Human Rights Action Update Jan. 14-21

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

EMBASSY FINDER Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

This week we focus on the Baka or so-called "pygmy" people of Cameroon. The development of protected areas in southeast Cameroon has progressively robbed the Baka “Pygmies” of access to their ancestral lands. They are regularly harassed, arrested and even tortured by wildlife officers and the soldiers that accompany them. The World Wildlife Foundation is responsible for these actions. Please click on the site and go to the email action to call for the cessation of abuse of the Baka people. To help arouse your outrage, we quote "A government official has openly admitted that torture is not only acceptable but necessary in the fight against poaching."

Wildlife officers attacked this woman with pepper spray and destroyed her cooking pots.

© Survival International

COLOMBIA 

This week we have two UA requests from the same country. Both deal with harassment of human rights defenders. One is about woman harassed for fighting sexual violence

Two men forced their way into the home of human rights defender Blanca Nubia Díaz, demanding to see one of her daughters. Both women have faced threats and intimidation as they campaign for justice in a case of sexual violence. Please protest.
The other deals with death threats by paramilitary forces against dozens of human rights defenders, as well as trade unionists and land restitution claimants who have been threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitary group in Northern Colombia. The group has also labelled them guerrillas. Please protest on this issue as well.

NIGERIA 

Please sign a petition by AVAAZ against the reign of terror imposed by Boko Haram.

WORKERS RIGHTS

The world’s two largest cement makers, Lafarge and Holcim, recently announced they would merge. They have made it clear that the merger will benefit shareholders, however they have refused to make any commitments to the workers, many of whom will be spun off into another company or made redundant. They have also refused to allow workers and unions to be heard in the merger process. Now workers are fighting back. Unions at Lafarge and Holcim have launched a global campaign and want your support. Please join the campaign.

Human Rights Action Update Jan. 8-14

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

We too are Charlie this week.

EMBASSY FINDER
Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

A Zo'é family relaxes in a hammock they made from Brazil nut fibres.

© Fiona Watson/Survival

This week we focus on  the the Zo'e people of Brazil. The Zo’é are a small, isolated tribe living deep in the Amazon rainforests of north Brazil. They only came into sustained contact with outsiders in 1987 when missionaries of the New Tribes Mission built a base on their land.
Their land has been officially recognized by the government, which controls access to it to minimise the transmission of potentially fatal diseases such as flu and measles. They have been threatened by intruders and need help to find their niche in Brazilian society. Please read their story. At the end there is a link to a letter to the Brazilian Minister of Justice expressing concern for the well being and future of this tribe.

CHINA 

Protest violent assault on Chinese labour rights defenders! On December 26, unidentified assailants entered the office of the Panyu Migrant Workers Documentation Centre (PMWDC) in Guangzhou and assaulted PMWCD head Zeng Feiyang. PMWCD has been providing legal and other services to migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta since 1998. The assault is the latest in an escalating series of attacks against independent organizations across China advising workers on their legal and workplace rights. Please click and join the protest.

 

MYANMAR 

POLITICAL ACTIVIST DETAINED IN MYANMAR

Political activist Ko Wai Lu has been arbitrarily detained and is facing imprisonment in Myanmar after he provided support to peaceful protesters who are calling on the authorities to resolve their land dispute. Fourteen people have also been charged for taking part in the peaceful protests. Please act on their behalf.

CUBA 

Five jailed dissidents whom Amnesty International named prisoners of conscience in 2013 were released between 7 and 8 January. Three remain under conditional release.  Please call upon the Cuban government to remove the restrictions on the freedom of Bianco Vargas Martín, Django Vargas Martín and Alexeis Vargas Martín and to complete the process of releasing political prisoners.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION UPDATE, Jan. 1-7

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

We wish all our Eastern Orthodox Christian readers a Merry Christmas  and a Happy New Year to all. Let us hope for a worldwide improvement in the protection of human rights.

EMBASSY FINDER Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

This week we focus on  the the Yanomami, who are the largest relatively isolated tribe in South America. They live in the rainforests and mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. They number approximately 32,000. Mining, ranching, and health care chaos threaten Yanomami

Davi Kopenawa, Yanomami leader and shaman surrounded by children, Demini, Brazil.

© Fiona Watson/Survival

For thousands of years, the Yanomami have thrived in the rainforests of South America. Now, they are struggling as the government fails to protect them from criminal invasions, attacks and disease. Please read the history of the interaction of the Yanomami with ranchers and gold miners and check out the options for helping the Yanomami at the bottom of the page.

PAKISTAN 

In the wake of the horrible Peshawar school massacre, the government has ended its moratorium on executions. While indeed the event was terrible, we nonetheless oppose capital punishment on moral and human rights grounds. Please write and call upon the Pakistani government to halt executions. People are sentenced to death in Pakistan for crimes such as "blasphemy" which do not constitute the type of serious offense for which capital punishment is allowed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Pakistan is a state party.

TUNISIA 

JAILED FOR COMPLAINING OF POLICE HARASSMENT

Film director Ines Ben Othman was arrested on 19 December 2014 after lodging a complaint for harassment by a police officer. She is in custody, facing one year in prison for insulting that police officer. (We note that in Israel too you can go to jail for "insulting a public employee" which tells you something of democracy. The law is almost never applied). Please write and protest this heavy-handed police behavior.

MYANMAR 

FOUR PROTESTERS DETAINED

Four human rights activists have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Myanmar after participating in a peaceful demonstration against the shooting to death of a protester the week before. The four have been detained solely for the lawful exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and must be immediately and unconditionally released. Please write and call for the release of these prisoners of conscience.

