Group 48 Newsletter - January 2009

Grant humanitarian workers immediate access to Gaza now AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA December 31, 2008 Possible Israeli Ground Incursion into Gaza Risks Increase in Civilian Casualties, Warns Amnesty International: Human Rights Organization Reiterates Call to Grant Humanitarian Workers Immediate Access to Gaza (Washington) — Amnesty International expressed great concern today that a ground incursion into Gaza by Israeli forces could greatly increase civilian casualties. “Israeli forces must bear in mind that there are no ‘safe’ places in Gaza for civilians to seek shelter. They know how densely populated the Jabalia Refugee Camp is and that the homes there are flimsy structures with asbestos roofs not able to withstand the effect of strikes. Strikes are virtually sure to kill and injure civilians,” said Amnesty International. “The Israeli army must always choose means and methods of attack that are least likely to harm civilians. Amnesty International urges all parties not to target civilians and not to carry out indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks that put civilian lives in danger.” As the number of casualties continues to mount, civilians in Gaza are in increasingly dire need of food, medical and other emergency assistance, Amnesty International said today. International humanitarian and human rights workers, as well as journalists, have not been allowed into Gaza by the Israeli army since the beginning of November, with the exception of a few journalists who were allowed in for a couple of days earlier in December. “Humanitarian workers, journalists and human rights monitors are urgently needed to assess needs, report violations and publicize the reality of the situation on the ground,” said Amnesty International. Amnesty International believes that risk to civilians is increased by artillery attacks on Gaza launched from Israeli gunboats off the coast. In the past, such artillery fire into densely populated areas has been inaccurate, causing Israel to desist after the attacks caused high numbers of civilian casualties. As attacks continue, Amnesty International called on the Israeli authorities, the Hamas de-facto administration and all other Palestinian armed groups to stop all unlawful attacks. They must not target civilians and buildings not being used for military purposes, whether through air or artillery strikes or home-made rockets, and must take all precautions necessary to protect civilians from the dangers caused by military operations. The following are examples of individual women and children killed by Israeli attacks since Saturday, Dec. 27: · On Dec. 27, seven students were killed outside a United Nations school just after lessons finished as they left for home. The Israeli bombardment started at about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, a day and time when the streets are very busy, particularly as children finish school just after midday. At this time, the initial bombardment was at its most intense. · On Dec. 27, Muhammad al-Awadi finished his exam and left the al Carmel School in the Rimal district of downtown Gaza City

Amnesty International Group 48 Newsletter January 2009

www.aipdx.org 503-227-1878 Next Meeting: Friday, January 9th First Unitarian Church 1011 SW 12th Ave 7:00pm informal gathering 7:30 Meeting starts

at about 11:30 a.m. to return to the orphanage where he lived with his brother Ahmed. Muhammad was fatally wounded when a bomb was dropped on the nearby police station just as he came out of the school. After treatment by the intensive care unit of Gaza City Hospital, Muhammad died the evening of December 30. · On Dec. 28, five sisters from the Baalousha family aged four to 17, (Jawhir, 4; Dina, 8; Samar, 12; Ikram, 14; and Tahrir, 17) were killed in their home in Jabalia Refugee Camp, located north of Gaza city in Gaza’s most densely populated area. Four other child siblings were injured when the mosque near their home was bombed. Their homes, as well as others, were destroyed and damaged. · During the night of Dec. 28-29, three brothers from the al-Absi family aged three to 14 years old (Sedqi, 3; Ahmad, 12; and Muhammad, 14) were killed along with their mother and several other siblings were injured when their home was destroyed by an Israeli strike on a refugee camp in Rafah, south Gaza. Since the beginning of the offensive on Dec. 27, more than 360 Palestinians have been killed, including scores of unarmed civilians, including some 70 women and children. Some 1,700 Palestinians have also been injured. Four Israeli civilians have also been killed and scores injured as all Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, including the armed wing of the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas’ al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, have continued to launch rockets from Gaza into southern Israel. Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. Contact: AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200 x302, [email protected] http://aipdx.org/2009/01/03/urge-secretary-rice-to-callon-israel-and-hamas-to-cease-all-unlawful-attacks/ http://aipdx.org/2009/01/02/grant-humanitarian-workers-immediate-access-to-gaza-now/

