Today’s update of human rights events around the world.
CHINA: Chinese quake activist arrested
Chinese police have arrested a man who was investigating whether poor construction caused schools to collapse during last year’s massive earthquake. The detention of Tan Zuoren is part of a crackdown in Sichuan province just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of the quake, a human rights group said. BBC
U.S. to Seek Seat on U.N. Human Rights Council
The Obama administration has decided to seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Tuesday, reversing a decision by the Bush administration to shun the U.N.’s premier rights body to protest the repressive states among its membership. Washington Post
GAZA: Israeli Military Cloaks Abuses
The Israeli army’s Advocate General has summarily closed an internal investigation into allegations stemming from accounts by soldiers of abuses against Palestinian civilians committed during Israel’s recent war on Hamas in Gaza. It took the military investigators just half the duration of the 22-day war in Gaza to bulldoze the accounts and to dismiss completely the serious allegations made by soldiers who had themselves taken part in the fighting. IPS
Zimbabwe prison called ‘death camp’
Inmates at the Beitbridge jail are said to receive one meal a day from the prison service. Images have been released of Zimbabwean prisoners who are said to be starving and dying of disease, due to meagre supplies and appalling conditions. al Jazeera
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