Friday, December 17, 2010

Amnesty International Australia’s response to Wednesday 15 December’s tragic asylum seeker boat crash on Christmas Island

Following reports that a boat carrying asylum seekers crashed off Christmas Island in the early hours of Wednesday 15 December, Andrew Beswick, Campaigns Director for Amnesty International Australia, released this statement: “This tragic incident is a reminder of the very real risks that asylum seekers take in their search for safety. The decision to get on a boat to seek asylum is never taken lightly, and it should be remembered that asylum seekers who come to Australia are human beings asking for our help.” “In the vast majority of cases, asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat are found to be genuine refugees fleeing violence and persecution. Today’s events are a distressing reminder of the heavy price that these people sometimes pay in their search for protection.” “While the exact details of this incident are still emerging, it is a reminder of the fact that human beings are at the heart of the debate around asylum seekers.” “Nobody wants to see asylum seekers risking their lives by undertaking dangerous boat journeys in search of safety. However, in reality, the only way of preventing asylum seekers from attempting such journeys is to provide them with viable alternatives. This includes increasing the capacity and willingness of countries across the Asia Pacific to protect refugees.”

Amnesty International Australia also made statements concerning the tragedy in the following media:

Sunrise, Channel 7, 16 Dec 2010, ‘Risking it all for a better life’: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/play/-/8520500/asylum-seeker-tragedy/

SMH, AFP, 15 Dec 2010, ‘At least 27 dead in Australia boat tragedy’: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/at-least-27-dead-in-australia-boat-tragedy-20101215-18xu8.html

The Age, AAP, 15 Dec 2010, ‘At least 27 die in Xmas Island boat crash’: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/at-least-27-die-in-xmas-island-boat-crash-20101215-18xkt.html

The Australian, 16 Dec 2010, ‘Refugee policy blamed for wreck’: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/refugee-policy-blamed-for-wreck/story-fn59niix-1225971755329

If your action group is interested in organising an action in response to this event, such as a candlelight vigil or other awareness raising activity, please contact NSW Community Campaigner, Ruby Johnson:

Tragic incident a harrowing reminder of the dangers facing asylum seekers in their search for safety

MEDIA RELEASE 15 December 2010: Tragic incident a harrowing reminder of the dangers facing asylum seekers in their search for safety

In response to reports that a boat carrying asylum seekers crashed off Christmas Island earlier today, Andrew Beswick, Campaigns Director for Amnesty International Australia, said:
"This tragic incident is a reminder of the very real risks that asylum seekers take in their search for safety. The decision to get on a boat to seek asylum is never taken lightly, and it should be remembered that asylum seekers who come to Australia are human beings asking for our help.

"In the vast majority of cases, asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat are found to be genuine refugees fleeing violence and persecution. Today’s events are a distressing reminder of the heavy price that these people sometimes pay in their search for protection."
"While the exact details of this incident are still emerging, it is a reminder of the fact that human beings are at the heart of the debate around asylum seekers."

"Nobody wants to see asylum seekers risking their lives by undertaking dangerous boat journeys in search of safety. However, in reality, the only way of preventing asylum seekers from attempting such journeys is to provide them with viable alternatives. This includes increasing the capacity and willingness of countries across the Asia Pacific to protect refugees."

Thank you for all your hard work!

Hi everyone,

First I wanted to send my apologies to you all that I was not able to attend the Christmas party this week. Unfortunately I was not able to be there as I am in Melbourne at an all campaign meeting planning all the great work ahead for 2011.

I wanted to be able to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work, tireless campaigning and commitment to Amnesty in 2010.

Highlights for me this year have been the hard work and human rights impact on the refugee campaign, teh work on womens rights in PNG, our work on Burma in solidarity with other Amnesty sections in the Asia Pacific region and all the amazing events and activities organized by action groups.
Hopefully 2011 will also bring great success and quality campaigning with lots planned for the refugee campaign or work on homelands & indigenous rights - and also incredible celebrations as part of AI 50

I look forward to building new actions groups, working with existing action groups and having a 2011 filled with human rights impact.

Have a great Christmas break and see you all in the new year!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Refugee Campaign Update

We are currently planning training sessions to teach activists how to hold a conversation as part of our ’10 Conversations’ campaign. The first training session will be held in the Action Centre on Thursday 13th January 2011 with two more to follow in late January/early February. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn how to have a conversation about refugees. Further details will be provided in early January.

We will be sending out conversation booklets shortly for those of you who would like to test them out on your family and friends over the Christmas holidays. We would love it if you would give these a go and let us know how you found it.

Furthermore, we will also be holding a brunch at Bondi Beach on Saturday 22 or 29 January 2011 (TBC) to highlight the journeys refugees undertake to reach Australia. The brunch will be held in conjunction with the painting of a mural by local artist Shannon Crees. Shannon’s mural will be based around refugees’ journeys from darkness to light.

AI@50: International "Toast to Freedom" Event

In 2011, we will be 50 years old and what better way to celebrate and kick off a year of events than with a global Toast to Freedom. It directly connects our 50th anniversary to our foundations and tells our story from 1961 to today.
The Toast to Freedom event will take place simultaneously around the globe with many countries taking part and making the event their own.
However, the toast must be more than a brief gesture or moment in time with no longer lasting impacts for human rights. The toast should be communicated as a toast to ‘freedom from fear and freedom from want’ and is also a chance for AI to launch a global action – calling for people to take a stand and take action for human rights in 2011.

Face to Face Locations Starting 13/12/10

Tuesday 14th December - Baulkham Hills, Panania and Singleton

Wednesday 15th December - Baulkham Hills, Summer Hill and Scone

Thursday 16th December - Baulkham Hills, Petersham and Hawks Nest

Friday 17th December - Baulkham Hills, Circular Quay and Muswellbrook

Saturday 18th December - Baulkham Hills and Newcastle

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Face to Face Locations Starting 6/12/10

Monday 6th December - Merimbula and Picton

Tuesday 7th December - Bega and Moss Vale

Wednesday 7th December - Narooma and Goulburn

Thursday 8th December - Batemans Bay

Thursday, December 2, 2010

You are still a charity if you lobby government

Aid/Watch has won its appeal to the High Court against the Tax Office about its charitable status. It had had its charitable status removed by the ATO on the grounds that the majority of its activities were about lobbying the government. Aid/Watch then appealed this decision all the way to the High Court.

The High Court has held that the political lobbying Aid/Watch engaged in through its campaigns to ensure the proper allocation of foreign aid by AusAID did NOT deprive it of its charitable status. The court went further and said that lobbying in and of itself is in the public interest and is for a public benefit so therefore, falls in the definition of a charitable activity. The Court stated that political debate was enshrined in our Constitution and that encouraging public debate by lawful means (i.e. not inciting violence, by bribery etc) concerning relief of poverty is a 'purpose beneficial to the community' under charities law.

Gary Lee, director of Aid/Watch said:

“This decision is a win for freedom of political communication in Australia. It resolves almost a decade of uncertainty for many charities and strengthens the ability of charities to advocate for the public good.
“We are pleased that the High Court has agreed with many of our arguments – that engaging in political debate is an essential part of advocacy work and very much in the public interest.”

This is now the law in Australia.

What does it mean for AIA?

It means that our advocacy and campaigning work cannot deprive us of charitable status - they actually strengthen that status. It means that for other charities who are seeking to persuade the government in the public interest, those activities are now secure by virtue of this judgement. It also overturned in Australian law a case from the UK (McGovern) which involved AI and which had been relied upon a great deal in Australian charities law. That case in 1982 stated that not all of our objects were charitable, for example, those where we try to persuade governments to uphold human rights.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Conversation with Aung San Suu Kyi

Last week a Skype call was established between Burma’s pro-democracy leader and recently released prisoner of conscience, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Director of Amnesty International Malaysia, Nora Murat.

For two nights Amnesty International staff across Australia attempted to call and listen-in on Aung San Suu Kyi’s conversation joined by other youth activists and long time supporters of human rights from around the Asia Pacific region but were unable to get a connection into Burma. It is unknown whether it was the restrictions in Burma or the poor infrastructure that led to the failure to connect however it still highlighted the restrictions on freedom of communication that the people of Burma are being subjected to daily.

After many attempts, the call was finally connected through Skype and during the call Aung San Suu Kyi answered questions from Amnesty International youth activists, including our Australian activist Larnie.

There is now a recording available online to listen to the call between Aung San Suu Kyi and Nora Murat that some of our NSW office was lucky enough to listen-in on.
The recording can be found here: http://www.amnesty.org.au/crisis/comments/24272/

Monday, November 29, 2010

Face to Face Locations Starting 29.11.10

Monday 29th November - Lismore and Berry

Tuesday 30th November - Casino and Wollongong

Wednesday 1st December - Maclean and Port Kembla

Thursday 2nd December - Grafton and Nowra

Friday 3rd December - Maclean and Shellharbour

Saturday 4th Decemeber - Grafton and Wollongong

Thursday, November 18, 2010

UN votes again to End Executions

On 11 November 2010 the UN General Assembly's Third Committee adopted its third resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The resolution was adopted by 107 votes in favour, 38 against with 36 abstentions. The breakdown of these votes in the Asia Pacific region was: 17 votes in favour; 11 against; with 8 abstentions.

More votes favoured the resolution than the last resolution in 2008. It is now expected to be endorsed at the plenary session of the UN GA in mid-December.

The following countries from Asia and the Pacific positively changed their vote compared to 2008:

Afghanistan (from against to abstention)
Bhutan (from abstention to in favour)
Kiribati (from absent to in favour)
Maldives (from against to in favour)
Mongolia (from against to in favour)
Solomon Islands (from against to abstention)
Thailand (from against to abstention)

This is a notable and positive swing from Asia and the Pacific confirming regional steps towards abolition and the worldwide trend is particularly encouraging.
Disappointingly however, India, despite not executing anyone since 2004, voted against the resolution.

All the accumulative work we do against the death penalty, especially in the Asia pacific region, contributes to positively influencing key opinion formers and decision makers. Our work includes supporting other AI sections and like-minded organisations, through to the direct appeals we send for death penalty cases

Thanks to everyone who has worked on ending the death penalty this year.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi has been released!

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s best-known prisoner of conscience, has spent more than 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest. She was one of more than 2,200 political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, currently being held in deplorable conditions for simply exercising their right to peaceful protest.

Amnesty International welcomes her release, taking place 6 days after the first general election in 20 years, however we are still calling on the Myanmar government to release all prisoners of conscience in the country.

