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Urgent Action: Cambodia

Here's today's urgent action:

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CAMBODIA - 40 families in Kantuot commune, Preah Vihear province; twelve people detained during a forced eviction; Toeun Chheng (f), aged 29, and Oeun Eng (m), aged 31, both killed

On 15 November, two people were shot dead by security forces during a forced eviction in the remote northern Preah Vihear province. Of the 317 families evicted, around 40 families who lost most of their belongings have been stranded on a roadside near their village, with no shelter, food or water. Twelve people were arrested during the eviction and are detained in the capital, Phnom Penh. It is not known what charges they face.

The 317 families were forcibly evicted from unused land which they had recently settled on in Sra Em village, Kantuot commune. The eviction was carried out by more than 200 armed police, military police and soldiers, who destroyed homes and belongings with no prior warning.

Toeun Chheng was shot in the chest at point blank range as she was protecting her four children during the eviction. She later died in a health clinic. According to accounts provided to Amnesty International, the other casualty, Oeun Eng, was shot dead during the eviction. Eyewitnesses told local human rights workers that the security forces had not issued any warnings before opening fire on this group of very poor families. Accounts suggest that at least six other evictees were injured; five by gun shots, and one who was beaten. Two are seriously injured and are being treated at the provincial hospital.

The authorities arrested at least twelve people during the eviction, including two of the injured, who were transferred from a health clinic to police custody. Three others were reportedly arrested on 14 November. All 15 have been sent to Prey Sar prison in the capital, Phnom Penh, some 400km away. It is not known if they have been charged with any offence; neither is it known whether the two injured detainees are receiving medical treatment.

While most of the evicted families have now left the province, around 40 families have been living on a roadside since the eviction. They lack even emergency shelter, food, water and security, a major concern in this remote area.

International human rights law requires that evictions be carried out only as a last resort, and following adequate notice and consultation with those affected. In this case, the eviction reportedly took place in breach of a written agreement between local authorities and the community, which stated that the families could remain on the land on a temporary basis until a suitable resolution had been found. This agreement had been reached following a stand-off between the villagers and the authorities on 9 November, when police had moved in at night in an attempt to arrest two community leaders. On 11 November, the local district governor had offered two vaguely described alternative locations for resettlement, but community leaders declined to move until they had more information on these areas, including the precise geographic location of the land and assurances that the area has access to water, schooling for the children and other basic infrastructure. Four days later and without any prior notification, security forces showed an announcement from the provincial administration, stating the community had to leave. The implementation of the eviction notice by security forces followed immediately.

Sudan Must Arrest and Surrender Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb

Please join Amnesty in urging December's U.N. Security Council president, Marcello Spatafora of Italy, to arrest Sudanese war crime suspects now.

In April 2007 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur, Sudan. The two suspects remain free. Next month, the ICC Prosecutor is scheduled to report to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Darfur. Take action today to call on the Security Council to condemn Sudan’s refusal to arrest and surrender Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb to the ICC for trial.

Sign your name to Amnesty's petition here.

Urgent Action: Iran

Here is this week's urgent action:

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IRAN - Ronak Safarzadeh (f); Hana Abdi (f), aged 21, student

Women’s rights activists Ronak Safarzadeh and Hana Abdi have been detained in the city of Sanandaj, in the north-western province of Kordestan, and are believed to be held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility. Neither is known to have been charged. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty International considers them prisoners of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association.

Both women are active members of the Campaign for Equality, which is seeking an end to legalized discrimination against women, and of the NGO Azar Mehr Women’s Organization of Sanandaj, which is affiliated to the Campaign for Equality.

Ronak Safazadeh had attended a meeting on the International Day of the Child in Sanandaj on 8 October, during which she had collected signatures in support of the Campaign for Equality. The following day, men understood to be agents of the Ministry of Intelligence reportedly came to her house at 8.20am, confiscated her computer, copies of the campaign’s petition and a booklet it had produced, and detained her. After six days, her mother was permitted a brief telephone conversation with her.

In an interview with the Campaign for Equality, Ronak Safarzadeh’s sister said, “On Thursday [25 October] court proceedings were held in the case of Ronak and the authorities informed us that during these court proceedings the arrest order of Ronak was renewed for the period of one month.” She also said that family members had not been allowed to attend her court hearing and that they had been told that Ronak Safarzadeh is being held in the detention facility of the Sanandaj Office of the Ministry of Intelligence, although they were not sure whether this was true. According to the Campaign for Equality, Ronak Safarzadeh’s mother was beaten by officials in the local office of the judiciary on 30 October when she went to try to find out about her daughter.

