group 48 newsletter - december 2012

7/30/2019 Group 48 Newsletter - December 2012

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Amnesty International USA Group 48

Newsletter12.12

2 CHINA: Appalling sentence

or blind lawyers nephew

3 INDIA: Urgent Action - 16

prisoners at risk o

execution

5 FRANCE: Protect against

orced evictions

7 INDONESIA: Urgent

Action - Authorities Cut

O Food and Water to Shia

Muslims

9 Egypts new constitution

limits undamental

reedoms and ignores the

rights o women

10 Take Action on Indefnite

Detention and Guantanamo

Bay

11 BURUNDI: Urge

Authorities to ollow all

leads to bring Ernest

Manirumvas murder to

justice!

12 Women in Bhopal stillwaiting or justice

Lives in Danger in the Democratic Republicof Congo

ens o thousands o people are at riskrom renewed ghting in the Demo-

cratic Republic o Congo. Te saety o

civilians in Goma and Sake is in dangerdue to the renewed outbreak o violence

and the appalling record o past human

rights abuses by the armed group M23,

which has been responsible or unlawul

killings, orced labor and rape and the

recruitment o children as soldiers.

Action Request

Ask the Obama administration to step

up its inuence at the United Nations

and with the Congolese governmentto help protect civilians and to supply

needed ood, water, medicine and shel-

ter. Please take the online action to send

a letter to President Obama or write a

letter similar to the sample letter.

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site-

apps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJC

LQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519039&

msource=W0000AAFACE

Sample Letter to President Obama:

President Barak Obama

Te White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I am deeply dismayed about the situ-

ation in the Democratic Republic o

Congo. I urge you to lead the interna-

tional community in taking immediate

action to stop the human rights viola-

tions that are being committed and

press all involved parties to ensure the

protection o civilians.

Specically:

Press the Security Council to ensure

protection o civilians rom urther

abuse and ensure support or the UN

peacekeeping mission in the DRC

(MONUSCO) so that it has adequate

resources to ulll its protection role.

Publicly recommend to the UNSC

libyphotoStock.Xchng

AIUSA-Group 48

http://aipdx.org | 503-227-1878

Next Meeting: December 14th

First Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave

7:00pm inormal gathering

7:30pm meeting starts


2/14

AIUSA group 48 NewsletterDecember 2012 Pg 2

that ocials within the Rwandan Ministry o Deense be

added to the list o designated individuals targeted by the

UNSC Sanctions Committee.

Support a Security Council resolution requiring Rwanda to

immediately withdraw its support rom the M23 armed group.

Press the Congolese government to stop violations being

committed by the Congolese army as well as entering in to

alliances with armed groups.

I will be ollowing this issue closely and hope that you will

take my comments into consideration as you handle this

matter.

Sincerely,

CHINA: Appalling sentence for blind lawyers nephewNovember 30th, 2012

Te amily was inormed about the trial just hours beore it

started. Tey were not called as witnesses or allowed to attend

During the trial, Chen was represented by a court-appointed

lawyer. His amily-appointed lawyers have not been able to

meet with him since he was detained.

Having been denied the right to a lawyer o his choice, Chen

can be presumed to have been unable to present his case e-

ectively, and it is not clear whether he is able to appeal.

Background

Chen Kegui was detained on 30 April this year, aer eeing

or his saety ollowing a violent raid by local authorities on

his amilys home on 26 April.

Tis raid which happened just days aer Chen Keguis uncle

human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, escaped rom illegal

house arrest was conducted by around 20 plain-clothed

individuals who ailed to show any identication or search

warrant.

According to those present, Chen Kegui picked up a knie

in sel deence and injured several o the intruders, beore

eeing the house. On 9 May, Chen Keguis amily was notied

that he was arrested on suspicion o intentional homicide.

However, in October when the police submitted the case to

the prosecuting ocial, the charge was changed to inicting

intentional injury.

Aer being released rom prison in September 2010, Chen

Guangcheng and his immediate amily were kept under illega

house arrest until his daring escape. Chen Guangcheng is

currently studying in the USA with his wie Yuan Weijing and

the couples children.

Chen Kegui, nephew o exiled blind lawyer ChenGuangcheng, is understood to have received three years and

three months imprisonment rom a Shangdong court in

eastern China.

Roseann Rie, Amnesty Internationals Head o East Asia, said:

Chen Kegui was today tried by the same court that in 2006

sentenced his uncle Chen Guangcheng to prison on trumped

up charges. Te amily has since sufered a catalogue o abuse

at the hands o local authorities which central authorities

have ailed to investigate despite promises to the contrary.

Te sentence is appalling. It is clear that Chen Keguis trial

was not air. We are concerned that sentencing him to im-

prisonment or something that many consider sel deence is

nothing more than retaliation or his uncles escape.

