Human Rights Action Update August 8-14

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

Good news to start--One of China's most prominent dissidents, Gao Zhisheng, has been released after three years in jail. His brother said he left the Xinjiang prison on Thursday morning and was now at his father-in-law's home in Urumqi. We have campaigned for him for a long time and welcome his release.

INDONESIA
On 8 August two Papuan students, including a child, were arbitrarily detained for their peaceful political activism in Indonesia’s West Papua province. They are believed to have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated by police. Please act on their behalf.

CHINA
Veteran activists Zhang Xiaoyu and Xu Youchen have been severely beaten by police in Henan Province, China , after they were detained on suspicion of killing a policeman . The authorities are denying them access to lawyers, and they are at grave risk of torture and other ill - treatment. Please act for them.

THAILAND 
A man associated with the “red-shirt” political movement in Thailand has been subjected to enforced disappearance and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. While authorities have confirmed he is in military custody, his family and lawyers have not been able to contact him since he was arrested in July. Authorities have confirmed he is in military custody but have refused to provide any information about his whereabouts. Please call upon the Thai authorities to act responsibly.
SWAZILAND
The Prime Minister of Swaziland, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, threatened that the trade union and human rights leaders who attend the African Summit in Washington, D.C. should be strangled upon their return. Please click and send your protest.