Hana Abdi is studying psychology at Payam-e Noor University in Bijar. She was arrested on 4 November by seven Ministry of Intelligence agents at her grandfather’s home in Sanandaj. The agents then searched her father’s home where they confiscated Hana Abdi’s computer and pamphlets explaining the aims of the Campaign for Equality.

UPDATE: Pakistan Urgent Action

Here is an urgent action on Pakistan, updated from earlier in the week.

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PAKISTAN - Asma Jahangir (f); Hina Jillani (f)

Released: Iqbal Haider (m); I. A. Rehman (m); Brigadier (rtd) Rao Abid Hameed (m); Shahtaj Qizilbash (f); Imran Qureshi (m); at least 48 other human rights defenders detained in the state of emergency

At least 53 human rights defenders and civil society activists, including a number of staff and council members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), were released on bail on 6 November. They are facing charges under The Maintenance of Public Order law and under an unlawful assembly provision of the Penal Code.

However, Asma Jahangir, Chairperson of the HRCP, is still under house arrest. She was ordered to be detained for 90 days by the Home Department of the Government of Punjab on 3 November. Asma Jahangir is a leading human rights activist and lawyer in Pakistan and the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

A 90-day detention order also remains in place against Hina Jillani, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on human rights defenders, who is currently visiting London. There is grave concern that she will be detained on her planned return to Pakistan.

Urgent Actions: Mexico, Sudan, and Pakistan

Here are today's urgent actions.

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MEXICO - Geovanni Alcaraz Vielman (m), aged 25; members of his family

On 22 October, Mexican citizen and former soldier Geovanni Alcaraz Vielman was deported as an illegal immigrant from USA back to Mexico. According to his testimony, he has been beaten and he and his family have been threatened by officers of the Mexican Military Judicial Police (Policia Judicial Federal Militar). Amnesty International believes that the lives of Geovanni Alcaraz Vielman and his family may be in danger.

According to reports, Geovanni Alcaraz deserted the Mexican army and fled to USA in 2004 after allegedly being accused of involvement in the death of a superior officer. On 18 October 2007, the US authorities arrested him in San Martin, California. When he was deported four days later, he was arrested the same day as he arrived in the Mexican city of Tijuana.

According to Geovanni Alcaraz, on 23 October, officers of the Federal Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduria General de la Republica, PGR) transported him to Mexico City where he was placed in the custody the of the Military Judicial Police at their barracks in Mexico City. That night, he was taken to a room and was beaten by five plain-clothed soldiers for about three hours apparently in order to force him to confess to the killing of the army officer. He was not allowed to contact a lawyer or members of his family. When he asked for a lawyer, the officers told him “if you report us, we will kill you and will send someone to rape your mother and your sister” (si abres la boca para denunciar, nosotros mismos nos vamos a encargar de matarte y de mandar a alguien para que viole a tu mama y a tu hermana). They also showed him a picture of his family’s house and said they had photos of his mother and sister.

Following his beating, Geovanni Alcaraz was then taken to the infirmary at the barracks, where he claims that a doctor noticed his injuries, but did not document them. The Military Judicial Police then forced him to read out a confession, which was videotaped. He was finally taken to a military prison, where he was seen by the prison doctor who noted he had marks on his leg and collarbone, and measured and took photographs of them. Geovanni Alcaraz also had pains on his neck and stomach. However, this evidence has not been made available to his lawyer. In an interview with the head of the military prison, Geovanni Alcaraz said that the military judicial police officers who beat him had also threatened to kill him in prison. The prison authorities allowed him to sleep in the infirmary for his own protection for a few days.

On 24 October, members of Geovanni Alcaraz Vielman’s family and lawyer were allowed to see and speak to him. He told
them that he had been beaten and threatened, and that he was fearful for the lives of himself and his family. His lawyer has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, but so far, no protection has been granted to him or his family.

SUDAN - 36 displaced people from Otash Camp, South Darfur

Security forces seized 36 people from Otash Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Darfur on the evening of 29 October. They are in danger of being tortured or otherwise ill-treated in detention.

There is a pattern of IDPs being detained incommunicado and beaten by police or national intelligence and security forces in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. A group of IDPs from Kalma Camp were arrested and detained by police on 21 August: most were beaten on arrest or during custody in Nyala Wasat Police Station. This is the police station where the detainees from Otash Camp are believed to be detained.

Following fighting between different ethnic groups in Kalma camp, on 18 October a large number of IDPs fled Kalma Camp, which is near Nyala. Most of those that fled the fighting went to Otash Camp, which is 24km from Kalma Camp. During the afternoon of 29 October police and soldiers went into Otash Camp to remove the recent arrivals and forcibly relocate them to a village named Amakisara, 23km from Nyala. Members of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), including military personnel, observers and AMIS police, went to the camp, but were ordered to leave by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) colonel conducting the operation. They saw the camp residents fleeing while tents were destroyed and property was carried away in trucks. According to the UN, IDPs were being threatened by soldiers and police wielding sticks and rubber hoses.

