- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Mar 31, 2010
- Event Description
On 31 March 2010, about 50 lawyers, accompanied by MPs, human rights activists and supporters gathered at the entrance of the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here today to protest the alleged manhandling of a lawyer by policemen at the Jalan Duta Court Complex last week. The lawyers were enraged after lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, who was handling the drug possession case of actor Khaeryll Benjamin Ibrahim, better known as Benjy, on March 25 was physically restrained by several policemen. Amer had intervened and tried to seek an explanation from the police who had waited outside a courtroom to re-arrest Benjy, the son of actress Azean Irdawaty, who was charged with possessing methamphetamine and released on bail.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
Malaysian Bar_manhandling_of_lawyer.html)
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Mongolia
- Initial Date
- Apr 27, 2010
- Event Description
On 27 April 2010, journalist Kh. Namuun-Uyanga, of the "Ogloonii Sonin" (Morning News) daily, received a threatening phone cal. He was urged to stop reporting on alleged embezzlement by Lieutenant Colonel M. Bayarmagnai, deputy chief of the Patrol and Special Defense Department. The threat was madeby Bayarmagnai's lawyer. The journalist heads the paper's Investigative Department. She published an article in the paper's 11 September 2008 edition, issue #175, entitled, "Police Colonel Embezzles MNT 20 million". The article was based on information provided by Lieutenant Colonel Ts. Batbold, head of the Investigation Department of the State General Prosecutor's Office. Batbold explained that his department was investigating a swindling case involving Bayarmagnai. At the time, a number of daily newspapers, including "Zuunii Medee" (Century News), "Ardchilal" (Democracy) and "Ardyn Erkh" (People's Right), also published articles on the investigation. But Bayarmagnai named only "Ogloonii Sonin" in his lawsuit, as it was the first paper to report on the alleged embezzlement. The lieutenant colonel accused the paper of defaming him and asked for 10 million MNT (over US$7,000) from the journalist to "redeem his reputation". The journalist earns about US$200 a month. After reviewing the case on 19 October 2009, the Bayanzurkh District Court found the paper guilty of slander and defamation. "Ogloonii Sonin" was ordered to pay 2 million MNT in damages to the plaintiff and publish a retraction. The paper subsequently filed an appeal with the Capital City Court. The first instance court's ruling was upheld on 18 December 2009, when the newspaper was once again found guilty of defamation. However, the Capital City Court reduced the amount payable to the plaintiff from two million to one million MNT. Unhappy with the decision, Namuun-Uyanga appealed to the Supreme Court. While her appeal was pending, a criminal case involving Bayarmagnai was re-opened. The journalist then wrote to the Supreme Court asking that review of her appeal be postponed until the case was finalized by the State General Prosecutor's Office. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court upheld the court of appeal decision. Based on a request by Namuun-Uyanga, G. Davaakhuu, an attorney for Globe International, submitted a complaint to Supreme Court General Judge S. Batdelger in accordance with Article 1761 on the review of civil cases, opposing the decisions of the court of first instance, the court of appeal and the supervising court, all three of which found "Ogloonii Sonin" guilty of slander and defamation. Namuun-Uyanga has received a number of calls from Bayarmagnai, and most recently, from his lawyer on 27 April 2010. The lieutenant colonel has said he will withdraw his complaint if the journalist agrees to pay him one million MNT. Otherwise, he threatened to use all his powers and connections against her and the paper
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Apr 30, 2019
- Event Description
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand should immediately end its groundless inquiry of an outspoken commissioner, Human Rights Watch said today. Commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit has repeatedly spoken out about Thailand's pressing human rights problems under the military junta. On April 30, 2019, the rights commission began a disciplinary inquiry of Angkhana, accusing her of political partiality. The inquiry was triggered by comments from Tuang Attachai, a junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly member, and a complaint filed with the commission by Surawat Sangkharuek, a pro-junta activist. The inquiry focuses on Angkhana's role in observing legal proceedings and documenting rights violations against opposition politicians and critics of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). She faces possible impeachment. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, once considered a model for national human rights bodies in Southeast Asia, has faced interference from successive Thai governments since the first commissioners finished their term in 2009. The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Human Rights Council downgraded the commission's global ranking from "A" to "B" in 2015, revoking Thai commissioner's privilege to speak from the council floor and present their views during council sessions. The downgrade stemmed from the government's manipulation of the selection process for commissioners and serious questions about the commission's pro-government political bias.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- NHRI/ NHRI staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 15, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong and other localities were placing many local activists and their families under de facto house arrest before and during the Vietnam-US Human Rights Dialogue which was taken in the capital city on May 15. From HCM City, former prisoner of conscience and well-known lawyer Le Cong Dinh said he was forbidden to go out from May 13 as his private residence was surrounded by a group of five or six plainclothes agents. When he tried to go out, these men came to forcibly request him to go in. Mr. Hua Phi, a senior clerk of the independent Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, said his house in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong was under close surveillance of the local police from May 12. The family of prisoner of conscience Hoang Duc Binh was also watched by police officers. Many other activists or relatives of imprisoned activists in Hanoi, Thai Binh and other localities said they were not permitted to go out on May 15 and before.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Travel Restriction
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Oct 23, 2010
- Event Description
The police defended their decision to fire on protesters on Wednesday, saying the demonstration was illegal. Hundreds of student demonstrators clashed with police in Menteng, Central Jakarta, as citywide protests marked the first anniversary of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's second term. Demonstrators burned tires and pictures of the president, and police responded with tear gas and warning shots. One protester, Restu Farel, 20, from Bung Karno University, was shot in the leg. Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Sutarman said on Friday the decision to open fire was made at the discretion of the officers at the scene. "It wasn't an order, it was left up to their discretion, which is granted to them under the prevailing laws," he said. He added the shooting was the correct thing to do as the protesters did not previously seek the police's permission for the rally. "If they'd officially notified us about the rally, we would have been able to better secure the area and prevent a clash," Sutarman said. The police chief also rebuffed allegations that officers at the scene had breached protocol by firing live rounds rather than rubber bullets. "While it's true that one protester was shot with live ammo, that shot wasn't fired by any of the 70 crowd-control officers we deployed there," he said. "None of them had firearms loaded with live rounds. The shot was fired by an officer who was helping the crowd-control unit at the time." He added the police's internal affairs unit is now investigating the officer, who he said "might have been from a subprecinct police station." "We're also taking eyewitness testimonies from the other demonstrators who were there," Sutarman said. "The investigation is still being processed." Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said the police formed a fact-finding team to investigate the incidents that led to the shooting. The team includes officers from the Jakarta Police's internal affairs unit, crime division and intelligence unit and the Central Jakarta Police headquarters. Sixteen officers have already been questioned, nine of whom were carrying firearms at the time of the incident, Boy said. He added police had also questioned two civilians, "both of whom are known to hang out regularly in the area." Police also plan to question several demonstrators "so that we get a balanced picture." "We're trying to piece together an accurate chronology of the events that transpired that day, from morning until 3:30 p.m., when the shooting occurred," he said. He added the fact-finding team would be objective in its task of uncovering how and why the shooting occurred. "We'll investigate this case objectively and we will be transparent with the probe. We will determine the accountability of both the officers and the demonstrators as we look at their actions," he said. Boy also said doctors had managed to remove the projectile from Restu's leg. "The projectile is now undergoing a ballistics test at the National Police's forensics lab." Meanwhile, the police have been criticized by politicians and activists for the shooting. House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung called the shooting unnecessary. "It was too much, even if they had used rubber bullets," he said. "The demonstration was within a reasonable scale. That the police opened fire, that was too much." Anis Matta, deputy House speaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), also condemned the police shooting. "There is an excessive paranoia from the government in dealing with the October 20 protest; the response was a bit too much," he said. Also on Thursday, Poengky Indarti, director of the human rights watchdog Imparsial, said the police should not have used armed force on the students. "They could have used a water cannon if they wanted to stop them, instead of harming the students," she said. "Police should have used a persuasive approach to the students instead of shooting them. This is totally incorrect." She said the shooting showed the police force was not an independent body.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 3, 2019
- Event Description
Mushfiqur Rahman has been missing since the evening of 3 August, when he was last seen in CCTV footage getting on the back of a motorcycle-taxi. That was after leaving his office at Mohona TV at around 5 pm, dining with his uncle in the residential neighbourhood of Gulshand and talking with his wife, Salma Rahman, by telephone.
“I talked to my husband at 7:03 pm over the phone. He spoke normally,” she told the Daily Star newspaper. His mobile phone was turned off at around 9 pm.
Rahman’s mysterious disappearance occurred two weeks after he received a death threat by telephone on 22 July. In the complaint he filed the next day with the police in Pallabi, the Dhaka district where he lives, he mentioned his investigation into corruption involving several governors of an important secondary school in Comilla, a city 110 km east of Dhaka.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 8, 2019
- Event Description
“You are from the press, you are not allowed,” a local Kashmiri news editor says Indian security forces told him yesterday at one of the dozens of checkpoints set up across the region.
Journalists aren’t able to report, it’s hard to move around, and many have been restricted from shooting videos or taking photographs, the journalist told CPJ via a messaging app. He is the only journalist that CPJ has been able to reach on the ground in Kashmir since the near total communications blackout in the region began on August 4. We are withholding his name for security reasons. “I fear that they will arrest journalists, especially those who will report what is happening,” he said.
What is happening is that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken measures to toss constitutional provisions that underpinned Kashmir’s agreement to join India 72 years ago, removing the legal framework supporting its limited autonomous rule. The decision in the world’s largest democracy was made without asking the people of Kashmir—or even telling them. Authorities have set up military-manned checkpoints and concertina wire throughout the city of Srinagar. They’ve arrested key local political figures, according to news reports, but since they have also cut off any and all forms of communication, including landline phones, people in the region have no easy way, or any way at all, to find out.
India has had plenty of practice blocking communications, having frequently unplugged the internet in Kashmir and elsewhere, according to the Software Freedom Law Centre. But the move is only likely to exacerbate fear and frustration among Kashmiri people, who have long fought for self-determination. As reports of protests, injuries, and casualties trickle out, increasing the environment of uncertainty, accurate and verified information from Kashmir is crucial.
Over the past few days, we have attempted to reach any and all contacts we have in the region to get a better understanding via phone calls, emails, and messaging services, with little luck. One wire service reporter based in New Delhi told CPJ that photojournalists in Kashmir were having difficulty sending photos, so they have loaded them on flash drives and given them to people flying out of the region. He spoke on condition of anonymity given company policy. The Telegraph’s Srinagar reporter, Muzaffar Raina, reported that he typed out his reports on his computer, took screenshots, and sent them on a flash drive to New Delhi, from where they were transmitted to the newspaper’s office in Kolkata.
At CPJ we have had to largely rely on accounts of journalists who have left the region, aside from the one editor we were able to reach on the ground. Here is what the journalists told us:
The local news editor cited above, messaging with CPJ today:
I along with a few other journalists were thrashed by police on August 6th in downtown Srinagar near Khanyar after one of the photographers had clicked a photo of the barricade. They also took a photo of one of our ID cards, snatched cameras and phones, deleted photos and then also clicked photo of the vehicle plate.
And the same editor messaging with CPJ on August 6:
Hundreds of arrests are being made here and the communication is jammed. I guess the state would be keen on looking at what information goes out. I am writing several stories using prohibited network and I guess that could become an issue in a day or two. So please do take care of things if anything happens.
Freelance reporter Adnan Bhat, on a call over messaging app today from New Delhi, after leaving Kashmir:
Very few newspapers have published, but mostly being circulated late at night. Last night I saw copies of Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma. Greater Kashmir, which usually comes out with 30-odd pages, is only printing five to six pages. Journalists had gone to the District Magistrate's office for curfew pass but they were asked to come back later. Even government officials are confused as it is not officially a curfew. In fact, it is easier to move around without a press card. If you tell the security personnel that you are a journalist, they try to stop you.
Ahmer Khan, a freelance reporter, told CPJ today on a call over messaging app, after leaving Kashmir:
When I tried to move around in Srinagar, I was stopped at barricades and abused by the security forces. I decided not to argue and took another route. Local journalists are not reporting because they are being constantly harassed.
The following are excerpts from published reports by journalists:
Deputy editor Muzamil Jaleel and reporters Bashaarat Masood and Adil Akhzer, Indian Express, yesterday:
For the past two days, the Indian Express reporters have been holed up in their office from where they walk around to meet residents and then return. In the office building itself, dozens of policemen have moved in, the corridors their temporary shelter … The press isn’t welcome. Most of the TV crew that have flown in are parked in a 1-sq-km area of Zero Bridge [a historical bridge connecting the Rajbagh and Sonwar neighborhoods] in the city. There is some easing of security here, on the road to the airport and the Rajbagh-Jawaharnagar stretch [neighborhoods in southern part of city] — this is the one that visiting TV cameras film. Elsewhere, roads are barricaded with spools of concertina wire and regular checkpoints with police and armed paramilitary personnel on patrol.”
Muzaffar Raina, The Telegraph, today:
The “curfew” in large areas means reporters have little freedom to move. The crushing information blockade, with mobile and landline phones shut down and Internet suspended, means they have no way to send their stories. The authorities have not issued curfew passes to journalists because officially there is no curfew.
In the Jammu region, where section 144, which restricts public meetings, is also imposed, journalists told CPJ there are restrictions on the media, though not as severe as in Kashmir valley.
Anuradha Basin, editor of Kashmir Times, told CPJ via messaging app and email yesterday from Jammu:
Within the Jammu region mobile data, and mobile communication was suspended and movement of journalists was restricted except for in the cities of Jammu, Samba, and Kathua ... Newspaper distributors have been stopped in some areas, particularly north of Jammu city.
Raqib Hameed Naik, reporter for the U.S.-based The Globe Post said in a call today over messaging app:
While journalists in some cities of Jammu are not facing major restriction, the same can't be said of Kishtwar and Doda districts in Chenab Valley. Some journalists here are being stopped and not allowed to perform professional duties by the security forces … Journalists in north and south Kashmir are facing the maximum brunt. They usually email their stories as they live in faraway places. In absence of internet, you can’t expect them to travel to Srinagar every day to file their stories. This is directly impacting the newspapers which are completely now dependent on Delhi-based agencies like IANS and PTI for news stories.
CPJ’s WhatsApp, text messages, and email seeking comment from police in Srinagar, the Home Ministry and the Information and Broadcast Ministry were not immediately returned.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Media freedom, Offline
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government, Judiciary, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 5, 2019
- Event Description
Taipei, August 5, 2019—Hong Kong authorities should investigate reports that police fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets toward journalists and ensure that the media can cover protests without fear of injury or arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Lai Ka Wai, a freelance video journalist for Visible Record, a non-profit documentary organization, suffered a head injury and was knocked unconscious today when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at a crowd in the Sham Shui Po district during a protest against the proposed extradition bill according to InMedia and Hong Kong Free Press. Zhou Junfeng, a reporter from the newspaper Ta Kung Pao, was briefly detained after he pushed back against the police to try to give more space to the injured journalist, according to news reports.
In a separate incident at the protest, a video posted to Twitter today by Tom Grundy, editor-in-chief of Hong Kong Free Press, showed riot police using their shields to push him against a wall as he was walking away from police.
“Hong Kong police must take measures to ensure that journalists like Lai Ka Wai can do their work safely,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler, in Washington, D.C. “"To be clear: police need to take care not to hit journalists with rubber bullets or tear gas canisters, or use unnecessary force while taking crowd-control measures."
Lai was left unconscious and bleeding from his head, according to a statement that Visible Record published on Facebook. After emergency treatment, he regained consciousness and is in a stable condition, the statement said. Lai could not move his upper body at one point, after he was hit, the independent news website InMedia reported.
Lai is also a journalism student at the Chu Hai College of Higher Education, Hong Kong Journalists Association told CPJ. The student union and Visible Record both condemned the use of force by police.
CPJ has previously expressed concern about the use of force against journalists in Hong Kong, after police used batons and tear gas during protests on June 12.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 11, 2019
- Event Description
On the evening of 11th August, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Hong Kong Press Photographers Association received several reports of journalists being assaulted.
When a crowd was beating a man in black in North Point, a Ming Pao journalist attempted to approach and find out the details, but he was pushed away by the crowd and got punched on his left cheek as he tried to explain his intention.
Journalists of Stand News and RTHK were disturbed by a crowd in North Point during reporting. The journalist of Stand News was threatened with a stick and had his tripod seized abruptly; the journalist of RTHK was assaulted by the crowd. There were police officers present nearby, but they did not make any arrest.
Earlier today at around 17:45, several middle-aged men punched a journalist who was reporting outside Metropole Building. Police officers arrived and separated the journalist from the attacker and the passerby. Although the journalist has repeatedly identified the assaulter to the officers, police did not make any arrest.
We condemn the multiple cases of violence against journalists. The attackers must stop the use of violence. We are also enraged by the police’s failure to stop the assaults or make any arrests despite their presence. We solemnly request the police to explain their handling and conduct a comprehensive investigation, so as to make clear their no tolerance of violence to society. Assault against journalists is a violation of press freedom. We firmly believe that every journalist on the frontline should dutifully execute the duty of the fourth estate without inviolability.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2019
- Event Description
Global Times’ journalist Fu Guohao was attacked during protests at Hong Kong International Airport on August 13. The International Federation Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) have condemned the attack, calling on the Hong Kong people to ensure the media are free to do their job.
According to the Global Times, which is a Chinese state run tabloid, Fu was ‘illegally seized and brutally assualted’ at Hong Kong Airport. According to reports, Fu was tied up and beaten after he failed to produce a press pass when questioned by protesters.
In a statement, HKJA said that they were disappointed by the attack on Fu and urged Hong Kong residents to show respect to journalists. HKJA also called on mainland journalists to show press credentials when covering the protests.
The IFJ said: “We stand in HKJA is reminding the citizens of Hong Kong to respect press freedom and the rights of journalists who are simply doing their jobs. We urge journalists in Hong Kong to carry their identification to ensure any misunderstandings are resolved quickly.”
We also urge the media to respect the wishes of those who do not want to interviewed or photographed.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Aug 5, 2019
- Event Description
On August 5, 2019, at about 1:30 p.m., more than 10 unidentified men abducted Eakachai at the Al Soleehin Mosque in Phatthalung province’s Ta-Mhod district as he was about to attend a public hearing on a rock quarry project planned for the province. Eakachai told Human Rights Watch that the assailants – all dressed in civilian clothes – seized him outside the mosque and pushed him back to his car, then ordered him to delete an audio recording of the incident on his mobile phone. They then seized his mobile phone, watch, and car keys, and forced him into their car.
The men took Eakachai to the Palm View Resort Hotel in Phatthalung province’s Pa Bon district about 13 kilometers away and held him there until the public hearing ended, around 4 p.m. Before Eakachai was released, one of the assailants threatened him, saying that he and his family would be in danger if he reported the abduction to the police. That man also told him not to return to the mountain villages in Ta-Mhod district again, saying that his activities had adversely affected the quarry project and the process of obtaining permission from the government. Eakachai reported the incident to the 9th Region Police in Songkhla province on August 13.
Journalists also reported that on the day of the hearing, conducted by Phatthalung province’s Provincial Industry Office, an unidentified man who claimed to represent the company behind the planned project intimidated local journalists and told them not to cover the public hearing at Al Soleehin Mosque. A complaint local journalists filed with the provincial governor said that the man told them the event was arranged only for supporters of the rock quarry project and that outsiders were not allowed to attend.
Eakachai is a prominent community rights activist and the secretary-general of Thailand’s Non-Governmental Organizations Coordinating Committee on Development for the southern region (NGO COD-South), as well as the former deputy leader of the grassroots-based Commoner Party. He has long been known for opposing mining and quarry projects, which he contends destroy local livelihoods and the environment, and for demanding accountability for such impacts.
The incident is yet another example of the Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha’s government’s failure to fulfill Thailand’s obligation to ensure that all human rights defenders and organizations can carry out their work in a safe and enabling environment, Human Rights Watch said. Regardless of the government’s much-advertised “national human rights agenda” and the policy to promote business practices compatible with human rights standards, it has done very little to address physical violence, the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation, and various forms of intimidation used by both government agencies and private companies to silence those reporting human rights violations.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam's northern province of Bac Ninh have arrested local anti-corruption campaigner Nguyen Viet Bang for his denunciations against senior bank officials, Defend the Defenders has learned. On May 13, the Security Investigation Agency of the Bac Ninh province's Police Department arrested him and conducted a house search of his private residence in Bac Ninh city. According to Hanoi-based lawyer Ha Huy Son, who participates in many political cases, said Mr. Bang, 60, is likely charged with "abusing democratic freedom" under Article 331 of the country's 2015 Penal Code. Mr. Bang will be held for investigation in the next four months at least, and he is facing imprisonment of up to seven years, if is convicted, according to the current Vietnamese law. Mr. Bang is a deputy director of Tien Du district's branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. He has submitted a number of denunciations accusing the Bac Ninh province branch's director named Doan Van Khai and his colleague named Nguyen Ba Binh of financial frauds and mistreatment of staff. The Communist Party of Vietnam which monopolistically rules the country for decades and its government have verbally encouraged people to fight against corruption. However, numerous citizens have been imprisoned or received reprisals after speaking out about state official's corruption. Last year, Bac Ninh convicted anti-corruption activist Do Cong Duong, sentencing him to a total 8 years in prison on charges of "disturbing public orders" and "abusing democratic freedom" in a trumped-up case in a bid to silence him. Banking is one of the most corrupted sectors in Vietnam where corruption is systemic and the country scored 33 points out of 100 on the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Index in Vietnam averaged 28.04 Points from 1997 until 2018, reaching an all-time high of 35 Points in 2017 and a record low of 24 Points in 2002.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Whistleblower
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 20, 2019
- Event Description
Nai (Mr) Tun Tun Win, one of the 14 former Thammakaset migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand, today received a fresh criminal court summons to appear at Bangkok South Criminal Court on 5th June 2019 (10am). According to the summons, Nai Tun is charged by Thammakaset Co Ltd. under sections 326 and 328 of the Thai Criminal Code (offences defamation and defamation by publication). If found guilty of the charges filed with the Court, Nai Tun would be subject to a maximum imprisonment of s326. 1 year, s328 2 years and/or a maximum fine of s326. 20, 000 Baht and s328. 200,000 Baht.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 12, 2019
- Event Description
Bilal Kagzi is a human rights lawyer in Gujarat who represents victims of police atrocities and custodial torture in Surat district. He filed five cases against Kosamba Police Station sub-inspector P.H. Nai and police constable Nilesh Bhojawala. The state human rights commission and the competent police authority took cognizance of these matters, but recently the police took moves to silence him. They registered a false and fabricated case against Kagzi, but he was not present at the place and time of the incident. Kagzi has video evidence to support his alibi and he presented such evidence to the investigating officer, but the police neither considered it nor registered it as part of the evidence.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 22, 2019
- Event Description
Following the government-led internet shutdown in Indonesia’s eastern provinces of Papua and West Papua a journalist has been doxxed and harassed online. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia have condemned the attack on the journalists and called on the local authorities to ensure the media are protected as they work.
Victor Mambo, a journalist with Koran Jubi and jubi.co.id, as well as a member of AJI’s executive committee was harassed and doxxed online on Thursday, August 22, after the internet shutdown continued into a second day. In one tweet from user @antilalat Victor was linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and accused of being an informer for Papuan lawyer, which was followed by a second tweet giving out Victor’s home address.
Doxxing refers to publishing private or identifying information about a person on the internet, typically with malicious intent. This is not the first time that Victor has been targeted online. The same user had threatened Victor in July, 2019.
On Saturday, Victor proceeded with an urgent appeal to UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, regarding the internet shutdowns in the provinces.
In a statement, AJI said that the harassment and doxxing of Victor are an attempt to intimidate him. As a journalist, Victor has done his job to report objectively and complied with the journalism code of ethics in his verification processes.
“AJI would also like to remind to the social media users as well as authorities that journalists on their duty are protected by the Law No.40/1999 on the Press. If anyone thinks there is incorrect journalistic material published in the media, the Press Law has the mechanism through right to reply and correction and filing of complaints to the Press Council,” AJI said.
The IFJ said: “The harassment and doxxing of Victor Mambo is a blatant attempt to silence critical voices, and intimidate him. He is a respected journalist and was simply doing his job, reporting of the current internet shutdown in Indonesia. We urge the Indonesian authorities investigate the ongoing attacks, and take steps to guarantee Victor’s safety.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 2, 2019
- Event Description
Prison authorities in Vietnam are refusing to send letters requesting a sentence appeal for democracy advocate and blogger Phan Kim Khanh, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for "spreading propaganda against the state." Speaking on Monday to RFA's Vietnamese service by telephone, his sister Phan Thi Tran said her brother had attempted to send a letter to the court in the northern city of Thai Nguyen shortly after Tet (Lunar New Year, Feb. 5). The letter was a request for an update on an appeal he had attempted to file earlier. An RFA story in February quoted Phan's mother as saying he had sent an appeal to the court but got no answer. At the time Phan believed his mail was being sent out, but this appears not to be the case, based on the statement by his sister. The 25-year-old student was arrested in March 2017 for "abusing rights to freedom and democracy to do harm to the state's interests and those of organizations and individuals" and was sentenced to six years in jail and four years of probation. Phan has complained about his treatment in prison. "Before Tet, they let him call home once a month but they didn't let him do it last month" said Phan's sister. "When he last called our father went to visit him 2 days later. [My brother] told him that from now on he wouldn't be allowed to call home and wouldn't be able to see the family. He also won't be allowed to get parcels from the family" she said, adding, "I'm very worried that he might face some danger." Ha Huy Son, the lawyer who represented Phan during his Oct. 25 trial, thinks that Phan's mail should be reaching the court. "His family said he asked for an appeal but the prison's authorities didn't pass his letter to the court. I think they need to look into this" said Ha. The lawyer said any effort to take legal action in this case would have to be without him, however. "According to Vietnamese law, after the trial, as a lawyer I can't do anything" he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jul 18, 2019
- Event Description
On July 18, 2019, the Philippine National Police filed a complaint alleging incitement to sedition, libel, cyber libel, and obstruction of justice against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 other people. Robredo was elected independently of President Rodrigo Duterte and leads the Liberal Party, the party of former president Benigno Aquino III. Concerned governments and donors should press the Duterte administration to end its persecution of critics of its murderous "war on drugs" Human Rights Watch said. "The preposterous complaint against the vice president and the others is a transparent attempt to harass and silence critics of President Duterte's bloody "drug war,'" said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Threatening criminal charges against the vice president, outspoken bishops, and rights lawyers suggests that Duterte's egregious human rights record is catching up with him." Under Article 142 of the Philippines penal code, a conviction for incitement to sedition carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison. The complaint was brought against four Catholic bishops and three priests who have become increasingly critical of the Duterte administration, and a former education secretary and Lasallian brother, Armin Luistro. Others named were Chel Diokno, the president of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), and a human rights lawyer and FLAG official, Theodore Te. FLAG has assisted families of victims of "drug war" killings. Other members and officials of the Liberal Party were named, including Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima, and the party's full senatorial slate in the May elections. Police filed the complaint after Peter Joemel Advincula, an admitted drug dealer, alleged that Robredo and others were plotting Duterte's ouster. In a video that Advincula claims to have filmed as part of the plot, a hooded man is shown accusing Duterte, his family, and close associates of links to the illicit drug trade. The Duterte administration had earlier denounced the allegation, calling Advincula's statement unreliable. The complaint accused the 36 people of "spread[ing] lies against the President, his family, and close associates, making them to appear as illegal drug trade protectors and how they earned staggering amounts of money." The Duterte administration has previously targeted political opposition figures and critics of the "drug war" Human Rights Watch said. In February 2017, it accused Senator de Lima of involvement in the drug trade. The accusation was based entirely on the testimony of convicted drug dealers that Human Rights Watch believes are baseless but later served as the grounds for her arrest and continued police detention. The government has likewise filed sedition charges against a former senator and Duterte critic, Antonio Trillanes IV, one of those named in the recent complaint. The government has brought criminal charges against activists critical of the "drug war." It has also carried out a campaign in mainstream media and social media to harass, vilify, and intimidate human rights defenders, clergy, and journalists, most notably the popular news website Rappler and its editor, Maria Ressa. It has accused many of these people of involvement with the communist insurgency. Criticism of the administration centers on the "drug war" killings that began soon after Duterte became president in June 2016. Since then, police and police-backed gunmen have summarily executed thousands of alleged drug dealers and users in mainly poor urban communities across the Philippines. The police have said they have killed more than 6,600 people who "fought back" in the anti-drug campaign, while estimates by domestic rights groups put the number executed at more than 27,000. In response to the situation, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on July 11, calling on the UN human rights office to present a comprehensive report on human rights in the Philippines in June 2020. "The sedition complaint looks like little more than a kneejerk reaction to the UN Human Rights Council's resolution on the Philippines" Adams said. "Friends of the Philippines should not stay silent when the administration retaliates against those promoting respect for human rights in the country."
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jul 30, 2019
- Event Description
Cambodian authorities Tuesday arrested Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) activist Mai Hongsreang, marking the 14th such arrest of activists associated with the banned political party. According to the Cambodian national police, Hongsreang was charged with insult and incitement for his activities on social media. Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Chhay Kimkhoeun confirmed the arrest, adding that the suspect was being questioned at the Ministry of Interior prior to his scheduled court date. The spokesperson also said the suspect had fled to Thailand but was arrested upon his return. Authorities told local news media that Hongsreang returned to organize "chaotic activities" within Cambodia. The CNRP issued a statement Wednesday demanding Hongsreang's immediate release. "The CNRP condemns the arrest of Mai Hongsreang and urge the authorities to release him and other activists immediately without any conditions" the statement said. "[We] also urge NGOs to monitor human rights abuses and continue to pressure [the] regime to halt persecutions and threats against CNRP activists" the statement continued. In an interview with RFA's Khmer Service, Hongsreang's wife Kea Sisokunthy said her husband was arrested for criticizing the government, but she maintained that he was innocent. "He dared speak the truth. He didn't commit a single crime. They are infringing on his free speech rights" she said. She confirmed that Hongsreang had fled to Thailand after he was tipped off that he would be arrested in May. The tipoff came shortly after he posted a comment on Facebook about infighting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Interior Minister Sar Kheng. She said he had been in Thailand for several months before returning to Cambodia to visit a relative in Sihanoukville, where he was promptly arrested. Am Sam Ath, deputy director for the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), said authorities have been recently stepping up arrests against activists tied to the CNRP. "This arrest is a threat against the freedom of expression" he said, adding that NGOs are concerned over Cambodia's restrictions on internet freedom. Another CNRP activist, from Battambang province said he was concerned for his security after a local police office called him many times regarding a gathering of activists he organized. The others attending were also activists who had commented on Facebook about the possibility of Cambodia losing its Everything But Arms (EBA) status with the EU. The EU announced in February it would launch a six-month monitoring period to determine whether Cambodian exports should continue to enjoy tax-free entry into the European market under the EBA scheme, prompted by the Cambodia's Supreme Court banning the CNRP. Another CNRP activist from Battambang's Sampov Loun district said that police were spying on him and other activists daily. He said the surveillance was hindering his ability to travel. Officer Tith Samros of the district police force confirmed he had contacted the activists. "I wanted to know how many people were participating [in the gathering] and their intentions" he said. He refused to provide further details. Ying Mengly, Battambang provincial coordinator for the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) said that people have the right to express their concerns over the prospect of losing EBA status. He said that police actions are a threat against the activists. "Police action has violated [their] basic human rights which are guaranteed by our constitution" he said. Police harass ADHOC in Koh Kong Province Meanwhile, police in Koh Kong province harassed ADHOC officials who were meeting with local villagers engaged in a land dispute in Sre Ambel district. ADHOC spokesman Soeung Sen Karuna said that police disturbed his team while they were in the process of interviewing the villagers. The police asked for the team's identification and monitored the interviews, compromising the freedom of what the interviewees could say. "This action was inappropriate" he said, adding that since ADHOC's establishment in 1992 they had never had any problems with authorities. In response to the claims by the ADHOC team, Sre Ambel Police Chief Ma Ty denied that his officers disturbed them. "If [the ADHOC team and the villagers] are innocent, they should have no reason to be afraid" he said. He added that authorities have a right to know what happens in the community. Chhoeung Reth, a villager who participated in the interviews said it was not the first time that police had disturbed the villagers. He said that in the past the police told them not to disclose information about land issues to rights groups. "We are afraid when uniformed police officers are looking straight at us" he said. Also on Wednesday, ADHOC released a report detailing a decline in human rights in Cambodia, particularly freedom of assembly. The report highlighted how in the past six months there were at least 71 cases where freedom of assembly was violated by authorities. The report also noted that police and local authorities required that organizers obtain permission for the gatherings. "These restrictions are a serious violation against human rights and democracy" the report said.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 4, 2019
- Event Description
A jailed Vietnamese blogger currently awaiting trial for "abusing democratic freedoms" was transferred from prison to a mental hospital, his mother said on Thursday. Le Anh Hung, a member of the online Brotherhood of Democracy advocacy group, was arrested in July 2018 for violating article 331 of Vietnam's criminal code. If convicted he could serve up to seven years. While in prison, Le had notably refused to wear prison uniforms or allow himself to be handcuffed on the rationale that prior to sentencing he should not be treated like a prisoner. His mother, Tran Thi Niem, told RFA's Vietnamese Service in a phone interview Thursday that her son was taken to Central Mental Hospital 1 in Hanoi. "This morning, his brother, a friend and I went to see him [at the mental hospital,] but they would not let us" she said. "They told us that they have not they have not [completed initial] checks on him, so they couldn't allow us to see him. I only left some money for him" she said. RFA contacted the hospital for comment, but was not able to confirm Le was interned there. "Please understand, I don't know any Le Anh Hung" said Tran Van Dang, the mental hospital's human resources chief. "I'm not in charge of treatment. Please bring a letter from your organization here to verify if Le Anh Hung has been admitted here or not" he said. Nguyen Van Mieng, the lawyer representing Le, said he hasn't received any notice about his institutionalization. "I've met him twice [in prison]. He told me to meet him after the procuracy made their report on him because police reports about him were unclear" said Nguyen. According to the Vietnamese Political Prisoner Database website, Le Anh Hung had previously been detained in a mental facility in 2013. Nh"n D"n (the official communist party newspaper) reported he was also detained in 2009 on slander charges in Quang Tri province, but was released when authorities concluded there was not enough evidence. Le, a longtime critic of the Vietnamese government, has worked for many media outlets including Voice of America, a U.S.-funded broadcaster. Amnesty international called for his release immediately after his arrest in July, saying "Vietnam's government cannot keep using baseless charges and the threat of prison as a means of gagging its critics." The U.S. has long criticized Vietnam for its human rights record, marked by the suppression of basic freedoms, media censorship, and repression of worker's rights as well as its worsening record of arresting and imprisoning dissidents, bloggers and religious leaders. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, approximately 150 to 200 activists and bloggers are serving prison time in Vietnam simply for exercising their basic rights UPDATE: On 6 April 2019, the HRD was eventually sent back to prison to await his trial.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Feb 4, 2019
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have questioned the family of local prisoner of conscience Huynh Truong Ca about humanitarian supports it has been receiving from Vietnam's unregistered civil organizations and individuals in the country and abroad. On April 2, police in Hong Ngu district issued a summoning letter requesting Ca's daughter Huynh Thi Thai Ngan to be in the district police's headquarters on April 3 to answer police's questions regarding the financial supports his family has received from 50K Foundation, a charity foundation set up by Hanoi-based activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh. During the meeting, police officers threatened Ms. Ngan, saying she must not receive further supports from 50K Foundation and other sources. 50K Foundation was set up by Mrs. Hanh one year ago. Its beneficiaries mostly are prisoners of conscience and their families as well as activists-at-risk. Along with blocking economic activities of families of activists, authorities in their localities are striving to halt all support from other people in the country and abroad. In some case, plainclothes agents reportedly robbed families of activists when they went from banks after receiving supports.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies, Right to access to funding
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 18, 2019
- Event Description
According to sources on 18 April, 2019 at around 9.30 PM three police personnel in plain clothes reportedly from PGI police station and Aashiana police station of Lucknow and members of Special Task Forceforcibly entered into the office premise of Human Rights Monitoring Forum. The members of HRMF protested against the unauthorised entry of police personnel in their officeas the police personnel did not provide them any legal warrant for search and did notexplain their presence. Enraged by the protest,the police personnel started intimidating the members of HRMF and tried to threaten them for their actions and interventions in cases of human rights violation against people where police are involved. HRMFat presenthas been providing legal aid to victims of police abuses and on that particular occasion they were helping a victim of police violencenamed Mr. AvinashShukla who was being repeatedly threatened by the police. Sources say that the police was trying to pick up the victim and threatening to kill him in police encounter. The victim has asked for legal help from HRMF and organisation's legal team had taken up his case. HRMF members tried to explain the police that the organisation works for the protection of human rights legally, within the confines of constitution. They also explained to the police that it is not the intention of the organisation to work against the police, but it works to highlight the cases of violation of human rights of people and provide legal protection to them. When theHRMF members asked the police to show the official order or documents in support of their action against the organisation, the plain clothed police personnel told them they were from the police department and they could take any action for which they did not require any official order or permission. When HRMF members strongly opposed the police action, they left the place and threatened them with dire consequences if they continued to work against the police
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 4, 2019
- Event Description
The Election Commission (EC) has sued political activist Nuttaa Mahuttana and political critic Sirote Klampaiboon for allegedly libeling the agency. Sirote on Friday posted on Facebook that he had received a summons demanding that he and Nuttaa report to the police on Thursday, April 11. The complaint against the duo was filed by the EC's legal chief Nawat Boonsri, accusing them of co-defaming the agency. Sirote said it is the first time he has been summoned by the police and he wrote that he is perplexed how he had defamed the EC. "I'm confident when I spoke of the EC ... I always insisted that most of the criticisms against the agency were about the inefficiency in the operational level" he said. "It's never about the commissioners and never about accusing them of committing fraud." Nuttaa posted on Facebook that the charge may have stemmed from the special news programme on election day which the duo co-hosted. "This is the fifth summons I've got. And I have another suspect here - Sirote. So, this means that this stemmed from us doing our duty as media on election day" Nuttaa wrote. "I'm confident I have never been libelous. All I did was inform the people about the rules and regulations of the vote." Both said they would report to the police as requested.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 22, 2019
- Event Description
Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia have detained two more group chat moderators on the social media platform WeChat after they took part in demonstrations in support of herding communities, a New York-based rights group said on Friday. Ethnic Mongolian herders Bai Xiurong and Altanbagan, were detained by riot police at the scene of a demonstration outside government offices in Urad Middle Banner on April 22, the Southern Mongolian Human Rights and Information Center (SMHRIC) said in a statement on its website. More than 100 herders from the banner, a county-like division, had gathered in front of the local government building to demand a meeting with Bu Xiaolin, chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, who was on a visit to the area, it said. Around a dozen people were detained, while Bai and Altanbagan were "thrown into SWAT vehicles" and each handed a 14-day administrative detention sentence, which is handed down by a police committee without the need for a trial. "Bai Xiurong's sister was summoned yesterday ... She was forced to surrender Bai Xiurong's phone," SMHRIC quoted herder Tsetseg as saying in an audio message. "The [police] accessed her phone and wiped out all the WeChat discussion groups she maintained," he said. Since Bai's arrest, her disabled elderly parents, who need constant care, have been left unattended, and her livestock have gone without food or water, SMHRIC said. Herders also traded information about the detentions on WeChat, in spite of the group chat shutdowns, it said. "Some were released around midnight and the early morning of April 23 while [the rest of us] herders staged a sit-in outside the government building, demanding the immediate release of all arrested herders," an unidentified local herder said via the social media platform. Footage of the protest sent to SMHRIC showed hundreds of police arriving at the scene. One protester says in the video: "We are treated like animals. They rounded up us like fencing up livestock," he said. "Whoever comes to the government to express his or her opinion is arrested like this." Three writers detained The detentions come after authorities in the region detained three ethnic Mongolian writers for speaking out for their ethnic group in the face of action by Chinese government officials and companies. Tsogjil, 40, who hosted a number of discussion groups on the social media platform WeChat, was detained on April 16 in the regional capital Hohhot. He had been preparing to file an official complaint with the regional government on behalf of ethnic Mongolian herders in Heshigten Banner. O. Sechenbaatar, 68, was detained along with a herder named Baldan at a protest near Lake Dalainuur in the region's Heshigten Banner earlier this month. He has been placed under criminal detention on suspicion of "obstructing officials in the course of their duty," it said. Sechenbaatar had also hosted a number of WeChat groups to provide local Mongolian herders with a venue to discuss the pressing issues in their communities, including mining, environmental destruction, pollution, and herder's protests, SMHRIC said. Tsogjil had used one of his WeChat groups to rally herding communities to a protest outside the Heshigten Banner government, calling for Sechenbaatar's release. Both writers are being held at the Heshigten Banner Detention Center. Earlier this month, ethnic Mongolian author Lhamjab A. Borjigin, 75, stood trial on charges of "separatism" and "sabotaging national unity" at the Shiliinhot Municipal People's Court. For his book China's Cultural Revolution, published in 2006, Lhamjab gathered oral testimonies of survivors of violence against ethnic Mongolians during the Cultural Revolution, a task that took him 20 years. The book accuses the ruling Chinese Communist Party of state-sponsored genocide in the region, detailing torture techniques and detentions in a brutal campaign that claimed the lives of at least 27,900 people and imprisoned and tortured 346,000. Ethnic Mongolians, who make up almost 20 percent of Inner Mongolia's population of 23 million, increasingly complain of widespread environmental destruction and unfair development policies in the region. Clashes between the authorities or Chinese state-backed mining or forestry companies and herding communities are common in the region, which borders the independent country of Mongolia. But those who complain about the loss of their grazing lands are frequently targeted for harassment, beatings, and detention by the authorities.
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Apr 30, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in northwestern Cambodia's Battambang province summoned 12 members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party to court this week to answer charges they were still active in the opposition group dissolved by court order almost two years ago. Seven of the activists received their summons on May 1, with the others summoned the day before, Thong Saroeun - a member of the banned party in Battambang's Koas Krala district - told RFA's Khmer Service on Wednesday. "I will not be intimidated, and I will be happy to appear before the court to answer their questions" Thong Saroeun said, adding, "I haven't committed any crimes. I am a [Cambodian] citizen, and I have a right to be involved in politics." Also speaking to RFA, CNRP activist Sim Lao said he was surprised to receive the summons to appear in court, as he had committed no crime, and vowed to continue his support for the banned opposition group. In Sept. 2017, Cambodian authorities arrested CNRP President Kem Sokha on charges of "treason" and the Supreme Court dissolved the opposition group two months later, paving the way for Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodia People's Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in the country's July 2018 general election. The CNRP has since reorganized outside the country, with opposition leader Sam Rainsy serving as acting president, and many members remain active at the grassroots level, voicing their political views on social media and in social gatherings. Sam Rainsy, who left Cambodia in November 2015, was appointed acting head of the CNRP in January while Kem Sokha remains in pre-trial detention under house arrest, and has vowed to return to Cambodia this year to lead the party's supporters in ousting Hun Sen. "I regard Sam Rainsy as my father, and I support him" Sim Lao said, speaking to RFA. "If my father returns, I will welcome him and accompany him home." Also speaking to RFA on May 1, Ying Mengly - Battambang provincial coordinator for the Cambodian rights group Adhoc - called the summons of the local CNRP members "politically motivated" adding that Hun Sen and Cambodia's ruling party are concerned that the opposition group may now regroup at home. "Their intention is to destroy the [local] CNRP structures so that the party's members can't reorganize" he said. Death in custody Meanwhile, Am Sam Ath - a senior investigator in the Cambodian rights group Licadho - called on authorities in Kampong Cham province to investigate the death in custody of the son of a CNRP commune chief in the province's Stung Treng district. Tith Ron, 26 and the son of CNRP member Eam Tith, died on April 17 in what police described as a fall in a jail restroom, though his body bore multiple bruises, raising fears he had been killed by jail guards. "Even though the prosecutor claims this was not a case of torture, the public has no faith in him, and there must be an investigation to examine the facts of this case" he said. Kampong Cham provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun meanwhile denied that Tith Ron had been killed in detention, claiming the young man had died in an accident while drunk. "Our authorities are looking into this, but the other prisoners said that he simply fell down and died" he said. Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong are repeatedly interrogating detained editor and labor activist Wei Zhili, his wife said following a recent visit by his lawyer to the detention center. Wei was initially detained in the provincial capital Guangzhou in January, while Wei and others were detained on March 20. He is currently being held under criminal detention at the No. 2 Detention Center in Guangdong's Shenzhen city. His wife, the feminist activist Zheng Churan, told RFA on Tuesday that Wei's meeting with his lawyer was monitored by police during the visit. "They met under police surveillance, with the police looking on and listening to everything they said," Zheng said. Editor-in-chief Yang Zhengjun and his colleagues Wei Zhili and Ke Chengbing, all worked for the Xinshengdai (New Generation) website at www.ilabour.net at the time of their detentions. All three had criticized life-threatening working conditions in some Chinese factories, via their website which focused on news affecting China's tens of millions of internal migrant workers. Zheng said Wei's mental state appears to be stable for the time being, though his head has been shaved like a prisoner, and he is forced to sleep on the floor. "He has to work longer hours in the warehouse because he is a new arrival, so he gets less sleep," she said. "He has also had a lot of interrogations." Forced confession fears During the interrogations, the questioning was mostly focused around Wei's efforts to help migrant workers with pneumoconiosis to pursue compensation claims. Interrogating officers had told me he was "stupid" to try to help the workers, Zheng said. "The police taunted him as dumb during his interrogations, saying that he clearly had a low IQ, and that that he wouldn't find it easy to get out again," she said. "Of course his parents are worried sick that he doesn't have enough clothes to wear, or that he is being bullied or beaten up so as to force a confession out of him," Zheng said. Wei's lawyer Fan Biaowen said Wei had undergone five interrogations at the time of their meeting. "They mostly asked him about the pneumoconiosis and his campaign for the workers' rights," Fan said. "I think his actions were very courageous, but they are charging him with hooliganism, which is a separate charge from picking quarrels and stirring up trouble." "Ke Chengbing is being charged with [picking quarrels and stirring up trouble], the same as the other guy [Yang Zhengjun]," he said. The London-based rights group Amnesty International has said Wei could be at risk of torture. Numerous disappeared activists Wei had helped several hundred pneumoconiosis sufferers from Hunan province to launch a compensation claim last November in Shenzhen after running out of money to spend on medical bills, his friend told RFA. The Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) last week called for the immediate release of Wei, Yang and Ke. Labor groups in neighboring Hong Kong also staged a protest outside the ruling Chinese Communist Party's representative office in the city, to call for the release of dozens of labor activists held by the Chinese government in recent months. Activists have also called for the release of more than 40 former workers at the Jasic Technology factory in Guangdong province and members of the Jasic Workers' Solidarity Group (JWSG), who were supporting them. At least 44 labor activists, students, and recent graduates of China's top universities have been "disappeared" or criminally detained since the nationwide crackdown on the Jasic labor movement, which started in July and continued with further waves of arrests and detentions in August, September, November, and January, the JWSG reported on its Github page. Among the "disappeared" are Sun Yat-sen University graduate and Jasic movement spokeswoman Shen Mengyu and Peking University #MeToo campaigner Yue Xin. Shang Kai - a former editor for the Maoist website Red Reference who was supporting the Jasic campaign - was released on "bail" under conditions preventing him from appearing in public. China holds the highest number of journalists in prison, with at least 60 currently behind bars, according to RSF. The country ranked 176 out of 180 in the 2018 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 30, 2019
- Event Description
On 30 April 2019, three facebookers known for posting about human rights issues in Vietnam were kidnapped. It has now been revealed that they are being detained at the police department.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2019
- Event Description
According to sources, onApril 13, 2019, the Democratic Teachers Federation was planning to have an indoor meeting in solidarity with jailed veteran poet and activist Mr. Vara Vara Rao. When the said meeting was taking place, personnel of Telangana police barged into the NGO Bhavan, Hyderabad. As the police barged in, the Telangana NGO Bhavan buildingwas locked and upto two hundred teachers attending the meeting along with the speakers were detained. In a bid to stop teachers and common public from coming to the venue, the police even blocked the road connecting to the meeting hall.Themeeting was disrupted due to this action by the police .While some of those detained have been taken to Narayanguda Police station, another set of people have been taken to the Ramgopalpet Police Stationand yet another to Nampally police station. It is indeed noticeable that this arbitrary detention comes just days after Ms. Hemalatha, partner of Vara Vara Rao, penned an open letter to Mr. K. Chandra Shekhar Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana, calling upon him to express his opinion on the allegedly false cases foisted on Mr. Vara Vara Rao by the Union Govt. and Maharashtra Govt in the "Bhima Koregaon' matter.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2019
- Event Description
The three journalists, Mohani Risal, Somnath Lamichhane and Javan Bhandari, who work for the news agency's English-language service, are under "investigation" in connection with the news item, the authorities confirmed on 14 May. The three RSS journalists were questioned about the dispatch they translated and circulated reporting that the Tibetan spiritual leader had left the New Delhi hospital where he was being treated and had returned to Dharamshala, the city in northern India that is the Tibetan exile community's capital. The investigation was ordered by information and communication minister Gokul Baskota, who said: "Dissemination of this report by the state-run agency, particularly during the president's state visit to China, is against Nepal's commitment to One-China policy." "These RSS journalists just did their job by reporting information of public interest" said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "It is not up to the Nepalese government to decide what can or cannot be published, and even less so to China's representatives in Kathmandu. We demand an immediate end to this investigation and we condemn this unacceptable interference, which violates the independence of Nepal's journalists." Speaking on condition of anonymity, an RSS journalist told the Kathmandu Post that a representative of the Chinese state news agency Xinhua visited the head of RSS, who then set up a committee to decide what action should be taken against the three journalists. The three journalists meanwhile insist that they circulated the report with the sole aim of informing, not with any political intent. The new criminal code that Nepal adopted last year contains major threats to press freedom. At the same time, officials have been employing an "anti-media rhetoric" which has been widely reproduced in the government's newspapers, radio stations and TV channels and which is also intimidating journalists. Nepal is ranked 106th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 5, 2019
- Event Description
A General Diary has been filed at a police station in Dhaka over "threat by a militant group to kill' three eminent citizens. Rights activist Sultana Kamal filed the GD on Saturday, Dhanmondi Police Station OC Abdul Latif told bdnews24.com. The two others, who had received "death threat', are Dhaka University's history Professor Muntasir Mamun and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee chief Shahriar Kabir. A militant group called "Lone Wolf' in its publication detailed possible ways to kill the three, OC Laatf said, citing the GD. Prof Mamun told bdnews24.com he was out of Dhaka and would also file a GD seeking security after returning home on Sunday. Shhriar Kabir said he had already written to Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary seeking security for Kamal and Mamun. The "death threat' published by the militant group was being circulated on social media, Kabir said. "This is an alarming issue. The government really has no control over social media" he added.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Academic, Media Worker, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 5, 2019
- Event Description
Nha Trang City-based independent journalist Vo Van Tao has accused police officers from the Ministry of Public Security of kidnapping him in Hanoi in the evening of May 4, one day before the release of prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (aka Anh Ba Sam). In the late afternoon of last Saturday, Mr. Tao and his friend visited the family of Mr. Vinh. When they returned to his friend's house, Mr. Tao was abducted by a group of four guys in plain clothes. Two of them took Mr. Tao to a representative office of the Security Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security located in Nguyen Gia Thieu street in the capital city. Two other guys blocked Tao's friend to prevent him from following his detained friend. In police custody, Tao was questioned about his visit to Mr. Vinh's family and his plan for Sunday when Vinh is released and comes back to the capital city. Police officers also robbed his cell phones and took him to his friend's private residence at 10.00 PM. They requested him to come back to collect his phone afternoon of the next day. However, police officers delayed returning and Tao collected his cell phone on the evening of Sunday. The abduction was made in a bid to discourage him from meeting with blogger Vinh whose blog Anh Ba Sam was very popular among dissidents and social activists. Mr. Tao is a well-known dissident in Vietnam's central region. He has participated in peaceful demonstrations to protest Vietnam's human rights abuse and China's violations of the country's sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea). He told Defend the Defenders that plainclothes agents were following him right after he landed in Noi Bai International Airport.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 8, 2019
- Event Description
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a petition seeking direction to the Centre to register an FIR against senior advocates Indira Jaising, Anand Grover and the NGO Lawyers Collective for alleged violation of rules related to receipt and use of foreign funds. A bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta issued the notice on a plea by "Legal Voice', a Delhi-based "voluntary organisation of lawyers", which also sought a court-monitored probe into the matter by a special investigation team. The petition referred to the two government orders dated May 31, 2016 by which the NGO's registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was suspended and November 27, 2016 order by which the registration was cancelled. It said that "conjoint reading" of the facts in the two orders makes it "evident that apart from violating the provision of FCRA 2010, the acts of commission and omission as stated in the-orders also constituted separate and distinct offence". Hence, it submitted, "it was incumbent on the Respondent No. 1 (Union of India) to report and register the same as to set the criminal law machinery in motion to reach to the bottom of the truth." The petition, filed through advocate Surender Kumar Gupta, stated that Legal Voice was constrained to approach the court as the Centre had not investigated the alleged offences. The plea referred to alleged receipt of funds during the period when Jaising was Additional Solicitor General of India and said this added to the gravity of the matter. According to the petition, it is "clear" from the orders that in violation of FCRA respondents no. 2 and 3 (Jaising and Grover) acted to influence the "democratic process of the country by unauthorisedly lobbying with Members of Parliament and (the) media for passing of certain legislation and to influence policy decisions". The petition stated that it is "clear from the (May 2016) order that Respondent, 2 (Jaising), while functioning as Additional Solicitor General for Union of India from July 2009 to May 2014, received an admitted remuneration of Rs 96.60 lakh." The petitioner contended that "it is impermissible in law for a law officer of the country to remain on rolls of (a) private entity being paid out of foreign contribution for undisclosed purpose-" UPDATE: On 26 June 2019, criminal charges were filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) relying on an investigation report of January 2016 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The MHA report has been challenged by Lawyers Collective in January 2017 and the case is under consideration by the High Court of Bombay. UPDATE: On 11 July 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at homes and offices of Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising and her husband Anand Grover in connection with an alleged violation of foreign funding rules for their NGO Lawyers Collective.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 6, 2019
- Event Description
Chinese Human Rights Defenders - May 30, 2019) On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, Chinese authorities took into custody a number of activists and netizens in an apparent attempt to silence any expression or thwart any action aimed at commemorating the victims and mark the anniversary. Several artists on a "national conscience exhibit tour" have gone missing, feared to have been detained. Authorities stepped up online policing and summoned users for questioning on their comments about politically "sensitive" topics, like activist Zhou Weilin, who though released has had his phone and computer confiscated. Activist and former participant in the 1989 protests, Wang Debang, was also summoned for questioning and interrogated about his plans for the anniversary The government's pre-emptive strikes against anyone trying to mark the 30thAnniversary had started in early May. So far, we have documented a number of cases involving individuals either detained or forced into disappearance, including forced travel, in connection to the anniversary. CHRD urges the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release them. This year's pre-June 4thcrackdown continues a 30-year long campaign by the Chinese government to try to erase the memory and rewrite the history of the bloody military suppression of peaceful unarmed protesters and residents of Beijing and other cities on June 3-4, 1989. The Chinese government has systematically curtailed citizen's exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, information, press, peaceful assembly, and association in discussing or commemorating or obtaining information about the 1989 movement and Tiananmen Massacre. Against tremendous pressure and personal risk, many Chinese have spoken up and kept the Tiananmen memories alive. In April, Chengdu authorities convicted four activists of "picking quarrels" after holding them for three-years in pre-trial detention on "endangering state security" charges for their role in producing and sharing photos online of a wine label referring to June 4th 1989 to mark the 27th anniversary in 2016. In November 2018, a Zhuhai court sentenced activist Li Xiaoling to three years in prison, suspended for five years, after she shared a photo of her holding a sign in Tiananmen Square to mark the anniversary in 2017. Each year, around this time, the government has taken strict measures to silence its critics and prevent any public expression of mourning. These measures include taking activists on "forced travel" putting them under house arrest, or surveillance, and censoring words on the Internet like "Tiananmen" "June 4th" or "massacre." The government has also targeted leaders and participants in the 1989 movement and subjected them to harsh persecution. One example is Liu Xiaobo, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who died in 2017 in police custody while serving an 11-year sentence. Several are currently incarcerated for their post-1989 advocacy for human rights, rule of law, and democratic reforms. We have documented 19 cases involving 1989 leaders and participants currently in detention or imprisoned in China for their post-Tiananmen activism. Since early May, authorities have detained, disappeared or forced to travel several Chinese apparently in connection to the approaching 30thanniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Additionally, several others have been taken in for questioning or put under de facto illegal house arrest. Below is a list of the cases we have tracked: 18 individuals who have been detained/disappeared/forced to travel; and 9 individuals known to have been questioned or put under house arrest, for a total of 27 individuals known to be affected, though the true number is likely higher.
- Impact of Event
- 27
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Travel Restriction
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 15, 2019
- Event Description
15 activists, including Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattararaksa, have been summoned to Pathumwan Police Station on sedition charges filed by Col Burin Thongprapai, says Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). TLHR reported that the activists were charged on the basis of an incident on 24 June 2015, when the activists attempted to bring charges against the police for using unnecessary force to crack down on activist's peaceful commemoration of the coup's first anniversary in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. On that day, the activists were also joined by the Dao Din group, students from various institutions, and members of the public, who gathered in their support. Panupong Sritananuwat, a former member of the Dao Din group, said that a summons was delivered to his house on 12 May, ordering him to report to Pathumwan Police Station on 21 May to face accusations of "making an appearance to the public by words, writings, or any other means which is not an act within the purpose of the Constitution or for expressing an honest opinion or criticism in order to raise unrest and disaffection amongst the people in a manner likely to cause disturbance in the country or to cause the people to transgress the laws of the country" and "an assembly of ten persons upwards, which do or threaten to do an act of violence, or do anything to cause a breach of the peace" under Articles 116 and 215 of the Criminal Code. "It's been almost four years and the charges have just arrived. And obviously this is another spasmodic attempt by the NCPO to use the law to silence people" posted Chonticha Jangrew, who also received a summons, on her Facebook page. The list of activists summoned also included Jatupat "Pai Dao Din" Boonpattararaksa, who was released from prison just last week following a royal pardon, and Rangsiman Rome, now a Future Forward party-list MP. The summons recorded that the charges were filed by Col Burin Thongprapai, the NCPO's legal officer, who has also previously filed the same charges against the Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The 14 activists were accused over the same incident as Thanathorn. "As I have said many times, these unfair actions do not happen only to me, but they are being used systematically to silence or destroy political dissidents. I would like to call for every citizen to not give in to injustice and to come together to fight for what is right, for the freedom of [the activists] and the people. When Thai society returns to true democracy, the Future Forward Party will try our best to erase the consequences of the military coup and return justice to everyone who fights for democracy" Thanathorn wrote on his Facebook page.
- Impact of Event
- 15
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2019
- Event Description
Ekkachai Hongkangwan, a well-known political activist, has been assaulted for the 7th time in front of the court. Ekkachai Hongkangwan, a political activist, posted on Facebook at 9 am that he was assaulted by 4 men wearing motorcycle helmets in front of the Ratchada Criminal Court. His picture shows bruises on his face and injuries to his hand. At 11.20 am, Ekkachai posted that he went to Paolo Hospital where his right arm was put in a splint as shown in another picture. He also said he had to pay 5,000 baht without getting reimbursed. Anurak Jeantawanich, his fellow activist, said Ekkachai arrived at Dr. Panya General Hospital, where he can access his healthcare coverage, at 3 p.m. Nattaa Mahattana, Ekkachai's fellow activist, said they went to the Court together after they had been charged over a campaign calling for elections in Thailand. Nattha said she saw Ekkachai hit right after he stepped down from the bus. She went to report the incident at Phaholyothin Police Station. According to Siam Rath, Pol. Lt. Songkran Sisuk, Deputy Inspector of Phaholyothin Police Station, said he has received the report and started an investigation at the crime scene. Anurak Jeantawanich, Ekkachai's fellow activist, who earlier was also assaulted in his own house, posted on Facebook that a bone in Ekkachai's right hand and his ninth rib were fractured. Several footprints were also found on Ekkachai's white shirt. His supporters campaigned on Facebook for donations in support of Ekkachai. But his political opponents ridiculed the assault by posting in the comments section of Ekkachai's Facebook page a money transfer slip showing a donation of 0.01 baht and asking if the activist arranged the assault himself in order to earn money. Rangsiman Rome, an MP of the Future Forward Party, posted on Facebook calling for the police to take serious action in order to prevent this from becoming a new normal. This is the seventh time Ekkachai has been physically assaulted for opposing people in power, excluding two arson attacks on his car putting it beyond repair. In 2013, he was imprisoned for 2 years and 8 months for violating the l'se majest" law by selling CDs of an ABC documentary about the then Crown Prince and Wikileaks documents.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- May 28, 2019
- Event Description
Reports from northwestern Pakistan indicate that the authorities have arrested a journalist and 22 activists of a civil movement campaigning for rights and security for Pakistan's Pashtun minority. The arrests took place amid calls by domestic and international human rights watchdogs for probes into the recent violence involving the group. On May 28, Pakistan's Independent Urdu news website reported that journalist Gohar Wazir had been arrested along with 22 activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in the northwestern city of Bannu. The city is the administrative hub of a district by the same name that borders the North Waziristan tribal district, where the PTM says the Pakistani military killed 13 of its supporters on May 26. The Pakistani military, however, blames two PTM lawmakers for leading an attack on their checkpoint in Khar Qamar. The military said at least three people were killed when soldiers opened fire on attackers in the remote region near the border with Afghanistan. Requesting anonymity because of a possible clampdown, several PTM activists confirmed to Radio Mashaal that 20 of their comrades, including several leaders, were arrested in Bannu. A police official also confirmed the arrests. Another PTM leader told the BBC that the movement's supporters are facing a wider government crackdown across Pakistan. Roofan Khan, a local journalist, told Independent Urdu that Wazir and the PTM activists were moved to a prison in Haripur, a town nearly 400 kilometers north of Bannu in the same province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "I don't know why my brother was arrested, but I feel it was connected to the PTM" Wazir's brother Anwar Kamal told Independent Urdu. On May 27, Wazir had interviewed PTM lawmaker Mohsin Dawar. In YouTube videos posted by Wazir, Dawar offered his account of the May 26 incident. Dawar claimed the military had fired on the group soon after it reached the protest site after crossing two military checkpoints in Khar Qamar. He said 13 PTM protesters were killed while scores more were injured in the shooting. But in a press statement on May 26 the military said troops had responded to "direct firing" at the post, killing three attackers and wounding 10 others after a group led by lawmakers Dawar and Ali Wazir attacked the Khar Qamar checkpoint. The military acknowledged arresting Ali and said Dawar was at large. In another statement on May 27, the military said it was trying to identify five more bodies found with gunshot wounds near the site. But the PTM's supporters rejected the military's version of events. Activists staged protests in several towns and cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the neighboring southwestern province of Balochistan to demand an independent probe into the killings. In Peshawar, senior PTM leader Rahim Shah told the BBC that since May 26 many PTM activists have been arrested across Pakistan. The authorities, however, have said nothing about the arrests or a current crackdown against the movement. Speaking to the BBC from Miran Shah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, Dawar said they have already launched a sit-in protest. "We will decide on our demands after our comrades reach here, but we will definitely demand that the Pakistani Army must leave Waziristan" he said. But Pakistani and international media reports suggest the authorities are not allowing PTM supporters to join the protest in Miran Shah by blocking access to the region through the only road connecting it to Bannu. The region is also under a curfew that prohibits any movement. According to VOA's Deewa Radio, the authorities also imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in neighboring South Waziristan tribal district. This law is often invoked in Pakistan to prevent protests and political gatherings. Global rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a domestic nongovernmental rights group, have called for an independent probe. "HRCP demands the release of MNA Ali Wazir and any other activists taken into custody" the HRCP said on May 27. "It also calls for a parliamentary commission to be set up immediately to inquire into the matter and establish the truth." AI backed the call. "The Pakistan government must immediately order an independent and effective investigation into the killing of activists on Sunday in North Waziristan" said Rabia Mehmood, an AI South Asia researcher. "If the reports are correct that the army killed protesters by unlawfully using live ammunition, this would be a very serious violation of international law." The violence is one of the most serious incidents in a long-running confrontation between Pakistan's powerful military and the PTM. The movement emerged last year to demand Islamabad probe illegal killings, enforced disappearances, and other excesses while taking steps to clear landmines from the country's western Pashtun regions along the border with Afghanistan. With some 35 million people, Pashtuns are the largest minority among Pakistan's 207 million population. PTM leaders maintain that Pashtuns, particularly those living in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), paid a heavy price for Islamabad's domestic war on terrorism after 9/11. Officials and independent observers agree that Pashtuns were a majority of the more than 70,000 civilians killed in militant attacks and military counterinsurgency campaigns since 2003. The conflict has also displaced more than 6 million Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. The PTM maintains that it is speaking out on behalf of such victims. But in a veiled reference to neighboring India and Afghanistan, the military accuses the PTM of being funded by foreign spy services. Military leaders have accused the movement of stroking unrest in the Pashtun homeland after the security forces defeated the Pakistani Taliban. The PTM rejects the military's accusations and says it is struggling to gain basic human rights for the Pashtun people after they have suffered years of conflict between the security forces and Islamist militants.
- Impact of Event
- 23
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- May 10, 2019
- Event Description
Government propaganda machine Philippine News Agency is misleading the public and falsely reported that PAHRA's operation as NGO is illegal because its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration has been revoked. In its continuing attack on civil society, the Duterte administration, now through the SEC named PAHRA along with other human rights and sectoral organizations as communist supporters. In fact, the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates re-filed and was duly registered again with the SEC since 2010 and this registration information is publicly available. It has been operating legally without encumbrances save for those which government levies on its critics. PAHRA has served for more than thirty years empowering sectors and grassroots communities to improve their lives through human rights advocacy. It has worked with the international community to strengthen human rights implementation and accountability worldwide; and cooperated with academic, legal, and government agencies including the Commission on Human Rights on numerous projects. SEC's press release finally sheds light to the true objective of the recently issued SEC Memo Circular 15 Series of 2018, purportedly to protect NPOs (Non-Profit Organizations) from terrorists and money laundering financing abuse by assessing the level of risk of NPOs. The risk assessment is supposed to start when all NPOs have submitted their profile by July 31, 2019. It's incredible that PAHRA and other NPOs have already been rendered judgement. The SEC is being used by Duterte to target these organizations as he targets the church, independent media, strong women and political opponents, with a single aim to debilitate any and all voices of criticism. PAHRA is not connected in any way to the CPP nor the NPA. The real agenda why the SEC is acting as an intelligence bureau making this claim is to march to the beat of Duterte's authoritarian cadence- to silence PAHRA, its partners and network, and all those raising the alarm about the dangerous path onto which this administration is taking the country. The government's action is a retaliation to the consistent and comprehensive opposition of PAHRA to government policies at the outset, including the war on drugs, martial law, TRAIN law, contractualization, mining law, charter change and all other "kill bills" that Congress has enacted. Protecting and defending human rights is first and foremost, government's legal obligation. As long as government itself continue to violate this mandate it is the people who will rise time and again to demand a rights-based governance towards the realization of social justice and human rights for all.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 27, 2019
- Event Description
Vietnam's security forces have detained four former prisoners of conscience named Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, Nguyen Thi Truc Anh, Ho Cong Di and Vo Nhu Huynh after they returned from a tour in the neighboring country of Cambodia, Defend the Defenders has learned. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Vui, the older sister of sisters Phuong and Anh, the security officers held the group of four activists, Huynh's mother and 5-year-old child after they entered Vietnam from Cambodia via the Moc Bai International Bordergate in the southern province of Tay Ninh in the early morning of May 27. During the detention which lasted around 36 hours, security officers questioned the group, asking where they had been and which activities they had done in Cambodia. It seems that the Vietnamese security forces suspect they may have attended a training course which is reconsidered by security forces as harmful for the regime. On the same day, security forces also detained independent journalist Le Thu when she was walking near the border gate, taking her in custody for questioning. Police officers accused her of illegal travel to Cambodia but she denied, requesting the security forces to prove solid evidences for the allegation. Police confiscated all cell phones of the detainees, not allowing them to contact with their families to inform them about their situation. After one night and many hours of interrogation, police released all of them in the late afternoon of May 27 after confiscating an Iphone 6plus cell phone and a laptop of Ms. Thu and two laptops of others. Phuong, Anh, Di and Huynh were arrested on June 10, 2018 while participating in the peaceful demonstration in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province to protest two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. The first one seems to favor Chinese investors and ignore the country's sovereignty while the secone bill aims to silence online critics. In a trial on July 30, they were convicted of "disturbing public disorders" and the first three were sentenced to ten months while the last was given eight months in prison. They were released in February and April this year. The four, together with 18 others in their case, were listed as prisoners of conscience by NOW! Campaign, a coalition of 15 domestic and international rights groups working for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Vietnam.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jun 9, 2019
- Event Description
Fidelina Margarita Valle, a columnist with Davao Today, was at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental province, about to board a flight when he was detained by officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). She was detained for nine hours in Pagadian City, about 200 kilometres away from Laguindingan Airport. Upon her release, the CIDG admitted that the arrest was the result of mistaken identity. This has been denied by many human rights organisations who have called detention a targeted and politically motivated form of harassment. The CIDG officers arrested Valle at 10.30 am using the warrant issued against Elsa Renton, who uses the aliases Tina Maglaya and Fidelina Margarita Valle, a subject of a manhunt for several crimes. The arrest warrant for arson was issued in 2006, whilst the warrant for multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder and damage to government property was issued in 2011. Valle was on her way back to Davao City after attending a workshop-training in Cagayan de Oro. Valle is well-respected journalist in the Philippines, working as a journalist since the 1980s and actively reporting various issues in Mindanao. She is one of the pioneers of Media Mindanao News Service. She then became an administrative officer for MindaNews in 2001 and a writer for Sunstar Davao until 2018. Besides journalist, Valle is also actively involved in community development work and advocating for human rights in Mindanao. NUJP has considered the arrest of Valle not a lawful operation but a criminal abduction of a journalist. NUJP added that the abduction could have had dire, even fatal, consequences. The organisation has demanded the police and military personnel involved in this inexcusable travesty and their superiors be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. "How else do authorities explain why Ms. Valle was held incommunicado for hours even as the police issued a statement saying she was facing multiple crimes from a decade ago, only to admit they had the wrong person? This is the equivalent of shoot now, ask questions later" NUJP said. The IFJ said: "The arrest of Valle has been added to the growing list of violence against journalists in the Philippines. The abuse of critical journalists has become the new normal. It should not. A full investigation into why these officers arrested her should be undertaken. We also call the authorities to respect the rights of journalists and stop all the types of intimidation of journalists." The family of journalist Margarita "Gingging" Valle, who was recently arrested by the police in Misamis Oriental, said today that she was a "clear state target" and that her detention was not a case of mistaken identity as the police claim it to be. In a statement posted on the Facebook account of Margarita's son Rius Valle, the family said that she is now safe but will have to undergo a medical check-up and debriefing as soon as possible.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 6, 2019
- Event Description
Sirawith "Ja New' Serithiwat was assaulted on the night of 2 June at Ratchada Soi 7, near The Street department store. He said at least 5 perpetrators assaulted him with kicks and a wooden stick.A charity foundation sent him to the Police Hospital and then transferred him to Mission Hospital where he has medical coverage. Sirawith suffered injuries to his shoulder, head, and face. He will stay one night in the hospital to monitor the seriousness of his head injuries.However, his mother said that the medical fee of 800-1,000 baht cannot be covered for some reason. Staying one night in a private ward means other 2,600 baht has to be covered. Nattha Mahatana said that on that evening, Sirawith was collecting signatures to back up his petition to the unelected 250 senators not to support Prayut Chan-o-cha to be the Prime Minister. This is that first time that Sirawith has been assaulted. However, it is not the first time for other activists. Anurak Jeantawanich has been attacked twice and Ekkachai Hongkangwan 7 times (excluding his car being torched twice). So this incident is already the tenth assault against activists in the last two years. Last week, both Ekkachai and student activist Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak also said that they have been threatened. Ekkachai said that he received a Facebook message saying that someone has ordered him dead, and Parit posted a recording on Facebook of a phone call verbally abusing him and threatening physical harm.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 6, 2019
- Event Description
Noted academic and civil rights activist Ram Punyani has received threat calls and abuses from unidentified callers at night on his residential phone line on the night of Thursday (June 6) following which he has filed an FIR with the Mumbai police. Ram Punyani, a former professor at IIT-Bombay, is a well-known rationalist who has been conducting workshops and lectures all across the country to propagate communal harmony. This was the second time that Punyani received threats. In March, policemen in plain clothes had visited his residence on the pretext of making inquiries regarding his passport he had never applied for. Such inquiries are usually conducted by policemen in uniform. He has submitted CCTV footage of these plainclothes men. On last Thursday, he got a call on his landline at about 8.30 pm which was received by his brother-in-law. The caller was abusive and aggressive and kept alleging that Punyani was anti-Hindu. The caller threatened that Punyani must stop his activities or face consequences. The caller said Punyani must leave Mumbai in 15 days. Five minutes later, there was another call which Punyani received. Once again, using a very menacing tone, the caller demanded to know if he was speaking to Punyani. When Punyani declined, the caller hung up. But this time the caller's number could be identified. "This is extremely concerning and disturbing. My family is worried about my safety. I hope the authorities take this seriously. This is not the first time that I have faced such intimidation" Punyani said. The threat becomes all the more grave in view of the murders of other rationalists like Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, Gauri Lankesh and M.M. Kalburgi by right wing assassins.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Academic, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2019
- Event Description
As over a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest the government's controversial extradition bill on June 9, a number of journalists were blocked and barred from covering the protests. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) have condemned the actions of police in obstructing the media in covering the protests. According to HKJA in the early hours of June 10, police started moving protesters who remained outside the Legislative Council building. Several journalists were also in the area covering the protests, local police referred to the media as "rubbish', pointing their flashlights at the cameras so they couldn't film and pushed the journalists on the metal barriers. Several journalists were injured in the incident, and a photographer was hit by debris thrown by protesters at the police. A few hours after the initially incidents, the police expelled the media from the area shouting at them "reporters have no privlege'. Police officers continued to harass and assault journalists covering the protests, despite them producing press cards. HKJA strongly condemned the actions of the police. In a statement HKJA said: "The police's actions ignored the personal safety of journalists, seriously trampled on the right to interview, and [we] urged the police to investigate the incident and provide a reasonable explanation." The protests in Hong Kong were against the government's proposed Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, which allows the transfer of "fugitives" from Hong Kong to Mainland China. The proposed legislation has been widely criticised, including by the IFJ and HKJA. The proposed amendment, will put journalists and whistleblowers under threat when reporting on issues related to China, dealing a further blow to the already limited freedom of express that Hong Kong still enjoys. The IFJ said: "We stand in solidarity with HKJA and our colleagues in Hong Kong in condemning the actions of the police to obstruct, harass and attack the media for simply doing their job. Journalists and media workers must, in all circumstances, be able to report without fear or intimidation, yet the actions of the Hong Kong police do not support this. Even more concerning is reports that the police told the media that they do not have any privilege. We demand an immediate investigation."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Use of Excessive Force, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 14, 2019
- Event Description
An activist supporting Cambodia's banned opposition party has been detained on charges of violating forest protection laws, though his wife says the arrest was politically motivated. Nem Nath was taken in by police in Pursat province on Thursday, his wife Srey Saoroth told RFA's Khmer Service on Friday. She said the authorities unfairly targeted her husband because he supports the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), the main opposition of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) until the Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in 2017. "He's a CNRP supporter. He is known publicly for supporting them" she said. "[He] didn't incite any villagers to commit any crimes. I want the court to release my husband because he is the bread winner. We can't live without him" she said. RFA was unsuccessful in an attempt to reach a spokesman of the provincial court in Pursat for comment. Kem Kimsrun, the Pursat provincial coordinator for the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), confirmed the arrest, saying the case was definitely politically motivated because Nem Nath was not involved in any illegal encroachment on public land. "The activist is with the CNRP and he refused to defect to the CPP. The arrest has put the family under undue hardship" he said. The coordinator said that in the past Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered local police in Veal Veng district to monitor CNRP activities in the district after he accused them of engaging in politics despite the party's ban. "It is [no more] than political intimidation for the sake of the ruling party. But doing this won't help the government" said Kem Kimsrun. RFA reported on May 29 that two other CNRP activists in Pursat had been arrested on similar charges the day before. CNRP activist eludes authorities in Sihanoukville Another CNRP activist, Mao Bunsreang, escaped from his home in Cambodia's southwestern Sihanoukville province after a police officer tipped him off that they were planning to arrest him. The activist's wife, Kea Sisokunthea said police wanted to arrest him because he criticized the government on Facebook. "The comments he wrote were constructive, and we never thought anything like this would happen because of them. He never committed any crimes" she said. "He only offered constructive criticism." Sihanoukville Police Chief Chuon Narin denied that police had any plans to arrest the activist. He said Mao Bunsreang is only known as a former member of the CNRP, and if he hadn't commit any crimes, he would be fine. "I didn't receive any information. He must have claimed all that information by himself" he said. Cheap Sotheary, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association's (ADHOC) provincial coordinator for Sihanoukville said, "People in general are critical. It falls within freedom of expression."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2019
- Event Description
A top Chinese human rights lawyer has been attacked and threatened immediately after meeting with his client, the dissident Wang Mo, at a detention center in the eastern province of Jiangsu, RFA has learned. Shanghai-based rights lawyer Peng Yonghe was beaten and threatened by a group of unidentified people at the gate of the Huai'an Detention Center in Jiangsu on Monday, after he went there to visit his client. "I met with my client Wang Mo at the Huai'an District Detention Center in Huai'an city today," Peng told RFA. "But the [detention center staff] forced me to terminate the meeting when it was only halfway through." Shortly afterwards, at around 11.00 a.m., Peng was surrounded by a group of men at the detention center gate. "They threatened me, to make me withdraw from Wang's case," Peng said. "They asked to see my mobile phone. I told them I had shot video on my phone, and they stole it from me, and also beat me in the process." Peng later uploaded a video of his injuries to his Twitter account, and had reported the attack to the local police station, he said. Wang Mo was among four mainland Chinese activists jailed for their public support of the 2014 Occupy Central movement for fully democratic elections in Hong Kong in April 2016. Wang and co-defendant Xie Wenfei were handed four-and-a-half-year prison sentences by the Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong's provincial capital, Guangzhou, after being found guilty of "incitement to subvert state power." He was redetained last month after serving the jail term, in a move seen as linked to the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre on June 4. Wang and his co-defendants had expressed public support for the Occupy Central movement, and were detained amid a nationwide roundup of at least 100 mainland Chinese supporters of the Hong Kong protests. Ever-greater professional risks for lawyers Fellow rights activist Li Xiongbing said attacks like the one on Peng shouldn't happen. "The local authorities should take it seriously and thoroughly investigate this matter," Li said. "Those responsible should be dealt with strictly according to the law." Li said Chinese lawyers are running ever-greater professional risks, if they defend political sensitive clients. "Although our government often talks about the need to ... rule the country according to law, and so on, this is just a slogan that sounds good," he said. "It is rarely carried out in practice." At the end of 2017, Peng was called in for questioning by police after he announced his withdrawal from the ruling Chinese Communist Party-controlled Shanghai Lawyers Association. His attempts to find work and rent accommodation have been repeatedly blocked by the authorities, while his wife was fired from her job with no reason given. The Occupy Central, or Umbrella Movement campaigned for Beijing to withdraw an Aug, 31, 2014 electoral reform plan, which it rejected as "fake universal suffrage," and to allow publicly nominated candidates to run for chief executive in 2017. The plan, which offered a one-person, one-vote in 2017 elections for chief executive, but required candidates to be vetted by Beijing, was voted down on June 18, 2015 by 28 votes to eight in Hong Kong's Legislative Council, leaving the city with its existing voting arrangements still in place. Reported by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Ai Shi for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 7, 2019
- Event Description
Yesterday, at around 2:45 a.m., four men wearing masks forced their way into the offices of Citizens' Radio and smashed its door, windows, and broadcasting equipment, according to news reports and Tsang Kin Shing, the station's founder, who spoke to CPJ via phone. The men broke broadcasting equipment that Tsang planned to use to cover yesterday's protests, he told CPJ. Citizens' Radio was still able to cover the protests, as seen in video it posted to Facebook. Hong Kong has been roiled by protests since May, chiefly against a proposed amendment to its extradition law that would allow Hong Kong to send fugitive suspects to places where it lacked extradition agreements, including mainland China, according to news reports. In May, CPJ called on Hong Kong authorities to revise or drop the bill. "Hong Kong authorities must take swift action to apprehend those responsible for vandalizing Citizens' Radio," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. "Authorities need to demonstrate that the use of violence to halt news coverage has no place in Hong Kong." Tsang told CPJ that he witnessed the men enter the station brandishing hammers and a baseball bat, vandalize the office, and leave, and said that the entire incident lasted about two minutes. He estimated the damage at between $20,000 to $30,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$2,560 to US$3,845), and told CPJ that he filed a report with the local police. Citizens' Radio is a nonprofit broadcaster affiliated with the League of Social Democrats, a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong, which broadcasts without a permit since its license application has been pending since 2005, according to news reports. Tsang and other employees of the broadcaster have been prosecuted and fined for broadcasting illegally, and the station has been shut down by authorities multiple times since 2005, according to media reports. The Hong Kong Police Force did not answer CPJ's phone call requesting comment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- NGO, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jul 7, 2019
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders:Athorities in the northern port city of Hai Phong are giving a warn to local former prisoner of conscience Nguyen Xuan Nghia, requesting him not to go to participate in a cultural event scheduled on July 8. According to the writer, his friend artist Pham Xuan Truong will present his two paintings to the US Embassy in Vietnam on Monday and the event will be held in the city's Office of the Cultural Association. On Saturday, some police officers came to Mr. Nghia's residence and told him to stay at home on Monday, otherwise he will meet problems with police, Nghia told Defend the Defenders. Mr. Truong will present two paintings, one is a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi several months ago, and the second is a portrait of late Senator John McCain, who was a war prisoner held for years in Hoa Lo prison in the capital city of Hanoi during the Vietnam War. Mr. Nghia is a member of pro-democracy group named Block 8406. He was arrested in 2009 and charged with "conducting anti-state propaganda" under Article 88 of the country's Penal Code. Later, he was sentenced to six years in prison and three years under house arrest. Until now, he is still under close surveillance of the local police
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 16, 2019
- Event Description
Plainclothes agents in Ha Nam province brutally beat local activist Truong Minh Huong at noon of Sunday (June 16), causing severe injuries on his body, the victim told Defend the Defenders. In the morning, Mr. Truong joined other activists from Bau Bi Solidarity to accompany families of prisoners of conscience to pay regular visits to Ba Sao Prison camp. After the lunch, Mr. Huong left for his private residence in Ba Sao commune, Kim Bang district. On his way, he was attacked by a group of five or six plainclothes agents who stopped his motorbike and started to punch and kick him. They also used his helmet to beat him. As other activists came to the scence, the attackers left and ran away. He suffered from a number of injuries on his body. Huong, 70, is a land petitioner whose land was confiscated by authorities in Kim Bang district without being paid adequately. Later, he became an activist fighting for multi-party democracy and human rights and helping other victims of justice miscarriage. He has been under constant harassment of the local police who often place him under de facto house arrest or attack his house with stones and bricks. He was assaulted many times, including the attacks in 2014 and 2016. Ba Sao Prison camp is holding many prisoners of conscience, including Le Dinh Luong, Le Thanh Tung, Pham Van Troi, Phan Kim Khanh, and Nguyen Viet Dung.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Land rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2019
- Event Description
The National Investigation Agency has been questioning the editor and owner of the Greater Kashmir, the largest circulated English newspaper in Kashmir for over a week, sources have said. Newspaper sources said the questioning of its editor Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo began on Monday at NIA's head office in Delhi. The agency also quizzed the paper's senior functionary Rashid Makhdoomi. While he has since returned home, Kaloo's questioning was still under way, the sources said on Saturday. NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal did not respond to the call of The Telegraph but official sources said Kaloo was summoned for questioning on June 28. "He (Kaloo) did not turn up initially but had to go on Monday after he received a call from the agency" a source said. Kaloo was the president of the Kashmir Editors Guild but he resigned from its basic membership last month after discovering "that the members of the guild don't support and cooperate in furthering the basic purpose of this body". No newspaper in Kashmir, including Kaloo's own newspaper, has reported the development related to his questioning and different journalist bodies there have also maintained a stoic silence. The questioning came days after police arrested Ghulam Geelani Qadri, editor of the Urdu daily Afaaq, in a three-decade-old case, which led to allegations from the journalist community in Valley that it was an attempt to muzzle the media there. He is out on bail. In February, governor Satya Pal Malik's administration stopped sending government advertisements for publication in Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader for allegedly giving coverage to pro-independence groups as well as allegations of rights abuses by security forces. The NIA and several central agencies are part of a multi-agency crackdown on people and organisations in Valley who, according to the government, are involved in "terror funding". The agency has mostly targeted separatists but people from other sections, including journalists, are also under its radar. The crackdown was launched after a long phase of unrest, which that followed the death of Hizb leader Burhan Wani in 2016, crippled life in Valley. It has intensified after the February Pulwama attack killed 40 CRPF men. The Centre claims the pro-Azaadi protests are being funded by Pakistan but the crackdown has only had limitedsuccess. While the protests have somewhat lost momentum, which could also be because of fatigue, militants continue to get new recruits. The sources in the Greater Kashmir said their boss was being questioned for the articles that appeared in the newspaper during and after the agitation and his overseas trips, among other matters. The NIA had earlier arrested a freelance photo journalist, Kamran Yousuf, for alleged terror funding and stone throwing but had to be released on bail after a six-month detention. Amnesty International then said the charges against Kamran are "fabricated and politically motivated, and part of an attempt to stifle journalism in Kashmir".
