the ioc caves in and endorses internet censorship during olympics..

fracking frack frack frack frack frack!

the international olympic committee (ioc) has said that there won't be uncensored internet access at olympic media venues...in a statement kevin gosper, ioc press commission chair, said:

“I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time (…). I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related.”

in reaction to the ioc statement, mark allison, east asia researcher for amnesty international said:

"The International Olympic Committee and the Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games should fulfil their commitment to ‘full media freedom’ and provide immediate uncensored internet access at Olympic media venues. Censorship of the internet at the Games is compromising fundamental human rights and betraying the Olympic values."

foreign journalists working from the olympics press centre in beijing are unable to access the amnesty international website...a number of other websites are also reported to have been blocked...

the ioc has on many occasions highlighted the loosening of restrictions on foreign media in china as an example of the promised improvement in human rights by the chinese authorities through the hosting of the olympics...on 1 april, kevin gosper said that the continued blocking of some websites would "reflect very poorly" on the hosts...on 17 july jacques rogge, ioc president, said "there will be no censorship of the internet."

frankly this blatant media censorship adds one more broken promise that undermines the claim that the games would help improve human rights in china...

on monday 29 july, amnesty international published the report “olympic countdown: broken promises” which evaluates the performance of the chinese authorities in four areas related to the core values of the olympics: persecution of human rights activists, detention without trial, censorship and the death penalty...they all relate to the 'core values' of 'human dignity' and 'respect for universal fundamental ethical principles' in the olympic charter...the new report showed there has been little progress towards fulfilling the chinese authorities' promise to improve human rights, but rather continued deterioration in key areas...

you can have your say on censorship and other human rights issues in china on amnesty international's the china debate website...

peace out <3

climate of fear persists despite deal in zimbabwe...

as the zimbabwean government and the opposition movement for democratic change (mdc) prepare to enter power-sharing talks, human ritghts groups including amnesty international called on both parties to ensure there are no pardons for those who committed human rights violations in the post-election period...

"there can be no lasting political solution to the crisis in zimbabwe without addressing past human rights violations...while human rights violations must end immediately, investigations must be carried out and alleged perpetrators brought to justice."

there are continued reports of ongoing political violence and harassment, particularly in rural areas...even since the signing of last monday’s (7/21) ‘memorandum of understanding’ by the ruling party and opposition, victims of political violence have had to seek medical treatment for injuries sustained in attacks...

on 22 july, an mdc official from a rural constituency south of harare who had been in hiding was allegedly attacked while he walked to work with a youth in the early hours of the morning...they were both abducted by suspected supporters of the ruling party and thoroughly beaten on the buttocks, arms, legs and feet...according to reports, their abductors said they had been looking for the mdc official, and that nowhere was safe...both the md official and the youth had to seek medical treatment as a result of injuries sustained...

though some bases from which ‘war veterans’ and other zanu-pf supporters launched attacks against opposition supporters have been dismantled, some in rural areas including in mashonaland west, central and east provinces, still remain...according to amnesty international:

“The attacks that have killed as many as 150, injured thousands and displaced tens of thousands over the last several months -- and which continue to take place – must not be swept under the carpet in the interest of finding a short-term political solution. This would store up problems for further down the road.”

while attempts are being made by all zimbabwean political parties -- and the southern african development community, african union and united nations -- to address the political and economic crisis important questions of justice and impunity were not explicitly tackled in the ‘memorandum of understanding’ signed on 7/21...

any future deal between the parties should not include amnesties, pardons or any other measures that would prevent the emergence of the truth, a final judicial determination of guilt or non-guilt, and full reparations to victims and their families...

in signing the memorandum, the ruling party and opposition committed themselves to condemning the promotion and use of violence and to taking all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it controls are not engaged in acts of violence...

despite the latest political developments, amnesty international remains concerned that zimbabwe is still blanketed in a climate of fear...the government must put an immediate end to all acts of intimidation, arbitrary arrest and torture perpetrated state and non-state actors against human rights defenders and political activists, particularly in rural areas...all bases from which torture and ill-treatment is being carried out must be closed immediately and alleged perpetrators of human rights violations must be brought to justice...