Central America Regional Action Network RAN ACTION: MEXICO Javier Torres Cruz (m), aged 28 Javier Torres Cruz was released on 13 December, after being abducted on 3 December. On his return, he had a number of bruises, particularly on his hands, and complained of strong abdominal pains. His family stated that he was blindfolded and did not know where he had been held, and they believed that those who detained him were soldiers. Amnesty International believes that Javier Torres Cruz and his relatives are still in danger. Javier Torres Cruz is from the tiny community of La Morena, Petatlán municipality, Guerrero state, and a member of a grassroots organization, Organización Ecologista de la Sierra de Coyuca y Petatlán (Environmental Organization of the Coyuca and Petatlan Mountains). At 5 am on 13 November, a group of about 100 soldiers went to La Morena in order to find Javier Torres Cruz and two of his brothers. The three brothers were not there at the time, but according to relatives, soldiers searched four houses. They also threatened, slapped and pointed their guns at women and children. That same evening, a group of about 30 armed men in plain clothes also came to the community in order to find Javier Torres Cruz and his brothers. They too, could not locate them. In September 2007, Javier Torres Cruz and his uncle had testified against a local political boss (cacique) following his alleged involvement in the death of human rights defender, Digna Ochoa y Plácido, in Mexico City in 2001. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language: - calling on the authorities to provide Javier Torres Cruz and members of his family with adequate protection, in accordance with their wishes; - expressing concern at the abduction and torture of Javier Torres Cruz, who may have been detained by soldiers on 3 December; - calling on the authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the abduction and torture of Javier Torres Cruz, and bring those responsible to justice.

A gathering before the storm On the Friday before the snow storm hit Portland, Group 48 members gathered for the annual holiday potluck and write cards and letters as part of the Holiday Card Action and Global Write-a-thon. Members utilized the new Group 48 website (http://aipdx.org) to indicate what they would bring to the gathering, resulted in an array of great food and drinks. The Holiday Card Action consisted of 12 cases ranging from Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Rwanda, China and more. The Global Write-a-thon was also as extensive, 14 cases altogether. It was tough to decide which cases to write in less than one and a half hour. All in all, members completed 45 greeting cards and 18 letters. Thank you all for coming and contributing to the food and supplies. Joanne

APPEALS TO: Attorney General of the Republic Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza Procurador General de la República Procuraduría General de la República, Av. Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213, Piso 16 Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06500, MEXICO Salutation: Señor Procurador General/Dear Attorney General Governor of Guerrero Lic. Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo Gobernador del Estado de Guerrero Palacio de Gobierno, Edificio Centro, piso 2, Ciudad de los Servicios CP 39075, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, MÉXICO Email: [email protected] Salutation: Señor Gobernador / Dear Governor Attorney General of Guerrero Lic. Eduardo Murueta Urrutia Procurador del Estado de Guerrero Carretera Nacional México-Acapulco Km. 6+300 Tramo Chilpancingo-Petaquillos Chilpancingo 39090, Guerrero, MÉXICO Salutation: Dear Attorney / Señor Procurador Marylou Noble Central America RAN Coordinator

AI Group 48 Contact Info

Phone Guy Marty Fromer 503-227-1878 [email protected] Concert & Event Tabling Will Ware 503-227-5225 ww_ware at yahoo.com

Legislative Coordinator Dan Johnson, 503-310-4540 [email protected] China RAN Joanne Lau, 971-221-5450 [email protected]

Treasurer Janan Stoll, 503-282-8834 [email protected]

Philippine/Indonesia RAN Max White, 503-292-8168 [email protected]

Central Africa RAN Christine Glenn, Terrie Rodello 503-452-8087 [email protected]

Central American RAN Marylou Noble 503-245-6923 [email protected]

OR State Death Penalty Coordinator Terrie Rodello, 503-246-6836 [email protected]

Newsletter Editor / Designer Dan Webb (503) 253-3491 [email protected]

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Indonesia: Crackdown on freedom of expression in Maluku 17 December 2008 At least 70 people have been arrested or imprisoned for peaceful pro-independence activities in the province of Maluku, Indonesia over the last two years, Amnesty International revealed today. The Indonesian government should immediately and unconditionally release all those detained for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, belief and association. New research indicates that at least 22 of them were severely tortured in detention. The 22 activists, led by Johan Teterissa, were arrested on the 29 June 2007 after performing a traditional war dance in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the city of Ambon, the capital. The dance culminated with the activists unfurling the Benang Raja flag, a symbol of the Maluku independence movement. After their performance the police, particularly the anti-terrorist unit Detachment-88, detained all 22 of them. They were not granted access to legal representation and held incommunicado. They were beaten, forced to crawl on their stomachs over hot asphalt, whipped with an electric cable and had billiard balls forced into their mouths. The police also beat them on the side of the head with rifle butts until their ears bled and fired shots close to their ears.

