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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FRONT PAGE
ETHIOPIA: Release peaceful anti-poverty activists BELARUS: Repeal restrictive criminal code amendments ERITREA: Urge African states to take action on rights abuses
ZIMBABWE: African governments speak out
RUSSIA: Putin in the shadows of Lukashenka and Nazarbayev Civil Society Watch Team
CSW
COUNTRY UPDATES AZERBAIJAN: Opposition leaders arrested BAHRAIN: Human rights activist arrested and beaten BANGLADESH: Human rights defenders and journalists under threat CAMBODIA: Courts used to silence voices of opposition CHINA: Protesters shot by police CHINA: Authorities shut down gay and lesbian festival EAST TIMOR: Defamation introduced as criminal offence EGYPT: Journalists prevented from covering election ERITREA: Government rejects religious report INDIA: Human rights defenders receive death threats IRAN: Crackdown on free press continues JORDAN: Anti-terror law could threaten religious freedom MACEDONIA: Religious minorities denied permission to build NEPAL: Over 100 arrested at human rights day demonstration PHILIPPINES: 2005 the worst year for human rights in 19 years SINGAPORE : High court dismisses accusations against government SWAZILAND: Civil society afraid of demonstrations UNITED STATES: Revised Patriot Act rejected UZBEKISTAN: Human rights organisation in danger
FREEDOM HOUSE: World freedom increased in 2005 SUR: Human rights journal calls for submissions CIVICUS: What do you think? Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog!
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Reflections
As we leave 2005 behind and slide into 2006, the CIVICUS Civil Society Watch (CSW) team would like to thank all our readers for your continued support to the CSW Monthly Bulletin, as well as our other campaigns and advocacy work. Marking the one year anniversary of the CSW Monthly Bulletin, this issue will be sent to more than 7,000 subscribed readers around the world.
According to Freedom House's recently released global survey, there was a general increase in freedom throughout 2005-- 46% of the world's population now currently enjoys open political competition, a climate of respect for civil liberties, significant independent civic life and independent media. However, despite gains, the majority of the world continue to live in countries where their freedoms of expression, association and assembly are curtailed. Where these freedoms are restricted, so is civil society.
In 2005, the world witnessed increasing legal and administrative barriers to civil society in numerous countries, including Belarus, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Nepal, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. We saw harsh anti-terror legislation proposed in Jordon, Swaziland and United Kingdom, and enter into force in Australia and Italy. We were shocked by the violent suppression of protest in Egypt, Ethiopia, Maldives and Morocco. We heard stories of threats and violence against human rights defenders in Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Serbia, Uganda, and many others.
Although CSW will continue to advocate for greater freedoms for civil society in 2006, we also resolve to take our work even further-- to the development of concrete tools and resources which organisations can use to defend their fundamental rights. Along with other organisations from around the world, CIVICUS is initiating the ambitious Campaign for a Charter on Civil Society Rights. The Campaign aims to ensure civil society organisations have access to the instruments protecting their rights, as well as practical methods of advocating for those rights. The final stage of the Campaign will work to secure recognition and protection of civil society rights through an international legal instrument.
Civil society has entered 2006 with plenty of challenges, but also many opportunities. We look forward to working with you to enlarge the space for civil society to operate.
For more information on how your organisation can work with CSW, please email cswatch@civicus.org.
Kind regards, The Civil Society Watch Team
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CIVICUS ACTION ALERTS! | ||
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ETHIOPIA: Release peaceful anti-poverty activists CIVICUS
CIVICUS Secretary General Kumi Naidoo appealed to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on 23 December to release two anti-poverty activists currently being held with 129 opposition politicians and journalists on treason-related charges.
After being charged on 21 December, Daniel Bekele of Action Aid Ethiopia and Netsanet Demissie of Organisation for Social Justice Ethiopia, were denied bail on 4 January. Among the other detainees are 20 journalists and three other civil society activists. All 131 will face trials beginning 17 March on charges ranging from genocide to treason and defying the constitution.
To read the urgent action, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/Ethiopialetterofappeal.htm
BELARUS: Repeal restrictive criminal code amendments CIVICUS 16 December - Joining organisations around the world on the monthly Belarus Day of Solidarity, CIVICUS and Belarus human rights centre Viasna issued an alert warning that new criminal code amendments will further restrict Belarusian civil society organisations. The amendments, which came into force on 20 December, impose jail terms of up to two years for anyone who facilitates or participates in group activities, works with unregistered organisations, appeals for assistance from foreign governments and organisations, or ‘discredits’ the Republic of Belarus in any way. Belarusian civil society has been under attack by the government since 2003. In the last three years, almost all critical NGOs have been systematically silenced by a series of repressive laws and regulations To read the full alert, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/Belarus_JointStatement.htm
ERITREA: Urge African states to take action on rights abuses CIVICUS
9 December - On the day before International Human Rights Day, CIVICUS and the Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights issued a letter of appeal, signed by 21 other civil society organisations, urging the member states of the African Union to acknowledge and take action on the Government of Eritrea’s ongoing violations of human rights.