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 7, 2019
- Event Description
During the clearance of Nathan Road, Mong Kok from the late evening of 7 July 2019 to the early morning of 8 July 2019, the police pushed frontline journalists and their cameras away with shields multiple times, yelled at, and even assaulted journalists to obstruct reporting, which was a serious violation of press freedom. Most journalists onsite wore their reflective vests with the word "PRESS" (in traditional Chinese or English), displayed their press cards, retreated to cooperate with police actions. The police officers continued to push journalists away even after they have clearly identified themselves as members of the press. We strongly condemned such behaviours. A HK01 photojournalist who was doing a live report on Nathan Road on an argument involving tourists was elbowed in his stomach by a plainclothes female police officer in a black police vest. When the affected journalist went up and questioned that officer, she denied immediately and retreated to the back of the police defense line formed by other officers, thus preventing the acquisition of her police identification number. The Media Liaison Team of the police contacted and apologise to the affected journalist, before suggesting him to complain via official channels. A female journalist of Apple Daily was pushed away by a male officer and accused loudly of charging the police during her reporting. The affected journalist clarified right away and that male police officer was taken away immediately. The name and police identification number on his warrant card were concealed. A Metro Broadcast reporter was being obstructed by police officers during reporting and was told, "Journalists have no privilege. Back off because I am telling you to." The three journalists aforementioned wore their reflective vests with the word "PRESS" (in traditional Chinese or English) to identify themselves as members of the press, but they were still pushed away or even assaulted intentionally by police officers. When the police pushed its defense line forward " even when the press was the only one present " the police persisted by pushing and crashing with their shields. A protester was instantly taken away by police officers when that protester was asked whether he was assaulted by the police. Other officers demanded the journalists on the spot to leave. Recent demonstrations have shown that members of the press were pushed away, insulted or even assaulted by the police. We calls on the police to address the abuse of police power, respect the reporting rights, safeguard the freedom of the press and the public's right to know.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Use of Excessive Force, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 6, 2019
- Event Description
Status of Human Rights Defenders: Mr. Rupesh Kumar Singh was a prominent student leader associated with the All India Student Association (AISA). He is well-known in social media for his progressive writing. He is a social activist, an independent journalist and is also associated with a labour organization in Bakaro. Mr. Mithilesh Singh is a social activist and a lawyer at Ramgarh Civil Court As per the sources, on June 4, 2019, at about 8 AM, Mr. Rupesh Kumar Singh along with Mr. Mithilesh Kumar Singh, a social activist and a lawyer at Ramgarh Civil Court were travelling to Aurangabad, the ancestral village of Mr. Mithilesh in a car. When they did not reach Aurangabad on the desired time and their cell phone went unreachable, the family members of Mr. Mithilesh went to file a missing complaint with the Ramgarh police station which they managed to register the next day. Both the family members were astonished to know from the daily newspapers that on June 7, 2019, Mr. Rupesh, Mr. Mithilesh and the driver were arrested from Dobhi More at NH-2, near Sherghati, around 30 km from Gaya on June 6, 2019 and were charged under Sections 414 and 120B of the India Penal Code, along with other sections under the Explosive Substances Act. The following day, a unit of the Bihar Police illegally searched Mr. Rupesh's house in Ramgarh and Bokaro, and seized his mobile phone, laptop and few books on Lenin, Marx etc. It is alleged that the Bihar police had arrested three of them illegally on June 4, 2019, at about 9.30 AM from near village Padma near Hazaribagh. It will be pertinent to mention here that all of them were forcefully handcuffed and face covered with cloth at the spot and brought to the Paramilitary (Cobra battalion) base camp at Barachetti, where all of them were badly tortured especially Mr. Rupesh Kumar who was threatened for his progressive writing and political work. It is clear that the police had Mr. Rupesh and Mr. Mithilesh in illegal custody till June 6, 2019 as per news reports. The Commission is appraised that Mr. Rupesh Kumar and Mr. Mithilesh are being targeted by Bihar police for their progressive writings and activism and are beingvictimised by being entangled in false and fabricated cases. Further by not following proper arrest procedures and having used handcuffs and covering of faces by the Bihar police amounts to blatant violation of D.K. Basu guidelines on arrests which has now being incorporated under the Indian Criminal Procedure Code. It is once again brought to the notice of the Commission that the present case is yet again an example of how harassment, intimidation and illegal detention has become a routine practice by the State against human rights defenders and activists who dare to stand up for what is right.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Lawyer, Media Worker, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 11, 2019
- Event Description
About the Human Rights Defender TV journalist Amit Sharma works as a reporter with Hindi national TV channel known as News24.He has extensively reported on corruption especially its prevalencein the GRP forces. He has exposed the organised illegal nexus of the unauthorised vendors and GRPoperating in railway sector in Uttar Pradesh which involves huge illegal monetary transaction in favour of the railway police. Details of the Incident: According to sources on June 11, 2019, TV reporter Amit Sharma had gone on a reporting assignment to Dhimanpura gate of Shamli city in Uttar Pradesh. He was covering the train accident that took place near Dhimanpura in which two wagons of a goods train derailed around 8.50 pm on that day. A unit of the GRP including GRP Shamli's station house officer (SHO) Mr. Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay and a contingent of local journalists were present at the site. Some of the police personnel were dressed in civil clothes. SHO Rakesh Upadhyay and constable Sanjay Panwar objected to Amit's presence at the derailment site. The policemen entered into an argument with Sharma when he was covering the derailment of a goods train.The policemen started thrashing Amit Sharma when he tried to film the incident for news coverage. They were repeatedly slapping and punching the journalist. According to local journalists, also witnesses to the incident, Sharma was not only beaten but dragged all the way from where the accident occurred to the local GRP station, which is located almost 200 metres away from the spot. They also abused him and locked him up. In the graphic video of the incident that went viral on social media on June 11 night, the accused GRP personnel, dressed in plain clothes, can be seen repeatedly slapping and punching television journalist Sharma as he pleads with them to stop. Police officers werepresent, however, they made no effort to try and shield or protect Sharma from those assaulting him. Sharma was locked up in a police station in Shamli for the night and according to the report, GRP personnel took his camera and snatched his mobile phone which contained all of coverage on the railways.Sharma also claimed that he was stripped by the cops and GRP Shamli's SHO Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay urinated in his mouth. Sharma was bailed out by two fellow journalists on June 12, 2019. After a protest by the local journalists, the police registered a case against the four personnel, including the SHO Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay on June 12, 2019 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to causing hurt (Section 323), insult (Section 504), abduction (Section 364), robbery (Section 392) and wrongful confinement (Section 342). Of the four GRP officers, Rakesh Kumar Upadhyay and Constable Sanjay Pawar were suspended on June 12, 2019. This case is yet again an example of how a human rights defender is hounded and victimised for his past work. This repressive action of the police is a result of exposing corruption by journalist Amit Sharma so that he is deterred in the future to carry out such reports. Globally, Journalists who are human rights defenders as well face major risks as a result of their work. Governments and other powerful actors, seeking to escape scrutiny and stifle dissent, often respond to critical reporting or activism with attempts to silence them. Threats, surveillance, attacks, arbitrary arrest and detention, and, in the most grave cases, enforced disappearance or killings, are too often the cost of reporting the truth. The protection of journalists and human rights defenders, and ending impunity for attacks against them, is a global priority for safeguarding freedom of expression. States are under an obligation to prevent, protect against, and prosecute attacks against journalists and human rights defenders. Creating a safe and enabling environment for their work necessitates legal reform, the creation of special protection mechanisms, and protocols to guide effective investigations and prosecutions where attacks occur. A free press and active civil society are essential to ensure the public's right to know, so that governments and institutions can be held accountable
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 28, 2019
- Event Description
Activist Sirawith "Ja New" Serithiwat was assaulted earlier this morning (28 June), said Nuttaa Mahattana.Nuttaa said that he was attacked around 11.30 near the entrance to the street where he lives " a crowded area with a lot of witnesses who subsequently contacted his mother and called an ambulance. One of the witnesses also told his mother that he was losing consciousness. Matichon Online reported that Sirawith was attacked by a group of four men in helmets armed with baseball bats, and Nuttaa said that Sirawith told his mother last night that he is being followed. This is the second time Sirawith has been assaulted, and the latest in a string of attacks against activists in recent months. On the night of 2 June, Sirawith was attacked at Ratchada Soi 7, near The Street department store by a group of 5 people, who assaulted him with kicks and a wooden stick. He sustained minor injuries to his shoulder, head, and face. Sirawith was at first sent to Navamin Hospital. His mother said that he sustained major injuries to his head, and that he is conscious, but unresponsive and unable to speak. At 14.00, Sirawith's mother said that, in addition to his head injuries, he has a broken nose and eye socket. He was having difficulty breathing and was on oxygen, but MRI scans found no brain haemorrhage. Subsequent doctor's examination also found that Sirawith is unable to see with his right eye. Sirawith has now been transferred to the Mission Hospital, where he has medical coverage. He will require further facial surgeries. Update 29 June 2019: At today's concert at the 14 October 1973 Memorial on Ratchadamnoen Road, in which Sirawith previously planned to take part, the presenter told the crowd that Sirawith's condition has improved. While he is still in intensive care, he is now fully conscious and responsive. He is able to speak and does not suffer any memory loss. At 20.00, it was reported that he is to be transferred to Ramathibodi Hospital, where he will be able to see an expert ophthalmologist for his eye injury. Previous doctor's examination found that he was not hit directly in the eye, but suffered fractures to his eye socket. After the doctor drained the congested blood from that area, he is starting to be able to see with his injured eye.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state, Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 28, 2019
- Event Description
Kampong Thom provincial police are investigating a complaint by a former CNRP official about a murder attempt by four unknown men who beat him up and stole his phone in Baray district on Friday. Major General Ouk Kosal, provincial police chief, yesterday said that police received the complaint from Sun Thun, a Cambodian Independent Teachers Association member and former provincial councillor with the CNRP. He said police went to check the scene of the alleged murder attempt in Baray commune's Thnal Cheat village, but have not found any of the four men. "In this case, the plaintiff has sued unknown persons so we have to collect information and other evidence, Maj Gen Kosal said. "We are still investigating what happened." Mr Thun yesterday said that on the day of the attack, the men pretended to be looking to buy land next to a school where he runs a rice stall. He said they persuaded him to go with them to talk to the landowner. "They drove a white car, but I don't remember the license plate. They asked me to take them to the landowner" he said. "When we reached the house of the landowner, they kept driving from one village to another and only stopped the car when they reached a quiet spot." "They then beat me up until my face was swollen before grabbing my phone and driving off" Mr Thun added. He said he has never had a conflict with any villager and believes it was a murder attempt because he is a former senior CNRP official. Mr Thun claimed that he has previously been threatened by authorities in the province. "I consider it as premeditated murder as I am a former CNRP official" he said. "I was previously threatened by the authorities after I spoke on some foreign radio programmes about concerns from the public." Ouk Chhayavy, CITA president, yesterday said the murder attempt on Mr Thun may be related to politics because he had previously faced discrimination and his activities were monitored by strangers. She urged the authorities, especially the government, to investigate the case and arrest the perpetrators to be punished according to the law.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Apr 7, 2019
- Event Description
Gulalai Ismail is an award-winning woman human rights defender and co-founder of Aware Girls who has been forced into hiding following at least two First Information Reports (FIRs) being filed against her on 22 May and 23 May by police in Islamabad. On 4 July, the family home was raided three times, by a large number of armed men in both plainclothes and police uniform. On the first two occasions, only Gulalai's parents were at home. However, at around 4 pm, the police raided the house for the third time and questioned Gulalai's brother and family driver who had arrived home a few minutes earlier. Gulalai's brother, a US citizen, had returned to Pakistan a few days prior to the raid in order to support his parents and family, who have been under tremendous pressure and fear for their safety. The police and intelligence officers questioned Gulalai's brother and arbitrarily detained the family driver who was held at an unknown location for around 8 hours before being released. The family believes that the driver was targeted and tortured due to his association with Gualali.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Family of HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 9, 2019
- Event Description
The wife of an Australian man detained in China since January has been slapped with a travel ban, stopping her from leaving the country. Yang Hengjun, a 53-year-old Chinese-born writer, was detained in the southern city of Guangzhou earlier in the year after flying in from New York. His wife Yuan Xiaoliang, who is a permanent resident of Australia, was questioned by Chinese authorities at the weekend after unsuccessfully trying to leave the country. It is understood she is subject to an exit ban but was not detained. The foreign minister, Marise Payne, said Australia had been regularly raising Dr Yang's case with China at senior levels. "We have requested his case be treated fairly, transparently, and expeditiously" Senator Payne said on Monday. The minister said the Australian continued to have consular access, and asked that Dr Yang be granted immediate access to his lawyers. "Australia has asked for clarification regarding the reasons for his detention" Senator Payne said. "And we have said that if he is being detained purely for his political views then he should be released." Ms Yuan is not an Australian citizen, so has no right to consular access, but it is understood Australia has asked Chinese authorities she be allowed to travel to Australia. Dr Yang has been an Australian citizen since 2002. He had been living in New York as a visiting scholar at Columbia University, before leaving for Guangzhou on January 18.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Travel Restriction
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2019
- Event Description
Two journalists in Pakistan, Shaikh Rizwan and Bashir Malik, were physically attacked in two separate incidents. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in condemning the assault and calls on authorities to prosecute those responsible for the crimes against journalists. Shaikh Rizwan is a local journalist working for Sargodha Khabrain in Sargodha city, 185 km from Islamabad, in Punjab province. He was beaten up by the local land grabbing mafia in Sargodha. In a different incident, Bashir Malik, a local journalist with 24 News in Khushab, also in Punjab, 218 km from Islamabad was beaten and received death threats from local miscreants. PFUJ demanded strict action and the prompt arrest of those involved in incidents it described as "blatant terrorism and brutality". PFUJ has also requested journalists be given protection in performing their duty. PFUJ said: "It is the responsibility of the authorities to take strict legal action against the criminals in society. We demand the authorities to give justice to the journalists and if this is not done we will have protests across the country. The IFJ said: "Safety in Pakistan remains a serious concern as journalists and media workers continue to face deliberate attacks. We urge Pakistan's authorities to ensure that all those crimes against journalists do not go unpunished."
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jul 7, 2019
- Event Description
Propaganda posters found in Northern Mindanao on July 7, accused members of IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) as being members of communists parties in the country. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and NUJP condemn the so-called "red-tagging" of journalists as a dangerous threat to journalist safety in the country. The posters were found on Sunday, July 7, on the wall of of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) church in Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao, listing NUJP along with the Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao and Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) church as being fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The posters were signed by the Movement Against Terrorism-Northern Mindanao Region. This is not the first time NUJP has been targeted by rogue parties. Earlier this year, a black banner referring to NUJP and other activist groups as allies of the "terrorist NPA' was found in Cagayan de Oro on May 27. And in February, Filipino journalist Cong Corrales, a former director of NUJP, and his family's names were included on an anonymous list allegedly naming members of the Philippines Communist Party. NUJP said intimidation to silence journalists using "red-tagging" against individual journalists, organisations of journalists, and human rights activists has increased dramatically since Rodrigo Duterte's rise to power. It condemned the act and reiterated that such action continues to put journalist's lives at risk in the country. A free press is guaranteed under the Philippines Constitution and journalists should not be painted as enemies of the state, NUJP said in a statement. The IFJ and NUJP call for greater efforts to stop the spread of lies and vilification of media workers. NUJP said: "As an organization, the NUJP has stood and continues to stand firmly for the safety and welfare of Filipino journalists and media worker as well as for practice of good, solid journalism." The IFJ said: "These continued attacks and false labelling of journalists puts journalist lives at risk. We demand authorities increase efforts to guarantee the safety of journalists in the Philippines."
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Lawyer, Media Worker, NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 12, 2019
- Event Description
The elderly mother of ailing human rights activist and website founder Huang Qi is incommunicado, while her son has yet to receive an official sentence following his trial, RFA has learned. Pu Wenqing, 86, is currently under house arrest at her home in Mianyang city, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, and is being watched over by state security police, sources told RFA. Repeated calls to her cell phone this week resulted in a "no such number" message or no answer. Pu, who is a retired doctor, has been under close surveillance since she tried to visit the Mianyang Intermediate People's Court on hearing that an inspection team from the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing was visiting. "It seems that the central government is inspecting [Mianyang], which is what this is all about," a source close to the case told RFA. "She told me [on Tuesday] that there were people standing guard both upstairs and at ground level, and that their number had grown." Pu has been a vocal campaigner for Huang's release on urgent medical grounds, and says the charges against him are politically motivated, with no evidence to back them up. She has also said she possesses documents proving that the charges against Huang were fabricated by the authorities, and the source said the local government is keen to stop her from traveling to Beijing with her petition. Sources said Pu is in extremely poor health and may have cancer, but can only receive medical treatment during home visits by doctors. "Her health is very poor; she has said there seems to be a mass of some sort in her heart and lungs," another source said. "She asked me to buy [Chinese herbs] but I don't think they did much good." "The police guards took her to the hospital, which should be their duty in terms of humanitarian and human rights concern, even if she isn't their grandmother," the source said. 'I can't get through' Chongqing-based rights activist Hu Guiqin told RFA that he has been unable to call Pu since the evening of June 4, the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. "I can't get through. I have been unable to call her since the night of June 3," Hu said. Last December, Pu was forcibly detained and pushed to the ground by authorities in Beijing after traveling there to press her son's case, and was incommunicado for several weeks afterwards. But she returned to Sichuan, where she hired Jiangxi-based lawyer Zhang Zanning to represent Huang, and made another attempt to visit her son at the Mianyang Detention Center. Pu also met with diplomats from Germany, Italy, the the U.K., U.S. and Switzerland at that time. Leaking state secrets Huang, 56, stood trial in January at the Mianyang Intermediate People's Court on charges of "leaking state secrets" and "leaking state secrets overseas," amid concerns that he could soon die in detention. He was recently identified by Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as one of 10 citizen journalists in danger of dying in detention. Huang, who founded the Tianwang rights website, has repeatedly denied the charges and has refused to "confess." Huang's Tianwang website had a strong track record of highlighting petitions and complaints against official wrongdoing and injustices meted out to the most vulnerable in society, including forced evictees, parents of children who died in the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and other peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The overseas-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network, which collates reports from rights groups inside China, says Huang is among a number of gravely ill detainees or prisoners who "continue to suffer from torture by being deprived of proper medical treatment in Chinese detention centers and prisons." "We are gravely concerned about their fate as the next victims of China's deliberate method of persecution to death through torture by medical deprivation," the group said in a statement on Thursday. Reported by Tseng Yat-yiu for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Han Qing for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jan 4, 2019
- Event Description
A pro-democracy activist's car was set on fire early Monday by an unknown arsonist after the activist led a protest calling for the impeachment of the Election Commission for its perceived mishandling of the elections. Ekachai Hongkangwan said on a Facebook call on Monday morning that he was awakened by the noise of a car's honk at 1.19am, only to find his Nissan Sunny car had been set on fire. One arsonist was captured on video but neighbors told Ekachai that four men were involved. "It's a waste of money and I am upset" said Ekachai on a Facebook call. Ekachai refused to use a normal mobile phone line as he fears eavesdropping in the wake of half a dozen attacks against him in recent months. The car, bought by his mother for him back in 1997 for 499,000 baht, had been the target of an earlier attack though Ekachai managed to put out the fire. This time, he was too late. The attacker caught on video was wearing a motorcycle helmet, leaving Ekachai with no way to identify them. A police complaint has been lodged and the burnt car was towed away by Lat Phrao police. "My neighbors now fear they will come back and set fire to the shop houses next time" said Ekachai. Ekachai believes the attack is related to his criticism of the commission, and suspects the junta might be behind the attack as it has been defending the commission. No one has come out to claim responsibility as of press time, however. Ekachai joined others at Ratchaprasong Intersection on Sunday afternoon to campaign for signatures for a petition calling for the commission's impeachment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
Khaosod |
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jul 23, 2019
- Event Description
July 23, 2019 2 TFDP staff received death threats via SMS. It noted: 'Your task force was sighted in the area stop what you are doing if not I will fill your heads with 45 and you call yourself task force.' When the texter was asked about his identity 'Don't bother to know,just know there's a place for all of you.' July 30, 2019 Another threat was sent to a TFDP staff. It noted: Ramel you are a small group, you can easily be decimated. Will start with a 45. They've all come from one number. TFDP office is based in Cebu, and they have pulled out all people from Negros.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 29, 2019
- Event Description
On June 29, authorities in Vietnam's central province of Thanh Hoa arrested local resident Pham Van Diep, accusing him of "Making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State of Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under Article 117 of the country's Penal Code. The state media has reported that police carried out searching his private residence in Quang Tien ward, Sam Son city and confiscated a computer and a lot of documents related to his activities. According to the province's police investigation agency, he will be held in the next four months for investigation. During the investigation period, he will not be permitted to meet with his relatives and lawyers. He is alleged of using Facebook to conduct anti-state propaganda and will face imprisonment of between five and 12 years if is convicted. Mr. Diep studied his bachelor degree in Russia. He stayed for years there and obtained Russian nationality. Due to his online posts criticizing the Vietnamese government in various issues such as environmental pollution, weak response to China's violations in the East Sea (South China Sea) and human right abuse, he was reportedly barred from coming back to his home country. Once he was denied to enter in Vietnam when he arrived in Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi several years ago. He went to Laos and was arrested by the Lao security forces after distributing leaflets protesting the denial of the Vietnamese authorities. He was sentenced to 21 months to prison for "using the Lao territory to oppose its neighbor country." After being released, he came back to Thanh Hoa and lives with his parents. The state media also reported that since March 2019, he has posted a number of articles and conducted many livestreams on Facebook to call for public demonstrations against Sam Son city's plan to build a sea square. Activists said he participated in the peaceful demonstration to protest two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security in Hanoi on June 10, 2018, and was detained by security forces for several hours. He has been under constant harassment of police in Thanh Hoa province, who summoned him for interrogation many times in the past few years. The arrest of Diep is part of the ongoing crackdown of the Vietnamese communist regime on local dissent. In the first half of this year, Vietnam has arrested at least 20 human rights defenders, social activists, and bloggers, mostly on allegations in the national security provisions of the Penal Code, and convicted nine activists with a total 50 years in prison and 17 years of probation. Last week, Vietnam convicted four activists, sentencing them to between one and 12 years in prison. Vietnam is holding at least 220 prisoners of conscience, according to the Defend the Defender's statistics while Amnesty International said the number is 128.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- May 21, 2019
- Event Description
JAKARTA - Crews from ABC News Australia are the latest journalists to report they faced intimidation and assault as they reported on the Jakarta protests after President Joko Widodo was confirmed the winner of last month's general elections, increasing concern over press freedom in Indonesia. The Jakarta Foreign Correspondent Club (JFCC), with members who are foreign journalists and correspondents in Indonesia made a similar appeal. "We are deeply concerned to learn that journalists have been intimidated and even physically attacked during the recent protest rallies in Jakarta" said the JFCC in a statement. "Some of our members have been targeted during rallies and also on social media in what needs to be addressed to prevent this becoming a threat to press freedom in Indonesia." Eight people were killed and more than 900 hurt on May 21 and 22 in two nights of fighting between security forces and supporters of defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. Security officials said they believe the violence was organized by several groups, including one linked to the Islamic State and another to a retired special forces general accused of smuggling weapons to Jakarta. ABC correspondent for South East Asia David Lipson on May 26 tweeted a correction saying his crew was attacked "by protestors, not police. Everyone is OK, thanks to a soldier to who stepped in." Lipson's tweet corrected information released by Amnesty International Indonesia and the Indonesian Journalist's Association (AJI). The two groups had said police intimidated the ABC journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-profit that advocates for journalists and press freedom, said that in Indonesia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo did not keep campaign promises during his five-year term. His presidency was marked by serious media freedom violations, and the military is known to "intimidate reporters and even use violence against those who cover their abuses", referring to AJI. In the annual RSF World Press Freedom Index Indonesia was 124 of 180 countries surveyed, as it has been since 2017. In 2013, it was 139. Two Associated Press journalists, Stephen Wright and Niniek Muji Karmini, reported they were intimidated on social media. People who claimed they were Prabowo supporters published personal information about the journalists, who then received threats such as "We will take care of her." Prabowo, a former general, represented Indonesia's traditional elites, and now refuses to concede that he lost the April 17, 2019 vote. More than 20 journalists have reported that they were intimidated, persecuted and assaulted during the street protests against the election count released on May 21 by Indonesia's General Elections Commission, the Komisi Pemilihan Umum, which is popularly known as KPU. AJI said that TV and radio journalists were "physically assaulted, slapped, intimidated, persecuted and threatened, not only by police but also protesters. Some of them were forced to delete their documentation---photos, audio and video---and some equipment was seized. One journalist's motorcycle was set on fire." AJI believes many attacks and cases of intimidation have gone unreported because journalists fear repercussion from the military or the police. The journalist's group called on authorities to investigate all of reported attacks and instances of intimidation against journalists. AJI also appealed to media owners and top editors to take responsibility for the safety of their journalists by providing appropriate training and covering the cost of injuries the journalists may have received while reporting. The JFCC called on all parties, including those who oversee political campaigns and security forces, to respect the right of journalists to cover news. "Given the current heated political tensions, we also urge all journalists to take sensible precautions if they are required to cover rallies such as ensuring they operate in teams, position themselves in a location where they limit the risk of being hit by projectiles or physically targeted, and have suitable protective gear and a clear exit strategy" said the JFCC in a statement. Dedi Prasetyo, spokesman for Indonesia's National Police on May 24 told VOA that the police have informed some editors in chief, the chairman of the Indonesian TV Journalist Association (IJTI), PWI (an Indonesian journalist association) and the Press Council that "in order to avoid more violence" all journalists should be clearly identified, and examples of the identification shared with authorities "Please communicate with us" he said. "Once we know the ID, we can brief our personnel to recognize that it identifies somebody as a journalist. We need to see a clear press ID." Niniek, who has reported from Jakarta for two decades, told VOA by phone that the "AP has increased their security measures in the Jakarta' office. AP also asked me not to take public transportation now, and not to cover protest or riots or terrorism issues for a while." Niniek said that even though she was doxed through her personal Twitter account and the official AP account, "this kind of threat will never discourage me to continue my journalistic work." "During the Jakarta local election in 2017, I was also threatened, but I have to admit that what happened today is worse they posted, Stephens' photo, our office address, and urged people to take actions against me."
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jul 12, 2019
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: On July 12, authorities in Vietnam's central province of Nghe An used police, plainclothes agents and thugs as well as criminal prisoners to attack activists and relatives of prisoners of conscience when they went to Prison camp No. 6 to support the ongoing hunger strike of many prisoners of conscience in the camp. The assault happened at 2.30 PM of Friday near the main gate of Prison camp No. 6, said Trinh Ba Phuong, whose parents are former prisoners of conscience Trinh Ba Khiem and Can Thi Theu and are victims of the attack. Phuong said around 20 activists arrived near the prison, their bus was stopped as some trucks were placed to block to the main road leading to the camp. Activists were forced to walk to the facility and the assault started. Dozens of police officers, plainclothes agents and thugs started to attack the visitors. Among victims are independent journalist Huynh Ngoc Chenh and his wife- activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh, former prisoners of conscience Trinh Ba Khiem and his wife Can Thi Theu, and Hanoi-based activist Truong Van Dung. The victims suffered from many severe injuries on their faces, heads, and bodies. Along with beating, the attackers also grabbed the victim's cell phones and other belongings, including their wallets with personal documents. They took away professional cameras of Mr. Chenh, who is a freelance photographer. Later, the attackers forced their victims to go back to their bus and requested the drivers to leave the area. Phuong, who is a land rights activists, said police and thugs also attacked Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, wife of prisoner of conscience Truong Minh Duc, former prisoner of conscience Vu Van Hung, and Mrs. Chau, wife of prisoner of conscience Nguyen Ngoc Anh, who was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of "conducting anti-state propaganda" in June. Police grabbed their cell phones and took the wives into a car to Vinh airport, forcing them to leave for Ho Chi Minh City. Along with beating the four people, the thugs grabbed cell phones of Mrs. Thanh and Mrs. Chau and destroyed them as well as their sim cards. The five-year-old boy of Mrs. Chau was also hurt during the attack. Two days after the attack, Defend the Defenders contacted some of the assaulted activists and they said they still find severe pains on their bodies. Meanwhile, there was no update information about the hunger strike of four prisoners of conscience Nguyen Van Tuc, Dao Quang Thuc, Tran Phi Dung and Truong Minh Duc in the camp. They started their fasting on June 10 to protest the prison's removal of all electrical fans in their cells amid extreme hot summer in Nghe An. There is a campaign of Vietnamese activists to support prisoners of conscience who are subjects of torture and inhumane treatment in prison camps across Vietnam. A dozen of independent civil organizations and more than 1,000 activists and ordinary people have signed a joint petition which condemns the Vietnamese regime's inhumane treatment against prisoners of conscience and request the government to improve living conditions in all prisons. Many other prisoners of conscience in Prison camp No. 5 in Thanh Hoa province and An Diem Prison camp in Quang Nam province are also conducting a hunger strike to protest the inhumane treatment against them.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Land rights defender, Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 10, 2019
- Event Description
Recently a poem named "Miya Poetry" went viral in social media which is being circulated widelywithin and outside Assam. Above mentioned human rights defenders, activists, writers, scholars and journalist also had posted and discussed on the poem in their social media accounts. The lyrics of the poetry are as follows "Write down I am a Miya My serial number in NRC is 20,543 I have two children Another is coming next summer Will you hate him as you hate me Write, Write down I am a Miya A citizen of a democratic secular republic without any right My mother is a D voter Though her parents are Indian Write, Write I am a Miya of the Brahmaputra Your torture has burnt my body black Reddened my eyes with fire3 Write, I am a miya The land makes my father an alien That kills my brother with bullets My sister with gang-rape The land where my mother stokes in heart live burning coals" Details of the Incident: On 10 July 2019, a complaint was filed at Pan Bazar police station, Guwahati by one Mr. Pranabjit Doloi and was registered as a First Information Report in Case No. 479/19 under Section 120 (B), 153 (A), 295 (A) 188 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 66 of Information Technology Act against the above-mentioned human rights defenders, activists, writers, scholars and journalist. After filing of FIR, a group of people have started threatening, Ms. Rehana Sultana and Ms. Karishma Hazarikan with sexual remarks, threat of rape and life on their social media accounts. The poem written by Kazi Sharowar Hussain expresses the experience on the present status and life experience of the people who are harassed in the NRC (National Register of Citizens) process in Assam.The poem is been wrongly interpreted by the complainant and falsely accused the above-mentioned human rights defenders, activists, writers, scholars and journalists for posing serious threat to the national security of the country.Hence the action of the police in filing false complaints as First Information Report (FIR) and threatening of human rights defenders, activists, writers, scholars and journalist of their life, liberty and body is entirely condemnable and therefore requires immediate intervention. Given the background, it is evident that the above said people in question are being targeted for their rights based work towards defending the human rights of the minorities in Assam. More so propaganda has been launched against the activists which is further accentuated by the insinuating FIR that has been filed by the police.In response to the complaint which is the basis of the FIR, it is stated that the action of the activists throughMiya poetry is just to express their protest against the present process of NRC and the widespread discrimination displayed by the State through its application on minorities
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 7, 2011
- Event Description
On 5 January 2010, human rights defender Mr Ahongsangbam Mobi Singh(hereinafter A. Mobi Singh) was released on bail following seven nights in detention in Imphal, Manipur, on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967. A. Mobi Singh is the Editor of the local daily newspaper "The Sanaleibak" as well as Vice President and spokesperson of the All Manipur Working Journalist's Union (AMWJU), a state-wide union which works to defend freedom of the press and journalistic independence in the context of the ongoing conflict between various State and non-State armed groups in Manipur. On 28 December 2010, A. Mobi Singh was contacted on his mobile phone by an individual who identified himself as a member of the Tabungba faction of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), who requested that A. Mobi Singh send three members of the AMWJU to Delhi to meet and discuss publication of their statements, at the expense of the KCP. On 29 December 2010, A. Mobi Singh was again contacted by an individual claiming to represent the KCP asking him to collect a sum of Rs. 50,000, in order to cover the expenses of the trip, from two individuals passing in a rickshaw. Upon exiting the office, A. Mobi Singh met the two individuals in question, one of whom immediately pointed a gun at him before the three engaged in a brief scuffle. The men in question subsequently identified themselves as police commandos and searched A. Mobi Singh, seizing his scooter keys and a sum of Rs. 2,000, before taking him to Imphal Police station. Upon presenting A. Mobi Singh at said station, the police filed a report claiming that A. Mobi Singh was a member of the Tabungba faction of the KCP who had been caught in the act of attempting to extort Rs. 50,000 from the owner of a local gas agency and, furthermore, claiming that he had admitted his guilt during interrogation. A First Information Report(FIR)was subsequently lodged and A. Mobi Singh was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, under Article 17 "raising funds for a terrorist or outlawed organisation" and Article 20 "being a member of a terrorist or outlawed organisation". He was then handed over into custody along with his two mobile phones and a sum of Rs. 50,000, which had not been in his possession at the time of arrest. In the context of the ongoing armed conflict, journalists and publications in Manipur are often subjected to pressure, including through threats and acts of violence, by proscribed organisations seeking publication of their propaganda. AMWJU had adopted a policy of engagement with such organisations in order to emphasise the importance of freedom of the press in a democratic society, and in this context, A. Mobi Singh had been selected, in his role as spokesperson for the Union, to negotiate an end to the group's harassment of journalists. In October 2010, threats from various rival factions of the KCP were such that Manipur's newspapers shut down for three days in protest at the insecurities they face. Previously, in 2008, a bomb had been placed in the offices of the local daily The Sangai Express by an illegal group despite the fact that the police had been informed of an iminent threat by the paper. Prior to that six media editors were held hostage by a group linked to the KCP as a means of forcing all of the Imphal media to carry a particular statement of the group. A. Mobi Singh's office has also previously been attacked by members of the KCP. A complaint was filed at the time but police have not drawn any conclusions in the case, nor has anybody been held responsible. Front Line believes that the arrest and detention of A. Mobi Singh are directly related to his work in defence of human rights, particularly freedom of expression, and may form part of a wider campaign of intimidation against the journalist community operating in the conflict situation in Manipur.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 3, 2011
- Event Description
On 3 October 2011, the home of human rights defender Ms Kavita Srivastava in Jaipur city, Rajasthan state was raided by sixty police officers from the states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Further Information The officers were led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra Singh Shekhawat. Kavita Srivastava is the National General Secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). PUCL, which was established in 1976, is one of the oldest human rights organisations in India and has the aim of supporting grassroots movements and empowering poor people. Kavita Srivastava links the raid on her home to her human rights activity, as she has been active in exposing the human rights abuses against Muslim minorities and the poor. It is reported that between 6.30 am and 7 am on 3 October, an armed contingent of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan police arrived in trucks at the home of Kavita Srivastava in Jaipur. The police claimed that they had a search warrant authorising the search of the house detailing the address but not the name of the individual. The officers claimed that they were looking for a "dangerous Naxalite", allegedly sheltering at Kavita Srivastava's house. It is reported that Kavita Srivastava was not present at the house at the time. The officers did not find any evidence of the alleged objective of the search. Front Line believes that the police harassment of Kavita Srivastava is directly related to her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, particularly in her role in exposing the human rights violations of the Chhattisgarh State Government with regard to Muslim minorities and the poor.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 23, 2011
- Event Description
On August 23, authorities in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province took away several individuals from a group of nearly 20 who had gathered in support of Beijing activist Wang Lihong (???) in front of the Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court and also in the city's May 1st Square. Chengmen Town officials blocked the supporters at the square and then took some away, including Lin Lanying (???), Lin Xiangguan (???), and Lin Yigen (???), while the fates of others could not be confirmed. Earlier this month, Wang was tried on a charge of "creating a disturbance" that stemmed from her role in leading protests outside the Fuzhou court's sentencing hearing of the "Fujian Three" netizens in April 2010. Others supporters on hand include Lin Xiuying (???), the mother of Yan Xiaoling (???), who was raped and killed in 2009 by thugs allegedly linked to the Fujian police, and Wu Huaying (???), one of the Fujian netizens imprisoned for defamation after publicizing Yan's case online. (CHRD) | [x]
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Torture
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 6, 2011
- Event Description
CHRD learned on August 30 that petitioner Wang Qunfeng (???), from Lushi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, has been illegally detained and tortured for petitioning in Beijing. On August 25, Wang was taking a walk at Tiananmen Square when she was seized by Beijing police, who sent her to Jiujingzhuang, a black jail in Beijing. Wang was then forcibly sent back to Lushi County, where she has been detained in Lushi Detention Center. Lushi officials told the family that she will serve a 10-day administrative detention for "disrupting social and public order" in Beijing. According to Chinese law, such a punishment should only be issued in the locale where the violation was committed, and by authorities above the county level, and not by Lushi officials. When Wang's family recently saw her, she told them she had beaten and deprived of food and water while being returned to Lushi by thugs allegedly hired by the local government. Wang started petitioning when the medical expenses of her father, a former cadre, were not properly reimbursed by the government, and her actions have led to violent retaliation from local officials. (CHRD) | [iv]
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Torture
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 2, 2011
- Event Description
On 2 January 2011, around 10am, one police officer from the Raninagar Police Station -who did not disclose his name and was not in uniform- came to Mr. Julfikar Ali's house. Mr. Ali was not present at that time. The police officer told his family members that the warrant of arrest - in connection to the criminal case Raninagar Police Station no.8/2008- is still pending. The unidentified police man did not show the warrant of arrest to Julfikar's family and did not provide any further information, except that he should immediately surrender himself before the court of law, leaving his family members feeling intimidated. On 13 January 2011 Mr. Julfikar Ali met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Margaret Sekaggya, during her country visit to India. He met the Special Rapporteur during a consultation with human rights defenders held in Kolkata, West Bengal. During the said consultation, Mr. Julfikar Ali reported to Ms. Sekaggya the cases filed against him, as well as the harassment and threats of arrest he receives from the police who come to his house. He told the Special Rapporteur about the visit of the police to his house on 2 January 2011. On 18 January 2011, FORUM-ASIA sends an urgent alert to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs containing information about the 2 January 2011 incident, when police visited the house of Mr. Julfikar Ali. Days after Mr. Julfikar Ali reported to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs, police visits to his home became more frequent. There was a marked increase and frequency of the visits after Mr. Julfikar Ali spoke to the SpecialRapporteur. Police would seek him out in his village and knock on his door, asking his family about his whereabouts. Allegedly, the police would tell his family that there is a warrant out for the arrest of Mr. Julfikar Ali and that they will arrest him if they see him. (Note: On 12 January 2008, Inspector Vikash Chandra of the BSF lodged a complaint against Mr. Julfikar Ali at the Ranninagar Police Station under sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 307, and 326 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections are on: rioting; rioting armed with a deadly weapon; unlawful assembly; obstruction of public servants; assault to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty; attempted murder and grievous bodily harm by means of a dangerous weapon. A warrant of arrest has been issued based on this complaint. The warrant names 4 persons, including Mr. Julfikar Ali, although his name was miswritten as Mr. Julfikar Shiekh.) On 11 February 2011, Mr. Julfikar Ali, accompanied by Mr. Kirity Roy, Secretary of MASUM, went to the District Court and Session Judge in Murshidabad to surrender himself. Mr. Julfikar Ali decided to do this after police visits to his home became more frequent after he spoke to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs. He also felt he needed to do this so that he can move freely to do his work as a human rights defender. Mr. Julfikar Ali filed a petition before the District Court to post anticipatory bail. The hearing was held on this day and his petition was granted. On 14 February 2011, another hearing was held at the District Court on another petition filed by Mr. Julfikar Ali to post anticipatory bail for another false case against him. This case arose from a complaint filed on 16 February 2008 by Sandip Kumar Yadav, Commander of the "A" Company of 90 Batallion. The complaint alleged that certain persons committed violations under Sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 307, and 511 of the Indian Penal Code. AlthoughJulfikar Ali's name was not in this complaint, Mr. Rajat Das, the Investigation Officer of Raninagar Police Station included Julfikar Ali's name in the Charge Sheet. The District Court, on this day, allowed Mr. Julfikar Ali to post anticipatory bail for this case against him.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 7, 2011
- Event Description
Rangoon (Mizzima) - Burmese authorities are seeking more information about some journalists who are covering Parliament, according to sources close to the journalists. Police seeking information about the journalists have questioned their employers and their families to obtain additional information on their background and credentials. At least three Burmese journalists have been the focus of inquires. Recently, the authorities allowed Burmese journalists and some foreign journalists to cover the parliamentary sessions in Naypyitaw, including the Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Service. Referring to one of the journalists under scrutiny, a source told Mizzima: "The authorities went to his home in Rangoon and they talked with his family. He said he didn't ask his family what they talked about because he didn't want them to worry, and he pretended it wasn't important." Inquires have been conducted since early October. The reason for the inquiries was not clear. Journalists who are the subjects of the inquires are afraid to talk about it, said the source. Journalists have to obtain a permit from the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD) to gather news in Parliament and are required to provide biographical information and who they work for. At least 35 journalists have submitted their profiles to the PSRD under the Information Ministry, according to a source close to the PSRD. A journalist familiar with the inquires told Mizzima: "I have frequently gone to visit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and an officer asked just one question of my family, who lives in a rural area. My family told them I was a reporter, and then the officer said, "Is he?" and left the house. When my family asked him where he was from, he said that he was from the Information Police force." The journalists' profiles submitted to the PSRD are filed in a "secret category," the source said. The profiles contain the schools the journalist attended, information about the journalist's parents, the parents' jobs or businesses, the names of close relatives of the journalist's wife or husband and other information. A female journalist said, "I don't know exactly why they're asking these questions. I'm not living in a rural area so the inquires are worse for me." Early this year, Burma inaugurated a new government, but international media groups say its reform rhetoric continues to be contradicted by heavy censorship, according to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released in September. The New York-based CPJ said banned topics are still wide spread and that, to date, the new government has not acted to abolish or amend its "highly arbitrary laws" that restrict press freedom and punish deviation from official dictates. The report noted that since elections in November 2010, two journalists have been sentenced to prison terms of almost 20 years, and more than a dozen publications have been suspended for their news reporting. "The government's promise of reform is welcome, yet censorship in Burma remains arbitrary, intensive, and highly restrictive," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative and the author of the report. Crispin said that in discussions with Burmese media organizations it was clear that freedom of the press has yet to come to Burma, despite the rhetoric of President Thein Sein's government. The CPJ said that the veneer of press freedom evident in the proliferation of privately owned and operated news publications is shattered by the fact that the newspapers are heavily censored and regularly forced to publish state-prepared news and commentary presenting government policies in a glowing light. "Uncensored reporting from within Burma is crucial for assessing whether the government's promise of democratic reform is rhetoric or reality," Crispin said. "Until new freedoms take hold, exile media continues to serve as a vital source of credible, independent information on developments within Burma and should not be abandoned by donor countries." Naypyitaw's recent informal call for exiled dissidents to return to Burma was met with great skepticism by journalists interviewed by CPJ, precisely due to the lack of reforms. Nearly all of the Burma-based reporters and editors interviewed for the CPJ report are said to have requested anonymity due to fears of possible reprisal if their names appeared in a report critical of the government. In early September, Burmese Information and Culture Minister Kyaw Hsan told the Lower House of Parliament censorship of Burmese media is still needed and freedom should not be granted to newspapers and journals at this time. An article in Mizzima in July, reported that Burmese censorship rules are now divided into two categories of newspapers and magazines: Group 1 includes 178 publications focusing on sports, health, arts, children's literature, and technology, which don't need to pass articles through censors prior to publication, but must submit copies to censors after publication. Group 2 includes news and public affairs journals, which must pass all articles through censors prior to publication.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 14, 2012
- Event Description
According to the information received from Mr. Gladson Dungdung, General Secretary of Jharkhand Human Rights Movement (JHRM), Ranchi, Mrs. Dayamani Barla has been illegally targeted by the Chutiya police and the Senior Superintendent of Police in Ranchi. Mrs. Barla is known for leading a people's movement against the illegal and forceful acquisition of the world steel giant Arcellor Mittal Company in Khunti and Gumla district of Jharkhand. On the evening of 14 January 2012, the Chutiya police in the leadership of officer-in-charge Mr. Anil Kumar rushed to Jharkhand Hotel, a tea shop run by Mrs. Barla, and started investigation in her absence. When the police didn't find Mrs. Barla in the Hotel, they forced her husband, Mr. Nelson Barla, to reveal information on people who come to meet Dayamani Barla on day to day basis. The Chutiya police also told Mr. Nelson Barla that his wife, Mrs. Dayamani Barla, has link with the Naxalites and other unsocial elements. They alleged that the the Naxalites come to her hotel in day to day basis and also attend the meetings with Mrs. Barla. According the Mr. Anil Kumar, the police have been investigating against Mrs. Dayamani Barla on the basis of a complaint sent to the Chutiya police by Mr. Saket Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police of Ranchi. However, when the co-workers of Mrs. Dayamani Barla went to the office of Mr. Saket Kumar, he told them that Mrs. Dayamani Barla had attended a meeting in Ranchi (which was organized for the release of a cultural activist Mr. Jitan Marandi, where Mr. Barbara Rao was the guest) which shows that she has link with the Naxalites. Therefore, the police are taking action against her. Mrs. Dayamani Barla has a long history of fighting for the protection of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights, therefore, the Ranchi police under the leadership of Mr. Saket Kumar have been victimizing her on the basis of baseless information with the clear intention of defaming, humiliating and breaking down her spirit to fight for the cause of People's rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 21, 2011
- Event Description
New York, September 21, 2011--An Indian journalist who covered police violence in the state of Chhattisgarh was recently arrested on antistate charges that human rights groups say are retaliatory, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police said they arrested Lingaram Kodopi on September 10 in a public market in Dantewada district on charges of accepting a bribe from a representative of a steel company wanting to operate in a Maoist insurgent-controlled area, news reports said. One of Kodopi's relatives, who was also accused of accepting bribes, told The Times of India that Kodopi was detained in his home, not at the market, and that the police were trying to falsely implicate them. Both she and the journalist deny the charges against them, news reports said. Local human rights activists and journalists say authorities want to prevent Kodopi, 25, from publicizing the role of police in recent violence in the state. In April, the journalist documented houses in Dantewada district being destroyed during an anti-Maoist police operation in three villages and "recorded on video precise narrations of police atrocities," Tehelka magazine reported. Himanshu Kumar, a local human rights activist, told the Indian Express that Kodopi has "proof of government involvement in burning down three villages." The journalist was charged with antistate activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Chhattisgarh Public Security Act, and the Indian penal code, according to the New Delhi-based Tehelka news magazine. The total penalty he faces remains unclear. "Chhattisgarh police should substantiate the charges against Lingaram Kodopi," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "It is cause for concern when a freelance journalist documenting the state's human rights abuses is hit with antistate charges." Kodopi had fled the state in 2010 to study journalism and work as a freelancer in New Delhi after he was harassed by police, the Indian Express reported. While he was there, police said he was a senior Maoist commander and accused him of attacking a politician in Chhattisgarh, the Indian Express also said. The journalist denied any links to the Maoists and said that police had targeted him since he refused to work for them under a program to recruit tribal youths to defeat the insurgents, Tehelka reported. Maoists have led an insurgency in the central tribal areas of India for more than four decades. Journalists are frequently targeted by both Maoists and state forces in the states touched by the conflict, CPJ research shows. In December 2010, three journalists in Chhattisgarh were threatened, apparently by a state-supported vigilante group fighting the insurgents, while daily Nai Dunia journalist Umesh Rajput was fatally shot there after being threatened for his coverage of a public health story in January. Police said Maoist insurgents had made the threats to obscure their motive in killing him.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 29, 2011
- Event Description
On 29th November, 2011 around 5:27 pm Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General / Executive Director of Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) received threatening call from mobile number +94757251733 on his mobile (9935599333). The caller was abusing by using filthy words. He also gave threat to his life saying "You will be towed" and "if you speak too much you will be shot out". During that time Dr. Lenin was busy in the meeting with his associates in the office and he became distracted. Around 5:42 pm Dr. Lenin immediately released an urgent note on facebook. Around 6:22 pm Dr. Lenin rang on same number but he did not receive any response from that side. When he rang again he came to know about the identity of the caller. The caller said, "My name is J.P Mishra, I am resident of Gorakhpur. You did not know about my power. I can do anything. Son, I have relation with many person you know Tulsi Singh. Now you understand what type of person I am. I lived in Mumbai I can do anything. If you are Governor or Chief Minister of the state, understand I have worth to do anything. What is your worth monthly earning of only 10 thousand and 20 thousand". The caller was speaking in Bhojpuri mixed Hindi language. Immediately a letter through email was sent to Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission and Director General of Police and on 30th November, 2011 same letter was sent through post. It is noted that high level enquiry is going in the Soharab killing case in Gorakhpur. In this matter on behalf of the organization he made a complaint in which the name of Sri Aditya Yogi Nath (Member of Parliament, Bhartiya Janta Party) also came. The caller was also telling he was resident of Gorakhpur. Through his dialogue it seems he was near to the Sri Aditya Yogi Nath ji, because he was assuming Dr. Lenin as any Government officer. He was telling he is making call from South Africa and sometime America. A high level enquiry must be conducted against the alleged perpetrator and provide security to the Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and the witness.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 19, 2010
- Event Description
Human rights defender Mrs K. Saraswathy has been subjected to attacks, death threats, attempted murder and a campaign of public defamation as a result of her human rights activities in Tamil Nadu State, India. K. Saraswathy is the District Organiser for the Tiruvallur District of the Citizens for Human Rights Movement (CHRM). She has a long history of community service and defending human rights in her district through the establishment of medical services, empowerment of women and provision of relief to victims in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. On 19 June 2010, K. Saraswathy and her two daughters were publicly subjected to death threats, assault and humiliation near their home in Ennore, in the Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu. The alleged perpetrators, Mr Venkatesan - President of the Panchayat, a local governmental body - and his brother, reportedly threatened to beat the three women to death and smear their blood and body parts all over the walls, physically assaulted them, and threatened to stab them with a knife. K. Saraswathy's eldest daughter was also allegedly taunted about the age of her husband and threatened with rape. This latest incident forms part of an ongoing campaign of threats, violence, and public humiliation against K. Saraswathy and her family which dates back to 2007. According to the information received, the hostility generated by Mr Venkatesan stems from the refusal of K. Saraswathy to give him a donation from funds which had been given to her by an NGO for distribution to local fishermen in order to support their livelihoods. Numerous false complaints were subsequently filed against K. Saraswathy alleging that she had misappropriated funds from self-help groups. Due to Mr Venkatesan's influence over the local police, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against her, allegedly without any inquiry being conducted. On 14 October 2010, a kangaroo court was held, in which Mr Venkatesan and other local leaders demanded that K. Saraswathy admit to stealing the funds. During the hearing, which was reportedly held outdoors before the public, K. Saraswathy was denied water and anyone who attempted to bring it to her was punished, which eventually caused her to faint. Mr Venkatesan subsequently ordered a social boycott against K Saraswathy and her family, and banished them from the town. Since then, K. Saraswathy's home has been physically attacked by local villagers and her daughters have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse as a result of the accusations against her. Complaints lodged with the police regarding their treatment have been unsuccessful: the local police have reportedly informed her that they are unable to help her, thus granting the perpetrators of these attacks against K. Saraswathy immunity in their campaign against her. Front Line believes that the campaign of death threats, attacks, defamation and humiliation against K. Saraswathy are directly related to her legitimate work in defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of K. Saraswathy and her family.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jun 19, 2011
- Event Description
Ms. Ambiga Sreenevasan, a Malaysian Indian Hindu leader of BERSIH, a civil society movement calling for free and fair elections, is currently the target of severe and sustained harassment and intimidation because of her legitimate human rights activities. Ms. Sreenevasan has been facing threats since 2011, and the harassment is now intensifying as she is being subjected to threats at her private home, calls for her death and deprivation of her citizenship, from a local politician and other group leaders. Ms. Sreenevasan and Abdul Samad Said are the co-chairs of the civil society movement, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (known as BERSIH). BERSIH is a coalition of 84 non-government organisations unaffiliated to any political party (http://bersih.org). While both co-chairs have been publicly vocal leaders of the BERSIH movement, only Ms. Sreenevasan has been the target of escalating harassment and attacks which focus on her gender and her ethnicity and religion. Threats and harassment include those committed in early May 2012, where images of Ms. Sreenevasan were burned at gatherings of local groups opposed to the activism of BERSIH. The exterior of her home was damaged, with protestors shouting "Go to hell Ambiga, go to hell you Hindu infidel". She has been referred to as "the anti-Christ for Muslims" in quotes in newspapers. When asked why they were targeting Ambiga specifically, and not BERSIH co-chair Abdul Samad Said, chairman of the group Jamal Md Yunus replied "Kita lihat, kita suka Ambiga. Dan kita lihat dia ini lebih cantik daripada orang lain. Kami minat dengan dia. Kita suka tengok dia" ("We like Ambiga. She is prettier than other people. We take interest with her. We like to see her.). She has also recently been subjected to sexual harassment by members of Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVTM) who conducted "bottoms exercises" 15 May outside her home. On 26 June, a local politician publicly called for her to be hanged for her "treasonous" act of organising the 28 April rally for free and fair elections. Ambiga's activism in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBTIs render another justification for threats against her. A prominent political party leader made a clear remark that as Muslims they will declare a war against Ambiga's activism and not keep their mouths shut. On 1 July, Ambiga confirmed to the media that she has received an email advising her to be careful. It was reported that the email allegedly said, "Beware hired guns out to kill you", and claimed that a particular group had contracted two thugs to "terminate" her. On 30 June 2012,. Ambiga receives email warning that thugs had been sent to kill her. In an email titled "Beware hired guns out to kill you", she was warned that a "particular group had contracted two thugs to "terminate' her." She has lodged a police report on the matter. On 26 June 2012, a lawmaker calls for Ambiga to be hanged. During a debate in Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Sri Gading, Mohamad Aziz, called for Ambiga to be hanged for her "treasonous" act of coordinating the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28. He compared Ambiga to the leaders of the Al-Ma'unah militants, a revolutionary group that attempted to overthrow the government and were later executed for treason. He described Ambiga as a "traitor" and asked, "Shouldn't we also hang Ambiga for treason towards the Agong?" He later conditionally retracted his statement. Mohamad Aziz also exhorted not to let ""pendatang asing' (foreign migrants) and "awang hitam' (colloquial expression used to refer to Africans and dark-skinned migrants) run riot in our country." On 19 June 2012, Ambiga is billed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall for alleged costs and damages from Bersih 3.0 rally. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has sent Ambiga and Maria Chin Abdullah, a Bersih steering committee member, a bill to ask for compensation for alleged losses incurred during the April 28 rally. The bill, totalling RM 351,203.45, was delivered to Ambiga's house and contained an itemized list of charges including damage to landscaping, transportation and food for staff, and the cost of metal barricades. The letter holds Ambiga and Maria personally responsible for all alleged damages. On the evening of May 24, at least two groups gathered down the road from Ambiga's house. The police had set up a road block a few houses down. Enforcement officers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall were also present. One group of around 50 people, Gerakan Belia Gagasan 1Malaysia, gathered, shouting "Bersih kotor!" (Bersih is dirty) and "Halau Ambiga!" (Chase away Ambiga). The group's president, Shahrul Nasrun Kamaruddin, and four others were allowed to walk to Ambiga's house to deliver a flier, which was accepted by Bersih co-chair Abdul Samad Said. The flier was "titled "10 Reasons why Ambiga should be expelled from Malaysia', and carried an image apparently depicting a devil with two horns and red skin, and its face covered by a mask of Ambiga's face." It labelled Ambiga as a colonialist, traitor, and the devil, among others. A second group of around 20 people, the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council, also gathered near Ambiga's house. The group's chairperson, Jamal Md Yunus, announced that the group would not set up stalls outside Ambiga's house, having on May 21 announced plans to do so. They left after handing over a memorandum at Ambiga's house, which was accepted by Abdul Samad Said. At least 30 motorcyclists also gathered, though it is unclear if they belonged to either group. Besides Abdul Samad Said, members from various NGOs were also at Ambiga's house in solidarity. On 23 May 2012, Ambiga was served a writ of summons and statement of claim by the federal government, claiming RM122,000 in damages allegedly incurred during the Bersih rally on April 28, 2012. Ambiga, eight other Bersih Steering Committee members, and one former Steering Committee member, were named as defendants. The government is suing the Bersih organisers under Section 6(2)(g) of the newly enforced Peaceful Assembly Act. The case is scheduled for mention on June 13 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. On May 21, the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council announced plans to set up stalls in front of Ambiga's house to reportedly "convey anger over the April 28 rally which purportedly resulted in petty traders incurring financial losses." The protest was planned for May 24 and 25. Members of the group gathered outside Ambiga's house and painted yellow markings on the road to mark spaces for the stalls. One member of the group uttered "Mampoi Ambiga - mampoi Hindu Kafir," (roughly "Go to hell Ambiga - go to hell Hindu infidel") while making the markings. When asked why they were targeting Ambiga specifically, and not Bersih co-chair Abdul Samad Said, chairman of the group Jamal Md Yunus replied "Kita lihat, kita suka Ambiga. Dan kita lihat dia ini lebih cantik daripada orang lain. Kami minat dengan dia. Kita suka tengok dia" ("We like Ambiga. She is prettier than other people. We take interest with her. We like to see her.). Ambiga has lodged a police report, and neighbours have also filed complaints to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. Later on May 21, the Mayor of City Hall said that City Hall would not allow the group to carry out their protest. City Hall has since cleared up the paint marks, and police have also made rounds by the house. On the evening of May 19, around 200 people, including members of the right wing Malay NGO Perkasa, pelted stones and eggs at attendees of an event that planned to feature Ambiga. The event took place in Merlimau, Melaka, and was attended by around 300 people, including two opposition state assemblypersons. One assemblyman's car was reportedly ambushed while he was driving - his car was hit with eggs and both side mirrors were broken. Another attendee's car's side window was smashed. Because of the concerns that "some parties may have intentions to "create chaos,'" Ambiga cancelled plans to attend the event at the last minute. On 17 May 2012, a group led by Roslan Ahmad, Merlimau state assemblyman and member of the ruling coalition, lodged a police report at the Merlimau police station objecting to Ambiga's scheduled visit to the town for an event on May 19. The group stated that because of Ambiga's involvement in street demonstrations and support for the LGBT movement, she was not welcome in the town.Present with Roslan when lodging the report were "assemblyman Datuk Hasan Abd Rahman, and representatives from the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), 4B Youth Movement, Islamic Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim), Village Headman Association (Sidang), Majlis Gabungan Belia Melaka (MGBM) Jasin, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) and members of the Jasin Wanita and Umno Youth wings." In the morning of 15 May, about ten people from the Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVTM) did "bottom exercises' in front of Ambiga's house. The exercises consisted of the men leaning over and shaking their bottoms in the direction of Ambiga's house. The PVTM president, Mohd Ali Baharom, reportedly referred to Ambiga as the enemy of the nation and said, "We Armed Forces veterans have the right to protest against an "enemy' who tried to smear the nation's name." Mohd Ali Baharom was also reported to have said, "We are giving a stern warning to Ambiga to immediately apologise to the Malaysian people regarding Bersih and free sex." On 14 May 2012, referring to a protest by traders outside Ambiga's house on 10 May, deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar was reported to have said in a press conference, "Well, there is no offence. What offence? If you want to sit in front of her house without disrupting other people, there is no offence." After a journalist pointed out that it was an invasion of privacy, Khalid Abu Bakar said "Which privacy? They didn't enter her house, they were in public space." Khalid Abu Bakar was also reported to have said, "Police will not take action against them. Under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011, people can hold a gathering as long as they have given notice and acknowledged to the police where to gather." On 10 May 2012, Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas) set up a burger stall outside Ambiga's personal residence protesting that they had lost earnings during the BERSIH 3.0 public rally. A video depicts at least one of the protesters aggressively shouting towards Ambiga's house. Ambiga has said that since this protest, several people have come to her house requesting free burgers. The traders threatened that they would hold a bigger protest in front of her house on 24 May 2012. On 7 May 2012, in a gathering in Kuala Terrenganu an image of Ambiga was burned. Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Gertak) chairman Datuk Razali Idris reportedly said, "We condemn Ambiga's action, which has become the source of disunity among the people in the country now. She is also a supporter of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group. Therefore, we urge the government to take stern action against her, including stripping her of citizenship. We don't want individuals like her to destroy the country." The government-owned New Straits Times newspaper favourably reported the gathering as "peaceful" while depicting a photo of Ambiga's burning image. On 5 May 2012, iIn Baling, 500 members of purportedly non-government organisations, although with ties to the government, including Perkasa, the Malaysian Youth Council, JKKP Baling, Baling Siamese Association, Pekida, Baling Women's and Wives Association and Puteri Umno and Malay traders gathered to burn an effigy of Ambiga and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and called for the government to revoke Ambiga's citizenship. Shopping centre management bodies directed shop owners to close their businesses on the day of the BERSIH 3.0 rally. Claiming that huge losses were sustained owing to these closures, Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah was reported to have said, "We urge the government to arrest Ambiga and chase her out of the country___If the Home Ministry fails to do it, we will stage a rally in front of Ambiga's house and do business over there." On 4 May 2012, the deputy chief head of the Election Commission, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, reportedly said that the Election Commission would not engage with BERSIH and, referring to Ambiga, said, "We will not deal with the destroyer of democracy again." On 23 April 2012, the former deputy president of a Malaysian political party, PAS, Nasharuddin Mat Isa was reported in a mainstream English-language newspaper as saying that Ambiga's perceived support for "LGBT activities" meant that she was a threat to society. He was quoted as saying that, "Based on an edict by (prominent Muslim cleric) Yusof al-Qardhawi, one cannot eat or drink with them, let alone be a follower." He said of those supporting the removal of laws that criminalise homosexuality that, "As Muslims, we are responsible to declare a war against this and not keep our mouths shut." On 21 April 2012, at a rally against homosexuality held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) posters depicting Ambiga and Pak Samad were burned. The rally was organised by a non-government organisation called Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM). At the event, which was fuelled by hate-speech, slogans such as "Reject Ambiga, Reject LGBT" were shouted and posters depicting Ambiga and Pak Samad were burned. On 17 April 2012, www.bersih.org was attacked in an apparent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The site became inaccessible for 13 hours. Such attacks are an attempt to deny the right to freedom of expression. In an interview published on 6 April 2011, Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi was quoted as saying: -\t"I will fight to whatever extent___ I am going to fight her [Ambiga]. I do not care. I am not a politician, I have nothing to lose." -\tHe said that Ambiga "supported Seksualiti Merdeka___ and so many other issues, going against Islamic principles. I cannot accept it anymore. She is the anti-Christ for Muslims." -\tHe also said "I hope that all Muslims in this country will stay true to their religion and stay away from Bersih 3.0 because it is led by someone who is not only a traitor to the country but also to Muslims." On 9 July 2011, Ambiga was targeted by police on the day of the BERSIH 2.0 rally. While attempting to exit a building, Ambiga and those walking with her were fired upon with tear gas by the police. The police fired the tear gas from both directions of the walkway. Ambiga was quoted as saying, "I really thought I was going to die. There was an excessive use of tear gas___I could not breathe ... I could not see. My bodyguard had to literally drag me out." On 2 July 2011, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated in a public speech, "Who doesn't know Ambiga. She's the one who threatened Islam," referring to an apostasy case from the time Ambiga was chairperson of the Bar Council. For the Prime Minister to attack Ambiga in the wake of death threats against her is grossly irresponsible and implies that the government condones such threats. On 22 June 2011, Ambiga and other activists received a vicious text message which stated, "if this rally happens, me and my people will kill Ambiga." The police promised to investigate, but the sender of the threat has yet to be found and prosecuted. On 19 June 2011, at an event organised by several NGOs including Perkasa, banners depicting Ambiga's image were burned and leaflets were distributed with the text "Beware!! Ambiga is a dangerous Hindu woman." The leader of the group, Ibrahim Ali was quoted as saying, "We will wage a war against them at all cost to stop them from demonstrating because we want a peaceful nation."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jan 31, 2011
- Event Description
Journalists will not be allowed to enter parliament today to cover the first session in more than two decades, despite reported pledges to the contrary. It also remains unclear whether media will be allowed to report on any future sittings, the chairman of the Committee for Professional Conduct (CPC), Ko Ko, told DVB. "The CPC previously checked with the MoI[Ministry of Information] and was told that there was no plan to invite journalists to Naypyidaw for the parliament opening," he said. This comes despite an announcement by Burma's information minister, Kyaw Hsan, on 17 January that reporters would be permitted. Some 18 foreign news correspondents arrived in Naypyidaw yesterday to cover the event, but a photojournalist said today it would be impossible even to take a photo of the parliament building because the road leading to it was barricaded with barbed wire. An elected MP today said on condition of anonymity that two reporters from a domestic Burmese news journal were visited by government authorities at their guest house in the capital and had their names taken. Burma has some of the world's strictest media laws, and bans filming of so-called sensitive material that would include parliamentary debates unless expressly permitted to do so. Under the Electronics Act, journalists caught filming without permission face a 10-year prison sentence. The CPC, which is ostensibly tasked with protecting the interests of journalists and issuing guidelines for media practice, was set up recently by the government's censor board, which also enforces Burma's draconian press laws. Analysts have sought to dampen expectations about the first parliamentary session since elections in November last year. Both chambers are dominated by the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which won 80 percent of the vote, while a quarter of seats have already been reserved for pre-appointed military officials who effectively carry power of veto. A parliament did meet in 1988 prior to the ousting of Burma's first dictator, Ne Win, but one has to go back to March 1962 for the last time it met under civilian rule.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jan 14, 2011
- Event Description
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party activist Tuot Saron has been ordered to give up his post as chief of Pongro commune in Kampong Thom province's Baray district, after being freed from jail on royal amnesty last month. Baray District Governor Hak Mov Seng said yesterday that he will refuse to let Tuot Saron resume his duties unless the Ministry of Interior issues an official letter reinstating him. He said he has demanded that Tuot Saron return his rubber stamp, a means of ratifying official documents. "Tuot Saron cannot hold a rubber stamp any more. I will not allow him to do anything at all and if he stamps documents, we will refuse them," Hak Mov Seng said. During the run up to national elections in 2008, Tuot Saron was imprisoned for abducting and illegally holding an SRP election candidate against his will. Rights group Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience and he received a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni in December. Hak Mov Seng said that under Article 16 of the law on commune management, council members must give up their posts in case of imprisonment for either a crime or misdemeanor, making Tuot Saron ineligible to be commune chief. However, Pongro commune Deputy Chief Dam Mon refused the order from Hak Mov Seng, saying it is illegal unless ordered by the Ministry of Interior. Tuot Saron said on Wednesday that he has the right to serve his people as commune chief, and that the Ministry of Interior did not restrict any of his rights following his release from prison. "I am no longer a prisoner. The government and the Ministry of Interior have not issued any letter removing me from my post. The word of pardon means that everything must be restored," he said. Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, confirmed that unless banned by the ministry, Tuot Saron should be allowed to remain. If the district governor wishes to remove Tout Saron, he must contact the ministry, Sok Sam Oeun added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 28, 2011
- Event Description
Police officers roughed up foreign journalists trying to cover a protest yesterday on Beijing's Wangfujing Street, including a Bloomberg News reporter who was badly beaten by plainclothes security men and had to be hospitalized with a head injury. Cameras were seized in order to delete photos and video. A dozen journalists were held for several hours in a police station. Media and websites including TV5, CNN and Linkedin were censored. Inspired by the "Jasmine Revolution" pro-democracy demonstrations in Tunisia and elsewhere, the Beijing demonstration had been announced in advance on the Internet but hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes police officers, accompanied by police dogs, were deployed in major show of force to prevent it from taking place. Reporters Without Borders condemns the thuggish attitude of the police officers who used force and violence against the journalists. The incidents clearly reflect the government's concern to prevent the circulation of any photos or videos of protests so that others are not inspired to follow suit. "The Communist Party needs to understand that free expression is not a crime, even if the National People's Congress is due to meet in a few days," Reporters Without Borders said. "It needs to understand that criticism and debate are not synonymous with chaos and political instability. It also needs to respect everyone's right to information." The press freedom organization added: "Censorship is often defended on the grounds of the need to maintain political stability. But, in practice, it too often serves as a pretext for protecting private interests, for covering up corruption and nepotism, and for maintaining political immobility." Journalists who went to the site announced for the demonstration were checked by the police and were forbidden to film or conduct interviews, on the basis of an old regulation under which a person's written agreement must be obtained prior to the interview. In a veiled form of censorship, the authorities had also told journalists several days ahead of time that they would need a permit to cover the demonstration. When invitations to tea turn into arrests The authorities have meanwhile been adopting harsh measures with human rights activists and ordinary Internet users who have relayed the calls for demonstrations every Sunday in 13 Chinese cities. They are being accused of "jeopardizing state security" and "subverting state authority." On 22 February, officials in Shantou, in Guangdong province, ordered 10 days of administrative detention for Yuan Feng, a young migrant worker from Henan province, on a charge of "using a false identify to surf the Internet" after he allegedly posted information about the Jasmine Revolution on the Chinese social network QQ. Ran Yunfei (???), a 46-year-old blogger and writer for the Sichuan Literature magazine, has been held by the Chengdu police since 20 February, when they invited him to come and drink some tea. The police also searched his home and confiscated his computer. Hua Chunhui (???), a 47-year-old netizen, was arrested on 21 February in Wuxi, in Jiangsu province. His fianc_e, Wang Yi, has been held in a reeducation camp since last November for posting an ironic comment on Twitter about the previous month's violent anti-Japanese demonstrations. Liang Haiyi (???), a netizen who uses the pen-name of Miaoxiao (??), received an invitation to drink some tea with the police in Harbin, the Heilongjiang province, after she posted information about the Jasmine Revolution on foreign websites. She is now being held in a Harbin detention centre. Chen Wei (??), a 42-year-old resident of Suining, in Sichuan province, went missing after being invited to have tea with the local police on the morning of 20 February. He was formally arrested the next day and transferred to a detention centre. The police also searched his home, seizing his computer, hard disks and USB flash drives.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 13, 2011
- Event Description
A UN grant has landed the top woman human rights champion in Kashmir into trouble. Parveena Ahangar, the chairperson of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), has been receiving anonymous threatening phone calls. Ahangar's son Javid Ahmad Ahangar was among the first youths to disappear in the custody of security forces in 1990. "I have been receiving threatening calls from anonymous people who keep asking me about Rs80 lakh - which never existed. I have received only $10,000 dollars from the UN which was transferred in November," said Ahangar. Wary of police, the APDP chairperson said she did not lodge any complaints because of obvious reasons. "I have saved the phone numbers from which the calls were made. I will reveal those at an appropriate time", she said. Ahangar is undeterred by these threatening calls, and says that they will not bog her down. "I will continue to champion the cause of people who have suffered, because I have myself lost my son. I will not give up so easily," she said. Ahangar's grant was the first instance of the UN sanctioning financial aid to a human rights organisation in Kashmir in over 20 years. APDP has received financial assistance under the medical, psychological and legal category. Human rights organisations say there are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people missing in custody. However, the Jammu and Kashmir government has contradictory figures about the disappeared people. Figures presented in the state assembly in 2009 stated that 3,429 persons have gone missing from their homes, while only 110 persons have disappeared after arrest in the state from 1990 to July 2009. Of the total missing persons, 2,367 belong to the Jammu zone and 1062 hail from Kashmir province. But in 2010, the government came up with another list of figures in the assembly. In a written reply to a question, the government said 1,105 persons are reported to have disappeared from the state since 1989 and around 530 cases of ex-gratia relief has been provided to the affected families so far. APDP was among 204 organisations that were selected for the financial grant under UN Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture (UNVFVT) for 2010 by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). "The money belongs to the people, and will be used for rehabilitation of the suffering. The grant money will also be used to conduct the survey to prepare a database of the exact number of people missing in custody, which has started in Srinagar and Kupwara districts," said Ahangar.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 17, 2011
- Event Description
September 17, 2011 - Yesterday witnessed the most violent forced eviction of Boeung Kak lake residents to date. Early in the afternoon, a hundred "anti-riot" intervention police officers and Daun Penh district security guards positioned themselves nearby homes of lake residents. Two excavators, protected by the armed group, proceeded in destroying homes of families arbitrarily disqualified from the 12.44 hectares of land given to the remaining lake families. Later in the afternoon, as the excavators were on the move to destroy more houses, lake activist Suong Sophorn was savagely assaulted by a mob of intervention police officers who left him for dead after kicking and beating him with bricks and batons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 20, 2011
- Event Description
On September 16, Xu Wanying (???) and two other petitioners from Xiangcheng District, Xiangfan City, Hubei Province went to the Beijing Public Security Bureau to report to the police about a past incident when they had been beaten and detained in Jiujingzhuang, a black jail in the capital. However, as soon as they stepped off a public bus near Tiananmen Square, they were seized by policemen on duty, and sent first to a police station and then to Jiujingzhuang. The next evening, interceptors from Xiangcheng District forcibly sent them back to Xiangfan, where Xu is currently being held in a black jail. The whereabouts of the other two petitioners are unknown. Xu has been petitioning for years on behalf of her son, whom she believes to have been murdered but whose case police have been unwilling to investigate. (CHRD) | [v]
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Aug 10, 2011
- Event Description
In the morning of 10 August 2011, Mr. Chut Wutty, the Director of Natural Resource Protection Group, and communities from three provinces were surrounded by a number of police officers (over 10) armed with AK 47 trying to stop a training session. An intense argument broke out between Mr. Chut Vutty and the police officers, with the police using disrespectful and dirty words and unacceptable behaviors. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights in collaboration with Natural Resource Protection Group on 9 August 2011 conducted a training session on Human Rights in Sre Veal village, Dorng Kambet commune, Sandann district, Kompong Thom province. This training was to provide the communities whose daily lives contingent upon the resources from Prey Lang with the knowledge of various laws, particularly administrative laws and human rights directly related to their lives and issues pertaining to natural resource protection. There were roughly seventy villagers from three provinces-Kompong Thom, Preah Vihear and Steng Treng-attending the training on 9 August 2011. At the start of the training, the commune chief and a number of police officers came in with an attempt to stop the training. After about an hour of arguments between the commune chief and the organizers: Mr Chim Savuth and Mr Chut Wutty, the training proceeded despite the prohibition from the commune chief. However, training was under strict observation from the local authority: a member of the commune council and a police officer. The session on law and human rights ended at around 2:30 p.m and the session on natural resource protection conducted by Mr. Chut Wutty began. As time running short, Mr Chut Wutty was not able to finish so he had to stay overnight in the village for another session in the morning of 10 August 2011.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 13, 2011
- Event Description
A Vadodara-based social activist and environmentalist, Rohit Prajapati, has complained of "harassment and intimidation" by the police for making RTI queries regarding the State government's environment policies. He claimed that the police and the Special Operations Group were "questioning" him, asking for photographs and making other inquiries in the past couple of years. While the police claimed these to be "routine investigations," he said the intensity of police enquiry had increased in the last few days. Mr. Prajapati said that during the last couple of years, the police visited his place about half-a-dozen times asking the same questions over and over again about his activities, resources, details of his passport and such other matters. But on October 9, the police demanded two copies of his photographs which he initially refused to provide, but later obliged on a written request from the station concerned. Mr. Prajapati recently filed an RTI application seeking details of the expenditure for Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "Sadbhavana Mission" fast for three days from September 17.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jan 18, 2011
- Event Description
Ms. Angkhana Neelaphaijit is the President of the Justice and Peace Foundation (JPF), a Thai NGO working to protect human rights, promote access to justice, and end impunity in Southern Thailand. From 18 January 2011 to 20 January 2011 Unknown persons would call Ms. Angkhana Neelaphaijit's landline at her house during this period and make threats to her and her family. According to her, she or a member of her family would get at least 20 threatening phone calls each day. 21 January 2011 Ms. Angkhana Neelaphaijit filed a complaint at Bangeeria Police Station, a station near her house. 9 February 2011 The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) under the Ministry of Justice replied to Ms. Angkhana through an official letter that said that the phone calls which threatened Ms. Angkhana came from a wireless phone set up at an internet cafe. The letter did not indicate the name of the internet cafe. The letter also said that the phone number used by the unknown person to call and threaten Ms. Angkhana belongs to the "True' corporation which is one of the major telephone service providers in Thailand. The letter concluded that if Ms. Angkhana would like to know further details, she should write a letter to the "True' corporation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 26, 2012
- Event Description
Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan, trade union leader, was killed in police action outside the factory on January 27, 2012 (Friday). He was mainly involved in the fight against the factory management for workers' rights for better wages and staff regularisation for nearly one month. According to the information received, the Regency Ceramics is the biggest industry in Yanam, which is situated at a distance of about 30 km from Kakinada and has a population of over 42,000. The company employs 1,200 workers. The trade union has been demanding the regularisation of at least those who have put in 15 years of service. Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan, the founder of the union, was picked up on 26 january 2012 (Thursday) night by Yanam Police reportedly on a complaint by the factory management against the workers who have been agitating for better wages and staff regularisation for nearly one month. He was released a little while later. At 6.00 a.m. on 27 January 2012 (Friday), he went to the factory along with some workers and tried to obstruct those who were attending the morning shift. Police personnel who were present at the spot are said to have attacked the trade union leader Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan with lathis (batons), resulting in serious injuries. He collapsed on the spot and was taken by police to the local hospital, where he died. As the news of his death spread, factory workers torched nearly 50 buses and lorries owned by the company. Groups of workers entered the factory, while others rushed to a college run by the management. Few others staged a demonstration in the centre of the town. As the situation went out of control, the police resorted to baton charge and mobs retaliated by throwing stones. The police opened several rounds of fire, which resulted in nine workers sustaining bullet injuries. The workers were rushed to the Government General Hospital at Kakinada. Meanwhile, hundreds of local residents rushed to the factory and the college and looted computers, tables, chairs and ceramic tiles. In the melee, the nearby warehouse of a gas agency was also ransacked, and people made away with 416 refilled cylinders. The police were rushed from Kakinada to restore normality and senior police officials of Puducherry rushed to Yanam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Labour rights, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 1, 2012
- Event Description
On 30 December 2011, Mr. R. Marijoseph, right to information (RTI) activist, received death threats from a Hassan Taluk Panchayat executive officer. The officer threatened to kill Mr. R. Marijoseph for seeking information about irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). The day before, on 29 December 2011, the Dalit Vimochana Manava Hakkugala Vedike, under leadership of Mr. R. Marijoseph, had staged a protest demanding an inquiry into irregularities in projects under MNREGA in many gram panchayats in Hassan Taluk, Karnataka, India.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Mar 2, 2011
- Event Description
On 2 March 2011, Mr. Banjir Ambarita. Banjir was stabbed by unknown assailants in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia. This incident happened shortly after Banjir wrote an article on sexual abuses committed by Papuan police officers, which raises again serious concerns on the safety of journalists working in Papua. Banjir was stabbed by two men and was hospitalized afterwards due to severe injury. The identity of perpetrators remains unknown, but the Papua Police and Jayapura Police have formed a joint force to investigate the case. Banjir's latest articles were on sexual abuses committed by the police officers in Jayapura, Papua. The last article, dated 27 February 2011, covered the sexual abuse of a female detainee at the Jayapura police's Detention Center. This event led to the resignation of the Jayapura's Police Chief, Imam Setiawan, and a 21-day jail sentence for the officers involved.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 25, 2011
- Event Description
As per the information received, the government made a plan to build a coastal road along the beach from the Indian Oil Refinery complex to the port near to Govindpur village for POSCO mining project and the villagers have prevented the entry of the police by peacefully sitting in Dharna. The government was considering this as an alternative road to make entry from the sea side. The construction has been contracted to Paradeep Paribahan, a private company led by Bapi Circle. On 19th of August 2011, the government has laid the foundation for road construction. On 20th of August, around 400 people including the contractor and workers were proceeding to the site during the day and the villagers strongly protested the move and chased them away. On November 2nd 2011, the police visited the villagers from Govindpur and Dhinikia, Odisha and told them that 400 - 500 strongmen would enter into their villages for the construction of a coastal road. Although this did not happen, the local people were prepared to strongly oppose any such invasion by these persons and the armed police. On 25 November 2011, Mr. Abhay Sahu, the top leader of the anti-POSCO agitation in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, was arrested. His arrest was widely condemned by many civil societies and organisations. On 30 November 2011, a statement was passed on condemning the growing brutality of the state repression against the peaceful, democratic protesters of the POSCO project area who are only fighting for their legal and fundamental rights. This is a very planned and calculated move to crush the peaceful democratic movement against the forceful displacement. The malicious plan of the government to project this entire situation as a law and order problem in the media and accordingly police will enter into the area. This is nothing but a very shameful act of POSCO to terrorize the villagers.
