Amnesty International Group 22 Pasadena/Caltech News
Volume XV Number 1, January 2007
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, January 25, 7:30 PM. Monthly Meeting Caltech Y is located off
San Pasqual between Hill and Holliston, south side. You will see two
curving walls forming a gate to a path-- our building is just beyond.
Help us plan future actions on Sudan, the War on Terror, death penalty
and more.
Tuesday, February 13, 7:30 PM. Letter-writing Meeting at the Athenaeum.
Corner of California & Hill. We meet downstairs in the cafeteria. This
informal gathering is a great way for newcomers to get acquainted with
Amnesty!
Sunday, February 18, 6:30 PM. Rights Readers Human Rights Book
Discussion Group. Vroman's Book Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.,
Pasadena. This month we read Kiran Desai's prize-winning novel, The
Inheritance of Loss (More below.)
COORDINATOR'S CORNER
Happy New Year! I can't believe it's already mid-January. We went to
Corvallis, Oregon to visit Rob's family for Christmas, and now I'm
beginning to think we should have stayed there-it's almost as cold here
as it was up there! (Why can't Christmas be in July? when it is 70
degrees, green and beautiful up there...) Hope you all are keeping warm...
We started the New Year on a sad note as we had to put our 18 year old
cat, Spike, to sleep. He had hyperthyroidism for several years, for
which we were giving him medicine daily, and had developed renal
failure. When we came back from Corvallis, he wasn't eating and fluid
had started to build up again in his chest and abdomen. It was very
hard, as he was like a member of the family.
This is a preface to saying that today we brought home 2 female kittens
from a rescue group in La Canada, one is a grey striped tabby named
Sassy, the other a solid black kitty with gorgeous green eyes named
Cinder. Right now, they are in their respective corners, getting
adjusted to their new home! (Sassy is in the large bathroom, and Cinders
is hiding in the closet!)
Group 22 had some successful events in December 06. The letter writing
marathan for International Human Rights Day at Café Culture in Altadena
on Dec 9 attracted several café patrons to write postcards for our
Holiday Card Action. Thanks to all who participated and those group
members who "manned" the table in shifts! Then Martha brought the letter
writing materials to the Colors ("Christians Offering Love to Overcome
Racism in Society") Christmas party at All Saints Church, where
partygoers wrote cards in-between dancing to the live band and enjoying
the potluck supper. We also had a film night at Caltech, that group 22
member Wen Chen, a member of the Caltech Falun Gong club, arranged. The
film was titled "Sandstorm" and was about a Chinese policeman and his
wife who are trapped in a sandstorm and he comes to realize he was wrong
to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Unfortunately, Robert and I
missed the film as we got confused between the main Beckman Auditorium
and the smaller Beckman Institute Auditorium where the film was showing!
One film night we did attend was in Old Town Pasadena when several group
22 members met at the Laemmle One Colorado theater to see "The Last King
of Scotland"-a film about Idi Amin of Uganda and a Scottish MD who is
his personal physician. Then we enjoyed a delicious (and noisy!)group
meal at Bucca di Beppo-a fun Italian place where the food is served
family style. In Italian, the restaurant's name loosely translates into
"Joe's Cave"! There have been some more good human rights themed movies
released lately, and hopefully we can have more outings! Thanks to Marie
Helene Rousseau for arranging this one.
This will be my last column for awhile as I am going to start a Masters
program in School Nurse Education at Cambridge College satellite center
in Ontario, CA. I will be attending part-time on selected weekends
starting in February to May, and then will finish the classes during the
summer break and do the research project Fall 07. Several of my school
nurse colleagues have completed this program and they have highly
recommended it. LAUSD will pay me a little more for the Masters ($50.00
a month!!), but it is something I want to do for myself professionally.
So, different group members will take turns writing the column. I have
enjoyed writing the column and I hope I haven't been too boring or
chatty! I still plan on attending group 22 events as my time and energy
level permit!
