Focus Cases: Working to Free Prisoners of Conscience

Amnesty International has special focus cases where they work to release prisoners of conscience. On July 20th Mesfin Woldemariam, a prisoner of conscience in Ethiopia, was freed along with 37 other Ethiopian opposition party officials. As I looked at the other cases on the website I came to a woman whose story caught my eye.

Ma Khin Khin Leh, a prisoner of conscience in Myanmar, was sentenced to life in prison in December of 1999. A life sentence was handed down in her case because she was planning a peaceful demonstration to protest government policies and to show support for the National League for Democracy. Before the demonstration could take place, authorities moved to prevent it and arrested Ma Khn Khin Leh. Today, AI believes she is being held in Insein Prison. Her safety and well-being are a concern as it is reported that she suffers from an unspecified lung problem, rheumatoid arthritis, and dysentery. Seven years is enough. Let’s work to get Ma Khin Khin Leh free.

Please send politely worded letters to the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, urging him to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Ma Khin Khin Leh and all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. Write to:

Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council
c/o Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
2300 S Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

To obtain more information about AI’s special focus cases or information about Ma Khin Khin Leh’s case you can visit: http://www.amnestyusa.org/.

a response: here's some straight talk on darfur...

on sunday i blogged about the issue of compassion fatigue and, well, joined others in calling for a very specific action to turn 2 nasty human rights violators over to the international criminal court (ahmad harun and ali kushayb)...

i received a letter, a parallel response if you will, from meredith larsen, campaign manager on the campaign to save darfur of amnesty international usa, that's pretty stirring and i wanted to share it with you...let me know what you think, k'?

peace out <3

Dear Randy,

I'm often asked whether I have hope for Darfur. And my response is a resounding yes.

Working to end the violence in Darfur has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life. The consequences of setbacks have been great. And every step forward has been hard-won.

But it's clear to me that because of the unwavering support of activists like you, we have experienced some success. And we’ll continue our bold initiatives until the violence has ended.

Here's what we've been able to accomplish with your help:

Already in 2007, Amnesty has sent two teams of investigators to the region. Armed with their reporting, we have pressed all parties to the conflict to end the violence and allow full humanitarian aid for all those displaced or otherwise affected.

And, to add to our ground missions, we now have an eye in the sky. Amnesty currently monitors twelve vulnerable villages, using the power of high-resolution satellite imagery. We have made it clear to the government of Sudan – the world is watching and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions. Help us keep watch at www.eyesondarfur.org.

We’ve also launched Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur, which has leveraged the power of John Lennon's music recorded by some of the world's best-known artists to help mobilize millions to learn more and urge our own leaders to take action.

And while we continue to press the allies of the Sudanese government to encourage Khartoum to fully open its doors to the UN, we are also urging President Bush, Congress, and other world leaders to keep their promises and actively work to bring peace to Darfur.

For example, we recently turned our attention to President Hu and the Chinese government. As the largest single foreign investor in Sudan, China has unparalleled access to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. In March, Amnesty staff met with Chinese diplomats in Washington and staged rallies at the Chinese embassy and Chinese consulates from coast to coast – urging China to use its influence to encourage the deployment of UN troops in Darfur. And we’re making progress - China recently appointed a special envoy to Darfur, and has more and more consistently issued public statements supporting the UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur.

While we are making great strides, we must still remember that this deadly conflict continues to unfold, claiming lives nearly every day.

Four years ago, Amnesty was one of the first organizations to report on the impending crisis in Darfur. And today, our commitment to protecting human rights in Darfur is stronger than ever.

Today you can play a role by signing the global petition to end the violence in Darfur.

While the fight for peace and human rights continues in Darfur, please visit us often at http://www.instantkarma.org/.

Thank you for your continued action and support.

Sincerely,

Meredith Larson
Campaign Manager
Amnesty International USA
Campaign to Save Darfur

united kingdom's extension of pre-charge detention amounts to internment...

last wednesday amnesty international condemned the u.k. government's proposal to extend the period for which people can be detained under terrorism legislation by the police to 56 days...

anybody held on suspicion of having committed an extremely serious offence such as murder under the ordinary u.k. criminal law, may be held without charge for a maximum period of four days...the period for which police are allowed to detain people under current terrorism legislation is -- at 28 days -- already seven times as long...according to nicola duckworth director of the europe and central asia program at amnesty international:

"The UK government's proposal to lock people up for 56 days without charge or trial amounts to internment and is an assault on human rights and freedoms."

the u.k. government appears to have forgotten the lesson of northern ireland in the 70s where internment had devastating consequences for those affected and a disastrous impact on human rights protection, the rule of law and society as a whole...

reintroducing internment today by further extending pre-charge detention is likely to have a similar effect as it had in northern ireland...it will further alienate affected communities, leading people to mistrust the authorities and make them less likely to want to cooperate with the police...

it's acknowledged that the u.k. authorities have a legitimate and primary duty to take necessary measures to combat "terrorism,"...however, those measures must be consistent with fundamental human rights and the rule of law...continued duckworth:

"Our worldwide research over the years has also shown that prolonged pre-charge detention creates a climate for abusive practices that can result in detainees making involuntary statements, including forced confessions and therefore undermines confidence in the judicial system. Our concerns are not allayed by the government?s proposals for judicial and parliamentary scrutiny of this extension."

it would be most reasonable for all concerned - including citizens of the u.k. - that the u.k. government see sense and retract this regressive and counterproductive proposal...further, all members of u.k. parliament should uphold human rights and the rule of law and reject any new "terrorism" measures which further erode the protection of human rights for all in the u.k...

the relevance is that prolonged detention without charge or trial undermines fair trial rights, including the right to be promptly informed of any charges, the rights to be free from arbitrary detention, torture or other ill-treatment and the presumption of innocence...it could also have the unintended effect of increasing the likelihood of statements obtained from the suspect being deemed inadmissible at trial precisely because of the oppressive nature of the conditions in which they were obtained...

peace out <3

end impunity in darfur now: arrest of ahmad harun and ali kushayb...

it's what engenders compassion fatigue for westerners...