Since 2001, the Eritrean government has systematically clamped down on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and denied prisoners of conscience the rights to fair trial and due process of law. Thousands of individuals suspected of being critical of government policies have been silenced through arbitrary arrests and detentions.
To read the full alert, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/JointLetterofAppeal_Eritrea.htm | ||
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ANALYSIS |
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RUSSIA: Putin in the shadows of Lukashenka and Nazarbayev Civil Society Watch Team
What can be deduced from the recently introduced controversial draft law aimed at tightening state control over NGOs in Russia? What policy options informed the draft bill? Could this be a ripple effect from the same draconian laws instituted in CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries like Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan?
The draft law, “On introducing amendments to certain legislation Acts of the Russian federation” was introduced to the Duma on November 8 2005 by a group of political parties closely aligned to President Putin. The bill sailed through its first reading at the State Duma on 23 November receiving 370 votes in favour and only 18 against. In reaction to the public outcry, President Putin called for a revision of certain sections of the bill. The bill was approved by the Russia’s upper house of parliament, Federal Council by a 153-1 vote at the end of December, and now awaits final approval by the president.
To read the full article, visit: http://www.civicus.org/csw/ANALYSIS_Russia.htm
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ZIMBABWE: AU body adopts resolution on human rights situation
4 January - The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe in the session from 21 November to 5 December, marking the first time an organ of the African Union has adopted a critical statement of Zimbabwe.
However, in reaction to the statement, the government of Robert Mugabe has responded with threats, harassment and arrests of individuals asserting their right to freedom of expression. The government has also stepped up its persecution of critical local NGOs and law based organisations," reports Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
To read more, visit: http://www.zlhr.org.zw | ||
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AUSTRALIA: Anti-terror law passed 6 December - The Law Council of Australia, as well as opposition politicians and human rights activists, have warned against the ramifications of a controversial anti-terror bill hastily adopted on 6 December, reports AFP. Critics say the new laws would undermine civil liberties by giving unprecedented power to police and spy agencies to detain people in secret and without charge. The legislation also reportedly broadens rarely used sedition laws to curb "incitement" to violence, gives police tougher stop, search and seizure powers and allows greater use of security cameras.
View Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051206/wl_asia_afp/australiaattackslaws http://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/read/2005/2419109370.html
AZERBAIJAN: Opposition leaders arrested 18 December - Some opposition members were detained and dozens beat up during an unsanctioned demonstration in Baku on 18 December to protest the election results and urge the government to have another parliamentary election, reports Human Rights House.
View Source: http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5.asp?id=3996
BAHRAIN: Human rights activist arrested and beaten 7 December - The executive director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights Abd Elhadi Al Kawaga was arrested and severely beaten by police on 5 December while he was on his way to protest the sexual abuse of another activist Musa Abd Ali, reports the Arab Program for Human Rights. Al Kawaga's was released one hour after the arrest with both shoulders broken. Abd Ali, one of many members of the Unemployed Committee to be harassed by officials, was beaten and sexually abused by police on the night of 27 November, in reaction to the committee's intention to hold a public gathering to protest unemployment on 29 November.
View Source: http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=2891
BANGLADESH: Human rights defenders and journalists under threat 14 December - Hundreds of human rights defenders have been threatened and many attacked in Bangladesh, says Amnesty International. At least eight human rights defenders have reportedly been assassinated since 2000. On 10 December, the Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre reported receiving a bomb threat at their Jessore office, allegedly from an outlawed Islamist militant group. The PRIP Trust, a human rights and development organisation, has also been a victim of continued harassment and threats, as well as government barriers which prevent access to essential donor funding. Reporters sans frontières also reports a surge in political violence against journalists in December, with three journalists being injured in a bomb, two beaten by police and one threatened by the head of a madrassa.
View Source: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/bgd-091205-action-eng http://www.bdpc.info/mission/mission.html
CAMBODIA: Courts used to silence voices of opposition 5 January - The Cambodian government has frequently used legal action, particularly criminal charges for defamation or incitement against civil society figures, journalists and political opponents, in an attempt to silence its critics, reports Human Rights Watch. The Deputy President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) Pa Nguon Teang was charged on 4 January. Kem Sokha, president of the CCHR, and Yeng Virak, director of the Community Legal Education Centre, were also arrested on December 31 and charged with criminal defamation. All three were charged in connection with handwritten comments criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen on a banner displayed at an International Human Rights Day celebration on December 10.
