Group 48 Newsletter - October 2010

8/8/2019 Group 48 Newsletter - October 2010

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Amnesty International USA Group 48

Newsletter 10.10

In This Issue . . .

1 October 10 is World Against

Death Penalty Day

2 MEXICO: URGEN

ACION - Activist Harassed

and Treatened

3 New Prisoner o Conscience

case or Group 48

3 Saer to Stay Silent: Te

Chilling Eect o Rwanda’s

Laws on ‘Genocide Ideology’

and ‘Sectarianism’

5 Fight Against orture in

Burundi: arget Burundi

Government Ofcials

7 CHINA : Urgent Action

- orture/ Ill-treatment/Health concern

9 INDONESIA: Authorities

must hold inquiry into death

o Maluku political activist

AIUSA-Group 48

http://aipdx.org

503-227-1878

Next Meeting:

Friday October 8thFirst Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave

7:00pm inormal

gathering

7:30pm meeting starts

October 10 is World Against Death Penalty Day

By Terrie Rodello, AIUSA Oregon State Death PenaltyAbolition Coordinator

he 2010 World Day is ocused on the

U.S. death penalty; thereore, activists

around the world will be taking ac-

tion and educating their communities

about our death penalty system. o

nd out more about what you can do

and to access the World Day against

the Death Penalty resource kit: http://

www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/

world-day-against-the-death-penalty-

october-10-2010/page.do?id=1721023

World Day will be on October 10, 10,

2010. Tis is an annual ocal day orga-

nized by the World Coalition to Abolish

the Death Penalty (WCADP). Amnesty

International is a ounding and current

coalition member. Te 2010 World Day

is ocused on the U.S. death penalty.

Tereore, activists around the world

will be taking action and educating thei

communities about our death penalty

system. Because World Day is just one

day and happens to all on a Sunday

this year, Amnesty International is

encouraging people to consider having

activities during the ten days aroundWorld Day (Oct. 6-15) in case Oct. 10 isan impossible date to organize on.

World Day is a great opportunity orpublic education. Te World Coalition’swebsite is www.worldcoalition.org

I you have any questions or want toorganize an event, please do not hesitateto contact me.

S t e ph ani eH of s ch l a e g er S t o c k .X c h n g

NewsLetter Design

MichelleWhitlock.com



AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2010 Pg 2

MEXICO: URGENT ACTION - Activist Harassed and ThreatenedJuan Manuel Martínez (m)

Juan Manuel Martínez, a political activist rom Oaxaca state,Mexico, had his house broken into on 24 September. He hasbeen repeatedly harassed and threatened. His lie and that o his amily may be in danger.

On the aernoon o 24 September, Juan Manuel Martínezand his wie returned to their home in the Municipality o Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca state, Mexico, to nd that ithad been broken into and ransacked. Ocial documents re-

lated to complaints he had led with the local public prosecu-tors oce against previous acts o harassment and intimida-tion had been ried through, but no valuables were stolen.

Juan Manuel Martínez was detained in 2008 or the murdero US journalist Brad Will, but was released in February 2010aer a ederal court ruled that the charges against him werebaseless. Amnesty International repeatedly raised concernsthat his prosecution was unounded and welcomed his release.

According to Juan Manuel Martínez, he and his amily havebeen threatened and intimidated on several occasions since

his release. He and his amily have been orced to move homethree times because o a pattern o harassment. Juan ManuelMartínez’s wie has received threatening phone calls. Once,she was reportedly told: “stop causing problems or we willgive you a serious beating” (“deje de chingar la madre o te

vamos a partir la madre”). Te amily has also noticed thatarmed men have been keeping watch o their home and o the school their children attend.

A criminal complaint or has been led with the Federal At-torney General’s Oce (Procuraduría General de la Repúbli-

ca) or the repeated acts o harassment against Juan ManuelMartínez and his amily.

Juan Manuel Martínez’s lawyer, Alba Cruz, has previously also been threatened. She le Oaxaca City in March 2010. Shewent to Mexico City and then travelled abroad in search o respite. She recently returned to Oaxaca City to continue herhuman rights work.