We ask that you send a letter to Kevin Rudd urging our government to speak out forcefully in support of human rights and humanitarian law to ensure adequate protection of those caught in the conflict.
In these letters we are calling on the Australian Government to:
 Appeal to those involved in the hostilities not to target civilians;
 Call upon the international community, particularly countries in our region, to respond to the immediate human rights and humanitarian situation escalating in the border regions;
 Ensure adequate protection is offered to the people feeling Burma cross the border
 Continue pressure on the authorities in Burma to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners

If you would like to send a letter to Kevin Rudd please send to this address:

Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

To use a pre-written letter and read more on the action please visit the online action page at http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/24127/

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Doubts over legality of offshore processing of asylum seekers

The validity of Australia's controversial offshore processing of asylum seekers has been thrown into doubt after a court found fundamental errors of law in the system.

The High Court has today ruled that two Sri Lankan boat arrivals were denied "procedural fairness" in the review of their rejected refugee status claims. The unanimous judgment found those reviewing refugee determinations were bound to act within Australian law. Currently, those who seek asylum in Australia by boat are denied access to Australian courts.

The full impact of the decision and what implications it might have for the operations of the offshore detention system are still being assessed.

The High Court ruling places all asylum seekers on equal footing before the law, regardless of their mode of travel, which neutralises any legal benefit for the government to send all boat arrivals to Christmas Island first.

Australia's offshore detention regime was set up to deny boat arrivals the right to apply for protection unless the immigration minister made an exception, or “lifted the bar”. In effect, it created a two-tier system of asylum whereby those who flew into mainland airports were given the right to appeal their rejections in court but those who sailed were funnelled through a separate review process that mimicked the courts but were not bound by Australian law.

The two asylum seekers arrived by boat in 2009, reaching Christmas Island on October 2. Both claimed refugee status out of fear they faced persecution because of their alleged support for the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam.

Faced with deportation, the pair appealed to the High Court on grounds of lack of procedural fairness because former immigration minister Chris Evans had failed to consider their cases personally.

The minister has the power under the Migration Act to grant a visa if it is in the public interest.
The High Court upheld their argument that they had been denied procedural fairness when having their claims for refugee status denied.

"Because these inquiries prolonged the detention of the plaintiffs, there was a direct impact on the rights and interests of the plaintiffs to freedom from detention at the behest of the executive," the judgment said. The court found the government had erred in not regarding the asylum seekers as being bound by the Migration Act and decisions of Australian courts.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/court-casts-doubts-over-legality-of-offshore-processing-of-asylum-seekers-20101111-17o9g.html

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Rally for Burma this Saturday 13 November 2010

Rally For Burma

Saturday 13th November

Stand in solidarity with the people of Burma


On Saturday 13 November Aung San Suu Kyi is suppose to be released from her latest period of house arrest.
Join us in standing up for democracy, human rights and freedom in Burma.

When: Saturday 13 November 2010
Where: Hyde Park, Sydney (at the Archibald Fountain, near St James Train Station)
Time: 11 am – 12.30 pm
Contact: nswprojects@amnesty.org.au

Burma/Crisis Campaign Update 10/11/10

Following reports of the escalating hostilities on the Thai-Burma border and at least 10,000 people seeking refuge from Burma in Thailand, the Burma/Crisis Response Team met yesterday.

Since then the following work has been done (thanks to those involved).
  • A blog on the current situation added to the 'What next for Burma?' feature page online: http://www.amnesty.org.au/crisis/comments/24085/
  • An email to the Office of Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd outlining our calls and asking him to speak out publicly on the situation (along similar lines to the blog).
  • A hookup with activism/CCT about next steps/requirements in terms of public mobilisation (including preparing key points, action and talking to groups we have worked with on Burma about plans).
  • We are also continuing our media and fundraising work on Burma.

In addition to this, we are doing what we can to work with the IS and other sections to expand our response to a regional one to maximise our impact.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Face to Face Locations Starting 8/11/10

Monday 8th November - Singleton and Queanbeyan

Tuesday 9th November- Cessnock

Wednesday 10th November- Nelson Bay

Thursday 11th November- Singleton

Friday 12th November- Scone

Saturday 13th November- Toronto

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Update on petitions and detention centre teleconference

On Monday 1 November Amnesty International handed over petitions with 23, 418 signatures to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen. The petitions called for the government to reassess the way asylum seekers are treated while their claims are being processed; stop the discrimination against Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers; and ensure that all asylum seekers who arrive in Australia, are processed in Australia. Concerns about current immigration policies, such as offshore processing, the reintroduction of the Complementary Protection Bill as well as findings from detention centre tours, were also raised with the Minister.

In October AIA’s Refugee Coordinator Dr Graham Thom led a mini-tour through the detention facilities in Christmas Island, Darwin and Curtin where they met with and spoke to hundreds of detainees. The AIA staff were joined by Halima Kazem, an Afghan IS expert who conducted interviews with more that 40 detainees to gain a thorough understanding of their situations.

If you would like more information about the mini-tours, Graham Thom will be holding an open teleconference on Wednesday 3 November at 1-2 pm. Activists are invited to dial in (dial in number: 1800 153 721 Pin: 261358) or come into the NSW Action Centre (Level 1, 79 Myrtle St, Chippendale). Articles and blogs by AIA staff on the mini-tours are also available on the Amnesty International website: www.amnesty.org.au/refugees

Recent policy changes by the government, including the end of the suspension of Afghan processing and children out of detention, have been a positive step to creating a fair, humane and effective refugee processing system. There is, however, still a long way to go. This is an important time to get in contact with your local MP and ask that they advocate for policies that respect the facts about asylum seekers.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Face to Face Locations Starting 1/11/10

Monday 1st November - Queanbeyan and Wagga Wagga

Tuesday 2nd November- Queanbeyan

Wednesday 3rd November- Queanbeyan

Thursday 4th November - Queanbeyan

Friday 5th November - Queanbeyan

Monday, October 25, 2010

Photos of joint picnic with Burma Campaign Australia


On 24 October, prisoner of conscience and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent 15 years under house arrest in Burma. She is one of approximately 2,100 political prisoners in Burma. To mark this sad occasion NSW Community Campaigns held a picnic event in collaboration with Burma Campaign Australia.

Update on conditions in detention centres: telephonic Q&A with Graham Thom


Amnesty International has warned that detention conditions on Christmas Island are deteriorating rapidly and asylum seekers there, as well as in other detention centres around the country, are at grave risk of self-harm and mental illness.

An Amnesty International delegation has just returned from an inspection tour of Christmas Island, the Curtin detention centre in Western Australia, and detention facilities in Darwin.
“Morale within Australia’s detention facilities is quickly getting worse, leading to rising incidences of self-harm and attempted suicide,” said Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Campaign Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia.

From 2 – 9 October 2010 Amnesty International visited the Northern Immigration Detention Centre and the APODs (alternative places of detention) in Darwin, the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre, and detention facilities on Christmas Island. The visit was organised in cooperation with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. While visiting the centres Amnesty International had the opportunity to meet with detained asylum seekers on both an individual and group basis. The organisation also met with staff and service providers.
On the 3rd of November 2010 from 1-2pm Graham Thom will report on his trip in more detail. There will also be time to ask him questions. Activists are invited to come to the NSW action centre (Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale) or to dial in (dial in number is 1800 153 721 and the PIN is 261 358).

Friday, October 22, 2010

Training day Update

On the 13th of November 2010 Amnesty International is organising its second training day of the year to allow NSW activists the opportunity to attain a broader understanding of both our current campaigns, activism strategy and how to improve your action group. This training day will, differently than the previous one, focus extensively on our Refugee Campaign, Burma Campaign and Dignity Campaign. We are also offering a newly developed and very interesting workshop on Community Organizing/Public Relations. Also an insight on Amnesty International Australia’s lobby work and an introduction on AIA’s relations with the government will be presented.

Amnesty International NSW will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for activists who live far away. Lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. If we get a big turn up from places out of Sydney we will also consider an evening drinks/dinner event.

Where: AIA NSW Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale,

When: 13th of November 2010 from 10am until 4pm

RSVP, inquiries or suggestions: nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667

Looking forward to see you all on the training day!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Asia-Pacific Briefing September 2010

Some good news:



  • The relase of the AI IS report "Don't Mine Us out of Existance: Refinery and Bauxite Mine Devestate Lives in India" formed the basis of the government’s decision to axe the mine. The authorities also stalled plans for six fold expansion of the alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, at the base of the hills, and raised questions over pollution.

  • Pazilat Akeniyaz, a Uighur asylum seeker in the UK who had participated in the 5 July 2009 riots in Urumqi, was recognised as refugee on appeal by the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber on 21 September after a letter of support was issued by Amnesty UK which the China Team assisted in drafting. The determination holds that "there is much evidence from a wide spectrum of sources about the risks faced by who took part or are suspected of having taken part in the event of 5 July 2009" and is likely to set a precedent in similar asylum cases in the UK.

Some Emerging Situations:



  • Peace talks with the Taleban: President Karzai named a 70-member Peace Council on 28 September. The Peace Council was approved by the Peace Jirga held on earlier this year in Kabul, and its role is to facilitate the reconciliation process with the Taleban and broker the peace deal. Most of the Council members are the same factional leaders and warlords who have dominated the wars and politics of Afghanistan in the past 30 years, and who have been fighting the Taleban and are widely accused to have committed human rights violations and war crimes. Among the Council nominees there are eight women, at least seven of them are known of having links to Jihadi leaders. The composition of the Council is likely to damage the reconciliation process and undermine human rights of the victims

  • Conflict IDPs: Reports from Arghandab district of Kandahar province claimed that about 950 fmailes (6,500 - 7,000 people) have fled the mose active combat areas of Zhari and Arghandab districts and settled in Kandahar city. These figures have not been confirmed yet by the UNHCR.

  • Pakistan flood displaced and relief: According to new estimate following the most recent flooding in Sindh province at lease 10 million people are currently without shelter. The number of those flood affected in 55 relief camps had reached 76,869. Poorly handled relief efforts, corruption, and favouritism have added to the distrust that many Pakistanis already feel for their civilian politial leaders, while the armed forces hae improved their image performing rescue and relief mission in the flooded areas.

  • The politburo of the Chinese Communist Party leaders wil meet from October 15 to 18 for their most important annual gathering.

  • In Nepal there has been a continued failure to elect a PM, leaving the caretaker's government in charge. The unstable political situation makes lobbying difficult as decision makers may not be in office in a couple of months time.