View Source: http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=asia&c=cambod http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/04/cambod12360.htm
CHINA: Protesters shot by police 15 December - Police fired on demonstrators in Dongzhou village on 6 December who were protesting against inadequate compensation for land expropriated for a power plant, according to Human Rights Watch. Police have reportedly admitted three protesters were killed, while villagers claim as many as 20 are dead and 40 are missing. This incident is the first known shooting of public protesters since the June 1989 clamp down on democracy advocates in Tiananmen Square, reports HRW.
View Source: http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/12/15/china12281.htm
CHINA: Authorities shut down gay and lesbian festival 20 December - In letters to the Chinese authorities, Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network condemned the raiding and shutting down of the Beijing Gay and Lesbian Culture Festival on 16 November. According to the event’s organizers, police ripped down signs, decorations and posters. They reportedly filmed the raid and festival attendees, and ordered the bar closed for a week. Participants were to include academics, actors, filmmakers and artists, along with activists for sexual rights and health. Chinese HIV/AIDS activists and NGOs have consistently been harassed and intimidated by the authorities, reports HRW.
View Source: http://hrw.org/doc/?t=hivaids&document_limit=0,2
EAST TIMOR: Defamation introduced as criminal offence 14 December - Prime Minister Mari Altakiri signed an executive decree on 6 December, approving a penal code that criminalises defamation, reports Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Under article 173 of the penal code, journalists can now face sentences of up to three years for publishing statements deemed to defame public officials. SEAPA fears the new law will force journalists into silence, as it fails to provide protection from defamation charges for the "reasonable" publication of facts. Since 2002, media advocates have reportedly seen a rise in threats of defamation against the new country's journalists.
View Source: http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=421 http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/148/
EGYPT: Journalists prevented from covering election 9 December - Reporters sans frontières has accused the Egyptian authorities of waging a campaign of harassment against the press throughout the month-long, staggered legislative elections, in which more than 50 journalists were prevented from covering the polling. Members of the media were reportedly also subjected to violence by police, officials or members of the public. RSF also reports that website editor Ahmed Mahmoud Abdallah was arrested 5 December by members of the state security agency.
View Source: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/70982/ http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/71015/
ERITREA: Government rejects religious report 7 December - The Eritrean government has rejected the findings of an Amnesty International report which claims Eritrea denies its citizens freedom of religion, reports IRIN News. Since 2002, only four main religions have been recognised as official faiths: the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches and Islam. No minority religion has succeeded in registering since the measures were enacted. The reports says that in the last 3 years, at least 26 pastors and priests, some 1,750 evangelical church members, and dozens of Muslims have been detained by the government.
View Source: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr640132005 http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50529&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ERITREA
INDIA: Human rights defenders receive death threats 21 December - Local police have refused to arrest those who issued death threats against human rights defenders working with Dalit people in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh reports the Asian Human Rights Commission. Despite a letter from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urging the minister of foreign affairs to intervene, the police have allegedly not taken any action.
View Source: http://www.ahrchk.net/index.php
IRAN: Crackdown on free press continues 4 January - In another crackdown on the press, the judiciary closed a newspaper and a magazine on 2 January, reports the Associated Press. The government of Iran has reportedly closed down more than 100 pro-democracy publications in the past five years on vague charges of insulting religious sensibilities or institutions.
View Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAN_PRESS_CRACKDOWN?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
JORDAN: Anti-terror law could threaten religious freedom
7 December - Islamic groups have criticised a
proposed anti-terror law, saying it intends to control religion as a
method of preventing terrorism, reports IRIN News. The law
reportedly lays down stiff punishments for anyone seen as condoning or
supporting acts of terror. Authorities drew up the law immediately after
the 9 November bomb attacks in the capital Amman, which killed 60 people
and injured more than 100. View Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50531
MACEDONIA: Religious minorities denied permission to build 12 December - Religious minorities are consistently denied permission to build or extend existing places of worship, reports Forum 18. Although under the law they are permitted to build, often bureaucratic barriers inhibit building by Baptists, Evangelicals, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslims.