Indonesia: Investigate forcible destruction of homes by the police in Riau December, 23 2008 Indonesian authorities should immediately investigate the forcible destruction of an estimated 300 homes in the village of Suluk Bongka on 18 December, Amnesty International said today. Local sources told Amnesty International that two children died during the confrontation and that nearly 400 villagers are still homeless and living in a nearby forest. Fifty eight people remain in police custody. “Hundreds of people are now living in the forest, their homes destroyed, and two families are grieving the loss of their children. The Indonesian government should immediately investigate why and how this happened, and specifically examine the role of local law enforcement officials in this incident,” said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Indonesia campaigner. Around 700 local security forces fired bullets and tear gas to evict the residents of the village in the province of Riau on the eastern coast of Sumatra. The police were assisted by Satpol PP (Municipal Administrative Police Unit), Pamswakarsa (civilian security groups) and civilians apparently hired to carry out the eviction. Local sources reported a two-year-old died after she fell down a well during the confrontation, while a two-month-old baby died from burn injuries. Two other people suffered gunshot wounds. As the villagers fled into the forest, two helicopters then dropped what was thought to be a fire accelerant on the village of Suluk Bongkal, Bengkalis, burning to the ground around 300 homes. Bulldozers then went in and flattened the area completely. The villagers have been engaged in a land dispute with the pulpwood supply company PT Arara Abadi since 1996, when the Indonesian forestry ministry gave the company management rights for industrial farming. Since then, the company has tried to evict the villagers but official letters from the Ministry of Forestry and the Riau Governor in 2007 stated clearly that the company could not start operations until the dispute had been settled.

The police threatened them continually with further torture, sometimes at gunpoint, to force them to confess. Twenty one of them, including Johan have since received sentences of between seven and 20 years’ imprisonment for ‘rebellion’ under Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesia Criminal Code, while one is still awaiting trial. In the past two years another 48 people have been arrested and imprisoned on charges of subversion, some for up to 17 years, for activities such as owning, sewing or transporting the ‘Benang Raja’ flag. The most recent arrest took place on 18 July 2008. One of those imprisoned for subversion is Simon Saiya, who was also forced to confess his involvement in “terrorist” activities after torture and other ill-treatment by the police. Amnesty International has received information that he is being detained in a police cell at the police mobile brigade (Brimob) detention centre in Tantui, Ambon awaiting trial and is concerned about his safety. The Indonesian authorities should conduct an effective and independent investigation into the allegations of human rights violations by members of the security forces in Ambon, Maluku, including the torture and other ill-treatment of detainees; and prosecute those found to be responsible. h t t p : / / w w w . a m n e s t y u s a . o r g / document.php?lang=e&id=ENGASA210212008

The eviction of Suluk Bongka’s residents occurred without any resolution of the dispute and without the residents receiving any prior warning or being served official papers. The police initially detained around 200 people. Fifty eight people are still in detention at the polres Bengkalis (district police station) Police are preventing human rights organisations from entering the area. Komnas HAM, the national human rights commission, has stated that it will, nonetheless, try to send an investigation team in and provide protection for villagers who had lodged complaints with them. Amnesty International urgently calls on: • the police to release those currently detained, or charge them with recognizably criminal offences; • the police to allow access to the area to Komnas HAM and human rights groups; • the Indonesian government to ensure the safety of villagers still in the forest, and provide essential shelter, water and food for those villagers made homeless; • the Indonesian government to order an immediate investigation into the use of excessive lethal force by the police and into the deaths of the two children, with those found responsible brought to justice; • the Indonesian government to provide reparation for those who have lost their homes. “The immediate priority is the welfare of those villagers forced to live in the forest. Little information is coming out about the situation, which is why the Indonesian authorities need to act urgently to allow local organisations in, or at least provide more detailed information about how they are looking after these citizens,” said Josef Benedict. http://www.amnestyusa.org/ document.php?lang=e&id=ENGPRE200812238799

