India: Anti-nuke protestors at risk during Putin visit.

URGENT ACTION

anti-nuke protestors at risk during putin visit

More than 50 persons charged with sedition for leading an 18-month-long protest against the Russian-built nuclear plant at Kudankulam risk detention without charge or trial for planned protests during President Putin’s scheduled visit to Delhi on 24 December.

Among them are Dr S.P. Udayakumar and M. Pushparayan – key leaders of the People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) which is spearheading peaceful protests in Tamil Nadu and planning protests to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Delhi. They risk detention under state security legislation allowing for their detention without charge or trial for up to a year. If tried and convicted they could face life imprisonment.

Six protestors – Lourdesamy, Nazarin, Sindhu Bharat, Thavasikumar, Jesurajan and Santiago Royappan – arrested and since detained without charge or trial for participating in the protests between September and November, have been served with additional orders which could result in further detention for up to a year. The majority of the 50-odd protestors arrested have been released on bail on the condition they stay away from the nuclear plant site. In all, more than 1,000 protestors have been charged with various offences during 2011–2012. The majority of them are from the coastal village of Idinthakarai, which has been at the centre of the protests. They face charges, including defying restrictions on size of gatherings, rioting with deadly weapons and attempting to assault public servants. In March, the Tamil Nadu police baton-charged hundreds of peaceful protestors after police had staged a week-long siege of Idinthakarai, denying essential commodities. In September, the police responded with force when hundreds of protestors marched towards the nuclear plant site. They reportedly used tear gas and baton-charged them. Some 60 protestors were injured, including a child. Some protestors reportedly responded to the violence by throwing sand and stones. Additionally, one person was killed by police firing on protestors in Manappad village. The police later forcibly evicted 500 protestors at Idinthakarai after burning their vehicles and looting their property.

Please write immediately in English or your own language:

Calling on the Indian and Tamil Nadu authorities not to harm peaceful protestors, such as PMANE leaders Dr S.P. Udayakumar and M. Pushparayan, including during President Putin’s visit to India, and to drop any unsubstantiated charges against them;

Expressing concern that the six protestors are arbitrarily detained in violation of international human rights treaties which India is obliged to respect;

Calling on the authorities to release the six protestors, unless they are charged with internationally recognisable offences, remanded by an independent court and tried in fair proceedings.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 01 FEBRUARY 2013 TO:

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Prime Minister of India

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

South Block, Raisina Hill

New Delhi 110 00, India

Fax: +91 11 2301 7931

Email through website:

http://pmindia.nic.in/feedback.php

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Ms.J. Jayalalithaa

Fort St George

Chennai 600 009, India

Email: cmcell@tn.gov.in

Salutation: Dear Chief Minister

Solidarity messages may be sent to:

People’s Movement Against Nuclear

Energy

Dr S. P. Udayakumar

Idinthakarai PO 627104

Tamil Nadu, India

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Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the eighth update of UA 367/11. Further information:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA20/038/2012/en

URGENT ACTION

anti-nuke protestors at risk during putin visit

ADditional Information

Since July 2011, PMANE has been spearheading the protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant which is expected to be commissioned in or after January 2013, following President Putin’s visit to New Delhi on 24 December 2012. Kudankulam’s neighbouring villages were hit by the tsunami that struck South and South-East Asia in December 2004, and local residents are fearful of a radioactive leak if such a disaster strikes again. Dr S.P. Udayakumar states that the expert panel set up by the Indian authorities to conduct a safety assessment, which declared the site safe, has failed to satisfactorily address several site and safety concerns raised by an independent group of experts.

The protests intensified after the March 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan and the protestors believe the project threatens local communities. They fear that the site will affect at least 15,000 people living nearby.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA20/045/2012/en/3d3e4879-7a84-4ea0-976e-8c0575bd50bf/asa200452012en.html

India: vittima di stupro di gruppo, si suicida ragazza di 17 anni.

 

(AMRITSAR - Aveva subito uno stupro di gruppo il 13 novembre scorso e aveva denunciato i suoi aggressori. Una ragazza di 17 anni si è suicidata dopo che un poliziotto aveva cercato di convincerla a ritirare la denuncia e a sposare uno dei suoi aggressori. La ragazza - secondo quanto appreso da fonti della polizia e della sua famiglia - è stata trovata morta ieri sera, dopo aver ingerito del veleno. La violenza era avvenuta durante un festival Diwali nella regione di Patial nello Stato di Punjab, a nord del Paese. Dopo la violenza si era rivolta alla polizia, denunciando gli stupratori, ma "uno dei poliziotti ha cercato di convincerla a ritirare la denuncia", ha riferito una fonte di polizia sottolineando che la giovane si è opposta più volte al ritiro dell'esposto.

http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2012/12/27/news/india_vittima_di_stupro_di_gruppo_si_suicida_ragazza_di_17_anni-49542082/?ref=HREC1-5

MALDIVES - AG drafts bill outlining executing death sentence, favours lethal injection.