- Impact of Event
- 2000
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 18, 2011
- Event Description
According to the information received, Mr. Gopabandhu Chhatria, a HR Defender and a BPL RTI applicant of Deogan Block under Bolangir District of Orissa has been threatened of attack by Mr. Birendra Tripathy, SDO, Rural Works, Bolangir on 18.10.2011. In a complaint petition addressed to Superintendent of Police, Bolangir on 24.10.2011, Mr. Chhatria has stated that he had submitted an application seeking information about newly constructed building for Tahsil office located before Deogan Block from the PIO, office of SDO, Rural Works, Bolangir. Without providing information, Mr. Birendra Tripathy made a call from his mobile (9437150548) to Chhatria (9668523372) and threatened him of dire consequence, if he continued seeking information from his office. Then he handed over his mobile to a contractor who also scolded Chhatria and asked him to refrain from accessing any information from the said office.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jan 19, 2012
- Event Description
On 6 March 2012, Mr. Asela Bandara Ihagama was forced to cancel the annual women's day event which he had organised for Commission for Justice, Peace, Human Development, Human Rights Secretariat in Kandy (SETIK-Caritas Kandy) following an order by the Office in Charge (OIC) of the Hatton police, prohibiting any public event to take place in Hatton from 6 to 8 March 2012. The event was to be held in Hatton on 7 March and all arrangements had been made when the police informed that the event should not be held at around 6.30 pm on 6 March. Around 500 women from the estate community were expected to participate in the event, which focused on violence against women, in particular domestic violence. The OIC told Mr. Ihagamathat no public gathering or celebration would be permitted since it would disrupt preparations for the women's day celebrations organised by the Government, in Hatton, to which over 5,000 Sinhala women from Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa were due to participate. The OIC said that all buses and vehicles would be prevented from entering Hatton town from 6 to 8 March and threatened that any gathering of more than five persons would result in arrests by the police. As a result, Mr. Ihagamaand his staff were forced to cancel the event planned for the following day and to return to the city of Kandy that night. Moreover, Mr. Asela Bandara Ihagama has been subjected to a series of threats, intimidation and surveillance by State intelligence officers since January 2012. On 29 January officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) visited his village and questioned neighbours about his work. On 9 February, Mr. Ihagama was questioned at his office by an officer from the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) who said that the TID had received information that Mr. Ihagama was working to support the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) among the estate community and was providing information to international groups, including through their websites in order to discredit the Government. On 19 February 2012, at around 8 pm, a group of men in a white van were seen parked near a funeral house Mr. Ihagama had visited in the morning in his neighbourhood (around 30 meters from his house). When neighbours asked the men where they had come from and what they were doing there, they replied that they knew Mr. Ihagama and had come from Colombo. They also questioned the neighbours regarding Mr. Ihagama's work and the details of his family members. They left at around 10.15 pm. On 20 February 2012, men visited Mr. Ihagama's office in Kandy and asked the caretaker whether he was in office, telling him that that they were Mr. Ihagama's friends and wished to speak with him. The caretaker informed them that Mr. Ihagama had not come to office since it was a holiday on that day and offered to give him a message. The men refused to leave a message and left shortly after. Mr.Ihagama believes that these men were intelligence officers since any of his friends would have called him before visiting the office. At SETIK, Mr. Ihagama has been involved in documenting human rights abuses including torture and assisting victims of torture and rape and their families since 1998. In particular, he has provided information to international bodies and has campaigned actively to raise human rights awareness and against rights abuses, particularly among the Estate Tamils.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Jun 18, 2011
- Event Description
On 7 July 2011, Mr. Jitman Basnet, journalist, human rights lawyer and founder of "Lawyers' Forum for Human Rights (LAFHUR), was followed by two men on a motor bike in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. They reportedly tried to overtake him a number of times; however the road was too narrow for two vehicles to pass next to each other. According to information received, when Mr. Basnet was forced to slow down due to a traffic jam, one of the perpetrators dismounted from his motorbike and shouted to the other to grab Mr. Basnet. At this point, Mr. Basnet allegedly managed to force his way out of the traffic and to lose the individuals. It is reported that later that day, Mr. Basnet filed a First Information Report with the police regarding the incident. On 21 June 2011, Mr. Basnet received a death threat call to his mobile phone from a number which has allegedly been traced to a public telephone in Bhaktapur. According to the information received, Mr. Basnet received a number of calls since that date from unknown numbers which he did not answer. On 18 June 2011, Mr. Basnet received a threatening phone call to his mobile phone number. The caller allegedly asked him where he was and informed him that the identity of the caller would soon be revealed to him, at which point Mr. Basnet hung up the phone. On 15 June 2011, Mr. Basnet attended a televised public event called "Forum for Justice and Truth." At the event, political parties and NGOs discussed Bills concerning reform of the powers of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearances Commission. It is reported that during the forum, Mr. Basnet was outspoken regarding impunity and accused political leaders of negligence. He also asked embassies to refuse visas to alleged perpetrators as well as to provide shelter to threatened human rights defenders. Since January 2011, Mr. Basnet has been assisting family members of victims to file First Information Reports concerning cases of extra-judicial killings carried out during the conflict period. According to information received, it is estimated that there are more than 80 similar cases in the Solukhumbu district, that remain unreported due to the remote location of the district and a lack of civil society structure. In April 2011, Mr. Basnet reportedly attempted to file a report in which he alleged that the perpetrators of the cases of extra-judicial killings were high ranking police and army officials. However, he was unable to file a report due to the action taken by the deputy superintendent of police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 18, 2012
- Event Description
Indigenous human rights defender Ms Erita Capion Dialang has been under threat since the killing of her sister-in-law on 18 October 2012, during an attack by a battalion of the Philippine armed forces. Erita Capion Dialang is the chairperson of the indigenous peoples' organisation KALGAD, which is active in South Cotabato province and part of a large alliance of indigenous peoples of Southern Mindanao. While there have been reports of members of the community using force, Erita Capion Dialang has continued to peacefully denounce crimes by the military and oppose Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), a multinational mining corporation that wants to start exploiting the ancestral lands of her tribe. Around 6am on 18 October 2012, members of the Philippine Armed Forced 27th Infantry Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Noel Alexis Bravo, entered the village of Fayahlob, South Cotabato province, and proceeded to attack the Capion family's house with a machine gun. The attack killed Erita Capion Dialang's sister-in-law, Juvy Capion as well as two of Juvy Capion's children. The attack has been described by the military as a "legitimate encounter" despite the results of fact-finding missions by non-governmental organisations in the area. It is reported that the military tampered with the scene, washing blood away from the house and moving the bodies of the deceased, before the arrival of the forensic investigation team. Days before the deadly attack, the human rights defender had travelled to Manila in order to be interviewed by ABS-CBN news company for its programme Failon Ngayon, which focuses on social issues. In the interview, she drew attention to the harassment, intimidation and other violations of human rights frequently suffered by the Blaan people at the hands of the mining corporation and the military. The exposure she has given to violations on their part has contributed to her status as one of the leading indigenous voices in the region. Erita Capion Dialang has been under threat for a long time due to her high profile and vocal criticism of the actions by the mining corporation and the 27th infantry battalion of the armed forces. The threats mention that the military forces are looking to liquidate her, and that she is being kept under surveillance. In addition to this, she is in a vulnerable position due to the remote location of her village of Bong Mal, Tampakan, South Cotabato province, where lines of communication are unstable. KALGAD is a regional indigenous organisation currently involved in a campaign against the mining corporation Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) that has started exploiting large-scale open-pit copper and gold mines in the boundary area of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces, on the ancestral lands of the Blaan people, who are represented by KALGAD. They are members of the regional alliance of indigenous peoples' organisations KALUHHAMIN, which covers southern Mindanao island.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Initial Date
- Dec 15, 2012
- Event Description
On 15 December 2012, prominent social activist Mr. Sombath Somphone was disappeared in Vientiane, Lao PDR. He left his office around 5pm. Sombath and his wife Ng Shui-Meng were driving back separately from the office to their home for dinner. Sombath's jeep was following Shui-Meng's car. Shortly after passing above-mentioned police post, Shui-Meng noticed in her rear-view mirror that she no longer had eyes on her husband but assumed that he simply fell behind another car. That was the last time Shui-Meng saw her husband. When Sombath did not arrive home at 6pm, Shui-Meng called his mobile phone repeatedly but was unable to reach him. Instead, an automated message indicated his mobile was switched off. Around midnight the family went looking for him on Thadeua Road thinking maybe he had gotten into an accident, looking for both signs of his vehicle and checked hospitals but without success. On the morning of 16 December 2012, Shui-Meng reported that Sombath was missing to the local village authorities and the Sisattanak district police. She then searched again for him in all of Vientiane's hospitals. On 17 December 2012, Sombath's sister-in-law, niece and nephew went to the Vientiane Municipality Police Station and asked to review the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage taken on 15 December around 6pm, from the KM3 Thadeua Road location where Sombath was last seen. The video footage showed that at 6:03pm, Sombath's jeep was stopped by police at Km 3 Thadeua Road police post while he was on his way home. Sombath was then brought inside the police post. The video footage shows a man dressed in dark clothing arriving on a motorbike at the police post while Sombath was inside. The motorcyclist left his motorcycle by the roadside parked a few feet away nearby the police post and drove off with Sombath's jeep. Within a few minutes delay a beige/off white pick-up truck pulled up to the police post flashing hazard lights. A man wearing light colored top and dark pants stood in front of police post waiting for the vehicle. A few minutes later, Sombath is seen being directed into the vehicle, which then drove off with Sombath, the driver and at least two persons from the police post. Official response so far from government spokesperson is that he was possibly kidnapped because of personal conflicts or business conflicts. Mr. Sombath Somphone is considered a prominent civil society representative, dedicating his life to alternative education in the promotion of sustainable development and peace. He is an anti-poverty activist and founder and former director of the Participatory Development Training Centre (PADETC). PADETC works on poverty reduction and sustainability projects. As a result of his innovative work on poverty reduction and economic development, Mr. Sombath Somphone received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, one of Asia's top civil honors, in 2005. Mr. Sombath Somphone has also been involved as a member of the organising committee of the 9th Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF9), an inter-regional forum of civil society and social movements across Asia and Europe organised in Vientiane in October 2012. 20/12/12- Joint Urgent Appeal sent to Laos by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. 03/01/2013, 25/03/2013, 10/06/2013- Substantive responses by Lao government claiming that it is doing all within its power to locate Mr. Sombath.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 29, 2012
- Event Description
On 29 October 2012 around 3pm, Dr. Isidro Olan, executive director of Lovers of Nature Foundation, Inc. (LNFI) and environmentalist, was ambushed by men suspected hired killers. He has earlier accused officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of conniving with illegal loggers Dr. Isidro Olan was hit in the chest when the gunmen fired on him on a road some 200 meters from his house in Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur. Doctors at a local hospital declared Olan out of danger but said he needed to be moved to a better-equipped hospital for further treatment. Olan's wife, who was also in their Toyota Fortuner when the attack occurred, was not hurt. Dr. Olan's group, is vocal against illegal logging and mining activities in the province. Olan was declared safe by physicians in a hospital in the town of Madrid but may be transferred to Surigao City or Butuan anytime to get proper treatment. The ambush appeared to be carefully planned noting that the assailants blocked the road leading to Olan's house apparently to make him get out of the vehicle. As soon as Olan got out of the vehicle, the gunmen opened fire on him. Police found one empty shell each from a .45-caliber pistol, and a .22 caliber pistol, and three empty shells from a shotgun. Roel Aguillon, an official of the Surigao Development Corp. (Sudecor) who was among the first to respond to the shooting, said that Olan, already wounded, managed to fire back at the assailants with his .45-caliber pistol, forcing them to withdraw. Olan's pro-environment stance and his group's active participation in thwarting the transport of illegally cut logs particularly in the CarCanMadCarLan would be taken into account in determining possible motives for the attack, said Senior Insp. Dominador Plaza, Carmen's police chief. According to a colleague of Olan, there was no doubt the ambush was the handiwork of "big-time illegal logging financiers. Olan was offered security detail by the town police after receiving death threats some weeks ago. Dr. Olan declined the offer of police escorts because he would not want to bother anyone about his security. A colleague blamed the attack on the "Boboy Loyola group," which he claimed was composed of former communist rebels turned hired killers. The group's members, he said, were from upland village of Gacub, a hotspot for illegal loggers who are often caught poaching hardwood timber from the forest concession of Sudecor. In a Philippine Daily Inquirer story published last September, Olan alleged that illegal loggers flourished in Surigao del Sur because they were vabetted by corrupt officials from local government units and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources."Illegal logging prevails because they are able to acquire falsified documents and table surveys facilitated by crooks within the DENR," a Social Action Center press release quoted him as saying. "The reason why illegal loggers are difficult to stop is due to their established connection with high ranking officials of enforcement agencies, politicians, and members of Task Force Kalikasan."In the Inquirer report, the Social Action Center named Rolando Seblario as a major player in the illegal logging business in Surigao del Sur. Days later, on 25 September 2012, police raided Seblario's warehouse in Butuan City and discovered thousands of illegally cut Lauan flitches. Seblario, who denied any impropriety, was invited by police for questioning. Police in Carmen also attributed to Seblario the 8,000 board feet of bandsaw-milled lauan lumber they seized in an October 13 on a house near the barangay hall of Hinapuyan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 29, 2012
- Event Description
On 29 October 2012 around 3pm, Dr. Isidro Olan, executive director of Lovers of Nature Foundation, Inc. (LNFI) and environmentalist, was ambushed by men suspected hired killers. He has earlier accused officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of conniving with illegal loggers Dr. Isidro Olan was hit in the chest when the gunmen fired on him on a road some 200 meters from his house in Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur. Doctors at a local hospital declared Olan out of danger but said he needed to be moved to a better-equipped hospital for further treatment. Olan's wife, who was also in their Toyota Fortuner when the attack occurred, was not hurt. Dr. Olan's group, is vocal against illegal logging and mining activities in the province. Olan was declared safe by physicians in a hospital in the town of Madrid but may be transferred to Surigao City or Butuan anytime to get proper treatment. The ambush appeared to be carefully planned noting that the assailants blocked the road leading to Olan's house apparently to make him get out of the vehicle. As soon as Olan got out of the vehicle, the gunmen opened fire on him. Police found one empty shell each from a .45-caliber pistol, and a .22 caliber pistol, and three empty shells from a shotgun. Roel Aguillon, an official of the Surigao Development Corp. (Sudecor) who was among the first to respond to the shooting, said that Olan, already wounded, managed to fire back at the assailants with his .45-caliber pistol, forcing them to withdraw. Olan's pro-environment stance and his group's active participation in thwarting the transport of illegally cut logs particularly in the CarCanMadCarLan would be taken into account in determining possible motives for the attack, said Senior Insp. Dominador Plaza, Carmen's police chief. According to a colleague of Olan, there was no doubt the ambush was the handiwork of "big-time illegal logging financiers. Olan was offered security detail by the town police after receiving death threats some weeks ago. Dr. Olan declined the offer of police escorts because he would not want to bother anyone about his security. A colleague blamed the attack on the "Boboy Loyola group," which he claimed was composed of former communist rebels turned hired killers. The group's members, he said, were from upland village of Gacub, a hotspot for illegal loggers who are often caught poaching hardwood timber from the forest concession of Sudecor. In a Philippine Daily Inquirer story published last September, Olan alleged that illegal loggers flourished in Surigao del Sur because they were vabetted by corrupt officials from local government units and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources."Illegal logging prevails because they are able to acquire falsified documents and table surveys facilitated by crooks within the DENR," a Social Action Center press release quoted him as saying. "The reason why illegal loggers are difficult to stop is due to their established connection with high ranking officials of enforcement agencies, politicians, and members of Task Force Kalikasan."In the Inquirer report, the Social Action Center named Rolando Seblario as a major player in the illegal logging business in Surigao del Sur. Days later, on 25 September 2012, police raided Seblario's warehouse in Butuan City and discovered thousands of illegally cut Lauan flitches. Seblario, who denied any impropriety, was invited by police for questioning. Police in Carmen also attributed to Seblario the 8,000 board feet of bandsaw-milled lauan lumber they seized in an October 13 on a house near the barangay hall of Hinapuyan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 22, 2012
- Event Description
On 22 November 2012 at around 1am, human rights defender of Odhikar and Kurigram district correspondent of the daily Jugantor, Ahsan Habib Nilu, who is also the General Secretary of Kurigram Press Club; and Sahifuqul Islam Bebu, district correspondent of the daily Inqilab and private satellite TV channel Banglavision, were picked up by police led by NSI Assistant Director, Idris Ali and detained at Kurigram Police Station. The allegations of being involved in anti state activities were brought against them. Ahsan Habib Nilu informed Odhikar that a report on extortion and other irregularities against the NSI Assistant Director, Idris Ali, was published in the daily Jugantor on 27 September 2012. Some days later, the same report was also published in the daily Inqilab. Idris Ali threatened him after this report. He further stated that they were forced to run for half a mile with handcuffs after they were detained. Nilu and his family were also harassed. After their arrest, a three-member investigation team led by Superintendent of Police, Mahbubur Rahman interrogated them the next day in the evening. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Akram Hossain; and Assistant Director of NSI, Idris Ali were also in the investigation team. It had been alleged that they (both the journalists) had posted caricatures mocking the Prime Minister and other ministers on Facebook. Later police took their passwords and checked their email and Facebook accounts. They were released on 22 November 2012 at 10pm after there was no proof of the allegations.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Apr 25, 2013
- Event Description
On 25 March 2013, Mr. Kedar Dahal, actively working in the sector of child rights and currently a Secretary of the Child NGO Federation Nepal as well as a Freedom Forum executive member, was attacked by an unknown gang with khukuri (homemade weapons) near his home at Dakshindholka of Jorpati, Kathmandu. Following the attack, the police arrested six persons, including an individual named Kishor Bhattarai, and the authorities have been investigating the murder attempt. The arrested persons reportedly belong to the Youth Force, a sister wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and members of the Force are exerting political pressure to ensure that the criminal charges against their cadres are lifted. By the end of March, Dahal was still facing threats to his security, and his family members were also receiving threats from criminal gangs.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Apr 3, 2013
- Event Description
On 3 April 2013, Asif Mohiuddin, a prominent secular blogger was arrested by the Detective Branch of the Dhaka police and interrogated about his recent posts. Mohiuddin was arrested for posting "anti-religious" comments on his blog (http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/realAsifM), which the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked on 31 March. His arrest follows the creation of a committee on 13 March that is tasked with identifying "blasphemous" bloggers and bringing them to justice. The committee is under the control of the prime minister's office. Police investigators already questioned Mohiuddin about his blog on 23 March. His arrest comes a day after three other bloggers - Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, Mashiur Rahman Biplob and Rasel Parvez ��- were arrested on similar grounds.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 4, 2013
- Event Description
On 4 April 2013, a prominent blogger - Huynh Ngoc Tuan's house was attacked. The once-imprisoned Huynh Ngoc Tuan, 50, told RFA's Vietnamese Service that the attack occurred at 12:30 a.m. on April 4 when two assailants pulled up to his home in Quang Nam province on a motorbike and threw rank liquid near his bedroom. Police have harassed the Huynh family at their home in Quang Nam in recent years since Tuan, a member of the government-banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), and his eldest daughter Huynh Thuc Vy began receiving attention for their blogs. Tuan is accused by local authorities of posting articles on the Internet which "oppose the Party and State."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 27, 2013
- Event Description
On 27 April 2013, Yahya Bonai, a 33-year-old, Papuan activist from Menawi village in the district of Angkaisera, was arrested at his home by police. According to information by West Papua Media, Bonai was seized on suspicion of being connected to a fatal attack at the home of Chief Brigadier Jefri Sesa, an officer from the Angkaisera subprecinct police station at the weekend by an unidentified group of assailants (OTK), three hours before to Bonai's arrest. Bonai is currently detained in Serui police custody and has been denied any visits by friends or families. Angakaisera district has been a pro-independence hotspot, and subject to an ongoing blockade and village raids by Indonesian security forces.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Torture
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2011
- Event Description
On 5 November 2011, Mr Shyamal Roy, founder of Dodhichi, an organisation aimed at reporting human rights violations committed by authorities of the state of West Bengal and at promoting women"s rights and the right to education, was intimidated by two plainclothed police officers. They told him that they had come to seize his SIM card and alleged that they were the Sub-Inspector and Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police at Sonarpur Police Station. Reportedly they wanted to confiscate other items belonging to him but Mr. Roy requested a legal order from the court. The two policemen called the Officer-in-Charge of Sonarpur Police Station before leaving and telling Mr. Roy that they would come back. Mr. Roy allegedly sends text messages to inform civil society groups about cases of human rights violations occurred in his community and to make people aware of their human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Mar 4, 2013
- Event Description
On 4 March 2013, Hari Dev Kharel - a journalist received death threats from ten unidentified men. Mr Kharel has approached the relevant Nepalese authorities who have said they will investigate the matter.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 14, 2014
- Event Description
Thailand's Public Broadcasting Service, Thai PBS, reportedly removed the host of a programme which allowed people to voice opinions on the junta's reform plans after junta representatives met with the channel's executives, Isara News Agency reported on Friday 14th November. Isara News Agency reported that five high ranking military officers met with the channel's executives at the TV station's headquarters. The officers said their supervisors urged the Thai PBS to stop broadcasting the programme called "Voices of the People that must be heard before the Reform" because they were upset with how Nattaya Wawweerakhup, the programme host, asked questions of villagers and activists, some of which allegedly touched on the coup d'_tat. The episode which led to the junta's censorship was on the southern people's thoughts on reform, which was taped at Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. The episode was aired on 8 November. After the meeting, the Thai PBS executives ruled to remove Nattaya from the programme. They also changed the programme from talks with villagers and activists to merely reporting news from the area. Nattaya has confirmed via Facebook with Isara News Agency that she was removed from the programme.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- May 9, 2012
- Event Description
On 9 May 2012, Dhan Bahadur Thanet Tharu was shot during a clash with police at Danda of Nawalparasi. He passed away on 5 June 2012. Tharu was injured when police fired gunshots during a demonstration organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities ( NEFIN) and United Tharu Struggle Committee (UTSS). The violent scuffle ensued as police tried to prevent the mob from entering the Kawasoti Police Post on 9 May 2012. Police said they were compelled to fire 12 rounds of bullets and two teargas canisters to take the situation under control.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 3, 2012
- Event Description
On 3 October 2012, human rights defender Mr Gilbert Paborada was killed by two gunmen in Cagayan de Oro. Gilbert Paborada was chairperson of the community-based indigenous organisation Pangalasag (Indigenous Shield) which resists the expansion of oil palm plantations in Opol, Misamis Oriental province. On 3 October, Gilbert Paborada had just returned from his native village Bagocboc to San Nicolas, Puntod in Cagayan de Oro city. After getting out of a motorela (public tricycle) near his house, around 3pm, two heavy-set men on a white motorcross-type motorcycle approached him and fired several shots at him. Witnesses report that one of the men subsequently approached the human rights defender and shot him again, this time in the head. From the five bullet wounds Gilbert Paborada sustained, it has been concluded the shots were fired from a .45 caliber pistol. The human rights defender died instantly. Gilbert Paborada was a member of the Higaonon tribespeople and worked leading the local indigenous, community-based organisation Pangalasag, which resists land grabbing practices and the expansion of oil palm plantations in nearby Opol, Misamis Oriental province. Throughout the last few years, armed groups have threatened local farmers at gunpoint and driven them from their farming lands in the Opol area, practices reportedly sanctioned by the company involved. Local authorities and the Philippines Department of the Environment and Natural Resources are vocal supporters of the palm oil company, having assisted its establishment in the area. In March 2011, Gilbert Paborada was already forced to relocate away from his native village of Bagocboc because of growing security concerns due to death threats he had received. These came after he was threatened by the palm oil company's security guards at gunpoint in February 2011. From Puntod, he continued visiting Bagocboc to lead Pangalasag's peaceful efforts against land grabbing in defence of the indigenous community's civil and political rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jan 8, 2015
- Event Description
After the media reported that the UNHCR had granted a high-profile l��se majest_ suspect refugee status, Thai royalists fiercely attacked the UNHCR on its Thai Facebook page, saying they would stop funding the organization and threatening to harass its funding officers. Thai royalists threatened to withdraw monthly donations to the UN refugee agency in Thailand over the agency's role in giving refugee status to a redshirt political activist Ekapop L., (aka. Tang Achiwa), who is now living in exile in New Zealand. Many Thai royalists claimed on a Facebook Page called "Million Names Against Amnesty (Lan Chue Tan Lang Phit)' that they have cancelled monthly donations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and many more claimed on the Facebook Page that that they will also do the same. The threats to withdraw funding for the UNHCR came after it was revealed by Thairath Online that the organization granted refugee status to Ekapop L., an anti-establishment red-shirt activist, who is in exile in New Zealand. Ekapop was accused of defaming the monarchy when he spoke at a red-shirt gathering at Rajamangala Stadium in eastern Bangkok in late 2013. The police issued an arrest warrant against him in early 2014. He fled to Cambodia and was later granted refugee status by the UN refugee organization. He and his wife claim to hold New Zealand passports. Examples of hate comments from the Thai royalists: "If you don't answer why you helped Tang to get refugee status ... I'll go and destroy the[UNHCR] donation booths and slap the staff. F** UNHCRThailand" "UNHCR = Ungrateful to Thailand" "Since the UNHCR protected a criminal running away from a charge, why do Thai people have to help an organization that assists a criminal on the run? Just let the US pay the bills, no need to bother Thai people, this is enough." "UNHCR, you have been staying under the graciousness of the King of Thailand, but when people insult and defame the owner of this country, do you assist these wrong-doers instead? If the New Zealand government is willing to accept asylum seekers who have committed crimes, then they should accept and take all the other refugees here into their country as well because it is proven that it is a very nice country that accepts all sorts of refugees." Meanwhile the ultra-royalist Rubbish Collection Organization also issued a statement condemning the UNHCR, saying that Thai political refugees are using the UNHCR to undermine Thailand and the Thai monarchy. On Sunday, the UNHCR Thailand Facebook page responded to the attack by posting "The UN Refugee Agency is a humanitarian and non-political organisation." Earlier last week, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the head of the junta, revealed during an interview on Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent a letter to the New Zealand authorities in an attempt to try to extradite Ekapop. The letter pointed out to the New Zealand government that the Thai authorities had issued an arrest warrant under Article 112 of the Criminal Code against Ekapop, and that in order to prevent the suspect from creating trouble in Thailand from overseas, the New Zealand authorities should cooperate with Thailand by extraditing the suspect. However, according to the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand's MFA minister refused to make any comment on the Thai government inquiry and stated that asylum seekers who have obtained refugee status from the UNHCR can be accepted by New Zealand through a quota system.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 28, 2014
- Event Description
On 28 December 2014, multiple rounds of gunfire were shot into the house of Mr. Suwit Jeh-Soh, a 43-year-old environmental activist and the director of Baan Klong Yai School in Ta Mode District, Patthalung province (south). Mr. Suwit, his wife and their young children were sleeping inside the house at the time of attack, but nobody was injured. Mr. Suwit is a community leader who opposes the construction of Baan Mueng Ta Kua water reservoir proposed by the Royal Irrigation Department. Villagers in the nearby area formed a network "Group to Preserve Mueng Ta Kua Watershed" which opposes the project on the grounds that affected communities have not been consulted, participated in the decision-making and construction will endanger wildlife and marine life in the area. The attack occurred after the community network organized a public forum to raise awareness about the project where Mr. Suwit was the moderator on 25 December 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 18, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have released Li Biyun, a prominent activist who tried to stand as a candidate in a local election, after holding her for more than a year on public order charges, but only after beating her and dumping her at a nearby roadside, she said. A court in Guangdong's Shunde city found Li guilty of "obstructing civic duties" but sentenced her to the same amount of time she had already been held, and she was released from the court on Thursday the 18th December. Li, 47, who has already alleged torture at the hands of prison guards and police, was released from the police-run Shunde Detention Center, as there was no sentence for her to serve in prison. But Li's sister Li Caiyun said she was later beaten by police and dumped at a roadside, rather than being allowed to wait for her family and lawyers to collect her. "We had planned to go to meet her at the detention center," Li Caiyun told RFA. "A couple of villagers told me they saw my sister being thrown onto the roadside behind the Rongli Elementary School." "They had put a motorcycle helmet on her and thrown her there," she said. "She can't walk now; she says she has broken a rib." Li herself said she had been illegally detained for 14 months, and had expected to wait a further three months for her trial. But the authorities had suddenly decided to sentence her and release her instead, she said. "When I heard they had waived the rest of the sentence after illegally holding me for 14 months, I didn't cooperate," said Li. "They jumped up to where I was standing and pinned me down. Then they took off my clothes and blindfolded me and took me away," she said. Li said she plans to seek medical attention now that she has been released as well as find a lawyer to help her pursue compensation and sue those responsible for her treatment while in detention. Her attorney Liu Hao said via social media that he had never seen a prisoner released before their lawyer was informed, in more than 10 years of practice as a lawyer. "This was an illegal way to proceed," Liu wrote. Li's lawyers say she has been subjected to severe mistreatment inside a military hospital, where she was refused medical treatment, a bath, or clean clothes for months on end. She has repeatedly denied the public order charges and has lodged formal complaints about ill-treatment in custody. Li has also described prolonged torture, including beatings, at the hands of the Shunde district police department since her formal arrest in September 2012 In 2011, Li joined dozens of political activists across China in a campaign to file applications to stand for election to district-level National People's Congress (NPC) bodies, in spite of official warnings that there is "no such thing" as an independent candidate. Activists tried to use a clause in the election rules which allows anyone with the endorsement of at least 10 constituents to seek nomination. Many of the candidates, like Li, hailed from the least privileged groups in Chinese society, including those who have been forcibly evicted from their homes or who have long campaigned for their legal rights. Apart from a token group of "democratic parties" that never oppose or criticize the ruling party, opposition political parties are banned in China, and those who set them up are frequently handed lengthy jail terms. Rights groups have warned that the ruling Chinese Communist Party is increasingly using the denial of medical care as a way of targeting rights activists and political prisoners while they are in police custody ahead of their trial. Rights activist Cao Shunli died in hospital on March 14 after being refused the correct medical care in a Beijing detention center, her lawyer and relatives said at the time.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Feb 2, 2015
- Event Description
Government spokesman and four-star General Khieu Sopheak has threatened to sue an NGO worker over his "false allegations" about Montagnard asylum seekers. In a Monday interview with Voice of America, Interior Ministry spokesman Sopheak denied reports that five Montagnards - a mother and father, their two young sons, and 9-month-old daughter - were arrested in Ratanakkiri on Sunday. Sopheak said authorities had only arrested "illegal Vietnamese immigrants", and called on Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator for local rights group Adhoc and the monitor who first reported the arrests, to either prove they were Montagnards or rescind the allegations. "There are no Montagnards[in the province]. I ask Adhoc to specify this clearly, or we will sue[Thy] in the court for making politically motivated allegations," he said. According to Adhoc and local villagers, 27 Montagnards remain in hiding in the province. Sopheak could not be reached for comment, while Thy said he would not back down. "I work in accordance with a human rights policy and the Refugee Convention. I just fulfil my duty; I do not work for a political party," he said, adding that Sopheak's threat was a "normal thing" that happens to human rights activists. Thy stressed that reports of the arrests on Sunday were true and confirmed by accounts from villagers and activists. He also questioned why 13 Montagnards were allowed passage to Phnom Penh in December to process asylum claims if the ministry believed that all those hiding were merely "illegal Vietnamese immigrants". The threats against Thy once again extended to social media yesterday as a Facebook account called "Lum Phatsrok", which he alleges is controlled by a senior provincial official, invited ISIS militants to "cut off" his tongue. Ignoring the threats, Thy continued to call on authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the arrested Montagnards. The family of asylum seekers have not been seen since their arrest in O'Yadav district on Sunday, and ethnic Jarai villagers in Ratanakkiri fear that they have been deported. The United Nations yesterday continued to raise concerns. "The responsible authorities are not responding to our inquiries about the arrested persons. We are very concerned about this group and will continue to liaise with the authorities to confirm their status and, if they indicate that they seek asylum, to ensure that they are able to do so," said Wan-Hea Lee, country representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Vivian Tan, regional press officer for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said UNHCR would be "very concerned if people seeking asylum, including women and children, are unable to access national procedures". Provincial officials refused to comment on the arrests yesterday. Ratanakkiri police chief Nguon Koeun told the Post to "stop calling and asking me about that".
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 2, 2014
- Event Description
Mr. Amit Mishra, coordinator, Vada Foundation, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh is a social activist and a human rights defender. He has been working among the poor Dalit daily wage workers (working in the vegetable market), fighting to defend their rights in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Amit has been instrumental in the release of 35 bonded labourers in Mohanlal Ganj, Lucknow in the month of March-April 2014 on behalf of Vada Foundation. After the release of the bonded labourers he has received many threats to his life over phone. Amit has been fighting against police torture for the last many years. He has been the district human rights monitor for the human rights Organization People's Watch from 2006 to 2008 in its EU - funded National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPT), involved in fact finding missions on torture cases in Uttar Pradesh. Before this Amit was associated with Kisan Mazdoor Mahila Sanghatan (Farmers, Workers Women's Organisation) based in Varanasi which was working on indigenous people land rights, Dalit rights and Violence against Women. According to a written testimony from Mr. Amit Mishra, the human rights defender under attack, he was having a meeting with the labourers in Barabirwas Mandi, near Aalambagh Crossing in Krishna Nagar Police station area during which he was attacked by the accused Mr. Vipin with murderous intent. The assailant took all his money and identity card and threatened Amit Mishra for instigating the workers against the contractor. The assailant also told him not to be seen in his area thenceforth. Due to the intervention of workers present in meeting Amit escaped Vipin's wrath. Police control room no 100 was informed about the incident but no help came his way. The nearest police post from the place of incident is just 50 meters away. Amit Mishra's group informed Mr. Vikas Pandey, the SHO Krishna Nagar who asked him to come to the police station. Mishra informed him about the incident and he said after the investigation they would register the case. The SHO also asked Mishra why he was doing the work of mobilising the workers and advised him to do some other work. He then told Mishra to leave the place and that he would be communicated on phone once the complaint was registered. Mishra also informed the CO, ASP and SSP of the district through e - mail and phone. After a lot of pressure, on 5 December, 2014 exactly after three days of the incident, police FIR was registered on Mishra's complaint. The SHO informed Mishra's particulars to the family of the accused and thereafter Mishra started receiving threatening calls urging him to compromise and withdraw his case. On 6 December 2014 at around 12 PM when the accused Vipin was threatening the witnesses of the case, the workers of labourmandi called the police on telephone number 100 and handed over Vipin to the police. After Vipin was taken by the police, Mishra started facing additional pressure from the accused side. On the same night around 20 police men from Naka Hindola police post came to Mishra's office. One of the constables Mr. Shiv Dutt Singh told him that the person, against whom he had registered police FIR, was his son. And everybody immediately started putting pressure on Mishra to withdraw the case and strike a compromise deal. One of the policemen told him that they are giving him one hour's time to think and decide what he wanted to do. Asking him again to compromise they left the place. After exactly one hour they came back again and started asking what he had decided. Mishra told them that he intended to do nothing. Upon hearing this they again threatened Mishra with dire consequences and left. Next day on 7 December, 2014 Vipin's arrest was reported in the local newspaper. Just after three days he was told by the witnesses that they were being threatened to change their statements. He also came to know that police post in charge and investigating officer of the area were going to the workers to force them to make false statements. On being refused by the workers they were threatening them. Mishra complained to the SHO of the police station and asked him about the arrest of Vipin. He told Mishra that Vipin had not been arrested so far and so there was no question of him going to jail as of then. Then from the local court he came to know that Vipin was not even booked and he was allowed to leave the police station being the son of a policeman. After coming from the police station Vipin has been threatening Mishra and other witnesses with dire consequences unless they agree to a compromise. In a retaliatory move to Mishra's complaint on worker's exploitation, he has been made the target and physically attacked by the accused.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jan 4, 2015
- Event Description
Two heads of dogs, freshly severed, have been strewn in front of the houses of two well-known human rights defenders as the race in the presidential election is intensifying in Sri Lanka. Mr. Brito Fernando and Prasanga Fernando are two well-known human rights activists who have a long history of fighting for the protection of human rights in Sri Lanka. They have also been campaigning against enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, and torture and other human rights abuses. They have been actively campaigning for the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena on the grounds that the Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has been engaged in systematic violations of human rights that need to be stopped. Brito Fernando has also recently publicly declared that on a previous occasion he had campaigned together with President Rajapaksa when he was in the opposition, against enforced disappearances and other abuses of human rights. However, once in power President Rajapaksa has failed to honour his promises to bring the perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and in particular to end the present form of the executive presidential system which destroys the possibility of the protection of the rights of the people. The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns the threats made to these two human rights activists by the exhibition of severed heads of dogs, thrown in front of their houses which are a barbaric act. These types of sinister attacks can only be done with the corporation of some sections of the security agencies who are carrying out political instructions against those who are exercising their right to freely participate in campaigning for candidates of their choices. The AHRC also states that this act is a gross violation of the electoral laws which provides freedoms for all citizens to participate in the elections in order to elect a government of their choice. The rights of all citizens to participate in the elections are enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We ask the Government, and the Commissioner of Elections to inquire into this act as it is a serious violation of the electoral laws. We also ask all Sri Lankan people to actively protect the rights of every citizen to participate in the electoral process and in particular to condemn this barbaric attack on the two human rights activists. The AHRC will also bring this matter to the attention of relevant United Nations authorities and to the attention of the international community.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 30, 2015
- Event Description
In the morning on 30 January 2015, two unidentified men came to human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai's apartment in the capital Hanoi, violently broke the front door and threatened to burn his home and assault him. Nguyen Van Dai is a prominent human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist in Vietnam, and one of several human rights defenders who have been attacked in recent weeks. He reported the incident to the local police. Nguyen Van Dai has been a target of persecution, including arbitrary detention, ever since he co-founded a human rights group in 2006. He is currently under house arrest in Hanoi, due to end in March, after serving out a four-year sentence. "The attack on lawyer Dai and the serious threats against him highlights the risks facing Vietnamese human rights defenders," said Marie M�_nson, Human Rights Defenders at Risk Programme Director at Civil Rights Defenders. The latest attack on Nguyen Van Dai came just days after a violent assault on 12 bloggers and activists by plainclothes agents in Thai Binh province. The assault took place when the group of activists were stopped by police following their visit to a recently-released political prisoner. The same week in Ho Chi Minh City, activist and Mennonite Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, one of Dai's former clients and a former political prisoner, was injured and hospitalised after an attack with bricks and clubs by a group of thugs. Another pastor who was with him at the time received minor physical injuries. On 9 December 2014, a group of people stopped vocal blogger Nguyen Hoang Vi in the street near her home, pulling her by the hair and punching her. Security forces nearby reportedly did not intervene. A network of women human rights defenders has begun documenting attacks, including sexual harassment, against women human rights defenders. Nguyen Hoang Vi has been the victim of numerous attacks in recent years. In November, police officers assaulted and injured Truong Minh Duc, a former political prisoner, freelance writer and reportedly a member of Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam. He narrowly escaped death in the attack, which took place outside Ho Chi Minh City. None of the perpetrators in these attacks on peaceful activists and others have been brought to justice, further compounding the vulnerable situation of the human rights defenders. "The on-going impunity for attacks on defenders is a disturbing reminder that Vietnam's portrayal of its human rights record to the international community bears little resemblance to reality. Human rights defense and human rights education contribute to social progress and stability, and those who carry out the work deserve protection and recognition, not persecution and reprisal", added Marie M�_nson. UPDATED : (7 April 2015) L4L is very concerned about the ongoing harassment of human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai. Dai was under house arrest in Hanoi since 2011, serving a four-year sentence that was due to end on 5 March 2015. He has been the victim of several acts of intimidation in the months leading up to the end of his house arrest. On 30 January 2015, two unidentified men broke the front door of his apartment in Hanoi, and threatened to burn his home and assault him. He reported the incident to the police. On the day his house arrest was supposed to end, the authorities informed him they wouldn't officially end his probation unless he would officially promise, at the police station, that he would not continue his work as a human rights lawyer or any other work criticizing the government. When Dai refused to do so, "thugs" were sent to his home to harass him on March 5 and 6. Shortly thereafter, the authorities have given Dai the written confirmation of the expiration of his house arrest. Lawyers for Lawyers has been informed, however, that the police is still surveilling him. Nguyen Van Dai is, since his return to Vietnam after years in Eastern-Germany, a well-known human rights activist. He has been under control of government officials for many years now, and this house arrest followed on the four years imprisonment he was sentenced to in 2007 for propaganda against the state. Dai founded the Committee for Human Rights of Vietnamand his work as a human rights lawyer and blogger is disapproved by the Vietnam authorities. The recent attacks on Dai come in a context of a series of physical assaults against human rights defenders, bloggers and human rights lawyers that have taken place in the previous months, which were perpetrated either by police officers or groups of people in the street. Reportedly, there has been a failure to investigate these attacks. In a letter, L4L called on the Vietnamese authorities investigate the attacks on Nguyen Van Dai. Source: Lawyers for Lawyers
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jan 7, 2015
- Event Description
Today, on 7th January 2015, three human rights activists received death threats over the telephone from sources that have refused to identify themselves, but have appeared to be connected with security authorities. The human rights activists who received these death threats are Mr. Brito Fernando, Mr. Phillip Dissanayake and Mr. Prasanga Fernando - all of whom work with the Right to Life organization and the organization of the families of the disappeared in Sri Lanka. They have also been in the recent past taking part and actively campaigning for the common opposition candidate in the presidential election of Maithripala Sirisena on the basis that massive human rights violations have taken place and are taking place in Sri Lanka and that these need to be stopped. Brito Fernando and Prasanga Fernando have also received threats by way of hanging freshly killed dogs' heads in their homes earlier this week. During the phone conversation the speaker says that "we know all the details about you, your wives and about your children; ... and we know where they travel and where they can be found. We also know where your children go to school. We will teach you a lesson first, before we deal with your big people... before we do that we will get all the details from you about what you do... you have been involved in some matters relating to the Anuradhapura Police. We know all about that. We know how to get information from you once we get hold of you. It is after obtaining this information that we will finally deal with you... make your funeral arrangements at your homes.' Details relating to the earlier threats have been published in several media channels and you may find the details at the following link. [Asian Human Rights Commission](http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-002-2015 The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns these dastardly, cowardly, and mean acts of issuing death threats and we are also warning the public that carrying out of such death threats could actually take place in this environment of the upcoming presidential elections on 8th January 2015. We ask the Government of Sri Lanka and the Inspector General of Police to investigate into this matter with immediate effect and we will also inform all human rights organizations in Sri Lanka and overseas about these threats. We will also inform all the Embassies in Sri Lanka and the United Nation's about these threats. We ask President Mahinda Rajapaksa to immediately take appropriate action to find the culprits and apprehend them. In the event no such action is taken it may appear that such death threats are being made with President Rajapaksa's direct or indirect approval.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 4, 2012
- Event Description
On 4 December 2012, around 11am, Ms. Urvashi Sharma right to information (RTI) activist received a death threat from an caller who claimed to belong to the Samajwadi political party. The caller asked her to stop submitting RTI requests about the working of the Akhilesh Yadav Government and stated that, if she does not stop, she will pay with her life. Ms. Sharma also stated that the caller claims to be Haribhai Yadav, an office bearer of the Samajwadi Party. However, it does not appear that such a person exists.Ms. Sharma lodged a complaint with the Talkatora police, which registered a case against an unnamed person under section 507 of the Indian Penal Code. A reporter called the telephone number of the caller.. The person answering said initially that the call to Ms. Sharma was "made by mistake" and then sought the matter be dropped. The person then identified himself as an SP leader and said that there was no point taking the matter further and that he would talk to the Lucknow DIG to "settle the matter." Meanwhile, Ms. Sharma said that she believes the phone call was made on behalf of a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official, against whom she has recently sought a probe. Ms. Sharma RTI petitions addressed issues of governmental corruption, especially in the social welfare and women welfare departments.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Feb 9, 2013
- Event Description
On 9 February 2013, Ms. Apsara Upreti, a journalist and social worker associated with the Integrated Community Development Campaign (ICDC), Dhading district, was threatened by a UCPN-M district member,Ram Krishna Acharya, for trying to get legal support to a rape victim. This is not the first time she has received threats from this group. As early as 2010 Ms Upreti received a death threat from Binod Luitel, a District Committee Member of Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist (UCPNM) and Ram Nepali, secretary of Maoist affiliated Dalit Mukti Morcha for supporting Ms. Shanti Rupakheti WHRD of Jivanpur VDC-8 in Dhading to seek justice.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 30, 2012
- Event Description
On 30 and 31 October 2012, members of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)'s Land Reform Project Team were harassed and intimidated by police and military officials during a mission to collect information about the resolution of a land conflict. The CCHR is an independent non-governmental organisation working to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia. The team had come to Thlao village, in Banteay Mean Chey province, on 29 October 2012 in order to gather information on the resolution of a local land conflict which revolved around a private company, Cheat Aphiwat Co. Ltd., reportedly obtaining an illegal land concession. The Land Reform Project Team, consisting of project coordinator Mr. Vann Sopath, Mr Steven Kremer, Mr Nget Savy and Ms Nou Chansokunthea, interviewed villagers and surveyed the area. It is believed that a villager with close ties to local officials and the company reported the team's presence to the authorities. On the second day of the mission, 30 October 2012, local police and military officers and a student volunteer from a government land-measuring programme approached the team and subjected them to a lengthy and detailed questioning regarding their activities. Later on, the officials continued to make their presence felt by circling the team on motorbikes and keeping a close watch on their activities. Villagers were also interrogated, and in other ways discouraged from giving interviews to the CCHR staff. A community representative was questioned by a military commander, and a local woman tried to discourage villagers from talking to the team by first claiming that it was unnecessary, as the land was already being demarcated by the aforementioned student group. She proceeded to warn them that they were risking losing their land titles, or jeopardising those that had yet to be given out, by cooperating with the CCHR staff. It is reported that the team's work was not compromised by these attempts as most of the work had already been done on the first day, and some villagers cooperated with them even after these events. Nonetheless, the CCHR has identified a growing trend in the disruption of peaceful and legitimate activities carried out by the organisation.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 12, 2013
- Event Description
On 12 February 2013, Chandrakant Gaikwad, a Dalit HRD was shot dead by a man who had previously made threats against him. Chandrakant Gaikwad was shot dead in Indapur, Pune district, Maharashtra, when meeting a fellow Dalit human rights defender. They were attacked by a group of dominant caste people led by Satpal Rupnavar who allegedly fired the deadly shots against Chandrakant Gaikwad and then fled the scene of the crime. As an active Dalit human rights defender, Chandrakant Gaikwad had filed an atrocity case against Satpal Rupnavar for committing a crime against Dalits in 2011. He was also the witness in two further atrocity cases filed against the accused in 2012. As a result of these complaints, Satpal was arrested in January 2012, but released on bail later that year. According to press reports, Satpal Rupnavar is a notorious criminal. Following his release, he reportedly issued a number of threats against Chandrakant Gaikwad and two other Dalit human rights defenders. They complained to the authorities, including the police, the Home Ministry and the National Human Rights Commission, but were not offered any protection. The deceased was a volunteer with the National Dalit Movement for Justice (NDMJ), which is part of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR). He had supported atrocity victims in their attempts to access justice and also monitored human rights abuses against Dalits. UPDATE: 08/03/2013- A Joint Allegation Letter is sent to India by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Independent Expert on minority issues; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. As of November 2013, the Indian government still had not acknowledged the communication.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 30, 2012
- Event Description
On 30 December 2012, around 4pm, Mr. Srinivasa Rao, a right to information (RTI) activist was found lying unconscious near his office at the Court Centre in Markapuram Town of Pakasam District, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was alleged that unknown three men walked into his office on the pretext of discussing a case. Two of them held him back while the third injected poison in the abdomen of Rao and fled. Immediately Rao was rushed by locals to the government hospital which referred him to the district headquarters hospital in Ongole. When his condition deteriorated, Rao was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences. Mr. Srinivasa Rao has been invoking the provisions of the Right to Information Act against local revenue and police officials in Markapur. He is into pawn broking in the town and gives loans taking insurance policies and bonds as security. Mr. Rao has been battling with police since he began seeking information from police stations under the RTI Act. He also contributes to RTI related programmes in a vernacular TV channel and was also the district convener for RTI Activists Association in the district. Rao had highlighted many irregularities in the use of government funds and earned the wrath of local officials and contractors in the district. Last week, he had complained to the district administration about a threat to his life from a local official whose corruption he was trying to expose. He had also claimed that despite his complaint, no action was taken against the official. The incident was said to have taken place before resumption of hearing in a case in the Markapur court on Monday against him filed under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Apr 18, 2012
- Event Description
On18April 2012, Khursheed Khokhar and Pitamber Sewani two parliamentarians in Pakistan received death threats for defending the rights of the minority Hindu population. The Sindh Chief Minister ordered additional security to be deployed at the residences of the MPAs besides providing them proper police escort for their security.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Aug 28, 2012
- Event Description
On 28 August 2012, a campaign of harassment of members of leading women"s rights organization WOREC Nepal and LGBTI rights organization Mitini Nepal began following their support to a victim of domestic violence who had recently 'come out' as a lesbian. Due to the assistance they provided to the lady and her partner, the staff of Mitini Nepal and their president Laxmi Ghalan,came under threat. Ms. Ghalan received threatening calls, threatening that if she raises the case of the lady, her office would be vandalized and she would be abducted. The police also surrounded the office of Mitini Nepal in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. After the police withdrew from Mitini Nepal's office, several plain-clothes individuals stayed to watch the office. Due to the threats, Mitini Nepal's staff looked for shelter in the premises of WOREC. The police are also reported to have searched two rooms respectively rented by Mitini Nepal's president and one staff on 28 and 29 August. On the evening of 30th August 2012 at around 7.30 pm, about 40 persons claiming to be relatives of the lady forced their way into WOREC's office, in Balkumari, Lalitpur, searching for her and her partner, whom they were accusing of having trafficked. They were accompanied by 7 police personnel but the police did not enter the office's premises. On the same day, four police officers visited the office of Mitini Nepal and accused their staff of hiding the woman. They visited the office several times on that day, accompanied by the lady's relatives.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- SOGI rights, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2011
- Event Description
On 16 August 2011, Ms. Shehla Masood, an environmentalist and RTI activist was shot dead by an unidentified assailant outside her home in Koh-e-Fiza in Bhopal. Ms. Masood had been living in fear of an attack for some time and raised her concerns to no avail. On August 16, 2011 at around 11:19am, she was shot by an unidentified assailant from point blank range. Masood was about to leave in her car when she was shot in the driver's seat. According to Police, the motive of the killing remains unknown. However, as per media, the possible cause could be her RTI activities and for protesting illegal diamond mining done by Rio Tinto in connivance with government officers and fighting to save tigers, leopards and forests, who were killed for their skins in connivance with forest officers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 20, 2012
- Event Description
On 20 August 2012, Jarayaram Harapal, an educated Dalit youth and right to information (RTI) activist was attacked on his way to Manamunda Block of Boudh district, Odisha in India. It appears the attack was a reprisal for his attempts to expose corruption via his RTI application. Jarayaram had submitted an RTI Application to the PIO, Office of Manupali Gram Panchayat under Manamunda Block of Boudh District, Odisha. He requested information about the quantity of items distributed under the Public Distribution System to BPL (Below Poverty Line) and APL (Above Poverty Line) families, and a copy of the list of beneficiaries of Antodaya and Annapurna card holders. However, he was provided false and misleading information. During the attack, the perpetrators beat him, made caste-denigrating remarks, and threatened him that there would be dire consequences if he did not withdraw his RTI Application. Later that day, the assailants entered Jarayaram's house and physically manhandled his parents and his elder brother. The next day, 21 August 2012, Jayaram filed an First Information Report (FIR) at the local Police Station in Manamunda. However, the Police did not take any steps against the accused, but rather arrested him and his brother and kept them in detention for 18 days. After being released, Jarayaram filed a case with the Odisha Human Rights Commission. The complaint, filed on 14 December 14, stated that, "I am so terrified that I could not return to my house. As there is life threats to me, I move from one place to another for survival."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to health, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 7, 2013
- Event Description
Social activist Medha Patkar and 20 persons were arrested on Thursday for protesting against the demolition of slums at Golibar in Khar, in suburban Mumbai. The protesters were allegedly beaten up in the presence of the police by goons of Shivalik Builders, developer in the Golibar redevelopment scheme, one of the most controversial redevelopment schemes in the city. The Bombay High Court had made it clear that all residents must be relocated at good transit camps and directed them to register the individual agreements. However, the residents alleged that none of the orders had been followed by the builder and the demolition drive was continuing in the presence of government officials. Sumit Wajale, an activist from the National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) said that the police, along with goons, made sure that nobody protested against the demolition. "They illegally demolished 10 houses today (Thursday), disrespecting the High Court order. The police supported them, while bouncers attacked the protesters," he said. The activists, who were arrested, were kept in police custody till the demolition drive was completed, and all were released in the evening. The NAPM has requested Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to intervene.
- Impact of Event
- 21
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 3, 2013
- Event Description
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have begun holding activists and petitioners under tight surveillance and detention ahead of a sensitive political anniversary and a planned protest against a petrochemical plant on Saturday. Activists had planned to take to the streets on Saturday in protest at a newly built paraxylene (PX) plant in the Pengzhou suburb of the provincial capital Chengdu, using the anniversary of May 4 student demonstrations in 1919 and the fifth anniversary of a local movement against the plant. The plant, owned by state-run PetroChina, has been halted amid safety concerns in the wake of last week's magnitude-7 earthquake near Sichuan's Ya'an city that left more than 200 people dead or missing and reignited concerns about the plant's potential health hazards. "They were talking online about a walk-past in Jiuyan Bridge in Chengdu tomorrow, as a protest," said Chengdu-based activist Chen Qian, who was prevented from leaving her home late on Thursday by neighborhood committee officials, who said the house arrest would likely last until Monday. "As I was leaving the building to go out, they said they weren't to let me leave home, and that's the way it had to be," she said. "They said it would be two or three days," Chen said. "I think it's because of tomorrow." Local residents had protested against the chemical plant at the bridge in 2008 on May 4, a date that has been observed as an occasion to call for freedom and social change in the spirit of the 1919 movement when students championed "democracy" and "science" as forces to modernize China. Following a devastating quake that hit the province later that month, the government of Chengdu, which is home to more than 14 million people, promised to re-assess the environmental impact of the 38.1 billion yuan (U.S. $6 billion) plant, but construction began on the facility in 2011. 'On holiday' In Chengdu's Wenjiang district, activist Jiang Yuqiong said she and her husband had been taken away "on holiday" by officials to Black Dragon Lake near Meishan city. "[We will be back on] Sunday," Jiang said. The Chengdu-based rights website Tianwang said that Zhou Wenming, an activist from Sichuan's Shuangliu county, had been taken "on holiday" along with fellow activists Zhao Xianqiong and Yang Fang. Chengdu activist Xin Wenrong said he was summoned by the local branch of the state security police after a friend forwarded a post protesting the Pengzhou petrochemical plant to him, dating from 2010. "They used an illegal procedure for the summons," Xin said. "Some petitioners have been 'taken on holiday' today because of the Pengzhou petrochemical plant issue." Schools remaining open He said primary school and high school students in Chengdu had been forced to attend class all weekend, in a bid to stop the demonstration going ahead. "I tried to get onto[Twitter-like services] Sina and Tencent Weibo, to search for information, but Pengzhou petrochemical is already a sensitive word," Xin said. "If the government is sincere about communicating with the people, they should use methods other than detaining and threatening them, or forbidding print shops to photocopy certain things, and stop pretending there is no such thing as dissent," Xin said. Online censorship A 33-year-old woman was arrested on Friday after she called via her microblog account for a protest on May 4 against the plant, the Hong Kong English-language South China Morning Post reported. "In a post on Thursday on her microblog that has since been deleted, she also said the protest had been approved by authorities," the paper said. The security clampdown appeared to extend further than Chengdu, however, with online censorship blocking information about the protest, and tight security in Beijing. Search terms linked to the planned protest were blocked on social media sites on Thursday, including searches in Chinese for "Chengdu PX project," "May 4th+Jiuyan Bridge+take a walk," "Pengzhou+PX," and "Pengzhou+petrochemicals," according to the China Digital Times website, which monitors censorship edicts from Beijing. Surveillance in Beijing Authorities in Beijing stepped up surveillance of activists and petitioners, ordinary Chinese who pursue official complaints against the government in the capital, ahead of the sensitive May Fourth Movement anniversary on Saturday. Liaoning petitioner Zhao Guangjun said Tiananmen Square was basically sealed off on Friday, suggesting that the ruling Chinese Communist Party may have some activities of their own planned there. "They will be watching the university campuses tomorrow, as well as the embassy district and Tiananmen Square," Zhao said. "Some people are sure to get arrested tomorrow, or sent back home, or locked up," he said. "All of those things will likely happen." Jilin petitioner Deng Zhibo said many petitioners still planned to pursue their complaints outside central government offices on Saturday, however. "The more commemorative or sensitive a day is, the more it will attract petitioners," Deng said. "The petitioners aren't afraid of being sent home or locked up."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 21, 2013
- Event Description
On 27 April, activist Liu Ping and a number of other New Citizens' Movement activists were detained by police and charged with subversion after her campaign to have leaders disclose their financial assets. One of Ms Liu's lawyers went to Xinyu City in China's south-eastern Jiangxi province to see her, but police denied the request, citing national security reasons. Also detained were Liu Xizhen (???), Huang Huimin (???), Lei Wensheng (???), Ying Ligang (???), Li Xuemei (???), Wei Zhongping (???), Zou Guiqin (???), Su Meisheng (???), and Li Sihua (???). UPDATE 28/04/2013: Liu Xizhen (???), Huang Huimin (???), Lei Wensheng (???), Ying Ligang (???), and Li Xuemei (???) were released. UPDATE 04/06/2013: Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua were formally arrested on charges of illegal assembly. UPDATE 19/06/2014: Liu Ping and Wei Zhongping are handed down sentences of six and a half years by a court in Xinyu, Jiangxi, for "picking quarrels and provoking troubles," "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order," and "using an evil cult to undermine law enforcement." Li Sihua was sentenced to three years for "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order." UPDATE 11/07/2014: A Jiangxi appeals court upheld the sentences for all three activists. Their families consider an appeal unlikely because they believe the outcome to be political and predetermined.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2013
- Event Description
On 9 April 2013, 12 human rights campaigners were arrested in the Baluwatar area. The names of the 12 campaigners are: - Sudha Maharjan - Sushila Maharjan - Ishan Adhikari - Jagannath Lamichhane - Bidushi Dhungel - Prajwal Shrestha - Mukesh Shrestha - Nirprakash Giri - Kunjan Kafle - Mahis Maharjan - Bikram Shreshtha and - Ujwal Thapa Police arrested the 12 activists who have been taking part in the "Occupy Baluwatar Campaign" for over 100 days, demanding the end of violence against women and impunity and calling for justice and the rule of law. 9 April was the 103rd day of the peaceful protest. The campaign was launched by rights defenders in response to the rising number of incidents of violence against women (VAW). It is aimed at exerting pressure on the authorities to provide justice to the victims of VAW, and punish the perpetrators rigorously. Even though those detained were released a few hours later this act was a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 12, 2013
- Event Description
Women who blew the whistle on abuses and torture at a labor camp in northeastern China have been targeted by police as the authorities probe reports of abuses of women inmates, many of them pregnant. Li Wenjuan, who has spent time inside the Masanjia Women's Re-eduction Through Labor facility in Liaoning province, said more than 10 police officers had bashed down her door and tried to take her away following a recent expose by the magazine Lens of alleged torture and abuse at the camp. She said the police action came after they continued to bang on the door from Friday evening right until 3.00 a.m. on Saturday. "At around 8.00 p.m. on Friday, they came banging on my door, and I asked them which department they were from, and what they were doing," Li said in an interview on Monday. "They said they were police officers, and they'd come to detain Li Wenjuan." Then, around three hours after the knocking stopped, they made a concerted attempt to force their way into her apartment. "This time, they weren't just knocking on the door, they were trying to break it down," Li said. "They had hired a locksmith to pick the lock, but I stood there and held it shut the whole time." Li said she had told police she would rather jump to her death from her apartment than allow herself to be detained. Meanwhile, Zhao Min, a Liaoning-based petitioner and former Masanjia inmate, received a phone call from police wanting to come to her home after she was interviewed by Lens magazine for its April 7 expose. "She sent me a text saying that the police station had called to say they wanted to come round to her home, but she said, 'no,'" said fellow former inmate Gai Fengzhen, who has also spoken out about her experiences inside Masanjia. "The police told her not to give any interviews to the foreign media, otherwise they would 'go over there and deal with her.'" "There was another[Lens interviewee], Gao Fenglan," Gai said. "The police paid her a visit, and called her husband." "Her husband told her the police were coming round to her home, so she didn't open the door." Investigations stalled Gai said some of the Masanjia former inmates had been directed to the investigation team at the Liaoning provincial government by local government prosecutors, but were later unable to locate it. "The investigation team isn't investigating anything," Li Wenjuan said. "When you give them evidence, they don't want it." "I thought they were going to blow the lid of the whole Masanjia scandal, but actually they're just putting it back on again," she added. Calls to the Liaoning provincial government offices and the Liaoning provincial police department went unanswered during office hours on Monday. Censors in Beijing have issued an information blackout after the Lens article described a litany of abuse and torture of female inmates. The magazine quoted the diary of Masanjia inmate Wang Guilan as saying that police arbitrarily detained petitioners under the pretext of "maintaining stability" and committed a wide range of horrible abuses against them. The diary recorded how the camp accepted pregnant women and disabled individuals, forcing them to do strenuous labor for up to 14 hours a day, or risk being beaten or given other punishments. The reports were similar to allegations made by another former inmate in an interview with RFA's Mandarin service in January. According to the diary of former inmate Wang Guilan, guards chained detainees to chairs or beds and tortured them in hideous ways. The women were also ordered to monitor each other closely. Detainees were denied basic nourishment or medical care, even after becoming physically and mentally ill, and cancer sufferers were not given medical treatment, Wang said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 26, 2010
- Event Description
In May, July and August 2010, three Right to Information (RTI) activists were murdered. On 26 May 2010, Datta Patil was killed. On 20 July 2010, Amit Jethwa, 32 year old RTI activist from Gir, was shot dead by two assailants on a motorbike outside the Ahmedabad High Court. Jethwa had used information obtained under the Right To Information Act 2005 to expose the network of illegal mining run by BJP MP Dinu Solanki in the Gir forest area. On 7 September 2010, the MP's nephew Shiva Solanki was arrested for Jethwa's murder. On 27 August 2010, Ramdas Ghadegaonkar was killed. Murder is usually the last step in a build up of harassment that takes many forms. Invention of cases and imprisonment is the most common form of police harassment, but it is not unlikely for the force to physically assault petitioners either. In other cases, intimidation is dealt out via less "legitimate' channels. From Jharkhand, Sumit Kumar Mahato, Convenor of the RTI Forum, talks about being manhandled by goons for seeking information about funds spent on the building of a road. Rolly Shivhare of Jaano Re Abhiyaan from MP says, "I filed an application to ask for the Midday Meal Scheme budget from the Panchayat and Rural Welfare Department. I received a threatening phone call asking what I would do with this information. The caller said he was the "Development Commissioner'. When the police traced the call, it was found that it had indeed come from his office, though the commissioner himself denied any knowledge of it." RTI activists have learnt through unfortunate examples not to take such initial threats lightly. Down south in Karnataka, Venkatesh, 32, had filed an application to expose the Bangalore Development Authorities' involvement in a land scam case. Despite receiving threats, he continued to pursue the case alone. In April 2009, Venkatesh's body was found near the divider of a highway. His death was registered as a traffic accident. The RTI Study Centre filed an RTI application for the post-mortem report which revealed that his head injury was caused by a blunt instrument. On investigation, four people were charged. They have all been linked to the contractors involved in the scam. Malay Bhattacharya, secretary of the West Bengal RTI Manch differentiates between the harassment in urban and rural areas, "In urban West Bengal, applicants are harassed by the police who come to their house and threaten them and their family members." In villages, he says, the authorities ensure that those filing RTI applications are boycotted socially. Patterns differ from state to state but every state can be mapped with such stories, each one more horrific than the other. From tiny tribal villages to the bustling lanes of Mumbai and Delhi; from farmers and lorry drivers to middle class professionals- cases of criminal harassment following RTI applications abound everywhere. The monitory and emotional fallouts in all cases are life altering for the petitioners and their families. In most cases, the petitioners that are attacked have already been through harassment, because of rigorous attempts to obstruct their application.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to life
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2014
- Event Description
The authority intimidated rights groups and NGOs during a conference on human rights and Constitution in Khon Kaen. Military and police officers on Wednesday morning tried to monitor a discussion called "Human rights and the Constitution' in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in a bid to harass North East-based NGOs and activists, many of whom believed to be taking part in issuing a courageous statement, "No Reform Under Military Top Boots', denouncing the military government on Sunday. The organizers of the meeting reported that two police officers in plain clothes came to monitor the discussion at around 9:50 am and asked the organizers to clarify the discussion's content. They were joined by three military officers about 15 minutes later. At around noon, five police officers and three soldiers came into the meeting to photocopy documents collected from the meeting for further investigation. They also inspected the rosters of participants. The event organizer believed that the authority came to the meeting to check whether 17 human rights activists and NGOs workers who have signed an open letter, "No Reform Under Military Top Boots', were presented at the discussion. The discussion was organized by the Northeast's Natural Resource Protection and Management Network and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with approximately 30 participants.
- Impact of Event
- 30
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 1, 2014
- Event Description
On 23 October 2014, human rights defender Ms Liu Xizhen was placed in criminal detention on the charge of "causing trouble". On the same day, police officers raided Liu Xizhen's house. On 24 October 2014 her husband, Mr Huang Hui Min, received police documents confirming her detention. She was brought to Yuan He police station and is currently being held in Xinyu Detention Centre in Jiang Xi province. Her whereabouts were unknown since her disappearance on 1 October. Liu Xizhen is a human rights defender who has campaigned for Chinese Communist Party officials to disclose their assets and for the Chinese government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). On 1 October 2014, the human rights defender disappeared in Beijing, where she went to attend a protest against the continued detention and ill treatment of human rights defender Ms Liu Ping as well as a demonstration in support of protests in Hong Kong. While it is difficult to ascertain all details due to the ongoing detention, since her reappearance it has emerged that she may have been arrested at an intersection near Zhon Nan Hai (People's Republic of China state building) while attempting to hand over a petition and that she was subsequently brought back to Jiang Xi province and placed in a 'black jail' (an unofficial detention centre) for twenty days. On 5 October 2014, Liu Xizhen's husband informed the China-based Rights Defence Network of the disappearance of his wife and his fears that she may have been detained. Following Liu Xizhen's reappearance and her criminal detention, on 28 October 2014, Liu Xizhen's husband was threatened by the manager of the Xinyu Steel factory, where he also works, and was warned not to hire a human rights lawyer or a lawyer from outside of Xinyu. The manager also threatened Liu Xizhen's husband with imprisonment if he is found to be in contact with any human rights lawyers or human rights defenders. Front Line Defenders expresses its concern regarding the detention of Liu Xizhen and the threats against her husband. Furthermore, Front Line Defenders believes that these actions are solely related to Liu Xizhen's peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Nov 9, 2014
- Event Description
Eight student activists who were scheduled to speak at 8 pm on Sunday the 9th November at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah on student autonomy were barred from the campus by the administration. Anti-riot police were stationed at the gate. They were arrested by police, for the second time within the day, and taken to the Karamunsing police station to have their statements taken. Apparently, they were not informed why they were being arrested. Universiti Malaya student leader Fahmi Zainol confirmed the arrests in a media update. Besides Fahmi, the others arrested were from Universiti Teknologi Mara, one student; UMS Kota Kinabalu, three students; and UMS Labuan, three students. The UMS website posted a notice that the power supply at the university would be shut off from 9 pm Sun until 8 am Mon for scheduled maintenance works. UMS' student representative council president Mohd Al-Farid Abraham appealed in a sms to students to stay away from Fahmi's talk. "UMS is a harmonious campus and we don't want our campus to be marred by the demonstration culture, like what happened at Universiti Malaya several days ago that caused the main gate to be breached," said Mohd Al-Farid. "Therefore, I urge all students to focus on their studies and to understand that mid-terms are still going on. Let us together maintain the harmony of our campus." Earlier in the day, Kota Kinabalu police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Chandra confirmed that ten university students were detained at noon after they turned part of the Sunday Fair area along Jalan Gaya in the Sabah capital into an impromptu Speaker's Corner. Their detention, according to Chandra, was to enable police to record their particulars and take statements from them. He did not say what laws they had broken. The police stepped in as the students, led by Fahmi, were publicly complaining about the Universiti Malaya administration. The undergraduates also distributed pamphlets on academic freedom and the Sedition Act. Pro-Mahasiswa national chairperson Abdul Muqit Muhammad who was one of three released almost immediately said in a media update that the other seven students were taken by police for a urine test. "After giving our speech at Gaya Street, the police took us to "visit' the Kota Kinabalu police station," Fahmi wrote on Facebook at about 1pm on Sun. He had earlier posted that the student activists would visit Gaya Street, a must stop for tourists visiting Kota Kinabalu, before a student rally at Universiti Sabah Malaysia tonight. "Spot the hidden item," he added, tongue in cheek, of a picture of a police truck along Gaya Street.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 7, 2014
- Event Description
A United Nations women's rights watchdog has accused China of trying to silence activists and said some who had come to Geneva to testify about the country's record "fear reprisals" upon return. At least one female activist was prevented from going to the Swiss city under "travel restrictions" imposed by China, and others alleged their reports had been censored by "state agents", the panel said, calling for a halt to such practices. The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), whose 23 independent experts conducted a regular review of Beijing's record, also urged Chinese authorities to halt forced abortions and "infanticide of girls". In its conclusions, released on Friday the 7th November, the panel urged China to "take all necessary measures to protect woman human rights defenders, including those who have provided information to the Committee, and take steps to ensure that in the future no travel restrictions are placed on individuals/human rights defenders". "It is always a concern for us, that defenders of women's rights are totally free from fear and restrictions," Nicole Ameline, a French expert chairing the U.N. panel, told Reuters. "Human rights defenders have an important role in the combat against impunity," she added. The U.N. experts recognized government efforts to curb the practice of identifying a fetus' sex for non-medical reasons and sex-selective abortions, as well as forced abortions and sterilizations resulting in what it called "the unbalanced sex-ratio between girls and boys". "However, the Committee remains concerned that these illegal practices persist ... and that infanticide of girl (children), particularly girls with disabilities, have not been completely eradicated," it said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Nov 11, 2014
- Event Description
Seang Sovannara, the chief monk at Wat Samakki Raingsey, has not left the grounds of his pagoda for the best part of a week. Since activist monk Soeung Hai was arrested and defrocked for protesting peacefully outside City Hall on Tuesday the 11th November, Wat Samakki Raingsey, a popular residence for dissident monks and a magnet for marginal�_ized communities, has been under surveillance. "When I wake up in the morning, usually about 4 a.m., the police and military police are already moving into position to stand guard at the entrance to the pagoda," Seang Sovannara said from inside his dark dormitory on Friday. "They are here to watch our movements, to monitor who comes and goes, and to stop people from joining protests in the city," he said. In addition to Mr. Hai, who was sentenced on Wednesday to a year in prison for obstructing public officials, two more monks-Thach Sang, 19, and Khit Vannak, 20-have also been arrested and defrocked in the past week. Mr. Sang and Mr. Vannak were apprehended while carrying Cambodian and Buddhist flags from Wat Stung Meanchey to Wat Samakki Raingsey, where a displaced community from Preah Vihear province was waiting to receive the flags and march into Phnom Penh to bring attention to their battle to keep their land. The courts charged the two flag carriers with joining a "criminal association," a crime that carries a maximum jail term of five years. The pair is in Prey Sar prison awaiting their trial. "These arrests are a worry," Seang Sovannara said, "because I have heard that the authorities are very interested in arresting me and my deputy,[Thach Ha] Sam Ang." "They know that if they arrest us, the leaders, then our monks will not be organized." Photos of Mr. Hai wailing and wearing civilian clothes were circulated on social media following his arrest and defrocking, a process that is supposed to be undertaken with the oversight of senior members of the Buddhist clergy. But Buntenh, head of the In�_dependent Monk Network for Social Justice, said Friday that the defrocking of the three monks had not been done in accordance with Buddhist doctrine. "If a monk does wrong, there is a process that we must go through," he said. "It has been the same for many, many generations." But Buntenh said that, according to Buddhist doctrine, if a monk is thought to have broken the law, the authorities should inform the ecclesiastic hierarchy, who would then summon the monk in question and have him explain himself. "If the Ministry of Cult and Re�_ligion decides that the monk has committed wrong according to the law, then they will allow the monk to be defrocked," he said. "But po�_lice do not have the authority to arrest and defrock a monk before this process." At Wat Samakki Raingsey, Seang Sovannara said that monks living in or affiliated with his pagoda were often given the cold shoulder by the ecclesiastic hierarchy. The abbot said that he had no confidence that there was anyone he could reach out to in the event of a violation of doctrine. "[Great] Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong has never helped us before," he said, referring to the chief of the country's Mohanikaya Buddhism sect, who is also a former CPP parliamentarian. "The Ministry of Cults and Religion does not care about Kampuchea Krom monks." "The only ones we can call when there is a violation are NGOs and journalists." Khim Sorn, chief of the Moha�_nikaya sect's secretariat, said that monks affiliated with Wat Samakki Raingsey acted "independently" of the monkhood's doctrine and were therefore not afforded the same privileges as their peers at more obedient pagodas. He said that the pagoda's split from the clergy goes back to 2010, when the pagoda's founder, Yoeung Sin, passed away. "When the former chief monk was still alive, I used to meditate in this pagoda and lead the monks there to respect the Buddhist doctrine," Khim Sorn said. When Yoeung Sin died, he said, the monks at the pagoda refused to let the clergy appoint a new chief monk, instead choosing among themselves. "Since that time, Wat Samakki Raingsey has operated separately from Cambodian monk authorities because they do not allow us to regulate them," Khim Sorn said. "They want to operate independently so they don't need the au�_thorities to help them." Khim Sorn said that Buddhist doctrine dictates that a monk can only be defrocked with the blessing of the chief of his pagoda, which he said took place in all three cases this week. "In this case, the monk chief at Stung Meanchey pagoda joined other monk authorities to defrock them," he said. However, Thai Buntheoun, the chief monk at Wat Stung Mean�_chey, said that was not the case. "I did not join the defrocking of those monks," he said, referring further questions to the Ministry of Cults and Religion. Seng Somony, spokesman for the ministry, said that protocol had been followed. "Before authorities sent them to court, they had permission from monk authorities to defrock them," he said. "They broke government rules, therefore they cannot remain in the monkhood." Back at Wat Samakki Raingsey, Seang Sovannara said he was fearful that his turn to be arrested and defrocked was not far away. "The high-ranking monks have never called me in person to ask me anything about activists at the pagoda," he said. "But recently I have been getting phone calls where people threaten me: "If you don't make it stop, you will be arrested.'" He said that with police watching his pagoda closely, monks were afraid they could be arrested if they ventured outside the pagoda grounds alone on in small groups. "We will not stop our social work," he said. "When we leave, we just need to go in large groups. They dare not stop us if we are many." And if things do get too hot outside the pagoda, he will instruct his monks to remain inside, where he believes they will be out of the law's reach. "Police and military police can not come inside the pagoda; if they do, we will dismiss them," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2014
- Event Description
Vietnamese authorities have ramped up their harassment of dissident rights lawyer and former political prisoner Nguyen Bac Truyen, stationing a large group of security agents in plain clothes outside his rented house on Wednesday 5th November and threatening his landlady with a knife, according to sources. Truyen, who provides free legal assistance to victims of land grabs and has campaigned for multiparty democracy in one-party communist Vietnam, was released on probation from prison in May 2010 after serving three and a half years for "conducting propaganda against the state." He now lives in a house in southern Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City rented from another former prisoner, Pham Minh Hoang, a blogger and former mathematics teacher serving a period of probation after his own release from prison in January 2012. "To them[the police], Nguyen Bac Truyen is a very dangerous man, so they guard him all the time," Hoang told RFA's Vietnamese Service on Wednesday. "They have assigned people to sit in front of the house and block him from leaving," Hoang said. "They sit in front of that house 24 hours a day," Hoang's wife, surnamed Oanh, said. "I don't know what they do at night, but they follow Truyen wherever he goes." On Nov. 5, harassment intensified when the group was joined by another group "disguised as ordinary people," though Oanh said she recognized one as a policeman because of his uniform socks. "They brought food and drinks to have a party right in front of my house," she said. When Hoang and Oanh approached the men, "they displayed a very rude attitude and even threatened my wife with a knife because she told them not to sit there," Hoang said. Calls for help to the local police brought no result, so Hoang--who holds French citizenship--and his wife appealed for assistance to the French consulate, they said. "At the beginning, we did not want to do it, and we only called the local police," said Oanh, "But they refused to come, saying they were busy in a meeting." "As there was no one who would protect us, we had to call the consulate. My husband is a French citizen, so he comes under their protection," she said. Reached by phone by RFA on Wednesday, the French consulate in Ho Chi Minh City declined to comment on the case. Nguyen Bac Truyen himself has been followed and harassed ever since his release from prison, Truyen told RFA in a recent interview. "Whenever there is a gathering of civil society groups, plainclothes policemen are assigned to watch me, threaten me, and prevent me from going out," he said. "After I was freed from prison, they followed me 24 hours a day, but for the last two months they have only watched me from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m." "However, they are very aggressive," he said. In February 2014, Truyen and his wife were dragged from a taxi and beaten by suspected police agents while traveling to meet with an Australian diplomat in Hanoi to press for the release of fellow activists detained after a police raid on his house. Hundreds of armed Vietnamese police and government agents fired gunshots and stormed the residence during the Feb. 9 raid, according to rights groups and Truyen's wife. Also on Wednesday, Vietnamese dissident Nguyen Dan Que reported increased police surveillance at his own residence in Ho Chi Minh City after learning of the harassment of Truyen and Hoang. The two new officers set to guard him are "different from the two others who were here before, but their behavior is very intimidating and aggressive," Que said. "They have not entered my house, but they walk back and forth in front of it," he said. "If I go out, they follow me."
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance , Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Nov 25, 2014
- Event Description
Atty. Jose Aaron Pedrosa, Jr., 29, a Board Member of the human rights organization Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and leader of the multi-sectoral organization SANLAKAS, was arrested in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Subang Daku, Mandaue City on November 25, 2014 at around 1:45pm. He was arrested by more or less twenty (20) police officers headed by a certain Miguel Andiza while pleading to the police to stop harassing the residents over yet another case of forced eviction against them. According to Pedrosa, the police attempted to drag the residents, most of whom were women, into the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) vehicle. Atty. Pedrosa was brought to Police Station 2, Mandaue and charged with Obstruction of Justice. Aside from Atty. Pedrosa, a community leader named Jessica A. Zuniga, 22 years old, was also arrested. We now urge government authorities for the immediate release of Atty. Jose Aaron Pedrosa and Jessica A. Zuniga, since the main reason for their arbitrary detention is to suppress their activities in defense of human rights. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of both Atty. Pedrosa, and Ms. Zuniga, as well as of all human rights defenders in the Philippines. And, put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, Ms. Zuniga and all human rights defenders to ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their work without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Nov 20, 2014
- Event Description
A Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) rally held on the evening of 20th November at the Tugu Yogyakarta monument area turned sour after a group of unknown assailants attacked the event, injuring four participants. Witnesses said the attackers were mostly skinny, dark-skinned men with pierced ears. They arrived at the venue at about 9:15 p.m., after the event itself had finished, and took away banners from rally participants. "Then they dragged, kicked and pushed the rally participants," Mario Pratama of the Yogyakarta Women's Network (JPY), which organized the rally, said at the Yogyakarta Police headquarters on Friday. Mario was at the police headquarters to file a report on the attack. Accompanying Mario were the four injured rally participants as well as lawyers from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH). Mario said that many of the participants of Thursday's rally managed to flee from the scene, but four were left behind and were beaten by the angry attackers. The injured participants asked to be identified only as AL, BER, MUS and HA. Of the four, AL sustained the worst injuries as his left hand was fractured and the back of his head was hurt. Prior to the incident, a message calling for a move to dismiss the rally was reportedly circulated through the Blackberry Messenger application. The Jakarta Post received the broadcast message on Thursday after the incident occurred. Mario expressed concern over the incident, saying that the violence was at odds with the spirit of the rally, which was dedicated to remembering transgender people who died as a result of hate crime. He said the JPY held the rally in Yogyakarta because Indonesia was among countries with the highest number of cases of violence against the transgender community. Quoting research, Mario said that 85 percent of the transgender community had experienced violence during the period of 2011-2012. After filing the report, scores of JPY activists staged a rally on the grounds of the Yogyakarta Police headquarters. They carried placards bearing letters that read "Jogja Ora Aman, Jogja Intoleran" (Yogya is not safe, Yogya is intolerant) when joined together. Tia Setiyani, also an activist with the JPY, said the violence against the TDOR rally participants tarnished the spirit of the TDOR, human rights, diversity and the status of Yogyakarta as a city of tolerance. "The JPY calls on the Yogyakarta Police to thoroughly investigate the case and not to commit omissions against violence against LGBT[lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people]," Tia said. Woman activist Budi Wahyuni, who was recently elected as a commissioner for the 2015-2019 National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) said she was fed up with cases of violence in Yogyakarta that were left unaddressed. "This is a challenge for the Yogyakarta Police chief to finish the case," Budi said. In response, Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Oerip Subagyo said the police would investigate the case if they were presented with evidence. The transgender community in Yogyakarta has faced numerous challenges in recent months. In September, the University of Sanata Dharma (USD) decided to cancel a seminar on LBGT issues following threats from the Islamic People's Forum (FUI). The FUI threatened to shut down the seminar by force, claiming that the event would propagate the spread of homosexuality, which, it said, violated Islamic values and social morality.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest, SOGI rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 10, 2014
- Event Description
Three unidentified men beat up the husband of an outspoken Beijing-based housing rights activist amid a growing campaign by local police to force the two to leave their home, the couple said. As world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Tuesday to forge closer trade and economic ties in the region, the authorities have carried out mass detentions of petitioners and placed many critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party under house arrest. Three men in plain clothes came to the rented apartment in Beijing of wheelchair-bound eviction activist Ni Yulan, 52, and her husband Dong Jiqin, in the early hours of Monday morning, Ni told RFA. "The police don't want us living in this rented apartment ... and they have already been to see the landlord to tell them not to allow us to continue living here," Ni said. "On Nov. 5, the landlord's entire family of five came by to force us to move, but it was the police who drove them here in their cars," she added. Ni was sentenced in April 2012 to a two-year prison term following her conviction on charges of "fraud" and "causing a disturbance" by Beijing's Xicheng District People's Court after she protested forced evictions ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Her husband, former schoolteacher Dong Jiqin, was also convicted of creating a disturbance and was handed a two-year term. Beijing authorities had earlier revoked Ni's business license because of her legal advocacy work on behalf of the capital's residents who were evicted to make way for development linked to the 2008 Olympic Games. Ni said police had beaten Dong during the raid on the couple's home. "My other half told them they should show some ID, so one of the men went outside and got into a small black car, where there were two other people sitting, and they came and shoved Dong, pushing him to the ground, and then they beat him," she said. "They snatched away his cell phone, which is now so damaged you can't use the screen, and I don't know where the SIM card is," Ni said. Ni said the couple had called the police and municipal government officials after the attack. "I called[emergency number] 110 ... maybe 11 times, but the local police station never got around to sending any officers," she said. Dong sustained bruising to his back and is currently in a state of shock following the attack, she added. "He is a bit shaky when he stands," she said. In a later interview, Dong told RFA things had got "even more tense" after police began following the couple everywhere they went at the end of last month. He said the attack is likely linked to tight security surrounding the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leadership summit in Beijing on Tuesday. "Some officials from foreign embassies wanted to set up a meeting with both of us," Dong said. "But the police kept them outside, and wouldn't let them come in. They wouldn't let us go out, either." "They blocked the door of our apartment with 50 or 60 people," he said. "There were police cars, traffic cop cars and other vehicles parked outside." Obama called Monday on the administration of Chinese president Xi Jinping to improve human rights, as well as to ease trade barriers, during a speech to the APEC forum. But sources in the capital say his officials are having a hard time arranging any direct meetings with dissidents and activists, making it harder for the president to put the topic firmly on the agenda. Dong said he is reluctant to move, because there are no guarantees that police harassment won't continue in another location. "The police beat me up[on Monday] morning, and they snatched away my cell phone when I went to call 110," he said. "They beat me around the head and chest." Obama told Xi on Tuesday that he wants to take U.S.-China relations to "a new level" after the leadership summit agreed to launch a two-year study into China's plans for a regional free-trade pact to rival the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Obama is also scheduled for one-to-one discussions with Xi on Wednesday, which will likely include cyber-security, climate change and maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas that have fed growing regional tensions between an increasingly assertive China and its smaller Asian neighbors. Later that day, Obama will leave for another regional economic meeting in Myanmar, before heading to the G-20 in Brisbane, Australia at the weekend.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to housing
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 11, 2014
- Event Description
Military and police officers on Tuesday 11th November interrupted a private meeting between a lawyer and her clients in northeastern Udon Thani Province, while they were discussing a case related to the environmental impact of a dam. The military also told the lawyer to ask for permission for every meeting with her clients. Four military and three police officers interrupted the meeting at a hotel in central Udon Thani Province and forced the lawyer to write and sign a letter asking for permission to hold the meeting. After signing the document, the military allowed the meeting to continue, but did not leave the venue and observed the talk, according to Sor Rattanamanee Polkaw, the lawyer from the Community Resources Centre (CRC). The officers also collected documents related to the cases. "Why do lawyers need to ask for permission to meet with clients?" asked Sor Rattanamanee. She also pointed out that if the cases involved military officers as defendants, such as cases in the restive Deep South, the military should not interrupt or be present during such meetings. The meeting was to discuss the case against the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), in which 20 villagers affected by the construction of the Xayaburi hydroelectric dam on the Lower Mekong River in northern Laos are co-plaintiffs. EGAT has committed to purchase electricity from the dam. Sor Rattanamanee, who works on various community and environmental rights cases, was told by the military to ask for permission in advance every time she plans to hold a meeting with clients.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in the central Chinese province of Henan on Monday 1st December clamped down on public activities by AIDS activists in the provincial capital Zhengzhou to mark World AIDS Day, holding a key participant under house arrest. Wang Qiuyun, an activist based in Henan's Chibi city, said she had been unable to attend the event highlighting rampant discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. "I am at home under surveillance, because I had planned to go to this activity in Zhengzhou, but I can't now," Wang told RFA from her home. "The Women Against AIDS Network had planned a news conference and was going to give interviews about medical discrimination." "There was also an event planned by students from Zhengzhou University, including discussion forums and panels, but I can't go to any of them now," she said. Wang, who is HIV-positive, said the authorities also confiscated her passport. "They took it away when I tried to attend a conference in Geneva, and they haven't given it back to me," she said. "They have been keeping an eye on me since October; they have taken over my e-mail account." Yuan Wenli, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Women Against AIDS Network non-government group, said she hoped around 100 people would attend the event. "This was an educational event to try to combat discrimination," Yuan told RFA on Monday. "The students are giving speeches, and they invited me and Wang Qiuyuan to tell the story of people living with HIV." Rights lawyer released Henan authorities have meanwhile released a prominent rights lawyer who campaigned for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. Chang Boyang, who was detained in May as one of the "Zhengzhou 10" for attending a memorial event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, was released on bail on Saturday after more than 100 days in criminal detention. Chang, one of the founders of healthcare NGO Zhengzhou Yirenping, which has campaigned for the equal rights of people living with HIV to receive healthcare, had been held in the Zhengzhou No.3 Detention Center, his lawyer Feng Yanqiang told RFA. "This bail means that he is still under criminal enforcement measures, so his status has changed from being formally arrested," Feng said. "This was entirely decided by the judiciary. There is no need for him to agree, once they have decided." The release of political detainees "on bail" is sometimes used by China's state security police as a means of exerting continued control over their actions and movements, knowing that they can be redetained at any time. But Feng said Chang now looks likely to avoid being tried for "running an illegal business." "Chang has always maintained that he is innocent, and demands that the police drop the case against him," Feng said. "He wanted to walk free from the detention center with nothing on his record." Feng said Chang had refused to sign a document acknowledging the conditions of his bail, however. "He refused to sign a thing," he added. Battling discrimination Beijing-based AIDS activist Lu Jun described Chang as a prominent public interest lawyer who has battled discrimination on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS. "He has taken on cases and appeals on behalf of large numbers of disadvantaged people, including appeals over discrimination against AIDS patients," Lu said. He said that during the 100 days that Chang Boyang was detained, he was prevented from meeting with his own defense lawyer. "They just found a pretext to arrest Chang Boyang because of the international attention his public interest work brought him," Lu added. China had recorded a total of 497,000 HIV/AIDS infections by the end of October, resulting in 154,000 deaths, according to government figures released on Sunday. Wang Guoqiang, deputy director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission said sexual transmission was the main source of infection, while mother-to-child, and drug and needle infection rates are low. However, U.S.-based dissident doctors such as Wan Yanhai and Gao Yaojie say the majority of new HIV infections come from a network of thousands of blood-selling and transfusion clinics which are still operating in poorer regions of the country. In April, the ruling Chinese Communist Party sent inspection teams to the central province of Henan to investigate the cause of a massive AIDS epidemic among poverty-stricken rural communities who took part in the blood-selling schemes of the 1990s. Both Wan and Gao fled to the U.S. after official reprisals for their whistleblowing on the blood-selling scandal, and for their insistence that it continues in poorer regions of the country to this day. Last Friday, dozens of protesters converged on the downtown area in the southwestern city of Chengdu, carrying placards that read:"Against medical discrimination" and "Equal treatment." Zhengzhou-based activist Cheng Shuaishuai told RFA on Saturday he had been swathed in bandages as part of the protest over unnecessary treatment and precautions taken by healthcare workers in China when treating people with HIV. "The idea was that people should take the bandages off me to symbolize the equal treatment of people with HIV," he said. "Everyone thinks that you have to take special measures to prevent HIV transmission and cross-infection, and that's why we did this installation." "We want to wipe out discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS," said Cheng, who is HIV-positive. "The main form of discrimination, I think, comes from the doctors treating HIV patients," he said. "They won't carry out surgery on them or even see them for consultations." "This discrimination among doctors leads to wider discrimination in society as a whole," said Cheng, who in 2012 set up a nongovernmental group that offers free support to people living with HIV/AIDS. "That's why we are calling on the medical profession first." Earlier this year, Cheng won 87,000 yuan (U.S. $14,000) in compensation from a Zhengzhou court after he and a friend were refused permission to board a Spring Airlines flight in the northeastern city of Shenyang when staff discovered their HIV status. The two, along with an HIV-negative traveling companion, were told that their tickets had been canceled, official media reported at the time. One of the plaintiffs, Chen Jie, told RFA the three had never expected to win, but that the case had helped improve company policy. "They have already amended the discriminatory rule, and people with HIV/AIDS are able to travel on their aircraft," Chen said. "I think that is very important, but I also hope that they will apologize." "It is encouraging for people living with HIV/AIDS to know that they can use the law as a weapon to protect themselves when their rights are violated," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Right to self-determination
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 13, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangzhou have prevented a prominent women's rights activist from leaving the country after she planned to attend a forum in Thailand. The activist, who asked to be identified only by her surname Zheng, said she had been stopped from boarding a flight to Bangkok on Thursday 13th November by China's border guards. "I was refused permission to leave the country," said Zheng, who had planned to take part in the U.N.-sponsored Asia-Pacific NGO Forum on Friday. "They took me into a glass-walled room and they confiscated my cell phone and my travel documents without giving any reason whatsoever," she said. "Then they told me to wait." Zheng was traveling with a fellow activist surnamed Liang. Border guards also confiscated her phone and shut her up in the same room. "There was a female border guard watching over us, and we waited for a very long time," Zheng said. "I asked to go to the toilet but they just said 'wait a minute.'" "I waited there for three hours, but they didn't let me go to the toilet." 'Under investigation' She said the authorities had initially suspected "a problem" with Liang's documents, but eventually let her go after "checking them out." "I was taken into an interview room with a male border guard ... who told me I had been refused permission to leave the country," Zheng said. "I asked him why, and he said that I am under investigation, so I can't leave." She said the border guard refused to provide a written document confirming the reason he had given her. "He said he didn't have the authority to issue such a document," said Zheng, who was still at the airport waiting for her luggage to be returned to her when she spoke to RFA. "He wouldn't say who was supposed to be investigating me; he just said it was the 'relevant departments,'" she said. A different reality China's ruling Communist Party has promoted gender equality, at least in theory, since it came to power in 1949. But women's and rights campaigners say the reality is very different on the ground, and that discrimination still presents major obstacles to equality. The Bangkok forum is part of a series of U.N.-backed events promoting the rights of women and girls in the wake of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The conference, hosted in Beijing, set out a challenging program of improvements to the rights and opportunities offered to women and girls around the world, as well as requiring governments to report back to the U.N. on progress in key areas. The Beijing Declaration produced by the conference included a pledge to "ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all women and girls." It also called on governments to "develop the fullest potential of girls and women of all ages, ensure their full and equal participation in building a better world for all and enhance their role in the development process." Discrimination widespread Zheng has been a vocal protester against discrimination against women in state and corporate hiring practices in China, leading a movement in Guangzhou in which activists shaved their heads in protest over sexist job advertisements. Some of these included different entry requirements for men and women to top-level university courses and jobs. Chinese rights groups say that 70-90 percent of female graduates have experienced some form of discrimination against women during their search for work. Activists say that Chinese women face major barriers to finding work in the graduate labor market and fear getting pregnant if they have a job, out of concern their employer will fire them, a common practice despite protections on paper offered by China's Labor Law. Overseas rights groups cite high levels of unemployment among highly qualified Chinese women, while unskilled migrant women workers are preferred by employers as being less likely to take a stand on labor rights, pay, and working conditions.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Right to self-determination
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 17, 2014
- Event Description
The military demanded that an Isan environmental activist shut down his personal Facebook page and a Facebook page on the controversial Pak Moon Dam and ordered him to report in. The activist said he would defy the order, however. Kritsakorn Silarak, an activist from People' Movement for Just Society (P-Move) revealed that he had received two phone calls from a military officer on the night of 17th November and the following day, who tried to intimidate him into closing a community Facebook page called "Together, let's open the gates of the Pak Moon Dam forever", citing that the page brings discomfort to the authorities. The military also ordered him to close down his personal Facebook profile "Paijit Silarak'. The military also summoned him to Sappasit Prasong Military Camp in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province on Thursday. However, he told Prachatai that he would not report in. The Pak Moon Dam is located on the Moon River in Ubon Ratchathani Province near the confluence with the Mekhong and was completed in 1994. The dam displaced approximately 3,000 families and affected tens of thousands more upstream since it caused a massive reduction of fish stocks in the river. Kritsakorn reported that the military also ordered him to come to the military camp and close down his personal Facebook page "Paijit Silarak', citing its inappropriate content. The activist, however, did not close down the page and told the authorities that the Pak Moon Dam community page is harmless to the junta and that he forgot the password and address of his personal email, which he stopped using a while ago. He further stated publicly that the authorities' measures to cover up the facts and people's perspectives are not compatible with the present day world. The intimidation started only a day before students at Kasetsart University in Bangkok organized a rally, which was forcibly cancelled by the police, against the construction of the Mae Wong Dam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in Beijing on Wednesday 10th December detained hundreds of activists after they gathered outside United Nations offices and other major buildings in Beijing, calling on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to uphold human rights. Petitioners and rights activists converged on United Nations offices, national complaints offices, and other landmarks on Wednesday in a bid to highlight human rights violations by the government and law enforcement. Others arrived at Tiananmen Square, or handed out leaflets on public transportation calling on the government to respect protection for human rights enshrined in China's constitution. All were detained by police and taken to Jiujingzhuang, an extrajudicial detention center on the outskirts of Beijing, they told RFA. Yu Nanzhe, a petitioner from the eastern province of Jiangsu, said he had arrived outside U.N. headquarters in Liangmahe in the early morning. "There were so many police at Liangmahe," Yu said. "They were waiting for us as soon as we came up out of the subway." "They grabbed us by the arm and shoved us onto the bus and took us to Jiujingzhuang," he said. "There was one bus after another coming in to Jiujingzhuang, all packed with people." Yu said he had personally counted 29 buses, each of which can carry 40 to 50 people. "There were at least a few thousand people[brought here on buses today]," he said. "They were pretty much all of them petitioners." "I was brought to the front gate of Jiujingzhuang at about 11.00 a.m., and I had to line up until about 2.00 p.m. before I got inside," he said. A second detained petitioner from Jilin, Zhang Jixin, said all the petitioners had turned out in force to mark Human Rights Day. "We thought we would go to a global human rights organization on World Human Rights Day," Zhang said in an interview from Jiujingzhuang. "It seemed the only option left to us." He said he too was rapidly detained on exiting the subway station. "I didn't even get as far as the footbridge, when a large number of police stopped me from going any further," Zhang said. "I told them ... my right to due legal process has already been taken away from me within my own country, so I wanted to appeal to an international court," he said. "We may be petitioners, but we are patriotic, and we just want justice in our country, and the rule of law," Zhang added. "We knew it was a dangerous option." "The police told me it didn't matter what I was doing, that I had to get on the bus, and then they brought us to Jiujingzhuang." China's army of petitioners pursue complaints about the government, often for decades and in the face of extrajudicial detentions in "black jails," physical abuse, and other forms of mistreatment. They say they are increasingly stonewalled by the country's courts, and instead flood the government's "letters and visits" petitioning system with more than 20,000 new complaints a day, according to figures released in November 2013. According to the Sichuan-based Tianwang rights website, more than 500 people were detained by police outside the U.N. compound in Beijing on Wednesday. It said more than a dozen petitioners were also detained on Tiananmen Square and taken to the nearby police station. In 1950, the U.N. General Assembly announced Dec. 10 would be Human Rights Day, in a bid to promote its Universal Declaration of Human Rights to "the peoples of the world" as a common standard. In a statement on the official U.N. website on Wednesday, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on member states around the world to honor their obligations to their citizens. "Violations of human rights are more than personal tragedies. They are alarm bells that may warn of a much bigger crisis," Ban said. "We are rallying in response to violations - before they degenerate into mass atrocities or war crimes." "I call on people to hold their governments to account. And I call for special protections for the human rights defenders who courageously serve our collective cause," he said. China's official media meanwhile hit back at U.S. criticism of its rights record on Wednesday, citing the response to the recent shooting of black Ferguson teenager Michael Brown and a report detailing the use of torture by the CIA. "America is neither a suitable role model nor a qualified judge on human rights issues in other countries," the official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary. "As a developing country, China is in the process of ensuring its citizens have access to the constitutional and social rights to ensure development," the article said. "Part of this developmental process is the acknowledgement and understanding of its own human rights issues." Chinese rights lawyer Chen Yong said human rights protection still depends on the political will to enforce the country's existing laws. "It's pretty plain to see whether China's human rights record is good or bad; we all know it in our bones," Chen said, adding that China has no shortage of admirable legal principles and good legislation. "China doesn't need more laws and regulations; it needs to enforce the ones it has," he said."Only then can we improve our human rights record." Two campaign groups on Wednesday published a joint list of 83 Chinese citizens who are currently serving jail time for peacefully expressing their political opinions. The Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website, together with rights defenders site Weiquanwang, published a list of profiles of China's prisoners of conscience, which includes jailed 2010 Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo and 27 others indicted on charges linked to his "Charter 08" political reform document. The groups said the administration of President Xi Jinping has implemented a far-reaching and severe crackdown on citizens and social activists since it took power in November 2012. Citizens continue to be detained for participating in the anti-graft New Citizens' Movement, in the street demonstrations for press freedom outside Guangzhou's Southern Weekend newspaper group in January 2013, for supporting the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and for commemorating the 25th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 crackdown, the groups said. It said pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, lawyers, NGO workers, journalists, and public intellectuals have all been targeted. Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said the crackdown had begun as early as the first year of Xi's presidency. "We already realized this was going to go much further than the administration of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao had done in the previous 10 years," Hu Jia said. "And the arrests have been coming thick and fast in the past two months of this year, especially since the beginning of Occupy Central in Hong Kong on Sept. 28," he said. "What's more, they aren't allowing them to meet with their lawyers." In Hong Kong, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said Nobel laureate Liu is currently writing a book while serving his prison sentence in Jinzhou Prison in northeast China's Liaoning province. But the authorities have made it clear he won't be able to take the manuscript with him on his release, the center said in a statement. Liu, 58, a literary critic and former professor, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China" in a decision that infuriated Beijing. His wife Liu Xia, 55, remains incommunicado and under strict house arrest at the couple's home in Beijing, where she has been held since her husband's award was announced.
