Derechos: Urgent Actions

URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY

ZWE 004 / 0607 / OBS 063
Arbitrary detentions / Ill-treatments / Harassment

Zimbabwe
June 7, 2007

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Zimbabwe.

Brief description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources, including Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), about the arbitrary arrest of several members of the Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) on June 6, 2007, in Bulawayo.

According to the information received, on June 6, 2007, around 200 members of WOZA and MOZA decided to undertake a peaceful and silent march through Bulawayo to launch their position called “Ten steps to a new Zimbabwe”[1]. WOZA was also expressing its concern that Zimbabwean civil society was excluded from the ongoing dialogue initiated by the Southern African Development the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) mediated by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, creating the danger that pertinent issues on the social and economic crisis, continuing human rights violations and democracy would be given little attention.

It is reported that one group of participants was violently dispersed by the riot police after walking only one block. A second group managed to march two blocks, but again, riot police violently dispersed the group. Five WOZA members, namely Ms. Rosemary Sibiza, Ms. Angeline Karuru, Ms. Martha Ncube, Ms. Sangeliso Dhlamini and Ms. Pretty Moyo, who had been badly beaten with baton sticks, were arrested and detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Upon hearing that five of their colleagues had been beaten, another group of around 100 women led by Ms. Jenni Williams, WOZA national coordinator, went to the police station and offered themselves for arrest. The police officers then assaulted the women, before arresting Ms. Jenni Williams and Ms. Magodonga Mahlangu, another WOZA leader.

Following the arrest of the WOZA women, Mr. Kossam Ncube, a lawyer and a member of ZLHR, went to the police station to represent them. At the police station, Mr. Ncube was harassed by police officers as he sought to speak to his clients and protect their rights. One police officer, namely Superintendent Nsingo, verbally abused Mr. Ncube while demanding to know why he was at the police station and accusing him of being “unethical” and “irresponsible”, stating that lawyers had no business at the police station. Superintendent Nsingo ordered Mr. Ncube out of the police station and physically pushed him out of the station.

On June 7, 2007, Mr. Ncube tried again to gain access to his clients but was denied such access by the police officers at Bulawayo Central police station.

The Observatory strongly condemns the arrest, assault and detention of the women from WOZA who were peacefully demonstrating to express their views and concerns over the current crisis in Zimbabwe. Besides, the Observatory recalls that WOZA and its members have been repeatedly subjects of harassment activities in the past years, distinctively 2004 and 2005 and 2006 (See Observatory Annual Report 2006).

The Observatory further condemns the harassment of Mr. Ncube, which harassment is a continuation by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in their attack against lawyers seeking to represent their clients, a right that is guaranteed under section 18 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as well as by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

Actions required:

Please write to the authorities of Zimbabwe urging them to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Jenni Williams, Ms. Magodonga Mahlangu, Ms. Martha Ncube, Ms. Sangeliso Dhlamini, Ms. Pretty Moyo, Ms. Angeline Karuru and Ms. Rosemary Siziba, Mr. Kossam Ncube as well as of all WOZA, MOZA and ZLHR members;

ii. Conduct a fair, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment above-mentioned, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;

iii. Release them immediately and unconditionally since their detention is arbitrary;

iv. Guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to them, as victims of abuses;

v. Put an end to all acts of harassment against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe;

vi. Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, article 9.3.c., which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to offer and provide professionally qualified assistance or other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms”, and article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

vii. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Zimbabwe.

Addresses :

President of Zimbabwe, Mr. Robert G. Mugabe, Office of the President, Private Bag 7700, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 708 211
Mr. Khembo Mohadi, Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 11th Floor Mukwati Building, Private Bag 7703, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 726 716
Mr. Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Fax: + 263 4 77 29 99 / +263 4 252 155
Mr. Augustine Chihuri, Police Commissioner, Police Headquarters, P.O. Box 8807, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax : +263 4 253 212 / 728 768 / 726 084
Mr. Sobuza Gula Ndebele, Attorney-General, Office of the Attorney, PO Box 7714, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fax: + 263 4 77 32 47
Mrs. Chanetsa, Office of the Ombudsman Fax: + 263 4 70 41 19
Ambassador Mr. Chitsaka Chipaziwa, Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe to the United Nations in Geneva, Chemin William Barbey 27, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland, Fax: + 41 22 758 30 44, Email: mission.zimbabwe@ties.itu.net
Ambassador Mr. Pununjwe, Embassy of Zimbabwe in Brussels, 11 SQ Josephine Charlotte, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 96 05 / + 32 2 775 65 10, Email: zimbrussels@skynet.be

Please also write to the embassies of Zimbabwe in your respective country.