Send New Year Cards to Chinese Authorities Chinese New Year is the most important celebration in the Chinese culture. Sometimes called the Lunar New Year, the festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar (which is January 26 in 2009) and ends 15 days later. This year, AIUSA is asking individuals to mark Chinese New Year by sending greeting cards to the Chinese authorities, wishing them a happy new year and asking them to release Shi Tao, a Chinese journalist imprisoned for sending an email to a pro-democracy website in the US. Look for Chinese New Year greeting cards at your local Asian stores. If you don’t have access to an Asian market, you can make your own cards or try the following links (print the card in color, fold it, and use an envelope of appropriate size): http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3030/g00006/downloads/ chinesenew0001_k04l4e.pdf http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3030/g00595/downloads/ chinesenew0009_n04l4e.pdf

When you write to Chinese government authorities, please follow these guidelines: · Feel free to add your own words of concern about Shi Tao and about the restrictions on freedom of expression in China. · Sample message: “You can help bring good news to a prisoner of conscience and his family in the New Year. Please release Shi Tao from prison.” · Airmail postage from the U.S. to China for a 1 or 2-sheet letter is 94 cents ($0.94). · While Chinese New Year begins on January 26, 2009, you can continue sending cards to the authorities through mid-February.

Addresses for Chinese Government Authorities President of the People’s Republic of China HU Jintao Guojia Zhuxi The State Council General Office 2 Fuyoujie Xichengqu Beijingshi 100017 People’s Republic of China Salutation: Your Excellency Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong Embassy of the People’s Republic of China 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 Salutation: Your Excellency

Amnesty Internatinal Facts and Figures: Illegal US Detentions AI Index: AMR 51/147/2008 - 11 January 2009 marks 7 years since the first detainees were transferred to Guantánamo. - Nearly 800 detainees have been held in Guantánamo, the vast majority without charge or trial. - Approximately 250 detainees were still held in December 2008. Nearly 100 of them were Yemenis. - As of December 2008, 26 Guantánamo detainees had been charged for trial by military commission; 3 had been convicted and sentenced; charges against 6 had been dismissed (although they could be re-charged); 6 were facing the death penalty - By December 2008, approximately 520 detainees had been released from Guantánamo to other countries since 2002, including Albania, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen. - A majority of those detained are believed to be held in isolation in Camp 5, Camp 6 or Camp 7. - Camp 6 was built to house 178 detainees. Detainees are confined for a minimum of 22 hours a day in individual steel cells with no windows to the outside. - At least 12 of those held at Guantánamo were under 18 years old when taken into custody. At least three were still there in De-

cember 2008 - At least 4 men are reported to have died in Guantánamo as a result of suicide. Dozens more suicide attempts have been reported. - Detainees have been taken into custody in more than 10 countries before being transferred to Guantánamo without any judicial process. - An analysis of around 500 of the detainees concluded that only 5 per cent had been captured by US forces; 86 per cent had been arrested by Pakistani or Afghanistan-based Northern Alliance forces and turned over to US custody, often for a reward of thousands of US dollars. - 14 detainees were transferred to Guantánamo in September 2006 after they had been held incommunicado in secret CIA custody for up to 4 and a half years; 5 other men have been transferred to Guantánamo since, at least two of them from secret CIA custody. - An unknown number of people have been held in secret CIA custody. At least three dozen people believed to have been held in secret remain unaccounted for, their fate and whereabouts unknown. - Hundreds of people remain detained without charge, trial or judicial review of their detentions at the US air base in Bagram, Afghanistan. www.amnesty.org/counter-terror-with-justice

Central Africa Regional Action Network

Call for and end to attacks on humanitarian aid workers On December 22, 2008, Amnesty International issued an online appeal to stop attacks on humanitarian workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-foraction/humanitarian-access-drc-displaced-hindered-attacks). It appeals to the leaders of the armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and asks them to use their influence to end attacks against humanitarian workers. Please urge your fellow Amnesty International members, activists and anyone interested to take this action or send the appeal directly to the leaders shown below... The following is the text of this online action for your use and distribution. Due to the lack of a reliable postal delivery system, Amnesty International requests that if possible, email actions be sent to the leaders HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO DRC DISPLACED HINDERED BY ATTACKS Thousands of Congolese people fled across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border into Uganda in late November. An Amnesty International research team was present, recording their stories. Many of those fleeing had been on the road for days, carrying what few possessions they had been able to gather in the moments before an armed group attack swept down on their towns and villages. Many told the research team how they had been robbed by marauding gunmen on the roads leading to the border inside DRC. Others witnessed abductions of civilians by armed group fighters, usually to serve as porters to carry looted goods. A large proportion of those fleeing were children, many of whom had become separated from their parents during their flight. Around 30,000 have so far sought refuge in Uganda. Elisa, 18 and heavily pregnant, told Amnesty International that her husband had been shot dead a few meters from their home in Kiwanja by armed group fighters who had then stolen his motorbike. “We had only been married for six months,” she said. She fled in fear and spent four days hiding in the bush before returning home to bury her husband. Then she took the road to Uganda with her elderly mother-in-law, walking for more than 50km. Within DRC, tens of thousands of displaced remain beyond humanitarian assistance because of continuing insecurity. These people are often without adequate shelter, food supplies, water or sanitation. More than 10,000 cases of cholera have now been reported in the province. Across North Kivu, many people are too traumatized and afraid to go into their fields to collect food, deepening food insecurity and levels of malnutrition in the province. Amnesty International has received numerous reports of soldiers and armed group members pillaging food stores and stealing crops. Army soldiers and armed group fighters have also deliberately looted food aid after humanitarian distribution. Humanitarian workers, braving the roads without adequate protection, are acutely vulnerable to acts of violence and harass-

