Kategorie: Humans

Ahead of an appeal hearing on Thursday for Pham Doan Trang, an independent journalist and human rights defender who was sentenced on propaganda charges to nine years imprisonment in December 2021, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research Emerlynne Gil said: 

“There is no doubt that Pham Doan Trang should never have been sentenced to nine years in prison in the first place. She is a courageous journalist and human rights defender who stood up for detained activists and criticized man-made environmental disasters and land grabs.  

“The trial on Trang’s appeal occurs amid an ongoing crackdown on free speech and civil society in Viet Nam. Her human rights insights and activism have been sorely missed. Instead of welcoming her views on the human rights situation in the country, Viet Nam’s authorities have left her languishing behind bars, with multiple concerning reports about the frailty of her health. 

“Amnesty International calls for the immediate release of Pham Doan Trang and all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders in Viet Nam, including activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh, journalist Le Van Dung, and land rights defenders Can Thi Theu, Trinh Ba Tu, Trinh Ba Phuong and Nguyen Thi Tam.” 

Background: 

The People’s Court of Hanoi will hold an appeals trial for Pham Doan Trang on 25 August. On 14 December 2021, Trang was sentenced to nine years by the court for “making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.”   

On 26 October 2021, 28 human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, called for Pham Doan Trang’s immediate and unconditional release.  

She is the author of multiple books that address everything from LGBTI issues and women’s rights to activism, environmental concerns and land rights. In 2019, Reporters Without Borders awarded her a Press Freedom Prize in recognition of her impact. Her work on the Liberal Publishing House helped it receive the prestigious Prix Voltaire award in 2020 for its continued coverage in spite of risks and dangers of reprisals.  

This year, Trang was awarded the 2022 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. 

The post Viet Nam: Immediately release journalist and human rights defender Pham Doan Trang  appeared first on Amnesty International.

The upcoming five-year anniversary of the Rohingya crisis must mark a turning point in the urgent quest to deliver justice to the victims and hold those responsible to account, Amnesty International said today. 

On 25 August 2017 Myanmar’s military began carrying out violent operations against the Rohingya population in northern Rakhine State, which resulted in grave crimes under international law, whole villages torched, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee into Bangladesh.

“This solemn anniversary is a haunting reminder that not a single high-ranking Myanmar military official has been prosecuted for the egregious campaign of violence against the Rohingya,” said Amnesty International’s Ming Yu Hah, Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns.

“Amnesty International stands in solidarity with the Rohingya people who are in Rakhine State and the estimated one million refugees living across the border in Bangladesh. Real justice is essential to ending the spiraling cycle of impunity engulfing Myanmar for many years.”

This solemn anniversary is a haunting reminder that not a single high-ranking Myanmar military official has been prosecuted for the egregious campaign of violence against the Rohingya.

Amnesty International's Ming Yu Ha, Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns

Five years later, Rohingya in Rakhine State still lack freedom of movement and other basic rights such as access to adequate food, healthcare and education, problems compounded by the rising insecurity brought on by the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Across the border in Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees are living in limbo with neither the opportunity to safely return to their homes in Myanmar nor a way to live peacefully in Bangladesh, where violence has been on the rise in refugee camps.

“We face enormous hardship in the refugee camps,” San thai Shin, a Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camp, told Amnesty International in June. “We do not know how we can ever return to our homes. We are neither safe in the refugee camps nor in Arakan [Rakhine State in Myanmar].” 

“Our people are losing their lives to gang violence in the refugee camps, in environmental calamity, or by taking dangerous attempts to migrate to other countries through the deadly seas and other means.” 

Importantly, some international justice efforts are moving forward. In July 2022, the International Court of Justice dismissed Myanmar’s objections and decided that it has jurisdiction to continue proceedings instituted by the government of The Gambia against the government of Myanmar in 2019 on the basis of the Genocide Convention.

“The International Court of Justice’s decision is a vital step in ongoing efforts to hold Myanmar’s government to account,” Amnesty’s Ming Yu Hah said. 

The International Criminal Court is also investigating crimes committed in 2016 and 2017 against the Rohingya population. Although Myanmar has not ratified the ICC’s Statute, the Court is examining alleged crimes committed partly in the territory of Bangladesh or other states. Amnesty International has called for the United Nations Security Council to refer the full situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, so that an investigation of all crimes committed in Myanmar can be conducted.

An investigation into other crimes in Myanmar is also being conducted in Argentina under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which permits national authorities to investigate crimes under international law committed anywhere in the world on behalf of the international community. The case, which was filed by the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK), hopes to hold senior military leaders to account for alleged responsibility in crimes against the Rohingya people. 