***

Geneva - Paris, June 7, 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
Email : Appeals@fidh-omct.org
Tel et fax FIDH : + 33 1 43 55 55 05 / 33 1 43 55 18 80
Tel et fax OMCT : +41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] This ten-bullet program aims at a non-violent Zimbabwean society where freedom of speech and assembly prevails. It hopes for a new Constitution according to which elections are conducted with the purpose of having a more inclusive political scene where all political parties, NGO’s, private sector, religious leaders, workers, youth and women are represented. Finally, it intends civil servants, law enforcement individuals and members of the judicial branch to be held accountable through audit inspection units.

Case LKA 060607

Abductions / Assassinations

Geneva, 6 June 2007.

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requires your urgent intervention in the following situation in Sri Lanka.

Brief description of the situation:

The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed by a reliable source and Antenna International, a member of SOS-Torture network, of the abduction and killing of Mr. Karthakesu Chandramohan (26) and Mr. Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam (32), two volunteers of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), based in Batticaloa.

According to the information received, at approximately 6:45 am on 1 June 2007, six employees of the SLRC, among whom Mr. Karthakesu Chandramohan and Mr. Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam, gathered at platform 4 at the Colombo Fort Railway Station in order to return to Batticaloa after attending a five-day workshop in the city of Mount Lavinia. They were then approached by four to five men dressed in civilian clothing who asked them for their National Identity Cards (NIC).The SLCR employees were interrogated at the platform collectively and individually in Sinhala - allegedly the only language the interrogators could speak fluently.

It is reported that interrogators asserted being from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). They asked only Mr. Chandramohan and Mr. Shanmugalingam to accompany them to the police station, on the grounds that they needed more information on them both. One of the other colleagues volunteered to translate for them from Tamil to Sinhala since the two victims were not able of holding a conversation in the latter, to which proposition the interrogators agreed.

They then boarded their vehicle, and as their co-worker was about to get in, the vehicle took off. However, he managed to take the registration number (No. 252 - 6432) of the tinted-windows-white van, as described by him. He subsequently met up with his other colleagues and called the head of SLRC in Colombo.

On 2 June 2007, the bodies of Messrs. Karthakesu Chandramohan and Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam were found in Kiriella near the central town of Ratnapura, 60 miles (40 Km) south east of Colombo. They were identified at the Ratnapura Base Hospital. Further investigations have shown that they died from gun shot injuries.

Actions requested:

Please write to the authorities in Sri Lanka urging them to:

i. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the abduction and subsequent assassination assassination of Mr. Karthakesu Chandramohan and Mr. Sinnarasa Shanmugalingam, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by the law;

ii. Guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to their families;

iii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses:

President Mahinda Rajapakse, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka, Fax: + 94 11 2446657 / +94 11 2472100.
Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, 15/5 Baladaksha Mawatha, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2446 300 / +94 11 2541 529
Mr. Victor Perera, Inspector General of Police, New Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877. E-mail: igp@police.lk
Mr. C.R. De Silva, Attorney General, Attorney General's Department, Colombo 12, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2 436421, Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net
National Police Commission, 3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers, 109 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, Tel: +94 11 2 395310. Fax: +94 11 2 395867. E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806. Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470. E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Sri Lanka, 56 rue De Moillebeau, 5th Floor, 12119 Geneva 19, Switzerland, Fax: + 41-22 734 90 84, E-mail: mission.srilanka@ties.itu.int
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels, 27 rue Jules Lejeune, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium. Tel: + 32 2 344 53 94/ + 32 2 344 55 85. Fax : + 32 2 344 67 37. Email : sri.lanka@euronet.be

Please also write to the embassies of Sri Lanka in your respective country.

***

Geneva, 6 June 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

Case COL 310507 / COL 310507.CC

URGENT APPEAL / CHILD CONCERN

Excessive use of force against indigenous villagers / Presumed disappearances, including of several children / Arbitrary arrests

Geneva, 31 May 2007

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Colombia.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned with the information recently received from reliable sources of the excessive use of police force while displacing members of the Embera Katío Community, from the Chocó Department1. According to a press release which was signed by the Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas Embera, Wounaan, Katío, Chamí y Tule (“Association of Embera, Wounaan, Katío, Chamí and Tule Indigenous Council” - OREWA) of the Chocó Department and published on 22 May 2007, the aforementioned members of the Embera Katío Community had made it known that: “[…] After not having found any real answers, and due to the worsening of our situation, we have chosen as a last resource to block the [Quibdó-Medellín] motorway. This measure is to be taken as an attempt to demand the presence of those who signed Act No.002 between the 25th and the 27th of April 2007, to demand the fulfilment of the commitments agreed to on the aforementioned act, and to obtain answers to the requests of the indigenous authorities which were established on resolution 001”.