  • In Myanmar (Burma) a monk was sentanced to 15 years in prison, allegedly for "anti-election" activities. He is believed to have had leaflets criticising the 2008 constituion and calling for the release of political prisoners.

Government Must Follow Refugee Policy

A great article in The Australian by Labor for Refugees - well worth a read!

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/government-must-follow-refugee-policy/story-e6frg6zo-1225935116151

Detention centre tours reveal deteriorating conditions for detainees

An Amnesty International delegation has just returned from an inspection tour of Christmas Island, the Curtin detention centre in Western Australia, and detention facilities in Darwin.

Amnesty has warned that detention conditions on Christmas Island are deteriorating rapidly and asylum seekers there, as well as in other detention centres around the country, are at grave risk of self-harm and mental illness.

“Morale within Australia’s detention facilities is quickly getting worse, leading to rising incidences of self-harm and attempted suicide,” said Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Campaign Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia.

“The mood on Christmas Island is particularly despondent. While meeting with asylum seekers there last week, I met grown men who were reduced to tears within minutes and who showed me scars from where they had been harming themselves. These are blatant symptoms of a system that is failing the people it is supposed to protect.”

With some 5,000 asylum seekers now being held in unacceptable conditions in centres across Australia, Amnesty International is calling on the government to urgently rethink the policies of mandatory detention and offshore processing.

The Australian Government has a legal responsibility not to arbitrarily detain asylum seekers, or to subject them to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Amnesty International does not believe current detention conditions are in keeping with this responsibility.

“The Gillard Government needs to urgently move to a more sustainable means of processing asylum applications on the Australian mainland,” said Graham Thom.

Amnesty International believes that as a matter of priority, the Minister for Immigration, Chris Bowen, should immediately arrange appropriate community alternatives to detention for families with children, unaccompanied minors and survivors of torture and trauma.

Graham Thom will be meeting with Chris Bowen on Monday the 18th of October. Dr Thom will be discussing the deteriorating conditions in Australia’s detention centres and presenting the 20,000 petitions signed by Australians against the Federal Government’s discriminatory policies towards asylum seekers.

A comprehensive report detailing the findings from the recent detention centre tours will be made available on Amnesty’s website over the coming weeks.

Training Day - 13th November

On the 13th of November 2010 Amnesty International is organising its second training day of the year to allow NSW activists the opportunity to attain a broader understanding of both our current campaigns, activism stratgey and how to improve your action group. This training day will focus on our Refugee Campaign, our Demand Dignity Campiagn and lobbying local government, communiy campaigning and community organising and making human rights accessible to new audiences.

We have other staff members within Amnesty International and some external trainers facilitating the training so this is a great opportunity to take part in free quality training.

Amnesty International NSW will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for activists who live far away, including petrol costs and flight costs for those that live particularly far. Lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. If we get a big turn up from places out of Sydney we will also consider an evening drinks/dinner event.

Where: AIA NSW Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale,
When: 13th of November 2010 from 10am until 4pm
RSVP or inquries by Oct 26th : nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667
Looking forward to see you all on the training day!

End of Year Volunteer Party

Amnesty International’s NSW Branch will be hosting an end of year party to celebrate this year’s successes and thank the fantastic work of our volunteers.

A photography exhibition based on various campaigns that we have worked on this year will be held on the night. We would love to include photos from your action groups and your events, stories or even a short video clip about who you are and what you do.

We also encourage you to nominate a member of your group for a special recognition award. The theme of the award would be up to your discretion and only limited by your imagination.

We ask that any photos, award nominations and any other materials you wish to contribute to the night be emailed to us by mid November so we will have some time to collate and decorate.

The party will be held on Wednesday the 15th of December at the Pine St Gallery in Chippendale. Finger food and beverages will be provided. An invitation will be sent out soon, please save the date for the time being.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions!

Staffing arrangement for next 6 weeks!

As of Monday the 18th of October until 26th of November I, Ruby - NSW Community Campaigner, will be out of the office. During this time I will be in the Northern Territory in Arnhem Land working with an indigenous community on their traditional Homeland in a number of projects that connect to indigenous rights and empowerment.

Amnesty International has allowed me this excellent opportunity as part of their professional development project for staff. This will no doubt be a great opportunity for me to improve my understanding of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and assist my campaigning as part of the Demand Dignity Campaign on indigenous rights, which focuses specially on Homelands.

During this time, Courtney Payne will be acting up as NSW Community Campaigner. Amanda Atlee, who currently job shares with Holly Fingland as Office and Volunteer Coordinator will be acting as the NSW Community Campaigns Assistant. This period will be for 6 weeks starting 18th October until 26th November. I will return to work Monday 29th of November.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Face to Face locations week beginning 11/10/2010

Monday:
Lidcombe/LidcombeRailway St/OTS
Singleton/Singleton/OTS *note*Get permission fromnearby shops. DO NOTWORK near Milba RoseGiftware

Tuesday:
Revesby/Revesby/OTS
Cessnock/Cessnock/OTS

Wednesday:
Muswellbrook/Muswellbrook/OTS*note* Near CBA, near mainintersection
Toronto/Toronto/OTS

Thursday:
Broadway/Broadway/OTS
Muswellbrook/Muswellbrook/OTS*note* Near CBA, near main intersection

Friday:
Milsons Point/MilsonsPoint/OTS
Scone/Scone/OTS

Saturday:
Scone/Scone/OTS

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Face to Face Locations for week beginning 4/10/10

Sorry about the delay.

05/10 -
Sutherland/Sutherland/ OTS
Singleton/Singleton/OTS *note* Get permission fromnearby shops. DO NOT WORK near Milba Rose Giftware

06/10 -
Dulwich Hill/DulwichHill/OTS
Muswellbrook/Muswellbrook/OTS*note* Near CBA, near mainintersection

07/10 -
Paddington/Paddington/DTD*note* DONT MOVE TO ST VINCENTS
Toronto/Toronto/OTS

08/10 -
Leichhardt/Leichhardt/OTS
Maitland/Maitland/OTS

09/10 -
Singleton/Singleton/OTS *note* Get permission fromnearby shops. DO NOT WORK near Milba Rose Giftware

Friday, October 1, 2010

Government lifts discriminatory asylum seeker policy

The Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, announced yesterday that the government has lifted the suspension on the processing of asylum claims by Afghan nationals, effective immediately.

Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator for Amnesty International, welcomed the move however stated that the Australian government deserved no praise for reversing this harmful, discriminatory policy.

“Around one thousand Afghan individuals, including families with children, have been subject to this freeze. As a result, many of them are likely to spend close to a year, if not longer, in remote detention facilities while the government scrambles to process their claims. This is manifestly unacceptable.”

“It should not be forgotten than the current issues we are seeing in Australia’s detention facilities are problems of the government’s own making, and the results of short-sighted and ill-considered moves such as this policy.”

Afghan asylum seekers affected by the suspension will now be provided with access to an Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme agent and assistance in preparing claims.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

More information on HRIA briefing

Please find below the dial in details for the activist briefing teleconferences:

Adelaide 08 8220 0695
Brisbane: 07 3811 0695
Canberra: 02 6210 0695
Darwin: 08 8989 0695
Hobart: 03 6240 0695
Melbourne: 03 8414 5110
Perth: 08 9460 0695
Sydney 02 9696 0695
Anywhere else in Aus: 1800 333 803

Pin code: 423064#

When you distribute this invite to activists, please let them know that each campaigner will be providing an outline of the campaign objectives and strategy. In order to receive this briefing as well as the meeting agenda, activists will need to RSVP to Livia (livia.cullen@amnesty.org.au) and tell her which briefing/s they will be attending (preferably in the subject line).

RSVP deadline is 5pm the day before each briefing.

HRIA planning: Campaign briefings with activists


Here are the times with the names of the Campaigns each briefing will be on:

Jenny Leong - Tues 5th Oct (6-7pm) Crisis Response

Alex Pagliaro - Thurs 7th Oct (6-7pm) Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Sarah Marland - Tues 12th Oct (6-7pm) Homelands

Hannah Harborow - Wed 13th Oct (6-7pm) Demand Dignity International

Monday, September 27, 2010

Refugee Campaign Update - Sept 2010

Refugee campaign update

The debate around asylum seeker policy in this year’s federal election was characterised by misinformation, fear and confusion.

In order to ensure the next election does not unfold the same way, we have embarked on a new campaign to change public attitudes towards asylum seekers. In order to do this we need to encourage Australians to have a fresh look at the facts and engage with the personal stories of asylum seekers. We believe that we have the expertise to successfully convince the media, politicians and public to think again about asylum seekers. Changing public attitudes on this issue is an ambitious project that will need to run over several years to have impact. However, the first stage of the campaign is underway with community events and engagement occurring all over the country.

Within the context of our ongoing work to change public attitudes, we need to specifically respond to the policies of the incoming elected government.

How will we do this?


Direct advocacy - writing to the PM and MPs to request meetings – Please contact us if you or anyone from your action group is interested in doing this.
Conversations - An incredibly important part of this campaign is getting Australians to think again about asylum seekers. we will soon be releasing a '10 conversation booklet action' which will call on people to have a conversation to 10 people in their community and ask them to leave a message to go to asylum seekers on Christmas Island. More details coming soon!
Petition - present our 20,000 signature strong petition on the rights of Asylum seekers with Najeeba, who arrived in Australia as an Afhgani asylum seeker.
Detention tour – Graham and other Amnesty staff will tour detention centres throughout Australia to assess conditions and share the stories of those living in limbo.
Marketing Campaign - In conjunction with a marketing agency we will develop a public advertising campaign, asking non traditional audiences to think again about the boats and asylum seekers.
Events - Over the last few months there have been some amazing refugee events, if action groups have planned upcoming events please advise us if you need materials, would like to borrow the photographs we have of asylum seekers or need any other resources. The refugee Network events are still continueing!

Remeber... the final date to get your signed petitions in is the end of this week - Friday 1st of October. Please mail petitions to the NSW Action Centre addressed to Ruby Johnson

For any questions please do not hesitate to ask Ruby on ruby.johnson@amensty.org.au

World Day against the Death Penalty

World Day against the Death Penalty is approaching quickly, 10th Ocotober.

If you group is planning anything this year please contact the NSW Community Campaigner, Ruby Johnson on ruby.johnson@amnesty.org.au

Ruby can send you the latest action and any relevant campaign material.

Human rights Innovation Fund Update

The purpose of the HRIF is to provide those interested in promoting and defending human rights with direct access to funding to support new, innovative and creative initiatives which will have impact in Australia. The HRIF is an important part of Amnesty International's ongoing commitment to developing and nurturing partnerships with other organisations to increase our human rights impact.