PAKISTAN - Asma Jahangir (f); Hina Jilani (f); Iqbal Haider (m); I. A. Rehman (m); Brigadier (rtd) Rao Abid Hameed (m); Shahtaj Qizilbash (f); Imran Qureshi (m); at least 48 other human rights defenders detained in the state of emergency

Asma Jehangir, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has been placed under house arrest following the state of emergency imposed on 3 November by General Musharraf.

The detention order for 90 days was issued against Asma Jahangir on 3 November by the Home Department of the Government of Punjab. She remains under house arrest at her home in Lahore. Ms Jahangir is a leading human rights activist and lawyer in Pakistan and the UN Special Rappateur on freedom of religion or belief.

A 90-day detention order has also been reportedly issued against Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on human rights defenders. Her house has been surrounded by police and there is grave concern that she will be detained on her planned return to Pakistan

According to media and other reports, at least 55 civil society activists, including a number of HRCP staff and council members, were arrested on 4 November when they attended a meeting at the Commission’s office in Lahore to discuss the situation in the country following the state of emergency.

Iqbal Hiader, HRCP Secretary General and former attorney general of Pakistan, and HRCP director I A Rehman, were among those detained; they were subsequently placed under house arrest.

Amnesty International is concerned for the health of a number of those detained, including Brigadier (retired) Rao Abid Hameed and Shahtaj Qizilbash - both elderly human rights activists associated with HRCP - and also Imran Qureshi, a lawyer with the Women’s Rights organization, Shirkat Gar, who is suffering from a heart condition and requires daily medication. All three are detained in Lahore.

October 29, 2007 A.I. (UWest) Minutes

29 October, 2007

1. Danny welcomed everyone and mentioned a few pieces of news:
   
   1. the Amnesty International UWest webpage/blogspot is now up and running; and
      
   2. Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne will be giving a talk concerning his grassroots peace movement, Sarvodaya Shramadana, on Oct. 31, 2007 at 10am.
2. Jesse raised the question as to how we might be able to receive Urgent Action news from Amnesty International by email. Both Danny and Daphna replied that there are options on Amnesty's website to be put on the emailing list.
   
3. Danny reminded everyone that there are petition sites on A.I. UWest blog for Niger, Darfur, etc. if anyone is interested.
   
4. There was only one Urgent Action announcement for this week - Brazilian agricultural workers and land activists; over 200 agricultural workers are threatened in the Santa Teresa do Oeste in Paraná state, southern Brazil; two others have been killed, with another hospitalized and in a coma.
   
5. The group agreed verbally to the "corporate" letter writing and signing method.
   
6. 2 letters were written, one by Daphna one by Jesse - everyone present signed each letter.

October 22, 2007 A.I. (UWest) Minutes

22 October, 2007

1. Danny welcomed everyone. He related that there are many Urgent Action notices, but due to the recent widespread media coverage and campus inquiry, the situation in Myanmar/Burma should be our top priority.
   
2. Two particular cases were focused on due to their fear of torture and other ill-treatments – the activist Hla Mjo Naung and student leader Htay Kywe, both detainees who are proponents of democracy and non-violence.
   
3. Danny suggested we write to the senior generals and other authorities in Burma, and asked if there were any specific questions regarding the circumstances there.
   
4. Danny then spoke briefly on the procedure and style of Amnesty International letter writing, and proposed that certain people volunteer to write each of the five letters to the authorities for the detainees in Burma and then everyone would sign each as a corporate correspondence of the UWest Chapter of Amnesty International.
   
5. Daphna volunteered to write 2 letters and Jesse, Khoa, and Danny each wrote one letter – all at the meeting signed each of the letters.
   
6. Danny also mentioned the success of the Karaoke fundraiser; $ 1,575.26 was raised for the US campaign for Burma.
   
7. Pictures were taken of the letter writing.

Urge the U.N. Security Council to Bring Security to Chad and C.A.R.

Join Amnesty in urging the U.N. Security Council to bring security to eastern Chad and the northeastern Central African Republic (C.A.R.).

The U.N.S.C. Resolution 1778, passed on September 25, 2007, authorized a multidimensional presence in eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic (C.A.R.) to protect displaced persons and other civilians in danger. The situation in these two areas has been exacerbated by the continuing crisis in Darfur, as well as by domestic conflicts and instability in Chad and C.A.R.