The Embera Community demands, among other things, that the agreements reached with the government in April 2007 be respected. These agreements concern the appointment of teachers for the 14,000 children enrolled in school.

According to the information received, over 900 indigenous people from the Embera Katío village were brutally displaced from a place known as La Unión in the early hours of 26 May 2007. La Unión is located near Santa Cecilia, four hours away from Quibdó and Pereira. The Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squad (Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios - ESMAD), with headquarters in Pereira, was in charge of the displacement. The members of the community were reportedly having breakfast when the ESMAD irrupted into their community using tear gas. The ESMAD then beat and forcedly arrested the villagers, who were then driven away in buses. They had been told that they were being driven to Guarato, which is located between Pereira and the Chocó Department. Nevertheless, certain sources confirm that their final destination remains unknown.

The Prime Counsellor (consejero mayor) of the Regional Indigenous Council of Risaralda (Consejo Regional Indígena de Risaralda - CRIC) has made several statements to this day. According to these statements, it is feared that Gloria Inés Arce (6 years old, from the Conondo Community), José Murri Nariquiaza and Emilio Murri Nariquiaza (6 and 8 years old respectively, both of them from the Dokabú Community) may have fallen into the San Juan river as a consequence of the physical malaise brought about by the tear gas. Because of the recent heavy rain which has raised the water level, it is also feared that their bodies may have been carried downstream. Nevertheless, no further information was available at the time of this appeal’s publication, nor had their bodies been found.

Furthermore, several children were reportedly taken away from their mothers during the police operation. They were reportedly put into different buses, and so the mothers fear that they may go missing. Several indigenous people were harmed as a result of the police operation. Some of them even had to be taken to the Santa Cecilia medical stand. Moreover, members of the ESMAD burnt the indigenous people’s clothes and few belongings and tortured Pedro Pablo Murillo (one of the chief counsellors of the Local Head Council - Cabildo Mayor de la Zona), who was seriously injured. In addition, various items belonging to the indigenous people have been reported missing (mobile phones, money, clothes, survival utensils, etc.). When questioned on their actions, members of the ESMAD reported to have been “following orders from the higher ranks of Government as well as the Social Affaires Manager of Chocó”.

During the police operation, two nuns from the Quibdo diocese who were in the area doing humanitarian work were arrested and later released. Their names are Martha Janet Pérez and Nubia Salamanca.

According to the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia (Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia - ONIC-OREWA), the following is the list known to this day of people who were injured during the displacement operation:

Pedro Pablo Murillo
Raúl Murillo Tequia
Leonel Querágama
Libardo Tequia
Cristina Tequia
Amancia Pepe
Diego Pepe
José Argemiro Pepe
Uriel Ebao
Nicolás Bateza
Elena Bateza
Cesar Negueta
Ilario Querágama.

According to the same source, the following is the list of people who went missing during the displacement operation, and whose whereabouts remain unknown to this day:

From the Cevedé Community: Juan Guillermo Queragama Cheche, 13 years old; Iván Queragama Pepe, adult; Aurora Víricha Cheche, adult; Gilberto Querágama Viricha, 12 year old; Calixto Querágama Viricha, 10 year old; a one-year-old baby; Juan Alberto Tequia, 15 year old; Oliva Cheché Vitucay, adult; Guillermo Sintua, adult; Guillermo Sintua, 15 years old; Leonel Tequia Nariquiaza, adult; Willian Bateza Cheché, adult; Rafael Tequia, 16 years old; Celestino Bateza, adult; Aquileo Querágama, adult, and Óscar Baniama Arce, 10 years old.
From the Aguasal Community: Elkin Murillo, 18 years old; Wilmor Murillo, 12 years old, and Milton Murillo, 12 years old.
From the Dos Quebradas Community: Clímico Sintua Ebao, 8 years old.
Brisas Community: Sigifredo Tequia Tequia, 16 years old.
From the Vivicora Community: Ercilia Sintua Castañeda, girl; Hermeregildo Sintua Arce, boy; Laurcario Arce Sintua, boy; Humberto Tequia, boy; Dario Querámaga Sintua, boy, and Antonio Querágama Sintua, boy.