make a difference...
support human rights defenders in zimbabwe
demand justice for the victims of forced eviction in zimbabwe

peace out <3

more victories - tunisian journalist freed...

slim boukhdir (no relation to slim whitman) was released last monday, 21 july, and informed that he had been granted a conditional release by the minister of justice...he was not given any further explanation...

his release is apparently conditional on his “good behaviour”; if convicted of a similar crime he has been told he would have to serve out the rest of his sentence...

slim boukhdir was arrested on 26 november 2007 and charged with "insulting a public officer during the performance of his duties", "breaching public morality" and "refusing to show his identity card,"...he was sentenced to one year in prison on 4 december in a trial held in the city of sfax that was observed by amnesty international...his trial was unfair and the human rights organization considered him a prisoner of conscience and campaigned for his release...

amnesty international described the sentence as "another attempt by the authorities to stifle peaceful criticism” and said that it appeared intended to send a “chilling signal” to independent voices that criticism of the government’s policies and actions or of president ben ali or his family would not be tolerated...

slim boukhdir wrote mainly for arabic-language media such as the london-based daily newspaper al quds al-araby and al-arabiya.net...in may 2007, he received anonymous telephone death threats, which he believed came from security officers, after he gave an interview to the london-based satellite tv channel al-hiwar (dialogue)...he said in the interview that a relative of president ben ali should take responsibility for a stampede at a concert which he had arranged, in which seven people died...

while welcoming the release it should be asserted that the tunisian authorities must allow journalists to work free from harassment, interference or fear of imprisonment and protect freedom of expression in accordance with its international obligations...

read more

tunisia: decision condemned to uphold prison sentence against journalist slim boukhdir
tunisia: prison sentence deplored as imposed on journalist slim boukhdir

peace out <3

join me in celebrating human rights defenders...

at the end of this week, hu jia and shi tao will celebrate their birthdays in prison...these human rights defenders were jailed for doing something most of us do every day--exercising their right to freedom of expression...

celebrate the work of human rights defenders around the world by taking our quiz to find out what kind of activism you embody...

are you focused on domestic issues like cesar chavez?

do you value peace above all things like gandhi?

maybe, like mother teresa and martin luther king jr., your faith inspires your dedication to human rights...

whatever your style, remember that everything you do makes a difference...

find out which human rights defender you are
take action for shi tao
take action for hu jia

peace out <3

forced disappearances in pakistan implausibly denied...

“For us relief is only when our loved one is safe and sound standing freed before us. [...] I believe that my husband Masood is held only three kilometres from my home, yet he continues to suffer unknown ill-treatment and we, his wife, his children and his very old parents cannot even see him. They [the new government] must act now to bring them back immediately."

- Amina Masood Janjua, July 2008 -

the last time amina masood janjua saw her husband, masood janjua, was on 30 july 2005 when he left home to meet his friend afisal faraz...pakistani security forces apprehended both men on that day while on a bus journey to another city...

since then, pakistan’s government has been holding them in secret without charge or trial, repeatedly denying any knowledge of their whereabouts despite eyewitness testimony as to their detention...

masood janjua and faisal faraz are among hundreds of victims of enforced disappearance in pakistan, including children as young as nine and ten years old...many of them were detained after the attacks in the usa on 11 september 2001, their detentions justified in the name of the u.s.-led “war on terror”...

the practice, rare before 2001, then spread to activists involved in pushing for greater ethnic or regional rights, including baloch and sindhis.

despite undeniable evidence, the government of president pervez musharraf consistently denied subjecting anyone to enforced disappearances...

in the report denying the undeniable, enforced disappearances in pakistan, amnesty international uses official court records and affidavits of victims and witnesses of enforced disappearances to confront the pakistani authorities with evidence of how government officials obstructed attempts to trace those who have “disappeared,”...

the report urges the newly elected government of pakistan – which has pledged to improve pakistan’s human rights record - to end the policy of denial, investigate all cases of enforced disappearance and hold those responsible to account...

“By holding people in secret detention the government of Pakistan has not only violated their rights, but also failed in its duty to charge and try those suspected of involvement in attacks on civilians.”

- Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific director -

crucially, pakistan’s new government must reinstate deposed judges who had previously been investigating disappearance cases and were deposed by president pervez musharraf when he imposed a state of emergency in the country in november 2007...

the report also calls on other governments - most notably the u.s.a. - to ensure that they are not complicit in and do not contribute to or tolerate the practice of enforced disappearance in pakistan...

many of those unlawfully held at the u.s. detention centre in guantánamo bay, and those who have been held in secret cia custody were arrested in pakistan...others were unlawfully transferred from pakistan to countries where they faced torture and other ill treatment...

many people who have been secretly held in detention centres in pakistan say they were interrogated by pakistani intelligence agencies, but also by foreign intelligence agents...

peace out <3

what will the chinese olympic legacy be?

it's beginning is but 2 weeks away...will china fulfill its promise to improve human rights before the games?

not when human rights defenders in china continue to face risk of harassment and arbitrary detention...

ye guozhu, a human rights defender in beijing, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for taking action against forced evictions related to the olympics...amnesty international fears he has been tortured while in detention...

china promised that it would improve its human rights record for the honor of hosting the 2008 olympic games, but these abuses constitute a fundamental violation of the olympic charter...urge china to deliver a positive human rights legacy for the beijing olympics...

tell president bush to promote human rights in china
call for an olympic year of freedom of expression in china
defend the right of peaceful demonstration for human rights defenders

peace out <3

help stop violence against women in the democratic republic of congo...

the conflict in the democratic republic of the congo (derc) has been a "war against women" in which thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape and gender-based violence...these crimes are committed with the intent to destroy families and communities and are predominantly carried out by government soldiers, police, and armed group members...but perpetrators are rarely brought to justice...

h.r. 1227 is a resolution condemning sexual violence in the drc and calling on the international community to take immediate actions to respond to violence there...

urge your representative to speak out for victims in the drc and support h.r. 1227...

two years ago, congress and the president codified the united states' commitment to peace in the congo through the democratic republic of the congo relief, security, and democracy promotion act of 2006, yet systematic rape and stigmatization of rape victims continues to be a public health crisis...women and girls are frequently left with physical injuries and psychological problems due to a lack of access to medical care and often suffer social and economic exclusion...

it is time for the united states to re-commit to ending sexual violence in the drc...

please take action now to ensure that your representative makes that commitment a reality...

peace out <3

rock the vote 4 human rights - register today...

there’s no better time to rock the vote for human rights than now! exercise the universal right to free and fair elections...

this year marks the 60th anniversary of the declaration that enshrines human rights for all people and all nations – the universal declaration of human rights (udhr)...under article 21 of the udhr, everyone has the right to participate in government and open elections...as a human rights advocate, you understand just how important it is to protect that right...our allies at rock the vote have made it easy to exercise that right – register to vote...

in many countries without free and fair elections, government officials are not held accountable and human rights are regularly denied...harness your power to make human rights a reality for all people...when you raise your voice with other concerned citizens, your government is able to hear about important issues like:

• freeing prisoners of conscience
• stopping violence against women
• abolishing the death penalty
• ensuring human rights for all people

			Vote 4 Human Rights!

when you exercise your voting rights, you help advance human rights...register to vote today and take part in our democracy... and then encourage your friends to do the same...forward the link to this blog to five friends now...

peace out <3

human rights: worth its weight in gold...

i recently received a letter from former professional athlete john amaechi regarding china, human rights, and the olympics and wanted to share it with you...

I am so proud to be going to the Olympic Games in Beijing next month as an Olympic Ambassador for Amnesty International.

As a former pro athlete, I'm eager to see awe-inspiring world-class athletes competing for gold at the Summer Games. Yet I can't help but find the luster of those five rings tarnished and feel conflicted about my upcoming trip to China. Speak out for Chinese citizens who havebeen silenced against their will

There is no doubt that the Beijing Olympics have been sullied by worldwide protests regarding Tibet and other human rights abuses across China. Even in these difficult times, it is worth taking a moment to encourage those with power and influence to extend the hand of friendship to the good people of China and speak on behalf of those who cannot.