in april this year, international arrest warrants were issued for a sudanese government minister and a leader of the government-supported Janjawid militias...both are accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes in darfur, sudan, including murder, rape and torture...

however, sudanese authorities have refused to hand over ahmed harun and ali kushayb to be tried by the international criminal court (icc)...

ahmad muhammad harun (commonly known as ahmad harun) remains in post as minister of state for humanitarian affairs (sic) of sudan...from 2003 to 2005, he was minister of state for the interior and was in charge of the management of the "darfur security desk" and coordinated the different bodies of the government involved in the counter-insurgency...these included the police, the armed forces, the national security and intelligence service...

according to the icc arrest warrant, he is accused of recruiting, mobilising, funding and arming the janjawid, with full knowledge that they would commit crimes against humanity and war crimes against the civilian population in darfur...he is also accused of personally inciting the janjawid to attack civilians...the arrest warrant against ahmad harun lists 42 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including persecution, murder and forcible transfer...

ali muhammad al abd-al-rahman (commonly known as ali kushayb) is one of the most senior leaders of the janjawid and a member of the popular defence force...he was the "colonel of colonels" in the wadi salih locality of west darfur...by mid-2003, he commanded thousands of janjawid militias...

ali kushayb is accused of leading the attacks on the villages of kodoom, bindisi, mukjar and ararwala, according to the icc arrest warrant...he is also accused of enlisting, arming, funding and providing supplies to the janjawid under his command...the warrant for his arrest lists 50 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including persecution, murder, attacks against the civilian population and forcible transfer...

ali kushayb was arrested by sudanese authorities in november 2006 in relation to incidents that occurred in south and west darfur, aside from those prosecuted by the icc...according to some reports, he is currently in the custody of the sudanese police...however, several witnesses in darfur reported that he was freely moving from one town to another under police protection...

as you probably know to some degree or other an armed conflict has been taking place between the government of sudan and several armed opposition groups in darfur since 2003...to counter the insurgency, the government mobilized, armed and funded the militia known as the janjawid...over two million people have been displaced by the conflict...

some 200,000 people have been killed and thousands of women have been raped since the conflict began...arms, ammunition and related equipment continue to be transferred to darfur for military operations, in violation of a u.n. arms embargo on the region...

to mark international justice day (17 July), amnesty international called for an end to impunity in darfur...in particular, the organization is calling for the arrest of ahmad harun and ali kushayb and their surrender to the international criminal court...

international justice day commemorates the adoption of the rome statute of the international criminal court in 1998...each year, human rights activists around the world use this day to host events and activities to promote international justice...

for more information about the situation in darfur, please see: crisis in darfur and eastern chad

please don't get fatigued...not yet...

peace out <3

please act now to stop the killings of women and girls in gatemala...

i'm looking back over the last 5 blogs entries and women are just getting it right and left -and not in a good way...unfortunately the story continues and i'm asking you to continue to take action on behalf of those whose human rights are being trampled both collectively and individually...

at 9:30 pm on july 27, 2005 - two years ago to the day yesterday - 20-year-old university student cristina hernández was forced into a car outside her home in guatemala city by four men...neighbours witnessed the abduction and immediately alerted her father who borrowed a car and tried to chase after her captors...he then went to the police station and begged the police to put up road blocks and try to stop the car...the police said that many young girls run off with boyfriends; and so they couldn't start a search for 24 hours...the next morning cristina's dead body was found...she had been shot four times and bitten all over...

two years later and over 1,200 additional women have been murdered, yet the vast majority of the perpetrators enjoy impunity....congress has called upon the u.s. and guatemalan governments to stop the cycle of violence and impunity...thanks in part to the vigilant work of amnesty international activists like you, congress has taken action...

on may 1, 2007, house resolution 100 introduced by representative solis (d-ca) condemning the killings of women and girls in guatemala was passed unanimously by congress with 100 cosponsors...a senate resolution also condemning the killings and urging the u.s. and guatemalan governments to work together to combat the problem has been introduced by senator bingaman (d-nm)...

now they need your help - get your senators to co-sponsor this important resolution, s. res. 178 ...

please take action - click here and unite with other amnesty international usa activists speaking out against the ongoing brutal killings of women and girls in guatemala and urge your senator to cosponsor s. res 178....

please act now and send your network peeps here to help save women's lives in guatemala...

peace out <3

i received this letter from louisa of the alaska native women's coalition against domestic violence...

it's usually a cold day in hell before i simply pass on an appeal i receive but there's something very inspirational in hearing from a survivor of rape who has embraced her personal agency and acts as an advocate on behalf of the community of which she is a part of the fabric...

just read please and act if so choose...

peace out <3...........................................................

My name is Louisa Kakianaaq Riley. Twelve years ago, I was raped by an acquaintance in Fairbanks, Alaska. I reported the crime immediately to local police and had a rape exam, but despite all the strong physical evidence I provided, they never pursued my case because they were unable to gain an admission of guilt from my attacker.

Little has changed since then for too many Native American and Alaskan Native women. So many Indigenous women like me continue to suffer a private nightmare of abuse and rape while our attackers walk free. You can help change this situation by making an emergency gift now.

Today, I am an acting Board member for Alaska Native Women's Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault and a Board member for Arctic Women in Crisis in Barrow, Alaska - the only shelter of its kind within 500 miles. We face a severe shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners and women's health clinics, as well as trained police officers. Most of the frontline responders are overworked, burned out, and usually not accustomed to our physical environment or sensitive to the Indigenous culture.

But with Amnesty International's help - and yours - we're working to build a stronger support network for Indigenous women, including such basics as free transportation and free forensic medical exams for survivors of sexual assault and rape. We are also working with Amnesty to unravel the maze of tribal, state, and federal laws that so often allows perpetrators to rape with impunity.

By supporting Amnesty's Stop Violence Against Women campaign, you'll be helping provide a lifeline of resources and hope to Indigenous women with nowhere else to turn.

For me, the feelings of frustration and helplessness will never completely disappear. But as I tell so many of the young women I counsel, we have to release those demons and share our stories so we can heal and go on. For my own grown children and future generations of Native American women, it is my wish that they live violence-free.

