February 2002

Human rights violations are being committed on a major scale in Guatemala in the context of a so-called 'corporate mafia state', Amnesty International reveals in a report released today. Posted: 27 Feb 2002

The Coroner's court currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the killings of seven youths in Braeton, on 14 March 2001, and the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions are aware and have accepted the fact that Amnesty International`s observer Ivor Frank has not and will not be discussing his observations regarding the inquest with the media. Posted: 26 Feb 2002

"The sentencing yesterday of human rights activist Mohamed Smain to one year in prison on charges of defamation is a regrettably clear signal that there is a heavy price to pay in Algeria for raising legitimate questions related to the state's involvement in serious human rights violations," Amnesty International said today in condemnation of the verdict. Posted: 26 Feb 2002

As the army prepares to move into the demilitarised zone in the south of Colombia and the Colombian air force has started bombing targets in this area, after the collapse of peace negotiations between the government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Amnesty International reiterated its call for decisive action to protect the civilian population in this and other conflict areas. Posted: 25 Feb 2002

The Council of Europe has sent a clear political message that the death penalty is completely unacceptable, Amnesty International said, welcoming the adoption of Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 February. Posted: 25 Feb 2002

Amnesty International condemns the killing of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl who had been abducted on 23 January in Karachi and held hostage since then. A video showing his beheading was received by Pakistani and US officials on Thursday. Posted: 25 Feb 2002

During President Bush's current visit to China, where earlier he said that "no nation is exempt from the demands of human dignity", he should reflect upon the fact that an execution due in his own country next week would be illegal in China and would not occur in most nations of the world, Amnesty International said. Posted: 22 Feb 2002

Justice for East Timorese victims of crimes against humanity and other serious crimes is at risk because basic measures to ensure that the trials in Indonesia meet international standards of fairness are missing, Amnesty International warned. Posted: 22 Feb 2002

Amnesty International is calling on US President George Bush to raise the case of Rebiya Kadeer - who is serving an eight-year prison sentence following charges of "providing secret information to foreigners" - during his visit to China this week. Posted: 21 Feb 2002

The withdrawal of the European Union's (EU) election observers deepens Amnesty International's concerns that human rights violations orchestrated by the ruling party in the run-up to the presidential elections will escalate unchecked by impartial international eyewitnesses. Posted: 20 Feb 2002

Recent legal reforms in the run-up to EU accession still fall short of Turkey's international human rights obligations, despite making small progress in some areas, Amnesty International declared as Law No. 4744 entered into force. Posted: 20 Feb 2002

Amnesty International expressed concern at the death sentences announced on Saturday 16 February 2002 against two possible prisoners of conscience, Abdullah Ahmed Izzedin and Salem Abu Hanak. Scores of others received sentences ranging from 10 years' to life imprisonment after an unfair trial. Posted: 19 Feb 2002

As members of parliament of Mauritius debate on government anti-terrorist legislation, including the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, the Prevention of Terrorism (Denial of Bail) Bill and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, Amnesty International is urging all parliamentarians to put human rights at the centre of their discussions. Posted: 15 Feb 2002

"When I left class... to get home, I was confronted by some officers, about 11 men... The first officer slapped me, kicked me and then I saw what looked like a gun butt coming... When I woke up in a dark room everything was gone... For 13 days, I was raped by I do not know how many men." (Female student interviewed in Liberia, April 2001) Posted: 14 Feb 2002

Two executions scheduled for next week provide the US authorities an opportunity to show the world that aspects of President Bush's State of the Union address were more than triumphalist rhetoric, Amnesty International said, highlighting the cases of Alexander Williams and Thomas Miller-El, due to be put to death in Georgia and Texas on 20 and 21 February respectively. Posted: 14 Feb 2002

Amnesty International announced that it will send an observer to the inquest into the Braeton massacre that left seven youths dead - including a 15 year old - on 14 March 2001. Posted: 14 Feb 2002

A human-rights based approach should be the basic philosophy of policing in Afghanistan, implemented through an effective training program, the creation of a Code of Ethics and the establishment of an independent monitoring body. Posted: 13 Feb 2002

"As people in many countries give diamonds to their loved ones on Valentine's Day (14 February), they still have no way of knowing where their diamond comes from or whether they have contributed to human rights abuses," Amnesty International said today. Posted: 13 Feb 2002

We, the undersigned international and domestic NGOs, deplore the UK Government's failure to initiate a public judicial inquiry into the full circumstances of the killing of human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane 13 years ago. Posted: 12 Feb 2002

Thousands of red hands, the logo of the 'Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers', were planted symbolically in the grounds of the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva to draw attention to more than 300,000 child soldiers still fighting in today's cruel armed conflicts and wars. Posted: 12 Feb 2002