- Impact of Event
- 500
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 14, 2014
- Event Description
According to sources, on 14 November 2014 local rights activist Shankarlal Meena went with a delegation of villagers to meet the District Magistrate of Sikar on behalf of the village Sarpanch (Village Panchayat head) to register their protest against the illegal mining activities in the school ground of their village Toda. Sikar, the district headquarters is 120 kilometers away from Shankarlal Meena's village Toda. When they returned to their village after meeting the District Magistrate, Shankarlal Meena was attacked in his village market at around 6.00 PM by a group of 15 to 18 people closely associated with the stone quarry mafia in the evening. The attackers were armed with swords and sticks. The group was reported to have links with the former MLA Ramesh Khandelwal, currently with the BJP who controls the mining activities along with liquor trade in the region. In this brutal attack on his life, Shankarlal Meena suffered fractures in his hand and leg. He also suffered a head injury. Shankarlal Meena was taken to Sawai Madhopur Hospital, Jaipur where his wounds were sutured to control bleeding. In 2012 too the stone quarry mafia had threatened to kill Shankarlal Meena for his action against the mining activities being carried out by stone quarry mafia in and around the village. Around 1500 locals from 13 villages of Neemka Thana Tahsil in Sikar district staged a protest in Toda village on 17 November, 2014 demanding justice for the attack on the local activist Mr. Shankarlal Meena by the organised mining mafia of the region. Local sources said that the district administration asked the protesting villagers to end their protest assuring them that they would arrest the culprits and take action. Neemka Thana Tahsil in Sikar district of Rajasthan falls in the ranges of Aravalli hills, one of the oldest mountain ranges. Mining activities in the areas around Neemka Thana include blasting, stone crushing and extraction of ground water which were being carried out without lease or authorisation. Mining in Aravalli hills are in violation of Supreme Court's guidelines. Villagers of this district have been protesting for the last many years against the encroachment of pasture land by mining mafia, use of stone crushers and mining blasts causing damages to houses and agricultural land.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Dec 9, 2014
- Event Description
Activists and monks who were marching to Phnom Penh from across the country to mark Human Rights Day on Wednesday the 10th December met with roadblocks and armed police on the city's outskirts Tuesday morning, negotiating their way through the blockages only to find the pagodas where they intended to spend the night were locked. A group of about 70 marchers making their way along National Road 2 came up against a roadblock manned by some 30 police in Meanchey district at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, where they were prevented from passing for about an hour. But contacted Tuesday, acting district police chief Chuem Sitha denied that his officers had set up barricades. "No, we didn't set up barriers; it was time for the monks to have lunch," he said. Mr. Sitha said authorities demanded that representatives of the marchers sign agreements promising that they would not block traffic once inside the city center. "We did not stop them, we just checked them for weapons...and ensured there would be no traffic jams," he said. Once the roadblocks were removed, the group-which started their journey in Takeo province's Kiri Vong district-tramped down the highway and past the Phnom Penh headquarters of the opposition CNRP, where they were met by party president Sam Rainsy and lawmaker Mu Sochua, who accompanied them to Wat Tan on Norodom Boulevard. Prak Bora, second deputy chief monk at the pagoda, welcomed the weary band at about 2 p.m., and criticized reports that authorities had ordered pagodas along the way to lock out marchers. "I'm not happy that local authorities pressure pagodas to ban marchers from staying," he said. "A pagoda is a place for everyone." But a second group of marchers that had traveled from Ratanakkiri province-which was also temporarily stopped outside the city by police, according to rights group Adhoc-apparently received a less warm welcome. The group, which included members of the seven different ethnic minority communities from the country's northeast, was refused entry to Keang Kleang pagoda in Chroy Changva district, where they had intended to stay the night, according to rights group Licadho. The activists moved on to nearby Wat Chas, where they were offered shelter, Licadho said. Another group of about 100 marchers, which had traveled into the city via National Road 4, arrived at Stung Meanchey pagoda in Meanchey district to find the gates locked. Thai Bunthoeun, acting chief monk at the pagoda, said his decision to stop marchers from entering was in accordance with a joint statement released by the country's Mohanikaya and Thammayut Buddhist sects on Friday prohibiting monks from taking part in marches. "Another reason is that we are afraid that they will not leave if we allow them to stay," he said. After being rejected from Wat Stung Meanchey, the group was welcomed at Wat Samakki Raingsey, where chief monk Sieng Sovannara said the group was "staying happily" last night. Speaking at Wat Tan, Ms. Sochua, the opposition lawmaker, said she was hopeful authorities would allow Wednesday's celebrations to go ahead despite Tuesday's obstacles. "It's been sad to see the way[the monks] have been treated along the way...but I'm optimistic they will be allowed to finish without any blockades. I think authorities know better than to stop them," she said. "They will just intimidate with the security guards and all that, but I think it will be justice that will prevail."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 26, 2014
- Event Description
Vietnamese rights activists and foreign diplomats went ahead with a planned human rights conference in Hanoi on Wednesday 26th November, defying efforts by police to harass and intimidate event organizers, sources said. The conference, titled "U.N. Protection Mechanisms for Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam," was held at the Thai Ha church in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, and was attended by over 70 members of civil society groups, together with representatives of the United Nations and embassies of Australia, the U.S., the UK, and the European Union. After being warned by police that the rare gathering was considered "illegal" by authorities, event organizer Nguyen Quang A was repeatedly blocked in his efforts to arrive at the church, he told RFA's Vietnamese Service on Wednesday. "I left home at about 5:00 a.m., and about 200 meters[700 feet] away from my house there were about 10 people on motorbikes and some others on foot who followed me," Quang A said. "They then stopped me from getting onto a bus, and when I tried to wave down a taxi, they would not let me get on, and told the taxi to leave," he said. Proceeding on foot, Quang A told the people following him that the topics scheduled for discussion at the conference involved their rights, too, and invited them to join him at the church - a site of protests in October by Catholic parishioners against authorities seeking to confiscate church land. "When I approached the turn-off to the church, about 30 people surrounded me and tried to force me back to the other side of the street," said Quang A, who by now had walked "for hours" to reach his destination. After struggling with his pursuers for about 10 to 15 minutes, "some people from the church and representatives from the U.S., Australian, and UK embassies came out, and I took the opportunity to break away and enter the church," he said. "It was then 9:00 a.m.," he said. Other civil society activists had also been followed and harassed by police and security officers on their way to the conference, which was attended by participants from around the country, Quang A added. One participant, Trinh Ba Phuong, said his mother Can Thi Thu had been jailed for defending her rights to her land in Duong Noi village, outside the capital. "Duong Noi farmers will continue our peaceful fight based in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Vietnam is a party to," Phuong told RFA. On the evening before the conference was held, a police officer and security official from the local Quang Trung commune had entered Thai Ha church to check the residency status of those present, but parishioners protested and demanded that they leave, sources said. Authorities in Hanoi had also sent an official notice to the church, ordering that the conference be canceled, Quang A said. The Vietnamese government suppresses virtually all forms of political dissent, using a broad array of repressive measures, according to U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. Freedom of expression, association, and public assembly are tightly controlled in the country, it says. "Religious activists are harassed, intimidated, and imprisoned. The criminal justice system lacks independence and operates under the direction of the government and party."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 15, 2014
- Event Description
More than 100 farmers in a northeastern province face charges on land encroachment as a result of the junta's Return the Forest policy, after the military prohibited the farmers from holding a public discussion to voice their concerns to the military government. Laothai Nimnuan, the coordinator of Isan Farmers' Federation of Thailand's Northeast, told Prachatai that more than 60 military and police officers on Monday the 15th December stormed into the venue planned for the public discussion on land rights and forced the organizers to cancel the meeting. He added that the military also recorded the names of all participants and requested the police to keep track of the participants' journeys home. The cancelled discussion on "Sustainable solutions for forest and land management of the people' was organized on Thursday along with other regional farmers' networks to gather opinions among northeastern farmers in order to write a petition to M.L. Panadda Diskul, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting took place at Ashram Ban Thai, the facility of the Isan Farmer's Federation in Kantharawichai District of the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, on Monday. "We have to thank the military, even though we did not talk, we know that our brothers and sisters were motivated," Laothai said to Prachatai. He mentioned that the military's measures to shut people's mouths actually reignited people's spirits, make them more united to fight with the junta's unjust policies, especially the junta's "Return the Forest" policy, and drive more people against the military regime. Earlier on Sunday, the military summoned Leamlek Nimnuan, advisor of the group and two other committee members of the Isan Farmers' Federation for a discussion from the afternoon until 8 pm. The military told him they if he did not comply, he would be arrested. Although the meeting was cancelled, Laothai and other leaders of the federation concluded that currently there are 103 farmers in Isan facing charges and that 1,764 warrants have been issued against farmers. If the junta continues to implement its policy to return the forest, 5-6 million rai of land (about 2,370,000 acres) will be reclaimed and about 30,000 people will be affected. The Isan Farmers' Federation has summed up the following demands to the junta: 1. Stop intimidating, arresting, and evicting people who have been living off the land and allow them to continue utilising the land 2. Temporarily halt impending legal cases against farmers and allow the cases to be investigated by the National Human Rights Commission, the Lawyers Council, and Office of the Ombudsman. 3. Provide compensation for farmers whose homesteads and farmlands have been destroyed according to the loss and allow them to continue using the land. 4. If the state wants to protect the forest, then the government should arrest investors and new land encroachers. Moreover, state projects and concessions for mining and building dams in forest areas should be cancelled and revoked. 5. Review the implementation of Orders 64/2014 and 66/2014 to protect the forest until changes are made.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 12, 2014
- Event Description
Anti-coup student activist, who in November was arrested for flashing the anti-coup three-fingered salute at the Hunger Game 3 premiere, was threatened with rape by what are thought to be plainclothes military officers assigned to follow and watch her. Natchacha Kongudom, a transgender student activist from Bangkok University, told Prachatai that she was threatened with rape by an unidentified man on Friday the 12th December. The incident took place after she and other student activists held an activity to condemn the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the junta at an NHRC event on late Friday morning. According to Natchacha, the man is one of two who have been following her everywhere since she gave the anti-coup salute at the Hunger Games 3 premiere at a Bangkok shopping mall on 20 November, an act which made the front pages of the international media. "I know that I and other student activists have been followed for a while and of course I'm afraid. This is an abuse of rights. After all, where is my safety?" Natchacha told Prachatai. Natchacha said she spotted the two men, who might be military officers in plainclothes, at the event. She recognized the two men as those who had been following her for a while. She approached the two and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you following me?" One of the two answered, "I'm following you to rape you". The threat was heard by members of the press and NHRC officials. After the incident, Natchacha filed a complaint against the two men at the Tung Song Hong Police Station at 15:30 pm and presented pictures as evidence. Five student activists from TSCD and Dao Din, a student activist group from northeastern Khon Kaen Province, gave the three-fingered salute, a symbol of defiance against the junta, at the human rights event organized by the NHRC "Understanding of human rights is needed before national reform". They were stopped by police after they interrupted the speech of NHRC Chairperson, Amara Pongsapich, on the stage and were later invited to have a discussion with Amara. However, the police took Sirawich Serithiwat, from Thammasat University, and Natchacha as representatives of the group for "attitude adjustment" at the NHRC compound. The police told the student activists that the salute constituted instigating a political uprising which is prohibited by the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and may lead to national security problems. Sirawich has been arrested repeatedly for staging anti-coup activities while Natchacha made international media headlines when she was arrested for giving the three-fingered salute at the Hunger Games 3 premiere in a Bangkok shopping mall.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance , Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- SOGI rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jan 3, 2015
- Event Description
About 100 military police, riot police and government security guards on Saturday the 3rd January blocked a roughly equal number of protesters from Phnom Penh's Borei Keila community from marching to the National Assembly to deliver a petition protesting their evictions three years ago. "They blocked the way out and threatened to forcibly crack down on our group," said Chhay Kimhorn, a representative of the community, which saw 300 families evicted from their homes on January 3, 2012, to make way for a residential development. The firm behind the project, Phanimex Development, agreed to build 10 adjacent apartment blocks for the families, but has only built eight of them. "We live under a big pile of trash, and some of our children cannot go to school because they live as scavengers and old people do not have work," Mr. Kimhorn said. Municipal spokesman Long Dimanche said the march was prevented from going ahead because its organizers had failed to secure authorization from City Hall. "We did not allow them to march because it would have caused a traffic jam," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 100
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Right to housing, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 26, 2014
- Event Description
A young Tibetan monk was taken into custody on Friday 26th December in western China's Sichuan province after launching a solitary protest challenging Beijing's rule in Tibetan areas and calling for the return of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, according to sources. Lobsang Trinle, a 21-year-old monk belonging to the restive Kirti monastery in Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) county in the Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, staged his protest on "Heroes' Street" in the county center at about 4:40 p.m. local time, sources told RFA's Tibetan Service. "Trinle ... staged a peaceful protest against the Chinese government," one local source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "He was carrying a big portrait of[exiled Tibetan spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama in his hands and shouting slogans calling for long life for the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet." According to the source Trinle was taken into custody by authorities after protesting for several minutes. "After three or four minutes of his peaceful protest ... public security officers and People's Armed Police rushed to the scene," he said. "He was severely beaten as the police whisked him away." Trinle's father Norden and mother Chugdup live in Ngaba county's Meruma township, the source said, adding that he had been a monk at Kirti monastery from a young age. "[Trinle's] present condition is unknown after his forceful detention by police," the source said. Kanyak Tsering of Kirti monastery in Dharamsala, India, confirmed Trinle's protest and detention, citing contacts in the region. He said that police also took several other Tibetans who gathered in support of Trinle into custody. "Soon after the incident, the local Tibetans continued to shout slogans and protest," Tsering said in an emailed statement to RFA. "When police tried to disperse the crowd, a few Tibetan protesters whose names are unknown were detained. Right now there is a heavy clampdown by security in the area," he said. Kirti monastery has been the scene of repeated self-immolations and other protests by monks, former monks, and nuns opposed to Chinese rule in Tibetan areas. Authorities raided the institution in 2011, taking away hundreds of monks and sending them for "political re-education" while local Tibetans who sought to protect the monks were beaten and detained, sources said in earlier reports. In November, a court in the Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture ordered two Tibetan monks from Kirti monastery jailed for up to three years for holding solo protests opposing Beijing's rule. Sporadic demonstrations challenging Chinese rule have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008, with 136 Tibetans to date setting themselves ablaze to oppose Beijing's rule and call for the return of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jan 13, 2015
- Event Description
A couple was arrested in Preah Vihear province's Chheb district yesterday morning after the woman in the pair - a local land activist - protested against being moved from the area to make way for a local infrastructure project. The husband and wife also have a one-year-old baby. "They forced the villagers to move out and arrested them while the child was crying in the house," said Rorn Ravoan, a local resident. Military police, forestry police and other authorities were involved in the action yesterday morning, which targeted families of migrant workers living along National Road 9 in M'lou Prey 1 commune, because their makeshift domiciles were preventing the extension of a road. Of all the residents, Lim Sokhim, 45, the woman arrested yesterday with her husband, was the most vociferously opposed to moving. "Though the wife is the one who protested and her husband knew nothing, the authorities arrested both of them," Ravoan said. Villagers claim they have lived on the land since 2009. Ravoan said the people asked to continue living there under the agreement that they would move when road construction starts. But the authorities were not willing to be patient, Ravoan said. Sokhim and her husband Sorn Vuthy, 46, are to go before a judge today to face charges. Yean Chhay, the local village chief, said some of the migrants have lived there for a month; others have lived there from a year to three years. Chhay described Sokhim as inflexible when dealing with offers to move. "She is determined to live on the state land illegally. If she agrees to leave, the commune authorities have new land for her, but she did not listen," he said. Lor Chann, Preah Vihear provincial coordinator of rights group Adhoc, called the arrests a "cruel action and severe human rights violation". After the two were taken away, 40 villagers protested at the Preah Vihear provincial forestry administration, demanding their release. The baby was allowed to stay with the family. Long Sitha, deputy provincial prosecutor, said that the provincial forestry administration is accusing the wife and husband of grabbing state land illegally. "[The authorities] including the provincial governor, called her many times to solve the problem and negotiate, but[she] did not come," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jan 16, 2015
- Event Description
Controversial nationalist monk Wirathu lambasted the UN's special rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, in a speech on Friday 16th January at the Kyeikkasan Grounds in Rangoon's Tamwe Township. He called her a "whore" for her alleged bias towards the country's Rohingya Muslim minority. "We have already made public our Race Protection Law, but without even studying it, this bitch[Burmese: kaungma] keeps on complaining about how it is against human rights!" he shouted to hundreds of supporters on Friday afternoon. "Can this whore really be from a respectable family background?" he thundered, to which the audience responded, "No!" "Don't assume you are a respectable person, just because you have a position in the UN," he continued. "In our country, you are just a whore. "If you are so willing, you may offer your arse to the kalar[racist term meaning "blacks']. But you will never sell off our Arakan State!" The UN had not responded to the insult at the time of press. On Friday morning, a group of some 500 monks and lay supporters, led by hardliners Wirathu and Parmaukkha, marched from Kyay Thon Pagoda, near Shwedagon Pagoda, to Tamwe Township east of the city centre, holding placards reading "UN decisions cause problems in Burma - we don't want that!" Among the marchers were members of the Arakan National Network, which has condemned the UN's call for Burma to grant citizenship to members of the Rohingya community who were born in the country. Wirathu's speech coincided with Yanghee Lee's press conference in Rangoon on Friday when she concluded a 10-day trip to Burma, her second official visit to the country. "Fundamental rights are not hierarchical - they aren't conditional upon one another. They're inalienable," said Lee on Friday. "You can be assured that in all my meetings with government interlocutors, I use the word "Rohingya'. The rights of Rohingya people must be protected, promoted and upheld." In December, the UN General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution, drafted by the European Union, that called on Naypyidaw to extend citizenship rights to the Rohingya and remove the mobility restrictions placed on them. The resolution also urged an investigation into rights abuses in Arakan State, equal access to essential services, and reconciliation between Buddhist and Muslim communities in the region.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jan 22, 2015
- Event Description
A Kampong Cham Provincial Court summons over a protest shocked a former local union president and his wife yesterday, since the event in question occurred more than a year ago and the union leader's wife had no involvement in it. "I got the summons letter this morning, but I am so surprised by it, because it is not only for me but also for my wife, who did not know anything[about the protest]," said Chorn Theang, 30, former president of the Cambodian Alliance Trade Unions at Manhattan Textile and Garment Corp. "My wife ... is a housewife, so why did she also got summoned?" Dated January 16, the letter calls Theang and wife, Nath Sokleang, 33, to the provincial court to be questioned for alleged incitement at a protest near the end of 2013. Chiv Chandara, a representative of the provincial prosecutor, says in the letter obtained by the Post that the two will also be questioned for "making an obstacle for traffic". The demonstration occurred during a 10-day nationwide garment worker strike. Theang said the factory could be using the court to intimidate him. Neither the prosecutor, Chandara, or the factory could be reached.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Labour rights, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- Jan 31, 2015
- Event Description
SEOGUIPO, South Korea, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- The Navy began taking measures Saturday to drive sit-in protesters out of the construction site of a naval base on a major southern island to complete the construction project by December as planned, triggering strong resistance from the protesters. Civic groups, environmental activists and some residents in the village near the construction site have staged protests in a make-shift tent at the entrance of the site since October last year when the Navy began constructing apartment buildings to be used as an official residence for military officers to work at the naval base. About 1,000 officials, including some 800 police officers, were in place at the scene to eject the protesters. "We're going to remove vehicles and a protest tent illegally built to interfere with the construction from the site," said a military official sent to carry out the administrative action. The action immediately caused a fierce physical clash between police officers and the residents of Gangjeong village and their supporters. The Navy said they had no other option but to drive them out in order to complete the construction of five four-story apartment buildings that would house essential members of navy operations and their families in the future, timed with the completion of the naval base in December as planned. The military has been constructing a modern military port that would hold up to 20 warships simultaneously, along with two 150,000 ton cruise ships. The military says the Jeju base, if completed as scheduled in December, will give Seoul a launching point for sending naval vessels into the South Sea, a key trade route for South Korea. But the opponents have long staged protests and taken legal steps to halt construction, citing potential environmental damage to the area designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
Yonhap News?cid=AEN20150131001000315)
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 23, 2015
- Event Description
Mr. M Meganathan is a resident of Veerapatti village in the Iluppur taluk of Pudukkottai district in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. He is a Dalit and RTI activist and is 30 years old. According to sources, on December 12, 2014, Meganathan made an RTI application seeking information on tax and property tax paid by Mother Theresa College that came under the jurisdiction of his Panchayat. The said information could reveal alleged tax evasion by the concerned college which is owned by the Minister for Health of the Government of Tamilnadu. Following this, he began receiving threats, first from Mr. Thangarasu, the husband of Ms. Easwari, the Panchayat President, instigated allegedly by Mr. Vijaybaskar, the owner of the College who is also the State Minister for Health and Family Welfare. Despite repeated ultimatums and warnings, the 30-year-old Activist stood his ground. On the morning of Friday, the 23rd of January 2015, a weapon-wielding gang reached his house and assaulted him and his family members. The attack led to injuries being sustained by Meganathan, his father Mayazhagu aged 56 years, and other relatives including Sureshkumar aged 31 and Rangasamy. They received treatment at Pudukkottai government hospital, where they managed to file a Medical Legal Case (MLC) after a long struggle. Also, Annavasal police, under whose jurisdiction Veerapatti village falls were yet to file FIR (First Information Report) as per reports last received, and it is alleged that the police are hand-in-glove with the attackers.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jan 29, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the northern Chinese province of Hebei have confiscated the business license of a prominent human rights lawyer after she tried to visit a client in a police-run detention center. Beijing-based attorney Wang Yu's license allowing her access to judicial and law-enforcement facilities as a practicing lawyer was taken from her by staff at the Zaoqiang County Detention Center, she told RFA. Wang was also briefly detained at the detention center after she tried to file a lawsuit against police for forcing a confession from her client. "I went to see my client, who told me that during the investigations, the police had forced him to confess, and that he had been badly beaten up and locked in a black jail," she said. "So I wrote up a statement and got the client to sign it. Some policemen came along while I was doing this and saw what I was writing, and went off and reported it." Police told Wang she couldn't take the document with her, and took it to show detention center chief Li Maosheng, she said. "They wouldn't let me leave, and locked both of the doors. They probably shut me in there for about half an hour or more," Wang said. "I told the director of the detention center that their actions were illegal," Wang said. "He replied to me like a street thug, saying 'I'll take it, and what are you going to do about it?'" Wang later tried to lodge a complaint with the state prosecution service after detention center director Li refused to give her license back, but nobody was available to receive it, she said. "I'll wait for now to hear from them," she said. "If they still won't give it back, I'll stand outside the detention center waving a placard." Wang's supporters have launched an SMS campaign targeting Li with messages asking for her business license to be returned to her, she said. Wang has defended some of China's most politically sensitive prisoners, including members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, which has been designated an "evil cult" by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. In August, she was forced to leave the legal team defending jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti after her Beijing law firm withdrew from the case amid intense political pressure. China's embattled legal profession ended last year with at least seven prominent rights attorneys behind bars, in one of its worst years since its resurgence in the 1980s, according to a recent report from the overseas-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) group. At least nine prominent lawyers are either currently facing criminal charges or began serving prison sentences in 2014, it said. They include: Ding Jiaxi, Pu Zhiqiang, Qu Zhenhong, Tang Jingling, Xia Lin, Xu Zhiyong, and Yu Wensheng, as well as Chang Boyang and Ji Laisong, both released on bail awaiting trial after months in detention. In December, about a dozen prominent rights lawyers signed an open letter calling on the government to uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined in the country's constitution.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 1, 2015
- Event Description
The military has summoned a southern land rights activist for three days of detention after he led a group of local farmers to fight for their land rights. The military on Sunday the 1st February issued a letter summoning Peerat Bunrit, one of the leaders of Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Chai Buri District of Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand, to a so-called "attitude adjustment camp' for three days. The summons stated that in order to create a good environment conducive to returning happiness to the Thai people, the Surat Thani army command in compliance with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would like to summon Peerat to attend "attitude adjustment' for three days. The letter stipulates that Peerat has to report to the military from 10-11 am on Tuesday. Peerat told Prachatai that he will report in. Peerat is a southern land rights activist who has been promoting land rights for embattled landless villagers in Surat Thani in a prolonged legal struggle with Thai Boonthong, an oil palm company. The disputed land belongs to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO), who in 2010 allowed the villagers to settle on the land since the company's concession ended 14 years ago. However, the company has not moved out.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Land rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 20, 2015
- Event Description
Thirteen Vietnamese social activists say they were attacked by police and taken into custody after visiting recently freed dissident Tran Anh Kim. One activist, 80-year-old Nguyen Thanh Giang, tells VOA's Vietnamese service the incident in northern Thai Binh province highlights an alarming trend of police brutality. "The reason of the attack, as told by police, was because we visited Kim, who they said was under probation after his release," he said, adding that some of the activists suffered bruises and other injuries and were held for seven hours before being forced to confess they broke the law by visiting Kim. His group has since filed a complaint with Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. A local police official, who would not give his name, declined to discuss the incident when reached by VOA. "Sorry we don't comment via phone. If you want to verify something, come see us in person," they said. Tran Anh Kim, the former deputy head of Thai Binh's military political department, was sentenced in 2009 to five-and-a-half years in prison on charges of "subversion" for pro-democracy activities. He was released earlier this month.
- Impact of Event
- 13
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 29, 2014
- Event Description
Vietnamese authorities have arrested an anti-China blogger under an ambiguous law in the latest crackdown on critics in the bustling social media scene in the one-party communist state. Police in Ho Chi Minh City searched the home of 65-year-old Hong Le Tho, who had previously lived in Japan, and arrested him on Saturday. They detained him for violating Article 258 of the Penal Code, which pertains to "abusing freedom and democracy to infringe upon the interests of the state." Authorities often have cited Article 258 to make arbitrary arrests of bloggers, activists and lawyers. The Ministry of Public Security said Saturday on its website that it had detained Tho for "posting online articles with bad content and false information that discredit and create distrust among people about state agencies, social agencies and citizens," according to reports. Many of his posts have been critical of China, Vietnam's giant neighbor which has been accused by Hanoi of territorial encroachment and political bullying over their overlapping claims to island chains in the South China Sea. Freelance journalist Pham Chi Dung, who is acquainted with Tho, told RFA's Vietnamese Service that Tho was among those who had raised the issue in Vietnam of "escaping China's orbit' - or Thoat Trung in Vietnamese. "He can speak French and English," he said. "His blog "Nguoi Lot Gach'[A Brick Layer] can be regarded as the only website in Vietnam that has news review in both French and English, providing information to readers." "There is no way that he violated Article 258, abusing this or that or democracy to overthrow the government or carry out propaganda against the government," he said. "Sometimes when talking to me, he was critical and had some extreme opinions," Dung said. "I don't know why they arrested him. If there is nothing special to hide, they need to make everything transparent. They just can't arrest someone like this, especially using Article 258 which has been strongly condemned by the international community." Tho has also written about social and political issues in Vietnam for his blog, which was set up more than three years ago. The Vietnamese government has sought to silence criticism of how it has dealt with the issue of anti-China protests in Vietnam and arresting their organizers. But Dung suggested that because Tho is well-known, authorities had to be careful about arresting him. "Many people in the country know him," he said. "That is why I think with his name, the government had to seriously consider arresting him because they didn't want to get into trouble with the U.S. and western countries." The U.S. has long criticized Vietnam for its abysmal human rights record, marked by the suppression of basic freedoms, media censorship, and repression of workers' rights as well as its worsening record of arresting and imprisoning dissidents, bloggers and religious leaders. Dung also said police cited "information from the people" about Tho's activities as a basis for his arrest, a move which Dung said was "unusual." "I know they normally only use information from the people when investigating criminal suspects, not political ones or dissidents. So it is unusual that they would use this for Tho." Tho's arrest came a month after Vietnamese authorities decided to press charges against prominent blogger Blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, also known as Anh Ba Sam, and his assistant, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, after detaining them for publishing anti-government essays. Although lawyers have called the impending court action illegal, authorities plan to prosecute the two, who were arrested in May in Hanoi, for violating article 258 by posting essays "that had the potential to tarnish the state apparatus' prestige," according to state media. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, approximately 150 to 200 activists and bloggers are serving prison time in Vietnam simply for exercising their basic rights. Paris-based press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders, which lists Vietnam as an "Enemy of the Internet," says 26 other bloggers and citizen journalists are still held in the country, which is the world's third-largest prison for netizens. Vietnam is ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 23, 2015
- Event Description
On January 23, 2015, La Viet Dung, the founder of the "I Don't Like the Community Party of Vietnam" campaign, was detained overnight by the Vietnamese government. A prominent Internet activist, Dung is known for his involvement in No-U Hanoi, a well-known football club in Hanoi known for its activity addressing various social issues within the country including Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and Vietnamese sovereignty. Throughout the night, Mr. Dung was detained and extensively questioned without legal counsel after confronting security police that attempted to encroach on another person's property without their consent. According to activists involved in the incident, it is believed that Dung's arrest was a vindictive act of revenge by Vietnamese authorities for his founding of the "I Don't LIke the Communist Party of Vietnam" campaign. This campaign has sparked a growing movement among the populace of Vietnam, bringing dozens of organizations and thousands of irritated citizens together to express their indignation against the disparaging social issues and corruption that plagues the communist government today. The campaign is just the first of many in a movement by everyday citizens that has openly criticized the communist government for their corrupt and authoritarian actions the past few years. This includes recent decisions in 2014 that have placed tougher laws on those who choose to speak out against the Party and State. Dung was shortly released the following morning by authorities. No charges have been made against him for his involvement with confronting security police earlier in the week.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 6, 2015
- Event Description
Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, aged 42, is a renowned social activist and is a member of the State Women's Commission, Andhra Pradesh. She is the Chief Functionary and Founder of Prajwala, a non-governmental organization that rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society. When in 1996 sex workers living in Mehboob ki Mehandi, a red light area in Hyderabad, were evacuated, Krishnan started a transition school at a vacated brothel to prevent the second generation from being trafficked. She earlier worked with People's Initiative Network also in Hyderabad. According to sources, Sunitha has been carrying out an online campaign against rapists who have been uploading videos of their victims being molested. She had sought help from all the people viewing them, to trace them. The two videos were sent to her by her friend on WhatsApp where it has been in circulation for the past 6 months. The videos show young men molesting women and laughing and joking after committing the heinous crime. Sunitha edited the video in order to protect the victims and posted the video which had the faces of the perpetrators visible so that the public and the law enforcement authorities could identify and apprehend them. The attack on her car happened soon after she posted the two videos. Stones were hurled at the windscreen at the back of her car. Immediately after the incident, she filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Police following which a case under Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code was registered.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jan 29, 2015
- Event Description
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Udon Thani Environmental Conservation Group about the intensification of ongoing threats and surveillance of human rights defenders who are members of the group. They have been engaged in a long-standing struggle for community participation in decisions about potash mining in Udon Thani province. Similar to the situation of other communities since the 22 May 2014 coup by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), members of the Conservation Group and groups who support them have faced increased threats because state authorities are failing to protect them as they oppose private corporations which would like to profit from resource extraction. The AHRC is gravely concerned about the safety of the members of the Udon Thani Environmental Conservational Group and the E-san Human Rights and Peace Information Center, and is further concerned that the state's failure to protect them will also serve to make other human rights defenders feel unsafe. Surveys for potash were first carried out in Udon Thani province in 1993 and the Thai Agrigo Potash Company (TAPC), which later became the Asia Pacific Potash Corporation, or APCC) began to acquire land and begin to work towards acquiring a mining concession. Soon thereafter, community members and human rights defenders began raising questions about the environmental and health impacts of any potential mining project, and often engaged in extended protests to ensure that their voices and demands for participation were heard in public. In the latest period of struggle, in April 2012, a joint committee was set-up between the Department of Primary Industry and Mining (DPIM) and the Conservation Group in order to investigate the social and environmental effects of the potash mining project; in 2012, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called on the Ministry of Industry to suspend the issuance of a mining license to the APCC pending the joint committee's findings. Mrs. Manee Bunrood, a leader of the Conservation Group and a woman human rights defender, represents the community on the joint committee. Up until the present, the joint committee has not issued a public report on its findings. On 29 January 2015, the DPIM issued an order to halt the joint committee's work with Udon Thani Environmental Conservation Group. This decision removes the community's ability to participate in decisions that will affect their environment, health, and livelihood. Upon hearing this news, members of the Conservation Group went to meet with the deputy government of Udon Thani, Mr. Chaicharn Eamjaroen. At his office, they also met with officials from the DPIM, the police, the 24th Military Division and the Nongprajak sub-district head of Nongprajak sub-district. The Conservation Group requested a copy of the DPIM's letter halting the joint committee's work and further asked for clarification on upcoming planned public hearings the authorities plan to organize. The Conservation Group maintained the importance of ensuring that the public hearings are held in a transparent and fully open manner. Over the long period of struggle by members of the communities, the state authorities have failed to demonstrate and give credence to the concerns of the community about potash mining. On the same day that the DPIM halted the joint committee's work, a soldier from the 24th Military Division visited a temple Ban Nonsomboon village, one of the affected communities, during a religious ceremony. When questioned by the villagers, the soldier said that he was there to monitor the ceremony as it was a public gathering, which is restricted under martial law, which has been in force since 20 May 2014, two days prior to the coup. On the evening of 25 February 2015, the village committee also announced that the Army would continue to visit the village to for monitoring purposes. Sources close to the Asian Human Rights Commission have also indicated that key members of the Conservation Group and the E-san Human Rights and Peace Information Center have their electronic communication monitored by the military authorities. The proximity of the increased military presence in the community and ongoing surveillance following the termination of the work of the joint committee, and the Conservation Group's concerns over this, is a clear instance of intimidation that seems designed to ensure that members of the Group do not protest the termination. The Asian Human Rights Commission has two related concerns about the recent events in Udon Thani. First, by halting the work of the joint committee, the Thai state authorities have eliminated the official channel for members of the Conservation Group to provide input on potash mining. Given that public protest has been criminalized under martial law following the May 2014 coup, members of the community are therefore also unable to use demonstrations to communicate their concerns to the state authorities and raise awareness in their community and to Thai society as a whole. Second, the increased intimidation and surveillance of members of the Conservation Group coincident with the elimination of pathways of participation into decision-making about potash mining in Udon Thani raises concern about the overall safety of the human rights defenders who are members of the group. This concern is further underlined by the summoning shortly after the May 2014 coup of sixteen community leaders and activists in the areas affected by potash mining and a history of threats against human rights defenders working on this issue; on 24 March 2012, the APPC sent surveyors to inspect land defended by the Conservation Group. The surveyors called for police assistance to disperse villagers blocking entry onto the land. Following this incident, five leaders of the Conservation Group received death threats from representatives of the APPC. The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns the 22 May 2014 coup in the strongest terms possible and views the events in Udon Thani as another example of how human rights suffer under military rule. The AHRC calls on the Thai state authorities to ensure the safety of members of the Udon Thani Environmental Conservation Group and the Conservation group and member of the E-san Human Rights and Peace Information Center. The Army should cease visiting the affected communities and cease their monitoring of the communications of human rights defenders. The work of the joint committee should be resumed and the Thai state authorities should take active steps to listen and respond to the concerns of affected communities about the potential environment, health, and livelihood effects of potash mining.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 25, 2015
- Event Description
The authorities continue to suppress local activists and villagers who oppose petroleum exploration in villages in Thailand's Northeast. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the military on 25 February brought Thawatchai Surat, a northeastern energy activist, to Buriram Muang Police Station and tried to force him to sign an agreement not to campaign against a petroleum operator. However, Thawatchai refused to sign any document. Thawatchai is one of the activists who has been campaigning against petroleum exploration by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum, a Chinese petroleum company granted state concessions by the Department of Mineral Fuels since 2014 to explore potential oil fields in the northeastern provinces of Buriram, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, and Surin. At the police station, the authorities asked Thawatchai to report details about villagers who are against the company and whether they are backed back politicians or interest groups, and their demands. Thawatchai added that the authorities also asked about the Thai PBS TV programme "Real Life Is Worse than a Soap Opera', which interviewed him last year about the impact of exploration operations in the region, and instructed him to inform the authorities of any planned future programme about the conflict. On 16 September 2014, several police officers visited him regarding the Thai PBS programme. Since the 2014 coup d'_tat, officers, some in plainclothes, have regularly come to the village to monitor the meetings of anti-exploration villagers. The surveillance created a climate of fear among the villagers, who started to censor themselves, he said. He pointed out that the recent petroleum exploration operations shook the ground and damaged nearby houses. In Khon Kaen, Apico (Korat) Limited, a US-based oil and gas exploration company which received a state concession to explore the Dongmoon oil fields in Kranuan District, informed the villagers last week that the company will continue drilling operations on 18 March despite local opposition. Last month, about 40 armed police and military officers assisted the company while it moved drilling equipment to the potential site. Due to the military presence, the villagers could merely look on and pray. A halt to the procedure was actually ordered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) due to its controversial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. On the night of 14 February, about 20 police and military officers from Khon Kaen Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) threatened village leaders and a local environmental activist with martial law if the villagers insisted on obstructing the company's operations.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Apr 1, 2014
- Event Description
MANILA, Philippines - The military will probe the alleged harassment of a human rights lawyer who claimed that government forces had intimidated her and placed her under surveillance. Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said military units have been ordered to ensure the security of Maria Catherine Dannug-Salucon and her family. "There will be an investigation that will be conducted to determine the truth behind the alleged harassment by soldiers," Cabunoc said in a statement. "The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has also instructed all its subordinate units to ensure the life, liberty and security of Atty. Maria Catherine Dannug-Salucon and her immediate family members," he added. Cabunoc assured the public that the military would continue to uphold the rule of law in the country. "We respect the human rights of every individual while we perform our mandated tasks," he said. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Earlier, the Court of Appeals granted Salucon's application for Writs of Amparo and Habeas Data and ordered the government to look into her allegations including her supposed inclusion in the list of "red lawyers." Salucon is a founding member of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyer (NUPL) and is its incumbent national auditor. She has been handling cases involving alleged human rights violations. "Atty. Salucon's name is reportedly included in the military's watch list of so-called communist terrorist supporters rendering legal services," the NUPL said in a statement. The respondents in Salucon's application were President Aquino, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, former Armed Forces chief Emmanuel Bautista; former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, former military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ano, 5th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Benito de Leon, and Isabela Provincial Police Office chief C/Supt. Miguel de Mayo Laurel. The NUPL said Salucon filed the Petition for Writ of Amparo and Writ of Habeas Date in April 2014 after she had experienced "intensified surveillance."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Initial Date
- Mar 26, 2015
- Event Description
Civil society organizations in Laos are under pressure to omit key concerns from a list of regional human rights issues to be raised on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia this week and "fear for their safety" if they attempt to do so, a CSO official said Wednesday.The groups dare not raise the concerns during the April 21-24 ASEAN Peoples' Forum (APF)-intended to provide civil society with a platform to address ASEAN leaders-because they fear retribution for criticizing government policy, the CSO official told RFA's Lao Service."[The CSOs] will talk mostly about gender roles only, but not other issues such as land rights, the impact of hydropower dams ... and enforced disappearance, because they are afraid for their safety," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.The official said the majority of authentic CSOs in Laos "do not want to attend the forum," especially those which focus on human rights issues, but that the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior had persuaded other "irrelevant" organizations to go in their place.Lao activists told RFA last month that a retired Lao official serving as a proxy for the authoritarian government in the capital Vientiane had unsuccessfully lobbied the APF to erase the name of Sombath Somphone-a prominent civil rights leader who has been missing for more than two years-from its list of human rights and governance problems in Southeast Asia. However, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told RFA that the Lao government "never intervenes in or controls the work of CSOs" and only seeks to "facilitate and cooperate" with the groups.Sombath went missing on Dec. 15, 2012, when police stopped him in his vehicle at a checkpoint in the capital. He was then transferred to another vehicle, according to police surveillance video, and has not been heard from since. Rights groups suspect that Lao officials were involved in or aware of the abduction of Sombath, who received the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership-Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize-for his work in the fields of education and development.Lao officials have yet to state a reason for his disappearance or make any progress in the case, which has become a major headache for the Vientiane government, drawing criticism from European and U.S. development partners and aid donors and attention from the United Nations. Upcoming chairmanship In 2016, Laos will assume chairmanship of the 10-member ASEAN coalition and will host the APF, but forum chairman Jerald Joseph told RFA the country's leadership must demonstrate a greater commitment towards improving human rights and progress on Sombath's case before it can earn the trust of CSO participants."We think that any chairmanship who is organizing the next summit must answer these questions and if they are not forthcoming with answers then it will really create doubt in many peoples' minds: "should we go to Laos or organize the APF in Laos?'," Joseph said. "I think it is up to the government of Laos to open up ... and have more disclosure on information about what really happened to Sombath, and then it can build confidence and people will feel ... it is safe to go in."Joseph said Lao CSOs are too closely influenced by the government in Vientiane and that ASEAN needs to do more to help them operate with greater freedom."NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) should have the confidence and empowerment to be more independent away from government. I feel in Laos it's not there yet. NGOs in Laos are not fit to be too critical of what's happening in the country," he said."So I think that's something that really needs to open up ... and I think governments must be comfortable with people who are critical of you or disagree with you ... this is something ASEAN should do for our countries."Joseph was adamant that the Lao government refrain from interfering in the APF process."They should allow local CSOs to decide if they will work with other NGOs from other ASEAN countries and decide as[groups representing] ASEAN countries what should be[discussed at] the APF," he said."The Lao government must learn from other governments how it is possible to respect civil society in organizing the events." Regional concerns Thida Khus, executive director of Cambodian NGO Silaka, expressed solidarity with civil society in Laos, noting that many of the issues raised in the first full day of the forum were problems shared by all ASEAN nations."The common problems among ASEAN countries are land concessions and human rights abuses," she said, adding that "Lao is suffering from similar issues to those in Cambodia."She said more than 70 NGOs from Cambodia were participating in the APF and that around 160 NGO officials from different ASEAN nations had raised different topics on Wednesday, including land grabs and evictions of residents, the destruction of natural resources, and the violation of indigenous and womens' rights.The officials also expressed concerns about plans to integrate the ASEAN economy by the end of 2015, adding that the scheme was likely to lead to more evictions in Cambodia as a result of land concessions."More villagers may become victims of land concessions because so far the government has given priority to the companies rather than the people," she said."We want the government to put a mechanism in place to resolve the villagers' problems."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Oct 27, 2013
- Event Description
Following a meeting with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances during its visit to Pakistan in September 2012, Nasrullah Baloch, Chair of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, and his Vice-Chair, received threats from one or several unknown individuals. When they attempted to register a First Information Report with the police, the station house officer reportedly refused to act. After families of disappeared persons had launched a march from Quetta to Islamabad to raise awareness about enforced disappearances on 27 October 2013, two of Mr. Baloch's brothers were reportedly beaten and warned by personnel of State intelligence agencies that he should stop his activities. In March 2014, after attending a hearing at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Mr. Baloch was also threatened by personnel of State intelligence agencies. The Government acknowledged receipt of a joint communication sent by seven special procedures mandate holders by letter dated 4 April 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 21, 2014
- Event Description
Visuvalingam Kirupaharan, General Secretary of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights, was reportedly threatened during the twenty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council. On 21 March 2014, Mr. Kirupaharan participated in a side event on human rights in Sri Lanka, organized by the International Buddhist Foundation. After the event, a journalist, reportedly from the Sri Lankan newspaper Divaina, approached Mr. Kirupaharan, stating that he could not return to Sri Lanka and that he would face consequences if he did so. The journalist allegedly told Mr. Kirupaharan that photographs of him at the Council would be published in newspapers in Sri Lanka. At the time of finalization of this report, no reply had been received from the Government to a joint communication sent on 27 March 2014 by three special procedures mandate holders.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 5, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou are targeting rights activists after some of them gathered in a public square and planned to donate money to a jailed poet who showed support for the democracy movement in Hong Kong. Guizhou state security police searched the home of poet Mo Jiangang, a member of the banned Guizhou Human Rights Forum, on Thursday 5th February, before questioning him at a police station in his home district of Nanming. Police confiscated a computer and a cell phone, but showed no official documentation for the search, which was carried out on suspicion that Mo had "breached security laws," fellow activist Li Renke told RFA on Friday. "They called him in for questioning, firstly about an article he had posted online in support of[detained poet] Wang Zang," Li said. "It was also about his wife, whether she had plans to go to spend Chinese New Year with her family in Sichuan province, and saying that they wouldn't allow this," Li said. The forum has been the target of official harassment since it was set up on World Human Rights Day in 2005, with members subjected to police surveillance, detention, and house arrest in recent years. It was formally banned by the authorities, according to notices issued by the local government, in December 2011. Currently, activist and forum member Mei Chongbiao has been "disappeared," while Liao Shuangyuan, Wu Yuqin and Li himself are under tight surveillance by state security police, Li said. According to a tweet posted by Mo late on Thursday, the offending post was in support of detained Beijing-based Guizhou poet Wang Zang, who was detained on Oct. 1 for his online support of the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong. "On Jan. 19, I expressed support on behalf of the Guizhou Human Rights Forum for the poet Wang Zang, and they thought this was against the law," Mo wrote. Sixty-four-year-old Mo is a veteran of the 1978 Democracy Wall movement and founder member of the Enlightenment Society that wrote big character posters slamming Mao's Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and calling for constitutional government. He also spend time behind bars in the wake of the 1989 pro-democracy movement on Tiananmen Square. Wang Zang is being held in Beijing's No. 1 Detention Center on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," after he posted a photo of himself online holding an umbrella and making a middle-fingered gesture in support of Occupy Central. Repeated calls to Mo's cell phone returned a "number unavailable" message on Friday. Calls to his home number rang unanswered. Li said those forum members not under surveillance had been meeting recently on a public square in Guizhou's provincial capital, Guiyang. "They are able to communicate with each other then, but I have police following me 24 hours a day," Li said. "When they gather in the square on Fridays, they are chased away by police." "Last week, someone told me Mo Jiangang was there, and he was talking about helping Wang Zang out financially, and that's why the state security police were after him," he said. According to Wang's lawyer, the poet and political activist has been subjected to torture and mistreatment while in police detention. A second forum member who asked to remain anonymous said Guizhou activists remain under intense pressure from the authorities. "Our phone is being monitored[by police], so there's nothing we can do," the member said. "Every Friday, they take some people away, saying they're going on holiday." "Wu Yuqin, for example, was one of those taken away." Forum member Chen Defu told RFA the authorities are keen to prevent activists from different provinces from gathering in major cities. "This is very sensitive for the authorities," Chen said, adding that Mo will now likely also be under close surveillance. "Here in Guizhou, they put us under surveillance whenever anything happens," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 31, 2014
- Event Description
Jayram Gamit is a senior Tribal leader and a Tribal Farmers' rights activist also associated with the All India Union of Forest People. He is also a Taluk Panchayat member from Songarh, Tapi, Gujarat. He has been involved in a Campaign against efforts to hand over large tracts of tribal land to non tribals, particularly those who were mining the area surrounding the river. Despite his alignment with the ruling party, he kept fighting for the rights of the tribal farmers. According to sources, the Tribal Activist was picked up under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA Act) ahead of a major protest that he and another senior activist, Romel Sutariya of All India Union of Forest People had been planning on. This was to be held in Tapi and Chotta Udeupur on the implementation of Forest Rights Act and against the land mafia. On 31st Dec 2014, in village Ojhar, Songarh, District Tapi when few Adivasis were levelling their land on which they filed claim under Forest Rights Act (FRA), the Ranger and Forest Guards came with JCB and stopped the work and started beating tribals. False cases were filed on the tribal people and they molested the tribal women. When the tribals protested against this, there was an altercation between the tribals and the forest department. A woman forest guard who was deputed there made a false allegation against Jeyram and booked him under sections for anti-social activities. He was also booked for instigating tribals to take up arms. It is said that the District Collector, Ranjeet Kumar, got the tribal activist arrested under the pressure of local ruling party politicians to arrest Gamit following their campaign against efforts to hand over large tracts of tribal land to non tribals. Soon after his arrest, Gamit was taken to Rajkot. The arrest has taken place following a complaint from the Forest Department to the police. There is no word so far from the Gujarat authorities about the arrest. Activists from the region feel that the whole conspiracy has been orchestrated by the Forest Department in connivance with the District Administration and the Police so that he does not organize tribals in the region with other young activists like Romel Sutaria of Adivasi Kisan Sangarsh Morcha and All India Union of Forest Working People. This is not the first time that protesting activists in Gujarat are being picked up as part of "preventive" measures to stop protests. Even those who are not in any way involved in protests are "picked up" when senior government functionaries such as the Chief Minister visits an area. They are often put under house arrest or are detained ahead of apprehensions of protest. However, this is the first time in the recent past that an arrest has taken place under PASA, considered "draconian" by human rights defenders, and meant to be used against anti-social elements seeking to create disturbance.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Minority Rights, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Event Description
A Chinese artist who was portraying the lives of 100 participants in the student-led 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing has abandoned the project in the face of growing pressure from the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Sun Kai, who was a theatrical design student at the Shanghai Theater Academy when the 1989 movement began, said he has never been able to move on psychologically from the trauma of the June 4 bloodshed, in spite of having a rewarding career and family life. "I have a huge Tiananmen complex. It's very hard for me to forget it," Sun told RFA on a recent trip to the United States."I keep wishing over and over that the events of that year could replay themselves, and that the Chinese mainland would turn in the direction of freedom and democracy, instead of things getting worse and worse, like they are now," he said. To address it, Sun said he made a list of 100 people across China who participated in the movement in various cities, and planned to shoot their portraits in a bid to preserve the memory of the hopes of a generation."I'm an artist, so I thought that I could put on an exhibition after I had finished shooting them, and maybe a photographic book about 1989," he said."That 1989 generation, 25 years on, are all in their fifties now, and they'll all be old in another few years," Sun said."So I started to put[my idea] into practice." Face-to-face with 1989 Sun said the idea behind the project was to bring people today face-to-face with the events of 1989 once more, by discovering what had happened to the participants during the intervening years."Some of them have gone on to become very successful, but there a considerable group of people who have suffered intense persecution, and have no reliable way to make a living," Sun said. Dissidents like these are often regarded with prejudice by the majority of Chinese people, he said.But it wasn't long before Sun himself began to run into difficulties."My first stop was Zhengzhou, in Henan province, where I shot photographs of Yu Shiwen and his wife," he said. "They, too, are unable to forget about June 4, 1989." Last month, authorities in Zhengzhou authorities issued an indictment of student movement veteran Yu for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," after holding him for nearly a year. Yu was detained as part of a nationwide crackdown on activists marking the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square bloodshed. Yu had given interviews to overseas media, and had issued signed invitations to public memorial events and posted them online, according to the indictment.From Zhengzhou, Sun headed for Xi'an in search of veteran democracy activist Yang Hai, he said. Pressure on Sun's family Initially, the plan went well, Sun said, adding: "But then, it got harder and harder to make contact with him.""Then I wanted to shoot Guo Haifeng, and he agreed the first time I contacted him, but when I got there, he was nowhere to be seen, and I couldn't get through to him by phone," Sun said, "After that, I heard from Yu Shiwen that the state security police had him under tight surveillance." Later, during a business trip to the eastern province of Zhejiang, Sun tried to get in touch with a few veteran activists, prompting a phone call from his own employer's political team.This was followed up with a visit from state security police, who visited Sun at his Beijing home soon after. "During our chat, they threatened me through my family, saying that I have a good job and my family is doing well, but that all of that could be negatively affected if I carried on with the project," Sun said."For example, my kid could have issues with their education, and my wife with her career." "They told me that the government takes the events of 1989 very seriously, 25 years later ... and that they will be watching anything that is connected to it very closely," Sun said."That's why I wasn't able to succeed with this project." Sun said he hasn't given up entirely, however, and still hopes to resolve his "Tiananmen complex" one day.The ruling Chinese Communist Party has continued to ignore growing calls for a reappraisal of the 1989 student protests, which it has styled a "counterrevolutionary rebellion."Public memorials marking the event are banned, and a number of prominent activists, including Yu Shiwen and rights attorneys Tang Jingling and Pu Zhiqiang face trial on subversion charges linked to their commemoration of the massacre. There are no definitive figures for the number of people killed when People's Liberation Army (PLA) ended weeks of mass protest with machine guns and tanks on the night of June 3-4, 1989, and estimates range from the hundreds to the thousands.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 14, 2015
- Event Description
The police on Saturday 14th February arrested four activists for organizing a peaceful anti-coup activity and charged them with violating the junta's orders. The four are Sirawit Serithiwat, a student activist from Thammasat University, Pansak Srithep, a red-shirt activist and the father of a boy killed by the military during the 2010 political violence, Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), and Wannakiet Chusuwan, a pro-democracy activist. Police at Pathumwan Police Station charged them with violating NCPO Order No. 7/2014 which prohibits a political public gathering of more than five people. People who violate this order face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to 20,000 baht or both. The case will be tried in a military court. At 2.50 on Sunday, the four anti-coup protesters were released on bail. Anon used his lawyer license as security. Pansak and Wannakiet put up 20,000 baht bail each. The three accepted the bail after hours of negotiation with police that their temporarily release must not be conditional on them stopping political activity and that the bails set earlier was too expensive. However, Sirawit had to put 40,000 baht bail because the police charged him on two counts of defying the coup makers. The other charge is from his past anti-coup activity. Sirawit was released on condition that he will 1) not leave the country, 2) stop political activity 3) stay at the residence that he indicated to the authorities. The four will have to report themselves to the police at Pathumwan Police Station on 16 March. The cases are being handled by the TLHR lawyers. The police at 10.20pm on Saturday, set the bail for Sirawit at 150,000 baht, while the bails for three others were set at 750,000. Since they were arrested after the anti-coup activity ended around 5.30 pm, about 20 anti-coup activists and student activists gathered in front of the police station. to give moral courage to the four. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Thammasat University's Assistanct Rector, Prajak Kongkirati, a lecturer of Thammasat's Faculty of Political Science and advisor of Sirawit, and Pongkwan Sawasdipakdi , also a lecturer of Thammasat's Faculty of Political Science, went to the police station to help negotiate with police and give moral courage. At 4 pm on Valentine's Day, a large crowd joined an event entitled "The election that was loved (stolen)" which called for an election and commemorated the latest election on 2 February 2014. The activity was organized by the Resistant Citizen group. Approximately 100 police officers maintained tight control at the event, held in front of the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre (BACC), Siam Square. Natchacha Kongudom, an anti-coup student activist from Bangkok University told Prachatai "Nothing has changed since the coup, martial law is still imposed and of course the election is nowhere in sight. This implies that the military doesn't have any idea how to govern without martial law." "We haven't received any phone call from the military warning us not to organize the event this time, but I'm pretty sure that they are intercepting our mobile phones anyhow. There are often connection problems for me and other student activists, such as Sirawat. In fact, I have not paid my phone bill for three months, but it's still working" "Many people have shown up today which is a good sign. It proves that many are still calling for an election. However, it is still not enough. I want Thai students and the foreign and Thai media to do more in pressuring the junta, especially foreign governments who can use diplomatic channels to pressure the regime," Natchacha said. UPDATE 19th February: police summoned Anon Numpa for questioning over messages on his Facebook profile. UPDATE: 22 April 2015 Military court postpones deposition hearing of 4 embattled democracy activists The Military Court postponed the deposition hearing of four embattled democracy activists accused of violating the junta's ban on public gatherings because additional testimony on the case has not yet been collected. Bangkok's Military Court on Wednesday postponed the deposition examination of four democracy activists who were charged with defying the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 7/2014 by holding a political gathering of more than five people on 14 February. If found guilty, the four could be jailed for one year and fined up to 20,000 baht.The four activists are Sirawit Serithiwat, a student activist from Thammasat University, Pansak Srithep, a pro-democracy activist and the father of a boy killed by the military during the 2010 political violence, Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer who volunteers for Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), and Wannakiet Chusuwan, a pro-democracy activist and taxi driver. The deposition hearing was rescheduled for 10:00 am on 14 May 2015. The military court said that the prosecutor requested postponement of the deposition hearing because four more persons need to testify in the case as the defendants demanded.Last month, Anon, one of the defendants who is also a lawyer, requested that additional testimony from four renowned anti-junta academics, Nidhi Eoseewong, Prapart Pintoptang, Chaiwat Satha-Anand, and Somchai Preechasilpakul, needed to be collected. Of the four defendants, Anon faces additional allegations of importing false information into a computer system which may damage national security under Article 14 (2) of the Computer Crime Act. The Computer Crime charges were initially filed by the Judge Advocate General himself. If found guilty, Anon faces up to 25 years in jail and a fine of up to 500,000 baht. UPDATE: 05/ 06/ 2015 4 embattled anti-coup activists released on bail The military court granted bail to four activists of the anti-coup Resistant Citizen group after they were charged with defying the junta's order. On Thursday, at 2 pm, the military prosecutor pressed charges against the four activists for defying the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 7/2014, which prohibits an assembly of five people or more. After the military court approved the custody petition requested by the prosecutor, the four were sent to the Bangkok Remand Prison while the lawyer submitted a bail request. An hour later, the military court granted them bail after they placed 20,000 baht as security. The four activists are Sirawit Serithiwat, a student activist from Thammasat University, Pansak Srithep, a pro-democracy activist and the father of a boy killed by the military during the 2010 political violence, Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer who volunteers for Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), and Wannakiet Chusuwan, a pro-democracy activist and taxi driver. On 14 February, Resistant Citizen held an event entitled "The election that was loved (stolen)" which called for an election and commemorated the latest election on 2 February 2014. The four were arrested after the event ended. Anon is also facing accusations under Article 14 (2) of the Computer Crime Act for his Facebook posts concerning the junta, while Pansak is facing 3 more charges for his leading role in a march on 17 March. They are: Defying NCPO Order No. 7/2014 Violating Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act Violating Section 116 of the Criminal Code (Sedition) According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (THLR), the prosecutor has not finished drafting the case file against Pansak.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Feb 13, 2015
- Event Description
The government of Myanmar warned student demonstrators Friday 13th February that "action will be taken" to restore order in the country if they do not end a protest march to the commercial capital Yangon against education legislation they say will limit academic freedom. The special announcement, issued through state media, came days after the government agreed in principle to student demands on the National Education Law and had requested an end to the protests. Students, however, pledged to continue marching until parliament approves the reforms. "People are still marching toward Yangon, and in order to avoid undesirable problems and for the security of the country, the rule of law, and peace in the neighborhoods, actions will be taken in accordance with the law to deter the marchers from entering Yangon Region," the statement said. The government did not provide details of what action would be taken, though large numbers of security personnel had previously been deployed at points along the route from Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay to Yangon and could be used to confront or arrest the students. Hundreds of students from across the country have been marching to Yangon since Jan. 20, demanding that the government amend the National Education Law, passed last September, which they say is too restrictive. The students are protesting the legislation's centralized control of the curriculum, ban of student and teacher unions, and lack of education spending increases. The main group of students, from Mandalay, has stopped for the night in Bago region's Paungde township, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Yangon, after having completed nearly two-thirds of its journey. The Associated Press quoted a protester named Win Tin as saying marchers were "surprised by the announcement." On Wednesday, the government and lawmakers agreed to include students and other education professionals in referendums and education law drafts during four-way talks that also included students and representatives of the Network for National Education Reform (NNER)-an organization consisting of educational, political and religious groups. They also agreed to allow students to freely form unions, promised not to arrest students and their supporters who have participated in the reform movement, and abolished central control over the education system. Lawmakers pledged to raise the national budget allocation for education to at least 20 percent in five years and also agreed to implement an education system that includes ethnic minority languages in accordance with student demands that minorities be allowed to freely learn their own language. A member of NNER who took part in the talks told RFA Wednesday that the terms of the agreement would be submitted to parliament and students would continue with their march until they had been approved. Students released a statement Friday saying the march would continue despite the government threat, according to the Irrawaddy online journal. "If Parliament's decision is not satisfactory, we will march in protest to Rangoon, and if it is satisfactory, we will walk to Rangoon in a show of victory," the students' statement read. The Irrawaddy quoted Min Thwe Thit of the Action Committee for Democratic Education (ACDE), which is spearheading the march, expressing doubts about the government's commitment to reforming the law. "The public are worried and ask us why we don't stop our protest, and I want to explain to them that we only have an agreement[in principle] and have not officially seen our demands met." The march has attracted growing numbers of students and Buddhist monks, and also counts many supporters from Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which is expected to make a strong showing in elections slated for later this year. The threat of an expanded protest is sensitive in Myanmar, where in 1988 a student-led pro-democracy movement was crushed by the former junta. A delegation of protesting students met with Aung San Suu Kyi Thursday at her home in the capital Naypyidaw to discuss their demands related to amending the National Education Law, local media reported. The Nobel laureate and opposition lawmaker said she would relay the students' concerns to parliament, but reminded them that it was unreasonable to expect all of their demands would be met in a country operating as a democracy. Myanmar's education system is still recovering from decades of neglect under military rule, when the government clamped down on academic independence and freedom because the ruling generals viewed the nation's universities with suspicion. A fourth round of four-way talks on the controversial education law is scheduled for Saturday.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Feb 13, 2015
- Event Description
Interior Minister Sar Kheng has ordered immigration authorities not to renew the visa of Spanish environmental activist Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, which expires on February 20, senior immigration department officials said yesterday. Gonzalez-Davidson, of Mother Nature, an NGO, has led a campaign against the controversial Stung Cheay Areng Dam project in Koh Kong province and has attracted a large following on Facebook for his activism. The Khmer-speaking Spaniard attracted a thinly veiled threat of deportation from senior ruling party lawmaker Chheang Vun in December, three months after he and other Mother Nature activists were briefly detained for blocking security forces and authorities on an access road to the Areng Valley. Sok Veasna, the director of the department of non-immigrants and technology at the Interior Ministry's general immigration department, which handles non-permanent visas for foreigners, confirmed the order yesterday. "Our minister decided not to extend his visa, so we already made a call and would like to meet him ... to let him know that his visa will be expired and he will need to leave Cambodia," he said. "Our ministry still has his passport, however. We request him to come and pick up his passport and leave Cambodia." Veasna said Gonzalez-Davidson would not be banned from returning to the Kingdom if he leaves voluntarily. But otherwise, he would be deported and barred from returning. Sok Phal, the director-general of immigration, said that the decision was made after local authorities in Koh Kong lodged a complaint about Gonzalez Davidson's activities. When asked if he was being denied a visa because of his environmental activism, Phal replied, "Don't ask me that. I can't comment on it; I only do technical work." Koh Kong provincial governor Bun Leut said that he filed the complaint to the MoI that led to the decision. "Alex made trouble with local authorities in Thma Bang district. He took the car of his NGO to block my deputy governor's group who went to visit the villagers in the Areng area," he said. Gonzelez-Davidson said that there was "no doubt" in his mind that the decision to deny him visa renewal was related to his anti-dam activism. He also rejected the governor's interpretation of the September road-blocking incident. "He says that we were blocking the road and we stopped the authorities from meeting the villagers. To anyone who has any understanding of the situation, that is absolutely ridiculous. The only time the authorities have visited the villagers in 15 years has been to cheat, threaten or scam them." He added that the Areng Valley campaign had been "extremely successful". "They will have to deport me. I will throw as many eggs as I can at their face," he said, vowing not to leave the country before his visa expires. Senior opposition lawmaker Son Chhay condemned the decision and said he would seek to question Sar Kheng in parliament about the exact reasons why the visa had been denied. "Alex has done so much good for the country ... what he is trying to do is not for his own benefit - he was trying to protect our environment," he said. "It's not going to be easy for Sar Kheng." UPDATE 24th February: Outspoken environmental activist Alex Gonzalez-Davidson was deported from Cambodia last night after being detained along with a colleague from his conservation group. Gonzalez-Davidson and his Mother Nature co-founder San Mala were detained without charge by immigration officials at around 1:15pm in the riverside area of Phnom Penh. General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, suggested the ministry had shown restraint in not bringing criminal charges against the activist. "We are not detaining him[for long], but just to force him out of the Kingdom. We have the right to send him to court and imprison him from one to three months, but we don't do that," he said. A senior immigration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed Gonzalez-Davidson was scheduled to go to Bangkok on an 8:35pm Thai Airways flight. In a text message from the plane, Gonzalez-Davidson said he was bound for his native Spain. Mala was released from detention shortly before 6pm. An immigration official, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said that the order to deport the conservation campaigner had come directly from Prime Minister Hun Sen following a speech he made yesterday morning. "Hun Sen made the direct order to arrest Alex after his speech," the official said. Wan-Hea Lee, country director of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said a UN worker had "learned that there[were] no charges against either[Gonzalez-Davidson or Mala]". Mother Nature said in a press release yesterday that "the authorities may have overstepped the law and detained Alex without proper cause". "Today, we have heard reports from communities in the Areng Valley .?.?. that a car with four Chinese workers supported by police and military has entered the valley. We will be doing everything we can to support the communities to halt what appears to be a resumption of the work," the group added. Hun Sen earlier in the day warned the defiant activist to leave Cambodia voluntarily or face being blacklisted from the country. Gonzalez-Davidson had vowed to remain in Cambodia despite the fact that his visa expired on Friday. Speaking at a graduation in Phnom Penh yesterday, the premier also warned NGOs not to rally behind the embattled environmentalist, lest they face problems of their own. "Regarding Alex[Gonzalez-Davidson], let the Ministry of Interior take measures. It's not just foreigners, it's also Khmers that will be sentenced, and other NGOs shouldn't express much," Hun Sen said. "We'll let him stay until his visa is invalid. So you should leave first then ask for a new visa, it doesn't matter.[You] don't need to make this situation get worse. If we deport you, it means[you're] on the blacklist, that's it." Gonzalez-Davidson had planned to stay for at least 37 days after his visa expired and pay the related fines, but had vowed to remain in Cambodia until he was forced to leave. A staunch advocate of environmental causes, particularly that of the threatened Areng Valley, he had previously told the Post he was certain that if he left the country to obtain a new visa, the government would not let him back in. His situation has attracted huge support on social media, where the fluent Khmer-speaking activist has become something of celebrity. Gonzalez-Davidson was unavailable to comment, but Mala, his NGO's co-founder, told the Post yesterday morning that support for his colleague in the Cambodian community was absolute. "Hun Sen is going against what the Khmer people want, as we know 100 per cent of Khmers want Alex to stay.[Hun Sen's actions are] opposite to Khmer people," he said, pointing out that Alex has grown to be considered "Khmer" by his supporters. Ame Trandem, Southeast Asia program director for International Rivers, said it would be "unethical" for engineering giant Sinohydro, which is overseeing construction of the Cheay Areng dam, to proceed with feasibility studies "given the strong-arm tactics and intimidation being used by the .?.?. government against activists working to protect the Areng Valley". In a text message to supporters before his deportation, Gonzalez-Davidson remained defiant. "Stay strong, the battle is yours to be won. For nature, our life," he wrote.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Deportation, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 16, 2015
- Event Description
Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr has warned an anti-coup group which recently staged a rally that it could face legal action if it holds more protests. Members of the group, some of whom were arrested last Saturday for holding a mock "election", told the Reuters news agency they intend to continue their protests. Gen Udomdej, who also serves as deputy defence minister, said Monday 16th February that legal action may be taken against people who protest against the coup because martial law is in place to limit political gatherings. The army chief was responding to the arrest of four people who staged a demonstration in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) on Saturday. The group, called Phonlamuang To Klap (Resistant Citizens), organised a mock election to commemorate the poll on Feb 2 last year, which was obstructed by anti-government protesters and was later nullified by the Constitution Court. Four members of the group were arrested and charged with violating the National Council for Peace and Order's seventh order, which bans political gatherings of more than five people. All denied the charges and were released on bail. According to Reuters, the group included student protesters describing themselves as the "last group standing", while claiming they will openly defy what one leader called a tyrannical regime. They include current and recent students. The news agency said the young members call their group the Thai Student Centre for Democracy (TSCD), and are a mixed group, politically. Some claim to support the red shirt movement loyal to ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, while others sympathise with the establishment that supports the junta. Authorities arrested but later released on bail several members of the group after they staged last Saturday's mock election, ostensibly to mark Valentine's Day. Siriwit Serithiwat, a student at Thammasat University, was among those detained. He told Reuters he was accused of violating the martial law ban on public gatherings of more than five people. He was told he also violated the conditions of a document he was forced to sign last year promising not to participate in political activities. He was released from nearly 12 hours in police custody and had to pay bail of 40,000 baht. He expects to face trial in a military court, he told Reuters. Gen Udomdej insisted it was police officers, not military officers, who arrested the demonstrators at the BACC. But he said "state officials" had warned demonstrators several times about staging protests against the coup and engaging in activities that go against martial law. People are allowed to express their views and take part in "positive" activities, as long as they are within the law, he said. "I think most people prefer peace and order in our country. It is only small groups that carry out unlawful activities," Gen Udomdej said. State officers have urged people to understand the necessity of the coup, which was staged to maintain order. Gen Udomdej urged people not to hold any more political gatherings. TSCD members told the Reuters reporter they are prepared to go to jail to see a return to democratic rule. "We are the last group standing," group member Than Rittiphan, 22, told Reuters. The students say growing disgruntlement over the economy means Thailand is ripe for a new wave of protest. "People are starting to get sick of this tyrannical regime, especially how they manage the economy," Mr Than told the news agency. He has dropped out of university and has not returned home for weeks so the army will not know where he lives. Student Songtham Kaewpanpruek likened the current wave of activism to a 1973 uprising and 1976 army crackdown on a left-wing student protest amid lynchings, beatings and shootings. Officially, at least 46 protesters died, pulling the country back to years of military rule. Mr Songtham's aunt and uncle were student activists at Thammasat University, a hotbed of political activity in the 1970s. "We're taking the baton from the generation of '76," said Songtham, who said he had not slept at home in weeks to avoid the army knowing his whereabouts. "There are some teachers supporting us but because of martial law, many aren't able to reveal their identity." Gen Udomdej declined to comment when asked about concern from the European Union over use of military courts against civilians. The EU delegation to Thailand said that as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the kingdom must bring suspects before a judge. "As a friend of Thailand, the EU has repeatedly called for the democratic process to be restored and for martial law to be lifted," it said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 14, 2015
- Event Description
Amid tension with villagers, the Thai military continues to help oil company transport equipment into a potential oilfield in the northeast, despite an NHRC order to halt the process. Despite a recent order by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the company to halt operations due to the project's controversial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), military officers and district officials have helped the company to occupy major roads leading to the oil field to secure the convoy's access to the area since Saturday 14 February. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Jaturapong Bokbon, Deputy Head of Khon Kaen Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), on Monday morning dispatched 200 police, military, and volunteer defense officers to escort a convoy of 20 trucks of Apico (Korat) Limited, a US-based oil and gas exploration company, into the potential Dongmoon oilfield in Kranuan District of the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. The villagers gathered along the road to the field and took pictures of the operation to avoid violent confrontation. The authorities also threatened village leaders, environmental activists, and students not to take pictures of the event. The villagers of Kranuan District have long opposed the plan to explore the oilfield because the plan and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were conducted without the involvement of local people who are to be directly affected by the operations. In January, the villagers collected names and submitted a petition to Khon Kaen Administrative Court in an attempt to stop the drilling operation. On Saturday night, about 20 police and military officers from Khon Kaen Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) came to talk to village leaders and a local environmental conservation group and threatened to use martial law if the villagers obstruct the company's operations because the Department of Mineral Fuels permitted the company to explore the field as of last Wednesday. Since last week, the company has so far transported 45 trucks loaded with drilling equipment into the field, according to TLHR.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 24, 2015
- Event Description
The police summoned an environmental activist for talks over a planned public forum on the controversial Pak Mun Dam in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province. The Special Branch Police, the police unit responsible for national security intelligence, on Tuesday 24th February summoned Kritsakorn Silarak, the coordinator of People's Movement for Just Society (P-Move), for talks with the Ubon Ratchathani Governor and local national security officers about a public forum entitled "Two Decades of the Pak Mun Dam' scheduled to be held in March. The Pak Mun hydroelectric dam is a controversial 240 million USD project that was completed in 1994 on the Mun River (a tributary of the Mekong River). The dam displaced around 3,000 families and affected 25,000 villagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province of northeastern Thailand. It continues to affect the livelihoods of locals who largely depend on the fishing industry. Kritsakorn said forums on Pak Mun Dam are held regularly every year. "This activity is normally held every year, no matter what kind of government we have, civilian or military. Therefore, it is not very related to politics. It's a total mix up. It seems as if[the authorities] don't want the villagers to do anything at all," said Kritsakorn. He mentioned that the event will still be held. However, it might be subjected to limitations and controls by the authorities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to healthy and safe environment
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Feb 21, 2015
- Event Description
KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim after a rally for jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim outside Sogo in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here today. Three policemen in plain clothes grabbed him at about 5.25pm, after he had given a speech. He was taken to the Dang Wangi police station and later driven to Jinjang, media reports said. Rally-goers converged outside Dang Wangi police station where an altercation broke out when police tried to arrest Kelana Jaya assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. He was freed on condition that the supporters disperse, but shortly afterwards PKR supreme council member Fariz Musa was arrested at about 6pm in front of Pertama shopping complex. The rally had included a lion dance to mark the Chinese New Year, and speeches from Adam, Nik Nazmi and Anwar Ibrahim's daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar. It is understood that Adam was arrested for a speech he made at the Sogo rally last week.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 21, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai military detained a northern activist for holding a symbolic political event to condemn the junta's forest policy in the northern province of Chiang Mai. At around 5 pm on Saturday 21st February the military detained Pruet Odochao, a Karen activist from a group called People's Group for Northern Reform, for two hours after he participated in a symbolic political activity of lighting candles in front of the Three Kings Monument in central Chiang Mai. The military officers reportedly searched his belongings and checked his cell phone before releasing him after two hours' detention. Around 30 people joined the event at the square. The event was held after the group held a discussion on human rights, community rights, decentralisation, and other public policies of the new draft constitution on Saturday morning, with the participation of about 120 people from eight northern Thai provinces. Pruet said that he just wanted to urge the junta to solve the problems facing Karen communities in northern Thailand, many of which are affected by the forest protection policies of the junta. In June 2014, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order issued Orders No. 64/2014 and No. 67/2014. While the first order states that the encroachers into protected areas and poachers of forest goods shall face strict legal measures, the latter stipulates that the poor and people who settled in protected areas prior to the enactment of the policies would not be affected. He added that he is now unsure whether he can continue to campaign on the issue after his brief detention.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 18, 2015
- Event Description
Military officers intimidated and threatened to detain two anti-junta student activists while the police visited the dormitory of one of the two. Natchacha Kongudom, an anti-junta student activist from Bangkok University, told Prachatai on Friday that military officers threatened to send her to an "attitude adjustment camp' at a seminar she attended on Wednesday. Later in the evening, several police officers came to her dormitory to search for her, but she was absent. Natchacha said she suspected that the police came because she actively participated in the anti-junta demonstration at the BACC (Bangkok Art and Culture Centre) on February 14. Four people were arrested at the scene and face charges for leading a gathering which violated the junta's Order No. 7/2014, which prohibits political gatherings of more than five people. After the military officers did not find her at the dormitory, they asked the dormitory security guards and staff about her whereabouts and her daily routine, she said. "If they came when I'm doing political activities along with friends and the press, I wouldn't be afraid, but if they come to see me when I'm alone, then I feel rather intimidated and unsafe," said the student activist. She urged the authorities through Prachatai to send an official letter if they want to summon or meet dissidents. Sending officers to their residences is rather frightening. On Friday morning, Netiwit Choltiphatphaisal, the co-founder and former General Secretary of Education for Liberation of Siam (ELS), reported on his Facebook account that military officers threatened to detain him while he was on his way to a seminar. The military asked him about the seminar he is organising on 22 February at the Santi Prachatham Library and if he has asked for permission to hold the seminar. They insisted that if more than five people attend, the organizers must obtain permission from the authorities first. The military officers also took pictures of him and told him that he will receive a phone call from a high-ranking military officer, Netiwit added. Around 1 pm, he posted on his Facebook account that he had travelled to the 1st Army Military Base in central Bangkok to request permission to organize the seminar. In December 2014, Natchacha was threatened with rape by men who were thought to be plainclothes military officers assigned to follow and watch her after she made headlines for displaying the anti-coup three-fingered salute at the Hunger Games 3 premiere as a symbolic protest against the junta in November.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 25, 2015
- Event Description
Kalimuthu Kandhasamy works as an Advocate's Clerk of Mr. Sheik Ibrahim, Lawyer, Ramanathapuram. Kandhasamy is also an honorary District Organizer of Citizen for Human Rights Movement (CHRM) initiated by People's Watch and Assistant to the Pro bono lawyer taking care of Ramanathapuram cases of People's Watch, a human rights organization situated in Madurai. According to the source, on the 25th of February 2015 at about 7.15 p.m. Mr. K. Kandhasamy was actually arrested[ though the FIR states that he was arrested in a bus stop ] from his residence in Ramanthapuram by police personnel of Kenikkarai Police Station and subsequently remanded to judicial custody in the late morning of the 25th February. He was not issued a warrant or arrest memo at the time of arrest by the Policemen who carried out the arrest. On line complaints were sent twice in the night of the 24th & 25th February to the SP Ramnad district. The charge is that "Citizens for Human Rights Movement", the Movement of which Mr. Kandhasamy is the Honorary District Organizer for Ramanathapuram, has in its Board the name of the movement which has the terms "Human Rights" in them which is a violation of the amendment to the Tamilnadu Societies Registration Act brought about on the recommendation of the Tamilnadu State Human Rights Commission that no non-governmental institution should have the terms "human rights" in its name. This is a violation of the right to association in this country. Case was registered in Cr. No. 92/2015 under sections 170 IPC (personating a public servant) and Sec 420 (cheating) of the IPC read with Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and Mr. Kandhasamy was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. According to the FIR, as per the judgment in Crl. OP. No. 15960 of 2014 of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court of Justice Kirubakaran use of visiting cards, emblems, boards etc. with the name "human rights organization" and misleading the public is an offence. The FIR also states that it was also written on the board that persons with complaints regarding custodial torture, violence against women, untouchability, violence against children and other forms of human rights violations may approach the CHRM. . But it is to be noted here that the words "Human Rights" have not been misused by the Defender or the movement of which he is the District Organizer and they have not posed anywhere as a governmental body, neither have they misled the public by assuring any remedy that a statutory institution alone can provide. There is no averment in the FIR indicating whom Kandasamy has cheated and the complainant is the Inspector of Police. The CHRM only provides legal counsel and assistance to the victims of violations in addressing their issues in courts of law or through human rights institutions or through law enforcement officials or by referring them to relevant bodies and therefore the allegations made are groundless and baseless. The undersigned is the State Advisor of CHRM and the first Name Board of the Movement was inaugurated by the former Supreme Court Retd. And former Acting Chairperson of the NJHRC , Justice Mr. Shivraj Patil in the premises of Peoples' Watch at Madurai in the year 2007 and the Boards in different cells across the state are similar ones. As per the Judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in the Arnesh Kumar Vs. State of Bihar case on 2nd July, 2014, where offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years or which may extend to seven years; whether with or without fine, arrest and detention is not a necessity and this case falls under this category. It is especially worrisome that the human rights defender is a heart patient and had very recently approached one Dr. Gnanakumar with complaints of kidney stones requiring medical attention and had only returned from the doctor. The provisions of the Emblems and Names ( Prevention of Improper Use ) Act 1950 . Sec 5 reads as follows : Sec 3. Prohibition of improper use of certain emblems and names - Not withstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no person shall, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, use, or continue to use, for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, any name or emblem specified in the Schedule or any colorable imitation thereof without the previous permission of the Central Government or of such officer of Government as may be authorized in this behalf by the Central Government. Sec5Penalty: : - Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. We wish to insist that human rights is a value and hence the right to association includes the right to name the association as per the values that the members of the association cherish and not otherwise. We however hasten to also state that we are not against any criminal action being initiated under the normal criminal law provided there is evidence of cheating and evidence for any other criminal act that any individual or association of human rights defenders get engaged in. The right of human rights defenders includes their right to association and engaged in the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The National Human Rights Commission is an institutional protector of human rights defenders andhnce the duty therefore to protect their rights as per the provisions of the UN Declration of Human Rights Defenders. It is the right of human rights defenders to also constitute an association that remains unregistered as long as they function within the parameters of law . We also have reliable information that there are also further FIRs registered in different districts of Tamilnadu and specially against one Mr. Madurai Veeran the District Organiser of the CHRM in Madurai at the Tallakulam Police Station on 25th February 2015. It is also expected that several other FIRs have also been registered in several police stations across the state and many other illegal arrests could also follow similar to this special case of Kandhasamy.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 10, 2015
- Event Description
One hundred and twenty-seven people were arrested in the police crackdown on students in Letpadan on Tuesday, the Burmese government has reported. A report in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar on 11 March says that 52 male and 13 female students, along with 62 other civilians, were detained in the fracas while 16 police were wounded when protestors turned "the sit-in protest into violence" as they tried to break free from a police barricade. No mention was made of whether protestors will face charges or not. Before the scenes of violence broke out on Tuesday, news of a breakthrough that would allow students to complete their march to Rangoon had been circulated. In an interview with DVB, Thiha Win Tin, a central committee member with the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, or ABFSU, described how the negotiations broke down. Swan Arr Shin members had posed as local residents and acted as agent provocateurs, Thiha Win Tin said. "Some "community members' were shouting on the loudspeaker, warning us that they had shown patience up to this point, and other provocative things. However, the "real' locals at the scene said those "community members' are bogus, and in fact they were Swan Arr Shin members." Related Stories The Border and Security Affairs minister called us for another meeting and proposed news conditions, such as for us to not carry banners, wear armbands or headbands, or to raise flags when we travel to Rangoon; also that the vehicles in the convoy must keep a minimum spacing between one another. The negotiations failed and at 11:45am, protestors started pushing through the police line. At first, the police did not react, but they later resorted to using violence." In images caught on video by DVB, chaos can be seen unfolding as several police officers escort detained activists towards police vans, attempting to shield them from blows from other officers. In one scene, three policemen carry a protestor by his arms and legs. Detained students can be seen waving and gesturing from a police truck as they are taken away, as other students cheer on in support. Wednesday's Global New Light of Myanmar also carried a report describing two "official" rallies held in Rangoon. Participants reportedly expressed their concerns over the "negative effects of the ongoing student protests," and called for "rule of law" and "peace and stability". These events that took place in Okkan and Taukkyi were contrasted with the "unofficial" protest - meaning, held without official sanctioning - that took place at Hledan Junction. An investigation committee, tasked with assessing whether security forces "acted properly" when they violently dispersed a Rangoon protest on 5 March - an action which drew international criticism - has been formed on President Thein Sein's orders. State media reports that the commission will be chaired by Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Tun, and is to report its findings by 31 March. Meanwhile, small solidarity protests were held at Yadanabon University campus in Mandalay and Karenni State's Loikaw on Wednesday morning and Tuesday evening respectively, to denounce the police brutality against students in Letpadan. The university campus was reportedly shut down as around a dozen protestors entered, while the Loikaw demonstrators encountered a police barricade near the town's Naungya Lake. "We are denouncing the violent crackdown on the students protest in Letpadan yesterday. All campus gates were shut after we entered the premises," said Aung San Oo, speaking to DVB from Yadanabon.
- Impact of Event
- 127
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 4, 2015
- Event Description
Thirteen striking workers and two journalists were apprehended by police during a labour protest and detained in Rangoon's Insein Township on Wednesday. Workers from the Shwepyithar Industrial Zone were continuing their recent demonstrations calling for better pay by marching to City Hall in the former capital. Leaders of the strike from the industrial zone have previously been charged under Article 505(b) of the Penal Code. Thirteen workers were detained on Wednesday, according to a report in state media, along with DVB's Myo Zaw Linn and 7Day Daily's Ko Nikki. The reporters were released last night after being held briefly, but the protestors remain in detention. A report by state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said that locals assisted police with the dispersal of the "illegal" protest. The journalists were taken to an interrogation facility on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road after being caught up in a clash between officers and workers at the Danyingone intersection. "The police began manhandling the labour protesters, who resisted," said Myo Zaw Linn, following his release. "It was chaos. Some men attempted to drag me away and snatch my camera out of my hand. They threatened to smash it up, and one of them shouted, "Punch that guy!' I told them there was no need to hit me, and that I would go with them. Four of them - two in civilian clothing and two in police uniform - dragged me into a truck," he said. After Myo Zaw Linn and Ko Nikki were taken into detention, Pol. Lt-Col Myint Htwe of the Eastern Rangoon district police told DVB the reporters would be released after the police check their belongings and take their affidavit. Speaking to DVB after their apprehension, Pol. Lt-Col Myint Htwe of the Eastern Rangoon district said, "We are not detaining them. They were brought to the interrogation centre by mistake, and I am just going to send them back home. We let them wait outside the interrogation room until we take the necessary details from them. After this, I will send them back to their parents' house myself." Myo Zaw Linn was escorted home on Wednesday evening after signing an affidavit. A report in Burma's state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said that prior to the release of the journalists, officials "warned them of observing media ethics while authorities are taking their duties in accordance with the law."
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 13, 2015
- Event Description
After anti-junta activists urged the court of justice not to let military courts try civilians, the Thai junta responded by pointing out that special security measures are needed to maintain national security and warned activists that a planned rally might be viewed as creating a situation. Col Winthai Suwaree, the spokesperson of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Friday stated that extra security measures are needed to maintain national security under the current volatile circumstances and that the standards of the military and civil courts are the same. The junta's statement was made as a response to the activities of the four anti-junta activists from Resistant Citizen, a pro-democracy activist group, who on Thursday issued a statement urging the court of justice to resist the junta's order to allow military courts try civilian defendants. Winthai added that, in reality, the military tribunals only hold trials related to national security cases and that most people in society understand that the measure is necessary. The activists pointed out in the statement that the military courts cannot guarantee to suspects the right to a fair trial because the substandard judicial procedures of the military court do not guarantee suspects' right to appeal a verdict. The junta's spokesperson also made reference to Anon Nampa, one of the four activists from Resistant Citizen who face charges for defying in February NCPO Order No. 7/2014, which bans political gatherings of more than five people, saying that the activist does not fully understand the current situation in Thailand and is gradually trying to create a political situation. Winthai also commented that the "I Walk Therefore I Am" rally planned by the same activist group, which will be held from 14-16 March, might be viewed as political. "[I] believe that[people in] society are confused about the real intentions of Anon on what he is trying to do, whether it is for himself or for the country," said Winthai. The NCPO will continue to closely monitor people who do not understand the junta, the junta's spokesman added. On 25 May 2014, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued Announcement No. 37/2014, which states that cases related to national security, l��se majest_, and failure to obey the junta's orders would be tried by military courts. According to iLaw, the penalties given to l��se majest_ convicts by military courts are significantly higher than the penalties handed down by civilian courts. A staff member of the Judge Advocate General's Office reportedly argued for twice the penalty of civilian courts because protecting the monarchy is the main mission of the military.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 15, 2015
- Event Description
Vietnamese human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai was harassed and threatened by security officers outside his home on Sunday morning following his recent release from house arrest. He was also threatened the previous week by individuals who shouted profanity while he was being greeted by guests. In the latest incident, Dai was prevented from going to Church by ten police officers who demanded to see official documents which detailed his completed probation. Dai had never received these documents despite being released from house arrest and was requested to stay home following the arrival of more police officers. Dai was arrested in March 2007 and charged with "conducting propaganda against the State" under Article 88 of the Vietnamese Penal Code. He served four years in prison before being released under house arrest in 2011. A prominent legal advocate, Dai has experienced years of targeted harassment, police brutality and faced disbarment for his human rights work. Human rights defenders in Vietnam often go through periods of surveillance, threats of violence, and face daily degradation by plainclothes police or hired thugs.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Apr 25, 2014
- Event Description
Alleged acts of intimidation and threats against the Project Coordinator of the Land Reform Project at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR). According to the information received, on 25 April 2014, Mr. Vann Sophath and his team visited the site of a land dispute case, to film a documentary about one of the concerned families, when he was intimidated by security guards. On 9 May 2014, Mr. Sophath's filming on site was interrupted again when armed security guards threatened him and forced him off the site. One security guard took pictures of Mr. Sophath and his car's number plate. Concern is expressed at the intimidation and threats of violence targeting Mr. Sophath while carrying out his peaceful work promoting and protecting the rights of the families on the disputed land.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 24, 2015
- Event Description
Chinese police officers raided the office of a prominent non-governmental organisation in Beijing this week, seizing laptops and details of contacts, its co-founder said on Thursday, the latest target of China's crackdown on dissent. Lu Jun, co-founder of Yirenping, an anti-discrimination NGO, said about 20 police officers broke into its offices in the early hours of Tuesday, taking away financial receipts, project contacts and several computers and laptops. Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen a broad crackdown on the country's rights community since he took office in 2013, in what some groups call the worst suppression of dissent in two decades. Lu said before the search, police had taken his colleague, a man surnamed Cao, into custody for several hours and entered the office with Cao. Cao had been involved in a project on public interest law and has since fled Beijing, according to Lu. Lu said he believed the raid was linked to his calls for the release of five women activists, who were detained just over two weeks ago, apparently for planning to demonstrate against sexual harassment on public transport. "I feel the message is that the police want to suppress my calls for solidarity with these women rights activists," Lu said in a telephone interview from New York, where he is a visiting scholar. "The second signal is that striking down NGOs is a priority." A police officer in the Yangfangdian district, which administers the area where Yirenping is located, was unable to comment when asked to confirm the raid. "Authorities have become increasingly concerned with foreign funding," Maya Wang of New York-based Human Rights Watch said in emailed comment to Reuters, pointing to the passages devoted to foreign funding in a slew of new security laws. Police have denied medication to Wu Rongrong, one of the detained women activists suffering from a chronic liver disease, after determining that she does not need it, said her lawyer, Wang Fei. "Before, she was detained, she was always taking the medication for anti-viral treatment," Wang said. "From what I've seen, her physical condition is poor and her face looks jaundiced." The Haidian detention centre, where Wu is being held, declined to comment. Foreign NGOs in China have told Reuters they are bracing for a crackdown as the government prepares to pass a new law to regulate their activities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 19, 2015
- Event Description
In a bid to stop the political activities of student activists, military officers have intimidated 17 student activists by paying visits to their homes, dorms, and parent's homes. The Thai Student Centre for Democracy (TSCD), a student activist group, on Wednesday revealed on the group's Facebook page that since 19 March, 17 student activists have been intimidated by military officers who came to visit their homes. "Military and police officers, both in uniform and plain-clothes, raided, carried out searches, and talked to student activists and the parents of students who have records of political activities since the 2014 coup d'_tat in an attempt to adjust their attitudes," wrote the TSCD on Facebook. At 1.30 pm on Wednesday three police officers from the Special Branch of the Royal Thai Police (SBP), a police unit responsible for national security intelligence, visited the parents of Natchacha Kongudom, a prominent TSCD student activist from Bangkok University, in the northeastern province of Nong Khai. On the same day, several military officers visited the parents of Rangsiman Rome, another prominent student activist from the League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD), another activist group based at Thammasat University. Both Natchacha and Rangsiman participated in a protest in front of Bangkok's military court on 16 March to support the four embattled anti-junta activists from Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group, who were charged with defying the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 7/2014 for holding a political gathering of more than five people on 14 February. In addition, on Wednesday, Seri Kasetsart, a student activist group based at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, revealed on the group's Facebook page that on Wednesday evening security officers in plainclothes visited the home of Athiwich Pattamapornsirigun, a leading member of the group. Athiwich was not at home during the officers' visit. However, the officers talked to his family members and told them to send him a message that he should not engage in any political activity. Seri Kasetsart is a student group which actively campaigns against the privatisation of public universities, such as the privatisation of Kasetsart University and Thammasat University. After the incident, the group urged the junta to refrain from any dictatorial action. Seri Kasetsart is one of the student groups that rallied in front of the National Legislative Assembly on Thursday morning against the university privatisation bill.