Now we must act to ensure that the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (M.I.N.U.R.C.A.T.) is implemented as well as conclude arrangements with the European Union to deploy the "European Union Operation," which is crucial to the UN multidimensional presence in the region. Any delay in the implementation of M.I.N.U.R.C.A.T. and the E.U. Operation will prolong the suffering and uncertain future of millions of people, including refugees and I.D.P.'s, in Chad and C.A.R.

Sign your name to Amnesty's petition here.

Accountability for Blackwater

Join Amnesty International in demanding accountability for Blackwater. By signing your name to this petition, you ask Blackwater to take their human rights responsibilities seriously and to cooperate with Iraqi and US investigations.

Near Nisour Square, Baghdad, on September 16, at least 17 Iraqis were killed after personnel of Blackwater Worldwide, a contractor of the U.S. State Department, reportedly shot several rounds from their armored vehicles. This is neither the first time nor an isolated incident of Blackwater personnel using lethal force against Iraqi civilians.

Sign your name to Amnesty's petition here.

Urgent Action: Brazil

Below is the urgent action we did at our meeting today.

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BRAZIL - some 200 agricultural workers; killed: Valmir Motta de Oliveira (known as Keno) (m), community leader

The lives of around 200 agricultural workers occupying a farm near the town of Santa Teresa do Oeste in Parana state, southern Brazil, are in imminent danger. The group was attacked by armed men on 21 October, leaving two men dead and one woman in a coma.

Early in the morning of 21 October, members of the Via Campesina and the Movimento de Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra(MST), both landless workers’ movements, occupied the 127-hectare farm. The land is owned by a multinational company that had used it for field trials of genetically modified crops. The use of the land is presently being contested both because it potentially contravenes an environmental zoning law and has been identified as a possible site for land reform for the settlement of landless agricultural workers.

Hours after the occupation, 40 armed men entered the farm and shot dead MST leader Valmir Motta de Oliveira (known as Keno) in the chest at point blank range. One of the armed men was also killed. Initial reports suggest he was shot accidentally by one of the other gunmen. Eight others were injured in the attack, including MST member Izabel Nascimento, who was beaten unconscious and is now in a coma in hospital, in a critical condition.

Two other MST leaders, Celso Barbosa and Celia Aparecida Lourenco, were pursued by the gunmen but managed to escape. “We are sure that they came here to kill Keno, Celinha and me,” said Celso Barbosa, who added that they had received death threats and intimidation since the beginning of the year.

Join the A.I. (UWest) Facebook Group

A.I. (UWest) now has an official Facebook group. If you are a Facebook user, please join us there by pressing the button below:

The Global Petition for Darfur

Please take just a moment to sign Amnesty's Global Petition for Darfur here. It only takes a few seconds.

The letter makes the following requests of George W. Bush:

• Set a timeline and benchmarks for the deployment of the African Union/UN peacekeeping force in Darfur;
  
• Protect displaced civilians in neighboring eastern Chad and support a UN presence there;
  
• Ensure sufficient support for African Union and UN peacekeepers to protect civilians and stabilize the region.

Again, you can sign the petition by following this link.

HumanTV: Monks and Activists About Repression in Myanmar

Below is a video from HumanTV, one of Amnesty's YouTube pages, about the repression currently taking place in Myanmar.

Urgent Actions: Niger and Yemen

At our meeting this week, we did two urgent actions on Burma (this one and this one).

Below are two others that we didn't get to--one from Niger, the other from Yemen. If you have a moment, please open the links and write a letter or two.

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NIGER - Ibrahim Manzo Diallo (m), journalist

Newspaper editor Ibrahim Manzo Diallo is reportedly held incommunicado by the military at an unknown location, and is at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his peaceful and legitimate activities as a journalist.

YEMEN - Mohammed Ali Nasser Mohammed (m)

Former Guantanamo detainee Mohammed Ali Nasser Mohammed was handed over by the US authorities to the Yemeni authorities on 1 October and has been detained since then in the Political Security prison in the capital, Sana’a. He has not been allowed to see his lawyers, and is in grave danger of torture or other ill-treatment.

No charges are known to have been brought against him, and it is not clear why he is being detained.

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog of the University of the West (UWest) chapter of Amnesty International.

Our constitution's preamble states:

Amnesty International’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights. Amnesty International is independent of any government, political ideology or religious creed. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

Our club officers at present are:

Group Coordinator: Danny Fisher, M.Div.

Secretary-Treasurer: Jesse F. Tanner, M.T.S.

Faculty Advisor: J. Bruce Long, Ph.D.

Membership is open to any student, faculty member, administrator, staff person, trustee, or other member of the UWest community (spouses, partners, family members, etc.) regardless of race, gender identity, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other status protected under international human rights law. Membership is voluntary, and people can join the organization at any time.

We meet Mondays at noon in the cafeteria. Come join us!