While I extend my deepest sympathy to the thousands who are suffering as a result of the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province, it is no reason to hold back on scrutiny of the Chinese government's human rights record. Indeed, as we open our hearts to the Chinese people, we should not limit our empathy to the natural disaster alone.

The Chinese government invited scrutiny of its human rights record by explicitly stating in their winning bid in 2001 that human rights would improve after being awarded the Games. Amnesty International has reached the sad conclusion that respect for human rights in China is getting worse - not in spite of, but because of the Olympic Games. Click here to read Amnesty's full report.

We have seen only a sliver of the abuses on TV, which include locking down cities to prevent public protests, denying journalists access to Tibet, the beating and torture of peaceful protesters who ask for the most basic human rights, and so on. These activities betray the fundamental Olympic spirit of respect for human dignity, and should be strongly condemned.

You and I have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to speak on behalf of China's citizens who have been silenced against their will. Even if only for a moment, the sound of our voices ringing out in defense of human rights for all is a message worth hearing - and a legacy worth its weight in gold.

Sincerely,

John Amaechi
Olympic Ambassador for Amnesty International

peace out <3

long-awaited verdict in italy has its upside...

the italian magistrates have held individuals accountable for the brutalities that occurred in the bolzaneto detention facility in genoa, italy...

on july 20-21, 2001, the italian city of genoa hosted a g8 summit...it is estimated that over 200,000 people participated in anti-globalization demonstrations on the streets of genoa...by the end of the summit, one protester, carlo giuliani, had been shot dead and hundreds of people had been injured during clashes with law enforcement officers...

the magistrate's decision is a good first step towards accountability for the human rights abuses that occurred during the g8 summit but more needs to be done to ensure that the whole truth emerges and that those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions...

on july 14, 2008, monday, 15 people were found guilty of, amongst other things, ill-treating protestors detained in the bolzaneto detention facility during the g8 summit in genoa in july 2001, and of abuse of office...the sentences handed down by an italian court ranged from five months to five years...those sentenced included police officers, prison guards and doctors...they are expected to appeal against the guilty verdicts. It is unlikely that any of those sentenced will actually serve time in prison because criminal liability for their offenses will have expired under italy's statute of limitations by the time the appeal process is completed...another 30 defendants were cleared of charges, including assault...

amnesty international and others have expressed concerns, however, that torture is not criminalized in the italian criminal code...this means that no one could be prosecuted for torture in connection with the events even if the ill-treatment the protestors suffered may have amounted to torture...

since the events in genoa in 2001, amnesty international has received several reports of police ill-treatment and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials in italy...the organization, along with several u.n. bodies, including the u.n. committee against torture, has repeatedly called on the italian government to put into place effective mechanisms of accountability for reported human rights abuses by law enforcement officials...the group said:

"Accountability for human rights abuses committed by state officials, including law enforcement officials, must be the norm. The Italian authorities must implement the recommendations of the relevant international bodies and organizations to this effect in order to prevent such events happening further."

peace out <3

thanks for taking action to put human rights at the core of u.s. – mexico relations...

thanks in large part to the overwhelming number of people like you who took action i am happy to report that human rights protections were included in congress' first installment of the merida initiative...

u.s. funding to mexico and central america to help fight drug cartels and organized crime was signed into law by president bush last week and the most significant debate about the aid package was the human rights component...

while some in the u.s. and mexico advocated to completely strip the aid package of human rights safeguards your voices were heard and the final legislation requires that 15 percent of the total funds for the mexican military and police forces may be made available only after certain human rights conditions have been met...these conditions include:

• civilian judicial officials are investigating and prosecuting members of the federal police and military forces who violate human rights
  
• testimony obtained through torture is not used in the justice system
  
• mexican human rights and civil society organizations are being consulted with by the mexican government on the implementation of the merida initiative
  
• improved police accountability and transparency

thanks for playing a part in this victory for human rights...amnesty international will continue to monitor the situation in mexico including the implementation of the merida initiative...stay informed by visiting regularly and continue to take action for human rights!

peace out <3

thousands join human art event...