- Impact of Event
- 17
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 25, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have formally detained a prominent rights activist on subversion charges after he visited the grave of a victim of the 1989 military crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests, his lawyer said. Chen Yunfei, 47, a former 1989 Tiananmen activist who has campaigned vigorously for human rights protections and against environmental pollution in the past two decades, was initially detained on March 25 near Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu. He has been charged with "incitement to subvert state power" and "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," his lawyer Ran Tong told RFA, who said the charges are contradictory, if applied to a single individual. "This just shows that they just detained him in a big hurry, and now they can't find excuses," Ran said. "The charge of picking quarrels and stirring up trouble implies that you are deliberately disturbing public order, but not that you have an aim." "Incitement to subvert state power has a clear motive implied; that you are trying to overthrow the political system," he said. Ran, who recently visited Chen in a police-run detention center, said the charges are a form of official retaliation for Chen's years of activism. "How can a regular person overthrow state power? Only someone as high-ranking as[former security czar] Zhou Yongkang would be able to do that," Ran said. "President Xi... told us that we should have curbs on official power, and Chen Yunfei was responding to his call," he said. "We are talking about a single individual trying to instigate some sort of monitoring of officialdom, and someone in officialdom taking offense at this," Ran said. "Why do they pin such big charges on him? Are citizens forbidden to speak out? This is incomprehensible," he said. Political persecution Fellow activist Luo Kaiwen, who was with Chen when he was detained, said the detention amounts to political persecution by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "This is political persecution[of Chen] by the Communist Party," Luo said. "This is a stitch-up." He said Chen was detained after visiting the grave of Tiananmen massacre victim Wu Guofeng along with a group of fellow activists. "How is paying respects to the martyrs of June 4, 1989 subversion?" Luo said. "What quarrels did he pick, or trouble did he stir up?" "The whole world should speak out on behalf of Chen Yunfei," he said. Sichuan-based petitioner Wang Rongwen said the charges seemed "very heavy" compared with Chen's actions. "It's clear that they plan to charge him with a serious crime, otherwise they wouldn't do this," Wang said. "I am definitely worried about him." "Long line of subversives' Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia wrote via Twitter: "Chen Yunfei is the latest in a long line of subversives from Sichuan. This case is similar to that of[detained rights lawyer] Pu Zhiqiang, in that they have brought criminal charges and political charges against the same person." Chen last spoke to RFA after he and a group of fellow activists were "forcibly dragged" to the local police station after they gathered outside a petrochemical plant in Sichuan's Pengzhou county to protest alleged pollution on March 6. Last year, the authorities launched a nationwide crackdown on activists and family members of victims of the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square student-led pro-democracy movement in the run-up to the 25th anniversary on June 4. Some, including lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, remain behind bars, charged with "incitement to subvert state power." The government bans public memorials marking the event, and has continued to ignore growing calls in China and from overseas for a reappraisal of the 1989 student protests, which it once styled a "counterrevolutionary rebellion." The number of people killed when People's Liberation Army tanks and troops entered Beijing on the night of June 3-4, 1989, has never been confirmed.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to liberty and security
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 22, 2015
- Event Description
According to the sources, a two day "National Conference on People's Struggles" was jointly organized at Gadchiroli town in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on the 22nd and 23rd of March 2015 by two prominent civil society organizations of Maharashtra, the Bharat Jan Andolan and the Akhil Bharatiya Adiwasi Mahasabha. The objective of the conference was to put up a united front of resistance of all progressive forces to show solidarity to all people's struggles across India and particularly struggles for water, forest and land rights of tribals living in Maharashtra. Around 250 representatives and social activists from 12 Indian states took part in this national conference. Students and teachers from 10 Indian universities and human rights organizations also participated in the peaceful and democratic event. A rally was also taken out on the 23rd of March from the Press Club to the main ground in Gadchiroli to register protest of the people against repressive policies of the current regime in rule in India. According to sources, all relevant documents required for organizing a peaceful democratic assembly of people were submitted and permission from Gadchiroli district police authorities had been obtained for this event. It was a peaceful, non-violent democratic event. But soon after the declaration of the event the Maharashtra police administration began to unleash a reign of terror by harassing and intimidating social activists, local citizens and tribal villagers. Police immediately launched awareness campaign on 22 and 23 March 2015 in various police stations and especially in Dhanora tehsil and started threatening social workers and activists of the organizations, asking them not to join the said conference and forcing people to join their awareness campaign against their wishes. Police also started seizing their personal two-wheelers, tractor trolleys and other vehicles. Police also ordered to stop plying public transport vehicles on 22 and 23 March 2015 in order to prevent the movement of social activists. From 21 March onwards, police erected check posts in various places of Gadchiroli districts and deployed armed security personnel and commandos of state police called C 60 (Commando 60) which was formed to combat Maoists or Naxals in the region. Police officials in all police stations were served strict orders to prevent people from participating in the conference. The organizers got calls on 22 March from various social activists informing them that their two wheelers and other vehicles carrying activists were being forcibly stopped and people were being detained at various check posts and Tribal villagers were being harassed and threatened. The vehicle which was sent to bring the cultural troupe was forcibly kept in Yerkad police station. Activists coming from Chhattisgarh state were detained at Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh borders. Social activists were forcibly asked to go back and were subjected to inhuman and cruel treatment at the hands of police. People were warned not to step out of their homes. In places like Yerkad, Murumgaon and Pendri people were prevented from using and boarding public transport buses. A large number of people, mainly human rights defenders numbering around 15,000 were prevented from participating in the conference and denied their right to freedom of assembly and of association. According to sources, after the conference summons are being sent to around 10,000 participants to report to their local police stations on the pretext of completing some administrative formalities. Verbal enquiries are being made and innocent tribal villagers are being harassed and tortured. A few days ago, in the Besiwada village of Etapalli block of district Gadchiroli, police commandos demolished the huts of tribal villagers and their bicycles and the rice that they had stored was thrown in to the adjoining river. Around 30 to 40 innocent tribal villagers were badly beaten by the commandos. These tribals work in the bamboo forest and do bamboo cutting work.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 14, 2015
- Event Description
China has threatened to punish a local human rights group linked to five women's activists who were released on Tuesday. The foreign affairs ministry said Yirenping had "violated the law" but gave no further details. The group has been locked out of its Beijing office after the police conducted a raid last month. China earlier this week freed the women after more than a month in detention, a move welcomed by rights groups. The detention of the women, who planned protests against sexual harassment, had sparked an international outcry. In a daily press briefing on Tuesday, the foreign affairs ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the activists were from Yirenping and that the organisation "will be punished for violating the law". The details of the allegations and the punishment threatened were not given. Yirenping's co-founder Lu Jun told the BBC's Beijing bureau that he was looking for lawyers to address the allegations, adding: "We believe we have done everything legally." Mr Lu, who is currently based in New York, said that police officers had broken down the door of their Beijing office in the early hours of 24 March to conduct their raid. "My colleagues can't get into the office any more because the lock has been changed. I have pushed for an answer about who did this. The local police did not admit to it but said higher authority did it," he said. Also known as the Beijing Yirenping Centre, the group has offices in Beijing as well as Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. It was founded in 2006 to "promote public health, eliminate discrimination, and defend the right of disadvantaged groups through legal means", according to its website. It focuses on helping those with HIV and hepatitis B, women and disabled people bring anti-discrimination lawsuits against the government, companies and schools. It had lobbied for the release of the women, who were arrested shortly before International Women's Day on 8 March. Mr Lu had earlier said their detention was "a glaring injustice". The women had planned activities including a march in a Beijing park where participants would wear stickers advocating safe sex, and gatherings in Beijing and Guangzhou calling for awareness of sexual harassment on buses. The US, UK and European Union had all called for them to be freed. The five have not been charged but their bail conditions mean charges could be brought at a later date. Their lawyer also said they would need to update the authorities on their whereabouts. Rights groups said that their release showed that international pressure had worked, and called on China to drop all restrictions and threat of charges.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to liberty and security
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Apr 14, 2015
- Event Description
A two-member squad, dressed in civil clothes, was trying to knife three journalists in Jaffna after chasing them in a motorbike for 2 kilometres at Nalloor on Tuesday night. The journalists were returning to their offices in two motorbikes after collecting news of a hunger strike when the incident took place. The journalists managed to escape from the attackers and rushed to the Police station in Jaffna to lodge a complaint on the assassination attempt. At the police station, they saw the motorbike of the attackers parked inside the premises and the alleged attackers were a police inspector and a surgeon. The police officers at duty refused to file the complaint from the journalists. In the meantime, another reporter from Point Pedro has been remanded on Wednesday for filing a story about an attempted rape of a school girl by a police constable belonging to Nelliyadi police station. Tharmapalan Vinojith, the staff reporter at Yaazh Thinakkural and the chairman of Jaffna Press Club, Piratheepan Thampithurai, the Jaffna correspondent of Hiru TV and Mayurathan Sreeramachandran, the reporter of Ada Derana and Tamil Mirror were the three journalists, who were intercepted by the two member squad that chased them at Nalloor around 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday. When the journalists spotted the attackers wielding knives against them, they managed to escape from the site. The journalists say that the attackers in civil were wearing t-shirts used by the police. Only one of them was wearing a helmet. When the three journalists arrived at the police station and witnessed that the attackers were policemen from the same station, the policemen at the station not only refused to register their complaint, but they also attempted to assault them, the journalists said. A complaint was accepted only on the following day after a long process and that too registered as a "minor offence', the journalists said. In the meantime, the Senior Police Superintend in Jaffna was trying for a negotiation on Wednesday night with the journalists to avoid legal proceedings against the policemen, media sources in Jaffna said. Now, the police has accepted that the it was two of its police officers who were behind the incident. But, the police says that they took the knives for their "personal security'. The involved police officers have alleged that the three journalists had attempted to assault them. The journalists say that the attackers intended to cause major harm as the squad had chased them for 2 kilometres and pointed knives against them while intercepting them. "How could three journalists confront two trained police officers who were armed with knives", a journalist asked. In the meantime, Jaffna Press Club (JPC) has said the journalists have been continuously harassed by the SL police, the so-called Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and the SL military intelligence. Journalists Mayoorathan and Vinojith have been harassed after they brought out the news of houses being destroyed inside the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam North. Majorathan was subjected to an attack on the road by a squad. The TID has been harassing them continuously, the JPC said. The journalists, who do not want to drop the case agains the police squad, have approached the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna on Thursday. "We still remember that the assassinated journalist Nimalrajan was harassed by police squad that visited him before he was slain," one of the journalists told TamilNet. Meanwhile, S. Logathayalan, a journalist working for Uthayan and Thinakkural was remanded on Wednesday for investigations against filing a story on a rape attempt by a policeman from Nelliyadi station. The story was published in Uthayan paper on Tuesday. The story didn't mention the name of the policeman. However, on Wednesday, the SL police went out with a denial against the story in the same paper. The SL police wanted the editor T. Premananth and the staff reporter Logathayalan to record their statements. But, Logathayalan was arrested after he gave his statement and was taken to the court on Wednesday. Point Pedro court's acting Magistrate P. Subramaniyam remanded the journalist till 17 April. The journalist was released on bail on Thursday. It is very strange that the journalist was legally remanded for publishing a story that didn't violate the norms of journalism, journalists in Jaffna said
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
Tamil Net?catid=13&artid=37723)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 10, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern province of Guangdong are widening the net in an ongoing crackdown on critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party with the detention of an Internet user for "rumor-mongering," activists and their relatives said on Friday. Liu Sifang was taken away from his home in the provincial capital Guangzhou in the early hours of Friday morning on suspicion of "using the Internet to spread rumors," his wife told RFA. Liu, whose detention was linked to a tweet he had sent about the detention of fellow activist Ou Bo, was then taken by police to the town in the southwestern province of Sichuan where he was born, in spite of the fact that he now lives and works in Guangzhou, Lu Lina said. Police had also searched the couple's home and confiscated their computers, Lu said. "They grabbed hold of me and one of them wrenched the computer away from me," she said. "I chased them as far as the stairwell to try to get it back, but one of them pinned me to the ground." "I was very angry, and I instinctively tried to bite him," Lu said. Lu said police, only one of whom wore a uniform, offered no documents or ID, but simply told Liu he was being detained for questioning. Liu later said he had been released under escort from the local police station, but declined to talk for long, suggesting he was still under close surveillance. "I'm not exactly free," Liu said. "They are sending me back[to Sichuan] and I'm on the way there now...It's not convenient for me to talk right now." On the same day, Guangzhou-based activist Jia Pin was intercepted on his way to visit friends in Guangdong's Dongguan city and told to leave the area, he said. "I was taken by three people, acting in the name of state security, to the Bubugao police station in Dongcheng district of Dongguan at around 9 a.m.," Jia told RFA on Friday. "The municipal state security police there asked me what I had come to Dongguan for, who I was seeing, and when I planned to leave," Jia said. "Then they drove me to my hotel, where I packed up my stuff, and left." Jia said the police said they didn't want to see any "activism, demonstrations or placard-waving protests" in Dongguan. Last week, Guangdong authorities formally arrested three netizens on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power" after they posted satirical and pro-democracy tweets to social media. Liang Qinhui, also known by his online nickname "Sharp Knife," was detained by police in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou. Police also detained Zheng Jingxian, known by his online nickname "Right Road for China" and Huang Qian, known by her online nickname "Jailbreak Archive," lawyers told RFA at the time. On Sept. 1, 2013, China's highest judicial authorities issued a directive criminalizing online "rumor-mongering," in a move widely seen as targeting critical comments and negative news on the country's hugely popular social media sites. The Cyberspace Administration is campaigning to blacklist websites that don't offer what it considers to be "lawful Internet information and communication," while censors have called on the public to provide "enthusiastic tip-offs" from all sectors of society regarding undesirable content. Rights groups say that since President Xi Xinping took power in November 2012, censorship has been stepped up to include criticisms of the government that are merely implied or repeated. Meanwhile, a Guangzhou-based rights activist who was tried last year on public order charges in the southern Chinese city, has been subjected to torture and mistreatment while in police detention, prompting him to refuse food, harm himself and attempt suicide, his lawyer said. Sun Sihuo, better known as Sun Desheng, stood trial in Guangzhou's Tianhe District People's Court on Nov. 28 for "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order" alongside fellow activist Yang Maodong, better known by his pseudonym Guo Feixiong. The two men have been held in police detention since 2013, after taking part in street protests for press freedom and calling for greater government transparency and protection for human rights. The court hasn't yet announced a verdict or sentence. Sun's lawyers said he was "tortured and mistreated" during disciplinary procedures at the Tianhe District Detention Center, but was denied permission to complain about his treatment to the center's director. Sun's defense lawyer Chen Jinxue said the activist's treatment has slightly improved in recent weeks. "There has been a minor improvement in his treatment, but he told me that he is still being subjected to strip searches every month, and they remove his underwear and make him jump around," Chen said on Friday. "This is unacceptable, because it is a violation of human dignity, and we will be complaining to the relevant authorities," he said. The charges against Guo and Sun were based on their activism linked to anti-censorship demonstrations outside the cutting-edge Southern Weekend newspaper offices in Guangzhou in early 2013. Meanwhile, the subversion case against Guangzhou-based rights lawyer Tang Jingling has been resubmitted to state prosecutors after being sent back for "further investigation," his wife told RFA. Tang's wife Wang Yanfang said she felt "pretty sad" at the news. "He hasn't done anything that is against the law," Wang said. "We have repeatedly called on the authorities to stick to the rule of law, and we still hope that this will be achieved." UPDATE: 16/ 11/ 2015 Two Activists Stand Trial For 'Subversion' in China's Guangdong Two activists in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong stood trial on Friday charged with subversion linked to social media posts and campaigns for human rights and democracy, their lawyers said. Liang Qinhui, also known by his online nickname "Sharp Knife," and Zhang Shengyu who showed public support for last year's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, were tried separately at the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. Liang, 32, was detained in April and accused of posting "sensitive and extreme" comments to the popular chatroom site QQ, according to the indictment, with the prosecution focusing in particular on his comment: "Better to be an American dog than a Chinese pig." The line of text was an apparent reference to the Mao-era description of the United States as "capitalist running dogs," and comes against a background of underground satirical cartoons in the style of George Orwell's Animal Farm showing pigs dressed as ruling Chinese Communist Party officials. His lawyer Wu Kuiming said the trial went smoothly and that Liang's defense team had entered a plea of not guilty. "We are of the opinion that this is a freedom of speech case, based on the evidence and the material facts of the case," Wu told RFA after the trial ended. "We told them in court that his posts and articles formed part of a debate on matters of public interest, and constituted nothing but his personal opinion," Wu said. "He never had any contact with any other citizens offline." "The prosecution believed that there was evidence that he had sought to incite others to overthrow the socialist system," he said. According to the indictment, Liang's postings "show evidence of foreign influence," citing his use of the web circumvention tool Freegate to view overseas websites normally blocked by China's censorship system, collectively known as the Great Firewall. It also cites a post titled "I won't be a descendant of Marx and Lenin," which was posted on a public chatroom in QQ "attracting widespread public attention." He also downloaded photos and altered them to include slogans calling on people to "save Chinese compatriots from the Chinese communist bandits," the indictment said. Liang's fiancee Fu Yuqin said she believed Wu had made an excellent defense of Liang, and rejected the charges against him. "You can't say someone has committed a crime because of[the number of visits] to his profile page," Fu said. "Surely that's too far-fetched." She added: "He's just a regular guy; it's highly unlikely he is going to try to bring down the government." Remaining silent Meanwhile, Guangzhou-based activist Zhang Shengyu was also on trial on the same charges following years of vocal activism and campaigning for democracy and a constitutional government. However, the trial ended early after Zhang, 46, refused to cooperate with the proceedings, his lawyer said. "The trial ended at around 12:10 p.m., because Zhang Shengyu refused to recognize the court's jurisdiction, and remained silent," defense attorney Liu Zhengqing told RFA. "When they asked him about the evidence, he just said he didn't remember, so it wrapped up very quickly," he said. "But the judges weren't listening anyway, however well we spoke in his defense," Liu said, adding that Zhang had reported being beaten up and locked in solitary confinement for six days during his time in the police-run detention center. He had refused to bargain with prosecutors who offered him a lighter sentence, he said. "The prosecution said that he would get a lighter punishment if he pleaded guilty, but he refused and said he was hoping for a heavier sentence, and that he is innocent," Liu said. "He wanted to do this to show up the darkness inherent in the Communist Party," he added. Zhang was among dozens of activists who converged on the central city of Zhengzhou last year to call for the release of the "Zhengzhou 10," who were detained after a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement in 2014. A group of some 30 or 40 of fellow activists gathered near the court building on Friday, but were kept away by a cordon of police around the building, while three or four were detained, activists said. "We could only watch from the outer boundary; nobody was allowed in," activist Tan Aijun said. "There were a lot of police vehicles parked near the court entrance, and they had cordoned off the area and wouldn't let anyone get close." He added: "Several of us wanted to get in as observers, but the state security police came running over immediately and took away anyone who said they wanted to observe." The court has yet to issue verdicts or sentences in either case, but these are typically delivered within six weeks of the closing of a trial. UPDATE: 27/ 11/ 2015 Two Activists Stand Trial For 'Subversion' in China's Guangdong Two activists in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong stood trial on Friday charged with subversion linked to social media posts and campaigns for human rights and democracy, their lawyers said. Liang Qinhui, also known by his online nickname "Sharp Knife," and Zhang Shengyu who showed public support for last year's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, were tried separately at the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. Liang, 32, was detained in April and accused of posting "sensitive and extreme" comments to the popular chatroom site QQ, according to the indictment, with the prosecution focusing in particular on his comment: "Better to be an American dog than a Chinese pig." The line of text was an apparent reference to the Mao-era description of the United States as "capitalist running dogs," and comes against a background of underground satirical cartoons in the style of George Orwell's Animal Farm showing pigs dressed as ruling Chinese Communist Party officials. His lawyer Wu Kuiming said the trial went smoothly and that Liang's defense team had entered a plea of not guilty. "We are of the opinion that this is a freedom of speech case, based on the evidence and the material facts of the case," Wu told RFA after the trial ended. "We told them in court that his posts and articles formed part of a debate on matters of public interest, and constituted nothing but his personal opinion," Wu said. "He never had any contact with any other citizens offline." "The prosecution believed that there was evidence that he had sought to incite others to overthrow the socialist system," he said. According to the indictment, Liang's postings "show evidence of foreign influence," citing his use of the web circumvention tool Freegate to view overseas websites normally blocked by China's censorship system, collectively known as the Great Firewall. It also cites a post titled "I won't be a descendant of Marx and Lenin," which was posted on a public chatroom in QQ "attracting widespread public attention." He also downloaded photos and altered them to include slogans calling on people to "save Chinese compatriots from the Chinese communist bandits," the indictment said. Liang's fiancee Fu Yuqin said she believed Wu had made an excellent defense of Liang, and rejected the charges against him. "You can't say someone has committed a crime because of[the number of visits] to his profile page," Fu said. "Surely that's too far-fetched." She added: "He's just a regular guy; it's highly unlikely he is going to try to bring down the government." Remaining silent Meanwhile, Guangzhou-based activist Zhang Shengyu was also on trial on the same charges following years of vocal activism and campaigning for democracy and a constitutional government. However, the trial ended early after Zhang, 46, refused to cooperate with the proceedings, his lawyer said. "The trial ended at around 12:10 p.m., because Zhang Shengyu refused to recognize the court's jurisdiction, and remained silent," defense attorney Liu Zhengqing told RFA. "When they asked him about the evidence, he just said he didn't remember, so it wrapped up very quickly," he said. "But the judges weren't listening anyway, however well we spoke in his defense," Liu said, adding that Zhang had reported being beaten up and locked in solitary confinement for six days during his time in the police-run detention center. He had refused to bargain with prosecutors who offered him a lighter sentence, he said. "The prosecution said that he would get a lighter punishment if he pleaded guilty, but he refused and said he was hoping for a heavier sentence, and that he is innocent," Liu said. "He wanted to do this to show up the darkness inherent in the Communist Party," he added. Zhang was among dozens of activists who converged on the central city of Zhengzhou last year to call for the release of the "Zhengzhou 10," who were detained after a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement in 2014. A group of some 30 or 40 of fellow activists gathered near the court building on Friday, but were kept away by a cordon of police around the building, while three or four were detained, activists said. "We could only watch from the outer boundary; nobody was allowed in," activist Tan Aijun said. "There were a lot of police vehicles parked near the court entrance, and they had cordoned off the area and wouldn't let anyone get close." He added: "Several of us wanted to get in as observers, but the state security police came running over immediately and took away anyone who said they wanted to observe." The court has yet to issue verdicts or sentences in either case, but these are typically delivered within six weeks of the closing of a trial.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Mar 26, 2015
- Event Description
A senior lecturer with Universiti Malaya is the latest to be hauled up by police over an article criticising them over a series of arrests following the #KitaLawan rally recently. Dr Khoo Ying Hooi, a columnist with The Malaysian Insider, is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation over the article, "Who owns the police?", which appeared in the news portal on March 16. In the article, Khoo had said that the police have come under criticism for continuing to use Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA), a law that the Court of Appeal have deemed unconstitutional to arrest participants of #KitaLawan rallies. She had also questioned the selectivity of police intervention and had also used examples of police reaction in protests in the United States in the commentary. Khoo told The Malaysian Insider that she was questioned for 1�_ hours by two police officers at her office yesterday. She was accompanied by her lawyer Puspawati Rosman.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 22, 2015
- Event Description
A trio of plainclothes policemen in Vietnam's capital savagely attacked prominent blogger Trinh Anh Tuan on Wednesday, sending him to the hospital for treatment, he said, adding that they were among a group of men who have been observing his home for the past month. Tuan, better known by his online handle Gio Lang Thang, told RFA's Vietnamese Service that he had left his home in Hanoi at around 7:00 a.m. to carry out some errands for the family when he was accosted by the men wielding bricks. "About 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the house, there were three people on two motorbikes-they pushed me, making me fall down, and attacked me," said the blogger. "I ran away, but they chased after me, continuing to beat me-pushing me and hitting me in the head with bricks, causing me to bleed. I had to go to the hospital and received 10 stitches in my head, as well as some minor treatment to my hand," he said."I have scratches and bruises all over my body, arms, and legs. My body still aches." Tuan said that after returning from the hospital, he reported the incident to the police department in Long Bien district, where the attack occurred, and was told authorities would investigate. The blogger said he had "no conflicts with anybody," and that the attack appeared to be related to a group of people who had been monitoring his home and following him recently. "During the last month or so, there are always around 15 people guarding my house," Tuan said, though it was unclear why he was under surveillance. "I recognized the three attackers from among those people who are guarding my house," he said, adding that he believed the men were "disguised security personnel." Tuan, who operates a website calling for transparency from local officials with regards to a controversial tree removal plan in the city, said he had been harassed by plainclothes authorities before in March 2014, though "the injuries were not as severe as this time."He was also among 50 people detained and beaten by police on May 15 last year after taking part in an anti-China protest sparked by territorial tensions in the South China Sea. Bloggers targeted On Tuesday, independent U.S. monitor group The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked Vietnam as the world's sixth most censored country in its annual list based on analysis of media suppression tactics such as imprisonment or harassment of journalists, repressive laws and restrictions on the Internet. The report said independent bloggers who report on sensitive issues in one-party communist Vietnam-which it called one of the world's worst jailers of journalists-have faced persecution through street-level attacks, arbitrary arrests, surveillance, and harsh prison sentences for anti-state charges.Authorities increasingly used Article 258, an anti-state law that vaguely criminalizes "abusing democratic freedoms," to threaten and prosecute independent bloggers over the last year, it said. Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative for CPJ, noted that at least three bloggers have been convicted under the law, which allows for seven-year prison sentences. "Now[the government is] using this new article, which is ... broad and vague, as a way of trying to stifle the limited amount of independent and critical journalism that is happening inside the country and this is increasingly being used against the bloggers who courageously report on issues that the mainstream state-controlled media do not," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 7, 2013
- Event Description
On 10 February 2014, allegations of intimidation and reprisals, including death threats, were raised concerning members of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, including in connection with the visit of the High Commissioner. On 7 March 2013, Jude Besil Sosai Anthirai was prevented from travelling to Colombo to the United Nations compound, where he wished to submit a petition. On 22 August 2013, Sanja Sandanadas was questioned at her home by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department about her work and told not to organize any event during the visit of the High Commissioner. On 3 September 2013, Selvakumar Krishnapillai was questioned several times by two men about a petition presented to the High Commissioner; two days later he was asked to report to the Ministry of Defence. At the time of finalization of the present report, no reply had been received from the Government to a joint communication sent by several special procedures mandate holders.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 28, 2015
- Event Description
According to the sources, on the 28th of March, 2015 the locals were protesting the construction of the illegal "Open Air Prison' before the presence of police force, officials of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited and officials of the Larsen and Toubro (L & T) Company that is erecting the Statue of Unity in the Kevadia region. People displaced by the project were demanding that they should be provided land for land, including plots for housing, as per the latest government policy prior to any work commencing for proposed tourism projects. A police team who came from Tilakavada, Kevadia and Rajpipla Tehsils, in collusion with the private contractors started intimidating people in an attempt to illegally evict them from their ancestral land. They arrested six people without informing their families and took them to an undisclosed location at 11.00 AM in the morning and released after 6.30 PM. They were booked under Section 68 and released under Section 69. It was an illegal detention. It was known later via media sources that they were taken to Tilakwada Police Station. Background to the incident: The Kevadia village and its surrounding areas have a long history of land acquisition. In 1963 land in many villages was acquired for the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). However the actual location of the Dam was thereafter moved a few kilometres upstream to village Vadgam from its original location Navagam. According to official information obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005, no compensation has been paid for the acquisition of land in 1963. After a change in the location of the Dam, the local people have remained in possession of the land. In 2005 the government of Gujarat announced the formation of the Kevadia Area Development Authority to launch various infrastructure and tourism projects in this region. Under this authority land of 70 villages in the Kevadia areas was planned to be acquired. But due to stiff opposition and protest from the tribal community the acquisition plan was withdrawn. The Government of Gujarat now wants to acquire around 10 hectares for the construction of a three-star hotel known as "Shreshtha Bharat Bhavan", under its tourism project without obtaining the mandatory environmental clearances or following due process of law. Tribal families and other villagers around the project areas are routinely terrorised, harassed and prevented from carrying out their work for earning their livelihood. Police and private contractors regularly threaten them and police forces continuously guard those areas. Although the government has orally assured the people land for land, given the past experiences, local tribal families are resisting the attempts of the government. Appeal : We, therefore urge you to immediately take necessary steps to ensure that the Superintendent of Police and the District Collector and District Magistrate of Narmada ? Order an immediate, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned events of intimidation, arrest, illegal detention and harassment of the protestors from Kevadia Village. ? Take immediate action on the perpetrators for the arbitrary arrest, intimidation and harassment made on the human rights defenders by the police personnel and using all provisions of law, ensure that the rights of the protestors are protected and any charges still pending against them are dropped unconditionally. ? Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of the protestors, who are still under risk of further attacks from the perpetrators. ? Ensure provision of reparation, compensation, apology to the defenders for the physical and psychological sufferings they underwent because of this arbitrary arrest and detention and provide a re-assurance of not engaging in such acts against HRDs such as the protestors from Kevadia; ? Put an end to all acts of attack and harassment against all human rights defenders like the protestors from Kevadia in the State of Gujarat to ensure that in all circumstances they carry out their activities as defenders of human rights without any hindrances; ? Takes steps to conform to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially: - Article 1, which states that "everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels - Article 12.2, which provides that ""the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration"; ? Recommend urgently and speedily during the pendency of this complaint, the SHRC in Gujarat to also take necessary steps to establish a state focal point for HRDs in order that HRDs in the have a new protection mechanism in their own state. ? Recommend urgently and speedily during the pendency of this complaint, the SHRC in Gujarat to convene a meetings of all state human rights institutions in the state[women, minorities, right to information, disability, children etc] to ensure that a co-ordinated strategy is developed within the State of Gujarat for the protection of the rights of human rights defenders. ? Recommend urgently and speedily during the pendency of this complaint, the State Government of Gujarat in collaboration with the NHRC Focal Point on HRDs and the SHRC Gujarat to provide sensitization training to law enforcement and security forces on the role and activities of human rights defenders as a matter of priority, with technical advice and assistance from relevant United Nations entities, NGOs and other partners. ? Recommend urgently and speedily during the pendency of this complaint, the State Government of Gujarat in collaboration with the and the SHRC Gujarat to publicly acknowledge the importance and legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders, i.e. anyone who, "individually and in association with others, ... promote[s] and ... strive[s] for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels" (Art.1 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders). ? More generally, ensures in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international human rights instruments ratified by India.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 26, 2015
- Event Description
Eight people were arrested in Hong Kong late Sunday after scuffles broke out between police and demonstraters during a pro-democracy protest, as tensions rise following the launch of a controversial election roadmap. Television footage showed clashes in the shopping district of Mong Kok as police officers wielded batons and used pepper spray to disperse dozens of protesters who were trying to block traffic on a major road. Five of those arrested were accused of assaulting officers, a spokesman said. The government's contentious leadership election roadmap, which was released on Wednesday, has prompted several protests. The plan conforms to a ruling from Beijing in August that all candidates should be vetted before a public vote in 2017, which sparked mass protests towards the end of last year. Critics have slammed Beijing's framework for the vote as "fake democracy". At the height of last year's rallies, thousands occupied three major thoroughfares, including one in Mong Kok - a flashpoint that saw some of the most serious outbreaks of violence. Police said that the most recent scuffles broke out late on Sunday at around midnight, and confirmed pepper spray was used. "One tried to snatch away an officer's baton, and used his leg to attack the officer," the spokesman said. "Another refused to go back to the pedestrian walkway from the road and stopped police from making arrests." Protesters were angry with officers after they took away two demonstrators who had been arguing with a government supporter, according to local media. Dozens of protesters then briefly blocked a road and stood in front of a police van. Britain handed Hong Kong over to China in 1997 under a joint declaration which guaranteed political, social and economic freedoms not enjoyed on the Chinese mainland. The semi-autonomous city is governed under that "one country, two systems" deal, but there are fears that freedoms are being eroded under Beijing's influence. Student leaders have warned of increased civil disobedience following the announcement of the government's election plan, and have mooted the idea of occupying the Legislative Council when the electoral reform bill is debated later this year. On Saturday, scuffles broke out in residential Kennedy Town when protesters heckled senior officials on a "bus parade" to promote the government plan.Police said a total of 11 protesters were arrested over the weekend.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Apr 27, 2015
- Event Description
Police forcibly dispersed a peaceful rally held by a group of human rights activists in front of the State Palace on Monday night. The rally was held to demand President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo call off the execution of the Philippines' Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, a death row inmate convicted of trying to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her suitcase from Malaysia to Yogyakarta, which according to her happened without her knowledge. Mutiara Ika Pratiwi of the Perempuan Mahardhika human rights organization said on Tuesday that police officers approached her group and ordered its members to end the rally immediately. "One of them verbally abused us and said that he was tired of handling many rallies on that day," she told The Jakarta Post over the telephone. Ika said police broke two of the fingers of one of the protesters when officers tried to snatch away the banner she was holding. She said that she had sent a rally notification letter to the Jakarta Police on Monday afternoon, but did not get official permission as the police insisted that the submission must be done three days prior to a rally.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Apr 25, 2015
- Event Description
ISLAMABAD: Can the words of a grief-stricken woman be used to accuse her of treachery against the state? From the sentiments of social media users, it would appear so. On the night of Sabeen Mahmud's murder, social media was awash with expressions of anger, disgust and disbelief at the killing of one of Karachi's leading civil society activists. One of the many tweets that expressed utter disgust and disillusionment with the current state of the country came from a woman who was close to Ms Mahmud. "I stood in a dark corner of the house and cried. I was overcome with grief and couldn't process it. I was fed up with all the senseless violence that plagued Pakistan and in that state, I sent out the tweet." That expression of grief, however, unleashed a nightmare for the woman in question. Days after the incident, when civil society members gathered to remember Ms Mahmud, the same tweet was re-circulated, this time amongst a more militant and decidedly more extreme segment of social media users. Countless death threats, rape threats and messages inciting violence against her and other activists - such as Lums professor Taimur Rehman and National Students Federation activists - who were talking about human rights violations in Balochistan and asking for justice for Sabeen Mahmud, were issued by various social media users and pages. "I've worked on sensitive issues before, and have received my share of hate mail. But this harassment was on a scale I had never seen before. The rabidity of the comments, across all social media platforms, got to me and, on the advice of some friends, I deactivated my accounts on social media," she told Dawn. Threats of physical and sexual violence against women are not a new phenomenon on social media and the fact that many of the users copy-and-pasted the exact same message again and again has led a number of IT experts to observe that this appeared to be a coordinated effort. Fahad Desmukh, a journalist and rights activist, told Dawn that even though freedom of expression activists preferred to err on the side of more freedom, the reality of social media was that users - especially public figures - would have to put up with a certain amount of abuse and venom from others who do not agree with their ideas. "However, when that abuse turns into threats of rape, physical violence or incitement to violence against the victim, that is very scary," he said. Redressal mechanisms Shahzad Ahmed, country director of the digital rights group Bytes For All, said that even though offences such as these were covered in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), law enforcement agencies aren't the best forum for victims, especially women, to take their cases. The law provides protection, for example, against incitement to violence under Section 109 of the PPC; against intimidation and threats to a person's life under Section 506; and against threats of injury or damage to property under Section 503. However, Mr Ahmed said that these laws had never been properly enforced in cases where online activity has been concerned. "Disturbing' smear campaigns target activists in the wake of Sabeen Mahmud's murder "If an individual, especially a woman, takes her case to the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C), local law enforcement or even the courts, there is a tendency to blame the victim," he said, adding, "a woman exposes herself to more scrutiny and name-calling by pursuing their case through the authorities". This is reminiscent of what happened to the late Sabeen Mahmud around Valentine's Day two years ago, when she ran a campaign extolling peace and love. "Faasla na rakhein, pyaar honay dein' was the message she and her fellow campaigners were spreading. However, around the same time, a parallel movement that cited Islamic texts and opposed the observance of "decadent festivals' such as Valentine's Day, cropped up in Karachi and other cities. When Ms Mahmud dismissed their views via her social media account, a concerted campaign was initiated by conservative elements to malign her. They even insinuated that Ms Mahmud had insulted scripture and termed her a blasphemer. This is a very dangerous accusation in Pakistan, where dozens are killed in the name of blasphemy every year, without anything in the way of due process. So when Ms Mahmud approached the authorities, her plight was belittled and she was asked, "Why did you do this in the first place?" Both Mr Ahmed and Sana Saleem of Bolo Bhi told Dawn that even though social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have strict policies regarding incitement to violence and threats of sexual or physical assault, the sites are not always quick to take action against malicious content. "A good way to get a dangerous post removed is to get a couple of dozen people to report that post or user. If enough people report it, the website is forced to review it. Sometimes they don't and we get in touch with them directly and plead the case. But we can do this because we've had contact with the Facebook team. Not everyone has that kind of access," Ms Saleem said. State response The situation becomes more perilous when the vitriol is echoed by Facebook pages and Twitter accounts that purport to have intimate knowledge of the military's workings. For example, the Facebook page called simply "ISI' - with over 341,000 subscribers, as well as its allied Twitter page, "@ISI_RT' - have posted photographs of human rights activists, including women, and extolled followers to murder, rape or do bodily harm to them. Due to the nature of the incident - Ms Mahmud was killed shortly after hosting a controversial seminar titled #UnsilencingBalochistan where Baloch nationalist activist Mama Qadeer was also invited - many of her friends placed the blame for her killing squarely on the state's shoulders. A military official Dawn spoke to regretted the practice, but said that the army had little to no control over such pages. "Journalists and media savvy individuals know that ISPR has one official website and only one Facebook and Twitter page. Most of these other pages copy information from the official websites in order to establish their credibility. They can be operated by anyone, but the average user is not necessarily in a position to judge that," he said. The official pointed out that ISPR had issued formal statements in the past, explaining that neither the chief of army staff, nor the DG ISI, have accounts on social media. This was because imposter accounts purporting to be run by the two senior functionaries became quite popular on social networking websites, leading many users to believe that they were, in fact, genuine. "Social media is a comparatively new medium, so we are looking into what can be done. But in the absence of a proper mechanism whereby such content can be checked, e.g. a cybercrime law, there is only so much the institution can do to clarify its position," he said. Veteran rights activist Hina Jilani disagrees. "Defending human rights is one of the most difficult things to do in this country. If the state cannot protect lawyers or activists who are involved with sensitive cases, what guarantees are there that the state is not backing their actions," she asked, rhetorically. No guarantee Ms Jilani - who has been a vocal human rights activist for many decades - was also targeted by several social media users for her defence of Sabeen Mahmud. However, saying that she did not bother with the social media at all, she said that the situation today was far scarier than it was back in her day. "If journalists or activists fell afoul of the state, they were mostly hauled off to jail. Now, they are just bumped off. This practice began under Gen Zia but gained prominence under the rule of Gen Musharraf," she said. Disagreeing with the impression that those with extremist views are "lone wolves' without an agenda, she said that the fact that their views were freely aired on mainstream media, while progressive voices were stifled, proved that they enjoyed state support. This is exactly what the woman grieving for Ms Mahmud is worried about. "I have limited my presence on social media and am staying at home until the outcry dies down," she told Dawn, adding that even though she knew the cause was worth fighting for, it was only natural to be scared for one's own life given the extent to which Pakistani society had become intolerant of others' opinions. Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 15, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have detained at least 10 people following clashes between police and local residents protesting pollution from a nearby ironworks, ethnic minority residents of Daying village near Qingyuan city said on Wednesday. At least 10 people were injured after riot police were sent in to disperse a crowd of protesters who had blocked the entry to the Mingfeng Pipe Fittings Products factory for several days, members of the local Yao ethnic minority told RFA. "They behaved as if they were going after criminals," local resident Hai Shu said. A lot of people saw the police beating up an elderly guy over 60. "They pinned him to the floor like a criminal suspect, and he had a black eye and a bloody nose and face," Hai said. "Four of them dragged him into their vehicle and held him down with their boots; he wasn't allowed to move an inch," he said. Local residents say that pollution from the iron plant in nearby Yao'an township has gotten progressively worse since it opened three years ago. Environmental officials have visited the area to take samples, but no results have been made public, they said. "One village doesn't have enough water, so they have to use water from the river, and 50 to 60 people had diarrhea and vomiting," Hai said. "Also, all the duck eggs around here near the river are all very red inside." Hai said the villagers suspect the plant of sending toxic effluent into the river, just 10 meters away. "There is also horrible smoke that covers the sky, and we can often smell it in the evenings," Hai said. "It makes people dizzy; it must be poisonous." River 'severely polluted' A second local resident surnamed Liao said local people are convinced that the plant has left the nearby river severely polluted." I don't think it could pass environmental tests," Liao said. "If these plants passed the tests, then they wouldn't stick them out here in the back of beyond." An official who answered the phone at the Yao'an township government offices said the plant operates within legal guidelines. "The government takes this very seriously, and we are following this incident," the official said. "But I can't say much more because we haven't had the test results back yet." Repeated calls to the Mingfeng factory rang unanswered during office hours on Wednesday. Online information showed the 20,000 square-meter plant opened in 2009, and manufactures a range of cast-iron parts. A local resident surnamed Tan said the river water exudes a foul stench, and that nearby well water had also given people serious gastrointestinal symptoms. "This happened in the village next to ours," Tan said. "After they drank it, they had vomiting and diarrhea. When we take the rice we grow around here, our ducks, or any agricultural products to sell, people always ask if it's from this village, and then they don't want it," he said. "We all rely on what we can grow, so we have no way to exist here," Tan said. "We'll carry on protesting, even if the whole village ends up dead." 'Wait for results' An official who answered the phone at the environmental protection bureau in nearby Lianzhou city said the agency had taken samples of duck eggs from Yao'an for testing. "As for whether or not there is serious pollution in that area, we'll have to wait for the test results to come out," the official said. "We're not saying it's polluted, and we're not saying it's not polluted.You can always come here and talk to us in person." On Tuesday, thousands of angry protesters took to the streets of Neijiang city in the southwestern province of Sichuan amid growing popular anger over the leakage of toxic gas from a nearby coking plant, local residents told RFA. China has seen a huge increase in mass public protests sparked by worsening levels of air and water pollution, as well as public health scandals linked to heavy metal pollution from mining and industry. Protesters and environmental activists say there is widespread falsification of pollution testing and environmental impact assessments, making oversight of government-backed local industry nearly impossible. China has an exemplary body of environmental protection law that is rarely properly enforced in practice, environmental campaigners say.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- May 2, 2015
- Event Description
An activist working for human rights group Adhoc in Mondolkiri province said Tuesday that a district governor threatened to arrest Adhoc staffers if they held planned workshops on human rights and democracy next week. Sok Ratha, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said that his lead investigator, Eang Mengly, delivered a letter about the workshops to Keo Seima district governor Sun Vanvuth on Monday. "When our official brought the letter to him yesterday he refused[to let us hold the workshops] and asked us: "Does your organization know the law?'" Mr. Ratha said. "He claimed that our letter of notice is not the work of civil society, but it is the work of a political party. He threatened us that if we do it[hold the workshops] on May 11 and 12, he will order the[police] force to put us in handcuffs." When contacted by phone Tuesday, Mr. Vanvuth hung up on a reporter. Mr. Ratha criticized the alleged threat. "It is a serious human rights violation because the Constitution declares that all Cambodian people have the right to join meetings or any training workshops," he said. Mr. Ratha said that Adhoc still planned to hold the workshops as scheduled.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Apr 28, 2015
- Event Description
On April 28, the police arrested Maria Chin Abdullah, who is Executive Director (ED) of Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER). They wanted to question her over her involvement with #KitaLawan. She had been asked earlier to present herself at the Dang Wangi Police District Headquarters for questioning. A member of the BERSIH 2.0 Secretariat, programme manager Mandeep Singh, was also brought in for questioning as he waited in the lobby of the police district headquarters. Both were released on police bail after about an hour. They, along with Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tsin, are the latest targets of a wave of police investigations and arrests following Anwar Ibrahim's incarceration and the #KitaLawan rallies. EMPOWER is disturbed by the pattern of harassment and intimidation. It appears that the authorities are escalating their attempts to suppress dissent and are no longer even paying lip service to the rule of law or proper procedures. We question the timing of the latest arrests, days before May Day rallies are to take place around the country. Are the arrests an attempt at intimidating activists and preparing the ground for further arrests? It is also outrageous that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is once again using the tired "scare" strategy of pointing to riots in other countries. There is no relevance. The Baltimore protests which he referred to were sparked by the brutal death of a man in police custody. We are further appalled that the Sabah police obtained a Magistrates Court order under Section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code to ban the May Day rally in Kota Kinabalu. The ban prohibits 16 individuals, including the Sabah Vice-Chairperson of BERSIH 2.0 Jannie Lasimbang, former SUHAKAM commissioner Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, and members of the public from entering several areas in the city from April 27 to May 3. This is a ridiculously disproportionate response and disregards the Court of Appeal decision on challenges to similar bans prohibiting individuals from participating in the Bersih 3.0 rally. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and amendments to the Sedition Act have just been passed by Dewan Negara. We fear that they will be used to further strengthen the crackdowns. Now, more than ever, the country needs courageous and principled Malaysians to take a stand against the unchecked power of the State. EMPOWER calls on the authorities, particularly the Home Ministry and the police, to respect the rights of all Malaysians under the Federal Constitution. The rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association are an integral part of any democracy. We remind the government that its role is to serve the interests of the people, not preserve political power.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- May 4, 2015
- Event Description
Election administrator Rong Chhun was issued a warning yesterday not to partake in activities that could be perceived as breaching the neutrality of his membership of the National Election Committee. Chhun attended Labour Day marches, organised by unions but also attended by opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party MPs, on Friday, prompting the ruling Cambodian People's Party to issue a statement threatening it would "take action" against the former union boss if he did not respect the "neutrality" of the NEC. Hang Puthea, NEC spokesman and member, said following a three-hour closed-door meeting of NEC members yesterday that no formal action would be taken against Chhun over his attendance at the rallies. "The meeting was to remind all NEC members that we must carefully avoid conducting activities that affect public opinion, as it affects the independence and neutrality of the NEC," he told reporters. "All NEC members expressed determination to make efforts to carry out their duties according to the laws, regulations and election procedure, to ensure that the NEC is independent and neutral." Puthea, however, would not comment on whether the NEC would sanction Chhun if he continued to attend similar events in the future. Chhun, the former head of the Cambodia Independent Teachers Association, said that all NEC members were subject to the letter of the law when it comes to taking part in public events. He has previously said that he was entitled to attend the May Day rallies as they are part of an international celebration. "In fact, everything depends on the law. All[NEC] leaders have agreed to take the[NEC] law as a basis for action," he said. "I have followed the law. No one is above the law." He added that he would continue to attend similar events in the future unless it was specifically banned under the law. CPP spokesmen Sok Eysan and Suos Yara, who issued the statement about Chhun, declined to comment yesterday. In the CPP statement, Yara said Chhun's presence at the marches showed a clear conflict of interest as CNRP politicians were also there. CNRP spokesman Yem Ponharith dismissed the allegations, saying Chhun was "not involved in any political propaganda" and could attend in a personal capacity without breaking NEC rules. The NEC is comprised of four candidates chosen by the CNRP - including Chhun - and four by the CPP, as well as a "neutral" ninth member, Puthea.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- May 1, 2015
- Event Description
National Human Rights Society (Hakam) is appalled that our president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan was detained yesterday evening and arrested by the police for participating in the May Day rally against GST. According to the police, Ambiga is being investigated under Section 143 of the Penal Code for unlawful assembly. Hakam strongly condemns the arrest and detention of Ambiga - there was no unlawful assembly, as the May Day Rally was not a protest for any unlawful purpose. Ambiga's participation in the said rally together with thousands of other Malaysians was an exercise of her right of freedom of expression and association enshrined in our Federal Constitution. Ambiga was called by the police in the evening to assist with investigation and had turned up at the Dang Wangi police headquarters to give her statement. After waiting for more than three hours, she was informed that she will be arrested and detained. A further remand will also be sought today to assist with investigation. In the meantime, S Arulchelvam from Parti Sosialis Malaysia and DAP MP Anthony Loke were similarly arrested and detained under Section 143 of the Penal Code. The police will also be seeking further remand orders today against them. Hakam views the arrests and detentions including any applications for a further remand a blatant abuse of police powers. Ambiga, Arulchelvam and Loke had at all times been cooperative with the police in their investigations and obliging them by turning up at the police station as required - all three of them had given their statements even though they had been made to wait for more than three hours before the police started their questioning. The police investigative powers to detain ought to be only be used against individuals sparingly where there exists flight risks or where there are risks of tampering with police investigations and evidence. The police in carrying out their duties ought to respect the rule of law and give effect to protecting and preserving the constitutional right to liberty of all Malaysians. In the circumstances of these three persons, there were no necessity or any justification whatsoever to detain them after questioning and taking their statements. Hakam is constrained therefore to view these detentions as acts of intimidation and harassment, and a continuing practice against any government dissidents. This deplorable practice of unjustified detention and remands of activists must stop. There were also more than 25 others, mostly youths, arrested and detained for offences related to the May Day Rally. Hakam strongly urges the police to likewise conduct their investigations in these cases in a professional manner befitting of their calling as the Royal Malaysian Police. Again, they must exercise their powers to detain only in circumstances which warrant a detention. In the case of minors being arrested, Hakam calls the police to be extremely careful and give full effect in protecting their rights as children - in particular, no handcuffs should be used on the minors and certainly the minors ought not be chained or locked up together with adults. Hakam urges in the strongest terms possible that the police respect the rule of law and their own professionalism. The use of police investigative powers to intimidate or harass must stop. The rights given to all Malaysians under the Federal Constitution must be respected and preserved. Those rights are not to be violated by the very people who have vowed to protect and entrusted to uphold the constitution. - May 2, 2015
- Impact of Event
- 31
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Apr 24, 2015
- Event Description
On 2 May 2015, the detention of human rights defender Mr Muhammad Yaki Salae was extended by emergency decree. The human rights defender was originally arrested on 24 April 2015. He faces up to 30 days in confinement. Muhammad Yaki Salae is the Chairperson of the Justice for Peace Network (JOP), founded in 2006 as a network of human rights and peace activists aiming to strengthen non-violent efforts to protect human rights, promote access to justice, and end impunity in Thailand. The JOP engages in human rights monitoring and advocacy while supporting victims of human rights violations in their fight for justice. Their work is focuses on the empowerment of local communities in the far south of Thailand, to aid them in their struggle for the realisation of their human rights. The extension of Muhammad Yaki Salae's detention was ordered under emergency decree, according to which his detention may be extended for a maximum 30 days. The order came following the human rights defender's seventh day in detention, the maximum length of time a suspect may be held for interrogation under Thai Martial Law. Muhammad Yaki Salae was arrested on 24 April 2015 at the Muang Yala Police Station, and brought to the Ingkhayuth Boriham Army Camp in Tambon Bor Thong, Nongchik District, Pattani, where he currently remains detained. The authorities falsely claimed his involvement in the bomb attack in the city of Yala in March 2012. The human rights defender was present at the police station at the request of authorities, and arrived there with the intention of displaying his innocence and cooperating fully with the police. Risks faced by human rights defenders working in southern Thailand have grown over recent years. State forces act with impunity in the ongoing military operation targeting the muslim population in the Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala provinces, where human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, are common. Front Line Defenders expresses its serious concern at the ongoing detention of Muhammad Yaki Salae, which it believes to be a direct attempt to force an end to his peaceful human rights work in southern Thailand. UPDATE 7 May 2015 On the evening of 7 May 2015, human rights defender Mr Muhammad Yaki Salae was released from detention following the refusal of Yala Provincial Court to permit an extension of his time in confinement. Muhammad Yaki Salae is the Chairperson of the Justice for Peace Network (JOP), founded in 2006 as a network of human rights and peace activists aiming to strengthen non-violent efforts to protect human rights, promote access to justice, and end impunity in Thailand. The JOP engages in human rights monitoring and advocacy while supporting victims of human rights violations in their fight for justice. Their work is focuses on the empowerment of local communities in the far south of Thailand, to aid them in their struggle for the realisation of their human rights. Muhammad Yaki Salae was released from the Ingkhayuth Boriham Army Camp in Tambon Bor Thong, Nongchik District, Pattani on the evening of 7 May 2015. His release had been ordered by the Yala Provincial Court earlier on the same day, in line with its rejection of an application made by the police investigator for the extension of Muhammad Yaki Salae's detention. The Court ruled that no individual should be detained without clear charge against him or her, and called on law enforcement officers to exercise their duties in full respect of the law and human rights principles, as provided in Announcement No. 98/2014 of the Thai National Peace and Order Maintaining Council. According to this reasoning, the detention of Muhammad Yaki Salae was arbitrary, as police could not provide any charges against him. Muhammad Yaki Salae's detention for interrogation had been extended on 2 May 2015 by an emergency decree permitting suspects to be held in detention for up to 30 days, subsequent to the expiry of the 7 day period allowed under Martial Law. Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Muhammad Yaki Salae and the decision of Yala Provincial Court in support of human rights principles, but reiterates its concern at the growth of arbitrary detention as a tool for the harassment of human rights defenders in Thailand.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- May 4, 2015
- Event Description
The May Day Assembly on Friday in Kota Kinabalu did not have a permit, as required under the Peaceful Assembly Act, and the organisers would be investigated, according to police. About 500 people from various NGOs took part in the gathering and raised various issues including the Kaiduan Dam and illegal immigrants. An ex-parte court order against any Assembly in the Sabah capital from April 27 to May 3 was also valid, according to police, but noted that participants had kept outside the prohibited area at the historical Padang Merdeka. Kota Kinabalu City police chief Asst Comm M Chandra did not comment on a ruling in the High Court on Thursday that the ex-parte court order ran from April 20, the date it was issued, to April 27, and had expired. "The Friday Assembly did not have a permit as required under the Peaceful Assembly Act," said Chandra. He declined further comment and said that investigations were in progress. Since Monday morning, five Bersih 2.0 Sabah activists had been called to the Karamunsing police station in Kota Kinabalu to have their statements taken on the May Day Assembly last Friday. Bersih 2.0 Sabah chairperson Jannie Lasimbang has confirmed that she and four others had been called to Karamunsing to have their statements taken. "We were not given any summons or arrested," said Lasimbang. "We just gave our statements." Lasimbang aside, the others who had their statements taken were Annie Lasimbang, Wilfred Gaban, Andrew Ambrose Mudi and S M Muthu, all members of the organising committee. "The police wanted to record what transpired during the Himpunan May Day, particularly the content of the speeches made as part of their investigation," said Lasimbang. "No charges were laid against any of those called to give their statement." "The organisers of the Himpunan May Day did not breach the police barricade and Kota Kinabalu OCPD allowed a one-hour period for speeches to be made." The five, called by police, reiterated in their statements that freedom of speech and to assemble peacefully were rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution and that the court order should never have been imposed in the first place. High Court Judge Steven Chung was advised last Thursday by the Magistrate who issued the court order that it had expired on April 27. The Judge was responding to human rights advocate, Daniel John Jambun, who filed a criminal notice of application to set aside an ex-parte court order. Daniel complained that the court order which had been served on him on April 29 had no date. The Judge, who heard the Application on a certificate of urgency, pointed out that the court order which had been issued on April 20 under Section 98 (5) of the Criminal Procedure Code had not only expired but was also obtained under an irrelevant section. "There's nothing for me to hear or rule," the Judge told Daniel and his counsel Tengku Fuad Ahmad in advising the withdrawal of the application. Lasimbang's sister, Annie, and activists Kanul Gindul and Andrew Mudi have also filed police reports. Another report was lodged by Daniel.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2015
- Event Description
Protests yesterday erupted outside Yuen Foong Yu (YFY Group) headquarters in Taipei following the recent suicide of South Korean activist Bae Jaey-eong, who led a string of demonstrations in Taipei earlier this year to protest against the company's decision to cease operations in Icheon, South Korea. In a show of solidarity with their South Korean counterparts, more than 100 Taiwanese labor union activists and their supporters participated in the rally, pelting the YFY Group building with eggs and splashing red paint over the company's main logo. Bae, 44, was the former union leader of Hydis Technologies, which in 2008 was acquired by Taiwan's E-Ink Holdings (EIH) - a subsidiary of YFY Group. He later became deputy president of the Korean Metal Workers' Union Gyeonggi Province branch. Despite prolonged protests in February and March, EIH last month dismissed more than 300 employees as planned, prompting the laid-off workers to continue their protests at the site of the manufacturing facilities. Before Bae's death, the management at Hydis threatened to file civil and criminal lawsuits against the workers to demand large compensation, Taiwan Association of Human Rights member Yen Szu-yu said yesterday. She said Bae was among 32 workers who temporarily kept their jobs following the mass dismissals and were tasked with maintaining equipment. The company threatened to sue the workers for allegedly damaging equipment while they were absent on May 1, when Bae led the workers to attend a parade on International Workers' Day, Yen said. "He was forced to commit suicide because of legal threats issued by management," she said. "His death was the result of malicious accusations and oppression," she said. In his will, Bae urged his fellow union activists at Hydis to continue to fight for their cause and apologized for difficulties caused by controversies caused by his decision on May 1. Carrying a portrait of Bae while throwing "ghost money" in the air, the protesters walked around the YFY Group compound while singing Battle Hymn of Workers, which was originally adapted from The March of the Beloved, a Korean song that featured prominently in South Korea's democratization movement. EIH public relations manager Huang Chih-ming said the company "shares the grief and expresses its regret," and that it would provide assistance to Bae's family members for funeral expenses. He said that EIH would not reverse its decision on the mass dismissals, adding that any plans for legal action against the workers were made by management in South Korea.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Labour rights, Right to Protest, Right to work
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 5, 2015
- Event Description
Military and police officers came to inspect a seminar about environmental impacts on a disputed oil field in Isan, Thailand's Northeast. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), about 30 military from Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and police officers in plainclothes and in uniforms on Tuesday morning came to monitor a public seminar titled "EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Na Moon: the Injustice of Land Based Petroleum in Isan' The event was organised at Maha Sarakham University in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham to discuss about problems related to the process of making EIA in the potential oilfield called "Dongmoon' in Na Moon Village of Kranuan District in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. It was participated by about 120 students and villagers from other northeastern provinces. Before the seminar started, the officers summoned Chainarong Sretthachau, a lecturer of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the university, who was one of the speakers of the seminar, for a 10 minutes discussion about the event, reported TLHR. At the the seminar, the officers demanded that no comments on the junta should be made and that anything symbolizing opposition against the regime would not be tolerated. Moreover, the organisers of the seminar were ordered to always invite officers to participate in future seminars on the same topic. On Wednesday, military officers also came to the university to inspect the room that the seminar was scheduled to be held, added TLHR. In early February, about 200 police, military, and volunteer defense officers escorted a convoy of 20 trucks of Apico (Korat) Limited, a US-based oil and gas exploration company, into the potential Dongmoon oilfield. Despite an order by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the company to halt operations to explore the field due to the project's controversial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), on 16 February the company transported the oil drilling equipments into the village with the state officials' approval. TLHR reported that before assisting the company, the military also threatened to use martial law if the villagers obstruct the company's operations because the Department of Mineral Fuels permitted the company to explore the field.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 21, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong said on Thursday they will "track down" the leaders of a mass protest that gathered outside government offices in protest over plans to build a waste incinerator near their homes. Tens of thousands of residents of Qianshui township near Guangdong's Wuchuan city gathered outside government offices on Wednesday, calling on the government to cancel plans to build a waste incinerator near their homes. Clashes broke out between protesters and police after riot police were drafted in to disperse the crowd, local sources said. The director of the Wuchuan municipal government press office, who gave only his surname Huang, said the hunt is now on for the protest's organizers. "Today we are going to be tracking down the leaders, and finding out who paid for all these banners, and who is behind it, because we have to get this straight," Huang said, adding: "There will probably be some developments in a few days' time." "These villagers surrounded the township government offices, kicking up a fuss, and they stuck their handbills everywhere, and they were carrying banners," he said. Huang dismissed concerns that the plant might pollute the surrounding area. "That's really not likely at all," Huang said. "We haven't built it yet, or even broken ground on it. There isn't a plan or a schematic yet, and we haven't had the conclusions back from the environmental impact assessment." He added: "They are just coming here to cause trouble." No consultation process A resident of Qianshui township surnamed Feng said the protest had begun peacefully enough. "We went to protest outside the township government[on Wednesday] morning, and they didn't send any police until the afternoon," he told RFA on Thursday. "Then they sent traffic cops and riot police with weapons and there were some clashes at the intersection, and they dragged some people away," Feng said. He added: "No officials came out, and then they said there'd be a village committee meeting, where they said they are definitely going to build this, and that there won't be any pollution, and that they have already signed the contract with the developer." A local resident surnamed Tang said the government hadn't consulted local people before making the decision. "There has been no consultation process, nor any communication with local people," he said. "Now that people have found out about these plans, they are opposing them." "They are worried about the environment and the air pollution and foul gases, and they are demanding that it be halted. It will have a bad effect on Qianshui township and other townships under Huazhou city," Tang said. "This was the first demonstration we had, and there will probably be more coming soon." An official who answered the phone at the Qianshui township government offices declined to comment on Wednesday. "I don't know about this; you'll have to get our leaders to answer you," the official said. Villagers said via social media that the planned incinerator will be located upstream of their homes, and fear it will affect their crops and orchards. A resident surnamed Huang who took part in the protest said villagers are conerned that carcigenic substances will leach into the air, soil and water, if the plant goes ahead. "There were 20,000 or 30,000 people there," Huang said. "All of the villagers turned out." "[The police] cracked down on it, and were beating people." Asked how the government responded to the protest, Huang said: "They didn't respond." A resident surnamed Zhou said he was too old to protest, but that he still opposes the planned incinerator. "An incinerator would have a terrible effect on Qianshui, and things got pretty heated here yesterday," Zhou said. The Qianshui protest comes a few weeks after thousands took to the streets of Langtang township near Guangdong's Yunfu city over similar plans by their local government. Decades of rapid economic growth have left Guangdong with a rapidly growing waste disposal problem, but attempts to build incinerators in the province have drawn widespread criticism over local government access to the huge potential profits from subsidies linked to waste-disposal projects. Meanwhile, the province's seriously degraded environment has prompted a fast-maturing environmental movement to emerge among the region's middle classes and farming communities alike. Campaigners have raised growing concerns over the falsification of pollution testing and environmental impact assessments, amid worsening levels of air and water pollution and widespread disputes over the effects on children's health of heavy metals from mining and industry. Environmentalists say Chinese environmental protection laws are well-drafted but seldom implemented, thanks to a proliferation of vested interests and collusion between local governments and business.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 22, 2015
- Event Description
Thai military officers have detained students activists in Isan, Thailand's Northeast, for holding an anti-junta political activity on the first anniversary of 2014 coup d'_tat. At 1:27 pm on Friday, police and military officers arrested and detained seven student activists from the Dao Din group, a student activist group based in Khon Kaen University, in front of Khon Kaen Province's replica of the Democracy Monument. While arresting the students, the officers reportedly threatened to take legal action against them if they refused to cooperate with the authorities.At 1:40 pm, the seven students were brought to Si Phatcharin Military Base in the province and are currently in custody along with six observers some of whom are from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The seven were arrested shortly after they held a banner against the junta which simply says "Against the coup d'_tat'. They also put up placards with various comments against the regime. Before the arrest, the group read out their stance against the junta, pointing out that the junta have taken away the authority that all Thai people should have while enforcing authoritarian laws to suppress the people and sell off the country's natural resources to business interest groups. "We think that we are doing the right thing to criticise the government, which is the right of every citizen. If the junta thinks that this is wrong, then this country has become a full dictatorship," said Phanuphong Sithananuwat, a Dao Din member. In November 2014, five student activists from the group gave the three-fingered salute to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader. The students were immediately detained and later interrogated by the military. The military also involved their parents and threatened to have them expelled from the university if they did not accept the junta's conditions. UPDATE: 29/ 06/ 2105 14 anti-junta student activists arrested At 5.30 pm on Friday police arrested 14 activists wanted on arrest warrants for anti-junta activities at their safe house, Suan Nguen Mee Ma, Charoen Krung, Bangkok. The police took them to Phra Ratchawang Police Station for interrogation. About 50 people came to give the group moral support. The police are expected to take them to Bangkok military court and submit a custody petition. The 14 activists are seven members of Dao Din, a student activist group based in Khon Kaen, and seven people accused of violating the junta's order by gathering in an assembly of five or more people on 22 May, the first anniversary of the military coup. The 14 activists on Wednesday joined the Neo Democracy Movement (NDM), an anti-coup group mostly composed of student activists across the country.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 18, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam briefly detained a prominent blogger shortly after his return to the capital Hanoi from Singapore, where he had attended a workshop on the use of a new mobile tool to promote citizen journalism, his daughter said Monday. Dung Mai was arrested Monday shortly after deplaning at the Noi Bai International Airport at around 6:00 p.m., his daughter Thao Teresa told RFA's Vietnamese Service. "My father sent me only one text, saying 'security officers in Noi Bai have arrested me'," Thao said from the airport, where she was waiting to receive Mai along with two of her friends. "We tried to speak with different[security] departments, but they have avoided telling us who was responsible[for his arrest]. I still don't know where my father is." Thao said she had traveled to the airport along with her friends Bui Tien Hung and Nguyen Van De, and that authorities had "sent two thugs to beat[them]." Around four hours after her father's plane landed in Hanoi, Thao was told that authorities had escorted him home, she said, adding that his phone had been turned off at the time of his detention. Thao's friend Hung told RFA that she displayed a sign which read that her father had been taken into police custody after receiving his text message, prompting authorities to confront them in the airport's main terminal. "Thao raised banners protesting the arrest and they sent thugs to take the banners away," he said. "I wasn't holding a banner, but a security officer ordered me to come to him. Then, two other people beat me right there in the main terminal of the airport with hundreds of people looking on." Hung did not elaborate on his condition after the assault. Land activist An active blogger, Mai has worked to assist victims of land disputes in Hanoi by providing them with food and other supplies. During the May 15-17 workshop in Singapore, Mai and 19 other netizens from Vietnam received training from RFA, the Saigon Broadcasting Television Network and Viet Tan-a U.S.-based pro-democracy organization banned by the Vietnamese government-on how to use a recently launched Vietnamese version of the StoryMaker mobile application. The open source app, which is available for Android mobile devices, allows users to produce and publish news in a safe and secure manner. In a statement issued at the end of the three-day launch and training event, Mai called StoryMaker "a powerful platform to spread the truth, to report on the challenges of Vietnamese victims of corruption and to provide a picture of today's Vietnam." The program concluded with a roundtable between attendees and international human rights nongovernmental organizations who discussed the challenges of Vietnam's media environment and ideas for protecting free expression. Last month, independent U.S. monitor group The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked Vietnam as the world's sixth most censored country in its annual list based on analysis of media suppression tactics such as imprisonment or harassment of journalists, repressive laws and restrictions on the Internet. The report said independent bloggers who report on sensitive issues in one-party communist Vietnam-which it called one of the world's worst jailers of journalists-have faced persecution through street-level attacks, arbitrary arrests, surveillance, and harsh prison sentences for anti-state charges.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- May 23, 2015
- Event Description
A leader of the "column' of students who marched towards Rangoon from Irrawaddy Division in protest of the National Education Law has been sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour. Teacher Wai Yan Aung was sentenced at Pathein[Bassein] township court under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law for organising a public protest without official permission. "The trial was for the peaceful sit-in demonstration by students of the Irrawaddy region in front of the city hall of Bassein[Pathein], protesting the violent police crackdown on the main student protest column[in Letpadan, Pegu Division]," said Aung Aung Kyaw, another leader of the student movement in Irrawaddy. Wai Yan Aung is a tutor from Bassein Government Technical College who joined up with local students in protest against the widely unpopular National Education Law, which activists say stifles academic freedom. He later became a member of the organising committee of the protests and marched alongside students from Irrawaddy when student groups from all over the country began marching to Rangoon. He is the first protester to be handed a prison sentence from the Irrawaddy column.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to education, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- May 19, 2015
- Event Description
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights expressed support to the Tanduay workers who have been on strike since May 18 following the unjust dismissal of contract workers who have organized into an association. "We express our support to Tanduay workers who despite harassment remain staunch in fighting for regular employment. Like many workers in the country, the 397 contractual workers in Tanduay deserve to be given regular status and all benefits accorded to regular employees," Daisy Arago, executive director of the labor NGO said. On May 15, Friday, most contract workers of Tanduay organized under the banner Tanggulan, Ugnayan, Daluyan ng Lakas ng Anakpawis ng Tanduay Distillers Inc. (TUDLA) were not given work schedule which, based on previous practice of HD Manpower Service Cooperative (HD) and Global Pro-Workers Multipurpose Cooperative (Global), both labor contractors of Tanduay, is equivalent to dismissal from work. On May 18, Monday, TUDLA launched a strike and put up a picket line in front of the gates of the Asia Brewery Complex and the Tanduay compound which can be found inside the said industrial complex in Cabuyao, Laguna. Workers under TUDLA believe that their "dismissal" from work is connected to their effort at organizing themselves into an association and their pending complaint questioning the legitimacy of the two labor contractors. Meanwhile, CTUHR also condemned the brute force used by the security personnel of Asia Brewery Inc. to disperse the striking Tanduay workers. On May 19, at least 50 individuals from the picketline in Tanduay were reportedly injured as security personnel and hired goons of the ABI trained water cannons and threw stones at the striking workers and beat them with big cudgels and truncheons to disperse the strikers and dismantle the picket line in front of the Tanduay compound. "Indeed, big capitalists like Lucio Tan will do anything in order to protect their business even if it leads to violence and injuries to workers. And what is even more appalling is that the government and police stay mum, even side with the management when the workers are holding peaceful protests with legitimate demands," Arago added. Arago added that the violent dispersal in Tanduay further expose the Aquino government's anti-worker and anti-poor attitude. Only 40 workers, or less than 10 percent Tanduay's workforce, are regular employees while the remaining 397 are employed through labor contractors, HD and Global. Early this year, workers under TUDLA signed a Special Power of Attorney questioning the status of HD and Global as legitimate job contractors. "The case of Tanduay workers demonstrates how companies have widely exploited contract labor, both through legitimate and illegal contractors, in order to amass more profit. Indeed, contractualization should be banned altogether as such kind of working arrangement only promotes insecurity and poverty wages," Arago added. The group added that the fight of the Tanduay workers is an inspiration to all contractual workers in the country. "We urge the public to show their support to the Tanduay workers because theirs is the plight and struggle of many of Filipino workers today," Arago said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Labour rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 1, 2015
- Event Description
Military police in Kampot province on Monday said they would arrest a vocal member of a Chhuk district community locked in a land dispute with the provincial government if he failed to produce land titles for the hundreds of families claiming part of the contested plot. The landless families have been squatting on 1,300 hectares of land in Decho Aphivat commune that they claim was promised to them in 2012 as part of Prime Minister Hun Sen's nationwide land-titling project. Since then, however, the plot has been set aside as social land concession for the families of some 240 military veterans, according to deputy provincial military police commander Sem Soeun. Mr. Soeun said a total of 200 landless families are living on the plot, and that the province would be willing to give them a portion of it if they can provide documents proving they are entitled to reside there. In a letter dated Friday, Ly Kimhong-whose family is among the 200-was ordered to appear at the Kampot military police headquarters Monday to be questioned over his involvement in a number of demonstrations over the disputed land in Decho Kbal Damrey village. On Monday, Mr. Soeun said Mr. Kimhong "will be arrested if he doesn't have documents to prove that those people own the land, because he created problems and incited the people." Mr. Soeun said military police wanted to question Mr. Kimhong over an incident in late April, when he led a group of people in an attempt to halt the demarcation of the plot. But Mr. Kimhong did not show up Monday, he said, adding that military police would summon him again later this week. "If he does not come, we will make a report and send it to the court," Mr. Soeun said. Contacted Monday, Mr. Kimhong-who claims to have a land title recognized by the village and commune but not the province-said he did not go to the military police headquarters because he feared he would be arrested for leading the protests. "I was worried I'd be arrested because the authorities have attempted to catch me many times," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 30, 2015
- Event Description
A New York-based think tank has relocated controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to "safety" in the US amid death threats from Islamist radicals, according to a press release. The Center for Inquiry assisted in relocating the award-winning writer and human rights activist to the US last week after she was "specifically named as an imminent target by the same extremists responsible for the murders of Avijit Roy, Washiqur Rahman, and Ananta Bijoy Das", the NGO said on Monday. "The battle between science and religion is perennial. Scientists don't hack people who refuse to believe their theories, but fundamentalists do," Nasreen wrote in a blog post on May 30. "The politics of religious sentiments has taken a violent turn. The solution for this is not to protect religious sentiments. Rather, the opposite. It must be attacked constantly. Even more so than before. This is how people will eventually learn how to deal with it. "Otherwise, the people in the business of religion will destroy what is left of society," she added. "Another freethinker writer-blogger was hacked to death in Bangladesh this morning. Bangladesh is worse than Pakistan," she tweeted following the brutal murder of blogger Ananta Bijoy Das on May 12. But someone with the Twitter identity oneofthemuslims @jihadforkhilafa wrote back: "@taslimanasreen u r also among the 84 who r on the hitlist. count ur days." The tweet was referring to a list submitted to Bangladesh's interior ministry in 2013 by a radical group asking for the writer-bloggers to be punished for their blasphemous comments. The Center for Inquiry said that it "has established an emergency fund to assist freethought activists whose lives are under threat by Islamic radicals linked to Al Qaeda in countries such as Bangladesh". The NGO said that Nasreen has lived in India since 2004, "but even there she has faced persecution and threats". "While it is truly up to the authorities of countries like Bangladesh and others to rein in this threat, we're going to do our part to keep these people safe," said Michael De Dora, CFI's'representative to the UN.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to liberty and security
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2015
- Event Description
Organisers of South Korea's annual gay pride festival vowed on Thursday to push ahead with a planned parade in downtown Seoul, despite a police ban and protests from conservative Christian groups. More than 20,000 people had been expected to take part in the street parade on June 28 at the end of the Korea Queer Festival that kicks off next Tuesday. But there was fervent and vocal opposition from conservative Christian groups, and police last week banned the parade, citing concerns over public safety and traffic disruption. Gay and transgender Koreans live largely under the radar in a country that remains deeply conservative about matters of sexual identity and where many still regard homosexuality as a foreign phenomenon. Gay rights activists say some progress has been made in recent years, but the police ban on the parade is the first since the annual Queer Festival began 15 years ago. Woo Ji-Young, executive director of the festival's organising committee, accused the police of caving in to pressure from conservative Christians. "The police should protect the rights of free expression, rather than siding with those trying to suppress it," Woo told AFP. "The parade will go on whether the police ban it or not," Woo said, while adding that activists would continue to press for the police decision to be reversed. Violating laws on public rallies can draw a fine of up to two million won ($1,800) or even a jail term of up to two years, but Woo said the organisers were willing to take the risk. The annual parade has in recent years attracted a growing number of participants -- but also an equally swelling crowd of critics. Last year, Christian activists disrupted the march by lying down in the street, and this time around they tried in advance to block the event by filing competing applications for the same dates and venues. Woo said the organisers had been forced to switch venues several times.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of Religion and Belief, SOGI rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai military summoned four leaders of an activist group in Isan, Thailand's northeast, for joining the blessing ceremony for an anti-junta student activist who staged an activity to commemorate the 2014 coup d'_tat last month. At 10.30 am on Friday, military officers in the northeastern province of Kalasin summoned four activists from the local Ban Na Mun-Dun Sat Environmental Protection Group for a talk. The talk was held at the Damrong Dhamma Centre in Kalasin City Hall, a state-run office for accepting complaints and petitions, where 10 police, military, and local administration officers held a dialogue with the group. At the talk, the officers warned the group not to associate with Dao Din, a student activist group based in Khon Kaen University, who were summoned by the police for commemorating the coup d'_tat. The authorities told the group that Dao Din is an illegal anti-coup activist group. Therefore, joining their blessing ceremony could be counted as illegal activity as well. The officers added that joining a political activity in Khon Kaen Province could be a disgrace to Kalasin. Gathering against petroleum drilling is allowed, but the activists should not collaborate with the Dao Din group, the authorities said. Despite the warning, the four local activists insisted on showing support for the Dao Din group and said it is not illegal. Furthermore, the activists mentioned the controversial petroleum drilling plan in Kalasin Province, stating that they have the right to stand up and protect themselves against injustice. At 10.40 am, members of the Neo E-saan Movement, an umbrella environmental justice group of the northeast, and five student activists requested to join in the meeting. The authorities, however, refused to allow them in, citing the small capacity of the meeting room. At the end of the talk, the officer tried to convince the group to sign a paper agreeing not to join such political activities again, but the activists refused to sign, stating that public expression is the right of the people. Similarly, on 10 June, Col. Amnuay Julnonyang, Deputy Army Commander of northeastern Loei Province, summoned leaders of the Khon Rak Ban Koed group (People Who Love Their Home) (KRBK) an anti-mine activist group in Loei, for a talk. The group leaders, however, refused to meet with the officers in private and insisted on meeting publicly along with the local villagers. Later, Col. Amnuay followed by 15 state officers met with the group in Wang Saphung District in the province. The officers talked about the local irrigation in the district then warned the group about joining the blessing ceremony for the Dao Din activists and threatened the group with using Section 44 of the Interim Constitution, which allows security officers virtually unlimited power to maintain national security. The local villagers countered the officers by asking about the case of Tungkum Company Limited (Tungkum Co. Ltd), a gold mining company, which promised to withdraw lawsuits against the anti-mine activists last year, but instead filed 4 more cases against the villagers. The officers replied that they were unaware of this and would check on the matter again.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai military stormed into a meeting in central Thailand, citing the junta's political gathering ban, while calling meeting's participants "brainless'. On 13 June, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center (TLHR), the military officers interfered the meeting organised by the Assembly of the Poor (AOP), an NGO which is the voice of marginalised communities in Thailand, in Chai Baa Daan District of the central Lop Buri Province. The miliary officer accused the organisers of the meeting for violating the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)'s Order No. 7/2014, which prohibits a political gathering of more than five persons. The meeting was about Nong Yai To land dispute of Chai Baa Daan District, where as many as 30 villagers claimed that the public land plots overlap with the land plots that they have occupied. Six military officers led by Lt. Kriangkrai Auppakara intervened the meeting and claimed that the meeting was a gathering with "more than four people," TLHR quoted Kriangkrai as saying. The meeting participants tried to explain to Lt. Kriangkrai that the meeting was not related to politics and that it was already approved by the local administrative officials. Kriangkrai, however, insisted on asking for a confirmation from the state officials about the meeting and asked if the meeting was about land disputes around Pa Sak Dam in the provice. Upon mentioning about the land issue, Kriangkrai said that villagers were "brainless' and "do not have much brain cells' in dealing with land issues. Therefore, the land problems have been protracted without solution. The Lieutenant also ordered his subordinates to take photos and seize meeting documents, including, the name list of its participants. He ordered the meeting's participants not to take photos of the military as well. Later on, the Chief Executive of the Sub-district Administrative Organization came to informed Kriangkrai that the meeting was pre-approved to be held, but he forgot to report about the meeting to the military. At the end, Kriangkrai said it was his duty to come and check on the meeting because he would be criticised by his superior if he fail to do so.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jul 17, 2015
- Event Description
Foreigners who join protests against the government will now be subject to arrest and deportation, Phnom Penh's governor and the government's spokesman said yesterday, in the latest effort by the CPP to curb outside influence in the country's political affairs.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have placed a number of rights activists under surveillance, issuing warnings not to try to attend the continued subversion trial of the "Guangzhou Three" activists later this week, activists and lawyers said on Wednesday. Rights lawyer Tang Jingling, former teacher Wang Qingying, and writer-activist Yuan Xinting, known as the Guangzhou Three, initially stood trial on June 19 at the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court for "incitement to subvert state power" after being held in a police detention center for more than a year. But court officials called off the trial after the three men dismissed their defense team amid a procedural dispute with court officials, who refused to let them call witnesses. The trial will resume at the same court on Thursday and Friday, lawyers told RFA. Since then, Wang Qingying's former defense attorney Sui Muqing has himself been detained in a nationwide crackdown on rights lawyers, and is himself facing charges of "incitement to subvert state power." Fellow defense team members Zhang Xuezhong and Liu Zhangqing have also been summoned for questioning by local police, according to Guangzhou-based rights activist Jia Pin, who said any potential supporters of the Guangzhou Three are also being targeted by the authorities. "I was sent outside the province more than a week ago by Guangzhou police, and I just got off the train from Hunan in Guangzhou today, and I am planning to go to attend the trial tomorrow," Jia said. "A lot of our Guangzhou friends have been sent on forced vacations, and some have been kicked out of the city, including Li Weiguo and Liao Jianhao," he said. Friends warned off trial He said friends and supporters of the Guangzhou Three living elsewhere in China had also been warned off trying to attend the trial. "There are some friends outside the province who have received clear warnings, such as He Jiawei in Hunan ... not to try to travel to support Tang Jingling and the others, nor to try to attend the trial in Guangzhou," Jia said. Guangzhou-based author Xu Lin said he has been under surveillance by police in his hometown of Changsha since he made a trip to Guangzhou to visit relatives a few days ago. "Since I got back, they have sent people to keep watch at the door to my building," Xu told RFA. "Yesterday, they sent two people who followed me around all day long." "They are afraid that people will try to attend the trial of Tang Jingling and the others," he said. The Guangzhou Three trial is highly politically sensitive for the ruling Chinese Communist Party, and security has been tight in the run-up to the continued trial hearing, Jia said. "Things get very tense around these political cases, especially recently, when there has been a huge amount of oppression, with the detentions of a lot of lawyers," he said. "It's much worse than it was before, and there are even more special measures in place for such trials." Tang's defense attorney Ge Yongxi said his client is fairly optimistic and confident ahead of the renewed trial, however. "He has great confidence in the fact that nothing he did amounted to a crime," Ge said after a meeting with Tang in the detention center. "Everything he did was just and in the public interest ... so what verdict the authorities come up with is really their business," he said. 245 are detained China's relentless crackdown on rights attorneys and their associates comes amid a further tightening of controls on civil society since the beginning of the year. By 6.00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, the authorities had detained or questioned at least 245 people in a nationwide operation that began with a July 10 raid on the Beijing-based law firm Fengrui and the detention of a number of its staff. A total of 12 lawyers and two non-lawyers are being held under criminal detention or residential surveillance at secret locations, the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG) said in a statement on its website. Seven people have "disappeared" since the crackdown begun, while many of those detained are being held in secret locations. Authorities in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing on Wednesday detained lawyer Tang Tianhao for a second time, taking him to the police station at around 10.00 a.m. local time, the CHRLCG said. Meanwhile, a court in the northeastern Chinese city of Jilin heard how citizen journalist and rights advocate Wang Jing had been tortured in detention as police forced a "confession" from her. Wang Jing, who is being tried for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," said she was forced into confessing through the use of beatings, cold water, restraints and sleep deprivation. Sichuan-based rights activist Yang Xiuqiong said Wang was unable to stand in the dock on Wednesday. "Wang Jing's health is very poor; she has a brain tumor," Yang said. "She couldn't even stand up properly, but had to support herself on her hands." "She was even in manacles and leg-irons during the trial, and said she hadn't been given any food for several days, and that they wouldn't let her sleep or drink water," Yang said, adding: "When she was in the detention center, they poured cold water all over her, forced her to wear manacles, and gagged her." Wang Jing's lawyer Li Jinglin said he had rejected the evidence presented by the prosecution against his client. "We have ample evidence to show that Wang Jing is innocent," Li said. Wang Jing, who was also detained in April 2014 after reporting on a self-immolation incident on Tiananmen Square, has been in police detention in the northeastern province of Jilin since January. Her lawyers say she has only ever peacefully assisted other petitioners with their complaints against the government.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 27, 2015
- Event Description
Urgent Appeal: Death threats and impunity against the Southern Peasants Federation of Thailand Despite a legal judgement in favour of the Agricultural Land Reform Office five months ago, ordering the Jiew Kang Jue Pattana Co. Ltd. to vacate the land it is illegally occupying, no action has been taken on the ground. Furthermore, there remains little progress in the Police investigation into Mr. Chai murder case. Yet, following the murder of Mr. Chai on the 11th February 2015, the SPFT has received information that other SPFT members, especially leading members, would also be killed. On Wednesday 25th March 2015, 16:00, two SPFT members were travelling out of Khlong Sai Pattana Community, Chaiburi District, Surat Thani Province. Two cars, one in front of them and one behind them, stopped the SPFT members' car. An unidentified man stepped out of the front car and approached the SPFT members' car to look inside. The man then turned to address his colleagues in the two cars, saying, "It isn't the person we are looking for." The two cars moved out of the way and the SPFT members were free to pursue their journey. The SPFT members who analysed the incident believe that their car was stopped because this SPFT members' car is very similar in colour (greenish) and shape (two door pick-up 4x4) to Mr. Pratheep Rakhanthong car. Mr. Pratheep is a member of the SPFT Management Committee and resident in the Khlong Sai Pattana Community. According to the SPFT, the prominent Khlong Sai Community members who are under most risk because of their leadership role in the organisation are Mr. Pratheep, Mr. Supot Kansong and Mr. Theeranet Chaisuwan. On 17th March 2015 Channel TV11 journalists, accompanied by the local Army division, visited a community residing outside but close to Perm Sap Community, yet falsely claiming they are the Perm Sap Community. Yet, the broadcast of this visit contains no interviews with any community-members, as well as it shows photographs of people who don't reside in this community that was filmed. One of the pictures is that of Mr. Pianrat Bunrit, who is a leader of the SPFT member. The SPFT has not been given any national TV coverage since this Channel TV11 report, for them to respond to the claims made by Channel TV11 journalists and Army officers in the clip. Furthermore, the SPFT recently received information that the Provincial Army plans to call for meeting regarding the dispute between Perm Sap Community and Thai Boonthong Co. on Wednesday 1st April 2015. However, SPFT's position remains that matters regarding land disputes in Surat Thani's agricultural land reform areas should be discussed and addressed by the Committee to Address Problems Raised by the People Movement For a Just Society (P-move), no. 1/2015. This committee was set up on 23rd January 2015 by Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, and it is officially tasked with settling land disputes and distributing community land titles to people living in agricultural land reform areas in Surat Thani. SPFT members, and especially leaders under explicit death threats, are living under constant fear. Moreover, The lack of effective investigation into attacks faced by member of SPFT and the prevailing impunity in the country only enables further attacks on community based HRDs. This situation of constant intimidation makes it near to impossible for community based Human Rights Defenders - SPFT leaders - to pursue their work of advocating community rights and securing community land title deeds. Protection International calls on Human Rights actors in Thailand to urge the Thai authorities to: 1. Persuade the Krabi Provincial Court to immediately release an order the Legal Execution Department to implement the decision in the judgement against the Jiew Kang Jue Pattana Co. Ltd., in a dispute with Khlong Sai Pattana Community. This action requires the company to return the land to the governmental Agricultural Land Reform Office (ARLO), who is the rightful owner of the land according to Supreme Court's judgement on 11th November 2014. The ARLO should urgently embark the process of land redistribution based on collective ownership managed by the community. 2. Demand that the Ministry of Justice, Rights and Liberty Department, extend their protection mandate to provide immediate and sufficient protection to community-based HRDS. The Rights and Liberty Department should take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Mr. Pratheep, Mr. Theeranet, Mr. Supot, Mr. Pianrat, and all SPFT members, their families, as well as other community activists. 3. Insist that the Committee to Address Problems Raised by the People Movement For a Just Society (P-move), no. 1/2015 at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, actively address the needs of the people living in agricultural land reform areas in Surat Thani. Such actions include, coordinating all concerned actors to suspend any activities that may cause further conflicts or may disrupt the livelihoods of SPFT members, and halting all efforts to evict the people should be immediately stopped. 4. Reiterate to the Thai government, its obligation to ensure a conducive and protective legal environment for Human Rights Defenders, to promptly and effectively investigate all threats and attacks against them, and to hold both State and non-State perpetrators accountable for their actions. UPDATE: On 8 April 2016, An unidentified gunman has shot Supot Kansong, a land right activist. Supot is a key witness to the assassination of Chai Bunthonglek, a 61-year-old member of the Southern Peasant's Federation of Thailand (SPFT) from Khlong Sai Pattana Community.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 12, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai military summoned a lecturer at a university in Thailand's Northeast, for questioning about his relationship with an anti-junta activist group in the region. On 12 June, military officers of the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham summoned Chainarong Sretthachau, a lecturer at Mahasarakham University, to ask about the lecturer's affiliation with the Dao Din group, an anti-junta student activist group based in Khon Kaen University. Chainarong, however, informed the officers that he would like to postpone the meeting to 15 June. At 9 am on Monday, Chainarong Sretthachau came to meet military and police officers at the Maha Sarakham Provincial Hall, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reported. During a one hour talk, the authorities questioned whether Chainarong had any connection with the Ban Na Mun-Dun Sat group, an environmental protection group in northeastern Kalasin Province and the Dao Din group, both of which held a political gathering in Khon Kaen Province on 8 June. Chainarong explained to the officers that he supported the Ban Na Mun-Dun Sat group only with information on subjects concerning the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a controversial oil-drilling operation in Kalasin and human rights. He added that he had never contacted or collaborated with the Dao Din group before. He pointed out that the Dao Din and Ban Na Mun-Dun Sat group have been helping each other. Therefore, when Dao Din group members were arrested, the other group came to show moral support. At the end of the meeting, the authorities forced Chainarong to sign an agreement not to engage in any political movement. On 14 June, prior to his meeting with the military, Chainarong posted his views on his personal Facebook account. He stated that his movement was motivated by issues, such as environmental problems, human rights, and inequality in resources and that he has been doing so under every administration since he was a student till now. He also posted that he does not have any political inclination. He only stands with local people, who are voiceless and powerless in dealing with development projects, resources, and inequality.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jun 15, 2015
- Event Description
Police are probing human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen for a third time, now for allegedly insulting the prime minister on Twitter. "Tomorrow, June 16, Eric Paulsen, human rights lawyer and executive director and co-founder of Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) will be investigated by police in relation to tweets criticising Prime Minister Najib Razak that were made last week. Paulsen will be investigated under section 504 and 505 of the Penal Code, intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace and statements conducing to public mischief. "This will be the third time Paulsen has been hauled up by police for a tweet," said LFL in a mesage today. The NGO said lawyer Latheefa Koya will accompany him to Bukit Aman police headquarters tomorrow afternoon. Prior to this, he was arrested in March for sedition related to his tweets on Islamic opposition party PAS and the hudud issue. In January he was probed for commenting that Islamic authority Jakim encouraged "extremism" in some of its Friday sermons. He was subsequently charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act and was released on bail of RM2,000 with one surety, after spending two nights in the police lockup.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 25, 2015
- Event Description
Three activists from the environmental NGO Mother Nature and a human rights monitor were detained in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district for about three hours Thursday after City Hall deemed a planned march to the National Assembly illegal. The activists said that about 10 to 15 people planned to march from the Phnom Penh Center on Sothearos Boulevard to the National Assembly to deliver a petition asking the government to intervene in a dispute between villagers in Koh Kong province and a sand dredging company. But at about 8:30 a.m. district security guards swooped in, arresting the three activists and the monitor from human rights group Adhoc, stopping the march before it could begin, witnesses said. City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said the municipality pulled the plug because officials decided the size of the demonstration had grown too large. "There were hundreds of people demonstrating and marching to submit a petition in front of the National Assembly without a letter of permission," Mr. Dimanche said. "It affected public order.... They cannot do activities like that." However, according to the detained activists, other members of Mother Nature and Nay Vanda, deputy head of the human rights and legal aid section at Adhoc, who watched Thursday's events unfold, there were no more than 20 people involved with the march. "In total, there were about 10 to 20 people," Mr. Vanda said. "They had the right to nonviolently express their concerns about sand dredging." After being detained Thursday, the activists-Sorn Chandara, 23, Chek Nitra, 21, and Deoum Kundy, 20-were transferred to the district headquarters along with Dit Sokthy, 31, the Adhoc monitor. Deputy district governor Chor Kim Sor questioned the four before releasing them before noon. When the questioning was finished, Mr. Kim Sor declined to comment on what had transpired. However, Mr. Dimanche from City Hall said the activists were "educated" and the Adhoc monitor was only mistakenly detained. "We didn't know who was who," he said. "Those who go against the authorities...we have to round them up." After his release, Mr. Chandara, one of the activists, said the security guards used violence against them. "The security guards arrested us and then slapped our faces and confiscated our petitions," he said. "Is that not illegal?"