Your generous gift today can help provide that hope and let the women in my town and others across America know that something is finally being done to deal with sexual violence that has ruined so many lives.

Sincerely,

Louisa Kakianaaq Riley

ez action: stop the flogging sentence of a teenage girl in the united arab emirates!...

a teenage girl identified by her initials as r.a. is to receive 60 lashes for having sex with a man when she was 14...

60 lashes?!?!?!

the court of first instance in the town of al-‘ain in the emirate of abu-dhabi found her guilty of “illicit sex” and sentenced her to be flogged...the man involved in this case, identified as h.s. was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment...

this discriminatory sentencing is a violation of the uae’s obligations under the internationally recognized convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women or cedaw, which the uae joined in 2004...that r.a. is a teenaged girl also puts the eau in violation of the convention on the rights of the child, or the crc, which the eau joined in 1997...cedaw clearly states that gender-based violence like the discriminatory sentencing or r.a. is a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms...corporal punishment, such as whipping and flogging, has been recognized as a form of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by numerous human rights treaty bodies, including the crc...

to learn more about this case, read or print aiusa’s full urgent action sheet: rtf format or pdf format...

MEANWHILE, you will find a letter below with three government officials addresses that you should cut and paste together, print out, sign, and mail the three letters - just 5 minutes of your day...and please get your social network friends to do the same...thank you...

peace out <3

His Excellency Muhammad bin Nakhira Al-Dhahiri
Muhammad bin Nakhira Al-Dhahiri
Ministry of Justice, Awqaf & Islamic Affairs
PO Box 753
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh `Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan
Shaikh `Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 1
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Office of the Prime Minister
POB 73311
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dear (salutation),

I am concerned by reports that a teenage girl identified as R.A. is to receive 60 lashes for having sex with a man when she was only 14. Please act to ensure that she is protected from a sentence of corporal punishment.

The court of First Instance in the town of al-'Ain in the Emirate of Abu-Dhabi found R.A. guilty of 'illicit sex' and sentenced her to be flogged. According to a local newspaper, the Supreme Court has upheld her sentence, which could now be carried out at any time. The man involved in the case, identified as H.S., was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. This is a case of discriminatory sentencing. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, to which the UAE is a party, makes clear that gender-based violence, or violence which impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of a woman's human rights, is prohibited. A fundamental human right is the freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. Corporal punishment, such as flogging or whipping, has been recognized as torture or cruel punishment by numerous international treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the UAE is also a party.

The United Arab Emirates can boast of impressive economic achievements, and it would be shame if that reputation were tarnished by human rights abuses. Thank you for taking action to ensure the fair distribution of justice, and making sure that no cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment is employed in this case.

Sincerely,

You

women rock the world, and get arrested for non-violent protests, in zimbabwe...

please pay attention all you mothers acting up out there - since 2005, hundreds of women protesters have been arbitrarily arrested and detained for engaging or attempting to engage in peaceful protests...

that's right, peaceful protests...

in zimbabwe, the majority of human rights activists are women...women fight for rights because they are often the ones who struggle to feed their children, pay for school fees and for health care...even these basic necessities have become increasingly unaffordable to most households in the country’s ever deeper economic, social and political crisis...

zimbabwe’s women activists confront the government demanding respect and protection of human rights...they take part in peaceful marches and meetings, mainly as part of women’s and human rights organizations...in the last seven years, however, the government has become increasingly intolerant of critics of its policies...

\

since 2005, hundreds of women protesters have been arbitrarily arrested and detained for engaging or attempting to engage in peaceful protests...whilst in police custody, most women interviewed by amnesty international had been subjected to beatings and other ill-treatment. Many suffer further abuse because they are women, including sexist verbal abuse and derogatory accusations...

irene is a human rights activist in zimbabwe...her family was forcibly evicted from a farm in 2002 and her new home in bulawayo was also destroyed in 2005 during the government's programme of mass forced evictions...after her only parent died, irene had to earn money selling vegetables to support her six siblings...

since vendors have their goods confiscated and are at times made to pay fines, irene decided to join other women in her community and take part in peaceful demonstrations organized by women of zimbabwe arise (woza).

irene has been arrested at least eight times after engaging in peaceful protest as a member of woza...click here for an audio tape (realplayer) on the issues at hand in zimbabwe...

"I would rather die standing up for my rights than to be labelled a coward by future generations" -- WOZA member, February 2007

in august 2006, irene was again arrested during a peaceful march to the offices of the reserve bank of zimbabwe...the march was organised by woza to protest against abuse of women and arbitrary seizure of money by police and youth militia at roadblocks...

irene was kicked above the navel by a police officer during the arrest -- at the time she was two months pregnant...she was later detained over night at the police station where she noticed that she was bleeding...other women protesters detained with her, alerted the police officer on night duty as they feared it could be a miscarriage...the police officer was reported to have said that “that would serve her [irene] right as she was doing things [demonstrating] she should not be doing,”...irene was only allowed to go to hospital the following day when she was released...she continues her activism, risking arrest and ill-treatment...

for a full report on the abuses against peaceful women activists in zimbabwe published today, july 25th, click here...

in the face of increasing government clampdown, zimbabwean women human rights defenders have demonstrated incredible resilience, bravery and determination to end human rights abuses...they are aware of the obstacles and the dangers they face and refuse to be intimidated...

click here to view a 2 minute video on police abuse of women human rights defenders...

take action and join me in urging the government of zimbabwe to respect the vital role played by women human rights defenders, to allow them the freedom to assemble and associate freely and peacefully...the government must bring an immediate end to ill-treatment perpetrated by the zimbabwe republic police...

peace out <3

take action: please don't let sigma huda die in bangladeshi custody...

a u.n. special rapporteur on people-trafficking, sigma huda, was arrested on 5 July in connection with a case of alleged extortion...she reportedly has potentially life threatening heart and kidney conditions, and is not getting adequate treatment in prison...

sigma huda is a prominent lawyer, head of the human rights group bangladesh society for the enforcement of human rights, and the u.n. special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children...