These efforts should be supported and other states should also take measures to investigate and prosecute the crimes before their national courts.  

“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations must also play a more forceful, decisive and leadership role in standing up for the Rohingya people and pushing for accountability in Myanmar,” Amnesty’s Ming Yu Hah said. 

“We reiterate our call on authorities to respect and ensure the participation of Rohingyas in the decisions that affect them in order to protect their human rights.” 

Background:

More than 740,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled northern Rakhine State to neighboring Bangladesh, when in August 2017 Myanmar security forces launched a widespread and systematic assault on Rohingya villages, including extrajudicial killings, destruction of properties and sexual assault. The onslaught came in the wake of a series of what the military claims were insurgent attacks on police posts.

Taking into account previous decades of violence against the Rohingya, an estimated one million Rohingya refugees now live in Bangladesh, while many of their homes in Rakhine State have been destroyed without a trace.

The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar previously called for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other top military officials to be investigated and prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Min Aung Hlaing assumed the role of Chairman of the State Administration Council following the February 2021 coup.

In a report published earlier this month, since the coup Amnesty International documented the crackdown and arbitrary detention of those who exercise their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly as well as enforced disappearances, torture and other inhuman treatment in detention. 

More than 2,000 people have reportedly been killed since the coup, and Myanmar arbitrarily executed four people after grossly unfair trials, the first use of capital punishment in the country in decades. 

A report by Amnesty International published in July showed that the Myanmar military is committing war crimes by laying banned landmines and around villages in Kayah (Karenni) State, while a report in May showed how the military uses air strikes and shelling as a form of collective punishment against civilians.

The post Myanmar: Five-year anniversary of Rohingya crisis must mark ‘turning point’ in quest for justice appeared first on Amnesty International.

The first conscientious objector to refuse South Korea’s alternative to military service must not face further punishment for taking a stand against the country’s punitive new system, Amnesty International said ahead of his criminal trial on Tuesday.

Hye-min Kim, whose religious beliefs preclude him from doing military service, is the first person known to have refused “alternative service” since it was introduced in 2020. The new system involves working in a jail or other correctional facilities for three years – twice as long as the typical 18-month military service.

“Instead of being presented with a genuine alternative to fulfil their service requirements, conscientious objectors are effectively given an alternative punishment because of their religious and other personal objections to joining the military,” said Jihyun Yoon, Director of Amnesty International Korea. “Under international law, countries with compulsory military service are obliged to provide a truly civilian alternative of comparable length.”

Kim is charged under Article 88 of the Military Service Act, which imprisons those who fail to enlist without justifiable grounds. He believes his objection is based on “justifiable grounds” under the Act, and that the current alternative service includes excessively punitive aspects that do not measure up to international standards.

Under the new law, those refusing military service on religious or other grounds are required to work in a jail or other correctional facility for 36 months – making it one of the longest alternative services in the world. Previously, they would have been jailed for 18 months.

“Hye-min Kim should not be prosecuted for claiming his human rights and refusing to take part in this unfair system. All charges against him must be dropped immediately.”

“Instead of putting conscientious objectors on trial, the South Korean government should focus its efforts on amending the alternative service so that it does not continue to punish and stigmatize those undertaking it.”

Background 

Over the past 60 years, hundreds of young South Korean men have been convicted and imprisoned each year for objecting to military service due to their beliefs, even if they are willing to serve the community. Typically, they received 18-month jail terms and were saddled with criminal records and faced economic and social disadvantages that lasted far longer.

Landmark rulings by the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court in 2018 in effect recognized the right to conscientious objection in the country. The Constitutional Court issued a ruling requiring the government to introduce an alternative service of a civilian nature by the end of 2019.

On 27 December 2019, the legislature enacted amendments to the Military Service Act. However, the legislation still violates the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief because it imposes unreasonable and excessive burdens on conscientious objectors.

It stipulates a disproportionate length of the alternative service and that it is administered by military authorities.

Since 30 June 2020, people objecting to compulsory military service have been able to apply for alternative service. In October 2020, the first batch of alternative service personnel started their 36-month duty, which was limited to working in prisons or other correctional facilities.

Under international human rights law and standards, states with compulsory military service are obliged to provide genuinely civilian alternatives. These should be of a comparable length to military service, with any additional length based on reasonable and objective criteria. The process for evaluating claims to be recognized as conscientious objectors and any subsequent work service must also be under civilian authority.