Chen was tried by the Yinan County Court in Linyi, oncharges o inicting intentional injury, which can result in

a sentence o less than three years imprisonment, or between

three to 10 years in serious cases.

His amily, who witnessed the scene, say Chen was acting in

sel-deence aer unidentied intruders orced their way into

their home.

Tey have not heard rom him since he was detained on 30

April this year, and have received no inormation about how

he has been treated or what his condition is.

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INDIA: Urgent Action - 16 prisoners at risk of execution

perusal o mercy petitions, it is unclear which o the petitions

are being reconsidered and when the authorities might decide

to execute the prisoners.

Action

Please write immediately in English or your own language:

Calling on Indian authorities to commute all death sentenc-

es to terms o imprisonment;

Calling on Indias President to immediately stop plans to

carry out urther executions and establish an ocial mora-

torium on executions with a view to abolishing the death

penalty;

Where mercy petitions have been rejected, calling on the

President and Ministry o Home Afairs to respect the prac-

tice o promptly inorming the individual, his/ her lawyers,

his/ her amily, o the decision, reasons or the decision, and

proposed date o execution, as well as the public o any sched-

uled execution;

Pointing out that Indias decision to resume executions aer

an eight-year gap has set the country against regional and

global trends towards abolition o the death penalty;

Acknowledging the seriousness o violent crimes and ex-

pressing sympathy with the victims, but raising concern that

the death penalty is the ultimate denial o human rights.

Appeals To

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 JANUARY 2013 O:

President o India

President Pranab Mukherjee

Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi 110 004

INDIAFax: 011 91 11 23017290;

011 91 11 23017824

Email: (via orm) http://www.helpline.rb.nic.in/

Salutation: Dear President

Copies ToPrime Minister o India

Dr. Manmohan SinghSouth Block, Raisina Hill

Following the recent execution o Ajmal Kasab, there is ear

that Indian authorities may similarly execute other prisoners

with petitions or mercy currently pending.

On 21 November, the Indian government executed Pakistani

national Ajmal Kasab, convicted or his involvement in the

2008 Mumbai attacks. Tis was the rst execution in India in

eight years.

Te manner o his execution was a deviation rom usual

practice, and raises serious concerns. Firstly, mercy peti-

tions in India are generally considered in the order in which

they were led. However, the Indian state considered Ajmal

Kasabs case out o turn. Secondly, the execution was only

announced to the public aer it had been carried out. Indian

authorities have publicly sought to justiy this lack o prior

announcement in Kasabs case, stating that this was done to

avoid intervention rom human rights activists.

Ocial gures indicate that 11 mercy petitions involving 15

men and one woman on death row are now pending beore

the President. Tey are Gurmeet Singh; Dharampal; Suresh

and Ramji; Simon, Gnanaprakasam, Madaiah and Bilavandra;Praveen Kumar; Mohammed Azal Guru; Saibanna Ningappa

Natikar; Jaar Ali; Sonia () and Sanjeev; Sundar Singh and

Atbir.

Nine o the petitions or mercy are being reviewed or a

second time by the Ministry o Home Afairs. It is not known

which petitions these are. Ministers have publicly stated that

decisions on some o these petitions will be made soon. As

Ajmal Kasabs execution was not announced to the public

until it had been carried out, and because o the out-o-turn

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New Delhi 110 001


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INDIA

Fax: 011 91 11 23019545;

011 91 11 23016857

Email: (via orm) http://pmindia.gov.in/feedback.php

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Minister o Home AairsSushilkumar Shinde

104, North Block,

Central Secretariat

New Delhi 110001

INDIA

Fax: 011 91 11 23094221Email: [email protected]

Ambassador Nirupama Rao

Embassy o India

2107 Massachusetts Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20008

el: 1 202 939 7000

Fax: 1 202 265 4351

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Oce i sendingappeals aer the above date.

Additional Information

Te last execution beore that o Ajmal Kasab took place in

India in August 2004. Additionally, and in contrast to this

latest execution, Indian authorities had in the past made

inormation about the rejection o mercy petitions and dates

o execution available to the public prior to any execution

taking place. In resolution 2005/59, adopted in 2005, the UN

Commission on Human Rights called upon all states thatstill maintain the death penalty to make available to the

public inormation with regard to the imposition o the death

penalty and to any scheduled execution. Tis move to resume

executions aer an eight-year hiatus has positioned the coun-

try against the regional and global trend towards abolition o

the death penalty.

Ocial gures suggest that 11 mercy petitions concerning

16 people are currently pending beore the Indian President.

Unocial sources and newspapers suggest that the gure is

higher, and up to 14 petitions might be pending.

Fourteen ormer judges have recently petitioned the Presi-dent to commute 13 death sentences that they believe were

wrongly imposed. Te case o Saibanna Ningappa Natikar,

sentenced to death or murdering two members o his amily

in 2005, was one o the cases identied by the judges. Tis

is one o the 11 mercy petitions currently at risk o rejection.

