P.O. Box 130901, Houston, TX 77219-0901
832-310 9326
http://www.amnestyhouston.org
mail@amnestyhouston.org

Monthly meeting first Wednesday of every month (except holidays).

NEWS AND NOTES

Monthly Meeting Agenda:

       Introductions
       Reports by Coordination Groups:
       Group case (Bárbara Italia Méndez)
       Avdo Palic
       Death Penalty
       Radio Committee
       Stop Violence Against Women Campaign
       Counter Terror With Justice Campaign
       South Asian Regional Action Network (SARAN)
       Refugees
       Out Front Campaign
       Who Will Bring Letter Next Meeting
Old Business:
       View Film, "Torturing Democracy" and panel discussion
New Business:
       U2 Concert

Local Group 23 News:

• We had a luncheon to say goodbye to Richard Rau, who is moving to Austin. Richard put together our group's website and the one for the Radio Show. We will miss him.
• Jessica Vickery set up a Facebook page for our group.

• We have openings for Group Coordinator and Secretary.

The Malaysian government should extend the reprieve from caning granted to Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno indefinitely after Ramadan and use this as an opportunity to abolish the punishment, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. More than 35,000 people have been caned in Malaysia since 2002.

Recent photographic evidence of the physical scars left after detainees have been caned obtained by Amnesty International, demonstrate the level of injury inflicted by this form of punishment. The photos show the damage and scarring that just two caning strokes continue to cause months after the actual punishment has been executed.

"These images show the harsh reality of this punishment. Tens of thousands of people in Malaysia have been subjected to this cruel form of punishment without any attention from inside or outside the country. Now that the issue of caning has come on the public agenda, it's time for the Malaysian government to act immediately to get rid of caning altogether," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific director.

In July, an Amnesty International delegation travelled to Malaysia and were granted access to three detention facilities south of Kuala Lumpur, where they were able to photograph detainees who said that they had been caned whilst serving their sentences in prison.

Caning is mostly used as punishment for migrant labourers for immigration offences. Immigrants who are convicted of illegal entry are normally caned up to three times, although the country’s Immigration Act allows for them to be caned up to six times.

In June 2009 the Malaysian government announced that they had sentenced 47,914 migrants to be caned for immigration offences since amendments to its Immigration Act came into force in 2002.

Amnesty International has called on the government of Malaysia to repeal all laws that allow caning and other forms of corporal punishment.

"The outcry surrounding Kartika's case highlights the need for the Malaysian government to stop the practice of caning altogether," Sam Zarifi said.

(Washington) – Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director, issued the following statement on the release of various documents and announcements about Bush-era counterterrorism tactics:

"The fresh revelations that CIA agents carried out mock executions and threats of violent torture further underscore how much the American people do not know about the previous administration’s illegal and immoral actions undertaken in the name of national security.

"The CIA IG's report reveals that even the CIA realized that its techniques are morally suspect and counterproductive at best. There are absolutely no circumstances in which techniques rising to torture or cruel treatment can be justified. Period. No ifs, ands or buts.

"That the Bush administration was prepared to abandon America's human rights legal obligations is a cautionary tale for those who think any nation can disregard human rights in the fight against terrorism. The report demonstrates that the U.S. government agencies' internal monitoring systems are unreliable in upholding American values or laws. Compliance comes through disclosure and reform.

"President Barack Obama has pledged an end to torture and other illegal practices. But until it is clear that the laws will be vigorously enforced, words will ring hollow, raising the spectre of Bush 2.0.

"The IG's report demonstrates that it is more important than ever that a comprehensive and independent investigation with the full force of the law is created to reveal and hold accountable those who requested, devised and carried out illegal counter-terrorism practices. It's time to appoint a special prosecutor to prove that U.S. laws will be enforced, no matter who violated them."

"Attorney General Holder's decision to name a prosecutor to reopen and investigate half of the cases brought to the Department of Justice because of questionable interrogation tactics is a welcome, yet incomplete, step. Any meaningful investigation would encompass both those who claimed they were following orders and those who designed and demanded that the illegal policies be implemented."

The attached documents were released today through FOIA litigation by Amnesty International USA, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University School of Law seeking disclosure of information concerning "disappeared" detainees, including "ghost" and unregistered prisoners. The original FOIA requests were filed with several U.S. government agencies including the Departments of Justice and Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Said Center for Constitutional Rights Attorney Gitanjali S. Gutierrez, “These are the documents Dick Cheney was so excited to see declassified, but they don’t make the case for torture, they only show that the CIA is able to tailor documents to justify its actions after the fact. The descent into torture has made the world a darker and more dangerous place for everyone.”