a state of emergency was declared in bangladesh on 11 January 2007 under which the government has initiated action to control criminal activity and address corruption...according to local newspaper reports, over 100,000 people accused of threatening law and order through either involvement in criminal activity or possession of illegal firearms, or corruption, have been arrested...

amnesty international has received allegations of torture or ill-treatment following such arrests...the detainees include over 150 politicians, businessmen and others accused of involvement in extortion and other acts of corruption...according to reports in the bangladeshi media, the authorities have admitted that some of the detainees are in poor health...

according to a senior consultant in cardiology, she is suffering from coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus and a chronic renal (kidney) failure...it is also known that sigma huda has diabetes, for which she is receiving long-term treatment...she was under treatment and observation when she was taken into custody...she was taken to court in an ambulance, and to the courtroom on a stretcher, to hear the charges against her...she was then sent to jail custody on 5 july...

her family are concerned that she is in poor health and at risk of developing further medical complications due to lack of specialist medical attention...she has not even been transferred to the jail hospital, and the prison authorities have ignored her family's urgent requests to visit her...there are serious concerns that her health may deteriorate further if she does not receive adequate medical attention...according to a report from a senior consultant in cardiology, who treated sigma huda before her arrest:

"It may be stressed that her conditions will deteriorate significantly and may be life-threatening if she is not kept under constant medical observation and treatment at a specialized cardiac care unit."

please take action to ensure that sigma huda gets the medical attention she needs... please!...

peace out <3

uphold the right of return in post-katrina new orleans...

she spoke last week with monika gerhart, coordinator of the rebuilding the gulf coast project of amnesty international usa...i'm speaking of 60-year-old gloria williams, who, along with her twin sister, was evacuated in the wake of hurricane katrina...she says she’s too old to start over in a new city and has been trying to get home for almost two years now, but to no avail...

sadly, gloria’s not alone...fact is less than half of the new orleans residents evacuated during the human rights disaster that resulted from hurricane katrina have returned home...thousands remain displaced due to the absence of affordable housing, with rent increases up more than 60%, and the majority of public housing still shuttered...i saw them last november during a devastatingly powerful bus tour of the old city and while most of those public units were barely affected by katrina, 80% are closed and facing demolition - 80%!...

gloria’s story is one of many you can share in the documentary “this is my home,” which sheds light on the blockade that former new orleans residents have faced in their endeavors to return home after katrina...we hope you’ll join amnesty supporters nationwide who’ll be screening this important movie in their homes and community centers next month...you can register today to host a house party to screen the film....

why is it so important to screen this film next month?...because your help is needed to raise awareness about the thousands of people who are still unable to return home even as the two year anniversary of katrina approaches...because lawmakers need to hear that we’re not going to drop this issue...because a just rebuild must happen within a human rights framework...

you do not have to be an active amnesty international member in order to host a screening so register today to host a house party to screen the film....and thank you for supporting the struggle of those in the gulf coast region...

peace out <3

martin cruz smith, my grandfather, the white army, and magomadov and magomadov v russia...

russia, russia, russia...now i get how you could think that was intoned to "sound" like marsha, marsha, marsha but uh uh...it's just that one woulda thought that after the whole break up of the soviet union thing that russia might get some perspective...sadly not...

russia has been held responsible for human rights violations committed during the second chechen conflict - leading to renewed demands that it investigates all abuses in the north caucasus...

in the court case magomadov and magomadov v russia, the european court of human rights judged russian law enforcement agencies responsible for the enforced disappearance of aiubkhan magomadov - the second ruling of its kind against the country so far this month...

you see, aiubkhan magomadov was detained by russian federal forces on 2 october 2000, on suspicion of a "serious crime"...the authorities claimed he was released the next morning - but his family have not seen him since...the european court held that he must be presumed dead, with the russian authorities liable...amnesty international has campaigned relentlessly for a full investigation into the case...

yakub magomadov filed an application with the european court in 2001 about the disappearance of his brother...he then embarked on a search for the truth that led to him going missing, sparking fears that he too had been forcibly disappeared...

then amnesty international met with yakub in march 2004, when he spoke about the search for his brother...a couple of days later he left for moscow...on 16 may 2004, the family received information from acquaintances that yakub had been abducted...they were told he was being held in an army base at khankala, chechnya, where he had been tortured...they also received a note – apparently written by yakub - confirming that he was in chechnya...the family have not heard from him since...

"For three years and eight months, Yakub looked everywhere for his brother," their sister Eliza told Amnesty International. "After he appealed to the court, they [the federal forces] came looking for him every day. He was not convicted and he had not committed a crime. When someone dies, that is not as bad as when someone disappears."

this ruling comes just a week after the european court found russia responsible for the enforced disappearance of ruslan alikhadzhiev, a former speaker in the chechen parliament...

my grandfather was a teenager on guard duty for the czar's white army sometime in 1915 when he told his army mate that he thought he heard something out there and was going to investigate...he kept walking, and walking, and walking and one day finally made it through ellis island (not by walking)...i'm thinking that teenager was one smart young man for getting the hell out of that place...

peace out <3

meqdes mesfin wants to thank YOU for helping to free her father...

he was simply exercising the rights that we in the united states (you remember your responses to florida 2000 and ohio 2004) and elsewhere take for granted...

you see her father mesfin woldemariam, founder of the ethiopian human rights council, was detained and imprisoned in connection with public demonstrations protesting alleged election fraud...he and 37 other co-defendants were recently convicted and sentenced to life in prison, for doing nothing more than expressing their political beliefs...

but dedicated activists like you helped press the ethiopian authorities to free mesfin and other prisoners of conscience, which the government did this week in addis ababa!...

meqdes' father and his co-defendants suffered in prison because of overcrowding, lack of access to health care, and overall poor conditions...today, his health remains fragile, but his spirit is strong...

thanks in part to your help, he is now free!...

you can help even more by sending an email to your representative to ask them to co-sponsor and pass the ethiopia democracy and accountability act (hr 2003)...

meqdes mesfin asks that you,

"Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your continued support of Amnesty International's important work to champion human rights in Ethiopia and around the world. You are needed now more than ever, and as you can see, your actions really do change lives."

