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Last update - 14:34 17/12/2007 Human Rights Watch urges U.S., EU to condition Jordan funding By Associated Press Tags: Human Rights Watch  An international human rights watchdog called on the United States and the European Union on Monday to hold back funding to Jordan unless the country reforms laws restricting freedom of assembly and association. Human Rights Watch said both donors have promised to assist Jordan in developing its democratic institutions and strengthening civil society but have provided funding without demanding necessary reforms. Advertisement "It's a futile exercise of misplaced philanthropy for the U.S. and EU to be rewarding Jordan for continuing to restrict the activities of civil society groups," HRW Mideast Director Sarah Leah Whitson said in a press statement. "The U.S. and EU should withhold funds to the government until the unnecessary restrictions are lifted." Whitson's statement coincided with the launch of a new HRW report on Jordan titled Shutting Out the Critics. The rights group said the U.S. and EU provided more than $600 million in assistance to the country in 2006. Yet neither has developed the appropriate funding mechanisms, such as funding conditions, to ensure that Jordan's laws and practices comply with international standards on the rights to freedom of assembly and of association, said the report. HRW's Jordan researcher Christoph Wilcke said on Monday that foreign donors were taking the call seriously. "The Europeans are very much behind what we think should be a new law, a better law," Wilcke said on the sidelines of a press conference in Amman launching the report. "The Americans recognize some faults but are a little bit more cautious in their assessment," he added. The rights watchdog urged Jordan to reform restrictive laws that it said sharply reduce the freedom of individuals and organizations to meet, organize and demonstrate in public. HRW said the measures violated Jordan's constitution and international rights conventions signed by the country. "The government is using oppressive laws and practices to shut out private citizens from peacefully participating in public policy debates," said Whitson. Wilcke said he had met with officials from several Jordanian ministries about lifting the restrictions but so far had not seen tangible results. Jordanian officials were unavailable for comment. The report said Jordan has enforced a law since 2001 requiring groups as small as two people to seek permission to meet from local governors, who can deny the requests without appeal. HRW said governors have denied most requests for demonstrations on issues ranging from U.S. actions in Iraq to local fuel price hikes. The rights group also criticized a law proposed in October that would bar domestic and foreign donations to non-governmental organizations in Jordan without prior government approval, calling the measure unnecessary and excessive Bookmark to del.icio.us   Pre-Iowa Israel Factor The panel is certain that Clinton is the better Democratic candidate for Israel. The Jewish connection Jeremy Goldberg works to connect Barack Obama with Jewish voters.   1.   why how nice its not israel in the firing line ! 15:59  |  victor hardman 17/12/07   2.   HRW 19:41  |  Nina 17/12/07   3.   Human rights watch 21:44  |  librafour 04/01/08

Today Online Amos Harel: Israel is not the only one exercising restraint Responses: 104 Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit Responses: 76 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to focus on suicide bombings Responses: 138 Editorial: The IDF is an army that has ceased to function as an army Responses: 93 Qassam causes damage to home in Sderot; IDF kills 2 Hamas men Responses: 64 Rosner's Domain After Iowa: Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? Iowa caucus: Here come the tribal leaders The green line is turning red Guest: Is it important for American Jews to learn Hebrew? WTR Des Moines edition: If McCain goes up, down goes Giuliani More Headlines 21:09 Qassam causes damage to home in Sderot; IDF kills 2 Hamas men 20:27 Palestinian PM lambasts Israel over West Bank arrest raids 19:34 Sinai lawmaker calls for calm after Bedouin man shot outside his home near the Israeli border 21:20 U.S. President George Bush is likely to visit Israel again in May 09:07 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to formally address suicide attacks 19:05 Poll: Fatah losing support among West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 19:29 Bush, Jordan's king confer by phone over Mideast peace process 21:26 Settlers council: Peres subjects pres. institution to extreme left 18:32 Lebanese ruling majority urges Arab states to halt Syria meddling 21:35 Evangelicals, young voters propel Huckabee, Obama in Iowa Previous Editions Select Day 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec

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