a global day of action this past saturday 12 july used human aerial art to call on the chinese authorities to ensure a positive human rights legacy for the beijing olympics...

thousands of amnesty international supporters from around the world teamed up with circle up now, to create large images on the ground which are only fully visible from above...

from delhi to bamako and asunción, thousands of people in over twenty locations joined together to form words such as "freedom", "dignity" and "justice" representing the universal declaration of human rights – which turns 60 on 10 december 2008...

created on the eve of the anniversary of beijing being granted the 2008 olympics, this powerful "visual petition" was an appeal to the chinese authorities to honor the commitment they made in 2001 to improve human rights...said circle up now:

"We are circling up in solidarity with human rights activists in China who have been silenced and cleared out of sight as the Games draw closer. We urge thousands of people to join together across the world to remind the Chinese authorities of their promises. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Olympic values aspire to a world where the dignity and fundamental rights of all individuals are respected without discrimination. Seven years ago, the Chinese authorities promised the Olympics would bring improvement for people’s human rights but instead repression of activists and journalists has continued because of the Olympics."

watch this space for a gallery of photos and video footage taken around the world during the circle up now day of action...

peace out <3

sending a life-size message to china...

from the wish you were here files...

this week, thousands of amnesty international supporters will stand together as a visual message in support of human rights in china...

for the honor of hosting the 2008 olympics, china promised that it would improve its human rights record...instead, china's human rights violations have increased in the months leading up to the games...their actions have included a crackdown on peaceful dissent in tibet, the jailing of prominent human rights activists, and increased censorship of the media...

these abuses constitute a fundamental violation of the olympic charter - and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms...

call for an olympic year of freedom of expression in china
defend the right of peaceful demonstration for human rights defenders
learn more about circle up now and aerial art projects

peace out <3

two men imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression...

this past weekend, it was probably no surprise to see celebrations and symbols of independence – bar-b-ques…fireworks…flags...but in indonesia, the simple act of waving a flag cost two men their freedom...

shots were fired into a crowd as the morning star flag, a symbol of independence in the papua province of indonesia, was raised during a commemorative ceremony in december 2004...the indonesian police, armed with guns and batons, rushed in on the nonviolent gathering of at least 200 people...return rights to indonesian prisoners detained for peacefully exercising their right of free expression...

filep karma and yusak pakage, charged with "rebellion" for their alleged role in leading and organizing the flag-raising event, are currently serving their 15 and 10-year prison sentences respectively...a court ruled that arma and pakage were guilty of treason for having "betrayed" indonesia by flying the outlawed papua flag...

amnesty international considers the two men, who were wrongly detained, to be prisoners of conscience...pressure the president of indonesia to release prisoners of conscience...

sadly, filep karma was reportedly beaten by prison guards last april...this comes in the context of ongoing human rights violations by Indonesian authorities...urge your representative to act quickly to pressure the indonesian government to release prisoners of conscience, karma and pakage...

to prevent any further abuse of their rights, immediate action must be taken on behalf of prisoners of conscience, filep karma and yusak pakage...

urge your representative to pressure the indonesian government to release two men imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression...

celebrate your rights, by helping to protect theirs...

peace out <3

urge turkey to respect lgbt people's right to freedom of association...

so recently a local court in istanbul ordered the closure of the turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender solidarity organization, lambda istanbul...the court ruled on 29 may in favour of a complaint by the istanbul governor's office that lambda istanbul's objectives were against turkish "moral values and family structure"...an appeal challenging this ruling is currently pending...

in recent years provincial governorships in turkey have similarly targeted organizations working to promote the rights of persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities...for example, in september 2005, the ankara governor’s office accused the ankara-based group kaos-gl, a gay and lesbian cultural research and solidarity organization, of “establishing an organization that is against the laws and principles of morality”...

similarly, in august 2006, the ankara governor’s office attempted to close the human rights group pembe hayat (pink life), which works with transgender people, claiming that the association opposed “laws and morality”...in both of these cases, however, prosecutors dropped the charges...

amnesty international considers that closure of or attempts to close organizations on the basis of advocating for the rights of persons with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities violate the right to freedom of association, and are discriminatory...