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 11, 2015
- Event Description
DHAKA: Bangladesh police have launched an investigation into apparent death threats against six secular writers, days after the murder of a fourth blogger in six months. The six, who include poets, bloggers and a journalist, all live in the southern city of Barisal and went to police after their photographs appeared late on Tuesday on a new Facebook page registered under the name Ansar-BD. "There are three anti-Islamic poets and three organisers of bloggers. They are the enemy of Islam. We should do whatever it takes," read the post. Police said they did not know who was behind the threat but were taking it seriously, and the country's elite security force was investigating. "We've increased surveillance and patrols near their homes and workplaces, "Barisal city's police chief said. The apparent hit-list was published less than a week after blogger Niloy Chakrabarti was hacked to death at his home in Dhaka by an unknown attacker. He was the fourth atheist blogger to have been killed since February when Bangladeshi-born US citizen Avijit Roy, a writer and moderator of a blog site, was hacked to death in Dhaka. The Bangladesh branch of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, Ansar al Islam, claimed the murder of Chakrabarti and warned of more to come, according to monitoring group SITE.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Online, Right to life
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 26, 2015
- Event Description
Hanoi's security forces on June 26 detained three local activists-speakers and blocked a meeting which aimed to mark the UN's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Bloggers Nguyen Hong Hai, Pham Thi Doan Trang and Pham Le Vuong Cac were held when they were leaving a hotel at noon to head to the meeting scheduled in the city's center later, with a number of foreign diplomats and local activists being invited, said Mr. Cac in his facebook page. The police also demanded the owner of the cafeteria where the event's organizer have booked for the meeting not to serve for participants of the event, activists said. The three activists were brought to different places for questioning until late evening. Mr. Hai said he was beaten by police offficers when he refused to cooperate with them during interrogation. Mr. Cac, a graduated law bachelor and the main presenter of the event, said the police held his laptop and two cell phones and tried to get access to these devices despite strong protest from the owner. In order to object the police's holding of his laptop and cell phones without a warranty from authorities, Cac broke these devices in witness of police officers. Cac also remained silent, rejecting all questions of interrogators. After being freed, Mr. Cac apologized the foreign diplomats and local activists who were invited to partake in the event. On the same day, on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (1998-2015), 11 unsanctioned Vietnamese civil societies isssued a joint statement to share with the international community on the most serious and painful human rights issues in the conscience and humanity civilization and alert all Vietnamese about the evil link of police, public security police and thugs to beat citizens rampantly even in the daytime They also reminded Vietnam's government and police forces about the obligation of states not only to prevent torture but to provide all torture victims with effective and prompt redress, compensation and appropriate social, psychological, medical and other forms of rehabilitation. They called for choosing June 26 as a national holiday to end violence, torture in Vietnam. Vietnam adopted the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in late 2014. However, the situation has not been improved, with four local residents have been found dead and many other detainees severely beaten in police station. According to the New York-based Human Rights Watch, police torture is systemic in Vietnam, at all levels and in most of provinces and cities, including the five largest cities in the country. Earlier this year, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security reported 226 deaths of detainees in police stations between October 2011 and September 2014. The police said most of the deaths were caused by illness and suicides, however, many families of these victims believed that they died from police torture. Meanwhile, Thailand's military government on Friday forced the HRW to cancel the public launch of its report on the Vietnamese government's persecution of an ethnic minority, saying it could affect national security and bilateral relations, according to AP. The HRW planned to delivered the report on persecution of Montagnard Christians in Vietnam's Central Highlands, whose religious practices have been described by the government as "evil," at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. The move came ahead of the visit of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang to Bangkok to deepen the two countries' strategic partnership formed two years ago. The cancellation of the event is "very disappointing" and is "another affirmation that human rights organizations can no longer report, not only about situation in Thailand, but situations in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia," Sunai Phasuk, Human Rights Watch's senior researcher in Asia, was quoted as saying by AP.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- Jul 16, 2015
- Event Description
Advocates say Park Rae-gun isn't really a flight risk, and his arrest may be intended to intimidate activists At around midnight on July 16, messages began going up on Facebook about the issuance of a preliminary arrest warrant for Park Rae-gun, the 54-year-old director of the Center of Human Rights. A member of the standing committee for the group April 16 Alliance, which has been calling for an investigation into the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking, Park had been under investigation for three months on charges of Assembly and Demonstration Act violation and obstruction of special official duties for his role in organizing four memorial rallies around Jongno Police Station in Seoul, which had previously requested the preliminary arrest warrant application from prosecutors after completing a search and seizure and calling Park in for questioning. "While our search and seizure did not turn up much relevant evidence, it appears that evidence was destroyed," the police said, adding that it had "concerns about additional evidence destruction and a possible flight risk." Lee Seung-gyu, a warrant judge at Seoul Central District Court, agreed to the request, noting the flight risk and the "substantiation of some charges." Park's arrest is his fourth since joining the campaign for human rights two decades ago. Three of his arrests came while opposing the US military base at Daechu Village in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province and working with a pan-national countermeasures committee in the wake of the 2009 Yongsan tragedy, in which five demolition protesters and one police officer lost their lives. Poet Song Gyeong-dong decried the arrest in a Facebook message. "A country that arrests human rights activists . . . first Daechu Village, Yongsan, and the Hope Buses, and now Sewol protestors are being hauled in and standing side by side in the defendants' box," he wrote. Park entered the Yonsei University department of Korean literature in 1981 with dreams of becoming a novelist. He took part in the student and labor movements while in school, but his decision to become a human rights activist in earnest came after his younger brother Rae-jeon, then president of the Soongsil University College of Liberal Arts student council, committed suicide by self-immolation in 1988 to protest the Roh Tae-woo administration. He has been one of the country's leading campaigners, working in an ever-broader range of human rights areas for the release of conscientious objectors, the eradication of torture, the investigation of suspicious politically related deaths, residents' rights, the minimum wage, and irregular workers. Park's attorneys claim that he only organized the rallies and did not plan or direct any illegal actions. They also argue that the police themselves provoked clashes by spraying protesters with from water mixed with pava (an incapacitant spray) from water cannons after they were already agitated over the erection of vehicle barricades. The decision to arrest a rally organizer three months after the fact - without any attempts to flee - is seen as unusual. Another arrest warrant request for Kim Hye-jin, a member of the April 16 Alliance organizing committee, was rejected by the court. "The fact that they issued a warrant even though[Park] had participated willingly in the questioning and there was no real flight risk shows that they were thinking more about the political and social situation rather than considering the legal aspect," said Kim Deok-jin, secretary-general of the Catholic Human Rights Committee. Yeom Hyeong-guk, one of the attorneys representing Park, noted the judge had given explicit orders not to "interpret the findings in political terms" when the warrant review was started on July 16. But according to Myeong Sook of the human rights group Sarangbang, the decision "turned out to be political in the end." Kim Nam-ju, an attorney who met with Park at the Jongno Police Station detention center on July 17, quoted him as saying he had "seen this kind of suppression coming once[former Minister of Justice] Hwang Kyo-ahn became Prime Minister." The April 16 Alliance said it plans to carry out a signature campaign to call for Park's release and "alert the country and international community to the illegitimacy of the arrest." UPDATE: 27/ August/ 2015 The government's criminalization of a crack about Pres. Park's botox Human rights activist Park Rae-gun, who is in jail pending trial on charges of organizing a memorial demonstration for the sinking of the Sewol ferry, now faces another charge: defamation of President Park Geun-hye. During the demonstration, Park Rae-gun is accused of saying, "There are allegations that President Park was taking drugs or getting Botox to beautify her skin. I'd love to confirm those allegations." Park Rae-gun was referring to the seven hours when Park Geun-hye did not appear on Apr. 16, the day of the sinking. Setting aside the question of whether Park Rae-gun's remarks actually constitute defamation, it is truly bizarre to see the current government overreacting and overreaching in its attempt to prevent any mention of the Sewol tragedy. The very fact that Park was arrested last month smacks of a "compulsory quarantine" aimed at stonewalling efforts to learn the truth about the Sewol tragedy. As the director of People Focused on Human Rights and a member of the standing operating committee for People's Solidarity for the Promise of April 16, Park has joined bereaved Sewol families in taking the lead in these efforts. After he organized the memorial demonstration, the police launched a compulsory investigation into charges that he instigated illegal and violent behavior, carrying out a raid and calling him in for questioning. While this was clear intimidation, Park assented to the questioning in good faith. Since he did not flee and since there is no evidence for him to hide or destroy, the only conclusion is that he should not have been arrested. If any evidence were necessary, the pictures and video shot by the police during the demonstration ought to have been enough. Despite this, the police and prosecutors put Park in jail three months after the demonstration was held. We cannot help but suspect that this was less from judicial necessity than from political necessity - the necessity of locking him up and muzzling him. After Park's arrest, a "collective statement" was released containing individual messages from 4,820 activists with civic groups and ordinary people calling for Park's release. The statement is a protest against such barbaric and backward behavior. But apparently the prosecutors were unfazed, since they added defamation to the list of charges against Park. This only increase suspicions about what could possibly be so embarrassing that the administration feels compelled to keep muzzling Park. The prosecutors also appear to be meting out harsh retribution on someone else's behalf. Even so, they cannot keep everyone quiet indefinitely. It is time to bring these pointless efforts to an end and to release Park.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jul 3, 2015
- Event Description
HYDERABAD: A landlord in Dadu who beat up four journalists nearly 10 days ago continues to evade justice allegedly due to his political connections in Sindh government. Neither has an FIR been lodged against him nor have any suspects been arrested even though high-ranking police officials continue to assure journalists' representatives that their complaints are genuine and that action will be taken. Four reporters - Ghulam Rasool Thaeem, Pir Bux Babbur, Aalam Thaeem and Dilar Mallah - were allegedly beaten up by Ahmed Khan Laghari and his men in Haji Khan village. These Johi taluka-based reporters had gone to cover a banned tree cutting by Laghari's men. "They warned us against covering their exercise and they beat us up because we didn't obey," claimed Thaeem. "They tore our clothes and moved us around the area." The incident has infuriated journalists in the entire district. A few days ago, Dadu Press Club, the largest in the district, hosted a meeting of the representatives of all the 13 press clubs, based in talukas and small rural towns. According to the club's president Walidad Chandio, all the participants were in unison that legal action should be taken against the landlord. "We want the police to register the FIR and arrest the suspects," Chandio told The Express Tribune. According to him, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Sanjeela Laghari visited Dadu Press Club twice and requested them to compromise. The MPA also went to Johi Press Club while PPP MNA Rafique Jamali also continued to approach the media men. Under pressure of the journalists' protests, home minister Anwar Siyal formed an inquiry committee comprising Hyderabad SSP Irfan Baloch and Jamshoro SSP Tariq Willayat. The two officers went to Dadu a few days ago and recorded the statements of the beaten journalists, Laghari's brothers and the local residents. Maqbool Laghari, a brother of the landlord, admitted to have beaten up the journalists before the committee. But he claimed that the journalists were part of a rival group in the village with whom they clashed because of a vendetta, which has continued for a long time. "Our findings show that the reporters were beaten up without their fault," an SSP told The Express Tribune on Monday. He requested anonymity because the report has yet to be submitted to the provincial government. Meanwhile, Dadu police lodged an FIR after the incident but it was registered on behalf of the rival group of Lagharis and on the basis of the clash. The SSP said their report supports the registration of a separate FIR by the journalists. On July 15, all the press clubs of Dadu will stage a joint protest sit-in outside the SSP's office in Dadu district. Two of the assaulted journalists have warned that they will set themselves ablaze if the police did not file the case and arrest the suspects.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Denial effective remedy, Media freedom, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Aug 17, 2015
- Event Description
The military officers in northern Thailand have attempted to prevent a group of villagers from submitting a complaint to the provincial governor, saying that the act might breach the Public Assembly Act recently enacted. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), military and police officers in the northern province of Lampang came Lampang Provincial Hall on 17 August 2015 to monitor a group of villagers who came to submit a complaint about environmental concerns to the governor of the province. Before the villagers travelled to the provincial hall, several military and police officers came to deter the group from carrying out their plan, saying that the assembly might be illegal under the 2015 Public Assembly Act. About 60 villagers who call themselves "Kon Rak Ban Haeng ' (Ban Heang Conservation Group) from Ban Haeng Sub-district in Ngao District of Lampang came to submit a letter to the governor to urge the authorities to issue a certificate to make the "Khua Tad' stream a protected public property, claiming that they have been using the stream to irrigate farmlands for many generations. The villagers fear that the area might be given to a private company for coal mining since a deposit of lignite, a type of coal known for its high carbon emissions, was found in the area. Moreover, the villagers also call on the authorities to not the enact the new Lampang City planning policies, fearing that it would have an impact on land use and the environment. In the end, the villagers had to submit the complaint letter to the Damrong Tham Centre, a centre established by the Interior Ministry to accept public complaints, because the governor was not present. Prior to their visit to the provincial hall, on 16 August 2015 at around 9 pm, the villagers reported that military officers from the 32nd Army Division came to Bang Haeng Village and told the villagers' representatives not to submit the complaint to the governor and suggested that they should submit the complaint to the district chief instead. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Waewrin Buangern, aka Jo, a Kon Rak Ban Haeng Conservation Group coordinator, has been under constant surveillance by the military authorities. She is contacted by the authorities on a regular basis for information on her whereabouts. On 11 November 2014, AHRC reported that military officers at Patoupah Special Military Training Facility threatened Waewrin with enforced disappearance while she was in an "attitude adjustment session' with ten other villagers from the group at the military base. After the complaint letter was submitted, late on Wednesday afternoon, 19 August 2015, four police officers in plainclothes from Ngao District Police Station came to the house of one of the Kon Rak Ban Haeng leaders and took pictures of the house while its occupants were not present. According to next door neighbours who talked to the plainclothes officers, the officers came to ask for a copy of the complaint letter that the villagers submitted. The 2015 Public Assembly Act was approved by the junta cabinet and announced in the Royal Gazette on 9 July 2015. Usually, the act will come into force three months after its announcement in the Royal Gazette. In brief, the Public Assembly Act states that the organisers of any demonstration must "notify' the police about a planned rally, where it will take place and when it will start and end, at least 24 hours before the rally commences. If the assembly organizers want to extend the assembly, they must notify the authorities 24 hours in advance. Also, certain venues are prohibited as rally sites under the bill and the police have the authority to regulate and oversee rallies. In July 2015, Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, stated that the act would not affect innocent people and peaceful protesters. "Don't look at it and think that officials want to restrict any rights," Khaosod English quoted the PM as saying. "If the rallies are innocent rallies, peaceful, unarmed, and in accordance with democracy, they can go forward. Who would forbid that? The only exceptions are rallies that don't have innocent intentions or are ready to escalate violence. We have learned lessons about that in the past, haven't we?" Jantajira Iammayura, a Thammasat University law lecturer and a member of Nitirat, said however that the act does not respect the people's right to peaceful assembly, guaranteed by Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), of which Thailand is a state party, because it creates petty legal hindrances that would be a convenient way to make assemblies unlawful. "Technical failures, such as failing to notify the police within the deadline, can overrule the main conditions, which are assembling peacefully and without weapons", said Jantajira. "This is absolutely unconstitutional and contradicts the ICCPR."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 10, 2015
- Event Description
Security forces in northwestern China's Qinghai province attacked and beat a group of elderly Tibetan villagers and women who were blocking construction of a dam last week, injuring an unknown number and later detaining several, according to a local source. The group had sought since the beginning of the year to halt the work near Seching village in the Yadzi (in Chinese, Xunhua) Salar Autonomous County amid concerns it could be linked to mining operations in the area, an area resident told RFA's Tibetan Service on Monday. Chinese police, including about 100 members of a special task force, arrived at the construction site on Aug. 10 to attack the group when younger protesters were away working in the fields, RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They took them away to a secluded place and beat them, and a few were detained," the source said. The beating was reported to be "severe" and several protesters were injured in the assault, but detailed information on the number or names of those hurt was not immediately available. When villagers went next day to county offices to protest, the county chief refused to meet with them, the source said. "Instead, he sent two officials out to rebuke the crowd," he said. Mining operations in Yadzi, including the extraction of copper and gold, may have never been approved by authorities above the county level, the source said, adding that local officials and businessmen are profiting together from the work. Tibet has become an important source of minerals needed for China's economic growth, and Chinese mining operations in Tibet have often led to widespread environmental damage, including the pollution of water sources for both livestock and humans, experts say.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, Minority rights defender
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 24, 2015
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have issued a summons to two sisters of rights activist Zhang Liumao after they spoke out over strong evidence that he was beaten to death in police custody. Zhang Wuzhou and Zhang Weichu were issued with the summons in a telephone call from police in the provincial capital Guangzhou on Tuesday. "I got a call from the Shijin police station today, summoning me and my sister for questioning on suspicion of 'picking quarrels and stirring up trouble,'" Zhang Wuzhou told RFA. "They accused me of hitting a police officer and they accused my sister of smashing their trash can," she said. Zhang Liumao was reported dead by authorities in the police-run Guangzhou No. 3 Detention Center in the early hours of Nov. 4, prompting suspicions from his family that he was tortured. Zhang Wuzhou said the sisters had reacted in an angry outburst during a visit to the police station on Nov. 6 after receiving no answers to their questions on the sudden death in custody of their brother. The summons likely related to scuffles that broke out at the time, she said. "We lost our cool, and I think my sister vented her frustration on the trash can, and a police officer came over to grab her, and I rushed and stood in between them," Zhang Wuzhou said. "They said I hit him; I am not sure if I did or not, but I was[scolding him] and jabbing my finger at him, and now they're saying I hit him," she said. "They kept lying to us that day, repeatedly, and we were so sick of waiting," she said, but added that she believes the charges are a form of retaliation after the family spoke to the media about Zhang Liumao's death. "I think they are afraid that we will expose the truth, and that's why they want to detain us," Zhang Wuzhou said. "We plan to get ourselves a lawyer because they are just bullies trying to threaten us." Since she spoke out about her suspicions surrounding her brother's death, Zhang Weichu has already lost her job, Zhang Wuzhou added. The summons comes just days after Zhang Liumao's lawyer viewed his body, saying it showed multiple signs of severe physical assault. China's record on torture Chinese officials questioned at the United Nations, which last week reviewed Beijing's record on torture, said they were doing all they can to put safeguards in place amid reports that the use of torture, cruel and degrading treatment is endemic under Communist Party rule. Lawyer Tan Chenshou told RFA after the identification process that there was bruising visible all over Zhang Liumao's body, including his chest and abdomen, adding that a swollen area on his client's arm suggested a bone had been broken. Guangdong-based rights lawyer Chen Jinxue said on Tuesday he has already accepted instructions to act for the sisters in their case. "So far, the police station has only made a phone call to Zhang Wuzhou to tell them to go to the police station, but there has been no formal summons issued," Chen said. "I think they are just trying to frighten the family," he said. The United Nations Committee against Torture last week reviewed China's compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment amid widespread criticism of Beijing's record from U.S. politicians and rights groups. According to the Congressional Executive Committee on China (CECC), and the New York-based groups Human Rights Watch and Human Rights in China, torture is widespread across China's judicial system, and Beijing's attempts to change the practice are merely cosmetic. Activists said that a number of rights lawyers, activists and former victims of torture had been prevented from traveling to give evidence to the committee in Geneva by the Chinese authorities in recent weeks. Chinese ambassador Wu Hailong told the 10 independent experts in Geneva on Tuesday that Beijing is "working to eliminate torture" by improving the training of police and prison guards, and audio and video recordings of interrogations. But rights activists said China traditionally relies heavily on evidence from forced confessions across its judicial system, sometimes using it as the only evidence or the main evidence. The CECC said it has gathered reports that torture and other human rights abuses "continue to be routine" in China, and include the denial of medical treatment and the use of forced hospitalization in psychiatric facilities. The widespread use of unofficial detention centers, known as "black jails" and a lack of clear definition of torture in law ensures the practice goes unpunished, it said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 18, 2015
- Event Description
A rights and citizen journalism website based in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan said its operations have been paralyzed by a hacker attack on Tuesday, while a second site said its domain name is once more blocked on China's tightly controlled Internet. Activist Huang Qi, who founded the Tianwang website, said the home page and articles were unaffected by the attack by unknown hackers. "But we can't get into the interface for contributors to post copy, which means that we have no way to post articles to the website," Huang said. He said the group had taken to posting articles on social media platforms Google+ and Facebook, which are blocked to the majority of users inside China, and the group's blog. "We have been unable to post articles since around 10 a.m.," Huang said. "The registration page is also broken. I think it's been attacked." Tianwang, which started out as a resource for relatives of those killed or injured in the military crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy movement, soon changed its focus to cover ordinary Chinese who seek to defend their rights in the face of official abuses of power. It often posts the stories that rarely find expression in China's tightly controlled, state-run media, and that are often deleted from social media sites soon after they appear. Currently, at least four of its citizen journalists are in detention amid an ever-widening crackdown on freedom of expression and nongovernmental groups in the country, the Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) said in a recent report. "Tianwang has a lot of articles, many of them about folk heroes like retired military officers and farmers who have lost their land," Huang said. "Tianwang has a lot of news about farmers standing up for their rights, and also about ordinary citizens who get detained, including details of their trials and issues like torture and mistreatment in prison," he said. "I think that is the reason it has been attacked." Huang said the cyberattack was likely the 20th since the beginning of the year. "It causes a lot of problems for our work," he said. Rights website shut down Meanwhile, rights website Watchdog Net for Citizens and Public Opinion was shut down in recent days, founder Li Xinde told RFA. "Our registration number has been canceled[for the Chinese hosted site], and our ... domain name from our server in the United States has been blocked," Li said. "Everyone knows our website's main theme is anti-corruption, and another big theme is rights activism." Li said it wasn't hard to imagine the motivation for falling foul of the complex system of blocks, filters and human censorship known collectively as the Great Firewall. "When we are overseeing government, there is nowhere we won't go; it doesn't matter who you are[as an official]; if you are corrupt, we will expose you," he said. "So of course we are going to cause a reaction among some people, to stir up feelings among some people in power," Li said, adding that the site has already changed domain names 50-60 times this year. The attacks on the rights websites come as Beijing rolls out a slew of draconian new laws aimed at further clamping down on freedom of expression online. China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), last month set out proposals to extend Beijing's already tight grip on the Chinese Internet in a draft cybersecurity law. The draft law aims to "ensure network security,[and] safeguard the sovereignty of cyberspace and national security," according to the NPC's official website, and will ensure Chinese Internet users aren't allowed to "disturb the social order,[and] harm the public interest." Meanwhile, tough new regulations requiring online publishers to attend "chats" with officials and police if they post content deemed false or inappropriate suggest a strong-armed role for China's new Internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration. The agency last month set out a serious of violations of rules on web content that could prompt a summons to "drink tea," a technique traditionally employed by the state security police to warn, interrogate and intimidate rights activists and dissidents. Sites deemed to have published banned content-which might include "false information, pornography and rumors" will be obliged to send a representative to such meetings from June 1, according to official media.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Media freedom, Online, Right to information
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
Radio Free Asia?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2015
- Event Description
Three activists from environmental NGO Mother Nature were summoned to appear at the Botum Sakor district police station in Koh Kong province on Friday to answer for their involvement in a campaign to chase off a sand-dredging company accused of destroying the environment, officials said. According to copies of the summonses, district police chief Sok Phorn ordered Sun Mala, Yoeun Tinit and Tri Sovichea, all members of Mother Nature, to appear for questioning on Friday at 11 a.m. District governor Orn Virak said the three were being sought for questioning because they took part in demonstrations against Direct Access. "They were summoned for questioning following a complaint from the company," he said. Mr. Mala, 22, a co-founder of Mother Nature, said Friday that he and his two colleagues did not go to the district police station. "We refused to follow the summons letter because we did nothing wrong," he said. "I think the reason they summoned us for questioning is because the company is not happy with us for disturbing their illegal sand dredging." The Mines and Energy Ministry granted Direct Access a license to dredge parts of the Andong Teuk estuary in the district. However, Mother Nature and local fishermen say the company is dredging deeper than the license allows and in areas not permitted. They also accuse Direct Access of polluting the estuary, causing riverbank collapses and driving off fish stocks. As part of their monthslong campaign, the activists and fishermen have boarded barges operated by Direct Access and towed them away with fishing boats. In Kongchet, provincial coordinator for rights group Licadho, said he believes district authorities are trying to intimidate the group into halting their campaign. "They are protecting natural resources," he said of the activists. "Authorities should be encouraging them rather than making accusations." UPDATE: 22/ September/ 2015 Activist trio's bail appeal thwarted The Appeal Court yesterday denied bail to three environmental activists arrested in mid-August over their opposition to sand dredging in Koh Kong province. The three activists from local campaigning NGO Mother Nature - Try Sovikea, Sun Mala and Lem Samnang - were jailed on August 17 in the province's Botum Sakor district following complaints from the local authorities and the Direct Access company, which the activists suspected of illegal sand mining operations. The three were accused of "threatening to cause damage" by taking part in direct actions against the firm over several days. Am Sam Ath, senior investigator with rights group Licadho, said he was disappointed by the decision. He argued they should have been released as they met the requirements under Cambodian law: they have permanent addresses, promised to take part in every stage of the court case and have full-time jobs. He added that the defence lawyers would forward the case to the provincial court again in early October. But on August 31, a Koh Kong judge, Chhun Davy, already denied the three bail.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Aug 22, 2015
- Event Description
yellow Volkswagen Beetle belonging to Bersih activist Thomas Fann has suffered an acid attack and been put out of action. Instead of taking to the road to promote the public rallies on Aug 29-30, it has been sent for repairs. A classic yellow Mini Cooper will now stand in as Bersih's official car for a road tour to promote the rally, Star Online reported. The report quoted Bersih committee member Mandeep Singh as saying the vandals had also cut the fan belt and punctured two tyres after the Beetle was parked in Taman Molek, Johor Baru, during a Bersih tour of Johor. Fann, Mandeep and Wong Chin Huat were to have travelled in the car to promote the rally. Mandeep said the car would have been used for a nationwide roadshow after being repaired. "We want to show the people that we are not afraid of this kind of intimidation," he said. A police report was lodged on Saturday morning.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to information, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Sep 14, 2015
- Event Description
The Malaysian authorities should end their prosecution of a local activist for her role in showing a documentary film without censorship board approval, Human Rights Watch said today. Malaysia's Federal Court has heard Lena Hendry's challenge to the constitutionality of the Film Censorship Act on 14 September 2015, and has since thrown out the challenge. Hendry, a staff member of the human rights group, Pusat KOMAS, was charged under the act for organizing a private screening of the award-winning documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka on 3 July 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to RM30,000 (US$7,000). "Prosecuting someone for the private showing of an award-winning film shows how determined Malaysian authorities are to stomp on the right to free expression," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government should call off its intensifying assault on free expression and promptly amend the Film Censorship Act." Section 6 of Malaysia's Film Censorship Act, under which Hendry is being prosecuted, prohibits the "circulation, distribution, display, production, sale, hire" or "possession" of any film, whether imported or domestically produced, without first obtaining approval from the government-appointed Board of Censors. HRW said that the law defines "film" very broadly - and could potentially be applied to home videos or videos taken on a smartphone. Should the Federal Court, Malaysia's highest, rule against Hendry, her case will proceed to trial. HRW noted that the Film Censorship Act has been seldom invoked and Pusat KOMAS regularly screens films on politics, human rights, culture, and other issues without censorship board approval, with admission by pre-registration only. The charges against Hendry appear to have been primarily motivated by the Malaysian government's desire to appease Sri Lankan embassy officials, who had publicly demanded that the film not be shown and visited the venue, the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, on the day of the film's showing to urge the venue's managers to cancel the event. No Fire Zone concerns war crimes committed in the last months of Sri Lanka's civil war, including Sri Lankan army artillery attacks that indiscriminately killed thousands of civilians and the extrajudicial executions of captured fighters and supporters of the secessionist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The authorities' politically motivated prosecution of Hendry is contrary to internationally recognized standards for the protection of freedom of expression, HRW said. "The imposition of criminal penalties for choosing to possess or show a film that the government has not previously approved is not necessary to protect national security, public order, public morals, or the rights and reputations of others, and imposes a disproportionate burden on a fundamental right." "Rather than acting like a "big brother' to censor films Malaysians have a right to see, the government should change the law that allows this misuse of power," Robertson said. "Malaysians should never have to fear arrest for organizing a film festival or going to watch a movie."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Oct 6, 2015
- Event Description
Military officers summoned university students in northern Thailand for a discussion after they commemorated the 1973 student massacre, saying that the event was a political incitement. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the military officers from 37th Army Division of the northern province of Chiang Rai on Tuesday, 6 October 2015, contacted Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, requesting to have words with all the students who commemorated the 1973 student massacre. The officers asked the university staffs to inform the students to come for a discussion at the 37th Army Division Base of the province on Wednesday. Through negotiation, the students told the officers that two representatives from the group would go see the officers. At 9:30 am, Thichanon Pitakpracha and Somchai Kuwattanasakul, the two representatives from the group, went to the military base to meet the officers. They reported that at the base the Deputy Commander of the 37th Army Division, 3-4 other military officers, and a policeman were present during the talk. The officers asked in details about the reasons as to why they decided to commemorate the 1973 student massacre and if the group has links with the anti-junta student activist groups in Bangkok and in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. The two students mentioned that the officers told them that certain messages that which attached on a board with post-its during the event to commemorate the student massacre on Tuesday morning are political incitements. The officers told them that they will monitor the activities of the students closely before letting them go without having to sign any document after about an hour of discussion. The 1973 student massacre which happened on 6 October was a violent attacks on students and protesters at Thammasat University while the student were demonstrating against the return of the former military dictator, Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn. By the official count, forty-six people died in the attack, during which protesters were shot, beaten, and their bodies mutilated. However, many unofficial sources cited that more than a hundred were killed.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 16, 2015
- Event Description
Activists of CPI (ML-New Democracy) and its farmers' wing AIKMS staged a demonstration in front of the Agriculture Market Yard here on Friday to press for their charter of demands, including increase in minimum support price for cotton from Rs. 4,100 to Rs. 8,800 per quintal. Mild commotion prevailed at the market yard when the agitators tried to break through the locked entrance gate in a bid to enter into the procurement centre of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) on the premises of the yard. The police prevented the protesters from entering into the market yard premises. The agitators led by CPI (ML-ND) district secretary P. Ranga Rao and AIKMS State secretary K. Rangaiah staged a sit-in. They continued their stir until the market yard officials came out to address their issues. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the officials. Their other demands include enhancement of MSP for paddy and maize, relaxation of norms pertaining to moisture content in cotton, one-time settlement of farm loan waiver and two years of moratorium on private loans of farmers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to access to funding
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 9, 2015
- Event Description
A village leader in eastern Cambodia's Ratanakiri province has confiscated a petition from villagers seeking a halt to illegal logging on a nearby sacred mountain, threatening to have them arrested if they persist in their complaints, sources said. Ethnic Lao residents of Cambodia who moved two years ago from border areas to the province's Lum Phat district are now being helped by local police and other authorities to clear land on Phnom Kunthy mountain near Patang village for their own use, villagers told RFA's Khmer Service on Friday. And though villagers prepared a petition this week asking provincial authorities to help stop the encroachment, their village chief seized the document on Thursday, refusing to pass it on, one resident said. "The village chief[also] threatened us," village representative Hon Luch said, adding, "If we file the complaint again, he will order police to arrest us." Speaking to RFA, village chief Pheng Maing confirmed that he had confiscated the villagers' petition, saying that they had not informed him of their plan to complain. "Logging is definitely taking place in this area, and we have already summoned those responsible in order to resolve this issue," he added. This is not the first time that Patang authorities have threatened villagers attempting to stop the clearing of their land, said Chhay Thy, a provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, adding that local officials may also be involved in the logging. "According to our own investigation,[the loggers] are planning to clear about 600 hectares[1,480 acres] of land," he said. "When villagers filed a complaint with forestry officials, the loggers stopped for a short period of time," he said, "But the logging started up again earlier this month." Lum Phat officials are now set to investigate complaints against the village chief who seized the villagers' petition, acting district governor Nou Te said, adding that he recommends that villagers submit their complaints directly to the district. The seizure of land for development-often without due process or fair compensation for displaced residents-has been a major cause of protest in Cambodia and other authoritarian Asian countries, including China and Myanmar.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Denial effective remedy, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Oct 19, 2015
- Event Description
Vietnamese authorities on Monday asked the family of a man who died in police custody to withdraw a letter they had written to the United Nations Human Rights Council requesting an investigation of his death, the man's mother said. Police detained Do Dang Du, 17, from Dong Phuong Yen village in Hanoi's Chuong My district, on Aug. 5 for committing petty theft. The district police chief signed an order to hold him for two months while officers investigated the crime. But on Oct. 4 while Du was still in custody, he was beaten unconscious and remained in a coma until he died six days later. Do Thi Mai, Du's mother, told RFA's Vietnamese Service that a representative from the People's Council, a local body of power in the authoritarian state, came to her house and asked her to withdraw the letter, which the she wrote to the U.N. on Oct. 16. "He was not a policeman," Mai said. "He told us to withdraw our letter and not to do anything, just wait for the police to compensate us, and that I could receive the money at home or go to the village office to get it." But Mai told the representative that the family had authorized lawyers to represent them, so they would have to consult their attorneys about his suggestion, she said. She said the family had decided to contact the U.N.'s Human Rights Council and lawyers inside Vietnam for help because they believed that police brutally beat Du and killed him. "I don't understand the law because I did not go to school, so I had to ask for help from lawyers," she said." Tran Thu Nam, one of the family's lawyers, said he had advised Du's relatives on how to work with the U.N., and that someone from the organization's Human Rights Council had contacted the family. "They asked me for advice, and I told them if the person[who contacted them] is truly from the U.N., then they will be better protected," he said. "If the U.N. Human Rights Council gets involved, this could have a huge impact on the government of Vietnam," he said. "I only gave them advice on how to cooperate with the council. I don't know how they met or who connected them." Nam said he saw in the media and on Facebook that authorities asked the family to withdraw the letter, but he had not received any further information from them. "We should not jump to conclusions, even with information given by the family, because it's too early for them to see through things. ... We need to be cautious when judging an event. As a lawyer, I need to have evidence[to present]." Many people, especially the poor, do not know much about the law and their legal rights, Nam said. Although Vietnam offers legal services for poor people, many do not know how to use them, so the services are not very popular, he said. "With the Do Dang Du case, they will know how important the role of lawyers is in finding the truth and protecting their rights according to the law," he said. Blame it on the cellmate Vietnam's state-controlled media reported that Du's cellmate, Vu Van Binh, beat him on Oct. 4. After Du collapsed, police took him to the emergency room at a hospital in Hanoi's Ha Dong district, but doctors transferred him to Bach Mai hospital, a highly specialized medical center in Dong Da district. Du's family, who found out about his hospitalization on Oct. 6, told VOA earlier this month that the injuries covering Du's body indicated that the police had tortured him. On Oct. 8, two days before Du died of his injuries, the Hanoi police issued a decision to prosecute Binh for beating Du to death. Police brutality in Vietnam is a common human rights violation. Scores of people detained on minor charges often die each year while in custody, where they are beaten to extract confessions, sometimes for crimes they say they did not commit, or for criticizing police officers. Tran Thi Nga, a human rights activist and member of the independent movement Vietnam Women for Human Rights, said Du's family contacted her organization to publicize the story of their son's death on social media. "They[the family] knew that I was the one who publicized news about other cases like[those of death-row prisoners] Ho Duy Hai and Nguyen Van Chuong, so they contacted me and wanted my help to spread the news and give them legal advice," she said. Nga was one of four rights activists physically attacked by policemen and several unidentified individuals on Aug. 29 in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, following a celebration for the release of human rights journalist Tran Minh Nhat. Some human rights activists visited Du's family after he died, when his relatives had taken his body back to their village for burial, she said. But police harassed them along with others who went to pay tribute to Du, and officers badly beat activist Truong Van Dung, Nga said. Du's family needs more support in their quest for justice, she said. "If people do not say anything about the Do Dang Du case, then in the future there will be more like it where people die in police custody," Nga said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 21, 2015
- Event Description
Villagers in northwestern Cambodia's Siem Reap province on Wednesday called for local authorities to protect them and said they are considering legal action against a military unit they claim is threatening them in a bid to take over their farmland. Members of the Varin commune council, in Siem Reap's Varin district, told RFA that Infantry Unit 42 has brandished rifles on multiple occasions since last week to chase them from several hectares (1 hectare = 2.5 acres) of land they use to grow cassava. The council appealed to provincial authorities to help seek a solution to the dispute and prevent the soldiers from taking over the land, which they said is their sole means of supporting their livelihoods. Infantry Unit 42 claims nearly 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of farmland in the area used by around 100 families, saying it was granted the property as a concession from the government several years ago for the use of retired soldiers, according to Varin commune chief Chhoy Oeun. But the unit has only been able to produce land titles issued by authorities from Sleng commune in nearby Srey Snorm district and has no official notices granting it the land, he said. "Based on the word of the unit, they would take over all of the land," Chhoy Oeun said, adding that he would do whatever it takes to protect his commune's property. Infantry Unit 42 has already taken over several parcels of land in the area and began confronting residents of Varin commune last week, firing warning shots over the heads of villagers to scare them away, Varin district councilman Prang Yon told RFA. "Today at 9:30 a.m., soldiers chased the villagers off again and even fired their rifles to threaten them," he said, calling the action "a serious abuse of human rights." The Varin commune council said it is considering bringing a lawsuit against the unit for its actions. General Pen Voy, the head of Infantry Unit 42, could not be reached for comment on the land dispute. Development issues The seizure of land for development-often without due process or fair compensation for displaced residents-has been a major cause of protest in Cambodia and other authoritarian Asian countries, including China and Myanmar. Rural villagers and urban dwellers alike have been mired in conflicts that the U.N.'s special rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia last month warned could threaten the country's stability. Last year, the number of people affected by state-involved land conflicts since 2000 grew to more than 500,000, according to Licadho. Cambodia's land issues date from the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime, which forced large-scale evacuations and relocations, followed by a period of mass confusion over land rights and the formation of squatter communities when the refugees returned in the 1990s after a decade of civil war.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 21, 2015
- Event Description
Even as nationwide protests by writers over "rising intolerance" continue, a young Dalit activist and writer was allegedly attacked by unidentified men for his "anti-Hindu" writings at Davangere in central Karnataka. Huchangi Prasad, a 23-year-old student and author of a book 'Odala Kichchu' which speaks against the caste system, alleged that he was assaulted on Wednesday and threatened that his fingers would be cut for writing against Hinduism. "On October 21, late night, a group of eight to nine persons came to SC/ST hostel where I reside and told me that my mother was unwell. Worried I followed them. They took me to a place and started threatening and assaulting me for writing against Hinduism and caste system," Mr Prasad told PTI. A journalism student, Mr Prasad alleged, "They also smeared kumkum on my face and threatened to cut my fingers for my writings." The 23-year-old said he received some minor injuries in the attack, adding, "They (the attackers) said I'm born as Dalit, because of sins I had committed in my previous life." Asked whether the men belonged to any particular group, Mr Prasad said "From their words it was almost clear that they are from some right wing group but I'm not completely sure." A case has been registered against unidentified persons at RMC Yard Police Station. Police said they are on a lookout for the suspects. "A complaint was filed by Prasad yesterday alleging eight to ten persons had attacked him and attempted to kill him," a police official involved in the investigation said. He said case has been registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including 307 (attempt to murder), as also under sections of the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. The incident comes at a time when at least 35 writers from across the country have announced their decision to return their Sahitya Akademi awards to protest the "rising intolerance" in the country and the killing of Kannada writer and rationalist MM Kalburgi at Dharwad in north Karnataka. Another Kannada free-thinker and writer KS Bhagwan had also received threats for his remarks against Hinduism and its Gods which the right-wing groups saw as "offensive" and "provocative" hurting Hindu sentiments. The writers facing threats have been provided security after the killing of professor Kalburgi who was shot dead at point blank range by two men, who still haven't been caught, in August.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Oct 14, 2015
- Event Description
Thai police officers attempted to discourage people from commemorating the 14 October 1973 Student Uprising, citing the Public Assembly Act. On Wednesday evening, 14 October 2015, at least 300 people gathered around the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Rd. in central Bangkok to participate in the 42th Anniversary of the 14 October 1973 Student Uprising, an event when about 50,000 students then took to the street to call for an end of the dictatorial regime of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn. Members of leading anti-junta activist groups, such as New Democracy Movement, Dao Din, and Resistant Citizens, were among the participants. Before the event started, police officers at around 6:20 pm informed the crowd as they were marching to the Democracy Monument that they might be charged under the 2015 Public Assembly Act. Throught negotiation with the pro-democracy activists, however, the police permitted the group to continue with the march, but they had to walk on pavements instead of marching on the main avenue. At 6:50 pm, as the pro-democracy crowd arrived at the Democracy Monument, they attempted to wrap a banner with the message reads "In present, how[can you] forget "the ideologies' and serve dictatorship" around the monument, but were prevented by the police. At around 7:35 pm, the crowd gathered around the monument and lit candles in honor of those who participated in the 1973 Uprising and shouted "NCPO[National Council for Peace and Order] get out" and "Democracy will triumph".
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Event Description
On 5th and 6th November 2015, Pabon District authorities held a public hearing on issues relating to water shortages with Pabon District residents. The context this public hearing happened in, is one where local authorities are pushing through a dam and reservoir project to be built in the District on theMueang Ta Kua River dam and reservoir project near Mueang Ta Kua village, Moo 1, Nongthong sub-district, Pabon district, Pattalung province. This project is being pushed through, despite clear recommendations by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand that this project should be cancelled due to Human Rights violations. A group of community-based Human Rights Defenders, under the name People's Network to Protect Ton Sa Tor Watershed (PNPTSTW, see more background information in Annex 2), has come together to oppose this project. There have been serious incidents of violence and ongoing intimidation against these community-based HRDs. The situation has now worsened following the public hearing last week. Prior and during the public hearing, several PNPTSTW members were told by phone to not participate in the public hearing. After the public hearing, several PNPTSTW members received death threats. The group has also received information that the aggressors may collectively provide funds to have the main leaders of the PNPTSTW killed. A broker has been trying to contact the PNPTSTW leaders to have them meet with some of the aggressors, and negotiate with the PNPTSTW to agree the project go on. Mr. SuwitJehsoh, received death threats which were communicated to him through his relatives.PNPTSTW leaders and community-based HRDs are living under constant fear of being killed. Community-based HRDs in Mueang Ta Kua village have faced violence and impunity which is particularly alarming in light of these renewed threats. On 29th December 2014, Mr. SuwitJehsohhad his house shot at in the night. 7 bullet holes in the house were found, and 15 M16 war-rifle cartridges were found around his house and collected. Local Police conducted no meaningful investigation into the attack; instead they questioned Mr Suwit for his views on the reservoir. Furthermore, on 31st August 2015, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand concluded an inquiry1 into Human Rights violations linked to the dam and reservoir project near Mueang Ta Kua village. The NHRCT's recommendations, sent to all relevant stakeholders, explicitly called for this project to be cancelled in light of the on-going Human Rights violations (See Annex 3 for translated sections of the report). Local authorities have received these recommendations, yet taken steps to instead pursue the project by organising this village public hearing.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Nov 12, 2015
- Event Description
MANDALAY - Students on a hunger strike at Thayawady Prison in Pegu Division, currently on trial over the education protests at Letpadan, have been sent against their will to Rangoon General Hospital, their families said. Aung Hmein San, who began the hunger strike in late October to call for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, was sent to the hospital on Thursday alongside fellow student protester Myo Myat San. Authorities did not inform the families of either man. "We only found out when our friends, who are close to the prison staff, told us," said Lei Lei Nwe, the wife of Aung Hmein San. "We called the prison several times but they never told us the truth." According to their families, both students attempted to refuse their transfer despite suffering a rapid decline in health. "Our friend said their health is in a serious condition," Lei Lei Nwe said. "The prison authorities sent them to the hospital on Thursday night, using force as they refused to go. The prison authorities should inform their families about their health. Now they stay silent and abuse the rights of their prisoners." Meanwhile, in Mandalay Division's Myin Chan prison, inmates Soe Hlaing and Si Thu Myat are preparing to file a civil complaint against prison authorities, who forcibly stopped their sympathy hunger strike. "They said the prison authorities forced them to stop the strike and threatened to withhold water if they continued," said Shwe Hla, a friend of Soe Hlaing. There are now 8 students and supporters across several prisons who have participated in the hunger strike, down from 15 at its peak. Phyo Dana, who was on hunger strike for nine days, is suffering gastrointestinal problems and went into medical care in Rangoon General Hospital on Wednesday. Three others abandoned the hunger strike due to declining health on the same day.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Event Description
The Thai Consulate in Chicago, US, reportedly attempted to prevent overseas Thai students to attend a lecture of a well known anti-junta figure. According to Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a fierce critic of the Thai junta who is a Thai Associate Professor at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Japan, the Thai Consulate in Chicago, US, last week attempted to prevent Thai students from attending his lecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pavin was invited by the Center of Southeast Asian Studies of the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a guest lecturer to hold a special lecture titled "Neo-Royalism Ideology and the Future of the Vajoralongkorn (the Crown Prince) Reign' on Friday, 20 November 2015. He posted on his facebook status on 21 November that prior to the lecture, the Thai Consulate in Chicago tried to bar Thai students, especially those who are studying in the US with the Thai government scholarships, to attend his lecture. "The preparation of my lecture at Madison was quite problematic. The Thai Consulate in Chicago fully acted as an agent of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), warning the Thai students especially those on the Thai government scholarships not to attend my lecture," wrote Pavin. He added that the Consulate requested to have the list of students who planned to attend the lecture and asked if they could report back to the consulate. In addition, they sent people to "monitor' my lecture, Pavin reported. "My reaction was, as they prevented the[Thai] students not to come and attempted to shut their ears and eyes, I decided to record my lecture and[will] post it on youtube," Pavin added in his facebook status. On 14 July 2015, Pavin reported that The Thai Consulate in Germany threatened to withdraw donations to a German university in Frankfurt for inviting him to talk about Thai politics. The staff of Goethe University of Frankfurt told him then that the Thai Consulate in Frankfurt had contacted the university to cancel the lecture, threatening to withdraw funding to the university if the lecture was to go ahead. After a heated exchange with the organisers, however, Pavin contacted a group of students of Goethe University who still wanted to participate in the lecture and was able to give the lecture in defiance of the organisers' policy. On Wednesday, 15 July 2015, he made a formal complaint to five German agencies, including the German Embassy to Thailand in Bangkok and the Antikorruptionsreferat (anti-corruption agency), asking for an investigation of the "misconduct' of the Goethe University of Frankfurt and the Thai Consulate. "I am writing to alert you of the possibility that the Department[of the Goethe University of Frankfurt] might have compromised its duty to defend academic freedom in exchange for financial rewards from the Thai Consulate[in Frankfurt]," Pavin wrote in his complaint. Pavin was among a long list of Thai academics and activists summoned by the Thai junta immediately after the 2014 coup d'_tat to report to the coup-makers. He, however, refused the junta's summons and has not been back to Thailand since the coup.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Academic
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 11, 2015
- Event Description
Several dozen prominent rights lawyers and activists have canceled a conference on the prevention of torture in the southwestern Chinese region of Guangxi after police intervention and surveillance, participants told RFA on Friday. More than 30 would-be participants had gathered at the Dongfang Haiwaii Hotel in Guangxi's Beihai city for a symposium on torture prevention, organizer Tan Chentao said. "Now they won't let us hold the conference there," Tan said. "The police here ... think that organizing such a conference here is too sensitive, and that it's at an especially sensitive time," Tan said, in an apparent reference to the recent criticism of Beijing's record by the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT). "As for how it's inappropriate or sensitive, they said that the topic is too political, although they didn't say anything specific about that," he said. Tan said the symposium had been called to discuss UNCAT's damning report following its review of China's record in Geneva last month. "Another topic was deaths in detention, including the rights and responsibilities of the relatives in such cases," he said. "We wanted to look at specific examples, including that of Zhang Liumao," Tan said, referring to the Nov. 4 death of a rights activist in the police-run Guangzhou No. 3 Detention Center, which his family said was likely caused by torture. Summoned by police Tan said the majority of those invited to the symposium had already been called in for "chats" by police. "I was called for a 'chat' as well, where they told me not to travel to Beihai," Tan said. "So I took the decision to cancel the conference." Guangxi-based rights activist Duan Qixian said the conference would have opened in Beihai on Saturday. "Ever since it was called off ... they have sent a lot of government officials there to check out some of the guests," Duan said. "I think they are worried that some of the lawyers may have already arrived." Repeated calls to the Dongfang Hawaii Hotel in Beijing rang unanswered on Friday. Zhang's sister Zhang Weichu, who has been a vocal critic of claims that her brother died of "natural causes," said she had originally planned to attend the conference, and then canceled, for fear of police harassment. "I never thought that so many professional lawyers could be forced into canceling it," Zhang Weichu said. Growing harassment Beijing-based rights lawyer Ge Yongxi said police are increasingly harassing defense attorneys who defend political detainees or those standing up for their rights. "This harassment of lawyers is illegal, and lacks awareness of human rights," Ge said. "It is out of keeping with the promise by the[ruling] Chinese Communist Party to use the rule of law to protect the professional rights of lawyers." "What problem could they possibly have with lawyers attending a conference to discuss defending clients? The government should be encouraging and protecting ... lawyers." Torture and other human rights violations are deeply entrenched in China's justice system, and Beijing should abolish inhuman treatment of detainees, free lawyers detained in a recent crackdown, and close down its "black jails," according to the United Nations. 'Deeply entrenched' The U.N. Committee Against Torture, which reviewed Beijing's record on torture and inhuman and degrading treatment last month, found that "the practice of torture and ill-treatment is still deeply entrenched in the criminal justice system" in China. It said Chinese police "wield excessive power during the criminal investigation without effective control," and are also involved in the running of detention centers, creating an incentive for torture in the pursuit of confessions to take place in detention. Beijing on Thursday rejected the report, calling it biased and "incorrect."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 7, 2015
- Event Description
Thailand's military government blocked an anti-corruption protest Monday, detaining about three dozen students and other activists who were headed to a park honoring past kings that was allegedly built with money from shady dealings involving several senior officers. The military's efforts to quash the protest included detaching the railway car on which the protesters were traveling to Rajabhakti Park, near the seaside town of Hua Hin, before taking them into custody. Officials abruptly announced that the park, on army land, was closed for the day for renovations. The detainees were all released by Monday night, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a group that has been monitoring the situation. Most but not all signed a memorandum of understanding, it said. It has become a standard procedure for detainees to be asked to sign a statement acknowledging their liability if they run afoul of the junta's protest regulations again. The case has become a major scandal in Thailand, largely because the junta that has run the country since staging a coup last year has vowed to reform the country's political system to stamp out corruption, which it blames on politicians. The affair has also attracted attention because the leaking of information casting suspicion about an army-led project is rare, leading to speculation that it may be linked to rifts within the junta, or an attempt to discredit it by other influential forces within Thai society. The military, which seized power in a May 2014 coup, has denied financial wrongdoing related to the park, built under its auspices and featuring giant statues of seven past Thai kings. It announced last month that its own investigation cleared its officers of any wrongdoing, but under public pressure agreed to launch a new probe. Two senior officers have been accused of wrongdoing, including kickbacks and the diversion of funds contributed to the project, which has been described as costing 1 billion baht (US$28 million). Recently retired army commander Gen. Udomdej Sitabutr, who is deputy defense minister and a member of the ruling junta, was head of the foundation overseeing the park's construction. It officially opened in late September. The New Democracy Movement, comprising mostly students, issued a statement after the detentions describing their planned protest as "a symbolic activity to inspect corruption" at the park. It said the authorities' action "shows that there is corruption in the construction of Rajabhakti Park. The more they try to block us from the truth, the more likely that there is corruption in the military junta." The group said 36 people had been detained, slightly more than initially reported by the authorities. Government spokesman Maj. Gen. Sansern Keawkamnerd accused the students of being misleading about their intentions, telling an interviewer from TV Channel 9 that "what this small group of students does is not about what they claim to do, checking government corruption, because that has to be done with documents not at the park, where there is nothing but hard ground and statues of past kings." He said it was a political activity and violated a law that bans public meetings of more than five people for political purposes. Sansern said he hoped the result of the new corruption investigation would be released before the new year, and vowed that anyone found to have committed wrongdoing would be prosecuted.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2016
- Event Description
Officials in Hong Kong have warned school-teachers in the former British colony that they could face being banned from classrooms if they advocate independence for the city. While Hong Kong was promised the continuation of existing freedoms of speech, publication and association under the terms of its 1997 handover to Beijing, its officials have recently moved to clamp down on signs of growing pro-independence sentiment in the wake of a failed democracy movement in 2014. "No pro-independence advocacy or activities should appear in schools," a spokesperson for the bureau told journalists, echoing recent comments from officials of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "If teachers advocate Hong Kong independence in schools, they should willing to shoulder the relevant responsibilities and bear the consequences," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by a number of local media outlets. Consequences could include warning or condemnation letters, or even the cancellation or rejection of the teachers' qualifications, the bureau warned, saying procedures are already established for reviewing the qualifications of teachers who break the law or are found guilty of misconduct. "We believe that teachers understand the importance of the Basic Law and the legal basis of the government in opposing independence," the bureau said. The warning comes after chief executive Leung Chun-ying called on Hong Kong's seven million residents to "safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Debate vs advocacy Teachers said the warning was unnecessary, as they have already been trained to know the difference between debating a topic in class, and advocating a political viewpoint. "I am very worried that this will give rise to a chilling effect, and that this warning is very close to[ideological] direction ... and that it will be on a list of banned topics," a teacher who gave only his surname Chan told RFA. "Nobody will dare to touch it at all," he said. Lawmaker and teachers' union chief Ip Kin-yuen, who represents the education sector in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo), said is is unclear whether merely discussing independence for Hong Kong is now banned from classrooms in the city. "If they are talking about advocating, and not merely discussing, independence as a topic, then we don't believe that is something that professional teachers should be doing anyway," Ip said. "But they made this warning sound very serious, particularly in terms of the consequences, that a lot of people are unlikely to try to make that distinction now," Ip said. "That's a really worry, looking at the bigger picture," he said. Wong Kwan-yu of the pro-establishment Academy of School Managers, which last week hit out at teachers and education groups for "promoting" the idea of separating Hong Kong from China, said teachers should engage in "debate" so as to give students guidance, however. "It's the job of a teacher to engage in debate ... and to remind students not to go astray," Wong said. "There would be no need to inform the Education Bureau in such cases." "Overall, this is a matter for the judgement of the teachers, and the students," he said. Independence support grows The warning to teachers comes after the banning of candidates in forthcoming LegCo elections who had previously expressed views considered to be pro-independence in the eyes of election officials, in spite of their having signed a pledge in support of China's sovereignty. Top lawyers have said there is no legal basis for excluding such candidates, and a judicial review is currently pending. A recent opinion survey showed that almost 40 percent of young people in Hong Kong favor independence for the city in 2047, when existing arrangements with China expire. Nearly two out of five people in the 15-24 age group said they want the city to go its own way when the "one country, two systems" policy, promised under the terms of the city's 1997 handover to China, ends. Across the whole age range, 17.4 percent said they favor independence post-2047, compared with 39.2 percent of the 15-24 age group. Hong Kong was promised a "high degree of autonomy" under the terms of its 1997 handover from Britain to China, but many fear the city's traditional freedoms may now be a thing of the past, as Beijing seeks to wield ever greater influence over the city's media, publishing, and political scene. Calls for independence were rare in the city until the failure of the 2014 pro-democracy movement to overturn a decree from Beijing insisting that all electoral candidates for chief executive in 2017 be vetted by China's supporters. Leaders of the 79-day civil disobedience movement rejected the Aug. 31, 2014 decree by the National People's Congress (NPC) as "fake universal suffrage." Three leaders of the 2014 pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong have been found guilty of public order charges linked to a mass sit-in that kicked off the 79-day Occupy Central campaign for fully democratic elections. Former student leaders Joshua Wong and Alex Chow, and legislative election candidate Nathan Law, were found guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly in connection with the start of the Occupy Central movement. All three had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment. Wong was sentenced to 80 hours' community service on Monday, while Law received a community service order of 120 hours. Chow was handed a three-week suspended jail sentence after the three occupied Civic Square outside government headquarters in September 2014, kickstarting the protests.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2015
- Event Description
Around 100 ethnic Phnong villagers held a protest Tuesday in support of five fellow residents questioned at a court in northeastern Cambodia's Kratie province over "illegal logging" amid a land dispute with a Vietnamese rubber company they say has encroached on their community forest. The villagers from 179 families living in Thmey commune, in Kratie's Borei district said the provincial court summoned the five as a "threat" to anyone brazen enough to challenge Vietnam's Doty Saigon-Binh Phouc, which they claim is destroying the forest they rely on for resources and religious purposes. Protester Set Seb told RFA's Khmer Service that her family had been unable to harvest fruits, vines and resin since Doty Saigon began clearing land early last year and said villagers could no longer earn a reasonable income from the forest. She called on the government to uphold villagers' rights to the land, so that they could continue to use the forest without cutting down its trees-in a sustainable manner according to their traditional customs. "They have been protesting to take back the land for collective property, not for private use," she said of the five villagers summoned by the court, adding that residents had also been unable to cultivate any rice due to drought, and were solely relying on the forest to meet their needs. After being questioned, the five were released by the court. Suos Vannak, an official with local rights group Adhoc, said his organization had provided legal defense to the five and dismissed allegations of illegal logging against them, saying there was no evidence to support the claims. Hum Ngor, one of the villagers questioned Tuesday, said the concession had affected his ethnic community's indigenous culture and customs. "We villagers dare to sacrifice lives to protect our forest because the forest is our lives," he said. In March 2007, the Council of Ministers approved in principle a 6,436-hectare (15,900-acre) concession to Doty Saigon, adjacent to the more than 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of forest land claimed by the Phnong villagers. Last year, authorities proposed marking off a tract measuring around 170 hectares (425 acres) for the villagers, which they have rejected. Since Doty Saigon began clearing land last year, local residents have become increasingly vocal about the forest and have even seized company tractors, though local authorities have refused to act on their behalf because a higher level of government had issued the rubber firm's land concession. Khmer Kampuchea Krom For Human Rights and Development Association program director Sann Chhumsokthun said Doty Saigon had likely filed a complaint with the court against the five villagers, who he said were "activists protecting the forest" from encroachment. He urged the government to do more to avoid causing disputes between developers and local communities. "Before the government grants licenses to companies, it should conduct environmental studies to prevent future protests," he said. Also on Tuesday, villagers and rights groups accused a company owned by timber magnate Try Pheap of encroaching on their land in Pursat province's Veal Veng district. Villager Chea Sayon told RFA he was shocked when he recently found members of the armed forces and employees of Try Pheap's company MDS Group planting mango trees on part of the 17 hectares (42 acres) he has owned and farmed since 2000. "They[the company] threatened that if I remove their trees they would have me arrested and bring me to court," he said. In addition to planting trees, the company has also been clearing parts of his and other villagers' land since 2010, after it was granted more than 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) to build a casino. MDS provincial director Kheang Sochivoan told RFA his company was implementing the government's orders and had provided about 400 hectares (990 acres) of land to local villagers. He said villagers who claim they own property in the area lack titles to support their claims and that the company would be unable to honor their demands to relinquish the land. Provincial spokesman Koeut Chhe said local authorities are working to resolve the dispute with 21 families living in the area, and were in the process of granting five of them with land titles. He said authorities had received six complaints from six additional families, but won't be able to address them until the disputes with the initial 21 families are resolved. "We have already received the complaints and are addressing them step by step," he said. Rights groups accuse Try Pheap of running a vast illegal logging operation across the country with the government's tacit consent. In February, the London-based environmental watchdog Global Witness said in a report that China's voracious demand for luxury furniture is driving a multimillion-dollar illegal trade in rosewood in Cambodia, supported by the tycoon, who controls a network that exports the timber.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Agricultural business
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 6, 2015
- Event Description
A prominent activist in Koh Kong province who has opposed the construction of the Stung Cheay Areng dam has been summonsed to court for alleged "forest crimes". The summons, issued by provincial court judge Min Makara last month, was handed to Ven Vorn on Sunday. The activist was charged with collecting forest products without permission and tampering with evidence. If found guilty, Vorn could face up to five years in prison. "If you do not appear[in court] on the aforementioned date, we will issue an arrest warrant," the summons reads. Vorn yesterday said he planned to attend the hearing, which was likely related to the construction of a community centre in the Areng Valley. "The authorities want to place false allegations against me because I am a representative of the community and protect the natural resources of the Areng," he said. Vorn was one of several activists and journalists detained last week while protesting the jailing of three activists from local NGO Mother Nature. In Kongchit, of local rights group Licadho, said the summons was intended to stifle further protests.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Sep 17, 2015
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: Prominent lawyer and activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has described the police's decision to investigate her for her involvement in organising the Bersih 4 rally in August, a "ridiculous" move on their part. Speaking to reporters in front of the Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters today where she was asked to present herself, the former Malaysian Bar president said that the police's attention should be focused on other more pressing matters instead. "To me this whole thing of calling up people for wearing T-shirts, the Bersih 4 T-shirts, is really quite ridiculous given the other issues that are plaguing the nation at this point. She added that she will be filing for a review of the gazette under the Printing Press and Publications Act (PPA) 1984 that was used to declare the Bersih 4 yellow T-shirts illegal. "I can say this, I will be challenging that gazette notification, I will be talking to my lawyers about it to put an end to this nonsense," she said. PKR's Elizabeth Wong and former Kapar MP S Manikavasagam were also called in by the police for questioning. They too were being represented by lawyer Latheefa Koya, who said that the trio were being investigated under Section 8 of the PPA. Last week, Ambiga questioned the police's decision to declare Bersih 4 illegal, saying she was "not convinced" that the police had the right to do such a thing. "Do they actually have the power to declare something illegal? I'm not sure that they can. If they want to go around declaring anything illegal, I want to know what law is being breached," Ambiga said at a forum last week.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to information, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai authorities contacted a family of an anti-junta activist in northern Thailand after his activist group urged the junta to step down when the 2015 charter draft was rejected. Pongnarin Nonkam, a member of New Democracy Movement (NDM), a well known anti-junta activist group, who is a law student from Ramkhamhaeng University, told Prachatai that on Monday afternoon, 7 September 2015, the Thai authorities contacted his parents and asked about his and his family's personal details. He mentioned that the District Chief of Pan District of the northern province of Chiang Rai contacted his family through a local village chief, asking his parents about his activities. "The officer asked my parents about my activities and told my parents that they should have stopped me from participating in anti-junta events," said Pongnarin. "I and my family felt uncomfortable and pressured, but we are getting more familiar with these measures for it is not the first time." He added that he also received a phone call from a police officer which he recognised, but he did not pick up the phone. The pro-democracy student activist reported that in March 2015 the officers from the Special Branch Police (SBP), a police unit which is responsible for maintaining public order, came to visit his family once. On Sunday, 6 September 2015, Pongnarin represented the NDM at the group's press briefing at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, Bangkok, which was held after the National Reform Council (NRC) rejected the 2015 constitution draft. He stated during the briefing that since the beginning from the process of drafting the charter until the NRC's vote to reject the draft on Sunday, the junta was only putting up a show to convince people that it maintains the rule of law, but the regime's intention is only to maintain power. "[We] don't accept the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) attempt to maintain its power and urge the NCPO to show its responsibility for failing to govern the country in every dimensions. Otherwise, the NDM will continue to struggle against the regime," Pongnarin read the group's statement on Sunday. Since the 2014 Coup d'_tat, many pro-democracy activists, academics, and politicians have been summoned are repeatedly and contacted by the Thai authorities. In March 2015, in a bid to stop the political activities of student activists most of whom are members of the NDM, military officers intimidated 17 student activists by paying visits to their homes, dorms, and parent's homes.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2015
- Event Description
One of the five Chinese feminists detained for planning an anti-sexual harassment campaign and since released on "bail" said on Tuesday that the authorities in Beijing are trying to make her homeless, as the government continues its months-long crackdown on nongovernment groups. As Chinese President Xi Jinping began a state visit to the United States amid a volley of calls for the release of jailed critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, Li Tingting issued her own statement calling on the authorities to leave her alone. "My landlord told me recently that they received a phone call from the residential committee and a police officer surnamed Guo telling them to evict me from the apartment I am living in," Li wrote. "They said my case involved matters of state security." Li, Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting, Wang Man, and Zheng Churan were released "on bail" in April after being detained on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" on March 6, two days ahead of International Women's Day. The five women, whose detention prompted an international outcry, are still officially regarded as criminal suspects, and have written to the United Nations protesting police restrictions on their movements and calling for the charges against them to be dropped. "I don't know why the police are still concerning themselves with me even now. Allll I do is campaign for gender equality and the rights of women, and sometimes work for the interests of minority groups," Li wrote. "What does[this] work have to do with state security?" she added. "Are they trying to make sure I have nowhere to live?" 'Taking action' Li told RFA in a later interview she believes the police have to be seen to be "taking action" against dissidents during Xi's trip to the U.S. "The state security police are usually pretty civilized, and they don't usually use threats or things like that," Li said. "It's a matter of eating a meal with them, or drinking tea." "But I think they have got a bit worried with Xi Jinping's trip to the U.S., and they are maybe worried that I'll try to organize some kind of action," she said. "They have made an appointment to eat dinner with me on Sept. 25," she added. "I think it's a question of orders coming down from on high." Fellow activist Wu Rongrong said the move shows how nervous the police are at this time. "I think that this shows just how terrified they are," Wu said. "At least[Li's] landlord has behaved very well, and won't refuse to rent the apartment to her as a result of this." Many groups harassed According to the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network, which collates reports from rights groups inside China, the move is the latest in a series of moves by the authorities targeting nongovernment groups working on disability and health rights, women's and LGBT rights, and other anti-discrimination issues. "Several staff members of these organizations have been detained and are facing imminent trial," the group said in a statement released at the start of Xi's trip. It said others, like the five feminists, still face criminal charges after being released on bail. The group said it has documented more than 1,800 cases of arbitrary detention and torture of human rights defenders since Xi took over the presidency in March 2013. Continuing obstacles for women China's communist government has promoted gender equality, at least in theory, since it came to power in 1949, when it garnered broad popular support over its policies on educating women and ending repressive practices like foot-binding and forced marriage. But campaigners say the reality today is very different, and that Chinese women now face habitual workplace discrimination, harassment, and domestic violence. When Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women 20 years ago, the conference laid down a long-term program of improvements to the rights and opportunities offered to women and girls around the world, with requirements for governments to report back to the United Nations on the changes. The Beijing Declaration pledged to "ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all women and girls."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Women's rights
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2015
- Event Description
URGENT APPEAL Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) writes to inform you about the harassment of Shirley Lape, farmer beneficiary under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and member of Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Barangay Tala at Camflora in Sitio Cabulihan, Barangay Tala, San Andres, Quezon. CASE DETAILS: On August 13, 2015, Shirley Lape, an agrarian reform beneficiary, active member and farmer - leader of Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Barangay Tala at Camflora, and resident of Sitio Cabulihan, Barangay Tala, San Andres, Quezon, was preparing breakfast when Edwin Ausa arrived. Ausa claims that he is the owner of the land that Lape grows and harvests copra from. Ausa shouted at Lape and asked her why she is not giving him a portion of her income. Lape asked him why she needed to give him a portion of her income when the land is considered as timberland. Ausa asserted that he owns the land, but Lape countered him. Ausa then threatened her and said that she might suffer the same fate as Elisa Tulid's if she refused to pay him. Ausa even added that if Lape did not do what was asked of her, Ausa himself would take away their share of coconuts. On 1999, Lape filed for possession of land in DENR, until the present, Lape and other farmers are still fighting for their claim. Sometime on October 2013, a week after the killing of Elisa Tulid, Lape with Nelson Fuentes and a certain Severino was also allegedly harassed and threatened by the same Edwin Ausa. Ausa's alleged threat was in relation to the killing of Elisa Tulid on October 19, 2013 that was the result of an ongoing land dispute in the said area. Like Lape, Tulid was an active member of Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Barangay Tala at Camflora, and was one of those who actively spoke in defense of the residents' and farmers' claim to the land. She was shot multiple times and killed on the spot in front of her husband and then four year old daughter. There is a persistent agrarian conflict in Bondoc Peninsula where San Andres, Quezon is located, where almost 80 percent of households depend on subsistence farming mainly banana and coconut mono cropping as well as fishing. Domingo Reyes, one of the main landholders in Bondoc Peninsula currently owns 12,000-16,000 hectares of land in three municipalities. Farmers have been in a 60-40 contract with the Reyes, with 60% of total harvest going to Reyes, while the 40% goes to the tenants, who also have to cover the production expenses. In 2004, farmers and tenants finally petitioned the government for coverage under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The farmers working on Reyes' lands started boycotting the 60-40 agreement share after they learned from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that portion of the lands claimed by Reyes are declared public and certified timberland. It has been alleged by some testimonies that Edwin Ausa and Rannie Bugnot are supporters of Reyes' clan and have been trying to instill fear in the communities to prevent them from claiming their land rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Event Description
URGENT APPEAL CASE DETAILS: Rolando Martinez is the incumbent Barangay Captain of Barangay Sumalo, Hermosa, Bataan. Since 2009, Martinez has been leading the fight against Riverforest Development Corporation whose personnel have allegedly been harassing residents and farmers in relation to the Litton Estate land dispute. Martinez has been helping the residents of his barangay, particularly on legal matters, both as a barangay captain and as a farmer and resident himself. Martinez has also been the target of harassments. In 2010 and again in 2013, trumped-up charges were filed against him: grave threat, two counts of grave coercion, grave misconduct, falsification, damages, ejectment, injunction, reinvigatoria, and estafa. Martinez has also received threats to his life which started also in 2009 at the height of the land dispute. He frequently received ambiguous text messages sent from different numbers. He was also visited a couple of times by an unidentified who was said to have been the Litton family's hired assassin. (This alleged hired assassin was ambushed and killed on the same year). Just recently around August (cannot remember exact date), while Martinez was travelling to Quezon City from Hermosa, Bataan to follow up the complaints they filed at the Commission of Human Rights (CHR), he noticed that at least two men were following him. Martinez took the Genesis bus to the SM North jeepney terminal where the men also alighted. He was also surprised when the men followed him to the restroom and stood by the door. When Martinez came out of the restroom, the men followed him until Philcoa, riding the same jeep. Martinez decided to cancel his trip to CHR and just returned home to Hermosa, Bataan. CASE BACKGROUND: �_ According to the members of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Barangay Sumalo (SANAMABASU), they have been experiencing harassment from the Litton Family since 1991 when the Littons decided to withdraw their Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS) and opted to apply for conversion of the land to industrial, commercial and residential use. �_ The farmers are the supposed beneficiaries of the land through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). �_ Rolando Martinez is a member of SANAMABASU, a resident and also a farmer of Sumalo, Hermosa Bataan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Nov 17, 2015
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: Political activist Bad Latif Mansor was questioned by the police today for bringing his teen daughter to the Bersih 4 rally two months ago. Lawyer Michelle Yesudas told reporters that this was the second time the daughter, 14, was being questioned. Last month she was questioned with her mother, activist Nashita Md Noor, under the same Section 4 (2) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) for bringing a minor to the rally. Michelle said the continued investigations were a form of harassment as the Federal Constitution and international convention ruled that freedom of assembly was a guaranteed right of each citizen. "I think the mother and daughter have already been questioned and now it is the father's turn. So what is happening here? "Now we know that this family has been harassed to give a statement and asked to go to the police station to explain their presence at Bersih. "The PAA states that every Malaysian has a constitutional right to assemble peacefully so why are they being harassed?" she told reporters in front of the Dang Wangi police district headquarters today. Other than Bad and Nashita's family, the teenage son of Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali was also called to give his statement on his presence at the rally that was held in August this year. Bad told reporters that the police posed funny questions such as "Are you training your child to join the rally? It's like I'm involved in terrorism," he chuckled. "From the questions, it looks like the police are trying to create fear in us and the Malaysian people from attending peaceful rallies such as Bersih," he added. Meanwhile, Bersih representative Hishamuddin Rais said the coalition would stand by Bad's family as they were upholding the principles of democracy. "Bersih is of the opinion that the police should stop these public threats and intimidation to prevent them (the people) from attending peaceful rallies including charging their representatives. "The government is supposed to celebrate the fact that the young are politically aware of the happenings in the country," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to information, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Nov 8, 2015
- Event Description
Police have summoned Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali's teenage son to give a statement over his attendance at the Bersih 4 rally in August. The MB, who is also PKR deputy president, attended the Kuala Lumpur rally with his family. "Police instructed my son to present himself to the Dang Wangi district headquarters at 10am tomorrow, even though he has to sit his final examinations. "This oppression of a 15-year-old boy will only prompt him to rise against Umno's misdeeds. "I am grateful that my son Basheer is a brave boy," he said on Twitter. He later told Bernama that his son will be sitting his examinations and will give a statement to police at a later date. Azmin is under investigation for bringing a child to a demonstration, under the Peaceful Assembly Act. Bersih 4 organisers Maria Chin Abdullah and Jannie Lasimbang have been charged under the same Act for not giving due notice to police. The Aug 29 and 30 Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur was attended by more than 150,000 people. Among others, it was to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak amid corruption allegations. Najib denies any wrongdoing
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to information, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Nov 11, 2015
- Event Description
The Thai authorities have summoned to a police station an academic who urged the junta not to intervene in academic freedom. According to Midnight University, a virtual university for free public education, police from Chang Puak Police Station in northern Chiang Mai Province issued a summons for Attachak Sattayanurak, a history lecturer from Chiang Mai University. The summons, issued on 11 November 2015, was sent Kongkrit Triyawong, a philosophy lecturer of Silpakorn University. It summons Attachak and several other academics to report to Chang Puak Police Station at 9 am on 24 November 2015. The letter states that Attachak and other fellow academics participated in a political gathering which violated the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 7/2014, which bans any political gathering of five or more persons. If found guilty, Attachak and the other academics could be jailed for up to one year and fined up to 20,000 baht. Attachak said that the summons was issued in relation to a joint statement of a network of academics countrywide, which he read out in a public lecture hall on 31 October 2015. The statement urges the Thai junta not to intervene in academic freedom, saying that "universities are not military camps'. Military prosecutors filed a complaint to the police against the academics involved in the event, said Attachak. He told the media that from what the police told him, a summons will be issued for eight academics in total, including him, adding that the philosophy lecturer Kongkrit was not involved and was not even in Chiang Mai on 31 October. The academic told Prachatai that he is not worried about the summons. "I'm not worried. I have my duty to speak and express my thoughts to society and will continue to do so. Actually, I already made it clear to high ranking military officers in Chiang Mai that[they] can't just prohibit us from doing anything. We are academics and have to say what we think." He added "I'm defending every university. They are not military camps where they can order people to turn left and right. Otherwise, we might have to change the name to Chiang Mai[Military] Camp University." Attachak told Prachatai that after the 2014 coup d'_tat, military and police officers came to his house while he was on a fellowship programme in Japan. When he came back, the officers came to have discussions with him several times at the university. On 27 October 2015, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, announced that he will order the Ministry of Education to adjust school curricula in in order to prevent conflicts and anti-junta sentiments.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- Nov 14, 2015
- Event Description
SEOUL--South Korea's leading Buddhist organization said Thursday it was willing to negotiate with authorities over the fate of a wanted labor activist who took sanctuary in one of its temples last weekend. Han Sang-gyun - the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions - sought sanctuary in the Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul following a massive anti-government demonstration on Saturday. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Han, saying he incited violence during the protest that saw numerous clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Han asked the monks to mediate with the government, and on Thursday a leading member of the Jogye Order, the Venerable Do-Bup, told reporters that they would do so. "We have decided to serve the guest who came to our home, despite some inconveniences," he said. South Korean religious venues have a long history of providing refuge for political activists, most notably in the 1980s when many young pro-democracy activists who were on the run from police sought sanctuary in Catholic churches. Although there is no legal reason preventing police entering such venues, they have traditionally opted not to do so for fear of triggering a public backlash. In 2013, the then Korail Union vice president Park Tae-man and three of his colleagues also took refuge in the Jogye temple - staying there for 20 days before voluntarily surrendering to police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Labour rights, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
[China Post](http://China Post
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jul 8, 2016
- Event Description
A leading Christian human rights lawyer in Pakistan has gone into hiding after receiving death threats because of the help he has given to victims of the country's blasphemy laws and other abuses. Sardar Mushtaq Gill was worried in particular about the risks to his family caused by his work for the persecuted and oppressed minorities of Pakistan, Christians in Pakistan reports. He has sought safety as the trial approaches in the case of the notorious brick kiln murders, when a couple were burned alive in a kiln after being accused of blasphemy. Gill had been working to protect and secure the future of the heirs of the couple, Shahzad Masih, aged 32, and his wife Shama, aged 30. They were accused of blasphemy, had their legs broken and were burned alive two years ago after they asked the kiln owner to pay some money they were owed. Gill, director of the Legal Evangelical Association Development, has handed the kiln case to the Farrukh Saif Foundation, which helps victims of discrimination in Pakistan. Gill repeatedly requested protection from the authorities but fled after none was forthcoming. According to a report on the association's website, Gill "was striving for justice for the legal heirs of Christian couple who was burned alive after a false allegation of blasphemy". The statement continues: "Mr Gill at high risk, he was forced into hiding after getting life threats and physical attacks. He has also earlier expressed serious concern for his and his family safety after threats were issued by both militants and extremists groups and the individual criminals; despite seeking protection from the authorities his call for security has been ignored." The legal heirs of Shahzad and Shama have also filed an application for protection in the Anti-Terrorism Court II Lahore after receiving threats. The human rights activist Peter Tatchell has called on the UK government to make aid to Pakistan dependent on an improvement in the country's treatment of its minorities. Referring to the latest report from the British Pakistani Christian Organisation, he said: "The government of Pakistan has announced plans to force Islam on young people by making Koranic study compulsory for all school and college students, which is contrary to the country's constitution and the Islamic precept that there should be no compulsion in religion. This is the latest escalation of the country's bias against Christians, other minority faiths and non-believers." He added: "Pakistani Christians, including children, are at risk of kidnapping, forced marriage and forced religious conversion to Islam. Some are also victims of blasphemy charges, which carry the death penalty. There are regular violent assaults on Christian families, homes, shops and churches. "The British government should make overseas aid to Pakistan conditional on Islamabad's protection of the human rights of Christians and other minorities. If Pakistan's rulers do not comply, the UK should switch aid from the government to NGOs that do not discriminate."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist, Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Dec 24, 2015
- Event Description
Between 24 December 2015 and 2 January 2016, the human rights defender Mr Tran Minh Nhat and his family members were subjected to several acts of harassment. They suffered the destruction of their crops, break-ins at their properties, deliberate damage to their irrigation equipment, and the stoning of their homes. Tran Minh Nhat is a human rights defender involved in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights in Vietnam. He is also a reporter for Vietnam Redemptorist News. On 28 August 2015, he was released having served four years' imprisonment for "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration". On 2 January 2016, at approximately 10.30pm, the family home of Tran Minh Nhat was stoned by unknown individuals. On 1 January 2016, an older brother of the human rights defender discovered that a large number of pepper vines on his property in Lam Ha had been chemically poisoned. On 26 December 2015, the property of Tran Minh Nhat himself was broken into, and a large number of pepper vines were chemically poisoned. On 24 December 2016, a second brother of Tran Minh Nhat informed him that a large number of coffee plants and avocado trees had been chopped down on his property in Lam Ha, and that irrigation pipes on the property had been destroyed. These acts of intimidation and harassment of Tran Minh Nhat and his family, which are alleged to have been perpetrated by individuals hired by the Vietnamese police, may signify the employment of a new tactic in the attempt to dissuade the human rights defender from the continuance of his legitimate human rights work. Previously, on 8 November 2015, the human rights defender was arrested alongside fellow human rights defender Mr Chu Manh Son, and detained by police. During their detention, Tran Minh Nhat was accused of acts of subversion, and both human rights defenders were physically assaulted. Front Line Defenders expresses grave concern for these most recent attempts to impede Tran Minh Nhat in the carrying out of his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities, and voices particular concern for the physical and psychological safety of his family members, in light of the expansion of the harassment of the human rights defender to include intimidation of them.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police, Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
Viet Tan )
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2015
- Event Description
Maharashtra government has deciced to accord Z-plus security to social activist Anna Hazare as he has recived a threat letter. A police complaint has also been filed. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today cleared the proposal put up by the scrutiny committee, which recommends security cover to the person who is under a threat perception. "The letter mentions name of one Mahadeo Panchal from Latur district and was posted from Osmanabad," said Hazare's aid Datta Awari. Ten days ago Hazare received another threat letter which stated that he would be "bumped off" if he does not dissociate himself from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. A case was registered under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation) at Parner police station in Ahmednagar district, a police official from Parner had said. "The letter was dated August 7 and is mostly written in English," the official said. The letter warned Hazare that he will meet the fate of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, who was killed in Pune two years back. The letter also asked the Gandhian to stay put in his native Ralegan Siddhi village, police said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Sep 10, 2015
- Event Description
The attack on award-winning transgender activist Nisha Ayub last week, was a reminder of dangers faced by the LGBT community in Malaysia, human rights group Suaram said. Nisha was assaulted by two men unknown to her on her way to work last Thursday, sustaining injuries to her ankle and leg. "In such dark times where some quarters think such acts as acceptable, we must stand in solidarity with our friends and stand fast against such act of violence. "We implore the police force to take swift action against the perpetrators and ensure that those who plot to commit such deplorable acts be dealt with according to the law without any favours or discrimination," Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy. Sevan said the LGBT community must have equal rights and protection under the law, regardless of claims otherwise by Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz (photo). Nazri, who was former minister in charge of law, last week said the LGBT community will not be able to lead their lives as they see fit in Malaysia "because it is not allowed in Islam". "Unless the minister wishes to be perceived as supporting such deplorable acts in Malaysia, we would advise the minister to retract his stance on the matter," Sevan said. It won't stop me In a Facebook posting, Nisha (photo) said the attack on Thursday was the first she had faced. She said the attackers fled after her mother, who saw it through a window at their home started screaming. "I ran to the left and shouted for help. Everyone came. A Malay auntie came and hugged me, bringing me to the lift. When I reached my floor, I fainted. "Thank God all the neighbours came and helped me. Another auntie hugged me and brought me to their house," she said. A police report has been lodged, she said in the posting on Thursday. The recipient of the Human Rights Watch Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism said while she has assisted in cases of violence before, experiencing it herself has made her "paranoid about things that are actually normal". "All I can say is time will heal me...You can put me in jail, you can hurt me, you can even kill me but it will never take away my identity as a transgender woman. "My work as an advocated will never stop until my last breath," she wrote in a posting today.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, SOGI rights
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 20, 2016
- Event Description
Indigenous political leader and human rights defender Soni Sori, who has spoken out against the brutalization of tribal people by security forces in Bastar district in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh, was attacked by unidentified men on February 20. The assailants rubbed oil paint possibly mixed with chemicals on her face, which blackened her skin and caused a burning sensation, sparking initial reports that she had been the victim of an acid attack. Sori had received death threats prior to the attack. As news of the violence against her spread, many condemned it on social media, speaking out in support of Sori. Rama Lakshmi, India social media editor for the newspaper The Washington Post, tweeted: "Acid attack on Soni Sori -- silencing an inconvenient woman who speaks inconvenient truths about incredible India." Activist and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni pushed authorities to act: "I strongly condemn the attack on tribal activist and Aam Admi Party leader #SoniSori. #Chhattisgarh Govt must nab and punish the culprits." Ashutosh, a spokesman for the Aam Aadmi political party to which Sori belongs, wrote: "Attack on Soni Sori is another attempt to muzzle the voice of dissent.1 might disagree with one's views but this is no way to deal with." A "prisoner of conscience' India, the largest democracy in the world, has within itself spaces that are neither democratic nor free. Bastar is one such place. In an effort to tackle a Maoist insurgency, special police officers were deployed in 2005 by the state of Chattisgarh's government with backing from the Indian home ministry. Before being declared illegal by the Supreme Court of India in 2011, these special police officers, comprised largely of uneducated youth, perpetrated violence against tribal people of the region on mere suspicions that they could have links with Maoist militants. Tribal people endured human rights violations such as unlawful arrest, violence, rape and even death at the hands of the special police officers, and later other authorities in Bastar. In a blog post published in 2009, before the Surpreme Court ruled that special police officers were illegal, Umar Khalid explained: Hundreds of villages have been evacuated in Chattisgarh alone and the mainstream media[barring a few exceptions] never found time to document it. Women of Chattisgarh are alleging rape by Salwa Judum[special police officers] men, but the courts in India refuse to listen.[...] And precisely when the people retaliate on these forces, these mercenaries become national heroes overnight for the government. Soni Sori has been a vocal activist against the atrocities in the region. In 2011, she was taken into custody on accusations that she was helping Maoists operating in the area. She remained in jail for more than two years before being released in 2014 on bail; six out of the eight cases against her were dropped, but it's unclear what became of the final two. She said while behind bars at the Raipur Central Jail, she was raped and sexually abused, revealing through letters that stones were rammed into her genitals and she was subjected to frequent electric shocks. Amnesty International described her as a "prisoner of conscience", saying that the charges brought against Sori and her nephew Lingaram Kodopi were filed in retaliation for the fearlessness they exhibited in speaking out against human rights violations regularly faced by tribal people living in areas considered by the Chattisgarh state and security forces as Maoist strongholds. Sori's husband, Anil Futane, was first among the three to be arrested on charges of masterminding an attack on a local leader of the Indian National Congress political party; he spent nearly three years in jail before being acquitted of all charges. He died shortly after being released from jail. "Anger gives me courage to fight on' Sori's story has largely been ignored by the India's and the world's mainstream media, both of which often fail to reach out to India's rural poor. Facebook user Rahul Sen ruminated on the possibility of the attack against Sori never making national headlines like the recent arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges over supposedly anti-India slogans shouted at a campus rally. He wrote on Facebook (reposted with permission): Soni Sori was also an anti-national in the eyes of the state, seditious beyond the limits of common sense. And, hence, the inflicted tortures - the stone chips and pebbles that tore into her vagina and anal space - were beyond the purview of the sensible. Yet, she would not occupy all of the front-page of "The Telegraph' or let's say, even deserve a mention in most of our newsfeeds and Facebook posts. Except when we are "speaking for' the oppressed; or theorizing on the state's duplicity; or even better, critiquing the critics for not taking her seriously, as I am doing through this post. She lives in this absence, through each passing reference; a very deliberate absenting of a life whose survival in itself is political. Not all lives are grievable, not all anti-nationals affect us universally. Even though Sori's attack hasn't become a trending topic on either Facebook or Twitter, people who are aware of her struggle have come together to support her in the fact of violence. India Resists, a citizen media platform, started a petition condemning the attack and demanding prompt action against the culprits. Sori has since been moved from Chattisgarh to Delhi for treatment. In an interview a few months before the attack, Sori spoke about her prolonged determined struggle against violence and injustice. I have gone through a lot. I was tortured, electrocuted. My body has gone through lots of suffering. I lost my husband to the hands of injustice. When I think of those days, I do get angry. And this anger consumes all the fear I have ever had. This anger gives me courage to fight on. I see myself getting involved in other people's struggle. I do not know if I can get them justice, but I will make sure their stories of suffering will be heard outside. Their stories will be spread. And that is my aim. The recent attack against her speaks to the fact that she is having to pay dearly for a struggle far more universal than it may at first seem: the struggle for freedom from state-sponsored violence.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jul 24, 2016