The Committee received nine applications for projects in this year’s third funding round which closed on 31 August. There was an interesting mix of proposals including a social marketing project to reduce racism, a web site for school communities about preventing violence and two documentary films about refugees.

The Committee has chosen to fund two proposals. The first is a mobile photo exhibition, Manuwangku: Our Country is Our Spirit. The exhibition is designed to engage the Australian public in support of the Aboriginal community of Muckaty (Manuwangkyu) to defend their country from radioactive waste dumping. The photo exhibition will give the Aboriginal communities' affected a collective voice against the proposed waste dump. The photographer, Jagath Dheerasekara, has an impressive CV and his photo documentary of the Alyawarr people is worth a look (www.jd.photoshelter.com). For those of you in the Sydney Action Centre, I have some of these photos on my wall!

The exhibition will be toured by the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, which operates from the office of the Arid Lands Environment Centre in Alice Springs. BNI works to support, educate and empower Indigenous communities on the consequences of nuclear projects. In relation to proposed radioactive waste dumps in the NT, BNI is focused on countering mainstream media depiction of the NT as ‘the middle of nowhere’. In 2011, BNI will organise a series of speaking events for Traditional Owners on the east coast of Australia and will feature the photo exhibition at all of these events. They believe this photo exhibition will greatly enhance people’s understanding of the areas being targeted through portraying the stunning landscape and strong connection Traditional Owners maintain to the area.

The second project is an initiative of two distinct and unique homeland communities of Utopia and North East Arnhem Land which is auspiced by the Central Land Council and the Urapuntja Aboriginal Corporation. The issue of shelter and housing is a significant priority for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, and this project, More than Bricks and Mortar, will bring together two strong Aboriginal groups and leaders to meet, share and exchange their experiences and knowledge on housing and human rights issues. The Utopia residents are aware that North East Arnhem Land homelands are involved in a project with the Jack Thompson Foundation which has seen community residents engaged in building their own housing. Through this exchange tour, Utopia residents will visit North East Arnhem communities to see this project and share ideas for the future.

If you have any questions or comments about the Human Rights Innovation Fund please contact me. If you know of an individual or organisation interested in applying for funds, please visit our web site for the guidelines and application form at: http://www.amnesty.org.au/about/comments/21694

There are 4 funding rounds each year – the last one for 2010 closes on 30th November.



Burma Campaign Update

Firstly some important logistical updates...

We currenlty have new materials for the Burma Campaign such as;

- A5 flyers
- A4 Campaign digest that explain the situation in detail
- Interactve photo booth (a good thing to attract people to stalls)
- 15 minute DVD about Burma
- Posters of Aung San Sui Kyi
- Petition to the Malaysian Government
-Iphones with a special Burma phone application.

... plus lots more.

If you need any materials and are organising stalls or campaigning activities on Burma please let us know by emailing Ruby on ruby.johnson@amnesty.org.au

There are also lots of events and volunteering oppportunities coming up, such as a stall at Martin Place, a stall at Springwood and Community Picnic at Victoria Park in colloboration with Burma Campaign Australia. Please consult the NSW Website for more details... www.amnesty.org.au/nsw

Secondly some info about the campaign...

On Sunday 7 November 2010, Burma will have its first election in 20 years.

Over the past months, the 'Burma sub-group' of the Crisis Response Team has been working with the International Secretariat, other sections and structures - especially in the Asia Pacific region, and other organisations to develop a campaign focused on Defending the three freedoms - expression, assembly and association - in Burma.

The campaign is calling on ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and its members to publicly support the three freedoms.

In practice, this means that between now and November we will be rolling out an integrated campaign which will engage our supporters and the community in our campaign.

This will involve use of the petition by face to face fundraisers, development of an interactive global online action site, flyers and a campaign digest for use in street campaigning, reactive and proactive media, an iPhone app, countless events in the regions to stalls to singing flash mobs to bowling, a pre-planned email communication strategy which includes 'stepping up' our supporters to different levels of engagement, possible regional action at the Asia Pacific Directors meeting in Hong Kong,

NSW Action Group Training Day

On the 13th of November 2010 Amnesty International is organising its second training day of the year to allow NSW activists the opportunity to attain a broader understanding of both our current campaigns, activism stratgey and how to improve your action group. This training day day will, differently than the previous one, focus extensively on both our Refugee Campaign and Women in Iran campaign. We are also offering a newly developed and very interesting workshop on Community Organizing.

Amnesty International NSW will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for activists who live far away. Lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. If we get a big turn up from places out of Sydney we will also consider an evening drinks/dinner event.


Where: AIA NSW Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale,

When: 13th of November 2010 from 10am until 4pm

RSVP, inquiries or suggestions: nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667

Looking forward to see you all on the training day!

NSW Local Media Coverage August/September 2010

Canterbury-Bankstown Express, 10 August 2010, General News, Page 9
“Accomplishments score selection World leaders will listen”
Article about UN youth ambassador from Bankstown - Samah Hadid – who is a member of Amnesty International's cultural diversity steering committee.


Illawarra Mercury, 14 August 2010, General News, Page 19
“Aust fears Burma poll won’t be fair”
Amnesty Quoted: Amnesty international says the regime has prevented more than 2000 political prisoners - including highprofile activist Aung San Suu Kyi - from contesting the election


Illawarra Mercury, 18 August 2010, General News, Page 17
“Couple stoned to death by Taliban”
Amnesty International Quoted - Amnesty International called the stoning a "heinous crime" that showed the Taliban and other insurgent groups "are growing increasingly brutal in their abuses against Afghans


Illawarra Mercury, 18 August 2010, Letters, Page 21
“Refugees have right to asylum” - Virginie Schmelitschek, Corrimal.
Amnesty International is referenced: “Amnesty says millions of people around the world have no choice but to flee their homeland, to escape persecution and conflict”.


Manly Daily, found online 19 August 2010
“Fresh start for the mother of all fun runs, the Pub2Pub”
Article on Pub2Pub runners mother and son Caroline and Gus Wong who were running for Amnesty International.

Illawarra Mercury, 21 August 2010, General News, Page 33
“Judge wants attacker paralysed”
Amnesty International quoted - expressing concerns over the
reports and said it was contacting Saudi authorities for details


Koori Mail, 8 September 2010, News Article
“Government Must Step Up on Human Rights, says Amnesty”
AMNESTY International has urged the Gillard Government to explicitly reiterate Australia's commitment to human rights, including those of Indigenous peoples.”


Hills Shire Times, 10 Sept 2010, News Article
“Hills Grammar lend hand for Human Rights”
Hills Grammar Amnesty International interest group and Rogan House captains completed their term’s work by presenting a cheque for $1132 to Amnesty International representatives Ingrid Giskes and Mia Ludlum for the refugee campaign.


ABC Online, September 2010, Online Event Story
“Amnesty International Refugee Discussion Panel”
Amnesty International Australia will be holding a panel discussion to counter the myths surrounding the issue of asylum seekers coming to Australia to provide the opportunity for an informed and factual discussion on the topic

Locations for street teams for the week commencing on the 27th of September 2010

Monday 27th of September 2010: Dulwich Hill/Dulwich Hill/OTS

Tuesday 28th of September 2010: Kingsford/Kingsford/DTD

Wednesday 29th of September 2010: Surry Hills/Posit 3 -Elizabeth / Foveaux/OTS

Thursday 30th of September 2010: Parramatta/Parramatta/OTS

Friday 1st of September 2010: Randwick OTS/Randwick OTS/OTS

Friday, September 24, 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi - 15 years too long

On 24 October Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent 15 years under house arrest. She is just one of 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.

“Please use your liberty to promote ours” – Aung San Suu Kyi.

Australians have never faced such persecution. But we stand up for those who do. On Sunday 24 October people will gather in Victoria Park, Camperdown Sydney, to form a human message of support for Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma, by spelling out “Free ASSK”.

Join us on Sunday 24 October to create a human message for support for Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma. Wear your Aung San Suu Kyi shirt if you have one!

Place: Victoria Park, Camperdown
Date: Sunday 24 October 2010
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
RSVP: Wed 13 October 2010

There will be a picnic afterwards, so bring some food along if you want to join.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Locations for street teams week beginning 20th September

Monday 20th September -
Balmain/Balmain/OTS

Tuesday 21st September -
Edgecliff/Edgecliff/DTD

Wednesday 22nd September -
Revesby/Revesby/OTS

Thursday 23rd September -
Broadway/Broadway/OTS

Friday 24th September -
Paddington/Paddington/ DTD *note* DONT MOVE TO ST VINCENTS

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Article on Amnesty NSW in Hills Shire Times


HILLS Grammar students from Rogan House have been putting their hands up in a bid to raise awareness for human rights. Principal Robert Phipps said the school aimed to provide students with an understanding of global citizenship and the importance of an international perspective. “It is important our graduates are committed to humanitarian values and are willing to promote social justice in our democratic society,” he said.

The school’s Amnesty International interest group and Rogan House captains completed their term’s work by presenting a cheque for $1132 to Amnesty International representatives Ingrid Giskes and Mia Ludlum for the refugee campaign. Head of house Dave O’Donohue said this was thankfully received, however, the ceremonial endowment of hundreds of origami boats and cut-out hands with the UN articles from the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, was the most powerful message of all with each student stating the article which resonated with them. “Favourites included: everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; everyone has the right to be treated as equal in the eyes of the law, no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; and everyone has the right to life, liberty and security,” Mr O’Donohue said. “This charity drive has been very successful in informing and engaging students in the fundamental issues facing our community, society and the world today.”
To see the full article:

Local Group Media 2010


If your group has anything that could possibly be newsworthy coming up, please let me know about it and I can help write a press release and organise local media coverage. I will do my best to look out for any upcoming events or newsworthy stories for your group, but as I am only in the office once a week it is easy for me to miss things or find out about them too late to secure any coverage.We also have an additional media volunteer, Lexy, starting in the next few weeks so hopefully, between the two of us, we can raise the profile of Amnesty in local NSW media as much as possible.

The most notable newsworthy story could be an upcoming event your group is holding. However, we can also be a bit more creative and think of anything else that could possibly be a good story for a newspaper. Some examples are:

- A birthday milestone for your group (celebrating 5/10 years etc)
- A current human rights abuse/prisoner of conscience that is making national or global news at the moment, that your group is campaigning for in your local area
- A character-based story on a long-standing member of your group
- Any success stories – e.g. lots of money raised at an event, the release of prisoner of conscience that your group has been campaigning for, recent rise in group members etc
- Profile on new local group member – why they decided to join the fight for human rights

It doesn’t have to be a major story – anything that shows community involvement in a cause and is something that local community members would enjoy reading about is an appealing story for local papers. We may not always get the story in the paper but it is always worth a try!