the nobel peace prize winning human rights organization is calling on people to write to beşir atalay, the minister of interior:

• reminding him of his duty to ensure the respect and protection of the rights of all persons to freedom of association, without discrimination including on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, in the words of the yogyakarta principle 20: “to ensure the rights to peacefully organise, associate, assemble and advocate around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to obtain legal recognition for such associations and groups”
  
  
• urging him to ensure that notions of public order, public morality, public health and public security are not employed to restrict any exercise of the rights to peaceful association solely on the basis that the association affirms diverse sexual orientations or gender identities
  
  
• asking him to support a comprehensive non-discrimination law which includes specific protections against unequal treatment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all areas of life
  
  
• asking him to remind provincial governorships and their association directorates of their obligation to respect and protect the rights of all persons to freedom of association, without discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to take measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity

take action by clicking here now...

peace out <3

tasers are abused here in the good ol' u.s. of a...

since june 2001, more than 290 individuals in the united states have died after being struck by police tasers...human rights groups such as amnesty international are concerned that tasers are being used as tools of routine force, rather than as weapons of last resort...rigorous, independent, impartial study of their use and effects is urgently needed...

for lots of background info and too many disturbing videos of tasers in action click here...

peace out <3

need stronger witness protection needed to ensure accountability for war crimes...

the deportation from the u.k. of sri lankan national vinayagamoorthi muralitharan, known as karuna, who is alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka is, to say the least, disappointing...he was deported following his conviction on immigration charges...

the deportation of karuna now means that the investigation by the u.k. authorities into these allegations has come to an end...karuna is entitled to be presumed innocent, until and unless guilt can be proved beyond reasonable doubt in a fair trial...people will continue writing to the authorities of sri lanka to ask for an investigation to be started there into these allegations...

there is additional concern that the investigation collapsed because the u.k. government did not dedicate the necessary resources to it and did not sufficiently reassure the victims or their relatives of their safety under a witness protection program...

a number of non-governmental organizations had presented information to the metropolitan police (london's police force) relating to grave allegations of human rights abuses committed by karuna...these included statements by victims and witnesses, and names of witnesses who were prepared to provide relevant details about karuna’s alleged responsibility for or involvement in ri lanka in incidents of torture, hostage-taking, and the recruitment and use of children as soldiers in combat...

many potential witnesses were unwilling to testify or present their testimonies to the metropolitan police for fear of reprisals in both the u.k. and in sri lanka...the organization is aware of at least one witness in sri lanka who provided information to the metropolitan police and who is still in sri lanka, without having been given any protection in that country, or having been given the choice of being relocated elsewhere...not surprisingly under these circumstances this witness may now face a real risk of reprisals for having given information to the police investigation into karuna...said amnesty international:

“We have expressed our concerns to the Metropolitan Police that not enough may have been done to protect witnesses, and reassure potential witnesses, as they conducted their investigation. We would like to see the UK authorities introduce new measures in the future to try war criminals and protect witnesses."

the u.k. authorities to establish effective witness protection programs for investigations into allegations such as these, modeled on the witness protection programs of the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia, the international criminal tribunal for rwanda, the special court for sierra leone and the international criminal court...the organization also calls on the u.k. authorities to set up an independent and specialized police and prosecution unit with sufficient resources to deal with crimes against humanity, torture and war crimes...

peace out <3

who interrogated addington and yoo -- you???

you may have missed the the u.s. house judiciary subcommittee on the constitution, civil rights and civil liberties hearing on the bush administration’s interrogation rules about 2 weeks ago...vice president dick cheney’s chief of staff david addington and former u.s. justice department lawyer john yoo are expected to testify...larry cox, a really great guy and the executive director of amnesty international usa, had this to say about the hearing...

"Amnesty International applauds efforts by the House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees to seek the truth regarding the Bush administration’s efforts to justify the torture of detainees. Administration officials’ attempts to redefine the U.S. government’s obligations under U.S. and international law through dubious legal memos with fairytale justifications has made a mockery of the values that Americans hold dear.