The post South Korea: Drop charges against first conscientious objector to refuse alternative service appeared first on Amnesty International.

Responding to reports that Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of Inter University Students’ Federation, Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, the convener of Inter University Bhikku Federation, and Hashantha Jawantha Gunathilake, member of the Kelaniya University Students’ Union, who were arrested on 18 and 19 August, are being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, said:

“Using a draconian anti-terror law to crackdown on protesters is a new low for the Sri Lankan government. This weaponizing of an already highly-criticized law, which should be repealed immediately, is a testament to how the authorities are unwilling to withstand any form of criticism and are systematically stifling dissenting voices. This is against Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, especially the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”

“Charges of terrorism do not commensurate with any offenses the protesters are alleged to have committed. Such an action by the authorities is excessive, disproportionate and in violation of international law. The PTA allows for detention of suspects for up to a year without charge, which is in violation of international law. The defence minister must not sign an order to detain them further under the PTA.”

“The PTA has a long history of abuse in Sri Lanka, and this development shows precisely why both local and international actors have been calling for its repeal. Time and time again, the Act has been used as a tool to silence government critics, journalists and minorities.”

Background

Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis has led to violations of the people’s civil, political, economic and social rights. Over the last few months, the President, Prime Minister, and the cabinet of ministers have had to resign following wide-spread public protests seeking their resignations.

The government responded to largely peaceful protests with excessive and unnecessary force and emergency laws giving sweeping powers to the police and the armed forces, in an effort to curb further demonstrations.

Amnesty International and others have urged the Sri Lankan government to end its crackdown on peaceful protests. Amnesty International has also documented the use of the draconian PTA by the Government of Sri Lanka to target, and harass minorities, activists, journalists and critical voices.

The post Sri Lanka: Protesters must not be detained under the draconian anti-terror law appeared first on Amnesty International.

• Es necesario dar con el paradero de los estudiantes que faltan por localizar, reparar el daño integralmente y garantizar que este tipo de casos no se repitan.  

• El informe de la Comisión para la Verdad, que concluye que la persecución y desaparición forzada de los jóvenes fue un crimen de Estado, debe ser una ruta para continuar con el esclarecimiento de los hechos. 

El reciente informe de la Comisión para la Verdad y Acceso a la Justicia, creada por el gobierno del presidente López Obrador hace tres años, concluye que la desaparición de 43 estudiantes normalistas de Ayotzinapa fue un “crimen de Estado”. Las recientes órdenes de aprehensión dictadas a petición de la Fiscalía General de la República contra el que fuera procurador general de la república y contra mandos militares, policías municipales y estatales, entre otros, son avances sustanciales en la búsqueda de la verdad y la justicia en este atroz crimen, señaló Amnistía Internacional. 

A casi ocho años de la desaparición forzada de 43 estudiantes de la Escuela Normal Rural de Ayotzinapa, el asesinato de tres personas más y la tortura y persecución en contra de estudiantes, las autoridades mexicanas han mostrado avances en las investigaciones sobre la política de encubrimiento del gobierno de Enrique Peña Nieto, bajo la cual se construyó una “verdad histórica”, que fue una investigación plagada de irregularidades, violaciones a los derechos humanos y otros crímenes, con la determinación absoluta de ocultar los hechos en vez de garantizar verdad, justicia y reparación para las víctimas y sus familias.  

Tras casi ocho años de lucha por la verdad y la justicia en el caso de los estudiantes de Ayotzinapa, los avances mostrados confirman, una vez más, que hubo una política intencional de encubrimiento y obstrucción de la justicia por parte de las autoridades bajo el gobierno de Enrique Peña Nieto

Erika Guevara Rosas, directora para las Américas de Amnistía Internacional 

“Tras casi ocho años de lucha por la verdad y la justicia en el caso de los estudiantes de Ayotzinapa, los avances mostrados confirman, una vez más, que hubo una política intencional de encubrimiento y obstrucción de la justicia por parte de las autoridades bajo el gobierno de Enrique Peña Nieto. El devastador informe de la Comisión para la Verdad, que concluye que la persecución y desaparición forzada de los jóvenes fue un crimen de Estado, debe ser una ruta para continuar con el esclarecimiento de los hechos, la localización de los jóvenes estudiantes y la garantía de no repetición con políticas integrales encaminadas a atender la profunda crisis de personas desaparecidas en México,” dijo Erika Guevara Rosas, directora para las Américas de Amnistía Internacional 

