries Mugabe refuses to relase control over.

The Economist -- Somali Piracy, the Need for Government, and Human Rights
The failure of Somalia's government is apparent by the abuse of human rights which now extend from that country. Freedom of travel, and even the right to life, is becoming increasingly at risk because of the lack of government. The Economist provides strong analysis of the situation in this article. The danger demonstrated by Somali pirates seizing a ship full of tanks and other weapons demonstrates that the root of human rights abuses here also presents a threat to people living anywhere in the world.