PLEASE WRIE IMMEDIAELY in Spanish or your ownlanguage:

◌ Calling on the authorities to provide efective protection orJuan Manuel Martínez and his relatives, in consultation withthem and in accordance with their wishes;

◌ Calling on them to order a ull, prompt and impartial investigation into the threats and attacks Juan Manuel Martinezand his amily have sufered;

◌ Calling or the authorities to conduct a ull and impartialinvestigation into the killing o Brad Will.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 8 NOVEMBER 2010 O

Attorney General o the Republic

Arturo Chávez ChávezProcuraduría General de la RepúblicaAv. Paseo de la Reorma nº 211-213,Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. CuauhtémocMéxico D.F., C.P. 06500, MEXICOFax: +52 55 5346 0908Email: [email protected]: Estimado Procurador/ Dear Attorney General

Governor o Oaxaca

Lic. Ulises Ruiz Ortíz

Gobernador del Estado de OaxacaCarretera Oaxaca-Puerto Ángel, Km. 9.5, Santa María Coy-otepec,Oaxaca C.P. 71254, Oaxaca, MEXICOFax: +52 951 517 5890Salutation: Estimado Gobernador/ Dear Governor

Copies ToHuman rights organization,

Comité 25 de NoviembreEmail: [email protected]

J ul i a S t ar r S t o c k .X c h n g




New Prisoner of Conscience case for Group 48By Jane Kristof

about the case and its background. You can also learn aboutthe case rom a more personal viewpoint by watching aYouube appeal by Mr. El Khiari’s brother, which can beound by googling “Chekib El Khiari.”

Please write to King Mohammed or to the Moroccan ambas-sador, or both. Teir addresses are:

His Majesty King Mohammed VI

Bureau de Sa Majeste le RoiPalais royalRabat, Morocco

Salutation: Your Majesty

Ambassador Aziz Mekouar

Embassy o the Kingdom o Morocco1601 21st St. NWWashington, DC 20009-1002

Sample letter As a member o Amnesty International, Group 48, in PortlandOregon, I appeal to you or the immediate release o Moroc-can journalist and human rights activist, Chekib El-Khiari,now serving a prison sentence or alleging ocial corruption.

Chekib El-Khiari’s imprisonment is a violation o the Inter-national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, (ICCPR),to which Morocco is a state party. Article 19 o the ICCPR guarantees the right to reedom o opinion and expression.It is also a violation o Morocco’s own constitution, Article9, which similarly assures reedom o expression. Amnesty International regards Chekib El-Khiari as a prisoner o con-science, jailed solely or his anti-corruption statements andhis human rights activities.Please release this innocent man!

Group 48 was given a new “Prisoner o Conscience” casethis summer! We are working or the release o Chekib ElKhiari, a Moroccan human rights activist and journalist, whohas been sentenced to three years in prison and a large neor alleging ocial corruption and drug tracking. Amnesty International urges the immediate and unconditional releaseo Mr. El-Khiari, and also the amendment o the MoroccanPenal and Press Codes so as to comply with the Universal

Declaration o Human Rights, Article 19: “Everyone has theright to reedom o opinion and expression…”

We have already sent letters and petitions to King Moham-med VI o Morocco and more than a hundred postcards tothe Moroccan Embassy. We have also met with the staf o Representative Wu’s oce and they are looking into the case.More post cards are being prepared or King Mohammed.

We are particularly ortunate that AIUSA’s country specialiston North Arica, Jacob Mundy, happens to be in Portland,

and he has agreed to come to our October meeting and talk

Safer to Stay Silent: The Chilling Effect of Rwanda’s Laws on ‘GenocideIdeology’ and ‘Sectarianism’

he Rwandan government passed laws banning the promo-tion o “genocide ideology” and “sectarianism.” While it isunderstandable given the 1994 genocide why the Rwandangovernment wishes to ban hate speech, the laws as writtenand enorced today are extremely vague and give no clear de-inition o what actually constitutes “genocide ideology” and

“sectarianism.” An Amnesty International (AI) report released

S h l omi t W ol f S t o c k .X c h n

g

Chekib El-Khiari

©

P r i v a t e




on August 24, 2010, “Saer to Stay Silent: Te Chilling Efecto Rwanda’s Laws on ‘Genocide Ideology’ and ‘Sectarianism ’”

(http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/005/2010/en/ea05d5-40ea-4ed5-8e55-98463878c5c/ar470052010en.

pd) calls or the Rwandan government to act on its promiseto consider revising the law. Tis report exposes how theRwandan government has oen punished individuals or op-posing the ruling regime in a legitimate manner, as well as theconusion o judges, lawyers, and others about the implemen-tation o these laws. Tese laws also have been instrumentalin harassing and persecuting opposition parties during the

2010 presidential elections in Rwanda as well as in previous

elections, and in previous years to suppress oppositional

voices in the press. AI calls on its members to stand up or

ree expression.

