December 1999

Violence against Serbs, Roma, Muslim Slavs and moderate Albanians in Kosovo has increased dramatically over the past month pointing to a failure by the United Nations (UN) mission to protect human rights, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 23 Dec 1999

Amnesty International yesterday urged the Bahamas to grant clemency to John Higgs and David Mitchell. Posted: 22 Dec 1999

While civilians continue to suffer in Chechnya, they are also being targeted on the streets and in police stations in Moscow, Amnesty International said today in a new report on the persecution of Chechens in Moscow and Chechnya. Posted: 22 Dec 1999

'Let's hope that Father Christmas will give us the opportunity to meet face to face in the year 2000 so that we can blow your brains out. Enjoy your last Christmas.... you will not be around for the next one. Greetings to your family....Merry Christmas to everyone.' Posted: 22 Dec 1999

Dialogue on human rights issues is to be welcomed -- but it can only be worthwhile if it has substance, Amnesty International said today, reacting to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's call for dialogue instead of confrontation on human rights issues at the China-EU summit in Beijing today. Posted: 21 Dec 1999

Amnesty International condemned last Saturday's attacks on two political rallies in and near Colombo in which at least 25 civilians were killed. Posted: 20 Dec 1999

'We are not thinking about integration with Indonesia or independence for East Timor, Posted: 20 Dec 1999

Pakistan 1999: Ghazala was set on fire by her brother in the name of honour. Her burned and naked body lay unattended on the street for two hours as nobody wanted to have anything to do with it. Posted: 17 Dec 1999

Human rights must be made the cornerstone of donor assistance to East Timor, Amnesty International said today on the eve of an international meeting in Tokyo arranged by the World Bank to discuss the country's reconstruction needs. Posted: 16 Dec 1999

Following the revelation that sub-machineguns made using British technology have been exported from Turkey to Indonesia , Amnesty International UK is calling for new legislation to end arms deals that undermine the Government's move towards a human rights-centred foreign policy. Posted: 10 Dec 1999

Six human rights organisations today issued a joint statement to the British government calling for a thorough, impartial and independent inquiry into the killing of human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson. Posted: 10 Dec 1999

This weekend's Helsinki Summit which will address Turkey's candidacy for the European Union (EU) is a prime opportunity for the EU to encourage Turkey to take serious steps to improve human rights, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 9 Dec 1999

Amnesty International launches a global campaign on International Human Rights Day, Friday 10 December, to abolish the death penalty in the new century. Posted: 9 Dec 1999

Amnesty International expresses dismay at South Africa's failure to ensure that Mengistu Haile-Mariam, former Ethiopian head of state, remained in South Africa pending the outcome of an investigation into his alleged human rights crimes. Posted: 8 Dec 1999

Members of Amnesty International from around the world are taking urgent action on behalf of civilians in Grozny by writing to the Russian government asking for a public and unambiguous pledge to protect civilians. Posted: 8 Dec 1999

Following an official warning that civilians must evacuate the city of Grozny, Amnesty International is calling on the government of the Russian Federation to publicly commit to upholding its obligations under international humanitarian law by refraining from indiscriminate or direct attacks on the civilian population of the besieged Chechen capital. Posted: 8 Dec 1999

The South African government must carry out a thorough and prompt investigation into allegations that Mengistu Haile-Mariam, the former Ethiopian head of state, is responsible for crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 7 Dec 1999

The release of two reports on Kosovo (Kosova) today by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a welcome development and could serve as a precedent to strengthen the OSCE's effectiveness in protecting human rights, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 6 Dec 1999

The prison sentences handed down to the managing director of the daily newspaper Khordad and the editor of the daily newspaper Asr-e Azadegan (Era of The Free) reflect the increasing use of special courts to imprison individuals involved in journalism . They also limit social and political debate in advance of the 19 February 2000 parliamentary (Majlis) elections, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 1 Dec 1999

No stone must be left unturned in investigating the full circumstances Posted: 1 Dec 1999