Said Tom Parker, Amnesty International USA Policy Director for (counter) terrorism and human rights, “Perhaps unsurprisingly, given Vice President Cheney's track record, the two CIA memos released today are hardly the slam dunk we had been led to expect. There is little or no supporting evidence in either memo to give substance to the specific claims about impending attacks made by Khaled Shaik Mohammed in highly coercive circumstances.”

AIUSA, CCR, and NYU CHRJG filed FOIA requests with several U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, DOD, DOS, DOJ, and DHS beginning in 2004.

"Khalid Shaykh Muhammad: Preeminent Source On Al-Qa’ida" July 13, 2004

"Detainee Reporting Pivotal for the War Against Al-Qa’ida" June 3, 2005

Amnesty International is calling for the government of India to launch an independent investigation into allegations that an 11 year old girl was illegally detained by police in the state of Manipur to force her parents - suspected of links with local armed opposition groups to give themselves up.

Bidyarani Devi Salam was taken from her home by security forces on the morning of 14 August and held in police custody for five days. Her illegal detention triggered hundreds of protestors to take to the streets and call for her release.

Local human rights organizations have demanded that legal action be taken against the police for illegally detaining Bidyarani Devi Salam. They have alleged that the police kidnapped the girl to make her parents - who were suspected for helping local armed opposition groups – give themselves up.

“A minor being targeted by armed forces to justify their action against armed opposition groups is a shameful act and should not be tolerated under any circumstance, " said Madhu Malhotra Deputy Program Director Asia Pacific Amnesty International.

Bidyarani Devi Salam was released and handed over to relatives on Thursday, after police had arrested her parents, on suspicion of helping the Manipur People's Liberation Army.

The police maintain that they had taken the girl for medical treatment after she fainted during their visit to her house to search for her parents. However, the police could not explain why she was not sent to a children's home or to a hospital for treatment.

This is the second time in a month that Manipur has come under sharp focus for gross violations of human rights. On 23 July, Manipur police and security forces shot dead a 27-year-old unarmed former insurgent, Chungkam Sanjit, and a pregnant woman bystander in the main market of Manipur.

Manipur chief minister, Ibobi Singh, has ordered a judicial inquiry into the 23 July killings and suspended six policemen. However, the policemen are yet to be formally charged with murder. A court has given the state government until 25 August to file formal charges

On 4 and 5 August, police detained seven human rights activists including three women after they led protestors to the state governor's residence, seeking the dismissal of the policemen for the murders and the filing of formal charges against them.

“Instead of taking legal action against the security forces committing gross human rights violations the state has chosen to punish local activists for peacefully raising their voices to seek justice, " said Madhu Malhotra

Manipur has witnessed recurrent protests against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, which gives immunity to security and paramilitary forces in conflict with armed opposition groups.

Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have repeatedly demanded the repeal of this legislation which went against India's international obligations to protect human rights.

Amnesty International regrets the recent dismissal of Ambassador Neneh Macdouall Gaye as Gambian ambassador to the United States if this action has been taken in response to the ambassador's planned meeting this week with representatives of Amnesty International. The organization welcomed a discussion with Ambassador Gaye about concerns regarding human rights in Gambia, including the case of missing journalist Ebrima Manneh.

Ebrima Manneh, a reporter for the government-owned Daily Observer, was arrested on July 11, 2006, for attempting to print an article that was critical of the Gambian government. Charges have not been filed against Manneh, and his current whereabouts are unknown. In June 2008, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered the Gambian government to immediately release Manneh from unlawful detention and pay him $100,000 in damages. To date, the Gambian government has not complied with the order and continues to deny that Manneh is in their custody.

Amnesty International is also concerned about the recent sentencing of six Gambian journalists, including three executive members of the Gambian Press Union, to terms in prison. The journalists were convicted on six counts of sedition and defamation. Amnesty International considers these journalists to be prisoners of conscience and is demanding that they be released immediately and unconditionally.

Background:
The human rights situation in Gambia, which has been deteriorating since 1994, has worsened since the last foiled attempted coup plot in March 2006. The army, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and police routinely subject real or perceived opponents of the government to serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions. The most recent "disappearances" and treatment of journalists highlight the long history of the repression of the media in Gambia. The lack of independence of the judiciary in cases involving journalists and human rights defenders is also increasing.

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