Take care,
Kathy aigp22@caltech.edu
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Fear of Forced Evictions
Over one hundred families of the over 360 at risk have been evicted from
their homes in several neighborhoods in Malabo, the capital. To date,
none of the families have been given adequate notice of the eviction,
and the authorities have not consulted the affected communities. The
communities have not been offered adequate alternative accommodation or
compensation, and they have not been given the opportunity to contest
the evictions in court.
Between 13 and 17 November the approximately 115 families resident in
the Ministerio de Obras Públicas neighborhood vacated their homes, which
were then demolished, apparently to build a car park for a Casino
located on the opposite side of the road. The demolition of their homes
was reportedly completed by 22 November 2006. Some of the families have
not yet found a place to live, nor have they received any form of
compensation.
On 3 December 2006, at least five houses were demolished along the Atepa
road between the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial and Malabo
city centre, apparently to widen the road. Residents received an
official order to vacate their homes in 15 days, although they only
received the order two days before the demolitions. A few days earlier,
an unknown number of families were also evicted from their homes in La
Paz neighborhood, in the former barracks of the national police. None of
these families are known to have been consulted or to have been compensated.
An expropriation decree (No. 109) which concerns La Vigatana, where 250
families are at risk, and surrounding area was approved on 15 November
and published in late November. According to the decree, proprietors of
land were given 45 days to present their property titles and land
concession certificates. Nevertheless, on 5 December at about 10am,
several officials from the Infrastructure and Urban Development Ministry
(Ministerio de Infraestructura Urbanismo), including the Minister,
Vice-minister, Secretary of State and developers, reportedly went to La
Vigatana neighbourhood and demanded to know from the president of the
community council why people had not vacated their homes. They then gave
the residents until 2 January 2007 to leave. The families have not
received any compensation or responses to appeals and petitions sent to
several Ministries.
It appears that the authorities have allocated some land in the area of
Basupu-Fiston (Fishtown) for all families evicted from their homes in
Malabo to move. However the land, some 5 km from Malabo, lacks utility
services such as water, electricity and sewage and other amenities.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals:
- expressing concern about the continuing threat to forcibly evict over
300 families from their homes;
- expressing concern that the authorities forcibly evicted more families
in late November and on 3 December from their homes along the Atepa road
and area of La Paz neighborhood and urging the authorities to provide
them, as well as those forcibly evicted from the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas neighborhood with adequate alternative accommodation;
- reiterating Amnesty International's call on the authorities to stop
all forced evictions and to put in place safeguards to prevent forced
evictions in the future.
APPEALS TO:
General Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Presidente de la República
Gabinete del Presidente de la República, Malabo,
Equatorial Guinea
Salutation: Excelencia/Your Excellency
Sr Don Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube
Primer Ministro
Gabinete del Primer Ministro
Palacio del Pueblo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Salutation: Sr Primer Ministro/Dear Prime Minister
Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Develpment:
Sr Don Fidel Nsué Michá
Ministro de Infraestructura y Desarrollo Urbano
Ministerio de Infraestructura y Desarrollo Urbanao,
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Salutation: Sr Ministro/Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Ambassador Purification Angue Ondo
Embassy of Equatorial Guinea
2020 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
CHINA
Sample Letter for Children of Rebiya Kadeer
Ismail Tiliwaldi Zhuxi
Chairman of the Xinjiang Uigher Autonomous Regional People's Government
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu
2 Zhongshanlu, Wulumuqishi 830041
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
email: master@xinjiang.gov.cn
Dear Chairman:
I am appalled to learn that family members of former prisoner of
conscience Rebiya Kadeer are still being targeted by the Chinese
authorities. Police have reportedly beaten her son Ablikim Abdiriyim
severely. In late November, he was seen being carried out of Tianshan
District Detention Center on a stretcher in apparent need of medical
attention. Amnesty International believes his health is in danger and
that he is at risk of further torture or ill-treatment. Ablikim was
reportedly hospitalized for more than a month as a result of a beating
which took place in front of his family in June 2006. He was later moved
to the Tianshan District Detention Center. There are reports that he has
been very ill but has been denied medical care. Guards have reportedly
refused to let him have warm clothes sent by his family, causing him to
suffer greatly from the very cold weather.