Action Request

Tis action is aimed at both US Government ocials and

your congressional representatives. Please lobby the US Con-

gress and the State Department to encourage the Rwandan

government to revise these laws and to clearly dene hate

speech ollowing international conventions.

Write polite letters to the ollowing individuals as well as your

own congressional representatives. You can nd contact or

your representatives at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

Assistant Secretary o Arican Aairs

Johnnie Carson

Bureau o Arican Afairs (AF)

2201 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20520

elephone: 202-647-2530

Salutation: Dear Assistant Secretary o State,

Rep. Donald Payne

Chair, House o Representatives Subcommittee on Arica and

Global Health

United States House o Representatives

2310 Rayburn House Oce Building

Washington, D.C. 20515-3010

Salutation: Dear Congressman,

Senator Russ Feingold

Chair, Senate Subcommittee on Arican Afairs

United States Senate

506 Hart Senate Oce Building

Washington, D.C. 20510-4904

Salutation: Dear Senator,

Sample letter

ENER YOUR ADDRESS HERE

ENER RECIPIEN’S ADDRESS HERE

ENER DAE HERE

I write to express concern aer reading Amnesty Internation-

al’s report Saer to Stay Silent: Te Chilling Efect o Rwanda’s

Laws on ‘Genocide Ideology’ and ‘Sectarianism’. . Te report

explains how Rwanda’s laws on “genocide ideology” and “sec-

tarianism” were introduced in the decade ollowing the 1994

Rwandan genocide. It shows how Rwanda’s laws on “genocide

ideology” and “sectarianism” have been misused to stie

reedom o expression and to suppress legitimate political

dissent in Rwanda Aware o the role that hate speech played

in inciting genocidal violence, the post-genocide government

enacted laws to restrict speech that could promote hatred.

Group Coordinator Joanne Lau

971-221-5450

[email protected]

Concert Tabling

Will Ware

503-227-5225

[email protected]

Newsletter Editor

Dan Webb

503-253-3491

[email protected]

Treasurer

Tena Hoke

[email protected]

Legislative Coordinator

Dan Johnson

503-310-4540

[email protected]

Indonesia RAN

Max White

503-292-8168

[email protected]

Central AfricaRAN

Terrie Rodello

503-246-6836

[email protected]

OR State Death

Penalty Abolition

Coordinator

Terrie Rodello

503-246-6836

[email protected]

Central America

RANMarylou Noble

503-245-6923

marylou_noble@

yahoo.com

Prisoners' Cases

& Darfur

Jane Kristof

[email protected] Fromer

503-227-1878

[email protected]

AIUSA Group 48 Contact Inormation

»




I understand that prohibiting hate speech is a legitimate aim,

but the Rwandan government’s approach violates interna-

tional human rights law. I eel that these current laws against“genocide ideology” and “sectarianism” laws are unclear and

vague. Even judges ound these laws to be broad and abstract.

Tese broad and ill-dened laws have created a vague legal

ramework which is misused to criminalize criticism o the

government and legitimate dissent.

Te report illustrates how individuals have exploited the law

or personal gain. Several “genocide ideology” and “division-

ism” charges based on imsy evidence resulted in acquittals,

but oen aer the accused spent several months in pre-trialdetention. In April 2010, the Rwandan government an-

nounced a review o the “genocide ideology” law. Hopeully,

it will result in better laws which will prohibit hate speech,

while allowing reedom o expression.

I would kindly like to request you to ask you to raise these

concerns with the Government o Rwanda. I request that you

and your oce urge the Rwandan government to revise the“genocide ideology” and “sectarianism” laws and ensure that

the laws are clearly draed to prohibit only that expression

prohibited in Article 20(2) o the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights.

It would be helpul to ask the Rwandan government toprovide regular inormation, made publicly available, on theapplication o the “genocide ideology” and “sectarianism”laws, including the number o prosecutions, convictions andacquittals, and the sentences imposed.

I would be grateul i you could let me know o any actiontaken regarding this matter.