peace out <3

u.s. supreme court rejected bush administration arguments re: habeas rights...

amidst the tactical discussions on restoring habeas rights to non-citizen detainees of the u.s. held at guantanamo bay or elsewhere it may have been easy to miss (or dismiss) this supreme court decision...but it was a huge legal rejection of administration "logic," (sic)...

the supreme court reversed course and agreed on june 29th to review whether guantanamo bay detainees can use the civilian court system to challenge their indefinite confinement...the administration argues that a new law strips courts of their jurisdiction to hear detainee cases...

the justices took the action without comment along with other end-of-term orders...in april, the court turned down an identical request, although several justices indicated they could be persuaded otherwise...

to say the least the move is highly unusual...the court did not indicate what changed the justices' minds about considering the issue...but the week prior, lawyers for the detainees filed a statement from a military officer in which he described the inadequacy of the process the administration has put forward as an alternative to a full-blown review by civilian courts...

''This is a stunning victory for the detainees,'' said Eric M. Freedman, professor of constitutional law at Hofstra Law School, who has been advising the detainees. ''It goes well beyond what we asked for, and clearly indicates the unease up there'' at the Supreme Court.

gordon johndroe, a spokesman for the national security council, said that "we did not think that court review at this time was necessary, but we are confident in our legal position."

five of the nine justices must agree to take a case that previously has been denied a hearing, according to an authoritative text on the supreme court...the case is expected to be heard in the fall...

back in february, the u.s. circuit court of appeals for the district of columbia upheld a key provision of a law the bush administration pushed through congress last year stripping federal courts of their ability to hear the detainees' challenges to their confinement...that was the dreadful military commissions act...

on april 2, the supreme court denied the detainees' request to review the february appeals court ruling...the detainees then petitioned the court to reconsider its denial...dismissing the petitions would be ''a profound deprivation'' of the prisoners' right to speedy court review, lawyers for the detainees said...the administration asked that the detainees' supreme court petitions be thrown out...

but check this - many of the 375 detainees have been held at guantanamo for five years!!!...with no recourse to challenge their detention...and it has been proven that many of the original detainees were "sold" into u.s. custody as a part of petty personal grudges or local turf wars...

in recent months, the main arena in the legal battle over the detainees has been the u.s. circuit court of appeals for the district of columbia...the appeals court is considering how to handle the detainees' challenges to tribunals that found them to be enemy combatants, leaving them without any of the legal rights accorded prisoners of war...

the detainees' attorneys want the appeals court to allow a broad inquiry questioning the accuracy and completeness of the evidence the combatant status review tribunals gathered about the detainees, most of it classified...meanwhile the justice department has been seeking a limited review, saying that the findings of the military tribunals are ''entitled to the highest level of deference,"...

an army reserve officer and lawyer who played a key role in the enemy combatant hearings at guantanamo bay says tribunal members relied on vague and incomplete intelligence while being pressured to rule against detainees, often without any specific evidence...the officer's affidavit, submitted to the supreme court on june 22nd, is the first public criticism by a member of the military panels that determine whether detainees will continue to be held...

''I suspect that the disclosure about the corrupted CSRT proceedings and the very restrictive government view of what the detainees can do in the lower courts led the justices to conclude that they should take up these issues,'' said Washington attorney David Remes, who represents 18 detainees. The court's decision to hear the cases brings the detainees one step closer to receiving their day in court.''

the operation of guantanamo bay has brought global criticism of the bush administration and condemnation from democrats on capitol hill...the cases in question are boumediene v. bush, 06-1195, and al odah v. u.s., 06-1196...

peace out <3

use 60 seconds to make repreive for 18 year old iranian flautist sina paymard permanent...

i have good news to share with you all, and yes, i am going to ask you to use 60 seconds of your busy life to take an on-line action...the execution of 18-year-old sina paymard, which was planned to take place on 17 july, has been postponed...sina was sentenced to death in iran for a crime committed when he was just 16 years old...

we have a very reliable and accurate investigation network (sort of like a global veronica mars) and according to reports, paymard had been moved from reja'i shahr prison in karaj to tehran's evin prison for his execution to be carried out on 17 july...

however - and this is the good news - paymard's lawyer, human rights defender nasrin sotudeh, has reported that he was not executed, and his family have been given 10 days to reach a financial settlement with the victim's kin...if the money (blood money - weird, huh?) is not raised, then sina is likely to be executed...

now check this out - sina paymard, a musician, was originally due to be executed in september last year for murder...on the gallows, sina's last request was to play the ney (a middle eastern flute) just one more time...

the family of the victim were so moved by his playing that they granted him a last-minute reprieve...they asked for 150 million toumans (over u.s. $160,000) as compensation instead...sina's family have, so far, been unable to raise the full amount...

anyhoo, this temporary reprieve gives activists (that's YOU - really!) more time to campaign for sina paymard's life to be saved - take action to stop the execution (on amnesty international's u.k. section's website).

for further backstory information, please see: iran: execution of child offender imminent

peace out <3

new twists in restoring habeas rights strategies in the u.s...

it started out with senate bill 185 and a house companion bill with one simple goal - restore the habeas corpus rights in the u.s. that had been eliminated with the military commissions act of 2006...

bust as these things are wont to do the strategy in the u.s. senate has shifted to supporting an amendment to the department of defense authorization bill...point being that if the amendment to restore habeas can become embedded in the funding authorization bill it's a done deal...

so in the coming days, our senators will have the opportunity to make a critical vote that could restore the fundamental human right to challenge one’s detention before an independent court to people in u.s. custody - primarily but limited to those detainees at guantanamo bay..ergo, please ask your senator to vote for the specter/leahy amendment to restore habeas corpus (s.a. 2022) amending the department of defense authorization bill...

just call the senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your senator's office (you at least need to know who they are)...your talking points for this call:

• it is critical to restore the right of habeas corpus to people in u.s. custody, some who have been held for more than five years without charge or trial.


• the right to challenge the fact and conditions of one's detention is a fundamental due process right and critical protection against arbitrary detention and torture.