Mohammad Azal Guru, sentenced to death or his involve-

ment in the 2001 Parliament attack, was tried by a special

court under the Prevention o errorism Act. Amnesty

International has ound that these trials did not conorm with

international human rights standards. Te President has theoptions o rejecting the mercy plea; granting the plea and

commuting the death sentence to terms o imprisonment; or

not deciding on the plea in the oreseeable uture, as has hap-

pened in past cases.

In total, 140 countries, more than two thirds o the worlds

countries, are abolitionist in law or in practice. In 2011, only

21 states in the world executed, meaning that 90 per cent

o the world was execution-ree.Out o 41 countries in the

Asia-Pacic region, 17 have abolished the death penalty or all

crimes, 10 are abolitionist in practice and one Fiji uses thedeath penalty only or exceptional military crimes. Over the

past 10 years, our Asia-Pacic countries have abolished the

death penalty or all crimes; Bhutan and Samoa in 2004, the

Philippines in 2006 and the Cook Islands in 2007. Across the

region, general public awareness has led to a greater level o

debate and transparency.

UN bodies and mechanisms have repeatedly called upon

Member States to establish a moratorium on executions with

a view to abolishing the death penalty, most recently through

the adoption o three UN General Assembly resolutions, in

December 2007, 2008 and 2010. A ourth dra resolution on

a moratorium on the use o the death penalty was adopted

with increased support at by the Tird Committee o the UN

General Assembly on 19 November 2012 and will be put to

a nal, plenary vote in December. In a general comment on

Article 6 o the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights, to which India is a State Party, the UN Human Rights

Committee has stated that Article 6 reers generally to aboli-

tion [o the death penalty] in terms which strongly suggest...


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that abolition is desirable. Te Committee concludes that all

measures o abolition should be considered as progress in the

enjoyment o the right to lie... .

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases,

regardless o the nature o the crime, the characteristics o the

ofender, or the method o execution.

France: Protect against forced evictionsMost o the estimated 15,000 migrant Roma living in France

come rom Romania, and some rom Bulgaria; almost all are

eeing chronic poverty and discrimination in their countries

o origin.

As non-French EU citizens, they are prohibited by French law

rom staying in the country or more than three months un-

less they are employed or can demonstrate sucient resourcesto support themselves.

However, as EU citizens, i expelled they are ree to return to

France and many have done this several times.

Tere is a chronic shortage o adequate housing and emergen

cy shelter or all who need it in France, but Roma, the victims

o prejudice and discrimination in France as much as else-

where in Europe- are particularly vulnerable to violations o

their internationally guaranteed right to adequate housing.

he French authorities must immediately stop orced evic-tions afecting several thousand migrant Roma each year

across the country, Amnesty International said in a report

published today.

Focusing on the region o greater Paris, the report Chased

away: Forced evictions o Roma in the Ile-de-France exposes

the negative impact o orced evictions on the lives o migrant

Roma and the ailure o the French authorities to incorporate

international human rights standards concerning evictionsinto domestic law.

Te new French government has taken some positive steps

in relation to the situation o migrant Roma. Its tone and

approach have improved, relative to previous years in which

Roma were oen openly stigmatized by the government.

However the practice o orced evictions has continued at the

same alarming rate as beore said John Dalhuisen, Europe

and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty Interna-

tional.

France has ailed to include international human rights

standards against orced evictions in its domestic legal system.

As a result, evictions o inormal settlements where Roma

live generally take place without adequate prior inormation,

consultation or notice to residents.

In most cases, alternative housing is not provided and entire

amilies are le homeless. Tey have no choice but to re-es-

tablish their homes in another inormal settlement elsewhere,

and schooling and medical treatment are interrupted as a

result.

Group 48 will hold its annual holiday potluck

and Write-a-thon at the December meeting.

We will be writing letters and cards to prisoners

of conscience while enjoying some good food

and company.

Date:Friday, December 14, 2012

Time: 7:30-9pm (set up starts at 7pm)

Location: Fireside Room, Buchan Building at

First Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR

Please RSVP and specify what you will bring in

terms of food and/or supplies at:

Group 48 Holiday Potluckand Write-a-thon

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http://aipdx.org/2012/12/02/group-48-write-a-thon/


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In the absence o other alternatives, many migrant Roma live

in inormal settlements or months or years in dire living con-

ditions, perpetually earing and oen being orcibly evicted

without adequate prior consultation, inormation or notice

and with limited possibilities in practice to challenge their

eviction through the courts.

Long-term housing solutions are very rarely ofered to evicted

Roma, who even struggle to access emergency shelter or

other support mechanisms that would enable them to secure

adequate accommodation.

