Human rights action update Feb. 14-21

Miriam, human rights defender and much more, 1947-2012

THE GOOD NEWS FIRST

Purim is coming so let us start with happy things:

 
 This week we can start off with a few items of success:
CAMAROON WORKERS IN SWEDEN 
We wrote last week about the exploitation of migrant workers in the forests of Sweden. The union reports that the workers will get their proper wages and benefits including retroactive payments. Thanks to all who help apply pressure to the forestry companies and kudos to the union that stood up and fought.

NO OIL EXPLORATION IN HOME REGION OF INDIGENOUS TRIBE

We are pleased to report that the oil prospecting in the Camisea region of Peru has been stopped in the wake of world wide publicity that caused the Argentine gas giant Pluspetrol to back down. Thanks to all who wrote letters and joined the protest.

Uncontacted tribes in Manu National Park are now safe from Pluspetrol's gas exploration, but the Nanti continue to be threatened by the expansion of Camisea.

© Survival

MAO HENGFENG SENT HOME

FEMALE RIGHTS ACTIVIST ALLOWED HOME
Human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Mao Hengfeng was allowed 
to leave the police detention centre where she was being held on 8 
February. The Chinese authorities issued a notice allowing her to serve 
the rest of her ?Re-education Through Labour? (RTL) term at home. She has 
sent her thanks to everyone who campaigned on her behalf. 
On 8 February, Mao Hengfeng?s family were able to bring her home from 
Yangpu police detention centre, Shanghai. Her husband Wu Xuewei believes 
this is due to the international and domestic calls for her release. Mao 
Hengfeng?s lawyer had also requested for her to be released on medical 
parole several times over the last two months. The decision may also be 
partly because the authorities at the RTL facility refused to take in Mao 
Hengfeng due to her poor health. 
Mao Hengfeng is currently resting at home, and expressed her thanks to 
Amnesty International for campaigning for her release. She recalled that 
on 30 September 2012, while in Beijing to celebrate the Mid-Autumn 
festival, she was followed by approximately 20 men in plain clothes. She 
tried to hide in a public toilet outside Beijing?s Chaoyang park, but was 
dragged out by some of the men, who punched and kicked her and pushed her 
to the floor. She was forced into a van and taken to Yangpu police station 
in Shanghai for questioning. 
On 30 October Mao Hengfeng was ordered to serve 18 months RTL for 
"disturbing public order? after participating in commemorative activities 
earlier in the year for deceased petitioner Teng Jingdi. She was held in 
solitary confinement at Yangpu district police detention centre in a dark 
cell without windows, and was not given access to clean hot water until 
her heath worsened. Mao Hengfeng suffers from very high blood pressure and 
experienced severe headaches and diarrhoea during her detention. 
Many thanks to all those who sent appeals. No further action is required 
from the UA Network. 

NOW THE TOUGH STUFF

CHILD SOLDIERS IN MALI
Islamist armed groups in Mali (Ansar Dine, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) should immediately end all recruitment, training, and use of child soldiers. 
Please sign the petition to the International Criminal Court to help put a stop to this terrible practice.





UNION ACTIONS FOR MEXICO

Eric Lee informs us that we are in a worldwide week of action on behalf of workers in Mexico.  Please join in to help workers and unions in Mexico.

AFRICAN REFUGEES IN ISRAEL

Please join the campaign of the New Israel Fund to prevent deportations of refugees in Israel to countries where they will be in serious danger. Your signature on the petition will help bring pressure.