"Both Addington and Yoo were integral to the formation of the Bush administration’s war on terror policies. Now they have an opportunity, no, a duty to the American people to provide their comprehensive knowledge of how Bush administration officials crafted and justified policies that led to torture.

“This hearing is taking place on June 26, the 21st anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It was adopted in 1984 for signature and ratification after long campaigning by Amnesty International and other organizations.”

right on larry...

peace out <3

on the freeing of ingrid betancourt...

here's a big woot woot for the welcomed the news that on 2 july former presidential candidate ingrid betancourt at last gained her freedom after more than six years in captivity at the hands of the guerrilla group, the revolutionary armed forces of colombia (farc)...

what an outdated, outmoded bunch of patriarchal mis-strategists...

ingrid betancourt, kidnapped in 2002, was freed along with three u.s. contractors (probable cia agents), kidnapped by the farc in 2003, as well as 11 members of the colombian security forces held captive by the guerrilla group...the colombian government has said the 15 were freed following a military operation by the colombian security forces...amnesty international said:

"We must not, however, forget the hundreds of other civilians still being held, mainly by the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN), which must release all of them immediately and unconditionally, as well as commit to put an immediate end to all kidnapping and hostage-taking."

all those held captive must be treated humanely, regardless of whether these are civilians or members of the security forces...hear that farc?

peace out <3

on the torture and terror in zimbabwe...

intimidation, terror, and coercion are words that describe the presidential elections held recently in zimbabwe...the deliberate strategy by the zimbabwean government to ensure that robert mugabe wins the election is deeply disturbing...

since the general elections on march 29, at least 85 people have reportedly been killed...over 3,000 people have been treated for injuries from beatings with sticks and iron bars...the movement for democratic change opposition party claims that 2,000 of its supporters have been jailed...

the time has come to end this blatant assault on human rights...the people of zimbabwe must not be left alone to suffer this ongoing violence...

take action to stop the violence in zimbabwe
read secretary general irene khan’s letter to the south african development community, urging emergency action
read multiple statements on election period violence in zimbabwe

peace out <3

migrants continue to face illegal arrest in mauritania...

there are credible reports that irregular migrants trying to reach europe are being arrested, ill-treated and collectively expelled from mauritania without opportunity to challenge the decision...

published on tuesday 1 july amnesty international's report, mauritania: nobody wants anything to do with us, arrests and collective expulsions of migrants denied entry into europe, says that sometimes migrants aren’t even sent back to their own home countries...

since 2006, thousands of migrants accused of setting out from mauritania with the intention of entering europe via spain’s canary islands, have been arrested...

many of those people have been held in a detention centre at nouadhibou in northern mauritania...some have been ill-treated by members of the mauritanian security forces...

nationals of west african countries say they have been arbitrarily arrested in the street or at home and accused, apparently without any evidence, of intending to travel to spain...

according to the national security service, 3,257 people were held in the centre in 2007, all were then sent to senegal and mali, regardless of their nationality or country of origin...these people are left at the border, often without much food and with no means of transport...salvatore saguès, amnesty international’s west africa researcher, said that:

“This policy of arrests and collective expulsions by the Mauritanian authorities is the result of intense pressure exerted on Mauritania by the European Union (EU), and Spain in particular, as they seek to involve certain African countries in their attempt to combat irregular migration to Europe.”

amnesty international is calling on the e.u. and its member states, most notably spain, to take responsibility for ensuring that migrants are treated according to international human rights standards...said sagues:

“EU states are using countries such as Mauritania to manage the flow of migrants who attempt to reach Europe from their territory. They have become the de facto ‘policemen of Europe."

peace out <3

a brave woman's son returns to her from death row today...

it was back in early 2002 that i timidly made a phone call to joyce house...i was the director of the tennessee coalition to abolish state killing and the play the exonerated was being brought to nashville by a local acting group...she was (is) the mother of paul house, a man not guilty of the murder that landed him on death row in 1986...i asked her if she would like the opportunity (and support) to begin telling her son's story...she was shy, and sweet, and unexperienced in the ways of the media so we began to work with her and as you will read below today she has her son, wheelchair bound by advanced multiple sclerosis, coming home to her...she just sent me a sweet email and i wanted you to be aware of her story...google paul's name - his story demonstrates the ridiculousness of our attempting to be the legal arbiter's of life and death...