Two other sons of Rebiya Kadeer, Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim, were
sentenced on 27 November 2006 to heavy fines, and Alim also received a
prison sentence of seven years on charges of tax evasion. Their
sentencing came one day after Rebiya Kadeer was elected president of the
World Uighur Congress. Since her release from prison in 2005 and her
arrival in the United States, Ms. Kadeer has campaigned actively for
greater human rights protections for China's ethnic Uighur population.
Ms. Kadeer claims that she was warned by authorities while she was still
in custody that her businesses and children would be "finished" if she
engaged with members of the Uighur ethnic community or spoke publicly
about "sensitive issues" after her release.
I urge your government to guarantee the safety of all members of Rebiya
Kadeer's family in detention and to ensure that they are not subjected
to ill-treatment. I further call on you to bring to an end all human
rights violations directed at them, including arbitrary detention,
police harassment and other restrictions on their freedom of movement
and expression.
Sincerely, Your NAME and ADDRESS
copy to:
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Embassy of People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
OUTFRONT
Ugandan LGBT Activists Fear for Safety
On 8 September, the Ugandan newspaper Red Pepper published a list of 13
women they claim are lesbians. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in
Uganda, and Amnesty International believes that making such allegations
against these women may put them in danger. The article called for
people to name other women suspected of being lesbians in order to "rid
our motherland of the deadly vice".
This is the third instance in recent weeks of Red Pepper openly and
specifically harassing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
people. On 8 August, the newspaper published a similar list of name of
men it claimed were gay. On 7 September, Red Pepper ran an article
naming and picturing another man, supposedly wanted by police for
engaging in "homosexuality activities [sic]". Following the publication
of the list of men on 8 August, Amnesty International received several
reports of harassment of LGBT people who had been named. Some reported
being harassed by colleagues, while others were ostracized by relatives.
Amnesty International strongly condemned the publication of the article
through a public statement issued on 29 August and remains concerned
that the continued targeting of LGBT people by the Red Pepper newspaper
puts those named at high risk of discrimination and violence by
individuals or by the authorities.
BACKGROUND. The naming of those accused of being lesbian or gay adds to
a pattern of abuse against the rights of LGBT people in Uganda. Amnesty
International is concerned that the criminalization of homosexuality, as
provided for in the Ugandan the Penal Code, is providing the legal
grounds on which these abuses are allowed to happen. Amnesty
International has documented some of these instances.
In early June 2006, the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), a
coalition of Christian organizations, stated publicly that it "strongly
and unequivocally deplores all activities linked to the encouragement or
promotion of the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism condemned in
the Bible," claiming that homosexuality constitutes "a perversion of
human sexuality". The UJCC urged "clergy, parents, and people of good
will to design programs aimed at teaching people the dangers associated
with homosexuality and Lesbianism [sic]."
On 20 July 2005, LGBT activist Victor Juliet Mukasa's house was raided
in her absence. A friend who was staying at her house was arrested and
subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment while in police
custody. No warrants were produced prior to the search and her friend
was released without being charged the next morning.
On 5 July 2005, the Ugandan parliament voted for a constitutional
amendment stating that "marriage is lawful only if entered into between
a man and a woman". The amendment further declared that it was "unlawful
for same-sex couples to marry".
In October 2004, a radio station was compelled to pay a fine for hosting
a live talk show with sexual rights activists discussing discrimination
against LGBT people in Uganda and their need for HIV/AIDS services. The
Broadcasting Council imposed a fine of approximately US$1,000, claiming
that the program was "contrary to public morality" and breached existing
laws.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern at the publication on 8 September by the Red Pepper
newspaper of a list of women accused of being lesbians;
- expressing concern that the ongoing targeting of LGBT people by Red
Pepper has put them in danger;
- urging the authorities to investigate fully all reports of attacks on
lesbians or gay men, or people alleged to be lesbian or gay;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence against lesbians and gay men is
forbidden in accordance with the international standards, such as the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Uganda is
a state party.