Any ideas for a story are welcome! My aim is to get as much local media coverage of the local action groups as possible for the rest of 2010.

You can email me at nswcommunications@amnesty.org.au, or phone me on 0422 599 871 if you ever want to contact me for media support.

Emma Dawson
NSW Regional Media Support - Wednesdays
Amnesty International Australia
Level 1, 79 Myrtle St
Chippendale, NSW 2008
T +61 2 8396 7670

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Asia-Pacific update: Good news including AI's impact


South Asia

Afghanistan

German Defense Ministry announced that Germany will pay $5,000 in compensation (3,800 euros, £3,150) to each of the families of people killed or injured in an air strike near the Afghan town of Kunduz on 4 September 2009, after a fatal air strike on two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban was ordered by a German commander and killed up to 142 people. The families of 91 Afghans killed and those of 11 injured in the attack last September are to receive compensation. The German defence ministry is still negotiating with the families of 74 victims in Kunduz, but those talks are separate from the voluntary $5,000 payment, which does not constitute an acceptance of legal responsibility, the Associated Press. This is a significant step, as AI repeatedly called on and lobbied the NATO-ISAF troop contributing states to provide compensation to the victims killed or injured as result of its operations. However, AI continues its campaigning aimed at NATO-ISAF to adopt a consistent, clear and credible mechanisms to investigating civilian casualties and injuries, caused by its operations, to assist those injured, and to bring to justice those suspected of violating international law.

Maldives

The government of the Maldives formally announced on 4 August that they have requested the International Commission of Jurists to help them reform their judicial system. This was good news for the Maldives and for AI. It came after weeks of intensive AI work on the country to help prevent the reform process from derailing. The country had been in the grip of an internal political crisis. The President was accusing the opposition dominated parliament to be obstructing government activity and resisting institutional reform. This, he said, was done through a series of legislation's passed specifically to limit the powers of the government. The government also blamed the opposition for blocking the removal of some of the key figures, who were resisting reforms. They included the Chief Justice who had been appointed by the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Meanwhile, the opposition was accusing the government to be acting outside the law, trying to bypass constitutional provisions that empowered the Parliament to scrutinize and approve government proposed plans. The confrontation between the President and the opposition came to a head in late June when the entire cabinet resigned, saying their functions had become untenable because the Parliament was not cooperating with the government.
The President reinstated the cabinet, but this had to be approved by the Parliament and the Parliament was not moving. It led to a series of clashes between the supporters of the government and the opposition, and arrest of several MPs. The situation was threatening to derail the reform process.

We began our work with the researcher meeting with opposition representatives who were visiting London. The researcher, the DPD and PD met with the Maldives High Commissioner. AI issued a public statement highlighting our concerns. The researcher provided briefings to important stakeholders and lobbied them to play their part in rescuing the reform process. These actors included influential government and opposition contacts, as well as the US Embassy and the International Commission of Jurists. We also had high level contacts with the Foreign Minister. Our message to the government was that they should ask for international support to reform their judicial system. All these efforts paid off as the government followed our recommendations, announcing that they would do just that. In response, the ICJ has assigned two prominent legal experts to help reform the judicial system. There are now for the first time clear prospects for the reform of the judicial system, which is marred with fundamental flaws that facilitate human rights violations. As with any other positive solution to a human rights problem AI can only claim credit for the part we have played, but the part we have played here has been significant.

India

In a landmark victory for Indigenous rights in India, the Indian government last week rejected plans to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa. This decision followed eight years of campaigning by the Dongria Kondh and other Indigenous communities who protested that the mine plans were a threat to their very existence. The Indian government found that the mine plans already extensively violated forest and environmental laws and would perpetrate further abuses. The ruling was a blow to the UK based Vedanta Resources, promoter of the mine and refinery expansion plans.

The India team/Demand Dignity teams commenced work on the issue in mid-2008 and started the campaign in May-June 2009. In February 2010, AI IS published a damning report, Don’t Mine Us out of Existence: Refinery and Bauxite Mine Devastate Lives in India documenting human rights abuses and violations of the law. Six month later, an Indian government report, which came to similar conclusions, formed the basis of the government’s decision to axe the mine. The authorities also stalled plans for sixfold expansion of the alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, at the base of the hills, and raised questions over pollution. AI's demand for a clean-up of the refinery is the only one not met so far. As part of the advocacy, Amnesty International facilitated the Dongria Kondh communities’ appeal against the environmental clearance granted to the mine. This campaign and advocacy helped stall the mine and refinery expansion plans for several months. AI UK, AI Netherlands, AI France, AI Canada, AI Germany and various other AI sections contributed immensely to the campaign which saw more than 30,000 members writing to the Indian authorities and IS and AI UK staff briefed government experts and engaged in lengthy talks with the company itself.

The research, advocacy and campaign involved extensive coordination with Dongria Kondh and other Indigenous communities on the ground, activists, lawyers and politicians in Orissa and Delhi, international non-governmental organizations including Survival International. Action Aid and London Mining Network and engagement with government appointed expert committees and the concerned companies.

Two Dongria Kondh activists illegally detained in Orissa were released after a campaign including an Urgent Action issued by the India team. Five human rights defenders in Tamil Nadu arrested in a police station were released after a campaign including a public statement issued by the India team.

South-East Asia

Indonesia

The team circulated a health professional network update to a medical action which was issued on 5 May. Prisoner of conscience Filep Karma received medical treatment and would like to thank everyone who made his surgery possible, including Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA21/012/2010/en/8817a30c-7d0d-43bd-80cd-8adca64885a6/asa210122010en.pdf

Solomon Islands

Amnesty International has become part of the technical advisory team providing support to the Solomon Islands government task force on SVAW legislation. The Researcher attended and addressed the meeting of the task-force and offered advice on SVAW related policies, plans of actions and legislation to help the taskforce in its task. It is envisaged that a draft legislation should be ready by 2012 and a national policy on SVAW be adopted as early as 2011. AI has been asked to assist in the write up of the policies.

Successful discussions with the PM's Office and Foreign Affairs in the Solomon Islands have given rise to the possibility of the the country finally ratifying the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court. Also, the government is also considering voting for the UN GA Resolution on a Global Moratorium of the Death Penalty, which AI has been directly lobbying with the Solomon Is government since 2008. The Researcher has been asked to follow up with the government on these undertakings in the next few months.

Vanuatu

In July, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Pacific Regional Office in Suva, Fiji, requested that the Researcher take the opportunity of being in Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu to lobby the Vanuatu government on the ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture (since this undertaking had been given to the Special Rapporteur on Torture during his visit to the country in December 2009), given the Researcher's close contacts with and positive working relationship with the government. In a number of very positive and encouraging meetings, the country's Minister for Justice and the Attorney General, Amnesty was able to get a firm undertaking from them that Vanuatu will ratify UNCAT before the end of 2010. This has been passed on to OHCHR.

Malaysia

Cabinet minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said that Malaysia should abolish the death penalty (29 August). His statement follows ongoing advocacy by AI and partners, which had prompted the government to request clemency for Yong Vui Kong, a young Malaysian on death row in Singapore.

East Asia

China

The Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued a pilot guideline on 17 August setting out procedures on how supervision could be strengthened. Under the new guideline, prosecutors and police at the same administrative level must set up an information-sharing system, where the police must regularly report to the prosecutors about cases reported to them and cases they are handling. Prosecutors must also respond to complaints from citizens. The prosecutors can also ask police to explain their decision to accept or decline a case, and can order the police to accept or decline a case if certain criteria are fulfilled. The pilot guideline will take effect on October 1.

Chinese government news agency Xinhua reported on 23 August that the proposed amendments to China's criminal code may see the death penalty removed from 13 out of 68 crimes, the so-called white collar crimes such as tax fraud, and for smuggling valuables and cultural relics, that currently carry the punishment. It would also remove the death penalty as a punishment for those over 75 years of age. The draft amendments are working their way through numerous readings in China’s legislative chamber.
A Uighur asylum case being pursued in the UK, for which the China team submitted expert testimony was positively decided on by the court, after having received negative decisions for the last few years.

A Falun Gong couple who had been tried in June were sentenced to 14 months and 3 years respectively on charges relating to "using a heretical cult to disrupt the law". These relatively short sentences may be related to the active campaigning on their case, including a series of UAs and UA updates, by AI over the last year, as many other FLG practitioners have been sentenced up to 8 years on similar charges.

Japan

Indonesian Commission of Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) will collaborate with teachers to include the history of ’comfort women’ in school history text books. The commission hopes that by discussing "comfort women" at history classes in school, it can begin to erase the stigma surrounding women. The National Commission of Violence against Women is also attempting to include the history of "comfort women" into the national education curriculum.

TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

South Asia

Afghanistan

Taliban should be prosecuted for war crimes in Afghanistan, Press Release , 10 August 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/taleban-should-be-prosecuted-war-crimes-afghanistan-2010-08-10 Following the release of UNAMA’e Mid-Year Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, revealing a rise in targeted killings of civilians in Afghanistan by anti-government fighters, the IS Afghanistan Team called for investigation and prosecution of the Taliban and other insurgent groups for war crimes. Given the inadequate justice system in Afghanistan to address the lack of accountability, AI urged the Afghan government to seek the assistance of the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban and all other parties to the conflict. Afghanistan is a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Afghan couple stoned to death by Taliban, Press Release, 16 August 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/afghan-couple-stoned-death-taleban-2010-08-16 AI condemned the stoning of a couple accused of "eloping", in a Taliban controlled village in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, and urged the Afghanistan government and religious leaders to condemn the practice of stoning, despite the pressure they are under to enter into peace deals with the Taliban.

Afghanistan IDPs/Slums Mission: The Afghanistan Researcher together with a colleague from Demand Dignity Campaign conducted a mission to Afghanistan in August. The purpose of the mission was to provide new information and follow up on the humanitarian situation of the people displaced by the recent armed conflict and due to drought and food insecurity in Afghanistan, and who are currently living in growing number of urban slums. The delegates visited some of the informal settlements (IDPs/ Slums) in Kabul and had conducted in depth interviews with the IDPs, and also met with the NGOs, OCHA, UNHCR and Ministry of Urban Development working on the informal settlements in Afghanistan. In April and May 2009 the Afghanistan Researcher conducted a preliminary research missions into the situation of IDPs and access to basic services like health, food and shelter as well as other mechanisms of protection particularly for women and girls.