Te camps and squats visited by Amnesty International

delegates varied in their size and in the services provided, but

what they all had in common was the extreme risks posed to

the health o the inhabitants due to the absence o or inad-

equate access to running water, toilets, rubbish collection

and oen inested by rats. Repeated orced evictions do not

resolve these problems, they exacerbate them.

Repeated orced evictions have disastrous consequences on

Romas health, education and ability to secure an adequate

standard o living. Forced out o one inormal settlement

aer another they end up in ever poorer housing conditions,orced to sleep on the streets and in tents until they manage

to build another makeshi home, said John Dalhuisen.

During orced evictions, they oen lose their belongings,

identity papers and medical records; in many cases schooling

is disrupted and medical treatment is interrupted, while ties

to local employment and support networks are severed. Yet,

under French law they do not receive adequate reparation.

In August this year, the current French government has is-

sued a circular outlining best practice guidelines on steps tobe taken prior to and during evictions. Tese guidelines are

discretionary and inconsistently applied, and in any case are

not intended to stop orced evictions rom occurring.

Te government is currently consulting with non-govern-

mental organizations including Amnesty International - in

preparation o its national plan or access to housing and

emergency accommodation or all those in need.

However, despite some positive initiatives in certain regional

departments, orced evictions continue throughout the coun-

try, in violation o Frances obligations under international law

Under international law France is obliged to guarantee the

right to adequate housing without discrimination and to pre-

vent orced evictions. Tis means that the French authorities

must immediately stop all evictions until all the international

human rights saeguards can be guaranteed to all inhabitants

o inormal settlements, said John Dalhuisen.

Cases Constantin, 39, has been living in France or 20 years,

during which time he was evicted on average twice a year,

and was expelled to Romania three times. He had been living

or eighteen months with his wie and two children in an

inormal settlement in La Courneuve. Amnesty International

delegates met him on 21 September 2012, Tree days aer a

bailif had given him an immediate order to leave the prem-

ises. According to him, there was no consultation o any sort.

Its very hard to move rom place to place. We cant even stay

or a bit. As soon as I hear Im going, its like, I eel my heart

ache, Maria, Roma woman living in a warehouse in Sucy-en-

Brie told Amnesty International.

Carmen, 27, has a son aged 8 and a daughter aged 4. She lived

in a makeshi cabin in Villeneuve-le-Roi until it was orcibly

evicted on 11 September 2012. She was ofered two nights o

emergency accommodation in a hotel. Te police did not let

her etch her efects during the eviction and she had to walk

or hours with her children and luggage to reach the hotel,

which was kilometres away rom the nearest station. She

stayed there one night only as it was ar away rom where she

used to live. When Amnesty International delegates met her

on September 22, she was living in a small, two-person, tentwith her husband and two children in an inormal settle-

ment in Champs-sur-Marne. Tere was no access to water or

toilets on the camp, and none o the children were registered

in school. On 16 October 2012, a bailif was sent to distribute

an eviction court summons to the inhabitants o the settle-

ment as it was on private property. Te hearing was scheduled

or 27 November 2012 in the ribunal de Grande Instance o

Meaux.


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INDONESIA: Urgent Action - Religious Persecution, Authorities Cut Off Foodand Water to Shia Muslims

was killed and dozens were injured. Te mob also set re to

thirty-ve houses belonging to the Shia community. Four

people have since been charged or the attack.

Following the attack, the community was moved to tempo-

rary shelter at a sports complex in Sampang - with minimal

acilities - where they have been living or the last three

months. No medicine or acilities specically or children

or women have been provided. On 18 November, the local

authorities cut of water supply to the complex and on 22 No-

vember they halted ood supplies. Te displaced communityhave been orced to use their limited unds to purchase ood

and water.

According to credible sources, some o the Shia ollowers

at the complex have been intimidated and harassed by local

government ocials who have urged them to convert to

Sunni Islam i they want to return to their homes. Local and

national authorities continue to put pressure on the commu-

nity to relocate but they have rejected this option, preerring

to return to their homes and livelihoods under conditions o

saety. A group o volunteers have been assisting them with

their daily needs and providing counselling, particularly to

women and children.

Action

Please write immediately in English, Indonesian or your own

language calling on authorities in Indonesia

o ensure the displaced Shia community has immediate

access to essential services such as ood and clean drinking

water in their shelter;

o guarantee the sae, voluntary and dignied return o theShia community to their homes, according to their wishes,

and to provide assistance so as to enable them to rebuild the

homes that were damaged or destroyed;

o investigate reports that the local government authorities

in Sampang District have been involved in the intimidation o

Shia ollowers to renounce their aith;

o ensure that all those involved in the attack against the

Shia community are speedily brought to justice in proceed-

ings which meet international standards o airness and

Friends, Below my name is an urgent action issued by Am-

nesty regarding a Shia Muslim community o nearly 200

people who have been attacked and were then moved to a

stadium where authorities have now cut of ood and water.