• i ask that you vote for the bipartisan amendment s.a. 2022 introduced by senators arlen specter and patrick leahy to restore habeas corpus.

if you only have time to say one thing, ask your senator to vote for the specter/leahy amendment to restore habeas corpus (s.a. 2022) amending the department of defense authorization bill...

and, uh, while you're at it take action and urge your elected officials to close guantánamo ...you know you need to...:-)

peace out <3

voice your opposition to the violence against native american and alaska native women...

since we first reported to you last april about amnesty's landmark study, mze of injustice, which exposed the u.s. government's failure to protect indigenous women from epidemic rates of sexual violence, i'm happy to report that we've put this critical human rights issue on congress's agenda!!!

following the release of amnesty's report, congress has held hearings and is considering several bills that would significantly increase funding to help native american and alaska native survivors of sexual violence...but with critical budget decisions for 2008 expected imminently, we urgently need your help...

please write your representative and senators to demand that congress fully fund the violence against women act (vawa), and especially the tribal title (title ix), which specifically seeks to address epidemic rates of sexual violence against indigenous women...

full funding of vawa and title ix will allow us to begin to reverse these shocking statistics:

• native american and alaska native women are 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the u.s.
  
• more than 1 in 3 native american or alaska native women will be raped at some point in their lifetime.

time is running out...please take a moment right now to voice your strong opposition to these egregious human rights violations being committed right here at home...we must ensure the u.s. government fulfills its legal responsibility to protect and defend the rights of native american and alaska native women against these rampant acts of sexual violence...

i thank you for taking action today, and helping reverse a history of widespread and egregious human rights violations against indigenous women in the united states...

p.s. got 3 minutes? watch our slide show to learn more about violence against native american and alaska native women and what you can do to stop it...

peace out <3

israel/hizbullah war casualties await justice...

it is always civilians who suffer the brunt of war...it is why although amnesty international takes no formal anti-war positions - it is a matter of the intersection of international law and national sovereignty - it is concerned with whether or not a nation or military force conducts itself within the guidelines of international law...more often than not civilians pay the price for illegal actions during wartime...

a year on from the 34-day war between hizbullah and israel, its many casualties are still awaiting justice...since last summer, there have been no steps to prosecute the perpetrators of war crimes and other grave human rights violations during the conflict...

amnesty international published its findings on war crimes committed by both sides - only to be faced with a clear unwillingness to investigate the violations by all concerned parties...it has called on the u.n. to establish an independent inquiry, but the international community has lacked the political will to make this happen...warned malcolm smart, director of amnesty international's middle east and north africa programme,

"Without a full, impartial UN-led inquiry - that includes provision for reparations to the victims - there is a real danger of history repeating itself."

For further information, please see:
israel/lebanon: war crimes without accountability
all documents published on the conflict

peace out <3

shop for u2, christina aguliera, lenny kravitz, green day, and ben harper stuff at amnesty international "boutique"...

ferreal man..shop for the coolest stuff from top performing, socially conscious artists and support the world's largest grassroots human rights organization at the same time...that's what i call a win-win scenario...

at the amnesty international store you can get great some very trendy and even sexy t-shirts (including tots sizes), way cool pins, buttons, and stickers, beautiful and powerful posters suitable for framing, note and holiday cards for all occasions, world music, dvds and videos, an amazing variety of books for the reader within, and even a HUGE clearance sale section for those of us who are currency challenged...

and of course you've heard all about the cd instant karma, the amnesty international project to save darfur that features 23 john lennon songs recorded by top artists: u2, r.e.m., christina aguilera, aerosmith featuring sierra leone's refugee all stars, lenny kravitz, los lonely boys, corinne bailey rae, jakob dylan featuring dhani harrison, jackson browne, avril lavigne, big & rich, youssou n'dour, green day, lack eyed peas, jack johnson, ben harper, snow patrol, matisyahu, postal service, jaguares, the flaming lips, jack's mannequin featuring mick fleetwood, and regina spektor...

hey you can get the album/cd instant karma free if you donate $50 to amnesty international today...and you can enter to win a john lennon revolution casino guitar from gibson guitars here...

so remember, if you do your shopping on-line (like all us kool kidz do) then stop by the amnesty boutique, chill with your friends, and be the hippest consumer you can be...

peace out <3

amnesty international france: your signature is more powerful than you think...

unlike many of my american counterparts i love the french aesthetic...check out this wonderful amnesty international animated video...thanks to rosa (nuestra amiga de espana) for finding and sharing this!

peace out <3

together we can demand justice for two transgendered women...

in all honesty i can not get a handle on law enforcement culture...and perhaps i'm being too harsh - perhaps discrimination against and violence perpetrated on anyone who identifies as anything other than heterosexual is as common (and maybe more so) among civilians as it is amongst law enforcement officers and officials...

being a heterosexual myself i rely on those with more direct experience to help inform my way of understanding the reality of the situation and more importantly to direct me towards necessary actions to combat overt or covert discrimination...for you see, these things do not ever just go away - to believe that so is simply an example of dominant culture privilege...as a white, heterosexual male i know quite a bit about social privilege...

i stay in touch with amnesty international usa's OUTfront team to stay atop the issue..the following case is an example of what they uncover...

mariah lopez and christina sforza have come forward with allegations of abuse by the nypd, which if substantiated amount to serious human rights violations...and despite repeated calls by amnesty international for an investigation, no progress has been reported...

ms. lopez's and ms. sforza's cases, which may involve torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, false arrest and possibly denial of access to essential medication, fit the pattern of abuse documented by amnesty international's stonewalled report...

here's what you can do:

• read the latest update that includes a description of these cases and ways to get involved and speak out against abuse of transgender human rights...
• call on the nypd to conduct immediate and impartial investigations into the allegations of mistreatment and to ensure that any officers found guilty are brought to justice!

i urge you to take action, speak out against injustice, and ensure that the rights of all people are respected...not just people who look, feel, talk, and act like you...

peace out <3

there are lives in the balance...

i was blogging on the amnesty padp blogsite yesterday and made a reference to the case of troy davis using jackson browne's lives in the balance as a loose cultural reference...