AI together with other international and local human rights organizations in Afghanistan engaged in discussion with WikiLeaks requesting them to revise the military logs, which it published on its website last month, and to remove the names of individuals who have been identified as being collaborating with the international forces. The group raised its concerns for protection of these individuals who could be identified and targeted by the Taliban for reprisals. No cooperation to this appeal was received by the founder of the website, Julian Assange, who also was under significant pressure by the Pentagon to remove the sensitive military data from the public domain. Taliban announced that they were reviewing the classified military logs and identifying Afghans who aided the international and government forces, which caused further fear for the safety of the people supplying information to the military.

Pakistan

The Pakistan Team issued an urgent action on behalf of the disappeared Baluchistan National Front member Shams Baluch, a former Tehsil Nazim(Head of District Municipal Administration) of Baluchistan's Khuzdar district. He was abducted while travelling in an ambulance and stopped by Frontier Corps personnel at a checkpoint between Khuzdar and Quetta. Previously there have been cases of Baloch activists being abducted, tortured and killed and we fear that Shams Baloch might be ill-treated or extra judicially executed. UA Pakistani activist abducted, risks torture: Shams-ul-din Baloch , ASA 33/009/2010, 13 August 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA33/009/2010/en

Ahead of the visit of Pakistan's President Zardari to the UK, the Pakistan Team issued a press release, calling on the UK and the Pakistan President to work together to deliver human rights and development for the people of the NorthWest, including introducing legal and political reforms. AI called on the UK to adopt human rights benchmarks in how the aid money to Pakistan is used, and to push for an end to enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and mistreatment of detainees. UK pledged £600 million over five years in humanitarian aid to people affected by the conflict in the NorthWest. Pakistani president's UK visit must deliver human rights gains in NorthWest, Press Release, 2 August 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/president-pakistan-uk-visit-must-deliver-human-rights-gains-northwest-2010-08-02

Bangladesh

In recent months garment factory employees demanding labour rights and wage increases have been demonstrating in the streets of Dhaka and surrounding areas. Scores of demonstrators and policemen have been injured during the protests. Protests by thousands of workers in late June led to the temporary closure of about 700 garment factories. Labour rights leaders had been calling for minimum monthly wages of 5,000 taka (about US$71) to meet living costs. In late July the government announced that from November 2010, the monthly minimum wage for ready made garment workers would increase from 1662.50 taka (US $24) to 3000 taka (US $43). Garment workers said the increase was too low and took to the streets again. There have been dozens of arrests and we received allegations that six female detainees had been tortured. The team initiated an Urgent Action to remind the authorities that international law places severe restrictions on the use of force by law enforcement officers. We emphasized the state’s duty to respect the right to life and freedom from torture and other ill treatment. We said we did not condone the violence that occurred during the protests, but urged the government to ensure that no one is tortured or ill-treated in custody, and no one is held in custody without a recognizably criminal charge against them. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA13/008/2010/en/32e835b1-7fbd-442b-961f-34fb6916a3db/asa130082010en.pdf

In an interview to The Guardian, the Researcher highlighted the dangers of deporting an Ahmadi woman and her daughter from the UK to Bangladesh. The UK government has rejected their claim to asylum. The authorities have informed them that they would be deported if they did not agree to return voluntarily. The researcher called upon the UK and Bangladesh governments to take their claims seriously, explaining that in Bangladesh they will be at risk of persecution for their religious beliefs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/18/asylum-seekers-child-detention-deportation/print

The Researcher and the PD attended a high level meeting between the SG and the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK on 4 August. This was a courtesy call from the High Commissioner, but during the meeting we urged the government to ensure that the trial of people accused of war crimes is conducted in line with international fair trial standards. We called upon the government of Bangladesh to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We also asked the government to investigate the Rapid Action Battalion personnel who raided the house of a senior BNP politician in late June and beat people there during the raid. The High Commissioner agreed to forward our recommendations to the authorities.

The Researcher and the DPD met briefly with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister during a meeting at the Policy Exchange where the Minister was giving a talk. During the question and answer time, the Researcher gave a brief account of AI's concerns that police has tortured or ill-treated six detained garment factory workers and has used excessive force against the demonstrators. The Foreign Minister said she had inquired from the police and had been assured that they had not be tortured, but admitted that torture does take place in police custody.

Sri Lanka

The team liaised with AIUSA to encourage members of the lower house of Congress to sign a letter addressed to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, asking her to support an international war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka. A total of 58 representatives signed the letter, which cites Amnesty International. Follow these links for media stories on this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10934663; http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100810/pl_afp/srilankaunrestwarcrimesusdiplomacy_20100810201329
On 12 August the Sri Lanka team hosted an advocacy meeting addressing strategy around the UN Panel on Sri Lanka with a collection of international INGOs
Submission to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
On 17 August we sent Twenty Years of Make Believe and Unlock the Camps along with some of our most relevant press releases and public statements as a submission to the President’s appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
The team issued a public statement coinciding with World Humanitarian Day (19 August), calling for justice for the killing of 17 humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka four years ago;http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA37/012/2010/en/726c0646-5bfd-4c44-8fcb-d5ecfab2fe65/asa370122010en.html.

South-East Asia

Indonesia

Together with Human Rights Watch, the team sent a letter to the Minister for Justice and Human Rights calling for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience/ political prisoners in Indonesia. The letter welcomed the release of former prisoner of conscience Yusak Pakage, as well as news that the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights may be proposing the release of other peaceful political activists to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Accompanying the letter was a list of prisoners of conscience/ political prisoners, compiled by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, whose release both organizations are calling for.

The team issued a public statement urging the President to prioritize the establishment of strong police accountability mechanisms after he announced plans to restructure the National Police. The statement can be viewed here http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/018/2010/en

The team issued a public statement following the arrest of 22 activists in Maluku. In the statement Amnesty International urged the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the 22 if they had been arrested solely for their peaceful political activities. Amnesty International also called on the authorities to end the criminalization of peaceful political activities in Maluku http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/017/2010/en

The team issued an urgent action for 10 activists who were arrested in Maluku. They were arrested for planning peaceful political activists and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/016/2010/en

South Pacific

The Pacific Researcher and representatives from the New Zealand and Australian sections did advocacy work, including a media conference on SVAW and Dignity related issues in Port Vila, Vanuatu during the Annual Pacific Heads of Government Meeting in the first week of August. The media conference and the related advocacy work was a huge success with massive media coverage in Vanuatu and the Pacific Region and supportive and congratulatory messages received from national and pacific regional organisations, especially womens rights groups and UN agencies such as UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNFPA etc. A number of Pacific governments were compelled to make statements on what they were doing on SVAW after releasing a communique that Amnesty International called 'weak' on gender based violence. The press conference was done in partnership with the Vanuatu Women's Center (Merilyn Tahi, Coordinator) and the UN Millenium Campaign Office (Minar Pimple, Deputy Director Asia Programme).

Vanuatu

At the PIFS meeting in Port Vila, AI was able to highlight the issue of slums and access to water and sanitation and took a television crew from Maori TV in New Zealand to a slum in the city to highlight this. A documentary on the trip to the Slums was shown on national television in New Zealand on 16 August 2010. To watch the documentary, click on: http://www.maoritelevision.com/Default.aspx?tabid=349&pid=212&epid=12343

Cambodia

The team submitted a written statement to the Fifteenth Session of the Human Rights Council which is taking place in Geneva from 13 September to 1 October, Cambodia: Ongoing serious human rights violations must be addressed, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/IOR41/022/2010/en/c7c178fb-2433-4a21-8dfa-688125e092dd/ior410222010en.pdf. Recommendations include extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for at least three years and to call on the government to: guarantee and safeguard the independence and impartiality of the court system; end all forced evictions; respect and protect the rights of human rights defenders; ensure the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly; and ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigation of all reports of sexual violence against women and girls. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is coming up for review at the Session.

The team issued a joint statement with Human Rights Watch, FIDH and OMCT, on the sentencing of Leng Sokchoeun to two years' imprisonment and a USD 500 fine for disinformation. Sokchoeun works for human rights NGO Licadho, one of AI's partner, and is accused of disseminating anti-government leaflets in Takeo province in January 2010, with three others. Sokchoeun was in Phnom Penh at the time of the alleged offense and denies any involvement. The judicial process, including arrest and incommunicado detention, was flawed throughout. He is appealing against the conviction. http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/cambodia-urged-release-human-rights-worker-2010-09-01.

The team briefed Nicole Bjerler of the EU Office, ahead of attending the second EU-Cambodia Civil Society Seminar on Human Rights, in Phnom Penh, 31 August - 1 September. The focus of the seminar was the role of civil society and human rights defenders. Participants included EU representatives, government officials, Cambodian NGO and civil society representatives, and international NGOs. The aim of the seminar is to contribute to the EU-Cambodia human rights dialogue and develop links between Cambodian and European civil society representatives specialising in international human rights. Nicole will be providing feedback to the team on the discussions and participants, as well as observations on the organization and usefulness of such seminars, in due course.

Viet Nam

Provided a briefing on general human rights concerns in Viet Nam for a US Congressional Hearing on freedom of religion. The hearing focused particularly on an incident in May 2010 at Con Dau Parish near Danang. Some Catholics were reportedly beaten and injured when police tried to stop the burial of a woman in a cemetery on land designated for development as an "eco-city". Police were reportedly trying to prevent further use of the cemetery and used batons and electric prods against the parishioners, firing guns into the air. Around 60 people were detained, most of whom were later released, except for six charged with "disturbing public order" and "attacking state security personnel who were performing their lawful duty". One person is reported to have died in custody two days after arrest. Relatives of some of those detained were present at the hearing. The Vietnamese authorities reacted strongly in the official media criticising the resolution which came out of the meeting, and which called for an investigation into the incident. Around 40 members of the parish fled to Thailand after the incident and are seeking asylum.