Attorney General Azima Shukoor has drafted a bill outlining how the death sentence should be executed in the Maldives, with lethal injection being identified as the state’s preferred method of capital punishment.

Shukoor today held a press conference to provide local media with information about the bill, which is also to be opened for public comment.

The Attorney General’s Office has said that it has looked to procedures followed by Egypt, Malaysia and the US in carrying out the death sentence, while also obtaining the opinions of religious scholars and lawyers when drafting the bill.

With the bill favouring the use of lethal injection to execute suspected criminals, Shukoor said the proposals would be open for public comment for one month.

http://minivannews.com/society/ag-drafts-bill-outlining-executing-death-sentence-favours-lethal-injection-49351

AI Nepal Activities - Activists Urged to Ensure Migrant's Rights.

International Migrants Day Observed

Marking International Migration Day, a demonstration and signature collection program organized in front of Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) on 18th December, 2012. In an hour long event participants holding plea-cards urged Government of Nepal to ensure better protection of Nepalese migrant workers.

The program was jointly organized by Amnesty International Nepal, Centre for Labour and Social Study (Class Nepal) and Union Network International (UNI) Nepal. Human rights activists, trade union leaders and others actively participated in the program.

The event was integrated with signature collection campaign urging protection of the migrant workers who are facing various trouble in abroad. In the same event campaigning material, "Know Your Rights", booklet containing useful and practical information regarding rights of migrant workers were also distributed.

The event was successful to convey message directly to the Nepali citizen planning to go abroad for the sake of work.

Addressing the concluding session, Advisor of AI Nepal Krishna Kandel, Chairperson of UNI Nepal Lekh Prasad Burlakoti, representative of Class Nepal Mahendra Prasad Yadav, Deputy Secretary General of All Nepal Trade Union Federation Dhan Bahadur BK and Vice-chairperson of Nepal Trade Union Congress (Independent) Ganesh Niroula urged Government to ensure the migrant rights. The program was coordinated by AI Nepal's affiliated Labour Group-8, Kathmandu.

On 4 December 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day.

http://www.amnestynepal.org/campaigns/ai-nepal-activities/activists-urged-to-ensure-migrant-s-rights.html

Afghanistan, 200 bambini nel carcere Usa di Bagram: la denuncia di Human Rights Watch .

 

 Nella prigione della base aerea statunitense di Bagram, a nord di Kabul, sono detenuti almeno 200 ragazzini in violazione di tutte le norme internazionali. Lo ha denunciato l'organizzazione umanitaria Human Rights Watch (HRW). Una ricercatrice dell'organizzazione, Heather Barr, ha detto a Tolo Tv che "gli Stati Uniti hanno ammesso che a Bagram sono effettivamente detenuti oltre 200 bambini e adolescenti che sono stati arrestati dalle forze militari statunitensi".
Hrw, ha precisato Barr, “ha denunciato questa specifica situazione alle Nazioni Unite" sia perché dei minori sono detenuti in una base militare, sia perché il loro trattamento è contrario alle regole internazionali.
Ad esempio, ha concluso, "molti di questi ragazzini sono tenuti in celle insieme agli adulti, cosa che non è accettabile in base agli standard internazionali". I bambini, inoltre, non “hanno l’accesso di cui dovrebbero godere ai servizi educativi e ad altri programmi per l’infanzia. Il direttore di Human Rights alle Nazioni Unite, Georgette Gagnon, ha assicurato che la questione verrà analizzata con attenzione e che la denuncia di Human Rights Watch non cadrà nel vuoto.

http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2012/12/12/afghanistan-duecento-bambini-in-carcere-usa_n_2283001.html?utm_hp_ref=italia-diritti

INDIA - Quell’ennesimo stupro che fa scendere le donne indiane in piazza] Quell’ennesimo stupro che fa scendere le donne indiane in piazza.

E’ stata violentata domenica scorsa a Delhi. La ragazza, 23 anni, studentessa di medicina, stava tornando a casa con un bus dopo le lezioni. Cinque uomini sono saliti a bordo  e l’hanno stuprata per oltre tre ore e mezza con una spranga di ferro. Il ragazzo che era con lei invece è stato picchiato a sangue.