with me so far???

i ran across a video created on by andrew thomas backed by jackson's lives in the balance from his recent live acoustic release on the informationclearinghouse.info web site (it's on jackson's official web site as well)...and wanted to share it with you...

peace out <3

help stop the stoning of iranian woman and avoid creating two orphans...

what if they gave a stoning and nobody came??? as chris farley might have said, "that'd be awesome, huh?"

amnesty international is making an urgent appeal to prevent the stoning to death of mokarrameh ebrahimi, an iranian woman, following the stoning execution of her co-accused...

jafar kiana was stoned to death in the village of aghche-kand, near the town of takestan, qazvin province, on thursday 5 july (yeah, a day after u.s. "independence" day)...there are grave concerns that his partner, mokarrameh ebrahimi, will suffer the same fate unless iran's head of the judiciary intervenes immediately...

jafar kiana and mokarrameh Eebrahimi were due to be stoned to death on 21 june, but the execution was suspended after a wave of domestic and international pressure on the iranian government...this included campaigning by the iran-based stop stoning forever campaign and amnesty international...

their crime???

the couple had spent more than 11 years in prison for having an adulterous relationship...they have two children, who live with their mother in prison...

kiana and ebrahimi remained under sentence of execution by stoning, but it was believed the risk was not imminent...however, jafar kiana's execution has triggered fears that mokarrameh ebrahimi's life is in imminent danger...

bad for her - worse for the 2 children...

under iranian law, execution by stoning is a punishment for adultery by married men and women...the stones used are specifically designed to increase the victim's suffering...it has been reported that only a few members of the public participated in jafar kiana's stoning, which was carried out mostly by local governmental and judiciary officials...

amnesty international is outraged at this cruel, inhuman punishment - and urges the head of the judiciary, ayatollah shahroudi, to intervene immediately to prevent the planned stoning of mokarrameh ebrahimi...

for further information, please see:

the stop stoning forever campaign
amnesty international outraged at reported stoning to death and fears for victim's co-accused
iran: death penalty/ stoning: mokarrameh ebrahimi

peace out <3

fair enough - michael moore has cahones...

the reason for this post is healthcare and access to good healthcare is a human right and forget those libertarian, privileged, free-market apologists who dare to argue otherwise --- 41 million americans including myself do currently not have access to healthcare...

so let me say my feelings regarding michael moore tend to fluctuate up and down...but frankly, who gives a shit what i feel about michael moore...it's about his product and it's about his willingness to go face-to-face and ask the tough questions of those who try and control and screw us average people - period...

and sicko takes it to the medical-industrial complex plain and simple...here's michael moore taking it to wolf blitzer and cnn...

peace out <3

take action against hate crimes...

peace out y'all <3

2000 days at guantanamo...and counting...

the 4th of july is supposed to be a day for celebration here in the united states...it's the anniversary of its declaration of independence which also enshrines these principles: "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,"...

ahhhhhhhhhh but for the bitter irony... july 4th, this year, marked 2,000 days since the u.s. administration transferred the first "war on terror" detainees to guantánamo...check out this guantanamo timeline...

sigh...where's opus when you need him...

approximately 375 detainees remain held in guantánamo, many in conditions that amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment...

u.s. authorities have asserted that between 60 and 80 of these detainees will eventually face trial by military commission, a substandard and discriminatory system of justice that amnesty international is calling on the usa to abandon...

at least 15 "high value" detainees have been transferred to guantánamo in the past year from secret cia custody, affirming guantánamo's central role in the usa's network of unlawful detentions in the "war on terror"... check out conditions of isolation for detainees at guantánamo bay...

if you ask me, each day that guantánamo stays open is one day too long...

take action now and help close gitmo...

peace out <3

why does israel treat sudanese refugees as criminals???

my my my, what is the government of my hebrew brethren thinking these days...

israel is party to the refugee convention and normally grants protection to asylum seekers within its framework...the convention is intended to be applied without regard for an asylum seeker’s country of origin...however, this has not been the case for sudanese asylum seekers, whom the state of israel considers “enemy nationals,” and prohibits from applying for asylum...unlike other asylum seekers, those considered enemy nationals are detained under an administrative order given by the ministry of defense--the "infiltration law,”...

wtf my old testament friends...

today more than 300 sudanese asylum-seekers are in limbo in israel...due to the risk of torture and ill-treatment, israel does not return Sudanese asylum seekers to egypt or sudan...however, they are not given protection in israel and are left in indefinite detention because they are deemed to be "enemy nationals,"...many of them are survivors of torture at the hands of sudanese security forces and are now held in indefinite detention in Israeli jails or on kibbutzim, communal farms....

you can take action right here, right now to urge the israeli government not to treat sudanese refugees as criminals - an action that violates the refugee convention ...

the sudanese asylum seekers are held in detention as infiltrators into israel, as if they had committed a criminal act...within the confines of jail they are held with criminal offenders, contravening the regulations set by the unhcr...women and children are being held at a battered women's shelter run by a ngo, and the children's education is paid by private donations...but many sudanese men are being released to alternative detention in kibbutzim, where their freedom of movement is restricted to the confines of the settlement and they are prohibited from talking to journalists or partaking in any activity not sanctioned by the authorities...

the sudanese who fled to israel need protection, but instead they are treated as criminals...act now and urge the government of israel to protect sudanese refugees...

peace out <3

amnesty international helps albanian orphans avoid eviction...

fifteen orphaned albanian adults are set to be saved from homelessness, after local authorities responded to amnesty international's (ai) calls not to evict them...

the 15 people, who were orphaned as children, were threatened with eviction from their current home in student residential halls (known as konvikt) in the town of korça, south-east albania...this would have risked the vulnerable group being left on the street...

on 31 may, several albanian newspapers reported on ai's recent press release calling for support for the 15, most of whom are women in their 20s and 30s...

two days later, the press reported that korça local authorities had decided to find - and pay for - rented accommodation for the 15...they also agreed to give the group priority when around 80 apartments for the homeless are built and allocated at the end of this year...