Malaysia

Press release - Malaysia should halt expansion of security force accused of abuses. AI urged the government to scrap plans to expand the state-sponsored security force of civilian volunteers known as RELA, which has a long record of human rights abuses against refugees and migrants. http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/malaysia-should-halt-expansion-security-force-accused-abuses-2010-08-19

Urgent Action - Malaysia: Filipino couple facing execution in Malaysia. AI launched an appeal for a Timhar and Nurrie Ong, Filipino couple facing the death penalty in Malaysia for drug trafficking. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA28/012/2010/en

Philippines

Press release - Philippine police responsible for torture must be prosecuted. AI called on officials to use the new Anti-Torture Law to prosecute police shown torturing a suspect in a video broadcast on TV. http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/philippine-police-responsible-torture-must-be-prosecuted-2010-08-18

East Asia

China

The China team issued an urgent action for Dilshat Paerhat, an ethnic Uighur and editor of a Uighur language website, who was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on 21 July 2010 for "endangering state security". His family have not been able to meet him since he was taken away from his home in Urumqi on 7 August 2009. It is not known where he is imprisoned. and he is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. The China team issued an urgent action for Fan Qihang who is at risk of execution once the Supreme People's Court upholds his death sentence. He says his conviction is based on a confession extracted through torture as a result of repeatedly tortured in an unofficial place of detention and forced to confess to crimes he did not commit. His lawyer was not allowed to meet him until he had been transferred to a detention centre. The lawyer secretly videoed interviews with Fan Qihang, in which he details his torture, shows the wounds inflicted on his wrists, and says he had attempted suicide. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/035/2010/en

The China team issued a press release in response to the proposed reforms of China's death penalty policy. Amnesty International welcomes any reform that would in practice decrease executions in China. However, the ultimate impact of any reforms to China's use of the death penalty cannot be publicly known and evaluated due to classification of execution figures as state secrets.http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/proposed-china-death-penalty-reforms-may-have-no-great-impact-executions-2010-08-23.

A China team member conducted a series of meetings and interviews in New York and Washington, D.C., including meetings with 3 bureau within the US State Department, a meeting with a staff member of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, a committee of the American Bar Association that deals with China, six staff members of the Congressional Executive Committee on China, the US Committee on International Religious Freedom, and AI's New York office on the UN. The meeting focused on the engagement and work of these organizations on China, including challenges of responding to China's increased influence in a variety of contexts.

Japan

The team issued a public statement ahead of the 15 August anniversary of the end of World War II calling on the Japanese government to apologise to the survivors of Japan's military sexual slavery system. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA22/007/2010/en. The statement made by Amnesty International was part of a wider effort organised by our partners in South Korea to raise this issue for the anniversary.

North Korea

The team issued an Urgent Action for Mr. Jeong Sang-un, an 84-year-old man, who is believed to be detained in a political prison camp in North Korea after he was forcibly returned by the Chinese authorities. On his return, he was known to be in poor health. Given his advanced age and the harsh conditions in the prison camp, Jeong Sang-un's life is at risk. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA24/006/2010/en

EMERGING SITUATIONS

South Asia

Afghanistan

Civilian casualties: UNAMA Mid-Year Report Protection of civilians in armed conflict, August 2010: Civilian casualties in Afghanistan leapt by 31% in the first half of 2010, driven largely by the Taliban and other insurgents’ rising use of improvised explosive devices, and their increased targeting of civilians for assassination, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Attacks by the Taliban and other anti-government forces accounted for more than 76% of civilian casualties and 72% of deaths. In the first half of 2010, the executions and assassinations of civilians by the Taliban and other insurgent groups increased by over 95% to 183 recorded deaths compared to the same time last year. The victims were usually accused of supporting the government. According to UNAMA, NATO-led and government forces caused 29% fewer casualties than the previous year, which has been attributed to policy changes placing greater priority on civilian protection, borne out in a 64% decline in casualties caused by aerial attacks.

Amnesty International has been told that tribal elders in various villages of Kandahar, Zabul, and Khost provinces have been fleeing rural areas, fearing systematic targeting by the Taliban. "The elders are threatened and if they don’t cooperate with the Taliban they are killed," said a Kandahar journalist. "Then the Taliban will just tell the village that the elder was an American spy and that is why he was killed." The journalist asked not to be identified out of fear of Taliban retaliation.

Taliban updated code of conduct: The Taliban issued also an updated code of conduct aiming at wining over civilians, which prescribe the death penalty for any fighter who harms civilians not siding with the Afghan government or the Nato-led coalition. However, it also spells out that people who are working for international forces or the Afghan government are "supporters of the infidels" and can be killed.

There have been few cases of reoccurrence of executions for alleged adultery in Afghanistan, including stoning - punishments that were widely practiced during the Taliban rule. On 15 August 2010 a Taliban council stoned to death a couple for "eloping", in a Taleban-controlled village in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan. This stoning is the first to be confirmed in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. On 9 August, a pregnant woman in Badghis province was first punished with 200 lashes and after shot dead in public by the Taliban for alleged adultery.
10 aid workers - six Americans, a Briton, a German and four Afghans - were killed by the insurgents in Badakhshan province (North Afghanistan) after coming back from a three week mission on foot to deliver free medical care to the people living in the remotest regions of Nuristan Province, North-eastern Afghanistan. The group comprised of doctors, nurses and technicians were working for the International Assistance Mission, a Christian aid group that has operated in Afghanistan since 1966. The police in Badakhshan found their bodies, seven men and three women, on 6 August. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killings, accusing the group of aid workers of being spies and Christian missionaries. This incident against aid workers has been regarded as the most serous massacre of aid workers in Afghanistan for years, and show evidence of increasing insecurity in the northern part of the country as well as fears that the insurgents has changed their policy of not attacking aid workers.

In August, 48 pupils and teachers at Kabul's Zabihullah Esmati High School and 60 students and teachers at the Totia Girls School were hospitalized after fainting or complaining of breathing problems, dizziness and nausea. Students say they began feeling unwell after being exposed to an unknown gas spreading through classrooms. Blood samples taken from Afghan schoolgirls who collapsed in apparent mass poisoning showed traces of toxic chemicals found in herbicides, pesticides and nerve gas, the Health Ministry said. Suspicion has fallen on sympathizers of the Taliban, who have been opposing education for women and prohibited girls from going to schools, when they were in power and as the insurgency movement in the area of their control. It remains unclear how the gas spread.

About 350 Islamic clerics of the Afghanistan's highest Islamic religious body, the Council of Ulema, met in Kabul to discuss the peace with the Taliban. In a declaration, which came out from the meeting, the Ulema called on the government to more strictly enforce physical shari'a punishments, known as hudood , as a concession to the Taliban in an attempt to end the war. Under the Taliban, hudood punishments included public stoning, amputations and lashing. AI raised its concerns through media interviews and condemned this development, calling on the President Karzai to reject the declaration.

Pakistan

By end of August the humanitarian agencies reported that nearly 20 million people were affected by the floods across Pakistan (not all of then though are people who are in need of aid) and more than 1,600 people were killed and over 2,000 people were injured. At least 3.2 million hectares of standing crops and over 1,2 million houses have so far been damaged or lost across the country, and some 9,484 schools (180 of which in FATA) have been reported to have been fully or partially damaged. The Monsoon rain floods, which started in the end of July, devastated first the north-western Pakistan and expanded to parts of Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan provinces. Rescuers were struggling to distribute relief to tens of thousand people trapped in the remote areas, where the access was hindered as bridges and roads were destroyed and washed away and the communication and electricity was disrupted. Humanitarian agencies also reported that the access to areas of Khyber Pakhtukwa (formerly named NWFP) and Baluchistan was limited due to security concerns of insurgency attacks. Affected communities were suffering of inadequate shelter, food and clean water. The areas affected of the floods in Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Baluchistan are home of about 1.5 million Afghan refugees and about 700,000 internally displaced people from the conflict in Pakistan's tribal areas. The flood displaced another 1million of people and made homeless another 6 million people (according to UNHCR, 23 August, the government estimates that around 700,000 people have fled their homes in Sindh and sought shelter in Baluchistan, while another 3.6 million people in Sindh are homeless. A further 400,000 have been displaced in Baluchistan because of the floods.) Health and hygiene of people in affected areas are of main concern, as waterborne diseases outbreaks are feared - increased numbers of suspected malaria cases are being recorded in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces and a higher proportion of diarrhoea cases are being seen in Charsadda, Swat, Nowshera and Peshawar, OCHA said. Some 60,000 troops were sent for rescue operations. Islamist organizations linked to militant armed groups, including also the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrek-e-Taleban Pakistan) also stepped in to provide aid to the flood affected communities, which raised concerns that the armed groups are exploiting the situation for wining sympathizers and recruiting new fighters. The Government started a clampdown on Islamist relief camps known to be wings of militants terrorist groups. US officials warned of Taliban attacks on foreigners providing relief, as earlier the Taliban called on the government to reject aid from the US and international organizations.

Members of Ahmadiya community in Punjab blamed the government for discrimination in distributing relief. The government and local clerics reportedly refused to shelter around 500 Ahmadiya flood survivors in South Punjab relief camps and Ahmadis claim that the government did not provide relief to affected Ahmadiya communities in areas in Punjab. The IS Pakistan Team is monitoring the relief efforts - to make sure that all affected communities are receiving adequate relief without discrimination and that the needs of women are also met.
Despite the humanitarian crisis as result of the floods, Taliban and armed groups continued its insurgency activities. On 23 August, insurgent groups killed up to 25 people in three coordinated attacks on pro-government tribal leaders in the north-western Pakistan. The biggest attack was a suicide attacks in a mosque in the main town of South Waziristan, Wana, which killed 18 people. It is believed that these attacks are in response of the insurgents in relation to government's actions to crackdown on the Islamist/militant relief camps.

Bangladesh

The government has set up the International Crimes Tribunal and at least five people have already been booked for investigation by the Tribunal. We are in the process of analysing the law under which the tribunal functions, which appears in some places to be in breach of international fair trial standards.

Sri Lanka

The ruling party is seeking a constitutional amendment (the 18th amendment) that would extend the term limit of the executive presidency allowing President Mahinda Rajapaksa to remain in office when his present term expires. The amendment would do away with the constitutional council; replacing it with a 5-member Parliamentary Council that would oversee key appointments such as the Attorney General, police and judiciary. Several recent party "crossovers" means that the ruling party now has the 2/3 majority necessary to pass the measure in parliament. Opponents have challenged the move in the Supreme Court, saying that the government is using emergency measures to pass legislation when there is no emergency. They are calling for a referendum.

India

Kashmir: The security forces' crackdown against violent protests against extrajudicial executions and protestors continues leading to escalating violence and more killings of youth in the valley - the authorities' decision to order judicial probes into the deaths of 50 youngsters in police firing appears to have had little impact on the protestors. The deaths in police shootings during the last two months stands at 62 (as on 1 September 2010).

Chhattisgarh-Maoists: Maoist violence in several eastern and central states sees no sign of abating with Maoists striking to kill eight policemen in Bihar and abducting four policemen of whom they claimed to have killed one.