Furthermore, the ONIC has reported that a 6-month-old baby girl died due to the tear gas released in Guarato. Moreover, three pregnant women of emberas katios indigenous origin reportedly began to feel bad because of the tear gas released during the operations. They decided to go back to their communities, and it was later reported that the three of them had a miscarriage. This raises the death toll by four more victims.

The International Secretariat of OMCT strongly condemns these extremely violent events. OMCT would like to recall that Colombia has signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which, in its Article 6 states that “States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life”, and “States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child”. Furthermore, OMCT recalls to the Colombian authorities their duty to respect the legitimate and constitutional right of its citizens to undertake social protests.

Action requested

Please write to the Colombian authorities urging them to:

i. Immediately take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological safety and integrity of the aforementioned children and adults, of all members of the Embera Katío indigenous community, and of Sister Martha Janet Pérez and Sister Nubia Salamanca. Such measures should include appropriate free medical assistance for those who may need it;

ii. Order a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into these events (especially into the alleged excessive use of police force against members of the Embera Katío Community, as well as into all of the human rights violations mentioned above), in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the civil penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iii. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to the families of those who went missing or were wounded during these events,

iv. Immediately apply the recommendations made by international and regional Human Rights organisations, including those made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;

v. Ensure in all circumstances the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country, in accordance with international human rights standards, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention Against Torture, which have been ratified by Colombia.

Addresses

Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva. Chemin du Champ d’Anier, 17-19, 1209 Ginebra, Suiza. FAX: + 41.22.791.07.87; TEL.:+ 41.22.798.45.55. E-mail: mission.colombia@ties.itu.int
Sr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Diplomatic Mission in Brussels: FAX: +32.2.646.54.91, E-mail: colombia@emcolbru.be
H.E. Álvaro Uribe Vélez, President of the Republic, Cra. 8 # 7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Santa Fe de Bogotá. Fax: +57.1.566.20.71: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Sr. Francisco Santos, Vice-president of the Republic, Téls.: +571334.45.07, +573.7720130, E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co ; buzon1@presidencia.gov.co
Programa DDHH de Vicepresidencia: ppdh@presidencia.gov.co; fibarra@presidencia.gov.co
Observatorio DDHH de Vicepresidencia: obserdh@presidencia.gov.co
Dr. Volmar Antonio Pérez Ortiz, Defensor del Pueblo, Calle 55 # 10-32, Bogotá. Fax: + 57.1.640.04.91 E-mail: secretaria_privada@hotmail.com ; agenda@agenda.gov.co
Doctor Mario Hernán Iguarán Arana, Fiscal General de la Nación, Diagonal 22-B # 52-01, Bogotá. Fax: +57.1.570.20.00; +57.1.414.90.00 Extensión 1113, E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co
Dr. Edgardo José Maya Villazón, Procurador General de la Nación, Cra. 5 #. 15-80, Bogotá. Fax: +57.1.342.97.23; +57.1.284.79.49 Fax: +57.1.342.97.23; E-mail: cap@procuraduria.gov.co, E-mail: quejas@procuraduria.gov.co; webmaster@procuraduria.gov.co; cap@procuraduria.gov.co; reygon@procuraduria.gov.co; anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co
Dr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Ministro de la Defensa, Avenida El Dorado con Cra. 52 CAN, Bogotá. Fax: +57.1.222.18.74; E-mail: siden@mindefensa.gov.co; infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co; mdn@cable.net.co
Dr. Carlos Franco, Director del Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario (DIH). E-mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co

Please also write to the embassies of Colombia in your country.

***

Geneva, 31 May 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 The indigenous communities of the Embera peoples live in the Caldas, Risaralda, Antioquia, Chocó, Valle and Quindío Departments. They have been subjected to the implementation of large scale projects on their land, to a legislation that destroys their land, and to acts of violence led by the various figures in the armed conflict. They have also endured forced displacements, impoverishing conditions, persecution and alienation, all of which threaten some communities with extension.

13 June 2007

Imprisoned dissident writer Yang Maodong allegedly tortured, confession to
be used in court

SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is
alarmed by claims by dissident writer Yang Maodong that he was tortured in
detention, and that a confession extracted through torture is to be used as
evidence in court.

According to PEN's information, Yang Maodong, also known as Guo Feixiong, a
well-known dissident writer, independent publisher and civil rights
activist, who has been in detention since 14 September 2006, was reportedly
transferred to the Shenyang detention centre between 20 January and 27
March 2007, during which time, he alleges, he was severely treated and
repeatedly tortured. The police interrogation reportedly focused on his
involvement in and reporting of an anti-corruption campaign by villagers in
Taishi Village, Guangdong Province. This incident is not related to the
charges under which Yang Maodong is currently being held.