La ragazza da due giorni è ricoverata a Delhi in terapia intensiva. Ha subìto quattro operazioni chirurgiche nel tentativo di salvare l’intestino che, secondo i medici, era in condizioni “disperate”.

Ora in tutta la capitale sono in corso manifestazioni di protesta contro il governo centrale guidato dall’Indian National Congress (Inc) – che controlla anche la municipalità di Delhi –  responsabile della mancata sicurezza di Delhi, soprannominata dall’opposizione in parlamento “la capitale degli stupri”. C’è anche chi chiede la pena di morte per i colpevoli (che nel frattempo sono stati arrestati). Ma per le strade di New Dehli serpeggia una rabbia diffusa nei confronti di uno stato che non protegge le sue cittadine. Di recente a seguito di uno stupro è morta anche una ragazzina di 10 anni.

A guardare i dati infatti dire che viene da rabbrividire è dire poco. Nel 2012, nella sola città di Delhi, sono stati denunciati più di 630 stupri. Gli ultimi dati disponibili a livello nazionale, risalenti al 2010, parlano di oltre 22mila stupri denunciati nel Paese.

MORE:  http://27esimaora.corriere.it/articolo/quellennesimo-stupro-che-fa-scendere-le-donne-indiane-in-piazza/

INDIA URGENT ACTION - Human rights defender at risk of torture: Aparna Marandi.

UA: 359/12 Index: ASA 20/043/2012 India Date: 17 December 2012

URGENT ACTION

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AT RISK OF TORTURE

Aparna Marandi, a long-time human rights defender who has been repeatedly targeted by the state government for her activities, was arrested on 8 December. She is being detained in Jharkhand, India and is at imminent risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

Aparna Marandi, accompanied by her four year-old son Alok Marandi and three others, was approached by plain clothes policemen after boarding a train from Jharkhand to Hyderabad on 8 December. Aparna Marandi has, for nearly four years, sought to free her activist husband from detention. She was arrested for her alleged involvement in two protests, one which occurred six years ago, and another which took place on 30 November. All were taken into custody at Ranchi women’s police station where they remained until 10 December. They were not presented before a magistrate within 24 hours - in violation of Indian law - and were allegedly subjected to ill-treatment while in custody.

The three other individuals, one a child of 16, were released on 10 December after being forced to sign statements stating they had been arrested on 9 December, instead of 8.

Aparna Marandi and her son were reportedly brought before a magistrate in Ranchi on 10 December and then remanded to police custody and taken to Dumka jail. There are concerns that she may be held incommunicado. Her friends and fellow activists have attempted to contact the police station at Dumka to determine her whereabouts and condition, but as of 14 December police have refused to disclose any information. Authorities have also not responded to a request for details of the charges brought against Marandi.

Please write immediately in English, Hindi or your own language:

Urging the authorities to grant Aparna Marandi and her son immediate access to a lawyer of her choice;

Urging the authorities to protect Aparna Marandi and her son from torture and other ill-treatment;

Urging the authorities to initiate an independent and impartial investigation into the police behaviour and allegations of ill-treatment during Aparna Marandi and her companions’ detention between 8-10 December at Ranchi women’s police station, and hold those responsible for such ill-treatment accountable;

Urging the authorities to desist the practice of arbitrary arrest and detention of individuals in Jharkhand;

Urging the authorities to investigate the detention of two children - 16-year-old Satish and four-year-old Alok - in violation of both the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (2000) and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which India is a state party and thus obligated to uphold.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 28 JANUARY 2013 TO:

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Chief Minister, Jharkhand

Secretariat,

3, Kanke Road, Ranchi,

Jharkhand – 834008, India

Fax: 91-651-2280717

Salutation: Dear Chief Minister

Director General of Police, Jharkhand

G.S. Rath

Police Headquarters, DPRD Building,

HEC Dhurwa, Ranchi,

Jharkhand – 834004, India

Fax: 91-651-2400738

Email: dgp@jhpolice.gov.in

Salutation: Dear Mr Rath

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Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

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URGENT ACTION

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AT RISK OF TORTURE

ADditional Information

The arrest of Aparna Marandi is not an isolated event. The authorities in Jharkhand have used tactics of intimidation to silence many activists from marginalized groups such as the Adivasis (indigenous peoples) and the Dalits who advocate for Adivasi and Dalit rights. Activists in Jharkhand, India are under constant threat of arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment by law enforcement officials for protesting and demonstrating against land grabs and discrimination against Adivasis and Dalits. Many are accused of links to armed opposition groups including the Maoists. 

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA20/043/2012/en/5bd4a41f-4d38-4228-845f-36207b7f1f15/asa200432012en.html