ment. On December 15, 2008, a Congolese humanitarian worker was killed by unidentified gunmen in Rutshuru territory. His death brings to more than 100 the number of attacks, vehicle hijacking, shooting and other acts of intimidation against humanitarian workers, vehicles or facilities in North-Kivu since the beginning of 2008. Action Request: Please send a polite email appeal to the following leaders involved in the DRC conflict who can end the attacks on humanitarian workers. Amnesty International is appealing to all parties to the conflict: · To allow unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access to displaced and vulnerable populations. · To immediately end all attacks against humanitarian personnel and property. · To halt the systematic looting of food supplies. Send appeals to: Son Excellence Joseph Kabila Président de la République, Cabinet du Président de la République, Palais de la Nation, Kinshasa/Gombe, République Démocratique du Congo Email: [email protected]

Sample Letter: Dear __________ I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo where hundreds of thousands of people have fled and millions have died in the past ten years. I am very concerned that humanitarian workers, who risk their own safety to bring emergency aid to displaced and vulnerable people, have been victims of numerous acts of violence and harassment. There have been more than 100 attacks, vehicle hijackings, shootings and other acts of intimidation against humanitarian workers, vehicles and facilities in North Kivu since the beginning of 2008, including the killing of a Congolese humanitarian worker by unidentified gunmen on December 15, 2008 in Rutshuru territory. Government and armed group forces have also been responsible for the looting of humanitarian supplies as well as acts of violence and intimidation against displaced people. I am appealing to all you to ensure your forces allow unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access to all displaced and vulnerable populations in North Kivu. I urge you to end immediately all attacks against humanitarian personnel and property and to halt the frequent looting of food and other humanitarian supplies.

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Rights Groups Demand CIA Turn Over 49 Cables Related to Waterboarding Lawsuit Seeks Further CIA and DOJ Documents about Secret Detention, Rendition, and Torture Program (New York and Washington, DC, December 23, 2008) — The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) must turn over information re-

tainee was waterboarded while being held in the CIA’s secret detention program. However, in response to this FOIA litigation, the

garding 49 cables it has admitted it has in its possession related to the waterboarding of Khalid

CIA has refused to adhere to its most basic disclosure obligations.

Sheikh Mohammed, said three human rights groups today.

“We can no longer allow the details of the calculated program of torture inflicted on de-

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), and the

tainees within U.S. custody to remain secret,” said CCR Staff Attorney Gitanjali Gutierrez.

International Human Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law’s Center for Human

“Where convenient, the U.S. government has acknowledged the use of specific torture prac-

Rights and Global Justice (NYU IHRC/CHRGJ) filed papers Monday night, as part of an ongo-

tices. Yet, the government continues to hide behind improper classification arguments in this

ing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit they have brought against multiple government agencies, including the CIA, seeking

case. The public has a right to know what is being done in our name.”

information on the administration’s secret detention, rendition, and torture program.

For more information about the organizations involved, please see their websites: www.amnestyusa.org www.ccrjustice.org or

The human rights advocates are challenging the agency’s refusal to provide these cables related to the waterboarding of Khalid

www.chrgj.org To see the most recent documents from this CIA filing, go to

Mohammed, charging that the government has already publicly admitted the former ghost detainee and current Guantanamo de-

http://www.ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/cia-foia-documents

Amnesty International USA Group 48 Portland, Oregon USA

Amnesty International Group 48 Newsletter January 2009