- Event Description
A prominent Pakistani journalist investigating the alleged murder of a British woman in an "honour killing" says he has received death threats. Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was strangled to death while visiting her family in northern Punjab last month. Her husband, Mukhtar Syed Kazam, said he believed his wife was killed because her family disapproved of their marriage. Shahid's first husband, Mohammad Shakeel, her father, Mohammad, and another cousin who are suspected of her murder are all on the run, according to Pakistani police. It is alleged that Shahid, 28, had been tricked into travelling to Pakistan in July and killed for divorcing her first husband and remarrying against the wishes of her family. The stories you need to read, in one handy email Read more The case, which has been highlighted by the Bradford West MP Naz Shah, has become a priority for Pakistan after the country's interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, announced that he had ordered a rapid investigation. The Guardian has learned that a journalist in Pakistan, who has been investigating Shahid's death, has made a formal complaint to police after allegedly receiving death threats from a British man. Raja Waqar said he received five disturbing phone calls in which he was told he would be killed and his children would also be harmed if he continued to pursue information about Shahid's murder. During the phone calls, the longest of which is said to have lasted eight minutes, Waqar said he was told: "If you carry on doing this I'm going to kill you and your children." Waqar, who works for the AAJ TV station in Karachi, says he began receiving calls from a British mobile phone number on 24 July. The calls, from a man who only identified himself as Ali, continued for two days and became increasingly disturbing, he said. Speaking from Pakistan, Waqar said: "When I started covering this story I started receiving threats from a man called Ali. He was ringing on an English mobile number. "He asked me why I was covering the story and I told him that as a journalist in the area for the past 15 years, it was my duty to cover the story and that I had smelled that this was not a natural death. "He told me to drop the story and when I refused he said he was going to kill me and my children." Waqar was told by his bureau chief at the TV station to contact the police and filed a complaint in writing. He said: "This was my assignment and I was not going to allow him to threaten me. But after he kept calling and telling me to stop I had to call the police. He told me to leave it because Samia was not my sister but it was very clear to me that she had been murdered- I have no doubt about it." A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "We are aware of a report of a Pakistan-based journalist who has allegedly been receiving threats. They have reported this matter to the Pakistani police." He added: "West Yorkshire police is currently reviewing all previous contact with Samia Shahid, including any alleged criminal offences and the action taken as a result. Her death remains a matter for the Pakistani authorities and we are continuing to liaise with them and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office." Shahid returned to Bradford from Dubai, where she had been living with Kazam, her second husband, last September to try to build bridges with her family. She asked a female police officer to chaperone her to the family home in Manningham, Bradford, after allegedly being harassed by one of her relatives who wanted her to return to her first marriage. West Yorkshire police confirmed that a man received a harassment warning following the meeting but the force declined to identify the offender. Shahid's friends in Bradford said the beauty therapist was not frightened for her life but was increasingly stressed about what some relatives were telling her mother and father. "I could tell from her Snapchats that she was really affected by her relatives saying stuff to her family, her parents," one friend said. "She was saying "People can't keep their nose out of things'." She added: "She wasn't a scared person. It would take a lot for her to fear stuff. She felt, "Why are they doing stuff like that?' but I don't think she was scared because she is a strong person in her character. "She was just stressed for her family - she didn't want her parents to be stressed out because of what her relatives were doing. That was her main concern[rather] than being scared for herself." Shahid's family in Bradford claimed she had died from natural causes on 20 July and police initially said there were no visible injuries on her body. However, police last week launched a murder investigation after a forensic examination found she had died from asphyxiation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 2, 2016
- Event Description
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan are clamping down on spontaneous public protests after several days of heavy smog hit the provincial capital, Chengdu. Schools have slapped a ban on face-masks in the classroom, while the ruling Chinese Communist Party's propaganda machine has issued strict guidelines on coverage of the pollution protests. And online activist Liu Ermu was detained after he penned an article protesting the government's response to air pollution in China. "I hope that soldiers and armed police will think about the fact that the people whose interests they protect have sent their families to live overseas, while their own wives and children have to breathe in this smog," the article said. "They should shake off the[mental] fog that surrounds them and act to protect their families' interests," it said. Liu's wife said he still hadn't returned by Tuesday afternoon, local time. But she declined to give an interview. "I don't want the foreign media involved," she said, before hanging up. A source close to Liu said he had been detained by officers from the Puyang police station in Chengdu's Wuhou district. "It's to do with the article he wrote about military police wearing face-masks," the source said. "The article was posted the day before yesterday ... He has been writing a lot of very cutting articles that really hit their mark." A journalist surnamed Wen said Liu is likely still being questioned inside the same police station. "It was to do with an article he wrote about the smog a couple of days ago," Wen said. An employee who answered the phone at the Puyang police station on Tuesday hung up when contacted by RFA. Students warned Meanwhile, screenshots of text messages sent out to students at Chengdu's Jiaxiang Foreign Languages School warned students not to take part in any protest activities. "Please do not believe in rumors, and do not spread them," the text message, sent on Monday, said. "You must put your trust in the government to carry out anti-pollution work." "No teachers or students in our school will wear face-masks, without exception," the message said. An employee who answered the phone at the Jiaxiang school denied that students were being forced not to wear masks, but declined to comment further on Monday. The Sichuan provincial propaganda office also issued a set of censorship instructions to the media, imposing a "unified" message on all coverage of the smog ahead of an official press conference. "Journalists invited to take part should submit scripts to the Chengdu environmental protection bureau for checking," the press conference communique, a copy of which was posted on the China Digital Times website, said. "Drafts are subject to approval and should not be rushed to publication, while headlines that encourage to speculation or negative reactions should be avoided," it said. It said all media outlets, including individual social media accounts, should only use official reports from the local government. "Do not carry out independent reporting or take photos or video," it said. Online activist Xiucai Jianghu said the government's actions are part of a coordinated "stability maintenance" strategy. "It's really draconian to ban students from wearing face-masks, but these arbitrary school rules are a response to the smog," he said. "The education minister has called for ideology to enter the classroom, and for any negative news to be excluded from it," he said. "They mustn't say anything negative about the government." Sporadic protests The clampdown follows sporadic protests, on and offline, last week that included the placing of face-masks on sculptures in downtown Chengdu, after which police threw a security cordon around the city's central Tianfu Square. Authorities in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Friday deployed riot police to clamp down on spontaneous anti-smog protests in the provincial capital, Chengdu. Chengdu residents, unused to the toxic brown haze that regularly engulfs more northern cities like Beijing, were quick to complain about the smog that engulfed their city. Police have also warned local businesses to report anyone buying bulk orders of face-masks. "You have to register[with ID] now even if you are just buying a face-mask," a local journalist surnamed Huang told RFA. "They're afraid people will use them to incite unrest." He said the authorities are more concerned about maintaining their grip on power than with the long-term health of Chinese people. "They won't allow anyone to form a unified public opinion ... They are terrified that environmental issues will become the basis for a popular movement," Huang said. "So the more public pressure they get on the environment, the more they'll suppress it, and pretend it isn't happening," he said. 'Ridiculous approach' Xiucai Jianghu said the government's approach is "ridiculous," however, and accused officials of seeking to cover up their own mistakes. "The smog is the disaster; it is fundamentally negative," he said. "How can you report smog in a positive light?" "Are we supposed to love the smog? Be proud of it? They think they can make it go away by not letting people talk about it." Police on Sunday briefly detained eight mask-wearing protesters for questioning, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The demonstrators were artists staging a brief sit-in after a mass protest planned for the weekend was scuppered by police, the paper said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to information, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Media Worker, Student
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Timor Leste
- Initial Date
- Jan 22, 2016
- Event Description
HARASSED FOR ORGANIZING PEACEFUL RALLY Two members of Timor-Leste's security forces visited the office of the human rights NGO Yayasan HAK on 26 January and the police has been harassing its Executive Director by telephone for organizing and participating in a peaceful demonstration. Manuel Monteiro Fernandes, Executive Director of the human rights NGO Yayasan HAK based in Dili, Timor Leste, has informed Amnesty International that the police has been calling him repeatedly regarding the NGO's involvement in organizing a peaceful demonstration to coincide with the President of Indonesia's visit to Timor-Leste on 26 January. His safety is at risk. On the day of the demonstration, two members of the Timor-Leste Defence Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-Leste, F-FDTL) visited the Yayasan HAK office and requested to use the space as a security base due to its proximity to the Indonesian Embassy in Dili. Manuel Monteiro Fernandes refused to allow them to use their office. One of the soldiers then approached another member of the staff, Adelio da Costa Fernandes and requested that he immediately remove his t-shirt because it carried the slogan "Free West Papua", which refers to a political issue that is considered as highly sensitive by the Indonesian government. Yayasan HAK announced in a joint public statement on 25 January, together with other local NGOs, that the peaceful demonstration was organised to urge the Timorese and Indonesian governments to address crimes against humanity committed during the Indonesian occupation between 1975 and 1999. They also called for the immediate implementation of recommendations set out by the Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF), a bilateral agreement between the government of Indonesia and the government of Timor-Leste to investigate crimes committed during the 1999 independence referendum, including the establishment of a Commission for Missing People. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Yayasan HAK is a non-governmental organisation based in Dili, Timor-Leste focusing on promoting and protecting human rights in civil society and state institutions. Yayasan HAK was established in August 1996 by Timorese and Indonesian activists to monitor human rights, provide human rights education, legal support and advocacy across thirteen districts in Timor-Leste. Under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, it is the duty of the State to create the conditions necessary to defend human rights within their jurisdictions and specifically "to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration." Rights and protections accorded to human rights defenders include the right to meet or assemble peacefully. The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution of Timor-Leste (Freedom to Assemble and Demonstrate) which stipulates that: "Everyone is guaranteed the freedom to assemble peacefully and unarmed, without a need for prior authorization; and everyone is recognized the right to demonstrate in accordance with the law." Impunity persisted for gross human rights violations committed during the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999). Little progress was made in addressing crimes against humanity and other human rights violations committed by Indonesian security forces and their auxiliaries from 1975 to 1999. Many suspected perpetrators remained at large in Indonesia. No progress by the authorities was reported in implementing recommendations addressing impunity from the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) and the bilateral Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF). Amnesty International has documented ongoing impunity in Timor-Leste in its reports We Cry for Justice: Impunity Persists 10-years on in Timor-Leste (ASA 57/001/2009) and Timor-Leste: Justice in the Shadow (ASA/57/001/2010). UN SR Case Country No: TLS 1/2016
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Event Description
A well known as a human rights defender Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga, is being harassed by the police including the OIC of Wattegama Police Station, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)�_ reports.�_ Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga is the parish priest of St. Mary's Church in Wattegama, Kandy District. Following a land dispute with the owner of land ajoining the Wattegama Street, St.Mary's Church, police officers began harassing the priest, impartially carrying out the rule of law. The Priest states that he supported several torture victims in their legal battles against their torturers. In this case, two police officers attached to the Wattegama Police Station, were sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment on 3rd, December 2014. Nandana said that he has been subjected to police harassment in revenge for his supportive help for torture victimss. He demands immediate justice. This case illustrates the collapse of the rule of law in Sri Lanka, says AHRC. CASE NARRATIVE: According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga is the parish priest of St. Mary's Church in Wattegama in Kandy District. He is a well-known human rights activist and the Director of the Human Rights Office of Kandy. St. Mary's Church and its premises belong to the Roman Catholic Church, administration coming under the perview of the Bishop of Kandy. There was a long, boundary dispute with the owner of the ajoining land, due to his grabbing of land belonging to the church. The administration of the Bishop's House in Kandy took legal action against him in the District Court of Teldeniya. This case is pending under No: L/170/13, where the church adminstration is the plaintiff and the ajoining land owner, Francis Richard, is the defendant. In early 2016, Fr. Nandana learned that Francis Richard made a complaint against the church. On several occasions, police officers harassed Father when he inquired about the complaint. When Fr. Nandana went to the police station to clarify the situation, he was subjected to filthy language by Francis Richard and his wife. The police did not stop the abuse, simply allowing it. On 28 January 2016, when he was called to the Wattegama Police Station for a complaint made by Francis Richard, reference No: MCR 2575/16CH/ 102-03-06, Fr. Nandana retained his attorney-at-law, Mr. Padmadakshan who accompanied him to the police station. But when the inquiry was called up, the Police Officer-in-Charge (OIC), dismissed the lawyer and would not allow him to represent Father Nandana. The Priest was strictly warned by the OIC not to come to the police station again. If there was any dispute in future, the police would produce both parties in court and execute a bond for keeping the peace. Before this incident, on 17th June 2015, Francis Richard came into the mission house with one of his workers who was carrying a knife and threatening the priest. He then filed a complaint No: MCR 2286/15. It was not investigated, nor was the person who carried the knife called to the police station. Again, on 13th August 2016 Francis Richard complained to the police. Police officer (No: 47062) came to St. Mary's Church with Francis Richard and threatened the Priest. "Your priest is grabbing land and if he does not come to the police station, he will be arrested." At that, the police officer and Richard who were good friends went to the complainant's house for refreshments. Rev. Fr. Nandana, on 15 August 2016, did not go to the police station. He wrote to the OIC saying that he would not come given the above reasons. He lodged a complaint with the Senior Superintendant of Police (SSP), Kandy, regarding the continuous harassments and the non-investigation of his complaints. He reported the illegal inactions of the OIC and other officers of the Wattegama Police Station. Considering the appeal to higher authorities and submission of the Teldeniya District Court proceedings, the priest, through his lawyer made the following request: copies of the complaints made against him and made by him from the OIC office. But his request was denied. He learned later, that all copies were given to Francis Richard. Rev. Fr. Nandana states that the OIC and other police officers attached to the Wattegama Police Station, illegally harassed him. Further, they implemented the law maliciously. Fr. Nandana, states that two police officers from the Wattegama Police Station were sentenced to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment on 3th December 2015. Both were former police officers at Wattegama. He further reiterated, that as the Director of the Human Rights Office Kandy, he pioneered assistance work for these two torture victims. Both were brutally tortured by two police officers of the Wattegama Police. Fr. Nandana states that therefore it is obvious that Wattegama OIC and the police officers are using Francis Richard to facilitate these psychological harassements in taking revenge. Rev. Fr. Nandana states that his fundamental rights were violated by Sri Lankan State Officers. He demands justice and is waiting for a fair and impartial implementation of the rule of the law by the police officers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Feb 22, 2016
- Event Description
24 February 2016: Continuous harassment of human rights defender Tran Minh Nhat On 22 February 2016, human rights defender Mr Tran Minh Nhat was attacked by a police officer at his house in Lam Ha district, Lam Dong Province, and subsequently prevented by police from travelling to hospital to receive medical assistance. On 28 August 2015, Tran Minh Nhat was released having served four years' imprisonment for "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration", a crime under Article 79 of the Vietnamese Penal Code. On 22 February 2016, a police officer from the Lam Ha district came to the house of Tran Minh Nhat. He called the human rights defender to come outside and then suddenly threw a rock at him, causing a severe head injury. While travelling to hospital thereafter, Tran Minh Nhat's motorcycle was stopped by five police officers, who began to threaten the human rights defender and refused to let him continue onwards to receive medical help at the hospital. The incident marks the seventh instance of harassment of Tran Minh Nhat by police officers from the Lam Ha district in just over a month. On 13 February 2016, stones were thrown into Tran Minh Nhat's house by several masked men. On the same day, the human rights defender's elder brother was stopped by five Lam Ha police officers who threatened to attack him and promised to burn down his house. On 12 February 2016, chemicals were sprayed around Tran Minh Nhat's house and the house of his neighbour, causing headaches, nausea and vomiting for the inhabitants, and resulting in the death of poultry raised by the human rights defender. On 10 February 2016, in the middle of the night, fire was set to dry coffee plants adjacent to Tran Minh Nhat's house. The fire was of such a size that it required eight people and over four hours to contain it. Following the release of Tran Minh Nhat from prison on 28 August 2015, the human rights defender, his family and friends have been continuously threatened and harassed by Lam Ha police officers. They have suffered the destruction of their crops, break-ins at their properties, deliberate damage to their irrigation equipment, and the stoning of their homes. During this period, the house of Tran Minh Nhat has been kept under surveillance. Human rights defenders who have visited Tran Minh Nhat after his release have occasionally been beaten by police officers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Nov 28, 2016
- Event Description
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower) office in Section 4, Petaling Jaya today afternoon was raided by the police. Through Empower's tweet a group of police officers comprise of 10 officers arrived at the office around 1pm and locked the employees inside not allowing others to enter. In the tweet also mentioned that windows were closed with papers so that people can view from outside. Then Empower tweet the raid conducted under Section 124C of the Penal Code. Lawyers who rushed to the scene also denied entry to the office. Empower is a local NGO that advocates for justice and democracy, and works with women and youth to realise their potential in areas of politics, economy, and civil liberties. It is believed the raid conducted today could do with Bersih rallies and its alleged foreign funding.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 26, 2016
- Event Description
New Delhi: Two days after the Bastar police arrested seven civil rights activists from the Telangana Democratic Forum (TDF) under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, it is now trying to implicate human rights lawyer Shalini Gera, a part of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (JLAG), for allegedly exchanging "old notes' on behalf of the Maoists. Gera, however, has said that the charges are totally false. In a letter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), she has claimed that the police's action against her is yet another tactic to intimidate and silence human rights defenders in Bastar. Gera, who along with her colleagues, has been taking up cases of alleged police atrocities against Adivasis has been under constant attack by state-sponsored vigilante groups like AGNI. JLAG lawyers moved from Delhi to Bastar's Jagdalpur in July 2013 and have been practicing in Bastar district courts since then. Their work centres on defending those Adivasis who have been implicated by the police on the basis of extremely weak evidence. As a result, JLAG has been subjected to constant scrutiny by the police. Earlier this year, Gera and her colleague Isha Khandelwal were forced out of Jagdalpur amidst escalating threats, intimidation and attacks for their work defending the Adivasis. A hint that the police was planning some sort of action against Gera first surfaced when a police complaint made against her by a man called Vinod Pandey surfaced on a WhatsApp group on December 27. The complainant Pandey claimed that Gera, along with two of her colleagues and seven JNU students, had gone to two villages - Matenar and Palnar in Dantewada (Bastar) - and incited the villagers against the police, urging them to support the Maoists. After the meetings, Pandey claimed, Gera met Naxal commander Ayutu who handed over Rs 10 lakh in old notes to the team, following which Gera and her team travelled to Jagdalpur and stayed in a place called Goel Dharamshala. Here, Pandey said, "do kale kale ladke (two dark skinned boys)" came over on a motorcycle and exchanged the old notes with new Rs 2000 notes after charging a 30% commission. The complainant urged the police to inquire into the matter and take "adequate action." Soon after the complaint was filed at the Jagdalpur police station, none other than Bastar's superintendent of police (SP), R. N. Dash, called Gera from an unofficial phone number inquiring about the details mentioned in the complaint. Gera's response In the letter to NHRC dated December 27, Gera said that her stay in Goel Dharamshala was arranged by the divisional commissioner Dilip Wasnikar and her presence in Jagdalpur was widely publicised because she and team were there to oversee the postmortem and cremation of Somaru Pottam, who the security forces had claimed was killed in an encounter on December 16. Contrary to the police's claim that Pottam was a Maoist, his parents have moved the Bilaspur high court saying that their son had no connection with Maoists and was killed by security force personnel in cold blood in full view of the villagers. The case has received significant media attention, and Gera had also organised a press conference regarding the matter. In the letter to NHRC, Gera clearly said that her stay in Jagdalpur was no secret. "We had requested the commissioner of Bastar, Mr. Dilip Wasnikar, to make arrangements for the stay of the villagers and the legal team, and he had most graciously made arrangements in Room no. 3 of the Goel Dharamshala in Jagdalpur for this purpose," wrote Gera. Despite this, on December 26, a team of policemen barged into the dharamshala, called the entire legal team out of their rooms, noted down the details of their identity cards and claimed that they had been "caught in the room." The police team asked Gera and her colleagues to accompany the police to the thana (station) for interrogation, although they neither had a warrant nor a legal notice to raid the place. However, when divisional commissioner Wasnikar intervened, the police left. The very next day SP Dash called Gera to inquire about the details mentioned in the complaint, which was filed after the illegal police raid occurred on the evening on December 26. Dash repeatedly asked about her meetings at Palnar and Matenar in a "loud and offensive" manner, Gera wrote in her letter. Gera explained that she had gone to Palnar in Dantenwada district to meet her client Mundra Ram Sori several months ago and did not hold a meeting with the villagers there. She also said that she had visited Matenar to attend a meeting on Adivasi rights which was organised by People's Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) on December 20. Gera added that no JNU student had accompanied her and the charges of being a cash conduit for Maoists were baseless and vindictive. In the letter, Gera told NHRC that Dash had called her from a man called Farukh Ali's number, who was also a member of the state-sponsored vigilante group Agni. "It should be noted that there is one Farruk Ali who belongs to the vigilante group "AGNI" active in Bastar, and he has recently sent defamatory and inflammatory messages from the same phone number against some attendees of a PUCL meeting in Matenar village, containing confidential police information about them, on several WhatsApp groups, and has also threatened journalists earlier," she said. Incidentally, Ali later posted a copy of Pandey's complaint on WhatsApp for circulation. The handling of the matter by the Bastar SP and his prompt action on the complaint, which merely makes baseless allegations, have raised many civil rights activists' suspicions over the police's intentions. The record of the Bastar police, under the leadership of S.R.P. Kalluri, inspector general of police (Bastar Range), in handling human rights related cases has come under repeated criticism by civil society organisations. The police has often supported vigilante groups like Agni and has been at the forefront of attacking human rights defenders who question atrocities against Adivasis. So much so that personnel from the security forces have, in the past, also organised several protest marches where they burnt effigies of human rights activists. Earlier this year, the CBI filed a chargesheet against seven former special police officers - now renamed armed auxiliary forces - for burning down three villages in Bastar. Through the investigation, the Bastar police's earlier claims of Maoists being responsible for the fires were proven false. Several journalists too have been at the receiving end of this intimidation for reporting human rights abuses in the region. Recently, the academic Nandini Sundar, who played a crucial role in getting the Supreme Court to ban the state-sponsored terror group Salwa Judum and to direct the CBI to investigate Kalluri's men was accused by Kalluri of being involved in the murder of an Adivasi villager. Also accused were JNU faculty member Archana Prasad and political activists Sanjay Parate and Vinnet Tiwari. But when the wife of the murdered man denied their involvement in the incident, the role of the Bastar police came under sharp scrutiny. Last month, the NHRC issued notice to Kalluri and the Chhattisgarh government for leading a witch-hunt against Sundar and her colleagues. Criticisms of police action The arrest of the TDF fact-finding team and the continual harassment of the lawyers based on charges of exchanging old notes demonstrates that the demonetisation has given the Bastar police a new opportunity to abuse its power, civil rights activists say. "The Bastar police has made a mockery of the law. It has also misled the courts in the name of fighting Maoism," CPI(M) leader Sanjay Parate said while demanding the immediate release of the TDF activists. Condemning the arrests and harassment of Gera, Anand Teltumbde of the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR) said, "There is a pattern in the behaviour of the Chhattisgarh police. Early this year, two women lawyer activists Shalini Gera and Isha Khandelawal were forced out of Jagdalpur. In February, Soni Sori, local tribal teacher-turned-activist and AAP candidate in the last Lok Sabha elections, was asked to vacate her house. Soni Sori and her nephew Linga Kodopi have been facing persistent harassment from the police. Before that Malini Subramanium, a freelance journalist and former head of the International Committee of Red Cross in Chhattisgarh, left Bastar due to alleged harassment by local police." Talking about the "outrageous charges of murder' on Sundar and others, he called the police's actions vindictive. "This all has been happening with direct/indirect backing of the controversial Bastar IG, S.R.P. Kalluri who is in turn backed by the state government." The Hyderabad-based Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee also denounced the attack on human rights defenders. "It (the arrest of TDF activists) is a clear sign of nexus between Telangana and Chhattisgarh police to intimidate and suppress the activists in the name of Maoists who are fighting for the rights of the Adivasis." The PUCL also demanded the immediate release of the TDF members. "PUCL strongly condemns the illegal and unlawful actions of both the Telangana and Chhattisgarh police. Such acts of highhandedness and flagrant abuse of law is only possible when the State promises the police total impunity and protection from any prosecution for abuse of law. The actions of the police of both states is violative of the fundamental rights to free movement, freedom of speech and expression and the fundamental duty to protect the fundamental rights of adivasis and other local people in Bastar area who are victims of a severely repressive state police. It is also to scare others in the future from daring to visit the conflict hut areas," said the organisation in a press release. Most civil rights organisations were of the view that fact-finding teams, journalists, human rights activists played a significant role in highlighting police excesses in Bastar as despite several allegations of staged encounters, the Chhattisgarh government has refused to set up independent criminal investigations into these cases. Condemning the arrest of the TDF activists, Amnesty International India's Abhirr VP said "Chhattisgarh authorities must immediately release all seven men and stop abusing harsh laws to harass and intimidate activists and journalists who are well within their rights to investigate human rights abuses and seek accountability." "It is disconcerting how frequently draconian laws are being used to silence activists and journalists who work on issues linked to conflict between security forces and Maoist armed groups. These attempts at intimidation cannot become order of the day," he added. Amnesty strongly criticised the use of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, which was enacted in 2005 to combat violence by Maoist armed groups. "Several parts of the Act violate India's obligations under international human rights law. The Act contains broad and vaguely worded definitions of "unlawful activity'. The definition includes, for instance, an act which "tends to interfere with maintenance of public order' or "which is designed to overawe___any public servant', or acts "encouraging or preaching disobedience to established law and its institutions'. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders has called for the repeal of this law."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 29, 2016
- Event Description
Authorities in the Chinese capital have cut off the utilities and destroyed the central heating system of a prominent non-governmen organization (NGO) set up to help migrant workers, as a new law came into effect placing foreign-funded NGOs effectively under police control. Officials from Beijing's Jinzhao township and Picun village led a 50-strong demolition team that included police and urban management officials to the headquarters of Migrant Workers Home on Dec. 29, the group's leader said. The team destroyed the only working central heating boiler at the premises, leaving employees and volunteers with no way to continue their work, the group's leader Wang Dezhi told RFA. "We don't know what this is about," Wang said, adding: "We are in communication with the village and township governments." He said the village government has previously tried to get the group to leave its existing premises. "That's right," Wang said. "They didn't say anything about that, but I can't really give you an interview right now." The owner of the premises, who gave only her surname Tian, said she has no quarrel with the Migrant Workers Home as a tenant, and hasn't asked them to leave. Electricity cut But she said the authorities unilaterally cut off the electricity supply to the Migrant Workers Home offices. "The electric has been cut off for more than two months already, and now they have smashed up their furnace," Tian said. "[They] have been really hard hit by this; are they trying to freeze them to death?" "We are pretty angry, just hearing about it, but they won't take any notice of us," she said. "They have already told us that our rental contract has been canceled, but there are laws governing contracts, and they shouldn't go breaking them." "A contract is a matter between two parties, and we[the landlords] aren't telling Wang and the others to leave. It's[the government] that is doing that." The attack on Migrant Workers Home came as the Overseas NGOs Domestic Activities Management Law, which enables police to engage in daily supervision and monitoring of foreign civil society and rights groups operating in China, went into effect. The law was passed by the National People's Congress last April, and was immediately criticized by rights activists as another attack on the country's embattled civil society. It went into effect on Sunday. The legislation hands full authority for the registration and supervision of foreign NGOs in China to the country's ministry of public security, and police agencies across the country. Draconian new rules Under the new law, Chinese police are now able to enter the premises of foreign NGOs and seize documents and other information, as well as examine groups' bank accounts and limit incoming funds. They will also have the power to cancel any activities, revoke an organization's registration, impose administrative detention on its workers, as well as taking part in the annual assessment of foreign NGOs, required for the renewal their operating permit. The new law will also allow police to blacklist NGOs deemed guilty of national security-related crimes like subversion or separatism. Critics say definitions of what constitutes such crimes remain vague and subject to arbitrary interpretation by the authorities. Henan-based AIDS activist Sun Ya, who has long worked with the Beijing-based Aizhixing health rights group, said the draconian new rules have forced a number of civil society groups to close in recent months. "Even if they are still able to receive funding and carry out their activities, it will become completely meaningless[because of th level of political control]," Sun said. "Whoever heard of an NGO that was set up to do something that has nothing to do with politics or anything else sensitive? Whoever heard of a leisure activities NGO?" An NGO worker surnamed Liu said the law also puts far more obstacles in the way of groups receiving overseas funding. "If a group wants to receive funds from overseas now, they have to go through a lot more red tape here in China, and basically they're not allowing NGOs to operate any more, because they won't be able to get their overseas funding," Liu said. Rights activist Guo Chunping agreed. "Many of the groups that realized they couldn't continue have already dissolved," Guo said. "Either that or they're keeping an extremely low profile so as to avoid any involvement with politics."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Event Description
An independent candidate in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi has vowed to run in forthcoming elections to his local People's Congress in spite of official threats and periods of detention. Yang Tingjian, who also goes by the pen-name Yang Wei, says he will go ahead with his bid for election to the Hecheng township People's Congress on Sept. 9 despite being kept under 24-hour surveillance by local authorities. "They have threatened me and my family, saying that we should be careful," he said. "I was already detained for 10 days, which isn't long, but now I am stuck at home when I should be out canvassing for votes." Yang's father said the family home is now being watched round the clock. "Officials from the village government have posted people to stand guard outside our front door, 24 hours a day," Yang's father told RFA. "They are always there, watching him," he said. "They stopped him from going out to publicize his candidacy and platform." "Whenever they try to stop him going out to that, there are altercations." Earlier, Yang told the Hubei-based rights website Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch that he would fight "to the death" for his right to run. A last resort Yang, whose candidacy registration was rejected on the grounds that he isn't a member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, has now left a statement billed as a "last will and testament," in case anything worse happens to him ahead of Friday's poll. His "last wishes" include his daughter traveling to the United States to pursue her education. "This is a last resort," he told RFA. "Trying to talk reason with them simply doesn't work." Yang was placed under 10 days' administrative detention after an altercation with officials when he went to consult law books to prove that nonparty members also have the right to stand. China's electoral guidelines state that candidates may put themselves forward if they receive recommendations from at least 10 local voters in direct elections to district and township level People's Congresses. Overall, there are five levels of hierarchy in the People's Congress system, with the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing at the top. 'All may stand' According to a summary of the country's election law published in the English-language China Daily newspaper: "All citizens of the People's Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of ethnic background, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education level, property status or length of residence." In practice, state-run media has said that there is "no such thing" as an independent candidate, and those who try to use such elections as a platform to represent the least privileged in society soon find themselves the target of official retaliation. Every 3 to 5 years, China "elects" more than 2 million lawmakers at the county and township levels across the country to local-level People's Congresses in more than 2,000 counties and 30,000 townships. But powerful vested interests mean that the majority of local "elections" are a fait accompli, consolidating the power of local leaders. Local party officials have previously used intimidation and detention, tampering with physical ballot boxes, and paying for extra votes to maintain their grip on the outcome. Apart from a token group of "democratic parties" that never oppose or criticize the ruling party, opposition political parties are banned in China, and those who set them up are frequently handed lengthy jail terms.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2016
- Event Description
By Ruwan Nelugolla. Following a book launch yesterday (03), I returned home at Kalalgoda Road after 11.00 pm. As I was having a chat with some of my friends at home, policemen in uniform and civics stormed in, dragging behind them a friend of ours by the name of Sanjaya, who is staying with us. As he was on his way to a boutique nearby, a police jeep stopped him, asked if he was a drug user, removed his clothes on the road and searched him. He was beaten up and dragged into the house. The police searched the house for drugs and finding nothing, tried to take all of us to the police station. Continuing my protestations, I asked them as to how they could do so. A man in civics, uttering raw filth and wielding a pistol, assaulted me and said I would be sent to prison by fabricating a heroin and ganja case against me. They dragged Sanjaya and me to the jeep. When they showed us the pistol, I asked if they were going to shoot us. Since I did nothing wrong and there was nothing to fear the police, and it was the police that had been abusing the law, I went to the jeep. After getting in, I took my mobile phone out, and the same person in civics asked as to whom I was going to call and again assaulted me. Then, I told them that I am a journalist working for Lanka News Web, and that the police had no right to assault people like that. Saying, "Your mother *** media", that person continued beating me up all they way until the jeep reached Thalangama police station. That is how the police marked its 150th anniversary yesterday. By the time Sanjaya and I were taken to the police station, our lawyer was already there. The police settled the matter and freed us. After being beaten by the police, I was not in a mental condition to get hospitalized, and returned home. On the previous day, there was an exchange of words with the police during a protest near Galle Face Green. Police did not allow us the peaceful protestors to go to the Presidential Secretariat to seek justice for Madhushka de Silva of Anuradhapura who was made to disappear three years ago. It ended with top police officials hiding behind a group of police women and warning of arrest on a charge of harassing the women if we tried to proceed forward. Madhushka's wife too, was with us and we did not want to inconvenience a group of women in police uniform who were being used against us. As we dispersed, two men from the police traffic division asked us for our identity cards. When we opposed their asking us for our identifications without a purpose, they called the Colombo Fort police and brought in two more policemen. We showed them our identity cards with an advice that they should not terrify us in the same manner they had terrified the average citizens of the north and elsewhere. Only the police that came yesterday know if these two incidents were related. Anyway, I am the aggrieved party and in both incidents, the culprit was the Sri Lanka Police Department. I work as a journalist of Lanka News Web website, and also an activist of the national movement for freedom for political prisoners. I know the law to a certain extent. Had an average citizen faced what I had to face yesterday, he would be behind bars by now. This is how Sri Lanka's police enforce the law. The person who assaulted me wielded his pistol and threatened me inside the jeep saying, "I first killed a man when I was at Year 11." Which institution is responsible for finding out if those in the police are murderers? The only reason for wielding a pistol and attacking me was my question of as to how they could take people like the way they did. I do not know how the police can be so conceited that a citizen could not ask them a question. That is clearly the lawlessness.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2016
- Event Description
September 08 18:30 2016 by Omkar Khandekar Two men detained on Wednesday in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government have been released without charges. Ibrahim Shahiban Ahmed and Mohamed Shamin Ali, who work for various environmental NGOs, were detained during a raid of the building that houses the Maldives Independent. Shahiban said that the police arrived at their work-cum-residential apartment at Henveiru Hulhugali around 4.15 pm. The personnel included a team from the specialist operations and forensics departments. A warrant they carried authorised a search of the premises for evidence of a plot "to overthrow the elected government, get external help to overthrow the elected government, try to create hatred between the public and the state institutions, and plan to create discord and unrest in Mal_." The building also houses a law firm, a college, a human rights NGO and a travel agency. The raid came hours after an explosive Al Jazeera documentary featuring an interview with this publication's editor was posted online. The expos_ included serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power against President Abdulla Yameen. Shahiban said that during their search, the police claimed to have discovered a piece of paper in the apartment with a handwritten plan of organising a gathering of around 700 people. They also found a petition from 2015 calling for the release of jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years on a terrorism charge. Both Shahiban and Shamin said that they had no idea where they documents came from. "The work area of our apartment is usually used by several professionals and NGOs for their meetings. They often end up storing some of their belongings here," Shahiban said After the four-hour-long search, the police confiscated hard disks, mobile phones and laptops from the apartment. They also took the pair to the headquarters where they were told to return on Thursday for questioning. "We were questioned on where the documents came from and the people who visit the apartment. We cooperated with them as we have nothing to hide," said Shamin. After an hour of questioning, they were released without any restrictions on their movements or travel. The police were not responding to calls at the time of publication. Shahinda Ismail, executive director of the Maldivian Democracy Network, whose office in the building was also searched, called the raid an intimidation tactic by the government. The police later said the building was raided based on "reports of incitement to violence."
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Feb 3, 2016
- Event Description
Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions REFERENCE: UA PAK 5/2016: 24 February 2016 Excellency, We have the honour to address you in our capacity as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 25/18, 26/7, and 26/12. In this connection, we would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency's Government information we have received concerning alleged serious threats to life of lawyer and human rights defender, Ms. Asma Jahangir. Ms. Jahangir is a human rights lawyer and the former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association. She is also a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Ms. Jahangir previously served as United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief for a combined total of 12 years. She was the subject of previous communications of the Special Procedures sent to your Excellency's Government (see 24 January 2011, A/HRC/19/55/Add.2, case no. PAK 1/2011; 16 November 2007, A/HRC/7/28/Add.1, case no. PAK 16/2007; 30 January 2006, A/HRC/4/37/Add.1, case no. PAK 2/2006; and 18 May 2005, E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.1, case no. PAK 7/2005). The most recent of these communications was sent to your Excellency's Government on 15 June 2012 (A/HRC/22/47/Add.4, case no. PAK 8/2012), by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. We regret that to date no reply has been received from your Excellency's Government. HAUT - COMMISSARIAT AUX DROITS DE L'HOMME __� OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PALAIS DES NATIONS __� 1211 GENEVA 10, SWITZERLAND 2 According to the information received: On 3 February 2015, while in Sri Lanka, Ms. Asma Jahan gir was informed through her office in Lahore, Pakistan, that the former Home Minister and the Chief of Police of Punjab were looking for her and had advised Ms. Jahangir to stay out of Pakistan due to serious threats to her life. They appeared to have credible evidence concerning an alleged plot to kill her. Members of "Daesh" (al- Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-Sham) had apparently been following her movements and planned an attack on her. On 20 February, Ms. Jahangir returned to Pakistan and was reminded by the Chief of Police of the threats. She was promised, including by the office of the Prime Minister, that her security and that of her family would be increased. However, at the time of sending this communication, there has been no increase in such protection. Grave concern is expressed about the security of Ms. Jahangir, as well as the insufficient protection afforded to her and her family. Further serious concern is expressed at the allegations that the plot to assassinate Ms. Jahangir may be directly linked to her legitimate human rights activities. In view of the urgency of the matter, we urge your Excellency's Government to adopt all necessary measures to protect the rights to life, security and physical integrity of Ms. Asma Jahangir and her family. We would like to refer to Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Pakistan on 23 June 2010, which provide for the State's duty to protect every individual's right to life and to take all necessary measures to ensure that no individual on its territory or subject to its jurisdiction is arbitrarily deprived of his or her life. In this respect, the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, adopted by the Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/65 (principle 4), explicitly require States to provide "effective protection through judicial or other means to individuals and groups who are in danger of extra-legal, arbitrary or summary executions, including those who receive death threats". We would like to refer your Excellency's Government to the fundamental principles set forth in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, also known as the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and in particular articles 1, 2, and 6 which provides for the right to promote 3 and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; the right, individually and in association with others as provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms; the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the Declaration. The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers also stipulate that lawyers' security must be adequately ensured by the authorities (see in particular principle 17). The full texts of the human rights instruments and standards recalled above are available on www.ohchr.org or can be provided upon request. As it is our responsibility, under the mandates provided to us by the Human Rights Council, to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful for your observations on the following matters: 1.Please provide any additional information and/or comment(s) you may have on the above-mentioned allegations. 2.Please provide the details, and where available the results, of any investigation, and judicial or other inquiries carried out in relation to this case. If no inquiries have taken place, or if they have been inconclusive, please explain why. 3.In the event that the alleged perpetrators are identified, please provide the full details of any prosecutions which may have been undertaken. 4.Please provide detailed information on any protective measures put in place to ensure the security and physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Jahangir and her family. 5.Please indicate what measures have been taken to ensure that human rights defenders and lawyers in Pakistan are able to carry out their legitimate work in a safe and enabling environment without fear of threats or acts of intimidation and harassment of any sort. While awaiting a reply, we urge that all necessary interim measures be taken to halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence and in the event that the investigations support or suggest the allegations to be correct, to ensure the accountability of any person responsible of the alleged violations. 4. Your Excellency's Government's response will be made available in a report to be presented to the Human Rights Council for its consideration. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration. Michel Forst Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders M�_nica Pinto Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Christof Heyns Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 18, 2016
- Event Description
Date of Incident: 18th February, 2016 Place of Incident: Jagdalpur, Bastar District, Chattisgarh Details of the Incident: According to sources on 17 February, 2016 night, police visited the landlord of lawyers and women Human rights defenders Ms. Shalini Gera and Ms. Isha Khandelwal of Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group in Jagdalpur town. The landlord is a driver by profession. The police took him away to the police station. He was kept there till next day early morning. He was dropped back in a police vehicle and his car was impounded. Shocked and shaken landlord informed both the lawyers at 2:00 am in the morning that he has no option but to ask them to vacate the house and office within a week. Both Ms. Shalini and Ms. Isha have been receiving thinly veiled threats regularly that the police are closely monitoring NGOs providing "legal aid to Naxalites" and their clients are time and again informed that the police are about to arrest them for their Naxalite related activities. The police have been claiming before the visiting journalists and researchers that they are merely a "Naxalite front". The defenders believe that it is because of their legitimate work, various officials of the police are involved in conspiring against them to drive them out of the region. Local police had been diligently investigating "anonymous" complaints about them claiming that they are "fraudulent" lawyers and due to that they had been compelled to make multiple trips to the police station with all impeccable certificates and sound credentials to disprove the baseless allegations against them. Then the local Bar Association, clearly prompted by the police, took out a resolution prohibiting them to practice in the local courts. The move was then countered by challenging this resolution in the State Bar Council and obtaining an interim order allowing them to practice. Unable to get them by any other way, now, the police are resorting to intimidatory tactics and thereby putting undue mental pressure on their landlord and his family. These untoward incidents have come at a time when the whole countryside of Bastar region is on fire. Under the guise of anti-Naxal operations, the security forces are in dulging in rape, pillage and plunder. With teams of women activists, Jagdalpur Letgal Aid Group have documented at least three cases of mass sexual violence in the past three months itself, where security forces have run amok in the villages, stripping women, playing with their naked bodies and indulging in gang rapes, looting their precious food supplies, and destroying their homes and granaries. The number of so-called "encounters" is at an all-time high in the region, people are simply "disappearing" from villages in large numbers, only to show up in the list of "surrendered" or "arrested" Naxalites several days or weeks later. The local police and administration are talking in one voice of "clearing" the area within one year. Social mobilizations are being orchestrated by the police to provide a cover to their illegal harassment of journalists, lawyers, activists. When mass gang rapes in Bijapur were being uncovered, a group calling itself the "Naxal Peedit Sangharsh Samiti" under the leadership of the ex-Salwa Judum leader Madhukar Rao, took out noisy belligerent rallies against Soni Sori, Bela Bhatia and "outside NGOs", threatening all of them with physical violence if they entered Bijapur again.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing, Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Oct 18, 2016
- Event Description
20.10.2016: PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah's son's car was today splashed with red paint, two days after she and her three children received an Islamic State-styled death threat. In a brief statement issued by the electoral reform watchdog, Bersih 2.0 said Chin's son's car was vandalised early this morning and that Chin and her son is currently lodging a police report. Bersih 2.0 will also hand over a memorandum to the police later this evening on this latest incident. It also called for all quarters to unite and reject all forms of political violence. Chin declined to comment citing concerns over her children's safety. On Tuesday, Chin received a death threat from an anonymous individual via WhatsApp regarding the upcoming Bersih 5 rally on Nov 19. The threat came in an Islamic State-styled doctored image which depicted a man dressed in black holding a dagger to her neck. Similar images also included the faces of Bersih 2.0 committee member Mandeep Singh and Human Rights Society Chairperson Ambiga Sreevenasan. Chin, however, had said she was unfazed by the threats and vowed to carry on with the electoral watchdog's convoy and the rally. Prior to this, Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, had warned Chin to "watch her back" or she may no longer "walk on this earth", after the announcement of the Bersih 5 rally.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 8, 2016
- Event Description
The Thai military has threatened a prominent anti-junta activist from the New Democracy Movement (NDM) with the l��se majest_ law over a Facebook post. On 8 December 2016, Chanoknan Ruamsap, a key member of NDM, posted a message on her Facebook account explaining that the military contacted her family while she was in Brazil. - "My mother just called me from Thailand, telling me that the military called her to talk about the Facebook status I posted three days ago about the monarchy.[They] said I might be detained at the airport once I return to Thailand ... for an offence under Article 112[of the Criminal Code]" wrote Chanoknan on her Facebook account. The activist added, "To any soldier who might read this message, inform your units that pressuring my family will not shut me up." Chanoknan said that she does not believe that that any of her Facebook posts are defamatory to the Thai Monarchy. On 3 December, she shared on Facebook a biography of King Vajiralongkorn, Rama X, published by BBC Thai. On 5 December she shared another article published by the Daily Telegraph about King Rama X. Authorities are currently investigating whether the BBC Thai article on King Rama X, which has already been censored, violates the l��se majest_ law. Many ultra-royalists have criticised BBC Thai for the article, saying that its content defames to the new King of the country. Nevertheless the article was shared by almost 3000 other users. On 3 December, police officers arrested Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa, a key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM) anti-junta activist group, for sharing the biography on his Facebook account. After one day of detention, Khon Kaen Provincial Court granted him bail to a tune of 400,000 baht. Chanoknan will have to stand trial at the Military Court of Bangkok on 23 December over an unrelated charge of defying the Thai junta's ban on political gatherings. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 3/2015 prohibits political gatherings of five or more persons. She and five other key members of the NDM were indicted for organising a field trip to Prachuap Khiri Khan province to investigate the Rajabhakti Park corruption scandals.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom, Online
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Dec 24, 2016
- Event Description
JOINT STATEMENT - Phnom Penh, 24 December 2016 Civil society condemns harassment and obstruction of staff and film crew in Pursat province. We, the undersigned civil society organizations, condemn the harassment and obstruction of the staff of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") and a film crew contracted by ActionAid Cambodia by district officials and environmental police in Thmar Da commune on 23-24 December 2016. Mr. Vanndy Buth, a CCHR staff member, and Mr. Phan Ream, Mr. Voun Boren and Mr. Soung Sopheak, three documentary filmmakers with the company One Plus Media (contracted by ActionAid Cambodia), were prevented from leaving the village of Sangkom Thmey, Thmar Da Commune, Veal Veng district in Pursat province after their car was stopped by environmental police at approximately 10.30am this morning. The team travelled to Thmar Da commune on 22 December 2016 to film footage and conduct video interviews with villagers affected by forced evictions due to development of agribusiness and a Special Economic Zone operated by timber magnate Try Pheap. The filming is an activity of CCHR and Actionaid Cambodia's joint Business and Human Rights Project, which aims to encourage greater respect for human rights among corporate actors working in Cambodia's land sector. On 23 December 2016, Mr. Vanndy Buth was the subject of threats from local authorities. The Veal Veng District Governor issued an invitation to him to meet at his office that day to discuss the video documentary; when Mr. Vanndy Buth declined, local police approached him on two separate occasions to tell him that the District Governor wanted to meet him that day. With the support of the local community, the team attempted to continue their work. However, they were ultimately forced to stop as authorities blocked the road and prevented them from filming at the site of the disputed land. On the morning of 24 December 2016, the team resumed their work. However, at 09.20am today, as the team prepared to depart, the environmental police shouted that they should not be allowed to leave. The team retreated while the local community came to support. However, at approximately 10.30am their car was stopped while attempting to leave the village and the team were briefly detained at the environmental police station. At approximately 11am they were allowed to leave in their vehicle, accompanied by a community member. The environmental police have given no reason for this obstruction of the team's movements or the restriction of their work, nor did the District Governor give any reason for wishing to meet with CCHR's staff. Today's events come in the context of an escalating crackdown on fundamental freedoms over the past year, and represent a further example of the increasingly severe restrictions placed on the ability of civil society in Cambodia to freely carry out their work. These threats and actions appear to be nothing more than a blatant attempt to obstruct the legitimate work of civil society organizations to investigate and raise awareness of forced evictions and land rights abuses in the area, and we condemn this clear violation of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression of the civil society organizations and communities involved, as well as the right to liberty of movement. We call on the relevant local authorities in the area to immediately cease all threats and harassment against members of civil society, as well as all attempts to illegitimately interfere with their work. This statement is endorsed by: No. Name of CSO Name Contact 1 ActionAid Cambodia Ms.Hun Boramey +855 (0)12 200 341 2 Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)Mr. Duch Piseth +855 (0)12 71 23 71 3 Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) 4 Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) Mr. Moeurn Tola +855 (0)93 556 643 5 Equitable Cambodia Mr. Eang Vuthy +855 (0)12 791 700 6 Heinrich B�_ll Stiftung Mr. Ali Al-Nasani +855 (0)23 210 535 7 Housing Rights Task Force Mr. Sia Phearum +855 (0)12 852 325
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Land rights, Right to information, Right to work
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO staff, RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jan 20, 2017
- Event Description
GEORGE TOWN: P Rajendran, an activist for the Indian community, lodged a police report at the Timur Laut District police headquarters here today claiming he has been receiving death threats. P Rajendran, 55, said he believed the threats via the short-messaging service (SMS) and WhatsApp had to do with his voicing out against a proposed procession to parade the "vel" (spear) carried by Lord Murugan on a golden chariot during the Thaipusam celebration here next month. Speaking to reporters after lodging the report, Rajendran, who is also a community moderator for the National Unity and Integration Department in Bukit Mertajam, said since Jan 10, he had lodged five police reports after being assaulted and injured by a group of men. He added he had also sent a protest letter to Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who is also the chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board, regarding the matter (procession). Several news portals prior to this had reported Ramasamy as saying that a procession involving the golden chariot would also be held in conjunction with Thaipusam this year.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 8, 2016
- Event Description
An environmental activist recently elected to Hong Kong's legislature with a record number of votes is under police protection after receiving death threats targeting himself and his family, forcing them to leave their home. Eddie Chu has reported receiving "escalating" death threats to police, saying he hasn't had anywhere safe to take his family since he won his seat in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). "The government is extremely concerned about the Eddie Chu case, and takes[the threats] very seriously," a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement. "The police are taking appropriate measures and arrangements to ensure the safety of Eddie Chu and his family, and police have begun a full investigation." Hong Kong's government would not accept threats against anyone speaking out on matters of concern to the community, the spokesman said. The statement came after Democratic Party chairman and fellow lawmaker-elect Andrew Wan slammed the police for failing to act on threats he received. Wan had reported receiving threats including a letter containing a sharp blade, both before and after the election. Hundreds of people staged a rally on Sunday outside police headquarters in Hong Kong's Wanchai district to show support Chu, who is currently under police protection, and who has spoken to the city's chief executive Leung Chun-ying over alleged corruption linked to a land deal in his home district. 'Imminent' threat feared Chu has also requested permission to move himself and his family into offices in the LegCo building, for their own protection. "I don't know what else to do, as there is a while to wait without police protection, and I need to protect my own and my family's safety," he said. "We need a safe place to stay." Chu told journalists last week that the threats against him were "imminent", saying he had reported them to police and was considering hiring a private security firm to protect himself and his family. The threats came as Chu garnered some 84,000 votes in his New Territories West electoral district, the most ever won by a single individual, following a lengthy campaign as a land activist targeting corruption and organized crime involvement in land transactions there. "We consider the threats to be credible death threats against Mr Chu and his family," Chu's lawyer Michael Vidler told journalists at the time. "We'll report them to the police, seek their advice, and then we can come out and speak to you again." "We can't say any more at the moment, because we don't want to prejudice the results of any police investigation," Vidler said. "We consider them to be very credible threats." Local media reports suggest that the threats against Chu are linked to the land deal rather than his election campaign, government broadcaster RTHK reported. Andrew Wan told RFA he had reported similar threats to the police four times, accusing them of treating his complaints with indifference. New Territories land deal He believed his threats were also linked to the New Territories land deal issue. "It's very clear that this has to do with vested interests in the New Territories land[dispute]," Wan said. "The sums involved could run from billions into tens of billions." "Hong Kong's political culture is becoming increasingly dangerous, and such incidents are becoming more frequent this year than they have been for many years," he said. " Wan said he wouldn't back down, however. "I have a duty to our citizens now, and I have handed over all of the information to police on each incident," he said. "But they never asked me for a statement, nor did they ask me for any details, until Eddie Chu mentioned that I had been threatened too." "Only then did the police realize that this was a major incident." The alleged threats against Chu and Wan came after Liberal Party candidate Ken Chow withdrew from the LegCo elections citing threats from "three people from Beijing." Liberal Party chairwoman Miriam Lau, who represents Hong Kong at the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, has called on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to investigate whether any Beijing officials tried to influence the outcome of the Sept. 4 election.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Right to liberty and security, Right to life
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 8, 2017
- Event Description
RANGOON - A Rangoon resident filed a lawsuit against Myanmar Now chief correspondent Ko Swe Win on Monday - the second he has faced this month - accusing the reporter of insulting Buddhism. Kyimyindaing Township resident Ko Thet Myo Oo, who described himself as an "active nationalist" and Buddhist in The Standard Time Daily, asked Kyauktada Township court to charge Ko Swe Win under a suitable provision of Burma's Penal Code. Ko Thet Myo Oo accused Ko Swe Win of insulting Buddhism during a press conference at the Myanmar Now office on March 8, according to Ko Swe Win's legal advisor U Khin Maung Myint. The reporter held the conference to address another charge brought against him under Article 66(d) of Burma's Telecommunications Law on March 7 by Mandalay resident U Kyaw Myo Shwe, a follower of ultranationalist monk U Wirathu, who claimed the chief correspondent insulted the monk in a Facebook post. From the press conference, local media quoted Ko Swe Win as saying: "They say[my post] is defamatory, but does[U Wirathu] have the dignity to be defamed? He is endlessly cursing across the country. Does this person have dignity?" On his Facebook, Ko Swe Win shared a Myanmar Now news story that stated that U Wirathu was no longer in the monkhood as he had thanked the assassins who killed National League for Democracy legal advisor U Ko Ni. The Myanmar Now story quoted a senior abbot who said thanking and encouraging murder was an unforgivable offense in the monastic practice. According to local media, Ko Thet Myo Oo said, "I sued him because he deliberately said those things about Ma Ba Tha[the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion] to damage Buddhists' respect for those senior monks and to lead followers of other religions to look down[on Buddhism]." Ko Thet Myo Oo attempted to file a complaint at Kyauktada Township police station on March 19, but police told him to file the lawsuit at a court. Kyauktada Township court accepted the complaint, assigning the police station to verify the accusations and report back on April 3. "The judge will either dismiss the case or issue an arrest warrant for Ko Swe Win depending on the police report," explained U Khin Maung Myint. "If he is charged, the case doesn't allow Ko Swe Win to apply for bail so he will have to face trial in custody." The legal advisor added that he reviewed Ko Swe Win's words at the press conference and found nothing that insulted Buddhism. He has submitted a report to the Myanmar Press Council about his findings, he said. Ko Swe Win has hired lawyer U Kyi Myint to prepare for the possible trial. The latest lawsuit follows an incident on the evening of March 14 in which three men in Rangoon's Sanchaung Township threatened Ko Swe Win, who then opened a case against the assailants in Sanchaung court. UPDATE: On 13 Febuary, state prosecutor Kyaw Myo Shwe said during today's hearing that he would withdraw his lawsuit against Swe Win if he apologized for allegedly sharing a Facebook post criticizing Wirathu for supporting the alleged murderer of a prominent Muslim lawyer. Swe Win, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit independent news service Myanmar Now, has refused to given an apology.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 8, 2016
- Event Description
8 February 2016: Harassment of human rights defender Malini Subramaniam; attack on her house and car On 8 February 2016, the home of human rights defender Ms Malini Subramaniam in Jagdalpur city was attacked by unknown assailants. The attack follows months of harassment of the human rights defender by the government and police authorities of Chhattisgarh state. After the attack, Malini Subramaniam spent several hours at one of the local police stations in Bastar district in an attempt to file a complaint for the attack on her home. The complaint was eventually accepted, however the chief police officer of Jagdalpur city, Mr Deepmala Kashyap, refused to accept the First Information Report (FIR) on the incident provided by the human rights defender. He claimed that no FIR could be filed without approval of the district chief police officer, who was not in his office on that day. As there was no officially approved FIR, the police took no action to investigate the case of Malini Subramaniam or to ensure her protection. Early in the morning of 8 February 2016, Malini Subramaniam's home in the Jagdalpur city was attacked by unknown people, who threw stones at her house, shattering the window glass of the human rights defender's car which was parked outside. In the evening of 7 February 2016, another incident of harassment of the human rights defender took place. A group of approximately twenty people gathered in front of her residence, shouting slogans accusing the human rights defender of being a supporter of the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency and demanding that she be put to death. The mob's aim was to agitate neighbours of Malini Subramaniam against her, and provoke an attack by them on the human rights defender. Malini Subramaniam identified several participants in the protests as representatives of local political groups and government agencies, as well as members of the Samajik Ekta Manch, a Jagdalpur-based forum formed to counter Naxalism, a radical movement of the far-left in Bastar and support the work of the police in the area. Late on 10 January 2016, representatives of the Samajik Ekta Manch visited Malini Subramaniam at her house, and subjected her to multiple rounds of questioning concerning her work as a journalist. Police have also interrogated the human rights defender on many occasions, both at her home and at police stations. Scroll.in has tried to take these instances of intimidation of Malini Subramaniam to the attention of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Raman Singh, but he has never provided a formal response and only threatened the human rights defender. The harassment of Malini Subramaniam is part of a larger crackdown on activists, lawyers and journalists standing up against abuses committed by police in the Bastar district. Previously, investigations into human rights violations in the area were rare, as a result of significant restrictions on people's freedoms imposed in view of the long drawn-out military confrontation between government forces and Maoist rebels in the region. 23 February 2016: Human rights defender Malini Subramaniam and members of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group forced to leave Bastar On 20 February 2016, Ms Shalini Gera and Ms Isha Khandelwal of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (JagLAG) were forced to vacate their house and the office of JagLAG in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state as a result of police intimidation of their landlord. On 18 February 2016, human rights defender and journalist Ms Malini Subramaniam and her family were forced to leave their home in the Bastar region after the owners of their rented accommodation were threatened by police. All three human rights defenders have suffered increasing intimidation in connection with their human rights work in recent months. On 18 February 2016, Malini Subramaniam's landlord was summoned by police, temporarily detained at a local police station, and threatened into issuing her and her family with a notice of eviction, before being released. He subsequently requested that she leave her home as soon as possible. Earlier on the same day, the human rights defender's domestic worker was also taken to a police station and questioned, under the guise of investigating attacks which took place on the house of Malini Subramaniam on 8 February 2016, before being released. She had also been detained temporarily twice the previous day, 17 February 2016. On 18 February 2016, the landlord of Shalini Gera and Isha Khandelwal was temporarily detained by police and forced by threat to request the human rights defenders to leave their house and the JagLAG office within two days. The eviction of the three human rights defenders, which follow months of police harassment and intimidation, mark the most recent in a string of persecutory acts targeting human rights defenders in the Bashar region of Chhattisgarh.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state, Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jan 5, 2016
- Event Description
January 7, 2016 PESHAWAR: A transgender person was shot and injured near Pir Zakori Bridge Tuesday night. A police official at Lady Reading Hospital told The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Adnan, a resident of Karkhano, came to the hospital with a gunshot wound. Social activists say doctors at LRH refused to come near Adnan, whose treatment was delayed for hours at the hospital. "The incident took place within the jurisdiction of Chamkani police station," he said. "Adnan and his friends, Sana and Bibi, were travelling in a car to Karkhano Market from Tarnab Farm when two motorcyclists opened fire on their car. Adnan was shot on the side and critically wounded." According to the official, a musical programme had been organised at Tarnab Farm. "The event was cancelled and all three of them were on their way back." The accused have been booked in the case. They have been identified as Rauf, a resident of Dora Road, and Sharif, a resident of Ahmad Khel, Badhaber. "Both men had been threatening Adnan for the past few months," he said. An FIR has been registered and further investigation is under way. Discriminatory conduct Following the incident, Adnan was rushed to LRH. However, he has accused the hospital authorities of failing to provide immediate treatment. Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, Adnan was not provided treatment at the facility for three hours. "He remained at the hospital for three hours," Pakhtun Civil Society Network focal person Taimur Kamal, who had taken Adnan to the hospital, told The Express Tribune. "However, doctors would not come close," Eventually, he added, a surgical procedure was conducted to remove the bullet after a protest was held against the doctors. According to Kamal, the hospital administration's attitude towards Adnan was "transphobic and discriminatory". The focal person said both doctors and patients were uncomfortable with the idea of a transgender being provided treatment at the facility. "When we took him to the ward, patients started crying," said Kamal. Fight for rights Farzana, a representative of people who are transgender, told The Express Tribune they urged the head of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Human Rights to direct officials to provide basic health facilities to marginalised groups. "The directorate itself seems to be ready to help, but the government's response is disappointing," Farzana said. She added the hospital is not the only place where people who are transgender are not allowed and they also find it difficult to use public transport. Farzana said they have submitted several applications with the Directorate of Human Rights to direct all departments to provide equal rights
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to health, Right to life
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 26, 2016
- Event Description
30 March 2016: Harassment of human rights defender Bela Bhatia On 26 March 2016, death threats were made against human rights defender Ms Bela Bhatia during a demonstration close to her home in Jagdalpur. Participants in the demonstration demanded that the human rights defender be put to death, accused her of being a Naxal terrorist and questioned her landlady and neighbours. On 26 March 2016, a group of around 100 men, women and armed police officers in plain clothes came to the village eight kilometres from Jagdalpur, where Bela Bhatia rents a house. The human rights defender was not at home at the time. In her absence the group questioned Bela Bhatia's landlady and neighbours about the human rights defender. They demanded that the landlady answer questions as to why she had rented a place to a "Naxalite terrorist" and told her to order Bela Bhatia to vacate the house. The crowd subsequently marched through the village, shouting slogans such as "Death to Bela Bhatia". They also distributed pamphlets calling the human rights defender a "Naxal stooge", a "foreign stooge", and criticizing her husband, Mr Jean Dreze, accusing him of being a Naxal supporter. Bela Bhatia has faced intimidation on multiple occasions in recent weeks. In February 2016, police visited her home in the village, questioned her neighbours and photographed her landlord. In January 2016, after the human rights defender had helped several women who had been raped by police officers to file complaints in Bijapur, she faced intimidation from representatives of Samajik Ekta Manch, who organised a mob and shouted slogans accusing her of being a Naxalite, and of not raising issues of human rights abuses by Naxals. Samajik Ekta Manch is a Jagdalpur based organisation reportedly supported by the Chhattisgarh Police, allegedly to counter Naxal influence and activities in the Bastar region. The group has previously used the same intimidating and threatening tactics against several other women human rights defenders in the Bastar region, including tribal activist Ms Soni Sori, lawyers Ms Shalini Gera and Ms Isha Khandelwal, and journalist Ms Malini Subramaniam. The harassment of Bela Bhatia is part of a larger wave of repression of human rights defenders, including lawyers, researchers and journalists, standing up against police in the Bastar district. Previously, investigations into human rights violations in the area had been rare due to significant restrictions of people's freedoms as a result of the long drawn-out military confrontation between government forces and Maoist rebels in the region. However, two protests against human rights violations committed by police and restrictions upon the freedom of speech in October and December 2015 served to instigate greater human rights activism in Bastar.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 7, 2017
- Event Description
Dr. Anticha Sangchai is an activist and lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences on the Pattani campus of the Prince of Songkla University. Mrs. Daranee Tongsiri is a LGBTI activist, who is also life partner of Anticha. They have been working over LGBTI issues in the Deep South of Thailand for several years. Together they found a book caf_ in Pattani called the Buku Bookshop in 2013. Apart from being "an alternative bookstore" that sells many progressive books, the Buku Bookshop has been organizing a workshop called Buku's Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights Classroom (Buku Classroom), which its aims are to provide a safe zone for the discussion of gender and sexuality in the conflict area where sexual well-being and sexual violence are topics that have been for long time being sweep under the rug. The workshop then developed other kinds of activity such as the Buku FC, which is a football team that puts together men, women, both hijab-wearing or not, and LGBTI. The Buku Bookshop has also been working with many CSOs in the Deep South for supporting other certain issues as well including, inter alia, concerns over autonomous region, the abuse of torture. The story featuring the Buku bookshop and the Buku FC was broadcasted on 7 February 2017 at 1:30pm. After its broadcast, Anticha Sangchai and Daranee Tongsiri were subjected to various attacks on social media alleging that they were teaching people in the local to become homosexual, which goes against the Islamic teaching. They were called as Mushrik, which is a rude term for calling non-believer. Some of the status of Facebook stated that the Pattani separatist fighter should get rid of them. They were called as acts of Satan. Some of the article also stated that they are trying to subvert Islam and Muslim way of life, which is very sensitive allegation for the people working in the area. The WHRDs also received information that there are witch-hunting attempt in the social media communication group by religious Muslim women. They are trying to find the Muslim women university students who appeared in the documentary playing football. The face photos, images and Facebook ID of football team members appeared in the film were spread among the closed social media group. Most of online harassment were happened on Facebook and lasted long for almost two weeks since the broadcasting day.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Sexual Violence, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Online, SOGI rights, Women's rights
- HRD
- Academic, NGO, SOGI rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 7, 2016
- Event Description
23 February 2016: Human rights defender Malini Subramaniam and members of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group forced to leave Bastar On 20 February 2016, Ms Shalini Gera and Ms Isha Khandelwal of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group (JagLAG) were forced to vacate their house and the office of JagLAG in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state as a result of police intimidation of their landlord. On 18 February 2016, human rights defender and journalist Ms Malini Subramaniam and her family were forced to leave their home in the Bastar region after the owners of their rented accommodation were threatened by police. All three human rights defenders have suffered increasing intimidation in connection with their human rights work in recent months. On 18 February 2016, Malini Subramaniam's landlord was summoned by police, temporarily detained at a local police station, and threatened into issuing her and her family with a notice of eviction, before being released. He subsequently requested that she leave her home as soon as possible. Earlier on the same day, the human rights defender's domestic worker was also taken to a police station and questioned, under the guise of investigating attacks which took place on the house of Malini Subramaniam on 8 February 2016, before being released. She had also been detained temporarily twice the previous day, 17 February 2016. On 18 February 2016, the landlord of Shalini Gera and Isha Khandelwal was temporarily detained by police and forced by threat to request the human rights defenders to leave their house and the JagLAG office within two days. The eviction of the three human rights defenders, which follow months of police harassment and intimidation, mark the most recent in a string of persecutory acts targeting human rights defenders in the Bashar region of Chhattisgarh. 12 February 2016: Harassment of human rights defender Malini Subramaniam; attack on her house and car On 8 February 2016, the home of human rights defender Ms Malini Subramaniam in Jagdalpur city was attacked by unknown assailants. The attack follows months of harassment of the human rights defender by the government and police authorities of Chhattisgarh state. After the attack, Malini Subramaniam spent several hours at one of the local police stations in Bastar district in an attempt to file a complaint for the attack on her home. The complaint was eventually accepted, however the chief police officer of Jagdalpur city, Mr Deepmala Kashyap, refused to accept the First Information Report (FIR) on the incident provided by the human rights defender. He claimed that no FIR could be filed without approval of the district chief police officer, who was not in his office on that day. As there was no officially approved FIR, the police took no action to investigate the case of Malini Subramaniam or to ensure her protection. Early in the morning of 8 February 2016, Malini Subramaniam's home in the Jagdalpur city was attacked by unknown people, who threw stones at her house, shattering the window glass of the human rights defender's car which was parked outside. In the evening of 7 February 2016, another incident of harassment of the human rights defender took place. A group of approximately twenty people gathered in front of her residence, shouting slogans accusing the human rights defender of being a supporter of the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency and demanding that she be put to death. The mob's aim was to agitate neighbours of Malini Subramaniam against her, and provoke an attack by them on the human rights defender. Malini Subramaniam identified several participants in the protests as representatives of local political groups and government agencies, as well as members of the Samajik Ekta Manch, a Jagdalpur-based forum formed to counter Naxalism, a radical movement of the far-left in Bastar and support the work of the police in the area. Late on 10 January 2016, representatives of the Samajik Ekta Manch visited Malini Subramaniam at her house, and subjected her to multiple rounds of questioning concerning her work as a journalist. Police have also interrogated the human rights defender on many occasions, both at her home and at police stations. Scroll.in has tried to take these instances of intimidation of Malini Subramaniam to the attention of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Raman Singh, but he has never provided a formal response and only threatened the human rights defender. The harassment of Malini Subramaniam is part of a larger crackdown on activists, lawyers and journalists standing up against abuses committed by police in the Bastar district. Previously, investigations into human rights violations in the area were rare, as a result of significant restrictions on people's freedoms imposed in view of the long drawn-out military confrontation between government forces and Maoist rebels in the region.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 1, 2016
- Event Description
Would-be independent candidates in forthcoming elections to district-level legislative bodies around China have expressed concern over the safety of constitutional scholar and former People's Congress deputy Yao Lifa, who has been incommunicado since last week. Yao, who in 1998 became the first independent delegate to be elected to a municipal seat in a local People's Congress, has since coached other election hopefuls via social media how to win votes. His bid to use his status to campaign for poverty alleviation and the rights of local people inspired a national movement to field independent candidates in local elections, which are tightly controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Yao was briefly detained last year by authorities in his home city of Yanjiang, Hubei province, after he discussed independent candidacy with his followers on the popular chat room app QQ. Friends and fellow activists say he has been incommunicado since last Tuesday, ahead of local elections in Yanjiang. "Yao has been under various restrictions and surveillance for a long time now, and he is usually taken out of Yanjiang if there are any elections coming up," Hubei-based independent candidate Wu Lijuan told RFA on Monday. "We haven't been able to get in touch with him since Nov. 1." Candidates targeted Wu said most activists who seek independent candidacy in local elections have sought advice and help from Yao. "They are afraid that he'll teach us what he knows, and the relevant rules, so they have taken him out of town," Wu said. "They don't want us to know that stuff." China's electoral guidelines state that candidates may put themselves forward if they receive recommendations from at least 10 local voters in direct elections to district and township level People's Congresses. But powerful vested interests mean that the majority of local "elections" are a fait accompli, while independent candidates are frequently targeted for persecution, harassment, and detention. Official media have also warned that there is "no such thing" as an independent candidate. Wu said Yao had planned to register as a candidate himself in forthcoming local elections. "He had recommendations from several hundred people," she said. "There were also recommendations for other colleagues to run." But she said the authorities typically refuse to accept such candidates for registration. "And now the people who recommended Yao Lifa are being threatened[by the authorities]," Wu said. 'I have to do this' In Beijing, rights lawyer Cheng Hai said he also plans to seek registration as a People's Congress election candidate. "I have to do this to help this country move towards democracy and the rule of law," Cheng said. "In other countries, if you have a better quality of lawmaker, that forces the government to have better-performing officials." But he said restrictions on canvassing in his local area are making it hard for him to get his message out to the 60,000 residents of his district. Every three to five years, China "elects" more than two million lawmakers at the county and township levels across the country to local-level People's Congresses in more than 2,000 counties and 30,000 townships. But apart from a token group of "democratic parties" that never oppose or criticize the ruling party, opposition political parties are banned in China, and those who set them up are frequently handed lengthy jail terms.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state, Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Dec 26, 2016
- Event Description
A Pakistani rights activist whose politician father was assassinated in 2011 for supposedly insulting Islam says he fears the same fate after a hardline religious group issued a fatwa demanding his execution and the police launched an investigation into allegations he had committed blasphemy. Shaan Taseer said the Sunni Tehreek, a grouping of clerics drawn from the Barelvi movement, was "gunning for my blood and provoking people to take my life" over a Christmas video he posted on social media in which he criticised Pakistan's blasphemy laws. His father, Salmaan Taseer, the former governor of Punjab province, was killed amid similar controversy by one of his own police guards six years ago. The governor had infuriated hardliners with his demand for a government pardon for Asia Bibi, a poor Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy despite weak and contradictory evidence against her. His killer, Mumtaz Qadri, became a hero, and an estimated 100,000 mourners attended his funeral following his execution last year. The ire of the Barelvi sect, which on non-blasphemy issues is generally considered moderate, was rekindled last month after Taseer published a video expressing solidarity with people entangled in blasphemy allegations. He called for the release of both Bibi, who remains on death row, and Nabeel Masih, a Christian teenager arrested last year for "liking" on Facebook a picture of the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam's holiest site. How to commit blasphemy in Pakistan Read more Taseer also demanded the repeal of what he called the "inhumane" blasphemy laws, a longstanding demand of international human rights groups who say the laws are widely abused by people who level false allegations to settle personal scores. The video prompted Sunni Tehreek to issue a fatwa, or religious edict, saying Taseer was liable for death because he had supposedly committed both blasphemy and apostasy. Police in the city of Lahore also lodged a first investigation report (FIR), a document that formally starts the process of investigating a crime, under the country's blasphemy laws. According to the FIR, police claimed to have found the video on a USB drive left outside a police station. Mujahid Abdul Rasul, a Sunnit Tehreek cleric who demanded the police take action, said Taseer's support for Bibi and Masih meant he "was equally involved in the crime" of blasphemy. "I don't know why the Taseer family do this again and again," he said. "His own father was killed for this so why is he also choosing the same path?" Taseer has not been named in the FIR, with officers at Islampura police station in Lahore claiming they had not been able to confirm if it was really him in the video. Whether or not the police pursue the matter, the mere accusation of blasphemy can be enough to incite vigilante attacks. Taseer, who lives abroad but visits Pakistan regularly, said the Sunni Tehreek was deliberately trying to provoke its supporters in the hope that someone would mimic the killing of his father, which took place in an Islamabad market on 4 January 2011. "On social media there are calls for another Mumtaz Qadri to deal with me and people are offering to be his successor," he said. "What they plan to do is engineer another Qadri-like assassination." Pakistan's supreme court is due to rule on Bibi's final appeal, which was postponed in October after one of the judges recused himself from the case.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Online
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 5, 2017
- Event Description
CHENNAI: A noted RTI activist lodged a complaint with autorities including State Information Commission, Director General of Police, and other authorities seeking protection to him since he is facing a threat from realtors and officials of civic authority. P.Kalyanasundaram, social worker, is also known as "Thagaval Thattha'. In his identical letters to all including police, he is obtaining information under RTI and serving to public cause. He claimed that a construction company has been building apartment in his area flouting norms of Chennai Metropolitan Authority and a few officials of Chennai Corporation also were also acting upon his complaints. He alleged that unknown persons were following him and watching his residence. Mr. Kalyanasundaram claimed that his life was under threat by unknown persons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state, Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 5, 2017
- Event Description
Unidentified thugs vandalized the Hanoi home of a prominent human-rights attorney, smearing it with red paint and putrid-smelling shrimp paste late Thursday night, the lawyer told RFA's Vietnamese Service. Tran Thu Nam told RFA that he was working at his home around midnight when he went to his front door to investigate a mysterious commotion. "I don't know who did it, as they had already run away when I opened the door," he said. "They painted the door and threw shrimp paste at it." Tran called the Yen Hoa commune police, who took pictures of the scene and wrote a report. "They came and took pictures of the scene and wrote a report," he said. "They promised me that they will use pictures taken by cameras from the neighbors to identify those people." Tran and fellow attorney Le Van Luan were brutally beaten by thugs last year when they visited the family of their client Do Dang Du, who had died in police custody. Case dropped Publicity over the 2015 attack on Tran and Le led Hanoi police to investigate and prosecute the people involved in the assault, but the victims decided to drop the case, and Tran forgave his attackers. "When I was beaten, they had to start the prosecution process because of the public pressure, but I didn't think those young men had any problem with me directly, so I decided to drop the case," he said. While the beating drew national attention and was raised in Vietnam's National Assembly, an attack on a house is unlikely to rise to that level, he said. "I'm afraid that it will be very difficult to investigate due to complicating issues in society concerning circumstances," he said. "It is hard to hope that they will find out who did this." Shrimp paste is a pungent ingredient used in many Asian dishes, and is made from fermented, ground shrimp mixed with salt. In Vietnam, it is used in a wet form, and is often an ingredient in a dip made for fish or vegetables. While it remains unclear who vandalized Tran's house, attacks on the homes of prominent dissidents and government critics are often used in Asia as a form of intimidation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jan 10, 2017
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: A prominent Sabahan youth activist was accosted by three men at a restaurant in Sandakan today and threatened that if he continued to speak about a certain VIP, something bad would befall him. The victim, Jufazli Shi Ahmad 27, told FMT the three followed him and his two friends when they went to the Secret Recipe restaurant at Batu 5, Sandakan, at about 2.30pm. "We didn't realise we were being followed until after 15 minutes. A man approached me and tapped my cheek, asking me to meet him outside the restaurant. "I just ignored him." Five minutes later, the trio confronted Jufazli again inside the restaurant and hurled profanities at him. "They were threatening and provoking me inside the restaurant. They warned me not to speak about a VIP. But I ignored them. "In the end, another guy in his 50s, with a moustache, shoved my head and yelled at me again." After creating a commotion inside the restaurant, the trio gave Jufazli a stern warning against criticising the Sabah state government and left abruptly in a car. "They gave me a warning that if I kept speaking out, something bad will happen to me." Immediately after the assailants left, Jufazli and his two friends immediately lodged a police report. However, Jufazli said police could not confirm if they would take follow-up action on the report. Jufazli said he was not injured and that the incident would not dampen his spirits in seeking out the truth. He said he believed the assault was linked to a Facebook live video he posted an hour earlier to connect with his 40,000 online fans. Jufazli, a vocal critic of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, is also the founder of Gerakan Anak Muda Selamatkan Sabah (GAMSS). The 27-year-old said last month that he would contest in Musa's stronghold of Sungai Sibuga, Sandakan, in the 14th general election.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- May 16, 2017
- Event Description
On 20 May 2017, Father Elil Rajan was summoned in relation to a commemorative event he organised near St. Paul's Church in East Mullivaaikkal, a village on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka which was the scene of the final battle of the civil war. The event consisted of placing rocks carved with the names of Tamil victims of this final battle. While the police summons was withdrawn, the human rights defender was asked to provide the list of names that was engraved on the rocks. Father Elil Rajan had previously been summoned and questioned on 16 May by the Mullaitivu Police and on 19 May by the Vavuniya Police over the event he organised for Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day on 18 May, a commemorative day observed by Tamil people to remember those who died in the final stages of the civil war. The ongoing harassment of Father Elil Rajan is part of a broader crackdown on Tamil civil society, which has been subjected to other forms of harassment, intimidation and surveillance which hinder non-exclusionary truth and reconciliation efforts by restricting the recognition and remembrance of human rights violations suffered by Tamil people during the civil war. Human rights defenders such as Father Elil Rajan who work on Tamil issues and for the inclusion of the Tamil perspective in truth and reconciliation efforts, are particularly targeted through surveillance, and freedom of expression and assembly is restricted in Tamil regions, especially in military-occupied territories affected by the civil war. Police occasionally use excessive force to disperse protesters, and the army has imposed some restrictions on assembly in the North and East, particularly for planned memorial events concerning the end of the war, which impact human rights defenders working on violations perpetrated in the region both during and after the civil war. These restrictions have disproportionately affected Tamil people.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 1, 2017
- Event Description
Several civil society organizations and their employees, including the leaders of the human rights NGOs Licadho and Adhoc, are under watch by the Interior Ministry for allegedly aiding the CNRP and will face legal action after Sunday's commune election if the allegations prove true, a ministry spokesman said today, a charge denied by Licadho's executive director. "We have not yet put any NGOs or civil society organizations on the blacklist but we will take action if we find those organizations are working to serve the opposition party," ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said this morning, referring to a list the government uses to initiate formal investigations. "We will not take action in this time because the activities of those organizations are not so serious," he said. "But we will take action immediately if the activities of those people affect the national interest." Though General Sopheak did not name the organizations in question, he said they included Adhoc and Licadho. "Those two organizations are under investigation because most of their activities are working to serve the opposition party," he said. "I wish to state that the two organizations are good, but individuals and leaders in the organizations are working to serve the opposition party." Licadho's executive director Naly Pilorge said she was unaware of any investigation against the organization and denied supporting the opposition. "As a human rights NGO, pre & post election work has been and still is a normal part of our work," she wrote in a message. "Our work is to provide services to victims of human rights violations including land grabbing, trafficking, gender based violence, labor etc... including cases that are of civil & political nature." Gen. Sopheak said the action was prompted by criticism from civil society organizations over the ink used in the upcoming elections. The National Election Committee admitted it purchased the ink even though samples could be erased using a hair care product, drawing concern from election monitors over potential double-voting. The spokesman said the NGOs were working at the behest of foreign donors to support the opposition. "We are now watching[to see] which NGOs and civil society organizations are working to serve the opposition party and we will take action after the commune election," he said, declining to name the actions but saying they would draw from the recently-passed Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO). NGOs in Cambodia have been treading more carefully since the passage last year of LANGO, which critics said gave the government sweeping powers to revoke the registration of organizations found to have threatened political stability or be operating with a political bias. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, released an 11-page screed in April, "To Tell the Truth," accusing foreign diplomats, media, and NGOs of colluding with Western governments to destabilize the country and support the opposition. Representatives from Adhoc as well as two election watchdogs - the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia - could not immediately be reached for comment, while Chak Sopheap, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, declined to comment. Adhoc director Thun Saray fled to Canada last fall amid a court case that saw four of his employees jailed for bribery charges widely seen as politically motivated, which Gen. Sopheak said proved his guilt. Eang Vuthy, head of the housing and development NGO Equitable Cambodia, said he was unaware of the ministry's investigation, but that the organization was operating neutrally. "We just follow our mandate," he said. "We are not affiliated to any political party." An article from government mouthpiece Fresh News, which broke the story, said that the NGOs targeted were located in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district, but Gen. Sopheak said that he had not read the article and declined to comment on its accuracy.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 7, 2017
- Event Description
Soldiers have paid visit to the house of a well-known anti-junta activist, demanding her to cease all political activities. At about 2 pm on 7 June 2017, soldiers visited a house of Chonticha Jaeng-rew, an activist from Democracy Restoration Group (DRG), in Lat Lum Kaeo District of Pathum Thani Province. Chonticha told Prachatai that 4-5 soldiers visited the house when she was away, so they had a discussion with her mother. They told her mother that Chonticha should not participate in any political activity because she had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the authorities promising not to do so in the past and asked why was she able to travel overseas, claiming that the MoU does not permit it. "I just talked to friends why did they talked about the MoU[signed since 2014] because it is strange. They never talked about it before. For me, it has no longer has any effect because[political] roadmap of the National Council for Peace and Order has already passed," said Chonticha. She added that soldiers visited her house at least 30 times in the past, adding that the officers said they will visit the house again to talk to her. After the coup d'_tat, many high-profiles democracy activists were forced to sign the similar MoU with the authorities as a precondition for their release. Most, however, chose to ignore it.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 8, 2017
- Event Description
On 8 June 2017, a group of ten plainclothes agents came to the private residence of former political prisoner Le Quoc Quan in Hanoi, blocking the family from going out and threatening to kill him and his wife and three daughters if he continues to work for human rights and multi-party democracy. The move came one week after Quan met with visiting U.S. Senator John McCain and other members of a delegation of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services where he reported the intensified political crackdown in Vietnam to the guests
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 9, 2017
- Event Description
Senior journalist Rana Tanvir, who had written about religious minorities and human rights issues in his work, was run over by a car on Friday - June 09, 2017. The incident happened days after a graffiti appeared on his main door, which read the journalist was liable to be killed for his work. "The physical attack on the journalist comes days after Lahore police official expressed reluctance to protect him and Friday's deliberate attempt is encouraged by official apathy journalists in distress face in Punjab province," the Freedom Network (FN), Pakistan's media watchdog organisation said on June 11, 2017, in its press freedom alert. "What has alarmed us is the fact that police did not extend any help or support when Rana Tanvir visited Civil Lines SP Ali for protection and did not help register FIR against perpetrators of the crime. This arrogance or negligence of the official is worth noting by the Punjab government which is taking credit for transparency in services to its people," the press freedom alert went on to say. The FN said the attacks on religious minorities had been haunting Pakistan for a long time and attacks on journalists taking up this issue are on the rise. "We demand both the Punjab government and the journalist's employer - Express Tribune - to do what they can to protect the journalist," the FN said. The journalist survived the attempt on his life but it landed in a hospital bed with an injured left leg. "I just had a surgery for fractured bones in my left leg and shifted to a ward bed," the journalist told FN on Sunday. The death threat was hurled for his writing about religious minorities and human rights violations, he said in an email he sent on June 7, He moved to "safe home" following the graffiti which he noticed on May 30, 2017. "On May 30 at about 11am when I came out of my rented house at Habibullah Road, Garhi Shahu, Lahore, to go to the office, I saw a threatening writing on my house-door with spray paint which declared me deserving death by terming me as non-believer and supporter of Ahmadis. That was shocking for me and my wife," the journalist wrote. "Meanwhile, the house lord and his mother also reached and asked me to leave the house as it was also posing threat to their lives. "I immediately covered the door with a piece of cloth so that other neighbours cannot see it and moved the family to my relatives in the cantonment area of Lahore. I took one of my colleagues and a relative with me visit the Racecourse Police Station and filed an application narrating the whole episode. No FIR so far was registered," the journalist said. He went on add that the next day along with his colleague he visited DIG (Operations) Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf and informed him about the behaviour of the police which was not willing to lodge any FIR or trying to trace out the responsible. "He called the Civil Lines SP and advised us to visit him. We went to him and he said there is no need to register FIR as it would make you more vulnerable and it would enrage the religious fanatics. I requested him to at least try to identify the suspect who visited my house in the broad daylight. The SP said, "police officers and journalists are doing Jihad and in the way of Jihad we should not be afraid of sacrifice. Mashal is a martyr and his killers are still being cursed." Listening to this, we left his office having no other remedy, the journalist narrated. The journalist is working for an English daily newspaper, which is carrying reports on religious minorities in Pakistan more prominently than any other media outlet and the organisation faced a number of attacks for the same reasons. Tanveer said he moved to his current home just under one and a half years ago so his daughter could attend a local school. Three months ago, the journalist said, his landlord began receiving calls from an unknown number advising him to evict Tanveer and his family, saying that he is a "kafir (infidel)" and an "enemy of Islam." Tanveer said he moved to his current home just under one and a half years ago so his daughter could attend a local school. Three months ago, the journalist said, his landlord began receiving calls from an unknown number advising him to evict Tanveer and his family, saying that he is a "kafir (infidel)" and an "enemy of Islam." It is pertinent to mention here that it is not the first threat journalist Tanveer is facing. In 2013, he received a threatening letter at his office address. The "State of Human Rights in 2013", the annual report published by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, mentioned this threat on its 115th page. "The latest threat is unique which made my whole family worried as my wife is asking me to leave journalism, which I cannot at any cost. I am reaching out to you to let you know that this incident has put me and my wife, with two of our kids, under constant stress," the journalist wrote in his mail he shared with many people to foretell the impending dangers. "In such a situation it is very difficult to continue doing my professional duties under constant threat. As the chief reporter and team leader of the daily in Lahore for the last seven years, I know that my credibility and objectivity rests on my ability to be proactive in highlighting issues revolving religion and victimisation of religious minorities."