I thank you in advance or your consideration o this request.Yours sincerely,

he Burundian government’s notorious security agency,

National Intelligence Service (Service National deRenseigne-

ment, SNR) has been severely criticized or continuing to use

torture despite Burundian law and international conventions

that ban torture. Amnesty International issued on 24 August

2010 a report, “A Step Backwards’ – orture and other Ill-reatment by Burundi’s National Intelligence Service,” http://

www.amnesty.org/en/library/ino/AFR16/002/2010/en based

on the investigations o Amnesty International researchers

in the summer o 2010. We need your help to put an end to

torture in Burundi. o see a video slideshow about the report,

go to http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/burundi-

must-investigate-those-accused-torturing-opposition-politi-

cians-2010-08-23.

Send your letters to the ollowing individuals:

Pierre Nkurunziza

Président de la République du BurundiBoulevard de l’Uprona

Rohero I

BP 1870

Bujumbura, Burundi

Fax: 011 257 22 22 74 90

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister o Justice Jean Bosco Ndikumana

Ministère de la Justice

BP 1880Bujumbura, Burundi

Salutation: Dear Minister

Minister o National Solidarity and Human Rights Immac-

ulée Nahayo

BP 5758Bujumbura, BurundiFax: 011 257 22 21 75 49

Saluation: Dear Minister

Fight Against Torture in Burundi: Target Burundi Government Ofcials

Lena Pautina Stock.Xchng

»




His Excellency Celestin Niyongabo

Ambassador o Burundi in the US

Embassy o the Republic o Burundi2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 212

Washington DC 20007

Sample letter

Dear [insert title and last name here],

As a member o Amnesty International, I am extremely

concerned about the use o torture by members o Burundi’s

National Intelligence Service (Service National de Renseigne-

ment, SNR) and police against opposition party members and

other individuals. Te recent report by Amnesty International

“A Step Backwards’ – orture and other Ill-reatment by Bu-

rundi’s National Intelligence Service,” released in August 2010

exposes numerous acts o torture committed by SNR agents

and other law enorcement personnel in Burundi.

I demand that any ocial who directly or indirectly sup-

ported or participated in torturing individuals be persecuted

according to Burundian laws that ban this horric practice.

Anyone suspected o using torture should be immediately

suspended until an impartial and transparent investigation o

the charges against them, and any allegation o torture shouldbe investigated by legal means in an impartial and transparent

way. Victims o torture must have the right to saely demand

justice or these crimes and to receive medical care and repa-

rations or the sufering they endured. Te Burundian courts,

military, and law enorcement agents should report any

allegation o torture, and no evidence extracted via torture

should be used in courts.

o ensure the saety o detainees, your government should

allow an independent doctor to examine prisoners as soon as

they are arrested and that they have legal counsel provided to

them during all interrogations and throughout their incar-

ceration.

Your country has made impressive strides in promoting dem-

ocratic reorms, but these acts o torture cannot be allowed by

any country who sincerely respects human rights.

Sincerely,

Fight Against Torture in Burundi: Target US ofcials

Write the ollowing individuals as well as your own congres-

sional representatives. You can nd contact or your represen-

tatives at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

Assistant Secretary o Arican Aairs

Johnnie CarsonBureau o Arican Afairs (AF)2201 C Street, NWWashington, DC 20520elephone: 202-647-2530Saluation: Dear Assistant Secretary o State,

Rep. Donald Payne

Chair, House o Representatives Subcommittee on Arica and

Global HealthUnited States House o Representatives2310 Rayburn House Oce BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515-3010Salutation: Dear Congressman,

Senator Russ Feingold

Chair, Senate Subcommittee on Arican AfairsUnited States Senate506 Hart Senate Oce BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-4904Salutation: Dear Senator,

Sample Letter Dear [insert title and last name here],

As a member o Amnesty International, I am extremely

concerned about the use o torture by members o notorious

security agency, National Intelligence Service (Service Na-

tional deRenseignement, SNR) the Burundian SNR security

agency, and police against opposition party members and

other individuals. Te recent report by Amnesty Interna-

tional released in August 2010 “A Step Backwards’ – orture

and other Ill-reatment by Burundi’s National IntelligenceService,” exposes numerous acts o torture committed by SNR

agents and other law enorcement personnel in Burundi.