Yang Maodong was arrested on 14 September 2006 on charges of "suspected
illegal business dealings", for which he is to stand trial on 15 June.
According to his wife, police officers searched their home in Guangzhou
City, Guangdong Province, Southern China, and took away Yang's computers,
cell phone, books, manuscripts and other documents. The following day Yang
was reportedly charged with illegal business practices for allegedly
publishing and selling 20,000 books using false ISBNs (international
standard book numbers). His wife claims that the charges are totally
unfounded.

Yang Maodong, aged 40, is known for his critical writings and civil rights
activism. He was previously detained on 12 September 2005 and held without
charge until December 2005 for his involvement in and reporting of an
anti-corruption campaign by villagers in Taishi Village, Guangdong
Province. PEN campaigned for his release (see:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=393&return=33 ).

Yang Maodong has since been subject to repeated harassment by the
authorities, culminating in his arrest on 14 September 2006. Yang Maodong
is a writer and independent publisher, and his writings include two novels
and one collection of short stories. He has also published many essays,
poems and articles.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- expressing outrage at reports that a confession by Yang Maodong extracted
through torture is to be used in court as evidence
- condemning the use of torture and degrading treatment against prisoners,
in violation of the United Nations Convention against Torture
- seeking assurances from the authorities that Yang Maodong is humanely
treated while in detention
- calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to
which China is a signatory

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P. R. China

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People's Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
P. R. China

Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese
authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China
in your country to forward your appeals.

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your
country, and to the source, if possible.

Please contact WIPC if sending appeals after 7 July 2007.

For further information, contact Cathy McCann at the WiPC, International
PEN, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6ER, U.K., tel: +44
207 405 0338, fax: +44 207 405 0339, e-mail:
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk , wipc@internationalpen.org.uk,
Internet: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk

The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
WiPC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
WiPC.

ARTICLE 19 calls for the immediate release of three U.S.-Iranian citizens charged by the Iranian authorities with “acting against national security by engaging in propaganda against the Islamic republic by the method of spying on behalf of foreigners”, and urges its partners, contacts and supporters to sign on to the petitions to free Dr. Kian Tajbakash, Haleh Esfandiari and Ali Shakeri at:.

- Free Haleh Campaign: http://www.freehaleh.org/category/petition/
- Free Kian Campaign: http://www.freekian.org/petition/

Parnaz (Nazi) Azima, journalist for Radio Farda, the Persian-language service run jointly by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America has also been charged by the Iranian authorities with the same charges. Mrs Azima has recently been released on bail, but is still facing prosecution and the prospect of lengthy incarceration and possibly the death sentence if convicted of the national security charges.

The other accused are Kian Tajbakhsh, a social scientist at the New School in New York who has worked as a consultant for the Open Society Institute and the World Bank; Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East programme at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Ali Shakeri, a founding board member of the University of California, Irvine, Center for Citizen Peacebuilding.

ARTICLE 19 is alarmed by the deterioration of the protection of the right to freedom of expression in Iran, and in particular by the repeated attempts by the Iranian authorities to isolate the Iranian media and academic community from its global counterparts, and curtail cross-cultural dialogues and debates, with the view of maintaining tight control over information, ideas, and opinions. Dual nationals American-Iranians have been particularly targeted, and their basic right to a fair trial denied.

Background:
Dr Kian Tajbakhsh is an internationally-respected Iranian-American scholar, social scientist and urban planner. From 1994 until 2001, Dr. Tajbakhsh taught Urban Policy and Politics at the New School for Social Research in New York City. Dr. Tajbakhsh is also an international expert in the areas of local government reform, urban planning, public health, and social policy. He has acted as a consultant for several Iranian government organisations, including the Municipalities Organisation, the Social Security Organisation, and the Ministry of the Interior, and with international nongovernmental organisations such as the World Bank, the Open Society Institute, and the Netherlands Association of Municipalities. His work in Iran has included evaluating humanitarian relief and rebuilding projects in the aftermath of the devastating 2003 earthquake in Bam. In 2006, he completed a three-year study of the local government sector in Iran. Dr Kian Tajbakhsh was arrested at his home in Tehran on May 11, 2007 and is being held at Evin Prison in Tehran.