APPEALS TO:
President Yoweri Museveni
Parliament Building
PO Box 7168
Kampala
Uganda
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Justice:
Makubuya Kiddu
Parliament Building
PO Box 7183
Kampala
Uganda
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire
Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
5911 - 16th St. NW
Washington DC 20011
Email: ambuganda@aol.com
RIGHTS READERS
Human Rights Book Discussion Group
Keep up with Rights Readers at http://rightsreaders.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 18, 6:30 PM
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena
The Inheritance of Loss
by Kiran Desai
In a crumbling, isolated house at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the
Himalayas lives an embittered judge who wants only to retire in peace,
when his orphaned granddaughter, Sai, arrives on his doorstep. The
judge's cook watches over her distractedly, for his thoughts are claimed
by his son, Biju, who is hopscotching from one gritty New York
restaurant to another. When an Indian-Nepali insurgency in the mountains
interrupts Sai's exploration of the many incarnations and facets of a
romance with her Nepali tutor, and causes their lives to descend into
chaos, they are forced to consider their colliding interests.
In a generous vision, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, Desai presents the
human quandaries facing a panoply of characters. This majestic novel of
a busy, grasping time -- every moment holding out the possibility of hope
or betrayal -- illuminates the consequences of colonialism and global
conflicts of religion, race, and nationalism.
LETTER COUNT
USA Death Penalty 9
Urgent Actions 24
Winter Holiday Action 225
Total: 258
To add your letters to the total contact lwkamp@sbcglobal.net
DENOUNCE TORTURE
Sample Letter for Qatari Man held in S. Carolina
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
email: comments@whitehouse.gov
Dear Mr. President:
I am deeply concerned that Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri continues to be
held indefinitely in military custody in South Carolina without charge
or trial. Mr. al-Marri, a Qatari national and U.S. immigrant, has been
held in U.S. military custody without charge or trial since June 2003
under an executive order designating him an "enemy combatant" Initially
arrested in December 2001 and charged with fraud and making false
statements, he remains in conditions of extreme isolation in a military
prison. He had reportedly entered the U.S. legally with his wife and
five children on September 10, 2001, to pursue post-graduate studies.
Mr. al-Marri has filed an appeal in federal court challenging the
lawfulness of his detention. In November 2006 your administration filed
a motion seeking to have his appeal dismissed on the grounds that the
federal courts no longer had jurisdiction in the case. The government
based its motion on the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which contains
troubling provisions that violate the foundations of American justice,
including one that strips the right of federal courts to hear habeas
corpus appeals or other claims brought by "enemy combatants" regardless
of location.
Mr. al-Marri reportedly can have no contact with anyone from the outside
world other than his attorneys and occasional visits from
representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. A
complaint filed in federal court in August 2005 described how Mr.
al-Marri's physical and mental state had deteriorated due to his
conditions of confinement.
I urge you to see to it that Ali al-Marri is charged with a recognizable
criminal offense and brought to trial without further delay, in
accordance with international law and standards, or else released. I
call on you to alleviate his conditions of incarceration so that he is
not held in isolation and is allowed visits from and communication with
his family. Court oversight of the detention and treatment of people in
custody is a fundamental protection against arbitrary detention or cruel
treatment. All detained persons are entitled to basic legal safeguards,
including the right to habeas corpus. I urge you to seek amendments to
the Military Commissions Act that restore these safeguards in conformity
with international law.
Sincerely, Your NAME and ADDRESS
Copy to:
The Honorable Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
email: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
CORPORATE ACTION NETWORK
Environmentalists Fear for Safety in Peru
Father Marco Arana and Dr Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin have received
repeated death threats and have been followed and filmed both at work
and at home. The threats and harassment appear to be directly linked to
their work for the Comprehensive Training for Sustainable Development
Group (Grupo de Formación e Integración para el Desarrollo Sostenible,
GRUFIDES), a human rights and environmental organization. Their lives,
and those of others associated with GRUFIDES, may be in danger.