Teir situation is dire. Tis was a religiously-incited act; the

people were attacked by a violently anti-Shia mob, and even

the local authorities are pressuring the displaced to convert to

Sunni.

I you cannot ax Indonesia, please ax or write the Indone-

sian Embassy (rst contact in the action) and consider writing

letters to one or more o the Indonesian ocials listed in the

action. (Postage is $1.05)

Max White

Country Specialist, Indonesia and imor-Lest

Amnesty International USA

9275 SW Westhaven Dr.

Portland Or 97225 USA

+1-503-292-8168

503-544-0690 cell

At least 190 displaced Shia ollowers in East Java, including69 women and 61 children, are at risk aer local government

authorities halted supplies o ood and water to the commu-

nity, citing a lack o unds.

Te Shia community, rom Karang Gayam village in the

Sampang district on Madura island, were displaced in August

2012 when an anti-Shia mob o around 500 people attacked

the community with sharp weapons and stones. One person

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without the imposition o the death penalty and that victims

are provided reparations.

Appeals ToPLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 JANUARY 2013 O:

H.E. Dr. Dino Patti Djalal,

Ambassador to the United States

Republic o Indonesia

Embassy o Indonesia

2020 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

Fax. (202) 775 5365

Phone (202) 775 5200

Sampang District Head (Bupati)

Noer jahja

Jl. Jamaluddin No.1A, Sampang,

Madura, East Java, Indonesia 69241

Fax: + 62 323 321017

Salutation: Dear Noer jahja

Copies To

Mr. Otto Nur Abdullah

Chairperson National Human Rights Commission (Komnas

HAM)

Jl Latuharhary, No.4 MentengJakarta Pusat 10310, Indonesia

Fax: +62 21 39 25 227

Additional Information

Tere have been increasing levels o harassment, intimidation

and attacks against religious minority groups in Indonesia in-

cluding Shia, Ahmadiyya and Christian communities. Tese

include attacks and burning o homes and places o worship,

at times leading to the displacement o these groups. Tose

who commit acts o violence against religious minorities are

rarely punished.

Amnesty International is particularly concerned that govern-

ment authorities as well as the police are ailing to protect

these communities and, in some cases, actively taking part

in their persecution. Tese include attempts by government

ocials to orce religious minorities, such as Ahmadiyya and

Shia ollowers, to denounce their belies.

Te Shia community on Madura island has been intimidated

and attacked beore. On 29 December 2011, a mob set re to

a place o worship, a boarding school and to various homes in

the vicinity. Police did not take adequate measures to protect

the community and instead o intervening to stop the attack,

some recorded it on their phones. Only one person was even-

tually charged and sentenced to three months imprisonment

or the attack.

In July 2012 ajul Muluk, a religious leader rom the East Java

Shia community, was arrested and sentenced to two years

imprisonment or blasphemy under Article 156(a) o the

Indonesian Criminal Code by the Sampang District Court.

His arrest ollowed reports that on 1 January 2012, a religious

decree (atwa) was issued by the Sampang branch o the In-donesia Ulema Council (MUI) related to what was described

as ajul Muluks deviant teachings. Te East Java High Court

increased his sentence to our years in September 2012 upon

appeal. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner

o conscience and calls or his immediate and unconditional

release.

Te right to reedom o religion is guaranteed in the Indone-

sian Constitution. Moreover, Article 18 o the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which

Indonesia is a state party, states that this right shall includereedom to have or to adopt a religion or belie o his choice

and that no one shall be subject to coercion which would

impair his reedom to have or to adopt a religion or belie o

his choice.

Within the United States

$0.31 - Postcards

$0.45 - Letters and Cards

up to 1 oz.

To Canada

$0.80 - Postcards

$0.80 - Airmail Letters and Cardsup to 1 oz.

To Mexico

$0.84 - Postcards

$0.84 - Airmail Letters and Cardsup to 1 oz.

To all other destination countries

$1.05 - Postcards

$1.05 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.

Postage Rates


9/14


Egypts new constitution limits fundamental freedoms and ignores therights of womenNovember 30th, 2012

urge President Morsi to put the draing and reerendum

process back on the right path, one that includes all sectors

o society, which respects the rule o law including the vital

role o an independent judiciary and results in a constitu-

tion that enshrines human rights, equality and dignity or all,

said Hadj Sahraoui.

Amnesty International has expressed concern that the as-

sembly - widely boycotted by opposition political parties and

Christian churches - is not truly representative o Egyptiansociety. Te body is dominated by Freedom and Justice Party

and the Nour Party. At the outset, the assembly only included

seven women and their numbers have since dwindled.

