January 2001

"There is evidence that the treatment of the Action Directe prisoners has fallen short of international standards," Amnesty International said today. "The French government simply must take steps to rectify this immediately." Posted: 31 Jan 2001

"Human rights are central to Uganda's future political, economic and social development", Amnesty international said today on launching the 'Human Rights Manifesto for Uganda'. Posted: 30 Jan 2001

"The award of pardons and honours for torturers sends out a clear message - that violations of human rights will not be effectively punished in Spain," Amnesty International warned today. The human rights organisation also stated that the continuing failure to prosecute those guilty of crimes during the 1980s "dirty war" against ETA is sending torturers a similar message. Posted: 30 Jan 2001

"The excessive force used by the Tanzanian police over the last four days in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam in an attempt to prevent freedom of assembly is appalling,"Amnesty International said today. Posted: 30 Jan 2001

Sixteen non-governmental organisations, including Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Oxfam, have today written to the President of Switzerland to express concern at the Swiss authorities response to protests at Davos. The meeting of the World Economic Forum has been marred by the arrest and intimidation of people engaging in peaceful demonstrations. Posted: 29 Jan 2001

The Secretary General of Amnesty International has today urged the Swiss authorities to guarantee freedom of expression at Davos following the attempted deportation of Adam Ma'anit, a representative of a Dutch nongovernmental organization who was due to speak at a debate on business ethics. Posted: 26 Jan 2001

Amnesty International is seriously concerned that the vital work of the Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD) is being deliberately impeded by the Turkish government. Posted: 26 Jan 2001

"The sentence handed down to Nahum Korman sends out a powerful message - that Israelis can kill Palestinians with impunity," Amnesty International said. The human rights organisation commenting on the decision of the Jerusalem District Court to sentence Nahum Korman, a 37-year-old Israeli citizen, to six months community service for the killing of an 11-year-old Palestinian child, Hilmi Shawasheh. He was also ordered to pay 70,000 shekels to the victim's family. Posted: 25 Jan 2001

Amnesty International today called upon the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to take urgent action to prevent human rights violations in Chechnya. The Assembly meets tomorrow to evaluate Russia's progress on human rights in Chechnya. Posted: 25 Jan 2001

Both parties to the conflict in Chechnya continue to commit serious violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law. Russian forces are responsible for the overwhelming majority of physical harm and material damage suffered by civilians. Russian and international human rights organisations active in the region continue to document violations of the European Convention on Human Rights by Russian forces, including: the arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, "disappearance", and harassment of civilians. They have found that these practices have not lessened since the early months of the war, but rather have become a routine part of Russian operations. Chechen forces violate civilian immunity chiefly by killing, injuring, or threatening civilians working with the Russian-installed administration in Chechnya. Posted: 24 Jan 2001

Amnesty International today expressed grave fears for the safety of civilians in the Ituri region of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the killing in the town of Bunia of at least 200 civilians during recent violence between the Lendu and Hema ethnic groups. Ugandan military forces in control of the town failed to prevent many of these killings, although they were apparently in a position to do so. Posted: 24 Jan 2001

In the week that the final government figures for asylum applications in 2000 are expected to be released, Amnesty International UK has highlighted that applicants from Iraq will be the single largest group and the group showing the largest increase from 1999. Posted: 23 Jan 2001

Amnesty International today condemned the summary execution of scores of Afgan civilians by Taleban forces after their capture of the district of Yakaolang in December 2000. The victims, all male and as young as 13 years of age, are thought to number between 100 and 300. Most of the killings reportedly took place in villages around Nayak, and were accompanied by mass arrests. Posted: 23 Jan 2001

The moral and legal obligation of the Chilean Armed Forces and carabineros (* uniformed police) to disclose all the information on the victims of human rights violations committed during the military government, is now more pressing than ever before, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 23 Jan 2001

On the fifth anniversary of their detention without charge or trial, Amnesty International today urged the Bahraini Government to release four prisoners of conscience. Posted: 23 Jan 2001

In light of recent comments made by the Minister of National Security, the Honourable K D Knight, Amnesty International is calling upon him to immediately issue a statement specifying that the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF) should only employ force as a last resort - only to ensure the safety of themselves and the public - and in line with international standards. Amnesty International is seriously concerned that Minister Knight's inflammatory comments could encourage the unjustified use of lethal force by Jamaica's police officers. Posted: 19 Jan 2001

Ahead of the inauguration of George W. Bush as 43rd US president on 20 January 2001, Amnesty International is urging the new president to broaden his view of justice and to improve the country's human rights record. Posted: 18 Jan 2001

Amnesty International has today sent a letter to the Cuban authorities expressing its concerns at the recent serious escalation in the arrests and harassment of political opponents in Cuba. Posted: 17 Jan 2001

Amnesty International today welcomed the provisions of the Amnesty bill - approved yesterday by the parliament of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - which include an amnesty for conscientious objectors to military service in the Yugoslav Army. Posted: 16 Jan 2001

On the occasion of the Franco-African heads of States' Summit in Yaoundé (17-19 January 2001), Amnesty International calls on participating political leaders to seize the opportunity to make a joint public commitment to end torture and ill-treatment in custody. Posted: 16 Jan 2001