October 2000

Amnesty International has condemned the death of a hostage who was being held by the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional(ELN), National Liberation Army. Posted: 30 Oct 2000

"Human rights violations and very serious disturbances have caused the death of at least 40 people in Abidjan, the economic capital, and in other towns in the country, on Thursday 26 October 2000", Amnesty International has confirmed today. These disturbances arise principally from conflict between members and sympathisers of two political parties, the Republican Assembly, Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR), of Alassane Ouattara and the Ivorian Popular Front, Front popoulaire ivoirien (FPI), of Laurent Gbagbo. Posted: 30 Oct 2000

Wednesday's gruesome killing of at least 26 Tamil young men and boys aged between 14 and 23 who were detained for "rehabilitation" near Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, should be investigated fully, Amnesty International said today in an open letter to the President Kumaratunga. Posted: 27 Oct 2000

Spain's ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court has moved the world one step closer to international justice and ending impunity for the worst crimes known to humanity, said Amnesty International. Posted: 27 Oct 2000

Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the failure of Israel to investigate as a matter of policy killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces over the past three weeks. The organisation is also concerned that Palestinian authorities are not carrying out proper investigations into killings that have taken place in the areas under their jurisdiction. Posted: 27 Oct 2000

The Peruvian government's proposal to "perfect", "update" and "give constitutional status" to the 1995 Amnesty Laws demonstrates once again its lack of commitment to protect and promote human rights. Posted: 25 Oct 2000

Amnesty International UK today called on the UK government to suspend all exports or transfers of components, spares, servicing and equipment for US-supplied attack helicopters in Israel until the Israeli authorities demonstrate that the helicopters will not be used to commit human rights violations in Israel and the Occupied Territories and the areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Posted: 24 Oct 2000

Amnesty International has just received information that Abdulhelil Abdumijit, a Campaign Against Torture appeal case in China, was reportedly tortured to death on 17 October 2000. The organisation is calling on the Chinese government to reveal his fate. Posted: 23 Oct 2000

The Special Court for Sierra Leone should have the power to prosecute anyone who recruited children into armed forces or groups, regardless of whether this was forced or voluntary, said Amnesty International. Posted: 23 Oct 2000

Despite the release of nine {prisoners of conscience} in Cuba since the beginning of the year, politically motivated arrests continue and have led to new cases of prisoners of conscience. Posted: 20 Oct 2000

"In policing the recent demonstrations, the Israeli security forces tended to use military methods rather than policing methods involving the protection of human lives." Posted: 20 Oct 2000

"In policing the recent demonstrations, the Israeli security forces tended to use military methods rather than policing methods involving the protection of human lives." Posted: 20 Oct 2000

Amnesty International's new global Campaign Against Torture was launched today, beginning with events in Tokyo and moving on to Beirut, Nairobi, London and Buenos Aires. The organisation is calling for worldwide action towards the abolition of torture. Posted: 18 Oct 2000

Following news reports that joint UK-Australian national James Mawdsley is to be released by the authorities in Myanmar (Burma), Amnesty International called for the authorities in the country to immediately release all prisoners of conscience. Posted: 17 Oct 2000

Responding to news that Tharcisse Muvunyi will be transferred to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania following developments today in the High Court in London, Amnesty International UK reaffirmed its support for the UN Tribunal and its continuing efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the crimes committed during the Rwanda genocide. Posted: 13 Oct 2000

Amnesty International reiterated its urgent call for an independent international investigation by the United Nations into the serious human rights abuses in Israel and the Occupied Territories, including the areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, since 29 September. Posted: 13 Oct 2000

Amnesty International expressed grave concern for the safety of civilians, following Israeli military helicopter attacks in Gaza City and Ramallah which reportedly injured Palestinian civilians. Posted: 13 Oct 2000

Amnesty International UK today calls on the UK government and other EU members states to consider measures to strengthen the European Charter of Fundamental Rights at the European Council meeting in Biarritz on 13-14 October. Posted: 12 Oct 2000

Amnesty International has described the clemency order issued by the President on 6 October as unjust and unacceptable. The order grants total amnesty to every person liable to criminal prosecution, whose guilt or innocence has not been determined by a court, for any politically motivated crime committed during the period 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2000. Posted: 12 Oct 2000

Amnesty International regrets that the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago has again decided to attack Amnesty International's reputation rather than meet with the organisation to discuss human rights. Posted: 12 Oct 2000