July 2000

Amnesty International USA today welcomed the European Union (EU) request for a moratorium on federal executions. In a letter delivered yesterday by the French Ambassador, the EU also urged President Clinton to grant clemency in the case of Juan Raul Garza, the first scheduled federal execution in nearly 40 years. Posted: 31 Jul 2000

Today's findings of the UN Human Rights Committee on Australia's record of civil and political rights confirm Amnesty International's major concerns on the country, and should strengthen the case of Australians campaigning for improvements in domestic human rights protection. Posted: 31 Jul 2000

On 30 July 2000, the Egyptian Supreme Military Court is expected to give its verdict in a trial of 20 alleged Muslim Brothers, which fell short of international standards for fair trial. Posted: 27 Jul 2000

The institutions and member states of the European Union should intervene in support of European nationals under sentence of death in the United States of America, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Following the arrest of Fiji coup leader George Speight, two advisors and a bodyguard at a military checkpoint outside Suva today, Amnesty International's immediate concern is for the safety of 15 {hostages} reportedly still held by Speight sympathisers at Monasavu, and of civilians, in particular Indo-Fijians in the greater Suva area and in rural villages. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Violent attacks and death threats against members and supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party following the 25 June parliamentary election in Zimbabwe are continuing, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

An increase in torture, "disappearances" and deaths in custody have been reported in Sri Lanka since new emergency regulations were introduced by the President in May 2000. Amnesty International is concerned that wider powers given to the security forces under these emergency regulations may have contributed to the increase. The regulations confer powers of arrest to "any authorised person" in addition to the police and armed forces, and considerably extends their powers to detain. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Posted: 26 Jul 2000

"All those accused of human rights abuses in Sierra Leone should be brought to justice in a way that is credible, effective and meets international standards of fairness," Amnesty International said as the United Nations (UN) Security Council considers a request from the Sierra Leone government for assistance in bringing perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice and debates a draft resolution aimed at ending {impunity}. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Amnesty International is calling today on the USA Government to urgently review the case of Mazen Al-Najjar - detained in the USA for more than three years without charge on the basis of secret evidence purportedly linking him to a terrorist organisation. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Following the recent inauguration of the Sixth Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami (Islamic Consultative Assembly), Amnesty International has sent an open letter to its members. Encouraged by the public statements made by some of the Majles Deputies expressing their commitment to defend fundamental freedoms, the human rights organisation called on all members to promote a program of legal and administrative reforms enabling the people of Iran to enjoy to the full their internationally recognised human rights. It is in the pursuit of these goals that the organization has included a set of recommendation at the end of this letter which would help to establish a practical framework for ensuring respect of human rights in Iran. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

A Government report expected today on licensed arms exports in 1999 will highlight the massive loopholes in the UK's existing controls, which date back to the Second World War. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

If the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is to seriously address regional security, it must take up the challenge of promoting and protecting the full spectrum of human rights - economic, social, civil and political, Amnesty International said ahead of the ASEAN Ministerial and Regional Forum meetings in Bangkok next week. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

Reports of more brutal beatings of inmates by soldiers and warders in St Catherine's prison, Jamaica, shows yet again the need for urgent steps to be taken to protect all prisoners from reprisals, including repeated torture and ill-treatment, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

The secrecy surrounding the trial of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) journalist Miroslav Filipovic suggests that he is being targeted for his work as a journalist, not for espionage, Amnesty International said before the trial is due to start on Tuesday. Posted: 26 Jul 2000

A Somali man living in Yemen is on trial for his life, and is believed to have been tortured because he converted to Christianity says Amnesty International. The human rights organisation considers him to be a prisoner of conscience and has issued an Urgent Action circular to its supporters urging them to send letters, faxes and emails to the Yemeni authorities to appeal for his release. Posted: 17 Jul 2000

Killings, torture and forced labour of civilians from the Shan State at the hands of the Myanmar army are detailed by Amnesty International in its report released today: Exodus from the Shan State. Posted: 17 Jul 2000

Amnesty International fears that six men may have been executed recently in Saudi Arabia after convictions relating to their sexual orientation. Following official Saudi silence after thousands of urgent information appeals, Amnesty International is concerned that these six were among the nine men reportedly sentenced in April 2000 to flogging and prison terms for "deviant sexual behaviour". The remaining three may be at imminent risk of execution. Posted: 17 Jul 2000

Amnesty International is extremely concerned that today's death sentences passed by the Nanjing city Intermediate People's Court in China against Zhong Weiyang, Liu Guangyan, Ding Shanyang and Zhang Eryang includes a death sentence against a possible juvenile. Posted: 17 Jul 2000

"Diamond manufacturers and traders, meeting in Antwerp, Belgium, from July 17-19 for their annual congress, must take new and effective action to sever the link between diamonds from rebel-held areas and weapons used to commit human rights abuses in Sierra Leone", Amnesty International said today. "Further delays lead to the possibility of more mutilations, amputations, and deaths." Posted: 14 Jul 2000