Haleh Esfandiari was robbed at knifepoint on December 30 2006 by three men while on the way to the airport after visiting her ailing 93-year-old mother in Tehran, whom she had visited approximately twice per year over the past decade. During this incident, the men threatened to kill her; then they stole her baggage and both her U.S. and Iranian passports. Consequently, she was not permitted to leave the country. When she applied for new travel documents, she was instead barred from leaving Iran and interrogated for up to eight hours per day over a period of several weeks (until February 14) by authorities from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. On May 7, 2007, she was told to report to the Ministry of Intelligence. Upon her arrival there on the morning of May 8, she was taken into custody and driven to Tehran's Evin Prison where she has been held in custody ever since. She has since been released on bond.

Parnaz (Nazi) Azima has been prohibited from leaving Iran since her passport was seized in January 2007. On 21 May, following a large bail payment, the authorities refused to return her passport, citing the interest in her case by the Information Ministry. On 6 June, the Iranian authorities confirmed that Mrs Azima had been charged and was being detained in Evin Prison in Tehran.

Ali Shakeri is a businessman in Irvine, California with Global Estate Funding, having graduated from the University of Texas with a business administration degree. He is an Iranian-American peace activist who serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine. He went to Iran to visit his mother, who was ill and died during his visit. He is believed to have been detained since May 8, 2007. After several weeks denying Shakeri’s detention, the Iranian authorities have finally admitted that he was under their custody.

There is a growing debate in Congress concerning Plan Colombia. There needs
to be an end to US military aid to Colombia. The almost 5 billion dollars
the US has sent in military aid since 2000 has had horrendous results in
Colombia. It has paid for military and para-military human rights abuses
including massacres, disappearances, kidnapping, and threats of social
justice and labor activists and their families.

The movement in Colombia, including large agricultural workers union of
FENSUAGRO, is demanding that the US stop sending military aid and advisors
to Colombia. As long as the Colombian government spends their resources
fighting, killing, and torturing the Colombian people the solidarity
movement in the US should demand an end to all aid ­ both military and
“humanitarian” ­ to Colombia.

Now is a key time to end Plan Colombia. The foreign aid bill is set to go
to the floor of the House on June 20th. Between the Colombian President
Uribe’s and Coca-Cola, Chiquita and Drummond’s death squad scandals and the
unpopularity of Bush’s foreign policy in general, the Democrats are
considering ending Plan Colombia. We need to stand together to say a clear
no to aid to Colombia. Please do everything you can to demand an end to Plan
Colombia. Call Congress at 202-224-3121 or go www.house.gov. Thanks for
your support.

Peace,

Meredith Aby & Tom Burke
Colombia Action Network (colombiasolidarity.org)

P.S. When you call, ask to speak with the foreign policy aide. Here is a
sample script for your call:

"I am a constituent calling to encourage Rep. _________ to vote for NO funds
for Colombia in this year's foreign aid bill. It is critical that we change
our policy with Colombia - for the past seven years, almost 5 billion
dollars were sent through Plan Colombia. This money has been spent
supporting a brutal right wing government which uses death squads to kill &
intimidate trade unionists, human rights workers & peasants. I support an
end to US support for the Uribe government. Please vote against any
amendments to the bill which would increase US aid to Colombia."

In recent months there has been a crackdown on civil society in Egypt. This has affected NGOs and the press, and bloggers. Last March the sentence of a blogger to four years in prison for "insulting" Islam and the Mubarak was confirmed. Recently, bloggers, activists and journalists protesting against a referendum which gave the government wide police powers and severely limited freedom of expression iwere harassed and arrested. The Muslim Brotherhood, which was not permitted to participate in the recent elections, has been a particular target of state persecution, with hundreds of its members arrested in the past year.

The following is an unedited message from an Egyptian blogger about the detention of another blogger. See below for the addresses of Egyptian officials you can write to and express your protest in this case in particular, or the assault on civil society in general.

---

State Security has raided the house of 26-year-old Muslim Brotherhood blogger Mohamed Mosa'ad Yaqout, early Sunday, in Balteem. Ikhwan Web has the details…

Egyptian security forces raided on Sunday at dawn, June, 10, 2007, the house of the writer and blogger, Mohamed Mossad Yaqout. The security forces raided the blogger's house in Baltym, Kafr Al-Sheikh, at 2.00AM and disheveled the house furniture, seized the computer and a number of papers and books and they are still hunting Yaqout.
Yaqout said in a phone call with Ikhwanweb that"The security forces want to arrest me because I support Ghobashi Al-Atawi and Ashraf Al Sayyed, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate in the Shura Council midterm elections for the constituency of Baltym. They want to detain me also because of my anti-regime writings.
Yaqout, 26 years, confirmed that the State Security Police has no arrest warrant and it wants to detain him illegally. Yaqout, a researcher and web editor, is country chased by the security forces on groundless accusations.