however, it appears that the authorities have not yet contacted the 15 people themselves to inform them of these plans, which they learned about only from the press...not an easy feat considering there are only 9 televisions per 100 people in albania (possibly a blessing)...

we are encouraged by the signs that albania plans to provide alternative accommodation for the 15 people...amnesty members urge the authorities to make this pledge public...

it's an extraordinary situation in the land that claims direct heritage to the family of mother teresa...read the complete story here...

peace out <3

alan johnston was one more human rights victim supported by amnesty international...

it's nice, really nice, when an organization that you volunteer tremendous bits of your energy and time to is just spot on in the thoroughness of its research the breadth of its appeals, and the genuineness of its concern...

on the day of his release, alan johnston was also given an award at amnesty international uk's media awards...receiving this year's radio award on alan johnston's behalf, his father graham drew attention to all the campaigners around the world, especially palestinian journalists and alan's colleagues at the bbc palestine bureau, who tirelessly campaigned for his freedom...

the release of journalist alan johnston is welcome news for all those who campaigned over the last 114 days for his release...it is also good news for the people of gaza, where alan johnston was well liked and respected as the only international correspondent permanently based there...

during his captivity, alan johnston became a symbol of the dangers journalists face in conflict areas...those campaigning for his release included not only his colleagues in the bbc and his trade union in the uk, but also the palestinian journalists union who held strikes and ordinary palestinians who held rallies in gaza demanding his release...

is the world indeed not a complicated place???

journalists and press freedom organisations around the world took up the cause and over 200,000 people signed a bbc petition calling for his release...as the world celebrates, however, we should not forget the insecurity, poverty and unemployment faced by the 1.5 million people who remain in gaza, many of whom joined in the call for his release...

unfortunately, alan johnston is only one of hundreds of journalists who have been kidnapped, attacked and killed in recent years...these journalists should not be forgotten...as in captivity he was a symbol of journalists in danger, alan johnston's release should bolster the calls for greater protections for journalists around the world...

too often, journalists are targeted by all sides in conflict situations...the conflict in iraq, in particular, has, year on year, produced the highest annual of journalist casualties since the beginning of the conflict in march 2003...many more have been kidnapped...

on press freedom day 2007, amnesty international called for global action to protect journalists and protect the freedom of the press...alan johnston's plight inspired global action and this should continue to protect all journalists in similar situations...

for further information, please see: alan johnston's release greeted in Gaza (news from gaza, 4 july 2007)...palestinian authority: amnesty international renews its appeal for release of alan johnston (public statement, 25 june 2007)...press freedom day: global action needed to protect journalists...(feature, 3 may 2007)...ai calls for release of journalist held in gaza (feature, 15 april 2007)...

welcome home alan!

peace out <3

Being a Hero in the Human Rights World
Saving Darfur

One of John Lennon’s lyrics reads “If you want to be a hero, just follow me.” In today’s world it is hard to believe that one person can be a hero for human rights, but my hope is that I can be a hero, if not a hero, a voice for those who need one. Today I write about one of the issues near and dear to my heart, ending the violence in Darfur. The violence in Darfur has been going on since February 2003. This atrocity has left between 200,000 to 400,000 dead and has left behind 2.5 million refugees. Amnesty International’s current project “Instant Karma” highlights the current situation in Darfur through song. This album seeks to mobilize us around the issues in Darfur. It seeks change. I encourage you to visit the site and read about the current project: www.instantkarma.org. Most importantly, sign your name to the global petition to end violence in Darfur. REMEMBER: The beginning of the end of this humanitarian disaster starts with you. Take action today.

there's a difference between art for art's sake and power for power's sake i say to the state of israel...

i have spoken before about people who are prisoners of conscience...people who are imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs...

well on monday amnesty international condemned the decision of an israeli court to sentence mordechai vanunu, the anti-nuclear whistle-blower, to a further six months in prison for violating a ban on speaking to foreigners...

because the organization considers mordechai vanunu to be a prisoner of conscience it calls - as it always and legitimately does - for his immediate and unconditional release...

"Israel is bound by international law not to impose arbitrary restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu, including on his right to travel within the country or abroad, his right to peaceful association with others and his right to express his opinions."

article 12 of the international covenant on civil and political rights, which israel has ratified and is obliged to uphold, stipulates that:

"everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence" and that "everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own".

it began when jerusalem magistrate's court sentenced mordechai vanunu on 2 july 2007 to six months in jail for violating the terms of his parole...

the conditions of vanunu's parole were issued on his release after serving 18 years in prison for exposing secrets relating to israel's nuclear capabilities to the british sunday times newspaper in 1986...

that's 21 years ago...

vanunu is former a technician at israel's nuclear plant near the southern town of dimona...upon his release in 2004, vanunu was banned from leaving the country and talking to foreigners without approval, because israeli authorities claimed he could still divulge classified information...some two months ago, vanunu was convicted of 14 parole violations including contact with journalists and attempts to leave israel proper to go to bethlehem, which is in the west bank...the court's sentence was unexpected, and even the prosecution expected the court to hand down a suspended sentence, meant solely as a deterrent...

amnesty international has up until this date been lobbying for the lifting of restrictions imposed on vanunu...

"Israel is bound by international law not to impose arbitrary restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu, including on his right to travel within the country or abroad, his right to peaceful association with others and his right to express his opinions."

what do you think about this...is this sour grapes - power play for the sake of power - i'm askin'...

peace out <3

the miscarriage of justice and troy davis: is this what this country stands for on july 4th???

i have friend named martina who lives in savannah, ga...she is very distraught because the following is about her brother troy...

troy davis was sentenced to death for the murder of police officer mark mcphail on the testimony of witnesses who now claim to have been coerced by police...

there was no physical evidence against mr. davis and the weapon used in the crime was never found...

now the state of georgia wants to kill him on july 17th...11 days from now...

with his appeals exhausted only you can save troy davis

download, print and mail postcards for troy davis

learn more about the case and the other suspect

read amnesty's report: where is the justice for me?

join the discussion on our blog - i write there frequently...

is this what this country stands for on july 4th???

peace out <3