GRUFIDES members have been the target of threats and intimidation in
recent months. All of these incidents have been reported to the
authorities but no action has been taken to investigate them, or to
offer protection to those at risk.
On 31 August, Dr Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin, Executive Director of
GRUFIDES, received an anonymous telephone call in which she was told "Te
vamos a violar y luego te vamos a matar" (We will rape you and then we
will kill you). Father Marco Arana, a member of GRUFIDES, received
anonymous death threats by telephone on both 3 and 4 August. On 27
September, Father Arana's niece received a telephone call in which she
was told: "Dile a tu tio que no se meta, le vamos a disparar un balazo
en la cabeza" (Tell your uncle not to get involved, we will put a bullet
through his head). Father Marco Arana and Dr. Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin,
as well as other members of GRUFIDES, have apparently also been followed
by unidentified individuals on motorbikes, and have also been filmed and
photographed in the street. On 23 September, the home of a member of
GRUFIDES was broken into, and documents and computer files relating to
the work of the organization were searched. Nothing was taken in the raid.
GRUFIDES is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on sustainable
development and environmental issues based in the city of Cajamarca, in
Cajamarca Province. It is actively supporting communities opposing the
Yanacocha gold mining project led by a US corporation, in Cajamarca
Province. GRUFIDES has also been monitoring and evaluating the
Environmental Impact Studies presented by the mining company to the
Ministry of Energy and Mines.
Following an accident in which a lorry carrying mercury spilled some of
its load near the Yanacocha mine, rural communities fear the potential
environmental impact of the expansion of the Yanacocha mining project.
Allegedly, local residents were not informed of the spill, and symptoms
of mercury poisoning were apparently experienced by some members of the
community.
GRUFIDES works closely with campesino (peasant) communities, providing
them with training and legal advice. It has recently become involved in
supporting the cases of two campesino activists who were allegedly
assassinated, one in August and one in November 2006, apparently as a
result of their opposition to the expansion of the Yanacocha mining
project. The threats against GRUFIDES staff and members appear to have
started shortly after the first alleged assassination.
BACKGROUND. In August 2006, scores of demonstrators were injured and one
was shot dead during violent clashes with police and security personnel
of Yanacocha's gold mining project in Cajamarca Province. The
demonstrators had blocked a road to protest against the expansion of the
Yanacocha mining project.
On 2 November, Edmundo Becerra Corina, an environmentalist and an
opponent of Yanacocha's gold mining project, was shot dead in
Yanacanchilla, Cajamarca province. He had reportedly received several
death threats because of his opposition to the expansion of the mining
company's activities in the region. The attack took place days before he
was due to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
GRUFIDES is investigating the assassination of Edmundo Becerra Corina,
and has provided support for the families of those protestors that were
injured and killed in the demonstrations in August. Amnesty
International is not aware of results of investigations into any of
these incidents.
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of all staff of GRUFIDES, after
anonymous death threats were received by Father Marco Arana and Dr
Mirtha Vasquez Chuquilin, and other members of the organization were
repeatedly followed and filmed;
- urging the authorities to take steps to guarantee the safety of
GRUFIDES staff, in accordance with their own wishes;
- urging the authorities to carry out an independent and impartial
investigation of the intimidation of GRUFIDES staff and members, making
the results public and bringing those responsible to justice;
- urging the authorities to send a clear public message that they will
not tolerate intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders
- expressing concern for the death of two environmental activists as
well as the violent clashes between demonstrators, security personnel
from the mining company and the police;
- requesting that Amnesty International be informed of the results of
any investigation into these incidents.
APPEALS TO:
Dra. Adelaida Flora Bolívar Arteaga
Fiscalía de la Nación
Av. Abancay, cuadra 5 s/n, Lima 1, PERU
Salutation: Sra. Fiscal de la Nación
Sr. Juan Gualberto Valdivía Romero
Ministro de Energía y Minas
Ministerio de Energía y Minas
Av. Las Artes Sur 260, San Borja
Lima 41, PERÚ
Salutation: Sr. Ministro
COPIES TO:
Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero Costa
Embassy of Peru
1700 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20036