January 2000

Pinochet case: fairness and transparency still in doubt

The fairness and transparency of the procedure followed by the UK Home Secretary to assess Augusto Pinochet's mental condition remain in doubt,Amnesty International said today as the High Court denied six human rightsorganisations permission to seek judicial review of Jack Straw'spreliminary decision. Posted: 31 Jan 2000

REACTION TO FOREIGN SECRETARYÃŒS SPEECH

Amnesty International UK today welcomed the renewed commitment to promoting human rights around the world in the Foreign Secretary's speech, Foreign Policy and National Interest, at Chatham House, London. Posted: 28 Jan 2000

Zanzibar opposition figures face treason trial and death sentences

The charges of treason being brought by the Zanzibar government against 18 members of the Zanzibar opposition party, the Civic United Front (CUF), illustrate the disturbing absence of human rights protection in the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, Amnesty International said in a new report issued today. Posted: 27 Jan 2000

Commission of Inquiry into 'disappearances' must be effective and public

The Lebanese Government's recent decision to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate "disappearances" during the war between 1975 and 1990 is an important step forward, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 27 Jan 2000

Council of Europe urged to consider seriously human rights in Belarus

Amnesty International welcomes tomorrow's planned debate by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the situation in Belarusand urges it to consider seriously the persistent violations of humanrights in the country. Posted: 26 Jan 2000

EU must not shy away from chance to speak up for China's oppressed

Amnesty International urges European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels today and tomorrow, to take an early and unequivocal decision to censure China at the UN Commission on Human Rights(CHR). Posted: 24 Jan 2000

Pinochet case: Amnesty International in High Court Wednesday for Pinochet hearing

Amnesty International, together with the Association of the Relatives of Detained and Disappeared Persons in Chile, Human Rights Watch, Justicia,the Medical Foundation for the Care of the Victims of Torture, and Redress,will be in the UK High Court on Wednesday for a hearing seeking leave tojudicially review the procedure used by the Home Secretary to determineAugusto Pinochet's mental condition. Papers will be lodged later today or tomorrow. Posted: 24 Jan 2000

URGENT NEED FOR UK ARMS EXPORT LEGISLATION - GovernmentÃŒs Human Rights Centred Foreign Policy Being undermined

The reported decision by Tony Blair to over-rule Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on approving the sale to Zimbabwe of spare parts for British Hawk fighter jets, highlights the continuing conflict between the politics of international trade and the GovernmentÃŒs human rights-centred foreign policy. Posted: 20 Jan 2000

Link between excavations of bodies and abductions of Kurds must be investigated

The Turkish government should immediately investigate the link between the recent alleged abductions and murders of Kurdish men by the Islamic armed organisation Hizbullah and the excavation of 10 bodies in Istanbul yesterday and three more in Ankara today, Amnesty International said. Posted: 20 Jan 2000

Opposition leaders charged with sedition - selective prosecutions reflect politically-motivated misuse of restrictive laws

Amnesty International today expressed grave concern at the Malaysian Government's renewed use of restrictive laws, including the Sedition Act and the Official SecretsAct (OSA), to charge journalists, publishers and leading members of opposition parties, including former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's defence lawyer, Karpal Singh. Posted: 17 Jan 2000

Democratic Republic of Congo: Massacres of civilians continue unabated in the east

Forces of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD), Congolese Rally for Democracy -- backed by government troops from Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda -- and other armed groups opposing them, such as the Mayi-Mayi and the Rwandese interahamwe, are perpetrating widespread human rights abuses in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under their control,Amnesty International said today. Posted: 17 Jan 2000

Ahmici verdict - Justice needs to go further

Today's convictions in The Hague of five Bosnian Croats for one of the largest atrocities concerning Bosnian Croats and Bosniacs carried out in the armed conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina is a welcome step toward justice,Amnesty International said. However, as stated by the presiding judge, those carrying the main responsibilityfor ordering and carrying out the killings have largely managed to escape justice. Posted: 17 Jan 2000

Pinochet case: Letter asks for disclosure of medical reports,as new development adds to concerns on conduct of tests

Amnesty International, the Medical Foundation for the Care of the Victims of Torture, the Association of the Relatives of the Disappeared in Chile,and Redress have sent a preliminary letter to UK Home Secretary, JackStraw, asking for disclosure of the medical report to the parties. Theletter also asks for the parties to be given the opportunity to requestanother medical examination conducted by experts appointed by them. Posted: 17 Jan 2000

New President should fulfill his London human rights promises

Amnesty International today congratulated Alfonso Portillo on his inauguration as Guatemala's new President, but urged him to deliver on the many human rights promises he has made --including those expressed to the organisation during a meeting in London last March. Posted: 14 Jan 2000

EU ban on military and security exports to Jakarta must not be lifted.

The European Union must not resume the sale of arms or security equipment likely to be used to commit human rights violations in Indonesia. By doingso, it will risk condemning more people to human rights abuses at the handsof a security force equipped with weapons manufactured in Europe, AmnestyInternational said today. Posted: 14 Jan 2000