I strongly urge you to encourage the Burundian government

to persecute any ocial who directly or indirectly supported

or participated in torturing individuals. I also urge you to rec-

ommend to the Burundian government that courts, military,

and law enorcement agents should report any allegation o

torture, and no evidence extracted via torture should be used

in courts.»




CHINA : Urgent Action - Torture/ Ill-treatment/ Health concernAlim Abdiriyim (m)

Alim Abdiriyim, son o Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, is

being tortured and otherwise ill-treated in detention, accord-

ing to his amily. Tey believe his lie is at risk. He has been

in prison in Urumqi, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous

Region o China since 2006 on tax evasion charges.

According to sources in China, Alim Abdiriyim has sufered a

serious deterioration in his health and shows signs o physi-

cal and psychological trauma. He is reported to have said that

the prison authorities were “turning a blind eye to what was

happening” to him in prison, had not given him the medi-

cal attention he required, and that i the situation persisted

he eared or his lie. Rebiya Kadeer and her amily believe

his lie to be at risk unless urgent action is taken to urge theauthorities to address the situation.

Alim Abdiriyim was detained on 30 May 2006 and severely

beaten by police. On 13 June 2006, he was charged with tax

evasion, ollowing an investigation by the authorities into the

amily business, and “subversion o state power.” In November

2006, Alim was sentenced to seven years in prison and ned

US$62,500. He is believed to have conessed to the charges

aer being tortured while in detention.

R ai d oL e p p S t o c k

.X c h n g

Please use your inuence to ask the Burundian government tocomply with its own laws as well as international conventions

on human rights and the use o torture, and advocate that the

Burundian government ully investigate allegations o tortureand to protect the rights o victims o torture seeking legal

redress.Sincerely,

Rebiya Kadeer’s amily has been targeted by the authorities

since she was rst detained as a prisoner o conscience in

1999. Tis intensied aer she was released on medical parole

on 17 March 2005 and le China or the USA. Alim Ab-

diriyim and his brother Kahar Abdiriyim were sentenced on

27 November 2006, the day aer Rebiya Kadeer was electedpresident o the World Uyghur Congress (WUC). Amnesty

International believes that the pattern o retribution against

Rebiya Kadeer’s amily or her human rights activities casts

serious doubt on the credibility o the police investigation

into their business afairs and the airness o the trial process.

Background Information

Te Chinese authorities have used the global “war on terror”

to justiy harsh repression against the ethnic Uighur com-

munity in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and to

deny them their human rights. Uighurs are the only knowngroup in China currently sentenced to death and executed o

political crimes.

Rebiya Kadeer was sentenced in 2000 to eight years’ impris-

onment on charges o “providing state secrets outside the

country,” which were publicly available newspaper clippings

she sent to her husband in the USA. During her trial, nei-

ther she nor her lawyer was allowed to speak in her deense.

She was released on medical parole aer almost six years in

prison in March 2005. She has never been charged or accused

o violent crimes. Amnesty International considered her a

prisoner o conscience and campaigned to bring about her

release.

Rebiya Kadeer’s amily has experienced intensied persecu-

tion by Chinese authorities since she was released on medica

parole in March 2005. In 2006 Rebiya Kadeer was nomi-

nated by Swedish parliamentarian Annelie Enochson or the

Nobel Peace Prize. Annelie Enochson stated in her nomina-

tion, “Rebiya Kadeer champions the rights o western China’s




Uighur ethnic group and is one o

China’s most prominent advocates

o women’s rights...[she] has alsoused her resources as ounder and

director o a large trading company

in north-western China to provide

ellow Uighurs with training and

employment.”

orture and other ill-treatment are endemic in all orms

o detention, although China ratied the UN Convention

against orture in 1988. Amnesty International also receives

regular reports o deaths in custody, many o them caused

by torture, in a variety o state institutions, including prisons,

Re-education Trough Labor acilities and police detention

centers.

Te authorities have passed numerous regulations intended

to strengthen the ormal prohibition o torture contained in

China’s Criminal Law. However, the categories o prohibited

behavior are limited, and do not comply ully with denitions

o torture under international law. Articles 247 and 248 o the

Criminal Law list several ofenses related to the prohibition o

torture; however, these charges can only be brought against alimited range o ocials in particular circumstances or places.

Te prosecuting authorities, who also investigate and pros-

ecute torture ofenses, set criteria or taking up cases which

urther limit the application o these provisions.