El gobierno del presidente López Obrador creó una comisión especial para dar seguimiento al caso, así como una unidad especial en la Fiscalía General de la República. Además, México aceptó la competencia del Comité contra la Desaparición Forzada para examinar casos de desaparición en México. El 19 de agosto, bajo pedido de la Fiscalía General de la República, se dictaron órdenes de aprehensión contra el ex-Procurador Jesus Murillo Karam, encargado de las investigaciones iniciales, “por los delitos de desaparición forzada, tortura y contra la administración de justicia, en el caso “Ayotzinapa,” y contra “20 mandos militares y personal de tropa del 27 y 41 batallones en la ciudad de Iguala, así como a cinco autoridades administrativas y judiciales del estado de Guerrero; a 26 policías de Huitzuco; seis de Iguala y uno de Cocula; más 11 policías estatales de Guerrero y 14 miembros del grupo criminal Guerreros Unidos”. 

Los recientes avances son el resultado de la lucha incansable de las madres, padres y familias de los jóvenes estudiantes de Ayotzinapa, y el destacado y arduo trabajo de las organizaciones de derechos humanos que los han acompañado

Edith Olivares Ferreto, directora ejecutiva de Amnistía Internacional México 

“Los recientes avances son el resultado de la lucha incansable de las madres, padres y familias de los jóvenes estudiantes de Ayotzinapa, y el destacado y arduo trabajo de las organizaciones de derechos humanos que los han acompañado. El gobierno del presidente López Obrador ha mostrado voluntad por esclarecer los hechos sobre la desaparición forzada de los estudiantes, así como fortalecer a las instancias del Estado dedicadas a la investigación de este atroz crimen, lo cual contribuye positivamente al saldo de la deuda después de casi 8 años. Es momento también de adoptar políticas integrales para atender la grave crisis de personas desaparecidas, que ya rebasa las cien mil personas, en un país atravesado por la injusticia y la impunidad,” dijo Edith Olivares Ferreto, directora ejecutiva de Amnistía Internacional México 

Antecedentes  

Los 43 estudiantes de la Escuela Normal Rural de Ayotzinapa fueron desaparecidos forzadamente la noche del 26 de Septiembre de 2014, después de haber sido arrestados por policías municipales mientras se preparaban para participar en una manifestación en la Ciudad de México, para conmemorar la masacre de estudiantes ocurrida el 2 de Octubre de 1968. 

A pesar de la fuerte presión internacional, nacional y de las familias de los estudiantes desaparecidos, aún se desconoce su paradero, y sigue bajo investigación el esclarecimiento de los hechos en los que se dieron estas graves violaciones a los derechos humanos. 

Diversos informes de organizaciones nacionales e internacionales, así como del Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos Independientes (GIEI), nombrado por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, pusieron siempre en cuestionamiento la versión oficial de los hechos en su momento, y presentaron críticas exhaustivas de las investigaciones realizadas. El gobierno de entonces se empeñó en seguir una sola línea de investigación (la de que los estudiantes habían sido detenidos por la policía municipal y entregados a una banda criminal, y sus cadáveres habían sido quemados en un vertedero local). La teoría de que los estudiantes habían sido incinerados fue rechazada tajantemente por el GIEI, por considerar que era imposible en las circunstancias descritas por las autoridades mexicanas y no se sustentaba con pruebas. 

Amnistía Internacional también denunció por años las falencias en la investigación, y la decisión política de ocultar la verdad, y con ello obstaculizar los esfuerzos de justicia en el caso de la desaparición forzada de los normalistas. En varios informes, Amnistía Internacional confirmó la deficiencia de las investigaciones, que no apuntaban al esclarecimiento mínimo de la responsabilidad del mando. Los lugares del delito no se protegieron ni fueron debidamente documentados con fotografías o grabaciones de vídeo. Se reunieron pruebas balísticas, pero no se examinaron para encontrar rastros de sangre o huellas dactilares, y tampoco se procesó correctamente material probatorio fundamental. Asimismo, las constantes denuncias de tortura y malos tratos de las personas detenidas con relación a las desapariciones, violaciones al debido proceso, manipulación de evidencias y protección de oficiales sospechosos de participación fueron otras violaciones de derechos humanos documentadas durante los primeros años de las investigaciones.  

Para más información o para concertar una entrevista, contacte a: 

Duncan Tucker  

Amnistía Internacional Américas 

duncan.tucker@amnesty.org 

Alejandro Juárez Gamero 

Amnistía Internacional México 

prensa@amnistía.org.mx  

+52 55 2265 4331 

The post México: Avances en la investigación sobre la desaparición de los 43 estudiantes de Ayotzinapa renueva esperanza de verdad y justicia  appeared first on Amnesty International.