http://arabist.net/arabawy/2007/06/11/state-security-raids-bloggers-house/

----

# President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, Abedine Palace, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: webmaster@presidency.gov.eg, Fax: +202 390 1998

# Prime Minister Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Nazif, Magles El Shaab Street, Kasr El Aini Street, Cairo, Egypt. Fax: + 202 735 6449 / 7958016. Email: primemin@idsc.gov.eg

# Minister of Justice, Mr. Mamdoh Mohie E-din Marie, Ministry of Justice, Magles El Saeb Street, Wezaret Al Adl, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: mojeb@idsc.gov.eg, Fax: +202 795 8103

# Public Prosecutor, Counsellor Maher ’Abd al-Wahid, Dar al-Qadha al-’Ali, Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt, Fax: +202 577 4716

# National Council For Human Rights, Fax: + 202 5747497 / 5747670

# Ambassadeur Sameh Shoukry, 49 avenue Blanc, 1202 Genève, Switzerland, Email: mission.egypt@ties.itu.int, Fax: +41 22 738 44 15

I
== CONGRESS VOTES THIS WEEK ON CUTTING FUNDING TO THE SOA/ WHINSEC ==

June 19, 2007

SOA Watch has received confirmation that THIS WEEK Congress will vote on an
amendment to close the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. Representative Jim
McGovern of Massachusetts will introduce an amendment to the Foreign
Operations appropriations bill to cut funding for the school!

SEND AN EMAIL AND FAX TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
-http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/soaw/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11949
(Be sure to click the "Send a Fax" box to have the fax sent).

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC protests a court of appeal decision to uphold the
six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer Zhang Jianhong
(a.k.a. Li Hong) on 21 May 2007. PEN is also alarmed about reports that he
is seriously ill and that an application for medical parole has not been
considered. International PEN is calling for the immediate and
unconditional release of Zhang in accordance with Article 19 of the United
Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
China is a signatory. It asks that he receive all necessary medical
treatment pending his release.

According to PEN's information, the High People's Court of Zhejiang
Province upheld the six-year prison sentence against Zhang on 21 May and he
was immediately transferred to Changhu prison, Huzhou City. He is
reportedly suffering from muscle necrosis, a condition which is
deteriorating due to lack of adequate medical care in jail. On his doctor's
advice, he applied for medical parole on 31 May, but there has reportedly
been no response from the administrative authorities.

Zhang was convicted of "subversion" by a court in Ningbo, Zhejiang
Province, in eastern China on 19 March 2007 for "defaming the Chinese
government" and "inciting subversion" in articles posted online between May
and September 2006. He has been detained since his arrest on 6 September
2006. Aged 48, Zhang is known for his dissident activities and prolific
writings. He is also a member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC).
He was previously imprisoned from 1989 to 1991 for his pro-democracy
activities. In August 2005, he founded the literary website Aiqinhai (
http://www.aiqinhai.org/ ), of which he was editor-in-chief, and which was
banned in March 2006. He is also a regular contributor to the overseas
Chinese sites Boxun ( http://www.boxun.com ) and The Epoch Times (
http://www.dajiyuan.com ).

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- protesting the six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer
Zhang Jianhong
- expressing concerns that Zhang Jianhong's applications for medical parole
are being ignored
- calling on the authorities for his immediate and unconditional release in
accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in 1998
- seeking immediate assurances that he is given full access to all
necessary medical care in the meantime

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China

The Minister of Justice
Ms. Wu Aiying
No.10 Nandajie, Chaoyangmen
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100020
P.R. China

Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. WiPC
recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your
country, asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.

Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 17
July 2007.

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Cathy McCann, the WiPC, International PEN,
Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6ER, U.K., tel: +44 207
405 0338, fax: +44 207 405 0339, e-mail:
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk or wipc@internationalpen.org.uk,
Internet: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk

COD 260607

Arbitrary arrest and detention/ Incommunicado detention/ Risk of torture

Geneva, 26 June 200

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Comité des observateurs des droits de l’homme (CODHO ), member of the SOS-Torture network, of the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Loki Hilaire, integrated police lieutenant, on 13 June 2007.

According to the information received, Mr. Loki Hilaire, lieutenant in the national police, native of the province of Equateur and former member of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (Mouvement de libération du Congo- MLC) army lead by Jean-Pierre Bemba, has been kidnapped on the road Wednesday 13 June 2007 by elements of the Republican Guard (Garde républicaine, GR) apparently because of his origin of the province Equateur and his status of former element of Jean-Pierre Bemba’s army.

