My Legal Right » International Rights

Cambodia: Khmer Rouge judgment welcome, but raises human rights concerns

MLR — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:19:44 +0000

A UN-backed tribunal has given former Khmer Rouge jailer “Duch” a life sentence for the killings of more than 12,272 people.

February 3, 2012

International

The UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal’s final judgment against a former prison chief in Cambodia today is an important step towards accountability but raises human rights concerns, Amnesty International said.

The tribunal’s Supreme Court Chamber upheld an earlier conviction of Khmer Rouge jailer Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, for crimes against humanity and war crimes described as “amongst the worst in human history”, and increased his sentence from 35 years to life in prison.

Paraguay: Land dispute victory for displaced indigenous community

MLR — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:19:44 +0000

After a two-decade legal battle, the Yakye Axa indigenous community in Paraguay can finally move away from a precarious roadside camp.

March 1, 2012

International

A land deal finalized this week between Paraguayan authorities and a land owner in the country’s central region will allow a long-displaced indigenous community to rebuild in safety and dignity, Amnesty International said today.

For almost two decades, the Yakye Axa indigenous community have fought a legal battle to return to their ancestral lands while around 90 families were forced to live in destitute conditions alongside a nearby highway.

UN court ruling on Nazi war crime victims ‘a setback for rights’

MLR — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:19:41 +0000

An ICJ ruling breaches the human rights of foreign victims of Nazi war crimes by giving Germany legal immunity from being sued for reparations.

February 3, 2012

International

A decision by the United Nations’ top legal body that Italy was wrong to allow action through its courts to seek compensation from Germany for Nazi-era war crimes is a setback for human rights, Amnesty International said today.

Today’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirms that Germany has legal immunity from being sued for reparations in foreign courts by victims of Nazi war crimes, in breach of their human rights.

Cambodia: Stop the use of excessive force against peaceful land activists

MLR — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:19:10 +0000

Excessive force has been used on a number of occasions against peaceful demonstrations in Cambodia calling for land rights to be respected.

February 2, 2012

International

Cambodian authorities must stop the use of excessive force against peaceful land and housing activists, Amnesty International said today, after police violently dispersed a group of around 150 women protesting forced evictions in the capital Phnom Penh.

Police yesterday beat and arrested several of the women, who were peacefully protesting against last month’s forced eviction of the Borei Keila community and the effects of past evictions at the capital’s Boeung Kak Lake.

Yemen: One year on since the start of mass protests

MLR — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:19:10 +0000

A run-down of the human rights situation in Yemen one year after pro-reform protests began.

February 2, 2012

International

3 February 2011 was the day when protests in Yemen transformed into a mass movement. On that day a broad group of mainly students and activists calling itself the Youth of 3 February (since referred to itself as Youth of the Revolution) attracted tens of thousands of people to mass protests in the capital Sana’a.

Pakistan should protect Ahmaddiya community against threats of violence

MLR — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:19:10 +0000

Religious groups in Pakistan have called for the demolition of one of the largest Ahmadi worship sites in the city of Rawalpindi.

February 2, 2012

International

Pakistani authorities must do more to protect the Ahmaddiya community, Amnesty International said today amid threats from religious groups to block Ahmadis from entering their place of worship in Rawalpindi on Friday.

An Ahmadi spokesperson yesterday said local religious groups have warned they will not allow Ahmadis to carry out religious activities this Friday, local media reported.

The call comes a week after some 5,000 people demonstrated in favour of demolition of the Ewan-e-Tauheed, one of the largest Ahmadi places of worship in the city of Rawalpindi.

Security Council: Russia must not block efforts to end atrocities in Syria

MLR — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:19:06 +0000

Russia is urged not to block the UN Security Council’s efforts to end human rights violations in Syria.

February 1, 2012

International

Russia must not block international efforts to tackle the ongoing violence and human rights violations in Syria, Amnesty International said today amid negotiations over a resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.

Russian officials have threatened to veto the resolution if it comes to a vote.

Russia was one of several Security Council members to block a previous resolution on Syria on 4 October 2011. According to reports received by Amnesty International, more than 2,600 people have been killed in Syria since then.

Senegal: President must rein in security forces as third person killed amid protests

MLR — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:19:06 +0000

At least one man was killed on Tuesday when a police car ploughed into a group of anti-Wade protesters in Place de l’Obélisque in the capital, Dakar.

February 1, 2012

International

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade must rein in security forces, Amnesty International urged today after a third person was killed and dozens injured by police during two days of demonstrations across the country.

At least one man was killed yesterday when a police car ploughed into a group of anti-Wade protesters in Place de l’Obélisque in the capital, Dakar.

Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that demonstrators came under fire from police, who also threw a tear gas canister at an ambulance.

South Korea must release activist charged over Kim Jong-il tweet

MLR — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:19:06 +0000

A South Korean activist faces up to seven years in prison after re-tweeting messages from North Korea’s official Twitter account.

February 1, 2012

International

The South Korean authorities should immediately release a social media activist accused of helping “the enemy” for re-tweeting messages from North Korea’s official government Twitter account, Amnesty International said today.

Park Jeonggeun, a 24-year-old Socialist Party activist, was yesterday charged by South Korean law enforcement authorities with violating the country’s national security law for re-tweeting the message “long live Kim Jong-il” from North Korea’s official Twitter account.

Haiti: Dropping Jean-Claude Duvalier case ‘a disgrace’

MLR — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:18:43 +0000

Haitian authorities have dropped the case against former leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, who is accused of crimes against humanity during his rule.

January 31, 2012

Haiti’s judicial authorities have dealt yet another blow to the victims of former leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, Amnesty International said today after the criminal case against the former “president-for-life” for grave human rights violations was dropped.