October 2002

As the Japanese and North Korean governments ended two days of talks in the Malaysian capital - Kuala Lumpur - aimed at normalising relations, Amnesty International called on both governments to put human rights at the top of the agenda of any future discussions and to be open on the issue of forced abductions of Japanese nationals to North Korea. Posted: 31 Oct 2002

Amnesty International will seek assurances from the Russian authorities that Akhmed Zakayev, an envoy of the Chechen President, not be subjected to torture or ill-treatment, or the death penalty, if the Danish authorities extradite him to the Russian Federation. Posted: 31 Oct 2002

Amnesty International welcomes the announcement by the Chairman of US-German car maker DaimlerChrysler to institute a commission of investigation to examine the conduct of Mercedes-Benz and its officials in Argentina between 1975 and 1978. The Commission is expected to investigate the 'disappearance' of some 14 trade union members working in the Mercedes-Benz factory - now owned by DaimlerChrysler - at González Catán, Buenos Aires Province, in 1976 and 1977. Posted: 30 Oct 2002

With the publication of a new report on human rights abuses in Russia, Amnesty International denounced the hostage-taking at a theatre in Moscow's Melnikov Street as "yet another outrageous human rights violation." Posted: 29 Oct 2002

On the eve of the 38th anniversary of the 'disappearance' in Paris of leading left-wing activist Mehdi Ben Barka, Amnesty International calls on the Moroccan authorities to take the long-overdue step of launching an investigation into the case. Posted: 28 Oct 2002

On the third anniversary of the arrest of five members of the Lao Students Movement for Democracy: Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Khamphouvieng Sisaath, Seng-Aloun Phengphanh, Bouavanh Chanhmanivong and Keochay, Amnesty International called for their immediate and unconditional release. Posted: 28 Oct 2002

Amnesty International is urging the Cameroonian authorities to immediately release Albert Mukong, a former executive director of the Human Rights Defence Group (HRDG) and a reputable human rights defender, who was arrested on 28 September by the gendarmerie at Ayukaba, in South West Province. He has since been held at Mamfe Gendarmerie Station. Posted: 28 Oct 2002

Amnesty International urged the Government of Bangladesh to investigate immediately all allegations of deaths in custody and torture by the army and the police since a 'crackdown' on crime - known as 'Operation Clean Heart' - began on 17 October. Posted: 24 Oct 2002

Amnesty International strongly condemned the actions of an armed group, described as Chechen fighters, who have taken hostage hundreds of people in a Moscow theatre. According to some reports, members of the group have threatened to kill hostages if their demands - currently said to be for Russian troops to withdraw from the Chechen Republic - are not met. Posted: 24 Oct 2002

On the eve of the conclusion of his appeal trial, Amnesty International today called for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoner of conscience Ali-Salem Tamek, a human rights activist imprisoned for his views in favour of independence for the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Posted: 23 Oct 2002

Amnesty International strongly condemns the suicide bombing which killed at least 14 people and injured about 50 others at the Karkur Junction in northern Israel. Responsibility for the bombing was claimed by the Palestinian armed group Islamic Jihad. Posted: 23 Oct 2002

In a memorandum to the Chinese government and National People's Congress, Amnesty International urged the Chinese authorities to push ahead with reforms to establish genuine rule of law and respect for human rights. Posted: 22 Oct 2002

"Everyday, blood is being spilled in the diamond fields of government-controlled Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and nobody in the international community is taking any notice, " Amnesty International said today. "Dozens of suspected illegal diamond miners, including children, are being shot dead every year, and many more are being seriously wounded, by security guards who are flouting the law with apparently complete impunity," the organisation added. Posted: 22 Oct 2002

In a letter sent today to the Iraqi government Amnesty International welcomed the reported release of political prisoners in Iraq but asked for urgent clarification regarding the names of the political detainees who have reportedly benefited from the general amnesty. Posted: 21 Oct 2002

A year on from the killing of human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa, Amnesty International expressed its regret at the lack of real progress on the official investigation. Posted: 18 Oct 2002

Two days before the trial of three Britons and 23 Egyptians in Egypt on Sunday 20 October, Amnesty International expressed serious concerns that they are to be tried before an exceptional court and that allegations that the men have been tortured and ill-treated remain uninvestigated. Posted: 18 Oct 2002

Amnesty International is alarmed at repeated inflammatory statements made by Ashok Singhal, the international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, a nationalist Hindu organization), about the violence against the Muslim population in Gujarat earlier this year, in which more than 2,000 people were killed. The organisation fears for the safety of many thousands of vulnerable people, should further violence be incited by the reported statements. Posted: 17 Oct 2002

In an open letter to the United Nations Security Council, Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, called for urgent attention to be given to the escalation of human rights violations in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Security Council will meet today to consider the new report of the Secretary General on the United Nations Organisation Mission in the DRC (MONUC). Posted: 17 Oct 2002

Labelled as guerrilla supporters by the security forces and their paramilitary allies; exposed to retaliation at the hands of armed opposition groups; abandoned by state institutions and the international community: the inhabitants of San Vicente del Caguán and of what was once known as the demilitarised zone are facing increasing levels of violence and human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Posted: 17 Oct 2002

The sentencing of ten police officers for the torture of the "Manisa children" is a positive step in the fight against impunity for torture in Turkey, Amnesty International said. Posted: 17 Oct 2002