Commonwealth Games in October: The Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in October continues to face sustained questioning over the massive expenditure incurred, delays and corruption and human rights violations of workers and marginalized populations despite court orders (The India team plans to issue a statement on this).

Others: A bill against prevention of torture has been sent to a select committee of the Indian Parliament's Upper House after protests that it does not conform to national and international standards on human rights (The India team is preparing a submission to the select committee). The introduction of a new mining bill, with wide ramifications on the rights of adivasis and other marginalised communities facing livelihood and resource problems, may be delayed, mainly due to protests from companies against the proposal to give 26 per cent stakes to the local communities.

South-East Asia

Indonesia

Prominent Muslim cleric Abubakar Ba'asyir was arrested on 9 August for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities. Police claim to have evidence that Abubakar Ba'asyir funded a terrorist camp in Aceh. Two journalists in the provinces of Papua and Maluku were killed in July and August. Ardiansyah Matra'is, a journalist in Papua, had been missing for two days before he was found dead in a river on 30 July. Police suspect his death is connected to his coverage of local elections. Ridwan Saluman was killed in Maluku on 21 August while covering a communal clash between villagers in the province. The deaths prompted journalists nationwide to call for the police to thoroughly investigate acts of intimidation and violence against them. The Press Council warned that violence and threats against journalists in different regions are a real threat against Indonesia's press freedoms.

On 6 August five people were caned in Pidie Jaya district, Aceh. This was the district’s first public caning for violations of Sharia Law. Two people were caned for adultery and three others for gambling.

On 30 August, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said that the Ahmadiyya group "must be disbanded immediately" because it violated a 2008 joint ministerial decree that states that Ahmadiyya cannot propagate its teachings. Human rights activists have described the proposal as a setback and counter to the country’s commitment to religious freedom.

Laos

Four people were sentenced to death for drug trafficking. These are the first death sentences to be reported in well over a year. Laos continues to maintain a de facto moratorium on executions.
Lao officials began preparations for hosting the meeting of states party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in November. They are expecting representatives of 104 countries to attend. This is a major international event for the Lao PDR.

Cambodia

Following the first conviction at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on 26 July, both the prosecution and Duch, the head of S-21 security centre,. have appealed against the sentence. The prosecution is appealing on the grounds that the sentence - 35 years' imprisonment, reduced to 19 - is too light, that undue weight was given to mitigating circumstances, and insufficient weight was given to the gravity of the charges and offences committed. Duch is appealing on the grounds that his case falls outside the jurisdiction of the court.

Viet Nam

Another dissident was arrested on charges of "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing" the state. Article 79 in the national security section of the Penal Code provides for lengthy prison terms as well as the optional death penalty. Professor Pham Minh Hoang, a maths lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute has written about social justice and corruption, and supported protests against bauxite mining in the Central Highlands. He submitted testimony to the 5th Dublin Platform of Front Line Defenders in February 2010, highlighting how human rights defenders from a range of backgrounds are targeted by the authorities.

Malaysia

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak highlighted his New Economic Model in Independence Day speech on 31 August. In October the government is expected to announce details of the policy, which will touch on longstanding issues of state-sponsored ethnic discrimination.

East Asia

China

Over two weekends in end of July and early August, hundreds of people mostly young people from the southern Guangzhou city took to the streets to preserve their local dialect Cantonese after a local political advisory body proposed in early July that Guangzhou TV broadcast more of its news programmes in Mandarin or launch a new Mandarin channel. The local police said three people have been detained by police for disrupting public order. The Guangzhou municipal government has said that local authorities would not abolish use of the Cantonese dialect. A nationwide scheme that was in effect on 1 August, Chinese citizens could allow online access only if they have their identity cards swiped. Viewed content can then be traced down. By end of August, all internet cafes in Tibet Autonomous Region have been ordered to finish installing a surveillance system which would restrict viewed contents by identified surfers and monitor their internet activities.

On 4 August, a 22-year-old female work leapt from a dormitory in Foxconn's factory building in Jiangsu province. It was the 16th suicide attempt by a worker employed by the Taiwanese owned electronics giant among which 11 workers died. A slew of strikes across China continues over low wages, frequent overtime and unpaid overtime, working conditions, etc. A recent strike involved a Panasonic subsidiary factory in Shanghai. About 30 laid-off workers protested over inadequate compensation, forcing the factory to close for a day.

A bomb attack in on the outskirts of Aksu in south-western Xinjiang Uighurs Autonomous Region targeting a policeman and security guards killed seven people and wounded fourteen on 19 August. The Aksu prefectural government's website said the suspected attacker was a Uighur man who had ridden a three wheeled motorcycle into the security officers and civilians and detonated the explosive device. The suspect was also injured and was caught by police at the site of the blast in Yiganqi township. Witnesses said the suspected attackers were a man and a woman. An unnamed woman with the Public Security Bureau in Aksu, Xinjiang Uighurs Autonomous Region, however, denied that there was any blast in the area. Right after the explosion in Aksu prefecture, the Central Propaganda Department issued a ban for reporting by any media, including the state owned Xinhua News Agency, of an explosion in western China that killed seven people.

The Xinjiang Public Security Bureau issued a note on 26 August saying that the reward campaign was launched online, in an aim to mobilize ordinary people to help fight terror and crime. The police will pay between 10,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan for information about violent crime and terrorism. Suspects who surrender may be exempted from punishment or receive lighter sentencing in return for their cooperation.

(Hong Kong) Hao Tiechuan, head of the liaison office's publicity department commented in a speech that during social unrest, the top priority of the media was to help the government restore order. His comment angered the academics and rights group who said the first duty of journalists was to tell the truth.

North Korea

US President Barack Obama has signed an executive order mandating new financial sanctions on North Korea, senior administration officials say. The sanctions will hit eight North Korean "entities" and four individuals, targeting the trade in arms, luxury goods and narcotics. Following heavy floods, the military has been deployed to aid rescue work in North Korea. China and North Korea have evacuated thousands of people from their homes after heavy rains burst the Yalu river, flooding areas near their border. North Korean state media reported that 5,000 people had been moved in the city of Sinuiju and nearby villages. South Korea's Red Cross has offered 10bn won ($8.3m, £5.3m) worth of flood aid to its impoverished neighbour.

North Korea has opened a twitter account. Using the Twitter username @uriminzok – Korean for "our people" – North Korea has taken to the micro blogging site as part of a rejuvenated digital PR campaign. Last month the country's government also opened a YouTube account, uploading 78 news clips in four weeks. The regime's first tweet roughly translates as: "Website, 'our nation itself' is a Twitter account." In other tweets posted so far, the account links to past speeches praising the regime's "dear leader" Kim Jong-il, and a denunciation of reports the country's military sank a South Korean navy ship. South Korea government has asked domestic Internet service providers to block South Korean citizens’ access to a North Korean Twitter Inc. account because it breaches the South’s national security laws.

South Korea

A prominent clergyman has been arrested crossing back into his native South Korea from North Korea after an unauthorised visit. Han Sang-ryol paid a two month visit to communist North Korea, to which Seoul bans unauthorised trips. The pro-reunification pastor was reportedly given a warm reception in the North. Unauthorised visits to North Korea are illegal under the National Security Law in South Korea.
East Asia
China

On 11 August, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Religions released the Blue Book of Religions in China, revealing that there are an estimate of 23 millions of Christians in China. The research over the past two years was combined household sampling and in-depth investigation in selected areas. The survey collected more than 60,000 questionnaires in nearly 3,000 villages in 321 counties across the mainland. It shows that nearly 70 per cent of Christians are female and about 67 per cent have been baptized. It also showed that most mainland Christians live in the east and around the Yangtze River region, with nearly three-quarters in eastern and central areas of the country. The survey results suggested that about a quarter of Christians engage in religious activities at home. The officials said it is a breakthrough in China's academic world to reveal such figures based on household sampling and all previous figures have sparked controversy. Other estimates have ranged from 40 million to 130 million Christians. Recent research has suggested there are about 54 million Christians on the mainland, according to the Christian Examiner. The number, however, excluded those unrecognized ones officially.
Police interrogations at five Beijing prisons must now be recorded by surveillance cameras in an effort to make the law enforcement process more transparent. The regulation, released by the Qinghe branch of the capital's prison bureau and in force since 10 August, prohibits police from interrogating or conversing with prisoners in areas not covered by surveillance cameras. Officers have also been equipped with tamper-proof mobile video recorders. However, it generate concerns that the surveillance cameras should be applied to all mainland prisons and especially detention centres and it also raises doubts also that there was absence of any scrutiny by a third party. Some said police could evade the rule by claiming a surveillance system had broken or by getting senior prison officials to delete incriminating videos. (Hong Kong) The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature in China, approved two amendments to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region regarding the method of selecting Hong Kong's Chief Executive and the formation of the Hong Kong's Legislative Council. One amendment increases from 800 to 1,200 the number of electors in the Election Committee that will elect the chief executive; and the other will increase the number of Legislative Council seats from 60 to 70.

Japan

Ichiro Ozawa, a member of the governing Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), on August 26 took on Prime Minister Naoto Kan, 63, declaring his candidacy for the party leadership. The party vote is due to take place 14 September with the winner also becoming the Prime Minister.
On Friday 27 August Japan allowed the media to visit the site of executions in the Tokyo Detention Centre. Executions in Japan are by hanging. The move to invite the media to view the gallows was initiated by Minister of Justice Keiko Chiba and aimed at sparking public debate on the death penalty. Ms. Chiba oversaw the execution of 2 death row inmates on 28 July despite being personally opposed to the death penalty. A review within the Ministry of Justice has been ordered to review the death penalty but the Ministry is seen as being overwhelmingly in favour of the death penalty casting doubt about the value of the review. Two sessions of the review were held in August. A third session is due to take place in September and will invite outside experts to hear their opinions.

North Korea

American citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who was sentenced to 8 years hard labour in North Korea and fined $700.000 has been allowed to return to the US. He after arrested in April after illegally crossed into North Korea. Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in North Korea to collect Gomes who was granted a release. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il visited China for the second time in three months. Kim Jong-il rarely travels sparking speculation that the visit might be aimed at laying the groundwork for a transfer of power to his third son, Kim Jong-un. There is also speculation that Kim may also be seeking more aid following devastating floods in North Korea. Reports emerged that the North Korean government executed three leaders of an underground house church and jailed 20 others with them in May. North Korean police raided a house in Kuwal-dong in Pyungsung county, Pyongan province, and arrested all 23 people in attendance who had gathered for a "religious function." The 20 people are believed to have been taken to Yodok political prison camp.