View Source: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=703
NEPAL: Over 100 arrested at human rights day demonstration
11 December - Peaceful activists marking the
57th International Human Rights Day were blasted by water canons and
arrested when they tried to enter an area in central Kathmandu, reports
the Asian Tribune. Among the arrested were rights leader Krishna
Pahadi, coordinator of Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace,
Dr Devendra Raj Panday, chief of Informal Service Sector Subodh
Pyakurel, and former president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists
Taranath Dahal. Several student leaders were also allegedly arrested
during demonstrations. In yet another blow to democracy and peace in
Nepal, Maoist rebels recently announced they will not renew a four-month
ceasefire, reports the Bangkok Post. View Source: http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=16387 http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=70689
PHILIPPINES: 2005 the worst year for human rights in 19 years 10 December - Filipino human rights organisation KARAPATAN has declared 2005 as the worst year for human rights since the fall of the authoritarian regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. In their 2005 report, KARAPATAN states that "the Philippine human rights situation in 2005 can be characterized by the wanton use of repression and state terror by a scandal-rocked President desperately clinging to power in the face of the people’s rejection." From January to November, 150 civilians were reportedly victims of political killings. Of those, 80 have been confirmed as activists critical of the Arroyo regime, including eight KARAPATAN human rights workers.
View Other Resources: http://bulatlat.com/news/5-44/5-44-hr.htm
SINGAPORE : High court dismisses accusations against government 23 December - The High Court has dismissed a lawsuit against the government which claimed public institutions were trampling on the rights to free expression and assembly, reports the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). The SEAPA has expressed concern that the ruling will pave the way for even greater restrictions. Four protesters had reportedly sued the minister for Home Affairs and the commissioner of police for unlawfully dispersing their peaceful protest in August 2005, held outside a government building in downtown Singapore. The four had argued that they had the right to stage the protest under the Constitution, which allows a group of four people or fewer to assemble in public
View Source:
SWAZILAND: Civil society afraid of demonstrations 16 December - Ambiguity over the legality of protests kept Swazis away from most political rallies and anti-government demonstrations in 2005, reports IRIN News. Marches and demonstrations are illegal in Swaziland unless permitted by the commissioner of police who regularly refuses them down because political organising is illegal under a 1973 emergency decree. Human rights activists are reportedly optimistic that 2006 could see a rise in participation, as a new constitution is to come into force in January which includes a bill of rights permitting freedom of assembly.
View Source:
UNITED STATES: Revised Patriot Act rejected 23 December - The US Senate blocked passage of a revised Patriot Act on 17 December, saying the new measures would threaten the constitutional liberties of Americans, reports the Associated Press. Much of the controversy reportedly involved powers granted to law enforcement agencies to gain access to a wealth of personal data, including library and medical records, in secret, as part of investigations into suspected terrorist activity. On 22 December, the Congress extended the 31 December expiration date of the current Patriot Act for one month.
View Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PATRIOT_ACT?SITE=NYUTI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
UZBEKISTAN: Human rights organisation in danger 5 January - The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) continues to face systematic persecution for unmasking the illegal activities of the Uzbek government, reports the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Since 1992 the HRSU has been denied registration six times for formal reasons. HRSU activists are reportedly subject to attacks, threats and blackmail by representatives of the authorities, many times resulting in damage to their property or to their health. Their relatives are also threatened to further intimidate them
View Source: http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=4171
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FREEDOM HOUSE: World freedom increased in 2005 In their 2005 report, Freedom in the World 2006, Freedom House reports a significant growth in freedom around the world. Freedom reportedly improved for Ukraine, among others. Uzbekistan, however, slipped to the lowest possible score in the survey, but remained a notch above the nonexistent state of freedom of its neighbour, Turkmenistan. According to the report, nearly half the world's population live in the 89 countries that are considered free. Another 18 percent live in partly free countries, which number 58.
The report is available at http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=15&year=2005
SUR: Human rights journal calls for submissions Sur – International Journal on Human Rights is asking for contributions to be published in its coming issues. The journal is especially aimed at academics and activists dedicated to the study and the defense of human rights. The Journal is published twice a year, distributed free of charge to approximately 3,000 readers in over 100 countries. It is edited in three languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish. Although submissions can be made at any time, only those received before 31 January may be included in issue number 4.
For more information, visit: http://www.surjournal.org or email surjournal@surjournal.org
CIVICUS: What do you think? Have your say on the CIVICUS Blog! Civil society must regularly confront controversial issues which affect both what we do and how we do it. Here is an opportunity to share your thoughts on these topics, to speak out and to make a difference! Help CIVICUS develop its vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world.
Have your say by visiting http://civicus.civiblog.org.
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CONTACT US | ||
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If you would like to send an
appeal or share information with us regarding issues affecting civil
society in your region, please contact the Civil Society Watch
(CSW) team at cswatch@civicus.org or visit http://www.civilsocietywatch.org/ For more information, please see http://www.civicus.org or contact: CIVICUS House, 24 Gwigwi
Mrwebi Street (formerly Pim), | ||
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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this bulletin are a reflection of those contained in the original reports to which they are linked here, and are not necessarily those of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. |