Paul House will be released today

Anonymous donor sends $10,000 to pay for inmate's bail

By CHRIS ECHEGARAY
Staff Writer

Paul Gregory House will celebrate the Fourth of July at home this Friday thanks to an anonymous donor who sent his mother the $10,000 bail needed for his release from state custody.

House, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, is set for release today at 9:30 a.m. from the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility in Nashville.

"I was in tears because I couldn't find an appraiser for a property bond," said his mother, Joyce House. "Then I got an anonymous caller who said they were going to put up the money. There are angels out there. One day I hope to meet them."

House, 46, was on death row for 22 years after being convicted in 1986 of murdering Carolyn Muncey in East Tennessee. The U.S. Supreme Court concluded in 2006 that a jury, based upon DNA evidence that emerged years after his trial, could find reasonable doubt in the case. House has maintained his innocence.

U.S. District Court Judge Harry Mattice Jr. ordered the state to release House or retry him within 180 days, and an appeals court upheld Mattice's decision.

Prosecutors said they would retry House, and a state court judge in Union County set a $500,000 bond. Another judge reduced the bond to $100,000. At least 10 percent of that amount was required for House's release.

House's mother planned to use her Crossville home for a property bond to get her son released from jail while awaiting his second trial in October.

Under the bail conditions set by a judge, House can only leave his mother's home for medical appointments and court appearances. He will have a 24-hour electronic monitoring system and has to register as a sex offender. No firearms are allowed in the house.

Groups declare victory

The state does not plan to seek the death penalty during the second trial, and anti-death penalty organizations already have declared victory.

"We are so grateful to all the Tennesseans and people all over the country who have supported our work to free Paul House," said Stacy Rector, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing.

peace out <3

take action: lazaros petromelidis has repeatedly been convicted for his beliefs...

lazaros petromelidis (45) of greece has been repeatedly sentenced by military courts for his conscientious objection to military service and is again in danger of arrest and imprisonment...

amnesty international, the european bureau for conscientious objection and war resisters' international have issued a joint appeal regarding the case of conscientious objector lazaros petromelidis...

lazaros petromelidis' case has a long history of 16 years, full of prosecutions and convictions...he was first prosecuted after he declared his conscientious objection in march 1992, at a time when greece did not recognize the right to conscientious objection...in 1998 he refused to do the alternative service he was offered, as it was of an extremely punitive duration -- in his case, seven and a half times longer than the military service he would otherwise have had to perform...since then, he has been regularly receiving call-up papers to serve in the military and has been repeatedly charged with insubordination because of his refusal, as a conscientious objector, to serve in the army...he has been imprisoned three times, in may 1998, april 1999 and september 2002 and has been banned from travelling abroad...

on 20 may 2008, lazaros petromelidis was again sentenced in absentia to three years' imprisonment without suspension on two charges of insubordination by the naval court of piraeus...this means that after this trial, his 15^th one, there is again an arrest warrant for lazaros petromelidis, and he is in imminent danger of imprisonment for his beliefs...at 45, lazaros petromelidis is in his last conscription year but may be called up again at any time before 31 december 2008...

every time lazaros petromelidis refuses to serve in the army a new prosecution is brought against him...his repeated punishment for the same offence contravenes article 14 paragraph 7 of the international covenant on civil and political rights which states that:

"No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country."

repeated punishments of conscientious objectors have been cited by the human rights committee as particular instances of violation of article 14 (general comment no. 32)...

the right to conscientious objection is a legitimate exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights (article 18), the international covenant on civil and political rights (article 18), the european convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (article 9) and the charter of fundamental rights of the european union (article 10)...

please write, calling on the authorities to stop immediately the prosecutions against lazaros petromelidis and to recognize the right to conscientious objection according to international standards and recommendations...

send appeals to:
Kostas Karamanlis
Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
Megaron Maximou
19 Herodou Atticou Avenue
106 74 Athens, Greece
Fax: +30 210 671 5799

peace out <3