Human Rights Action Update Dec. 24-31

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Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

We wish you all a Happy New Year and a better year for human rights in 2015.

EMBASSY FINDER Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.


INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

This week we focus on  the Wichi people of Argentina and Bolivia. Please open the link, read about what is going on with these people and take a few steps on their behalf. The suggestion on the Web page is to write to your local Argentinean and Bolivian ambassador to urge the national government to pressure the Salta provincial authorities to fulfil their promises to the Wichí, and to ensure that Wichí land rights are recognised, in accordance with international law and both the national and provincial constitutions.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

Abortion has been decriminalized in the Dominican Republic by an act of Congress promulgated by the President.  Thanks to all of you for taking action. While we will monitor the upcoming discussion regarding the legislation for the regulation of the exceptions to abortion, no more action is requested at the moment from the network.
Solidarity and congratulation messages can still be sent to Dominican women’s human rights groups’ network: Colectiva Mujer y Salud (ciudadaniaactivadelasmujeres@gmail.com)

ECUADOR  

A leader of the indigenous communities of Ecuador was assassinated on his way to the UN Climate Change Conference in the Peruvian capital, Lima, to present his concerns about the construction of the Mirador mining project in his community. His entire community now feels at risk and their fear is justified.  Please act to demand an investigation into the murder of  José Isidro Tendetza Antún and protection for his people.

PERU 

Labor union rights and leaders are under attack. Please join the protest.

Luis Isarra

Human Rights Action Update Dec. 17-24

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

EMBASSY FINDER
Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

Nukak man hunting with a blow-pipe. © ICBF

This week we focus on  the Nukak tribe of Colombia. Please open the link, read about what is going on with these people and take a few steps on their behalf. At the bottom there is a link to a prepared letter to the President of Colombia.  Please help.

UKRAINE SERGEI DOLGOV: ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE?

Ukraine’s Security Services have now told Amnesty International that the authorities have no record of Sergei Dolgov’s detention. This implies that he has been subjected to enforced disappearance. Please write on his behalf.

CAMBODIA OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBERS FACING TRIAL 

Ten youth activists and one official from Cambodia’s main opposition party have been summoned for trial on 25 December under politically motivated charges relating to a protest on 15 July 2014. If convicted, they face up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Please raise your voice in protest.

NEWS FROM ERIC LEE ON THE LABOR FRONT 

Eric has summed up the year with some success stories. Please open and then consider joining one of the campaigns.

Human Rights Action Update Dec. 10-17

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

We wish all our Jewish readers a Happy Hannuka.

EMBASSY FINDER Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

When the loggers invaded our land, the uncontacted people disappeared from the forest. Now we have expelled the loggers and the Indians are returning. The oil company will force them to flee once again….’

This week we focus on  the Matses people of Peru. Please open the link, read about what is going on with these people and take a few steps on their behalf. At the bottom there are two action links. In 2012, Canadian oil company Pacific Rubiales began to explore for oil on land inhabited by the Matsés and neighboring uncontacted Indians. You can click to send this  corporation an email. The other is a letter to the President of Peru. Please help.

TURKEY  

Conscientious objector imprisoned: Haluk Selam Tufanlı has been imprisoned in North Cyprus for objecting to military service. Conscientious objection is a basic human right. Please act.

INDIA 

URGENT ACTION ADIVASI VILLAGERS ALLEGEDLY BEATEN BY POLICE 

Adivasi villagers in Chhattisgarh, central India, fear further repercussions by the authorities after allegations by 25 people that they were beaten by police while protesting the arrests of other villagers on 26 November. Several people have been hospitalized with serious injuries, and the police have refused to register an official complaint. Since 2005, a number of social and political activists and human rights defenders in central India have faced false charges and imprisonment for highlighting the human rights situation in the region. This has gone on for too long. Please raise your voice in protest.

PHILIPPINES 

The Hongkong campaign is now closed, but your attention is called to the fact that in the Philippines, Rolando Pango, a full time organizer with the Partido Manggagawa (PM) was gunned down in Binalbagan town in Negros Occidental on November 29, 2014. Please join the call for an investigation of this murder.

Human Rights Action Update November 27-December 3

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

EMBASSY FINDER 

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming. This week we focus on  the Innu people of Canada. We add a link to a description of what has been done to them and the results of the policy of the government of Canada. You are requested to write to your local Canadian embassy. Readers in the US and UK are also asked to write to members of Congress and Parliament.

Elder Manishai Nui cuts branches from a tree while clearing an old trail to hunting grounds to the North and West of Natuashish.
© Dominick Tyler

CHINA 

Fears are growing for the welfare of Chinese women’s rights activist Su Changlan, who has been detained in an unknown location without access to a lawyer since 27 October. One of her friends is also now being held after being detained on 25 November along with Su Changlan’s husband. Su Changlan could be facing charges of “endangering national security”. Please act on her behalf and on behalf of her husband and friend.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

Following national and international mobilization, the President of the Dominican Republic has objected and returned the proposed reform of the Criminal Code which maintained full criminalization of abortion to the Congress, urging legislators to decriminalize abortion in particular cases. Please write as requested to the Presidents of the two houses of Congress asking them to support the President.

USA 

FLORIDA GOVERNOR SIGNS NEW DEATH WARRANT 

Florida’s Governor has signed a death warrant in the case of Shane Kormondy, whose execution has been scheduled for 15 January. His accomplices have received life sentences. Please call upon the governor to commute this death sentence.