Te broad discretion given to the police by the Criminal

Procedure Law (CPL) to detain suspects or long periods

beore trial increases opportunities or torture and other ill-

treatment. During this time detainees’ access to their amilies

and legal representatives may be limited. Under the CPL, the

police should inorm the amily o a detainee about their ar-

rest and place o detention within 24 hours, except where it

“would hinder the investigation” (Articles 64 and 71). How-

ever, in practice communication with the amily is requently

denied until the detainee is brought to trial or sentenced.

Provisions on access to legal counsel also all short o inter-

national standards. Article 96 o the CPL states that a sus-

pect “may appoint a lawyer to provide legal advice or to le

petitions and complaints on his behal,” aer the rst session

o interrogation by the “investigative organ,” or rom the day

Within the United States

$0.28 - Postcards

$0.44 - Letters and Cards

up to 1 oz.

To Canada

$0.75 - Postcards

$0.75 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.

To Mexico

$0.79 - Postcards


To all other destination countries

$0.98 - Postcards


Postage Rates

when the suspect is subjected to one o the orms o detention

or restriction provided by the law. In cases “involving state

secrets” the approval o the police is required beore a lawyeris appointed or any meeting between lawyer and client can

take place.

Recommended Action

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

◌ Urge the authorities to ensure that Alim Abdiriyim is not

tortured or ill-treated in prison and is provided with all nec-

essary medical treatment including or any injuries sustained

in custody;

◌ Urging them to order a ull and impartial investigation intoallegations that Alim Abdiriyim has been tortured and ill-

treated in prison with the aim o bringing those responsible

to justice;

◌ Calling on the authorities to end the human rights viola-

tions directed at Rebiya Kadeer’s amily, including torture

and ill-treatment in detention, police harassment and other

restrictions on their reedom o expression.

Appeals To

Premier o the People’s Republic o ChinaWEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli

Te State Council General Oce

2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu

Beijingshi 100017

Alim Abdiriyim

»

UHRP




PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Fax: 011 86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry o Foreign Afairs)

Salutation: Your Excellency

Chairman o the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regional

People’s Government

Nur BEKRI Zhuxi

Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengu Bangongting

2 Zhongshanlu, Urumqi 830041

Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu


Fax: 011 86 991 2817567 or 011 86 991 2803621

Email: [email protected]: Dear Chairman

Copies To

Mayor o Wulumuqi People’s Government

Gela YISHAMUDIN Shizhang

Wulumuqi Shizhengu Bangongting

72 Nanhulu

Urumqi 830002Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu


Fax: 011 86 991 4689654

Salutation: Dear Mayor

Ambassador Wen Zhong Zhou

Embassy o the People’s Republic o China

3505 International Place NW

Washington DC 20008

Fax: 1 202 465-2190Email: [email protected]

Please send Appeals Immediately.

Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action oce i sending ap-

peals aer 27 October 2010

he Indonesian government must immediately initiate anindependent, efective, and impartial inquiry into allegationsthat Yusu Sapakoly was consistently denied access to ade-quate medical care in Nania prison, Ambon , which may havecontributed to his death today.

Moreover, the amily has the right to insist that a medical orother qualied representative be present at the autopsy andits ndings must be made public.

According to local sources, Yusu Sapakoly, aged 52 and aather o our, was denied medical treatment by the Nania

prison authorities or kidney ailure which required dialysis.He had also made complaints that he did not receive adequatetreatment or rib injuries he had received during his deten-tion. On 7 September 2010, prison authorities released himinto the care o his amily.

Amnesty International believes that such denial o urgently needed medical care amounts to cruel, inhuman or degradingtreatment. Te treatment o Yusu Sapakoly violates Indone-sia ’s obligations under international human rights law as wellas in Indonesian law.

Yusu Sapakoly, was arrested on 29 June 2007 or assisting agroup o peaceul political activists in Maluku province whounurled the “Benang Raja” ag, a symbol o South Malukuindependence, while perorming a traditional “Cakalele”dance in ront o President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Tepolice then reportedly tortured him in detention. He wassubsequently charged with “rebellion” under Articles 106 and110 o the Indonesia Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 yearsimprisonment.

INDONESIA: Authorities must hold inquiry into death of Maluku political activist 13 September 2010

cr e a

t i v e1 1 S t o c k .X c h n g



Postage


AIUSA group 48 Newsletter October 2010

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Group 48 Newsletter - October 2010