Opposition political parties have withdrawn their members

rom the assembly, as have Christian churches, in protest at

the assemblys make-up and decisions.

Tey have voiced a number o concerns, including the lack o

representation o young people, o a variety political parties,

and the role o Sharia law has played including in respect o

womens rights.

Te assembly also aced criticism or not doing enough to

enshrine the right to adequate housing a key concern or

the estimated 12 million Egyptians living in slums.

A decree issued last week by President Morsi gave the Constit-

uent Assembly an additional two months to complete its work

However on Wednesday the body announced that it would

nalize the text in a day. Yesterday, the dra was rushed

through a plenary session o the assembly, with no time or

real debate or objections rom the members.

Te new constitution will guide all Egyptian institutions and

it should set out the vision or the new Egypt one based

on human rights and the rule o law: a document which is

the ultimate guarantor against abuse. Te constitution must

guarantee the rights o all Egyptians, not just the majority.

said Hadj Sahraoui.

But the approved dra comes nowhere near this. Provi-

sions that purport to protect rights mask new restrictions,

including on criticism o religion. Women, who were barely

A dra constitution approved by Egypts Constituent As-sembly alls well short o protecting human rights and, in

particular, ignores the rights o women, restricts reedom o

expression in the name o protecting religion, and allows or

the military trial o civilians, Amnesty International said.

Tis document, and the manner in which it has been adopted,

will come as an enormous disappointment to many o the

Egyptians who took to the streets to oust Hosni Mubarak and

demand their rights, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy

Director or the Middle East and North Arica at Amnesty

International.

Freedom o religion is limited to Islam, Christianity and

Judaism, potentially excluding the right to worship to other

religious minorities such as Bahais and Shia Muslims.

Te constitution ails to provide or the supremacy o inter-

national law over national law, raising concerns about Egypts

commitment to human rights treaties to which it is a state

party.

Furthermore, the document ails to ully guarantee economic,

social and cultural rights, such as protection against orced

evictions - it also tolerates child labour.

Paradoxically demands or dignity and social justice were at

the heart o the 25 January Revolution.

Te process o draing the constitution was awed rom the

outset, and has become increasingly unrepresentative. We

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represented in the assembly, have the most to lose rom a

constitution which ignores their aspirations, and blocks the

path to equality between men and women. It is appalling that

virtually the only reerences to women relate to the home and

amily.

When asked about the lack o womens rights in the dra

constitution yesterday in a state television interview, President

Morsi said women were citizens like all others. Te Presidents

position mirrors the approach o the Constituent Assembly in

ignoring the rights o women.

Te vote to approve the constitution came ahead o a 2 De-

cember ruling on the assemblys legitimacy by the Supreme

Constitutional Court, which was widely expected to order the

bodys dissolution.

President Morsis decree, which was announced on 22

November, prevents any judicial body rom dissolving the

assembly.

Te decree, which also removed the Public Prosecutor, grant-

ed the president sweeping powers and stopped the courts

rom challenging his decisions, has sparked widespread angerand protests in Egypt.

Opposition groups plan to march to the presidential palace

today (Friday), while the Muslim Brotherhood has called or

a protest to support the President on Saturday.

Te dra constitution now passes to a national reerendum

which must take place within 15 days. Any such reerendum

would require supervision by judges but Egypts Judges Club,

an independent network o judges numbering some 9,500

members, has announced that its members will not take part.

Judges throughout the country are striking in protest at

President Morsis decree, which they see as a threat to their

independence.

Instead o marking a return to order and the rule o law, the

adopted text o the constitution has plunged Egypt into even

greater chaos and deadlock, said Hadj Sahraoui.

Take Action on Indefnite Detention and Guantanamo BayBy Dan Johnson Id encourage you to send an email to each Senator at the ol-

lowing links:

http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact

http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Also, please call your local oce to request the same. Its great

to make contact with the olks in your local oce, and it will

improve the image o this being a state-wide concern.

Wyden

Portland: 503-326-7525

Salem:503-589-4555

Eugene: 541-431-0229

Medord: 541-858-5122

Bend: 541-330-9142

LaGrande: 541-962-7691

All you need to tell them is the inormation above, but here

is a summary o the 4 sections or your inormation. Section

1021 urther entrenches indenite detention and unair trials

in US law. Section 1022 mandates military custody or cov-

ered persons. Section 1027 blocks the transer o Guantanamo

Te NDAA is back. I had been hoping or a concerted efort

on amendments to x the problems that were created last year.

However, no such ormal amendment has been proposed

in the Senate, and the House attempt was rejected. So, we

are now asking our Senators to work against the troubling

portions o this bill. Te good news is that Senator Wyden

is considered an important target or actions, so we need to

make sure he knows this matters to Oregonians.