Some members of Mr. Loki Hilaire’s family have reportedly tried to contact him on his cell phone but have talked to another person, who allegedly has demanded a thousand phone recharge units in exchange of information concerning his place of detention. The family did not pay the recharge units.

According to the information, the place of detention has been later revealed to the family by one of Mr. Loki Hilaire’s acquaintances, a military of the GR. He is apparently detained in Kinshasa in the basement of a building located in the second city of OUA, in the commune of Ngaliema, where the GR camp is located. However, Mr. Loki Hilaire is reportedly not granted any exterior contacts.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned with the arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention of Mr. Loki Hilaire and the risks of torture he faces and requests the launch of a thorough, independent and impartial investigation onto the events. OMCT recalls that the Democratic Republic of Congo is a State Party in the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it must comply, especially article 9.1, which stipulates that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention”. Finally, the International Secretariat of OMCT expresses again its greatest concern regarding the multiplication of human rights violations due to the political climate of the country.

Actions requested

i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Loki Hilaire and his access to a lawyer, a doctor and the members of his family;

ii. Order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges, or, if such charges exist, bring him before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all times;

iii. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iv. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

- President of the Republic, H.E. Joseph Kabila, Presidency of the Republic, Kinshasa-Ngaliema, Democratic Republic of Congo, E-mail: upp@ic.cd

- Minister of Human Rights President’s Cabinet, Boulevard du 30 juin, Kinshasa/Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fax: 00 243 12 20 664, Email: min_droitshumains@yahoo.fr or mindroits_humains@yahoo.fr

- National Human Rights Observatory (ONDH), President’s Cabinet, avenue Sendwe, Kinshasa/Kalamu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tel: +243 98313740 / + 243 98271199 / + 243 98407633, Email : info@ondh-rdc.org

- Ambassador, Antoine Mindua Kesia-Mbe, Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Avenue de Budé 18, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, e-mail : missionrdc@bluewin.ch, Fax : +4122 740.16.82

- Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Brussels, Avenue Foestraets, 6, 1180 Brussels. Tel : + 32 2 375 47 96, Fax : + 32 2 372 23 48

Please also write to the embassies of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

***

Genève, 26 June 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
appeals@list.omct.org

Dear Friend:

I am writing on behalf of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) and an innocent man on death row in Georgia named Troy Anthony Davis.

In 1991, Troy Anthony Davis was convicted of murdering a police officer in Savannah – despite the lack of physical evidence connecting him to the crime. The only evidence used to convict Mr. Davis was the testimony of nine eyewitnesses, of which, all but three have recanted their sworn statements since trial. Despite this newly emerged evidence proving his innocence, a federal law passed in 1996 prevents Troy from using these new eyewitness affidavits toward his defense.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Troy’s cert petition, thus paving the way for a death warrant to be issued. Our coalition, which also includes Amnesty International and the NAACP are engaged in a letter writing campaign of global proportions, in an effort to appeal to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, who are the only entity remaining which can grant Troy clemency.

So far, we have generated thousands of letters from all across the country, London, Australia, Norway, Cuba, Canada, Portugal, and more. In addition, notable activists like Professor Charles Olgetree, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Sister Helen Prejean have written letters in support of Troy to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Now the Board needs to hear from you and your network.

So, here’s how it works:

1) Go to this site: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ncadp/content.jsp?content_KEY=2776

2) Copy and paste the letter into a Word document• Print it out on your personal/school/company letterhead if possible.

3) Sign at the bottom of the page, and print your name and mailing address under the signature to give your letter more weight.

4) Send your letter to:

Amnesty International

730 Peachtree St.

Suite 1060

Atlanta, GA 30308

Attn: L. Moye

Or, fax it to 404-876-2276

Amnesty International will be collecting all the letters and delivering them to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. So that’s all you need to do! If you have time, feel free to handwrite the letter or to write one in your own words.

And the most critical thing to increase the impact: tell your network about this campaign, and ask them to write too!

In addition, two social network websites have been created at Facebook and My Space in support of Troy. Please join these networks so you can stay informed about Troy’s case. In addition, there are new blog posts about Troy’s case which you may link from your website.

Thank you for all you do,

Gregory

Gregory A. Joseph

State Policy Director

National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

202-331-4090 - office

202-331-4099 - fax

646-346-4289 - mobile

www.ncadp.org

gjoseph@ncadp.org