Were asking or both Senators to oppose the renewal o Sec-

tions 1021, 1022, 1027, and 1028 in the 2013 National Deense

Authorization Act (S. 3254). We are also asking that, i the

nal version o the bill contains these sections, that they vote

against the bill. Both o our Senators voted against the bill last

year, so please thank them or their previous vote as well.

Merkley

Portland:503-326-3386

Salem:503-362-8102

Eugene:541-465-6750

Medord:541-608-9102

Bend: 541-318-1298

Pendleton:541-278-1129

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detainees to the US mainland, even or trial in ederal court.

Section 1028 impedes the transer o Guantanamo detainees

to other countries, even those cleared or transer.

Tis may be the only chance we have to act on this issue this

year, so please take advantage o it!

BURUNDI: Urge Authorities to follow all leads to bring ErnestManirumvas murder to justice!

Prosecutor willully ignored calls to investigate senior gures

within the Burundian security services and national police

who may have been involved in the killing o Manirumva.

Te our human rights deenders in the case le comtinue

to ght or justice in this important case, which has become

emblematic o the challenges acing human rights deendersin Burundi.

Action

Please write letters to the ollowing Burundi authorities urg-

ing the Public Prosecutor to consider important leads and

recommendations rom reports by the United States Federal

Bureau o Investigation (FBI), which assisted in investiga-

tions, and the third commission o inquiry established by the

Burundian authorities.

Sample Letter

Your Excellency,I am writing in regards to the trial o human rights deender

Ernest Manirumva. As an Amnesty Inernational member, I

have been ollowing the case o Mr. Manirumva since he was

stabbed to death in April 2009. His amily and colleagues

at Anti-corruption and Economic Malpractice Observatory

OLUCOME have been waiting or justice or ar too long so

I am happy to see things nally progressing.

However, I am still concerned about the Public Prosecutors

continuous reusal to investigate senior gures within the

Burundian security services and national police who mayhave been involved in the killing o Mr. Manirumva. Justice

needs to be carried out in its entirety that is why I ask o the

Burundi authorities to investigate such ocials, along with

carrying out the recommendations set orth by the United

States Federal Bureau o Investigation and the third commis-

sion o inquiry established by the Burundian authorities. It is

important that these steps are taken i Burundi would truly

like to demonstrate to world that they are a country that be-

lieves in justice, no matter the circumstances, and an overall

acceptance o human rights.

On 9 April 2009, Ernest Manirumva, vice president o theBurundian civil society organization Anti-corruption and

Economic Malpractice Observatory OLUCOME, was oundstabbed to death outside his home. Shortly beore his death,

Ernest Manirumva had been investigating cases o police

corruption and police attempts to purchase rearms illegally

rom Malaysia. Te Burundian government took some steps

to identiy the killers, but Burundian civil society groups have

consistently criticized the authorities or ailing to adequately

ollow up leads and or ailing to carry out an independent

investigation.

Aer a long wait, the appeal or the Ernest Manirumva trial

was held on 21 November 2012. Te case was heard by the

Appeals Court o Bujumbura. On 22 May 2012, the Higher

Instance Court o Bujumbura issued the verdict in the trial

o those accused o killing Ernest Manirumva. 14 deendants

were sentenced. Eight individuals were sentenced to lie

imprisonment or the crime o murdering Ernest Manirumva,

three individuals were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment

or complicity to murder, and three individuals were sen-

tenced to 10 years imprisonment or ailure to inorm public

authorities/non-assistance to persons in danger. Te Public

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Tank you or taking the time to read my concerns and I

hope swi action will be taken to address them.

Regards,

Amnesty Member

Appeals To

President

Pierre Nkurunziza

Prsidence de la Rpublique

Boulevard de lUprona

Rohero I

BP 1870

Bujumbura

BURUNDI

Fax: 011 257 22 22 74 90 -OR- 011 257 22 24 8908

Facebook: http://www.acebook.com/#!/prole.

php?id=100000586692795

Salutation: Monsieur le Prsident/Excellence

Minister o Justice and Keeper o Seals / Ministre de

la Justice et Garde des Sceaux

Pascal Barandagiye

Ministre de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux

BP 1880Bujumbura

BURUNDI

Fax: 011 257 22 21 86 10

Salutation: Madame la Ministre

Minister o the Interior

Edouard Nduwimana

Ministry o the Interior

5e tage

Bdg Grand Bureau

BP 1990

Bujumbura

BURUNDI

Fax: 011 257 22 24 53 51Email: [email protected]

Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre

Copies To

Burundi Ambassador to the US:

Ambassador Angele Niyuhire

Embassy o the Republic o Burundi

2233 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 212

Washington, DC 20007

Phone: 1 202 342 2574

Fax: 1 202 342 2578

Email: [email protected]

28 years later, women in Bhopal still waiting for justice3 December 2012

ens o thousands o victims o Indias worst ever industrialdisaster the 1984 catastrophic gas leak at the Union Carbide

plant in Bhopal are still waiting or justice, and women are

sufering disproportionately, Amnesty International said.

Te gas leak, which occurred exactly 28 years ago today, killed

between 7,000 and 10,000 men, women and children just inthe rst three days.

A urther 15,000 are believed to have died over the ollow-

ing years, while tens o thousands more have been le with

serious health problems. Union Carbide was bought by Dow

Chemical Company (Dow) in 2001.

28 years is too long to wait or justice. Te Indian govern-

ment and Dow must nally compensate the victims properly,

and the Indian authorities must also hold those responsible

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or this disaster to account, said Madhu Malhotra, Director

o Amnesty Internationals Gender Sexuality and Identity

Program.

Women in Bhopal have sufered disproportionately since the

gas leak. Many have sufered severe health impacts, including

gynaecological and reproductive health disorders. As men

afected by the disaster became too ill to keep on working,

many women have also had to continue to take on the role

o breadwinner, while at the same time caring or ill amily

members.

On the night the gas disaster happened my pregnant daugh-

ter-in-law suddenly went into labour. We took her to hospitaland as soon as they gave her an injection, she breathed her

last, said Rampyari Bai, one o the survivors o the leak and

an activist in Bhopal.

But women are also at the oreront o the struggle or justice.

Local activists groups are demanding that the government

adequately compensate the victims and provide health care to

those who are still sufering.

We are ghting or the issue o liability o Union Carbide,

whether it is in US or in India. It is because people here be-lieve that its not just important to get compensation, but its

also important to get justice, said Rachna Dhingra rom the

Bhopal Group or Inormation and Action.

Tere has yet to be a thorough investigation into the health

efects o the disaster on peoples lives.

According to activists, there are still close to 150,000 people

battling chronic illnesses o the lungs or liver.

Te industrial skeleton o the ormer Union Carbide actory

today still lies abandoned in the centre o Bhopal, with morethan 350 tonnes o toxic waste untreated inside.

Some 40,000 people are still living next to the actory, and

have been exposed to the toxic waste or years.

oday 28 years aer the disaster, in many senses the situa-

tion o the victims is worse than it was on the morning o the

disaster. Te people who are struggling are mainly poor and

are mainly women, says Hazra Bi rom the local NGO Union

Carbide Gas Afected Womens Collective.

Amnesty International urges the government o India and

Dow to immediately clean up the site o the gas leak.

In 1989, the Indian Supreme Court announced a settlement

between the Indian government and Union Carbide, without

consulting with survivors. Union Carbide was asked to pay

US$470 million in compensation, but even this inadequate

sum has not been distributed in ull to the victims.

Dow has consistently denied any responsibility or Union

Carbides liabilities in Bhopal.

In August 2012, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that greater

powers should be given to the committee monitoring the re-habilitation o victims o the gas leak. Activists say they hope

the decision will lead to better healthcare or those afected.

Te decision was positive and must be urgently implemented

Te only way or Dow and Union Carbide to nally put the

legacy o Bhopal to rest is to work with the afected com-

munities and government o India to ully, and efectively,

address the human rights impact o the disaster, said Madhu

Malhotra rom Amnesty International.

Group Coordinator

Joanne Lau

[email protected]

Treasurer

Tena Hoke

[email protected]

Newsletter Editor

Dan Webb

[email protected]

Concert Tabling

Will Ware

[email protected]

Legislative Coordinator

Dan Johnson

[email protected]

Central Africa / OR State

Death Penalty Abolition

Terrie Rodello

[email protected]

Indonesia

Max White

[email protected]

Central America

Marylou Noble

marylou_noble@

yahoo.com

Darfur (Sudan)

Marty Fromer

[email protected]

North Korea

Erica Swiberg

[email protected]

Prisoners Cases

Jane Kristof

[email protected]

Cornelia Cerf

Ron Noble

[email protected]

AIUSA Group 48 Contact Inormation


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Postage


AIUSA group 48 NewsletterDecember 2012

Group 48 Membership

Note: Group 48 is not a registered 501(c)(3) nonprot organization.

Donations to Group 48 are not tax-deductible.

Please add my email address

to the Group 48 email list.

$15 Regular membership

$25 Family membership

$50 Generous donor

$100 Amnesty Angel

$5 Limited income

Group 48's membership ee is due every January. I you join Group 48 aer January in any given year, we appreciate you paythe ull membership ee at the time you join us or you have the choice to pay in January o the ollowing year. Please send a

check or money order payable to Amnesty International Group 48 and the orm below to our treasurer: ena Hoke, 5026 SE

46th Ave, Portland OR 97206. None o your contact inormation will be shared with any other organization.

I you wish to pay online, go to: http://aipdx.org/donate/

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group 48 newsletter - december 2012

Documents