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Media freedom, Minority Rights, Right to work
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 23, 2017
- Event Description
Ms. Nimalka Fernando and Mr. Sunanda Deshapriya participated in the UNHRC 34th session in March 2017 where the resolution entitled "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/34/1)" was adopted by consensus with the co-sponsorship of the Government of Sri Lanka. It decided to request the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to continue its assessment on progress on the implementation of the Office's recommendations and other relevant processes related to truth, justice, accountability, reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka for next two years. Since the adoption of the resolution on 23rd March, the two human rights defenders have been subject to smear campaigns. After the UNHRC session, a public campaign was launched on Facebook which brands Ms. Fernando and Mr. Deshapriya as traitors. Their pictures were placed next to the image of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's flag with texts calling them "white tigers". Such stigmatization would pose them to a risk for attack, intimidation and harassment. On 27th March, a protest was organised by the Women for Justice (WFJ) Organization on the street of Ms. Fernando's residence. The demonstrators condemned her that she is lying to the United Nations and working for foreign money. Those personal attacks by alleged non-State actors raise serious concerns on the safety of the human rights defenders who rightfully engaged with the UNHRC. Since 30th March, a number of Sri Lankan human rights defenders including Ms. Fernando and Mr. Deshapriya have been named by certain individuals in Sri Lankan media. They are labelled as "foreign-funded NGOs working against the country". The reprisals against the two human rights defenders were reactions to the new UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka. The perpetrators claimed that the two are responsible for the Council's decision to extend the OHCHR's monitoring on the country. Yet in fact, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein clearly recommended the UNHRC "to continue its close engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka and to monitor developments in the country", based on his office's independent and comprehensive assessment of the country's progress on the transitional justice process. At the same time, he drew attention to the continuing incidents of harassment of human rights defenders, the use of hate speech and aggressive hate campaigns against groups and individuals in Sri Lanka. The recent two attacks are clear examples of reprisals against human rights defenders who cooperate with the UN human rights system. In 2015, the Government of Sri Lanka demonstrated its commitment by co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution 30/1 to address all attacks against human rights defenders, hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future attacks. However, we regret that the Government failed to investigate the previous incidents n against human rights defenders including Ms. Fernando's case in 2013. It left the culture of impunity unaddressed which facilitated the recent attacks against Ms. Fernando and Mr. Deshapriya.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation, Women's rights
- HRD
- NGO, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 16, 2017
- Event Description
The father of jailed Chinese human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong has been called in and issued with a warning by the country's state security police after the family issued a statement slamming the government's forced "appointment" of defense lawyers in the case. "The state security police took Jiang Tianyong's father down to the police station on 16 June 2017 for a chat, and they told him not to have anything to do with anyone outside[the case], because it is still under investigation," Jiang's U.S.-based wife Jin Bianling told RFA on Friday. The warning came after the family issued a joint statement on Thursday hitting out at the authorities for refusing to recognize defense lawyers they appointed by refusing their requests to meet with Jiang, who has had no contact with family or lawyers since his incarceration. "It seems the authorities are up to their old tricks and are forcing Jiang Tianyong to accept government-appointed lawyers," the statement, posted on the website of the U.S.-based Human Rights in China, said. "Hearing this news, we are beside ourselves with anger," said the statement, signed by Jiang's mother, father and wife. It said the authorities appear to be taking the same approach with all lawyers detained in a nationwide operation since July 2015, including Wang Quanzhang, Li Heping, and Xie Yang. "We absolutely do not recognize or accept government-appointed lawyers," the family said, calling on the government to recognize lawyers Chen Jinxue and Zhang Lei as Jiang's official defense team. "We reserve the right to sue the government units handling the case on account of their unlawful appointment of lawyers," it said. Jin said she had told her father-in-law Jiang Lianghou that the family needs to speak out more, not less, following the warning from state security police. "I told his father that Jiang Tianyong is innocent, and that the more afraid[the authorities] become, the more we have to speak to people outside the case, to tell the whole world that Jiang Tianyong is innocent," she said. Meanwhile, Jiang's mother Wei Ziyun issued a video statement in support of her son, who faces charges of "subversion of state power" after his initial detention last November. "To this day, the lawyers we appointed to defend him have been unable to meet with him," Wei said. "I don't believe that my son would break the law, because he studies the law." "My son is himself a lawyer who has helped many, many people," she said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 11, 2017
- Event Description
The wife of detained Chinese rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong has said she has received an account of his torture during his detention in an unknown location. Jiang, who went missing on Nov. 21 in the central city of Changsha, is now confirmed by police as detained under "residential surveillance in a designated location" on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power." He was identified as vulnerable to torture by Amnesty International in January. Speaking from her home in the U.S., Jin Bianling said authorities in neighboring Henan province have also detained Jiang's father and sister after they arrived in Beijing: "Today is the 172nd day of Jiang Tianyong's secret detention. To this day, nobody in our family knows exactly where he is being held. His lawyers aren't permitted to meet with him. We have recently learned from a sympathetic official source in Changsha that Jiang Tianyong has been tortured. There is a problem with his feet. They are so swollen that he can't stand up. He may be crippled for life. I was extremely concerned and worried when I heard about this. I fear for Jiang Tianyong's life and his well-being, because I have seen that other lawyers, Xie Yang, Li Chunfu, and Li Heping released recently had been detained and tortured too. I worry that Jiang Tianyong won't be able to bear it. Yesterday[May 11], Jiang Tianyong's sister went with his father to Beijing to pick up a few items from his brother's place. But they were stopped by interceptors from Henan shortly after they arrived and taken to a hotel. They were told it was because the One Belt, One Road forum is about to open in Beijing, so they weren't being allowed into the city. They then took Jiang Tianyong's sister and father back home in their own car, driving through the night. They arrived in Luoshan in Xinyang city, Henan at around 6.00 a.m.[Thursday] morning. But Jiang Tianyong's sister and father weren't allowed home after they arrived in Luoshan. They have been taken to the Nangan police station for interrogation. They haven't yet been released. I condemn these actions in the strongest terms. In particular, I condemn the Hunan authorities' ... cruel and inhumane torture of Jiang Tianyong. I call on China's judicial system to carry out an investigation into Jiang Tianyong's treatment and make his whereabouts and situation publicly known. At the same time, I call on the Henan police to give me a full and public account of which laws Jiang Tianyong's father and sister are alleged to have broken. They were detained when they only went to Beijing to pick up a few things, and we still don't know where they are or what happened to them." UPDATE: On 2 June 2017, the wife and father of a prominent Chinese human rights campaigner said that police have told the family he has been formally arrested and has dismissed his lawyers. However, it contrary to the fact that one of Jiang's lawyers went to the Public Security Bureau in the central Hunan province city of Changsha on 31 May to again request a meeting with his client. The lawyer was given a statement from Jiang declaring that he had dismissed his family-appointment lawyers. State media later said Jiang was accused of "inciting subversion of state power" and was being held at a secret location. His family and lawyers have not been allowed to meet with him. UPDATE: On 8 June 2017, Jiang's relatives in Hunan's provincial capital Changsha received written notification from the city's police department this week that the charges against him have been stepped up to "subversion of state power" from "incitement to subvert state power." meaning he could face an even longer jail term. UPDATE: On 22 August 2017, Jiang Tianyong was tried for "inciting subversion of state power" in a closed session which lasted less than three hours in Changsha city, Hunan province. Information regarding the trial proceedings was provided via a large screen outside of the court room. Lawyers retained by the human rights defender's family were not permitted to represent him and he was instead provided with state-appointed lawyers. According to the court announcements, Jiang Tianyong confessed to "attempting to undermine China's societal order", as well as to falling under the "influence of overseas trainings", such that he believed that China could develop "Western capitalistic constitutionalism". Court announcements also stated that Jiang Tianyong admitted to his role in fabricating false torture allegations against detained human rights lawyer Xie Yang. Jiang Tianyong's wife believes that the defender was forced by authorities to make these confessions. UPDATE: A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced a prominent human rights lawyer to two years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power", the latest verdict in an intensifying crackdown on rights activists in the Communist nation. Jiang Tianyong (46), was sentenced at The Intermediate People's Court in the central Chinese city of Changsha. Mr. Jiang was also deprived of his political rights for three years. He said he would not appeal against the conviction, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the ruling of the court. He was found to have made a large number of statements to attack or defame China's government departments, judicial organs and the national legal system, the court ruling said. The court accused him of "inciting subversion of state power," and defaming the government. "Jiang has long been infiltrated and influenced by anti- China forces and gradually formed the idea of overthrowing the existing political system of the country," it said. The court also cited Mr. Jiang's role in helping publish information on the plight of another human rights lawyer, Xie Yang, who detailed his account of torture in detention. Mr. Jiang disappeared in November 2016 and it was several weeks before the authorities confirmed he was in custody. "This case has been an absolute travesty from the beginning, sustained by nothing other than pure political persecution, not facts or broken laws," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. Mr. Jiang is one of more than 250 lawyers, legal assistants and activists detained in what is now known as the "709 crackdown" of July 2015. Some were released, but a number of leading lawyers have been charged with subversion, smeared in the party-controlled press. The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in recent years has increased controls over the social media, specially the Weibo, akin to Twitter, which has become immensely popular over the years challenging the monopoly of the state media.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 20, 2017
- Event Description
Anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar, known for his protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant project, on Thursday wrote a letter to Press Council of India chairman Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad raising allegations of harassment against news channel Republic TV. In his letter, Udayakumar said he wishes to bring the council's attention towards the "ongoing deceit and harassment of me and my family by Mr. Arnab Ranjan Goswami and a few of his colleagues such as Shweta and Sanjeev from the Republic TV." Talking about the "sting operation" reportage being carried out by the channel, raising allegations against him of receiving foreign funds, Udayakumar, in the letter, gave a detailed description of the events that played out before the reportage. Describing Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami as "abhorrent, abrasive and even abusive", the PMANE convenor said he gave his clarifications in a panel discussion on Republic TV. He further added that reporter Sanjeev from the channel harassed his family members while he was taking part in the channel's panel discussion. "As I was taking part in their discussion from Kumbakonam town where I was attending an agitation, Republic TV reporter Sanjeev was standing in front of my home at Nagercoil from 2 pm till 11 pm that night harassing my parents aged 85 and 82 respectively, my wife and school-going son," Udayakumar wrote. He further added that the reporters, continued "hounding" his family members with "their high-handed behaviour" in a bid to seek a response from them over the allegations, even after they told them that he was out of town. Udayakumar also alleged that the channel is showing "slanderous reports" about him in a bid to "raise the TRP rate". Asking PCI to intervene and stop Republic TV from causing more "mental agony to me and my entire family", the anti-nuclear activist said such behaviour should be unacceptable in a democracy. "This kind of indecent and abusive behavior of an anchor and reporters is unacceptable in a democracy... may I request you to do the needful to stop this anti-people TV from hurting me and more people in future, please," he wrote in the letter.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Vilification
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 20, 2017
- Event Description
Noor Ejaz Chaudhry, Usama Malik and Shabir Hussain are human rights lawyers. Noor Ejaz Chaudhry is currently a legal associate at AGHS Legal Aid Cell in Lahore, an organisation working to defend the rights of women, children and minorities in Pakistan founded by Asma Jahangir. She has worked as a teacher's assistant for the International Protection of Human Rights course in University College Lahore and was an editor for the University's Human Rights Review. Usama Malik is a junior associate of human rights defender Asma Jahangir, working with the AGHS Legal Aid Cell. Shabir Hussain is a senior lawyer. They are all part of the legal team of Asma Jahangir. On 20 June 2017, in Lahore High Court, a group of about 70 lawyers verbally and physically abused Noor Ejaz Chaudhry, Usama Malik and Shabir Hussain and tried to prevent them from representing their client, a woman whose daughter Ayesha and grandchild disappeared on 30 November 2016. The accused in the case is a senior lawyer and member of the Pakistan Bar Council called Maqsood Butter, who was married to Ayesha. According to the victim's family, Maqsood Butter was a violent husband and had already threatened them. The investigation into Ayesha and her child's disappearance is at a stalemate since her family filed a complaint seven months ago. The group of lawyers, who gathered at the courtroom to support Maqsood Butter, also beat the the complainant and her young brother in the courtroom, all in presence of the Judge Abdul Sammi Khan. They shouted insulting slogans against Asma Jahangir, her defence team and the complainant, and threatened to attack them again outside the courtroom. The three human rights lawyers and the victim's family were then escorted outside the court premises under police protection.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 28, 2017
- Event Description
The NGO election consortium calling itself the "Situation Room" may be banned from future vote monitoring and the registration of its member NGOs investigated, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused the group of violating the law, colluding with the opposition and serving as a base for a "color revolution." Members of the group defended its neutrality and said it had not registered with the Interior Ministry, as is required of NGOs under the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (Lango), because it was a temporary gathering of like-minded NGOs rather than a fully structured organization. Speaking at the CPP's 66th anniversary celebrations on Phnom Penh's Koh Pich on Wednesday, the prime minister ordered Interior Minister Sar Kheng to investigate the Situation Room's legal status under Lango after the group of 40 NGOs criticized the fairness of the June 4 commune elections. "An issue that needs to be solved next is-what is the Situation Room?" Mr. Hun Sen asked. "In a few days, they made the election results have serious difficulties. Did the Situation Room register with the Interior Ministry?" "Do they have a right to create a base like this?" he asked of the group's election monitoring headquarters. "Or is this the common base for the principles of a color revolution?" The group's criticism of the election, especially pre-vote campaign activity, echoed concerns leveled by the CNRP, he said, suggesting collusion with the opposition. "If they're not legal, what have they been doing? How will they be punished?" he asked, urging Mr. Kheng to look into the group's legality. Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the ministry saw the coalition as an unregistered NGO, and would now investigate the registration of the member NGOs and call individuals in for questioning. The Situation Room's members, as listed on a news release earlier this month, are a roll call of the country's most prominent civil society organizations (CSOs), including election NGOs the Committee for Free and Fair Elections (Comfrel) and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections (Nicfec); rights groups Adhoc, Licadho and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights; labor rights NGO Central; and umbrella organization NGO Forum. "It could be that we issue a letter to dissolve their activity to jointly monitor the next election," General Sopheak said. In a statement released on Saturday, the group was largely positive about the vote itself but said "significant irregularities" prior to June 4 meant that "elections in Cambodia cannot yet be considered free and fair." The group said political suppression of the opposition, threats of violence from ruling party leaders, biased courts and unequal media allotment had undermined the quality of the election. Gen. Sopheak, who threatened unspecified action against CSOs in the run-up to the vote, rejected the findings and claimed they caused "social turmoil." In a statement jointly released on Wednesday by Comfrel and Nicfec, the two organizations did not mention Mr. Hun Sen's speech, but described the Situation Room as a "neutral forum" organized by the two groups to supply election observers and evaluate vote results, among other tasks. The consortium ended on Saturday, when it released its election findings, the statement said. Lango requires all "domestic associations" to register with the ministry, a term it defines as "a membership organization...by natural persons or legal entities aiming at representing and protecting the interests of their members without generating or sharing profits." Sotheara Yoeurng, a law and monitoring officer with Comfrel, confirmed in a Facebook message that the group had not registered with the ministry, but said there was no need given its short mandate. The group lacked an organizational structure, he said, and was only a gathering place for CSOs "who have like-mind." Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun said the Situation Room wouldn't need to register if it had merely served as a gathering place for member organizations. But if it wanted to organize under a new name and put out statements, it should have registered, he said. In the NGO law, "if we form a coalition, we should register." Comfrel's Mr. Yoeurng disputed that logic. "It's a room or space for gathering ideas and opinions of CSOs to debate on elections matters," he wrote. "It's a collective opinion so we should put it together for a single statement." Prince Sisowath Thomico, a member of the CNRP's steering committee, laughed when asked if his party had colluded with the forum, denying any secret cooperation. Mr. Hun Sen "is used to accusing," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to political participation
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 1, 2017
- Event Description
On November 1, Hanoi police kidnapped and robbed former prisoner of conscience Bui Thi Minh Hang when the Vung Tau city-based activist visited her relatives in Son Tay district, the victim said. At 2PM Wednesday, while Ms. Hang was staying in her cousin's private residence on Hoang Dieu street, Son Tay district, two police officers came and said they wanted to conduct a regular administrative check. When Hang took her smartphone to film, a group of nearly ten people detained her and took her to a car and drove away. The kidnappers took Hang to the headquarters of the Son Tay police department, where several police officers held her while a female officer conducted a body search. They took her smartphone and a wallet with VND3 million ($130). Later, police took her to a room where she was interrogated by an officer who introduced himself as Trung from the Hanoi city's Police Department. Trung couldn't say the reason for her detention when Hang questioned him about their motives against her. As Hang refused to answer their questions, they left her in the room until 8 PM. After that, they came back and asked her to sign in a working minute but Hang refused. Finally, police took Hang back to her cousin's house at 9 PM. Police asked her to go to the Hanoi Police Department on November 2 to settle issues about the confiscation of her smartphone. Hang said police are stationed at all the roads leading to her cousin's private residence. Ms. Hang, one of the leading figures in eleven consecutive anti-China protests in Hanoi in 2011 and other similar events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the following years, was arrested in early 2014 when she and other activists visited former political prisoner Nguyen Bac Truyen in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. Security forces arrested her and two other religious activists, namely Nguyen Van Minh and Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh, and charged them with "causing public disorder." Following trials that failed to meet international fair trial standards, she was sentenced to three years in jail on bogus traffic offenses, while Quynh and Minh were given two year sentences each. Hang, who is also a land rights activist, had been harassed by the Communist government in the past. She was detained many times after participating in peaceful anti-China protests in Hanoi and Saigon, and was sent to a re-habilitation facility by authorities in the capital city of Hanoi for months in an attempt to silence her. Since her arrest, many legislators and officials from the U.S. and EU member countries, as well as international human rights bodies, have urged Vietnam to release her immediately and unconditionally. She is among 82 prisoners of conscience whom Amnesty International has called on Vietnam's government to release. During the imprisonment, she was inhumanely treated by prison wardens. In 2015, she conducted a long hunger strike to protest degrading treatment inflicted on her and other prisoners, especially prisoners of conscience, by the prison's authorities. While serving her term, Vietnam's government offered her to live in exile in the U.S. However, she turned down the proposal, saying she would remain in the country to fight for the nation's integrity and improved human rights. Police are keeping close surveillance on her after she completed the sentence in mid-February this year. Kidnap, robbery, and torture are common practices applied by Vietnam's security forces against local political dissidents, human rights defenders, social activists, and online bloggers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Freedom of religion/belief activist, Land rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 12, 2017
- Event Description
A Vietnamese musician and activist is being evicted from her home after protesting against the US president's visit to Hanoi by holding a sign saying "Piss on you Trump". Mai Khoi and her Australian husband Benjamin Swanston were told to leave their apartment in the Vietnamese capital in the early hours of Sunday morning after she staged a demonstration along a route travelled by the US president's motorcade a few hours earlier. As the black SUVs roared past, she unveiled a sign saying "Peace on you Trump", with the letters of the word "peace' crossed out and replaced with the word "piss". "I was just protesting the way any American would protest, I haven't done anything wrong," she said. Khoi, a pro-democracy activist in a single-party communist state that bans dissent, is no stranger to trouble. She has been stalked, harassed, detained and has had her concerts raided. Vietnam routinely jails its critics and was accused of waging a crackdown on dissidents in the months leading up to Trump's visit to Vietnam, which included an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders' meeting in Da Nang and a stopover in Hanoi. The musician, a one-time winner of Vietnam Television's album and song of the year awards whose politics eventually made her a pariah in the industry, said she was completely opposed to the controversial US president. "His politics, his philosophy, is so different from me and is so harmful, and he doesn't support the human rights, and he doesn't care about activists," she said. Advertisement She added that unlike his predecessor Barack Obama, who met with her for an hour during a roundtable discussion in the Vietnamese capital last year, Trump had not once mentioned human rights in Vietnam. Although the road was swarming with police protecting the motorcade on Saturday, she walked away without anyone seemingly taking notice of her one-minute protest. But at 10pm that evening, a man and a woman forced their way into her home. Claiming to be employees of the building's owner, they ordered her eviction on the spot, not even giving her a chance to collect her belongings, and assaulted a visiting friend filming the proceedings, breaking his microphone. The couple said they believed the pair were agents from Vietnam's secret police service. The two intruders eventually left, but the eviction order stood and strange men began lingering around the alleyway outside the property. Neither Khoi nor Swanston have dared go outside, afraid that the scuffle from before could escalate into violence. "I'm still thinking, where do we go?" said Khoi, wondering if their friends would take them in. "Should we leave the country? How serious is this?" Swanston asked. "Here, they arrest people just for writing on Facebook," replied Khoi. "They can arrest if they want." Khoi had been evicted once before in July over her politics after police raided one of her concerts, but said this time the action felt more menacing. "I'm worried more than normal right now. I don't like the word scared, but I'm feeling uncomfortable," said Khoi. "I think this is definitely the worst treatment I have received up until now." Swanston said harassment was the normal government approach to dissidents in Vietnam. "When they see that[activists] don't stop and see them as being too threatening, they lock them up," he said. When the sun rose on Sunday morning, Khoi and Swanston ventured outside to a nearby cafe. Strange men were still around the property, but they said they felt safer in daylight. Their landlord had told them they could stay for the day but that their eviction order still stood and they must pack up their belongings. Both are anxious of what may come next. "They're not going to arrest Khoi while Trump is here," said Swanston, 15 minutes before Air Force One was scheduled to leave for the Philippines, the US president's next stop on his Asia tour. "I feel Mai Khoi is in a very precarious position right now."
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2017
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: A former city councillor is feared to have gone missing after he posted an update on his Facebook page about a strange encounter with an unnamed man more than a week ago. Peter Chong (pic), who served as a personal assistant to Subang MP R. Sivarasa for a few years until 2015, has been reportedly missing for several days. He was also a former Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor. It is learnt that his family lodged a police report on his disappearance Saturday. When contacted, Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Sukri Kaman confirmed that police received a report on Chong's disappearance. News of his disappearance was widely spread on social media as Chong had posted a "strange" Facebook status on March 31, less than two weeks before his disappearance. "Strange experience this morning. I was walking for my breakfast at my usual warung. A young motorcyclist rode up, and asked if I live around the area, I asked him back, why?" the social activist wrote. "He said he recognised me, that I like to go for protests and candlelight vigils. I asked where is he from? I was a little worried and looked around but there were no one else around," he said. "He said he sokong (supports) what I do. He said tapi "mahu hati-hati".. sekarang banyak orang tiba-tiba hilang. Mereka semua tahu mana orang tinggal. (You should be careful. Nowadays, there are many cases of people going missing. They know where people live)," he said. "I asked, mereka itu siapa (who are they)? He just said, pandai-pandai la...(just be smart) ....take care boss.. and rode away. Now, is this strange?" he wrote. Chong said that the stranger's words were "advisory" as such with no clear element of "ugutan" (threat). "I cannot see any reason to make a report except for record purposes. Have checked with police friends who rightly says it's my right to report for record but do not expect any action to be taken unless there is a string of similar reports from others," he said. From information on his Facebook page, Chong had attended prayer gatherings for pastor Raymond Koh who has been missing for nearly two months. The 62-year-old Koh was abducted on Feb 13 at Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya. He left his house around 10am and was driving to a friend's house in Kelana Jaya. CCTV footage believed to be of the incident has surfaced, showing at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in the abduction. A part-time Uber driver has since been arrested and charged with extorting RM30,000 from the missing pastor's son to secure his father's release. Investigations into the case of Koh indicate that his abduction may have been connected to his attempt to spread Christianity in northern Malaysia. It is learnt that a police report was lodged by a few individuals alleging that Koh and two others went to Kangar, Perlis, on Jan 19 and Jan 20 to influence a group of youths to convert to Christianity. UPDATE KUALA LUMPUR: The activist Peter Chong has apologised to his family, relatives and friends for the distress he caused them over his disappearance. The former Petaling Jaya City councillor also expressed his appreciation to the police for "their professionalism in handling the missing person report made by my family." Chong said his family had informed the police of his return. "The police were very helpful in assisting (me upon my) arrival at KLIA, where I subsequently made a statement to the Investigating Officer," he said in a statement released on his Facebook page, at 4pm today. Chong extended his appreciation to a Malaysian embassy officer in Bangkok who assisted him, as well as two Thai police officers in Pattaya who arranged for his return. Chong claims that he had tried to lodge a police report over his alleged abduction at the Pattaya police station, but said the officer had asked him to lodge the report in Hat Yai, as it was there that he was held against his will. He said he plans to lodge a report on the incident at the Thai embassy here, and will return to Hat Yai to lodge a report there if he has to. Chong said he will continue to give his full cooperation to the police and their Thai counterparts who are investigating the matter. He urged the media to respect his family's privacy. Chong went missing on April 6, in the wake of the alleged abduction of fellow activist, Pastor Raymond Koh. His family lodged a police report the next day. About a week before he disappeared, Chong left a cryptic post on his Facebook page, which raised fears for his safety. He safely returned to the country on Sunday, claiming that he was abducted in Hat Yai during a trip to Thailand to meet a source who claimed to have information on the whereabouts of Koh. http://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2017/04/232033/peter-chong-issues-apology-over-distress-caused-his-disappearance
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 15, 2017
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: Land grabbing in My Duc district, Hanoi, has resulted in a violent clash between farmers and local authorities, with the arrests of numerous farmers by security forces and the detention of dozens of policemen by angry residents. The incident stems from disputes over an agricultural land area of 47 hectares in Mieu Mon village that the city's government wants to seize from local farmers and give to the military-run Viettel Group, the biggest mobile phone operator in the country, without providing compensation for the farmers. According to citizen journalists, in the morning of April 15, authorities in Hanoi tricked farmers in Dong Tam commune by calling them to the area and later arresting 15 of them, among those who resist the land seizure. The arrests were made without warrants. In response, Dong Tam farmers held in custody two plainclothes police officers, one of whom is a deputy chief of the My Tam district police. In the afternoon of the same day, the city's authorities sent numerous police officers, mobile policemen and militia to block the village. Villagers detained another 20 mobile policemen, kept them in a closed room and declared that they will burn them with petrol if the authorities attack the village. So far, one young man of the village has been beaten with severe injuries. The victim is under special treatment in the district's general hospital. Another man of the village was reported to have died under unclear circumstances. Hanoi's authorities refuse to negotiate with the villagers and continue to send large numbers of mobile police and thugs to block the village, banning people from going in and out of the area. The city also demanded to cut electricity during the night of April 15, as well as the Internet and wireless phone networks in the area, keeping the village isolated. Local residents cannot contact people outside. Activists nationwide have called on the city's authorities to withdraw all forces and release the detained farmers, and they encouraged Mieu Mon villagers to release the policemen they are keeping in custody. The two sides need to settle the dispute peacefully, they said. Hanoi should abandon its plan to take the land parcel without paying compensation, they noted. It is worth noting that in Communist Vietnam, all land belongs to the state and local residents only have a right to use it. This has permitted local authorities to seize land for socio-economic development projects. In many places, local authorities have seized land from residents to make way for property development and industrial projects. In most cases, they have paid low compensation and have later made the land available to developers at prices many folds higher. Thousands of Vietnamese residents across the country have become land petitioners gathering in Hanoi and other big cities to seek justice and demand adequate compensation for their grabbed land. Vietnam's authorities, instead of finding ways to meet land petitioners' requests, treat them as second-class citizens. Many of them have been beaten and imprisoned on allegations of causing public disorder under Article 245 of the Penal Code.
- Impact of Event
- 15
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Right to property
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 4, 2017
- Event Description
On 10 April 2017, Bondita Acharya filed a complaint with the superintendent of police at the Criminal Investigation Department in Guwahati after she received death threats on social media for condemning the arrest of three people in Jorhat for possessing beef on 4 April 2017. Members of a right-wing Hindu organisation threatened the defender with death, gang rape and acid attack. A local Hindu group, Bajrang Dal, issued a press statement demanding that Bondita Acharya issue a public apology for condemning the arrests. Bondita Acharya also stated that the organisation asked people on social media to identify her house in Jorhat. The three people were arrested under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, which lays down the conditions which permit the slaughtering of cattle. However, the State of Assam does not criminalise the possession of beef, and many people questioned the arrest on social media.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 5, 2017
- Event Description
On 5 April 2017, two activists from Hanoi, Le My Hanh and Trinh Dinh Hoa, were brutally beaten by unidentified individuals as they were broadcasting a live stream on Facebook about the environmental disaster caused by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal region in April 2016. According to the video posted on their Facebook accounts, as Ms. Hanh and Mr. Hoa were conducting the live stream in Ho Tay (West Lake) to report about the current situation in the central region, a group of six thugs appeared behind them, attacking Ms. Hanh and robbing her cell phone with which she was filming herself. Throwing her cell phone into the lake, the thugs turned to beat Hanh and Mr. Hoa, who stood near her. Due to the assault, Hanh and Hoa suffered from a number of injuries. Mr. Hoa's face was covered in blood as his nose was broken. Hanh recognized one of the attackers as Ha Vu, a member of a pro-government group in Hanoi which has received support by the local authorities to disturb patriotic and pro-democracy activities organized by local activists. In 2015, the same group persecuted the family of activist Nguyen Lan Thang. Ms. Hanh is a citizen journalist who has actively reported peaceful demonstrations by central coast residents who seek compensation for the environmental consequences of a waste discharge by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal waters and request the Taiwanese group to leave Vietnam. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoa has actively attended peaceful demonstrations which aim to protest China's violations of the country's sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea), human rights violations and other issues in the communist nation. Hanh and Hoa are among numerous activists who have been assaulted by plainclothes agents and pro-government individuals in the past few years. Among victims are human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Nguyen Bac Truyen, prominent human rights activists Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Nguyen Trung Ton, Pham Thanh Nghien, and Vu Quoc Ngu, anti-China activists La Viet Dung and Truong Minh Tam. In order to silence local critics, Vietnam's communist government has deployed a number of measures, including intimidation, harassment, physical assaults, and arbitrary arrests and detentions against them. Over a hundred of pro-democracy advocates, social activists and human rights defenders have been imprisoned while dozens of others have been assaulted as the government has intensified its crackdown against local dissent amid increasing public dissatisfaction due to its failure to address systemic corruption, economic slowdown, and rising social inequality. Facebook's live streaming is an effective tool used by Vietnamese activists to address social issues. Meanwhile, state media, including the Vietnam Television (VTV) has continued to broadcast false information about peaceful demonstrations of fishermen in the central region to accuse protesters of conducting violence against local authorities, and to provide untrue facts about the polluted waters in the central coast. At the same time, citizen journalists are striving to cover the news about the situation in the central coastal region, particularly the hard life of the local residents due to the environmental pollution caused by the Formosa steel plant, and the unfair compensation from the insufficient overall $500 million pledged by the Taiwanese group.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights, Online
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Apr 23, 2017
- Event Description
Mr. Rasheed was one of the most prominent bloggers and social media activist from Male, the Maldives. He was well-known critic of militant Islamic extremism, pervasive injustice, human rights violations and corruption linked to the Maldivian government. He ran a blog called The Daily Panic and has been actively writing blogs since 2005. He was also the leading defender seeking justice for Mr. Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla who was his close friend and a missing journalist, since 8 August 2014 (991 days). He was heavily involved in highlighting Mr. Rilwan's case both at home and internationally. Mr. Rasheed also engaged with UN human rights mechanisms. During the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, he spoke as one of panelists at a side-event "Expression underintimidation: Bloggers under attack in South Asia" organized by FORUM-ASIA together with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and IFEX. On 23 April 2017, at 3.00 AM, Mr. Yameen Rasheed was found at the bottom of stairs, next to the elevator in his apartment in Male with 16 stab wounds to his chin, neck and chest. He was taken to the hospital at around 3.15 AM and pronounced dead in the hospital at around 3.50 AM. Prior to the incident, he was receiving numerous death threats. Many of these threats were reported to Maldives Police Service. However, no action was taken. Mr. Rasheed has shared on his social media as well as with other local NGOs his frustrations at the lack of action by authorities on the serious threats against him. UPDATE: 3 May 2017: Yameen Rasheed's father, Hussain Rasheed, filed a lawsuit against the Maldives Police Service claiming the authority's negligence led to his son's murder. 19 June 2017: Police revealed the identities of three men accused of killing Yameen Rasheed. Seven suspects were in custody and the prime suspects were identified as Ismail Rasheed, 25, Ismail Haisham Rasheed, 21, and Ahmed Zihan Ismail, 22. 20 July 2017: The Prosecutor General's office spokesman told media that the investigation into the murder of Yameen Rasheed has now been completed and that charges against suspects are being sought. A decision about whether to prosecute is expected to be undertaken in within 30 days.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Online, Right to life
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Dec 19, 2016
- Event Description
Legal activist Robert Sann Aung told The Irrawaddy that he was first approached on Dec. 19 last year by a man wearing civilian clothes in the airport in Bhamo Township, Kachin State, on the way back to Mandalay. The man claimed to be from Military Intelligence, he said, but gave no evidence of the claim. Robert Sann Aung, a former political prisoner, tried to "ignore the man's many questions." Since then, he added, the man has waited for him at the airport and followed him until he boarded his connecting flight on four separate occasions. He said people have come near his home, watching him twice a week for a while, as well as to his local teashop. He has been receiving explicit photos, crude, insulting texts and threatening phone calls-some from international numbers-from men and women, mostly between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. Many of the calls warn him not to reform Burma's military-drafted 2008 Constitution, he said. In one of them, he was threatened with: "Aren't you afraid to die? You will be the next person who will be killed." "They may have intended to scare me and stop me from sleeping," he said. "I turn off my phone every night during that time. I was worried I wouldn't make it to work in the mornings." The lawyer has made posts on Facebook suggesting where the Constitution should be amended and has also given a media interview in which he advocated for constitutional reform. "I will keep saying it, and I will not stop," he said. "I will do my job as a citizen of the country." Robert Sann Aung, who has been imprisoned six times for his peaceful political and human rights activities, is hesitant to report the threats to authorities. In addition to believing that they would not listen to him, he says that the authorities might be connected to the intimidation and increased surveillance in the past few months. He added that it was difficult to identify who was making the phone calls, which would hinder his attempt to file a complaint at the police station. Amnesty International released a statement on Wednesday urging the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the lawyer's safety, investigate the threats, and hold those responsible to account. The human rights activist is especially concerned about his safety as his work often involves traveling. "It is difficult to know when and where they are waiting to kill me," he added. National League for Democracy legal adviser U Ko Ni was shot dead as he held his grandson at Rangoon International Airport. His work included reforms to the Constitution. To date four people have been arrested in connection with the killing and are currently on trial, however, a fifth suspect, Aung Win Khaing, a former lieutenant colonel in the Burma Army, remains at large. Robert Sann Aung was disbarred in 1993 for defending peaceful political activists. Since his lawyer's license was reinstated in 2012, he has continued to represent human rights defenders, student activists, protestors of a contested copper mine and people whose land has been confiscated by the military.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 13, 2017
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: On April 13, two young activists, namely Tran Hoang Phuc and Huynh Thanh Phat, were kidnapped by plainclothes agents, who robbed and brutally beat them before releasing the activists in a remote area in central Vietnam, the victims told Defend the Defenders. The assault occurred in the central province of Quang Binh, where two months ago pro-democracy advocate Nguyen Trung Ton and his friend were also kidnapped, robbed and beaten by plainclothes agents. Mr. Phuc, a Saigon-based young human rights and pro-democracy activist said earlier this week that he and Mr. Phat came back to Quang Binh province's Ba Don town four months after his first visit there when he participated in a charity campaign for the local residents who are facing a difficult situation due to floods and man-made disasters. After meeting with local Catholic priests and supplying local residents with donations, Phuc and Phat went to the Xuan Truyen station to get on a bus headed back to Saigon. After arriving in the station, the duo was kidnapped by a group of eight masked men who came with a seven-seat car. The kidnappers introduced themselves as criminals and drove the car to a remote area near the Ho Chi Minh Road of Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district, Nghe An province. Phat said the thugs stripped them of their clothes, covered their heads with clothes, knocked them down to the car's floor and continuously beat the two activists with their hands and belts during the journey. After hours of traveling, they stopped in a remote area of the newly-built road. The thugs robbed all belongings of Phuc and Phat, including cell phones and wallets with money and personnel documents and left. Severely injured, the two young activists were rescued by people in the area who provided them with clothes and helped them contact other activists. Currently, Phuc and Phat are treated for their injuries by their friends. On February 27, Mr. Ton, president of the Brotherhood for Democracy, and his friend were also kidnapped in Ba Don town and subjected to the same kind of abuse. Due to the attack, Ton's feet were broken and he spent a month receiving treatment at a hospital. His health is still very bad. Phuc is a political activist and businessman. Phat is a young human rights defender. Both have participated in many peaceful demonstrations on environmental issues and advocated for human rights and multi-party democracy in the Southeast Asian nation. They have also actively participated in charity campaigns to assist fishermen in Vietnam's central region who have suffered from the environmental disaster caused by the illegal discharge of toxic industrial waste by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant located in the central province of Ha Tinh. Phuc and Phat were the latest victims of kidnapping, robbery and assault by plainclothes agents in the past few years. Many activists, including Nguyen Trung Truc and Mai Van Tam from Quang Binh, Nguyen Cong Huan from Nghe An, Nguyen Van Dai and La Viet Dung were kidnapped, beaten and robbed by unidentified thugs who were supposed to be plainclothes agents. Along with arrest, detention and imprisonment, Vietnam's security forces have also applied a number of tricks to discourage local activists. Physical attacks by police and plainclothes agents are on the rise in Vietnam. Nationwide, as many as 140 activists were physically attacked by Vietnam's security forces in 2016 compared to 65 in 2014 and 125 in 2015, according to statistics of the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience. Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Thai Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Gia Lai and Lam Dong were the localities where the highest level of brutality and disrespect for the rule of law by local police was recorded. Police frequently resorted to arbitrary detention. No perpetrators have been punished so far, Defend the Defenders said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 19, 2017
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam have issued a warrant for the arrest of an activist blogger who has drawn attention to the government's handling of a toxic waste spill last year that devastated the country's central coast, he and a fellow rights campaigner said on 5 May 2017. The warrant to arrest Bach Hong Quyen-a champion of democracy, human rights and the environment-was signed into effect on April 19, fellow activist Thao Teresa told RFA's Vietnamese Service, adding that Quyen anticipates he could be detained at any time. "Warrant No. 245 was obtained in Ha Tinh province and[information about the warrant] was published by the Ha Tinh media," she said. "Quyen plans to allow them to arrest him, though he doesn't know how the arrest will be carried out." Teresa said the blogger, who has reported on last year's toxic waste spill by Taiwan-owned Formosa Plastics Group's steel plant in Ha Tinh, has "two options available to him now." "One is to flee to another country, but he does not like that option," she said. "He always knew he would one day go to jail for his activism." Quyen told RFA that he is prepared to serve time in prison. "I accepted it when I chose this path fighting for human rights, because I am a member of the Vietnam Path movement-the mission of which is to act as an advocate and educate people about their rights," he said. "The possibility of being arrested does not scare me or hold me back, because we must fight when there is injustice." Several activists have been harassed by the authorities for covering the April 2016 Formosa waste spill, which killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and left fishermen jobless in four coastal provinces, or for their involvement in protests against the company. Earlier this week, thugs believed hired by local police assaulted Hanoi-based activist Le My Hanh, who had slammed the government's handling of the spill, and two others at her friend's home in Ho Chi Minh City. A man believed to have orchestrated the beating posted a video of the incident on his Facebook page. Last week, nearly a thousand protesters surrounded a police station in central Vietnam's Nghe An province to demand an apology from authorities for their confiscation of 200 T-shirts carrying Formosa protest slogans and beating of the two men caught transporting the shirts. Formosa has voluntarily paid U.S. $500 million to clean up and compensate coastal residents affected by the spill, but slow and uneven payout of the funds by the Vietnamese government has prompted protests that continue to be held more than a year later. On 12 May 2017, the police in Vietnam's central province of Ha Tinh officially issued an arrest warrant against human rights defender and environmental activist Bach Hong Quyen, accusing him of "causing public disorder" under Article 245 of the country's Penal Code. He is currently hiding from a nationwide manhunt launched by the authorities in Ha Tinh province on 12 May 2017.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police, Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 2, 2017
- Event Description
On 2 May 2017, in Ho Chi Minh City, a group of ten government loyalists brutally attacked Le My Hanh, a female environmental activist from Hanoi for her activities which aim to promote multi-party democracy, human rights and environmental protection. The attackers, who included women, broke in the private residence of Hanh's friend, using tear gas to assault Hanh and her friend and brutally beating them. The attackers filmed their actions and later posted videos on their Facebook accounts. This is the second attack against Hanh within one month. On April 5, she and blogger Trinh Dinh Hoa were brutally beaten by Hanoi-based government loyalists in Ho Tay (West Lake) as they were broadcasting a Facebook live stream about the environmental disaster caused by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant in the central coastal region in April 2016. One day later, independent civil organizations and hundreds of local activists jointly signed a petition to Vietnam's authorities to demand a thorough investigation into the case to hold perpetrators to account.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 8, 2017
- Event Description
Two belligerent youths have entered Chulalongkorn University to look for Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a progressive student activist recently elected as the Student Council's president of Chulalongkorn University. At 11 am on 8 May 2017, two individuals rode a motorcycle onto the university's campus in Bangkok and visited the Political Science Faculty to look for Netiwit. The two reportedly used threatening language to ask for the whereabouts of the student activist. Netiwit has filed a complaint to Pathumwan District Police Station about the incident. "Please give me and the new generation opportunities to prove ourselves. If[you] think differently, it is alright, but we should talk if[you] really love Thai society. Do not let the world and other people see that our society is a barbaric one that favours violence. I am afraid of course, but I shall continue to fight," Netiwit wrote on his Facebook account. The 21-year-old political science student first made a name for himself by refusing to prostrate in front of the Statue of King Chulalongkorn during an annual university ceremony to pay respect to the late monarch. Netiwit and his political groups have also been active in campaigning against the university's hazing rituals and for progressive educational reform. After he won the Student Council presidential election last week, many conservative and ultra-royalist Thais argued that his progressive and anti-junta political stance should disqualify him from becoming student president.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2017
- Event Description
A prominent human rights activist from Manipur has accused the state police of using intimidation tactics to prevent her from helping victims of rights abuse. "A heavily armed group of Manipur police personnel landed at my parents' Imphal house around 1.30 pm on 12 May 2017. I was away, but my 87-year-old father and 84-year-old mother were badly shaken by the incident," Binalakshmi Nepram told HT. Nepram is the founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, an NGO that works for female survivors of violence. She is also the convenor of the Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace. The activist said the police were trying to prevent her from providing relief and legal assistance to victims of rights violations by state forces. "This is a clear case of threatening and intimidating a rights activist. We have been working with survivors for so many years, but this is the first instance of the state police force harassing us," she added. The incident comes days after a Supreme Court lawyer received death threats from an underground outfit for representing the family of a student allegedly killed by Ajay Meetei, son of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, in an incident of road rage. "Very sad what's happening to Manipur now - a mother's fight for justice for her dead son has become a tragic issue about threats/intimidation," Nepram had tweeted on Thursday. The police team reportedly landed at her parents' residence the next day. Nepram, however, remains unfazed. "We are not going to be bogged down by such threats. We will continue our work with renewed vigour," Nepram told HT. She also referred to the incident in a series of tweets addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy Kiren Rijiju on Saturday morning. "Manipur police should not be used by some corrupt politicians to cover crimes committed by them/their families," one of them read. Efforts to contact senior police officers for their version of the incident went in vain.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD, NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 27, 2017
- Event Description
A man has been arrested and two are missing in China after conducting an investigation into a Chinese company making Ivanka Trump-branded shoes, China Labor Watch, a New York-based advocacy group, said on Wednesday. Labor activist Hua Haifeng was arrested in Jiangxi province on suspicion of illegally using eavesdropping equipment, according to Li Qiang, executive director of the group China Labor Watch. The three men had been investigating labor conditions at factories that produce shoes for Ivanka Trump, the daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, and other Western brands, he said in an email. "We appeal to President Trump, Ivanka Trump herself, and to her related brand company to advocate and press for the release our activists," China Labor Watch said in the email to Reuters. The Ivanka Trump brand declined to comment while the White House and Ivanka Trump's lawyer, Jamie Gorelick, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Calls to provincial police in Jiangxi and Ganzhou city police were not answered. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she did know anything about the situation and declined further comment. The reported arrest and disappearances come at a time of sustained pressure on labor activists in China amid a crackdown on civil society under President Xi Jinping. In recent years, many labor rights activists have reported being intimidated and harassed, temporarily detained, or restricted in their movement. Li said in 17 years of activism, including investigations of hundreds of factories in China, his group had never had anyone arrested on suspicion of having committed a crime. "This is the first time we've come across this kind of situation," he said, adding the accusation against Hua had "no factual basis". Rights group Amnesty International called for the release of the three if they were held only for investigating possible labor abuses at the factories. "Activists exposing potential human rights abuses deserve protection not persecution," said William Nee, the group's China researcher. "The trio appear to be the latest to fall foul of the Chinese authorities' aggressive campaign against human rights activists who have any ties to overseas organizations, using the pretence of 'national security'." China routinely rejects foreign criticism of its rights record and says it is a country ruled by law. China Labor Watch's Li said Hua and another investigator, Li Zhao, had worked covertly at a shoe factory in the city of Dongguan, in Guangdong province, that was owned by the Huajian Group. The third investigator, Su Heng, had worked at a related factory in the city of Ganzhou in Jiangxi but went incommunicado after May 27. Both factories produced Ivanka Trump-branded shoes, Li Qiang said. The investigators had discovered evidence that workers' rights had been violated, Li said. Hua had been investigating a vocational school in Jiangxi affiliated with Huajian Group when he was arrested. A woman surnamed Mu who said she was in charge of recruitment at Huajian said she had not heard about the case. A switchboard operator at Huajian's headquarters declined to transfer Reuters to company officials in a position to address questions about the situation. Hua and Li Zhao had been warned by authorities weeks ago that they were suspected of having broken the law, and were barred from crossing the border into Hong Kong in April and May, Li Qiang said. UPDATE: On 5 June 2017, Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi said on Monday that one of three labor activists detained after they investigated working practices at two factories supplying shoes for Ivanka Trump's own brand, has "met with an accident,". Following such accident, the lawyer was declined to meet with his clients. UPDATE: On 7 June 2017, the HRDs have now reportedly also been accused of "supplying relevant overseas organizations with industrial secrets" relating to production processes, hiring practices and pay and conditions, The Paper, which is back by the Shanghai municipal government, reported. UPDATE: On 28 June 2017, Chinese authorities have released on bail three activists who had been detained after investigating labor conditions at a factory that produced shoes for Ivanka Trump and other brands. The HRDs have been released on the final day of their legally mandated 30-day detention period limit.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Labour rights, Right to fair trial, Right to information
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- May 8, 2017
- Event Description
On 8 May 2017, Mr. Imran Anjum was attacked with gunshot by unidentified masked and armed men when he was arrived his house. A Human Rights Defender Mr. Imran Anjum hails from Sahiwal, district of Punjab province in Pakistan. He is the Founder and the Executive Director of Peaceful & Active Center for Humanity (PEACH), a non-governmental organization working on the social and economic development of some of the most disadvantaged communities in Pakistan. Two motor-bikers unidentified masked and armed men stood at the corner of his house, when Human Right Defender Imran Anjum reached at house and opened the gate, they began firing and fired two gunshots upon him and ran away about 8:00 pm on 8th May 2017. The neighbors of Imran Anjum try to chase the armed suspects but they managed to escape taking advantage of the night. The shooting continues a history of threats and attacks against Imran Anjum. Few days before that incident Imran Anjum and his team held a demonstration for demanding Justice for Mr. Mashal Khan, A 23-year-old Pashtun and Muslim student at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan was killed by a vigilante mob in the premises of the university on April 13, 2017, over fake allegation of posting blasphemous content online. After the demonstration while leaving for home, Imran Anjum followed by 2 motorbikers until his home. The same day, Human Rights Defender Imran Anjum filed an application with Farid Town Police Station district Sahiwal for registration of First Information Report (FIR) and protection. But the complaint registered on 12th May and up till police have not filed FIR.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 23, 2017
- Event Description
On 17 March 2017, Chaiyaphum Pasae was shot dead by military officials who were attempting to arrest him as an alleged drug suspect. He and a friend were driving to Chiang Mai City when soldiers stopped their car at a checkpoint and arrested them for alleged drug possession. Officials claim Chaiyaphum Pasae resisted arrest and was subsequently shot in "an act of self-defence". After the killing, soldiers and military officials visited Ban Kong Phak Ping on several occasions, while some members of the defender's community were summoned by the authorities. On 23 March 2017, Maitree Chamroensuksakul was threatened with bullets laid in front of his bathroom. Unidentified persons travelled to his house on several occasions to take pictures. During the night of 16 May 2017, while preparations were being made to commemorate "60 days after the death of Chaiyaphum Pasae", two plainclothes military officials were stationed in front of Maitree Chamroensuksakul's home. Memorial events linked to Chaiyaphum Pasae's death in the community have been held under heavy surveillance. Human rights defenders operating in Northern Thailand, particularly those working on minority rights, regularly report threats and harassment from the military. Anti-drug operations have been used by abusive officials to disguise their attacks on defenders who have exposed official wrongdoing or protected minority rights. On 29 May 2017, policemen and officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau raided the home of Maitree Chamroensuksakul in Ban Kong Phak Ping, Chiang Dao district during what the authorities claimed was a joint operation to search for drugs. The raid took place while Maitree Chamroensuksakul was returning home from a meeting in the capital with Michel Forst, the United Nations Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. His sister-in-law, Nawa Ja-ue, was arrested as well as a cousin of Chaiyaphum Pasae, Chanthana Pasae. The raid was reportedly led by the same regional police commander who told the media after Chaiyaphum Pasae was murdered that he had been living lavishly through money gained from drug trafficking.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to information
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 20, 2017
- Event Description
On 20 May 2017, more than fifty police officers in both plainclothes and uniforms surrounded Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh's home in Nha Trang, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam, placing the human rights defender's mother, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Lan, as well as her two children under de facto house arrest. A smaller number of police officers returned on 22 and 23 May to prevent the defender's mother and children from exiting the house. On 24 May, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Lan was finally allowed to go to the market but remains under police surveillance.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 2, 2017
- Event Description
On 2 June 2017, human rights defender and journalist Akhand received a threatening call from a man who accused him of being an agent of Pakistan and of terrorism and said he would be killed "soon" for having filed a complaint against an Indian Army officer to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). On 5 May 2017, Akhand filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission regarding the tying of a civilian by Indian army personnel in front of an army jeep on 9 April 2017, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The man was attached to the jeep in order to discourage protesters from attacking or throwing objects at the jeep. A video of the event was shared on social media and created a national controversy. On 1 June 2017, the National Human Rights Commission acknowledged the petition filed by Akhand and issued a notice to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. On 2 June 2017, at approximately 1.45pm, Akhand received a call on his personal phone from a man identifying himself as Mohit from Mumbai. Talking in Hindi, he told Akhand "How dare you file a case before the National Human Rights Commission against the army officer who tied a man in front of his jeep in Kashmir, you are the agent of Pakistan, you are the agent of terrorists and you are the agent of Kashmiri separatists. As you filed a case against the Indian Army, you have no right to live in India. You will be killed soon by us. We have people across the country. I read that you are based at Bhubaneswar, you will be killed there soon. We will not let you sleep. Very soon you will be tied in front of the Army vehicle." The caller then went on insulting Akhand as well as his family members, who he referred to individually by name, and repeatedly threatened to kill him. On 3 June 2017, the human rights defender reported the incident to the Deputy Commissioner of Police and registered a First Information Report with the Chandrasekarpur Police Station.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2017
- Event Description
Police officers and soldiers have barred villagers from joining a march in Bangkok protesting amendment to the National Health Security Act. On 6 June 2017, the People's Health Systems Movement (PHSM) staged a protest at the office of the United Nations in Bangkok demanding the junta cease efforts to amend the National Health Security Act that threaten to abolish Thailand's universal healthcare, also known as the "Gold Card" medical scheme. A member of PHSM, Rattana Thongngam, told media that in the evening of 4 June, a plainclothes police officer visited her house in Surin province asking her when and how she would travel to Bangkok to join the protest. Though the officer did not explicitly bar her from joining the protest, Rattana and other villagers decided to leave Surin for Bangkok earlier than planned to avoid further encounters with authorities. Other villagers in Surin and Buriram chose not to travel to Bangkok due to fears of further intimidation, after being visited by soldiers prohibiting them from joining the protest. Previously on 2 June, PHSM requested permission from the Dusit Police Station to stage a protest at the Education Ministry. The police, however, denied the request on grounds that the protest site would have been too close to the Government House. The police added the protest could be considered a breach of the Public Assembly Act and NCPO Head Order 3/2015 - the junta's ban on public gatherings of five people or more. PHSM subsequently relocated the march to the UN office, though the protest was closely monitored by security officers. No protesters have been arrested so far.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to health, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 12, 2017
- Event Description
Military and police officers have prevented journalists from attending a forum on the controversial national park and wildlife protection bills, claiming that their presence could affect the image of the junta. At 7:30 am on 12 June 2017 soldiers and police officers intimidated members of civil society groups and other participants at a public forum on the new national park and wildlife protection bills held at the Human Settlement Foundation Thailand in Wang Thonglang District of Bangkok. The officers blocked the entrance to the Foundation during the discussion and prohibited reporters from attending the forum after they searched participants. On 11 June, Wang Thonglang District police summoned representatives of People Movement for Just Society (P-Move), key organisers of the forum, for a discussion, and ordered them not to hold a press briefing after the forum, adding that they would be closely monitored. Prayong Doklamyai, coordinator of P-Move, however, told the officers that the group would not obey them, claiming that the forum is related to politics and does not breach the Public Assembly Act as it is not held in a public area. Nitaya Muangklang, a local community leader from one of six villages in Chaiyaphum affected by the junta's "return the forest' policy, told the media that police officers visited her at about 11 pm on 11 June, asking whether she and other villagers were planning to attend the forum. The community leader told the officers that they would not go as they already attended a similar forum in Chaiyaphum last week organised by the Land Reform Network of Isaan (LRNI) . The new bills on national parks and wildlife protection have already been approved by the National Reform Council to replace the 1961 National Park Act and the 1992 Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. Both are now being considered by the National Legislative Assembly. According to Panudej Kerdmali, Secretary-General of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, both bills are problematic because of the lack of public participation in the drafting process, adding that both bills aim at giving more authority to state agencies while ignoring the role of communities in managing and preserving the forest.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Land rights, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Land rights defender, NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 2, 2017
- Event Description
Sultana Kamal is a human rights defender and lawyer known for her work on civil and political as well as gender rights. She served as the Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a legal aid and human rights organisation in Bangladesh for over 15 years. In addition to that, she is the Chairperson of the We Can End Violence Against Women Alliance, Chairperson for Transparency International Bangladesh and also Co-chairperson for the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission. On 2 June 2017, Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka City Committee called for the arrest of Sultana Kamal and threatened her with violence following a TV show in which she participated. Discussing the removal of a sculpture representing Lady Justice from the Supreme Court premises, Sultana Kamal argued with Hefazat-e-Islam representative, Mufti Sakhawat Hossain, that if the group's position was that no religious edifice should be put in the court premises, by the same argument the mosque that is inside the premises should not be there either. After the talk show, Hefazat's Vice-President Junayed Al-Habib claimed Sultana Kamal had called for the removal of all mosques from the country and demanded her arrest within 24 hours. Members of the organisation threatened her with violence and said she would share the same fate as author, Taslima Nasrin, who has been in exile since 1994 due to her human rights advocacy. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Division and the Detective Branch declared on 5 June they had taken joint measures for providing protection to Sultana Kamal. However, the human rights defender said that the law enforcement agency merely spoke to her and said that they are keeping a close eye on her neighborhood as part of their protection effort.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Lawyer, Pro-democracy defender, SOGI rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jun 17, 2017
- Event Description
On 14 June 2017, during a the TV talk show titled "Aluth Parlimenthuwa (new parliament)", Lakshan highlighted that Muslim and Christian places of worship are under attack and that 195 attacks against Christians have been reported since 8 January 2015. Lakshan has been a determined and long standing campaigner and advocate on the rights of religious minorities. He often travels far to rural areas, interacts with victimized communities, publicizes their plight, and appears in courts across the country on numerous cases, during this Government and under the previous Government. Although he was referring to the NCEASL report, he is personally aware of many such incidents. His comments on the TV talk show, especially his candid assertion that Buddhist Monks are behind some of these attacks, drew immediate and angry reactions from a hostile anchor and two other panelists. And within days, it also drew negative reactions from President Sirisena and Minister of Justice and Buddhasasana, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, both of whom were quoted on primetime news of government TV station, ITN on 17 June 2017. President Sirisena said that he had called the Catholic Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, and asked from him about attacks on Catholics/Christians (although Lakshan never mentioned attacks on Catholics in the TV talk show). According to President Sirisena, the Cardinal had said that there had been no such attacks. Minister Wijeyadasa misquotes Lakshan as having said 166 attacks against Christians in recent days of this year (what Lakshan actually said is that there have been 195 attacks between 8th January 2015 till todate). The Minister then goes on to say that the Cardinal had claimed no such incidents have happened in Sri Lanka. On June 17, 2017, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe threatened Lakshan Dias to "take necessary steps to remove him from the legal profession" unless Dias apologized for remarks on a television program three days earlier about attacks on the Christian community.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Minority Rights, Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 14, 2017
- Event Description
(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 26 June 2017) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about recent police hostility against human rights defenders in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. Human rights defenders from the respected human rights group Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) have been facing harassment and intimidation and are now at risk of arbitrary arrest and detention. MASUM undertakes research and runs campaigns against torture and killings by security forces in the area. On the night of 14 June 2017 police personnel from Raninagar Police station surrounded the residence of Sanjit Mondal, MASUM's District Human Rights Monitor. As Sanjit suspected he would be arrested, he left the premises before the police could get to him. He and other members of MASUM are feared to be at risk and FORUM-ASIA is particularly concerned that repeated calls for investigation and intervention have not been acted upon by the authorities. Sanjit filed a written complaint to Murshidabad district's Superintendent of Police but is yet to receive any response. Concerns about the incident and the hostile environment MASUM members are experiencing in Murshidabad have been raised with the authorities, including the National Human Rights Commission of India, on multiple occasions. These have not been acted upon. It is feared that Sanjit and other members of MASUM may meet the same fate as colleagues Ajimuddin Sarkar and Najrul Islam, who both are also District Human Rights Monitors for MASUM, who were arbitrarily arrested and detained on trumped-up charges. Similar to Sanjit, Ajimuddin's home was surrounded and ransacked. His family was later attacked, while Ajimuddin himself was arbitrarily detained and tortured in custody. The authorities need to prevent further injustices and put into place immediate, concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of MASUM's human rights defenders. FORUM ASIA urges the Government of India to: Ensure that a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the arrest and harassment of human rights defenders in Murshidabad district is undertaken without delay. Immediately take measures to ensure that human rights defenders in Murshidabad are able to conduct their human rights work safely and are not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, harassment and attacks. Commit to its obligation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments ratified by India. Demonstrate its ability to reign in and hold to account those in Murshidabad that disregard the rule of law and due process, as they are core elements of India's legal system. Foster a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, where they can carry on their activities unhindered and liberally express discontent with the State. Guarantee values of free expression, human rights and democracy are enabled. Update: The Observatory has been informed by Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) | [1] about renewed acts of police harassment and intimidation against Mr. Sanjit Mondal, MASUM District Human Rights Monitor in Murshidabad district, West Bengal State. According to the information received, on November 8, 2017, at around 9am, Mr. Sanjit Mondal accompanied a youth from Malipara village to see a medical practitioner, in order to record evidence of torture to which the youth had been subjected in custody at Raninagar police station. A medical certificate documenting the nature of the injuries sustained was required to register a complaint against the police personnel for torture. At around 2pm on the same day, Mr. Sanjit Mondal saw a police officer named Mr. Dipak Mondal, from Raninagar police station, loitering around his family's shop. Upon seeing Mr. Sanjit Mondal, the police officer walked a few metres away. When Mr. Sanjit Mondal went to meet him, Mr. Dipak Mondal left immediately. A few minutes later, a large number of police personnel from Raninagar police station drove past Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop in a white police vehicle. They parked their vehicle one kilometre away, and walked back near to Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop. During this time, Mr. Sanjit Mondal escaped from his shop due to fear of being arrested. Upon arrival outside Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop, the police personnel from Raninagar police station gathered at a tea stall in front of the shop, from which they monitored it for more than three hours. Witnesses present at the tea stall subsequently reported having heard Mr. Dipak Mondal saying that "Sanjit must be taken into custody tonight as he is trying to make[a] complaint against police personnel and the Officer in Charge[wants] his arrest". Witnesses also reported having heard Mr. Dipak Mondal expressing his concern that "Sanjit could flee to Kolkata to evade his capture". The comments related to Mr. Sanjit Mondal's assistance to the youth from Malipara village earlier that day. On November 9, 2017, Mr. Dipak Mondal monitored Mr. Sanjit Mondal's shop for the entire day. At around 2pm, a white police vehicle passed by his shop. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Sanjit Mondal remained in hiding for fear of being arrested. The Observatory condemns the police harassment and intimidation of Mr. Sanjit Mondal, which seems to be only aimed at punishing him for documenting and denouncing allegations of human rights violations committed by police forces. The Observatory fears that Mr. Sanjit Mondal may be arrested at any time on fabricated charges. The Observatory recalls that several members of MASUM and Mr. Sanjit Mondal in particular (see background information) have already faced reprisals in the past for documenting and denouncing grave human rights violations allegedly involving members of the police forces and BSF. The Observatory calls upon the Indian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment, intimidation, and criminalization of Mr. Sanjit Mondal and all MASUM members, as well as of all human rights defenders in India.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Right to work
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2017
- Event Description
Siti Kasim filed an application against the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department in order to compel the group to name the officers who raided a transgender event without a warrant on 3 April 2016, arresting the defender, along with the event's organiser. The event, a fundraising dinner and beauty pageant for transgender women, was raided on grounds that it violated a fatwa against beauty contests. On 13 June 2017, she was informed that she would be charged for "obstructing a public servant" during a raid which was carried out by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) in Kuala Lumpur on 3 April 2016 on an event hosted by transgender women. She was notified of the charge just a few hours after the High Court compelled Jawi, Malaysia's religious police, to provide Siti Kasim with the names of the officers who were in charge of the raid following an application she filed for the purpose of proceeding with a civil lawsuit.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, Lawyer, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 21, 2017
- Event Description
Some 30 security officers have raided the house of the activist group Dao Din and confiscated documents about the controversial healthcare reform. When an activist asked to see a search warrant, a policeman gestured towards a military officer saying, "Here is the warrant." The raid happened in the early morning of 21 June 2017. Akhom Sibutta, a Dao Din student activist, was alone at the headquarters when the authorities raid in. The authorities told him that they visited the house on a "reasonable suspicion" without a further explanation. Akhom asked to see a search warrant from the court. But police officers gestured towards Lt Col Phitakphon Chusri, a soldier who spearheaded the raid, and said that "here is the warrant.' Phitakphon was a local unit leader of the junta's so-called peace-keeping force in Khon Kaen. He usually appears at political campaigns and activities criticising the junta in Khon Kaen. He was also the one who file a l��se majest_ complaint against Jatupat Boonpattaraksa, aka Pai Dao Din, for sharing a BBC biography of King Vajiralongkorn. Before leaving the headquarters, the authorities confiscated two documents about the amendments to National Security Act. Akhom asked the officers to sign their names in the search record but was rejected. When the activist asked to read the search record, the authorities rejected as well. According to The Isaan Record, Pol Col Chamlong Suwalak, chief of Muang Khon Kaen district police, said that the raid was on a suspicion that Dao Din was involved in the movement against the ongoing healthcare reform in Khon Kaen. Akhom, however, pointed that prior to the raid, various activist groups in Khon Kaen have received calls from security officers, asking whether they will have any movement during the junta head Prayut Chan-o-cha's visit to Khon Kaen on 21 June. Prayut was scheduled to give a speech on "The Mobilisation of Thailand 4.0 in Northeastern Region" at Khon Kaen University. In a Prayut's visit to Khon Kaen in 2014, five Dao Din activists, including Pai, briefly interrupted Prayut speech. They walked in front of the Prayut stage raising three fingers as a symbol opposing the junta regime.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jul 1, 2017
- Event Description
The military has intimidated a human rights defender in the restive Deep South, ordering her not to post comments on Facebook about human rights violations. On 1 July 2017, six men believed to be military officers in plainclothes visited the shop of the family of Anchana Heemmina, president of Duay Jai, a local human rights advocacy group in the Deep South, according to the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF). The men claimed to be from Internal Security Operation Command Region 4 (ISOC) and said their superior ordered them to visit her because of her recent Facebook posts about a woman whose husband had been arrested and held in custody at the Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp in Nong Chik District of Pattani Province as an insurgency suspect. The woman, who requested to remain anonymous, is nine months pregnant and told Anchana that it was very difficult for her to get permission to visit her husband while he was detained, adding that according to prison rules she was allowed 30 minutes visiting time, but the soldiers allowed her much less without any reason. Anchana recorded the information and posted it on her Facebook account on 29 June 2017. During the visit, which lasted for about one hour, the soldiers claimed that Facebook posts like that could cause damage to the reputation of the military and prohibited Anchana from commenting about the complaint, about the fact that ISOC has not yet withdrawn charges against the three human rights defenders, including Anchana herself, even though ISOC promised to do so, and about the alleged abduction of Daho Ma-taworn. They added that she should inform the military before posting any such comment online. The CrCF issued a public statement against the intimidation of Anchana. "It is simply an exercise of basic civil right to monitor the accountability of the government agencies and the freedom of expression which is protected by Section 34 of the 2017 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)," reads the CrCF statement. The authorities should stop intimidating human rights defenders and drop legal actions against them, added the CrCF. Anchana Heemmina, nicknamed Mumtaz, aged 43, has been repeatedly visited and summoned by the military since 2016. She is one of the activists responsible for compiling a report on torture and other inhumane acts in the Deep South in 2014-2015. The report, written in collaboration with the Patani Human Rights Network and the CrCF, collected information from over 50 victims. The report details the inhumane practices against those detained under martial law.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2017
- Event Description
Today - Monday, 07 August 2017 - youth activist Hun Vannak, a member of the environmental NGO Mother Nature, was arrested at approximately 12.30pm in Kohkor Village, Roka Khpos Commune, Sa-ang District, Kandal Province. Kohkor village has recently borne witness to a series of community protests against fluvial sand dredging in the area, which may have led to riverbank collapse and the loss of homes. Approximately 10 - 15 police officers arrested Mr. Vannak shortly after he left the house of a local villager in Kohkor village. The police were accompanied by 4-5 uniformed representatives of the Leng Ching sand dredging company and arrested Mr. Vannak. Mr. Vannak was accompanied by a local villager and was on his way to buy lunch when he was intercepted by police, close to the villager's home. According to witness reports, police pushed Mr. Vannak into a police vehicle without informing him of the reason for his arrest. He was taken directly to the police station in Ta Kmao for questioning. CCHR has received information that Mr. Vannak is being questioned in relation to allegedly illegally inciting the community to protest, and for allegedly illegally flying a drone. The exact nature of the alleged offenses is yet to be confirmed by the authorities. Mr. Vannak arrived in Kohkor Village on the morning on 07 August to attend a meeting by the Sa-ang district authorities and attended by the Sa-ang District Governor, the Roka Khpos Commune Chief, the Kohkor Village Chief, local villagers, and representatives of the Leng Ching Company. Mr. Vannak attended and monitored the meeting at the invitation of local villagers who asked him to monitor. Mr. Vannak live streamed the meeting via Facebook Live. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues related to sand dredging in the area and to find a solution between the villagers and the sand dredging companies which are operating in the locality. The villagers have been demanding an end to sand dredging in their area, as well as compensation for lost and damaged property. Villagers report that they have been meeting on a near-daily basis to discuss the dredging and to plan their advocacy. These meetings have routinely been interrupted by (mostly district-level) authorities and police. In June 2017, another Mother Nature activist, Thun Ratha, faced questioning by local police due to his support for the local community in Sa-ang. UPDATE: On 7 August 2017, the HRD was released after several hours of interrogation. UPDATE: On 13 Feburary 2018, Mother Nature activists who were convicted of incitement to commit a felony and violation of privacy by the Koh Kong provincial court were released after completing their prison terms.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jul 19, 2017
- Event Description
Soldiers have visited the school of a student activist, asking him to cease criticising Prayut on threat of further intimidation. On 21 July 2017, Sanhanutta Sartthaporn, the Secretary General of education reform group Education for Liberation of Siam (ELS), posted on his Facebook account that he was visited by two plainclothes soldiers on Wednesday morning. The soldiers approached the student when he was having breakfast at school. They asked him about a recent ELS statement that condemned junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha for his excessive interference in Thai education. After finding out that Sanhanutta drafted the statement, a soldier asked him to stop criticising "his boss" and showed a quote from Lt Col Burin Thongprapai that read, "I will catch them all, those who condemn the honorable Prayut and the NCPO. I'm a soldier. Slaves like you can meet me at anytime if you have guts." "If you don't stop criticising my boss, I will pass on your name and I don't know what will happen to you," said the soldier as quoted by Sanhanutta.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to education, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jul 22, 2017
- Event Description
An ethnic Kuoy activist in Stung Treng province says his life was threatened after he tipped authorities off to an alleged land grab on Saturday involving two suspects who remain at large. On Saturday, Thala Barivat District Police responded to a tip from local activist Uk Mao, 53, and stopped an area landowner and a bulldozer driver as they allegedly cleared more than 1 hectare of protected forest in Sam Ang commune. According to provincial Agriculture Department Director Lieng Seng, the raid only resulted in the seizure of the bulldozer, as the suspects had already fled. The provincial Forestry Administration director, Meas Sophum, said his office was pursuing the case, without giving further details. Mao said he received a threatening phone call on Saturday evening. "You will be beheaded soon," the caller allegedly told him. "How dare you report to the authorities? .?.?. I know your house," Mao recalled the anonymous caller saying. "They were furious with me because I tipped off the authorities to halt and seize the machinery," he said, explaining that the accused clearer is a large-scale local landowner. Fearing for his safety, Mao said he requested the intervention of the commune police and rights group Adhoc. This is not the first time Mao said he had received threats for bringing attention to land grabs. In January, he reported being threatened with prosecution for defamation by commune authorities after he notified them that state and community land was being cleared and sold off. Thala Barivat District Governor Thong Srorn said he was unaware of the threats against Mao. "Clearing is illegal and they came in an anarchic way," said Srorn. "After receiving the information, we just implemented the law to arrest[the suspects]," adding that authorities continued to search for the two men. Hou Sam Ol, Adhoc's Stung Treng provincial coordinator, called on higher authorities to investigate the case. "It is like timber hauling cases - mostly only the evidence is seized while the criminals and drivers are rarely captured," he said, adding that Mao should be protected by local police.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jul 3, 2017
- Event Description
Prominent lawyer and activist Siti Zabedah Kasim, better known as Siti Kasim, today lodged a police report against a man for calling on Muslims to behead her. According to the New Straits Times, the first threat was posted online on July 3. The man had attached an article quoting her stand on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, as reported by an online portal but which she claimed had misquoted her. On July 19, the same man wrote another post, attaching yet another article from the same online portal, stating that Siti Kasim had allegedly said, "Not to follow Arabic Islam, but follow the real Islam". Siti said among the responses on the website were calls to behead, rape and splash acid on her face. She said she decided to lodge a police report at the Sentul police station this morning as she feared for her personal safety and that of her family. She told the portal: "Clearly these people are planning something. "If the police do not do anything, then my blood is going to be on the police's hands." She did not reveal the identity of the website so as not to hinder police investigations, the portal said. Siti Kasim has been speaking out against religious extremists harassing the LGBT community and defending Orang Asli, who are trying to stop companies from carrying out logging activities in their traditional forests.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- SOGI rights
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2017
- Event Description
On 15 August 2017, two anti-mining activists, Sebastian Hutabarat (47) and Johannes Marbun (37) were attacked by group of people affiliated with stone mining activity in Silimalombu Village, Onanrunggu sub-District, Samosir Regency. Because of the attack, the two men who often raising their voice for saving the environment in Toba Lake area, suffered wound in the face, head, and hands. Two of them had submitted report to the police station in Samosir on the same day, after previously having medical check-up in a hospital nearby.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extractive industries, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jul 20, 2017
- Event Description
As we are all aware, there is a prolonged campaign against the government's attempt to legalize South Asian Institute for Technology and Management (SAITM) as a Private Medical College without proper accreditation by Sri Lanka Medical Council. University Students of Medical and all other Faculties are at the forefront of a battle against SAITM and have demanded its nationalization. As the campaign against SAITM has grown to be a national movement, the government has turned undemocratic to suppress it by using covert and overt violent means. As a result of the government's brutal suppression of several protests many student protesters were injured, and several leading student activists are being held in custody indefinitely. The government seems to be determined to suppress the anti-SAITM student movement by arresting its entire leadership. The government is targeting student leaders by unleashing violence and using intelligence services and civil clad military personnel to arrest them. The most recent example occurred on 20th July 2017 when there was an attempt to abduct a leading student activist, Ryan Jayalath, by some men without uniforms who were supported by the Police. Fortunately, Ryan could not be abducted due to the intervention of some activists who were around him. He was being clearly targeted for his activism. The government in arresting student leaders and suppressing their campaign undemocratically, is acting against the very principle of good governance. We as concerned academics belonging to several Universities and several other organizations working for the right of free education and social justice have resolved to condemn the government's attempt to suppress students and make a mockery of the rule of the law in this country. With this objective we will hold a Press Conference on 23rd July at 2.00 .p.m. at the Center for Society and Religion (CSR), Maradana. We kindly invite your media organization to attend this press briefing and provide wide publicity for the stance we are taking in order to safeguard the rights of student activists in particular and condemn the government's undemocratic and brutal approach in general.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to education
- HRD
- Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jul 20, 2017
- Event Description
According to the information received, on 20 July 2017, at around 10:20 p.m., Ms. Cristina "Tinay" Palabay received a phone call from a man who repeatedly asked her if she was "Tinay Palabay" and refused to tell her his name. He told Ms. Palabay that she should stop what she was doing, referring to her human rights work, because she was on a "list" of people whom they considered as "courageous," and that he called because she was within his "AOR" (interpreted as "area of responsibility"). He accused Ms. Palabay of being involved in the alleged ambush of June 19, 2017, of the Presidential Security Group by members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Mindanao. Ms. Palabay denied knowledge of and involvement in the reported incident, as she was at that time in Manila leading the preparations for peaceful protests ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address and his request for an extension of martial law in Mindanao. The caller also repeatedly asked about Ms. Palabay's whereabouts, and warned her to be careful because he would soon meet her. Ms. Palabay immediately recounted on Facebook the incident and made public the threats she received. After searching the caller's cellphone number (+639260779448 ), it appeared that the number belongs to a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Safety Battalion. On August 16, 2017, a complaint to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights was submitted by Karapatan. Ms. Palabay is an independent observer in the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). She is also a member of the organizing committee of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), an advisor to the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Rights (UAF). In April 2017, Ms. Palabay and three other Filipino activists conducted a speaking tour in the US on the human rights situation in the Philippines and the GRP-NDFP peace talks. She also participated in the May 2017 Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum, organized by former US President Jimmy Carter in Atlanta, US.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jul 18, 2017
- Event Description
Sherwin De Vera is a the coordinator of Defend Ilocos, a regional environmental network in north western Philippines affiliated with Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment. The organisation is currently leading a campaign against large-scale mining projects in the region that would be detrimental to local communities' right to a safe and healthy environment. The human rights defender is also a former human rights worker of Karapatan. On 18 July 2017, Sherwin De Vera was tailed by men in military uniforms when he visited Vigan City. On 19 July, the defender was informed by friends from the University of Northern Philippines that suspected military intelligence personnel had visited the university the previous day to ask the campus security department about Sherwin De Vera's recent visit to the university.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to work
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 23, 2017
- Event Description
An official lawyer's organization in central Vietnam's Phu Yen province has threatened to "discipline" an attorney known for representing defendants in political cases after he suggested that most members of his profession use bribery to influence trials. Vo An Don, a Phu Yen-based lawyer who has defended hundreds of members of underrepresented communities on a pro-bono basis, told RFA's Vietnamese Service Wednesday that he received a letter from the Phu Yen Lawyer's Association on Aug. 18 informing him he would "face discipline" for posting a comment on Facebook which said lawyers in Vietnam regularly use payoffs to win cases for their clients. "I have served as a lawyer in cases for poor people and political cases, and I always tell the truth," he said. "That's why the authorities really hate me-because I have said things that no other lawyer dares to say. Therefore, they are trying to take revenge on me." According to Don, the central Vietnam Lawyer's Association recently sent a letter to lawyer groups at the provincial level, banning their members from posting "lies" on social media. "But nobody tells the truth-they only lie," he said. "The truth is so ugly, they are afraid of having it revealed." Don said that Vietnam's Ministry of Justice recently issued a decree that bans lawyers from making comments they deem to be "untrue," and which grants permission to lawyer's associations at the provincial level to revoke law licenses-a measure that previously could only be taken with the approval of the Vietnam Lawyer's Association. He said that while the Phu Yen Lawyer's Association had not provided details of how he would be punished, he expected to be made an example of. "They didn't say exactly what they're going to do to discipline me, but they said the reason was because I "spoke ill of other lawyers on Facebook' and "provided foreign media with untrue information,'" he said. "I think that the punishment for me is going to be very harsh, because ... they're trying to ban lawyers from posting things on the internet and they will make an example of me." Don said he has been able to practice law with no restrictions since receiving the letter and would continue his work until he was prevented from doing so. "I will follow whatever discipline they give me because what I have done and said is true and is in line with the professional code of ethics," he said. "I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of with my colleagues," he added. "Many lawyers have raised their voices against me, while others scolded me because they think I accused them. But I think nobody will dare to stand up and protect me, even if they want to." Targeted lawyer Don has represented prominent activist and blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as Mother Mushroom, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June for "spreading propaganda against the state" through her Facebook posts and interviews with U.S. news services. Quynh was arrested on Oct. 10, 2016, for openly voicing her opinions on the deaths of people in police custody, Vietnam's sovereignty over the disputed Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea, and the government's handling of a toxic waste spill off the country's central coast in April of last year. He also defended retired Lt. Colonel Tran Anh Kim and ex-soldier Le Thanh Tung, who were sentenced to 13-year and 12-year prison terms, respectively, in December 2016 for "activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration." Other cases he has taken on include that of four defendants who were jailed in December after sailing to Australia in search of work and the wife of a criminal suspect who was beaten to death in police custody in 2012. Don has reported regular harassment by the authorities, including audits of his law practice, and says he has received several death threats from both police and "hired thugs."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
Radio Free Asia?searchterm:utf8:ustring=activist)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2017
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: Pro-government thugs in Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi have constantly harassed local blogger Phan Van Bach in recent weeks but authorities have not intervened despite request from the victim. Blogger Bach, who is conducting live streams programs on his Facebook account about the country's hot issues on environment, corruption, and other issues which are ignored by state media, said local thugs often come to his private residence in Trung Tu ward, Dong Da district to threaten to kill him because he is criticizing the government. The thugs include military veterans and members of the local affiliates of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the mass organization under umbrella of the ruling communist party. Thugs also threw dirty messes made from decaying shrimp and waste to his apartment, Bach said. Bach, who ran for a seat in the country's parliament in the general election in May last year but was eliminated unfairly by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, have reported the thugs' harassment to the local police, however, police have yet to take measures to protect his family from the thugs. Bach is among several bloggers belong to the Chan Hung Nuoc Viet (Vietnam Revival Movement) which aims to fight for multi-democracy, human rights and transparency in Vietnam. A number of members of the movement has been imprisoned, including founder Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Vu Quang Thuan, and Nguyen Van Dien. Mr. Thuc is serving his 16-year imprisonment on charge of subversion under Article 79 of the country's 1999 Penal Code while Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien were arrested in early March and charged with "conducting anti-state propaganda" under Article 88 of the law. Bach and other members of the movement have been summoned by Hanoi police for questioning their relations with Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien. The Communist Party of Vietnam and its government closely control media and impose severe censorship in social media. The government has used controversial articles of the Penal Code such as 79, 88 and 258 to silence local political dissidents and online bloggers. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Vietnam is one of countries with highest number of imprisoned journalists while Reporters Without Borders ranked Vietnam at the 175th position out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index in 2017. Meanwhile, many Vietnamese activists have also been assaulted by pro-government thugs along with being harassed and persecuted from the government. Blogger Le My Hanh was attacked twice in May by pro-government thugs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City but perpetrators remain unpunished despite denunciations from the victim. Update 24 August 2017 On August 24, Hanoi-based blogger Phan Van Bach was forcibly detained by the city police, interrogated and beaten before being released in late afternoon, the victim told Defend the Defenders. The detention was made after Bach refused to come to the city's Police Investigation Agency to work as a witness in a case of Mr. Vu Quang Thuan and Mr. Nguyen Van Dien, who were arrested in early March and charged with "conducting anti-state propaganda" under Article 88 of the country's Penal Code. In July and August, the agency sent a number of letters to summon him to work on the case. In the early morning of Thursday, a group of ten policemen came to Bach's private residence in Trung Tu ward, Dong Da district to detain him and took him to the agency's Office in Tran Hung Dao street. At the police station, Bach was interrogated by investigation officer Phan Quoc Uy and his supervisor for hours but the blogger remained silent for the most of time. The police officers asked Bach not to continue to conduct live streams on his Facebook account to criticize the ruling communist party and its government, threatening to charge him with "conducting anti-state propaganda." Bach said one moment, the police officers went out of the room and one in plain clothes entered to beat him. Later, Uy came and asked others to arrest the attacker but let him go freely. As Bach refused to cooperate, police was forced to release him after 5 PM. Bach went out and met with dozens of activists who were waiting for him near the police agency. Bach said the police did not mention further "working meetings." Bach, who ran for a seat in the country's parliament in the general election in May last year but was eliminated unfairly by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, has been a subject of harassment in the past few months. On August 18, his apartment was attacked with paint and glass particles while the first attack was on the afternoon of July 29 as his apartment was attacked with a mixture made from decaying shrimp, oil waste and dead crabs. One week later, a group of ten people including war veterans and other members from the Fatherland Front, a mass organization working under umbrella of the ruling communist party, came to his apartment to threaten to beat him. On the afternoon of August 12, two young individuals came to his apartment, threatening to kill him if he continues to criticize the government. At 10 PM of the same day, his apartment was attacked with a substance containing decaying shrimp. He reported the attacks to the local police, however, the local authorities have yet to take measures to protect his family from the attacks and thugs. Bach is among several bloggers belong to the Chan Hung Nuoc Viet (Vietnam Revival Movement) which aims to fight for multi-democracy, human rights and transparency in Vietnam. A number of members of the movement has been imprisoned, including founder Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Vu Quang Thuan, and Nguyen Van Dien. Mr. Thuc is serving his 16-year imprisonment on charge of subversion under Article 79 of the country's 1999 Penal Code while Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien were still held for investigation on allegation of "conducting anti-state propaganda." Bach and other members of the movement have been summoned by Hanoi police for questioning their relations with Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien. The Communist Party of Vietnam and its government closely control media and impose severe censorship in social media. The government has used controversial articles of the Penal Code such as 79, 88 and 258 to silence local political dissidents and online bloggers. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Vietnam is one of countries with highest number of imprisoned journalists while Reporters Without Borders ranked Vietnam at the 175th position out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index in 2017.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 20, 2017
- Event Description
A senior Ministry of Defence official yesterday claimed that housing rights group Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) had received close to half a million dollars a year from the United States to foment "colour revolution" among the land dispute groups it worked with - a claim quickly rejected by the NGO. Defence Ministry Secretary of State Neang Phat was speaking at an event with soldiers in Phnom Penh when he said that former STT head E Sarom, who was temporarily detained last year at a civil society protest, confessed to getting the large sum to foment movements that would serve a purported US strategy. "At some places, the NGOs formed protesting groups. So, if we look at them, we see that they were under the umbrella of some NGOs with the plan to do a colour revolution," he said. "He[Sarom] confessed that they had received funds from $400,000 to $500,000 every year to form all these movements to serve the strategy of the Americans." Last May, Sarom, Licadho Deputy Director Thav Kimsan and Borei Keila land activist Sar Sorn were arrested near Prey Sar prison as they led the first so-called Black Monday protest seeking the release of the imprisoned "Adhoc 5". Phat claimed that those on the receiving end of the purported incitement included outspoken Boeung Kak activist Tep Vanny, the Borei Keila community and land disputants from Thma Kol, also known as the "SOS" community. He also complained about the existence of nearly 3,000 grassroots communities, all of who, he said, were anti-government. "These communities are against the government, none of them is supporting the government," he said. He added that he had no further details to support his allegations and was basing it on a police report handed to him by Deputy National Police Chief Chhay Sinarith, who could not be reached yesterday. Interior Ministry Secretary of State Pol Lim said he was not aware of Phat's claims, and nor was Prak Sam Oeun, director for the ministry's Administration Department. The Defence Ministry official's remarks come as the government mounts a concerted clampdown on the opposition, NGOs and independent media outlets, with a particular emphasis on the US allegedly backing such groups to foment a "colour revolution" - a reference to non-violent protest movements in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. E Sarom, who at the time was the NGO's executive director, could not be reached yesterday, but Soeung Saran, who now heads STT, rejected the claims that it had been funded by the US government. "STT has never received USAID or US State Department funding and does not serve any strategy of the USA or other foreign governments," he said. He said the group only focused on providing pro-poor technical assistance for urban housing and infrastructure issues, as well as helping housing rights abuse victims understand the laws relevant to them. "STT tries to work with the Government of Cambodia and its institutions to develop urban poor areas for the betterment of all Cambodians," he added. In a short statement, the US Embassy in Phnom Penh said, "We support the peaceful resolution of land disputes, but are not familiar with the NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut". Thma Kol land activist Chray Nim questioned the repeated attempts to attack NGOs that aided her community with technical resources - a responsibility, she said, the government had absolved itself of. "Actually it is the government's role and the[involved] company's responsibility to find a solution, but then they turn to scapegoat NGOs that helped us, such as Teang Tnaut," she said. The anti-US conspiracy theories yesterday claimed another casualty - the European Union - when an anonymous letter to the editor, published on government mouthpiece Fresh News, claimed the superpower and economic bloc had stepped over a "red line". "Both ambassadors are trying to express their influence .?.?. and seek to pressure the Cambodian government to release the treasonous mastermind,[opposition leader] Kem Sokha, immediately and unconditionally," the letter reads, referring to US Ambassador William Heidt and EU delegation head George Edgar. The outlet's articles and anonymous letters have proved eerily prescient in recent months, foreshadowing, among other things, the government's expulsion of the NGO National Democratic Institute and its accusations that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party - particularly Sokha, who is currently in prison on "treason" charges - had colluded with the US to topple the government. The CNRP is currently facing possible dissolution by the Supreme Court following a complaint from the Ministry of Interior. In response, Ambassador Edgar said member states had expressed their serious concern over the arrest of Sokha and the potential dissolution and redistribution of the CNRP's seats in parliament and at the local level, but insisted that the EU remained nonpartisan. "It is up to the Cambodian people to choose whom they wish to represent them at commune and national level," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 24, 2017
- Event Description
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) - A 29-year-old broadcaster died in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday night, October 24, after unidentified men opened fire at his vehicle. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) alerted the media of the death of Christopher Iban Lozada on Wednesday morning, October 25. The NUJP said that Lozada was driving home with his girlfriend, Faith Tuyco Indog, when the incident happened. Indog was injured. Lozada was killed immediately while Indog was rushed to the Andres Soriano Hospital for treatment," the NUJP said. The ambush came after Lozada received multiple death threats, some of which could be found on his own Facebook acount, said NUJP. "I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion," Lozada said in a live Facebook video on October 15. Lozada was the operations manager and anchor of DXBF Prime Broadcasting Network, where he was known as "Chris Rapido." He was also called "Dok Chris" as he had health-related radio programs. According to the NUJP, Lozado was reportedly involved in filing charges against Bislig Mayor Librado Navarro and other Bislig officials before the Office of the Ombudsman over their involvement in a questionable hydraulic excavator deal. Navarro and the officials were found guilty of grave misconduct. In another Facebook post, Lozada posted a text message theatening him. "Another grave threat. I received this while I was hosting a program on air. I'm slightly worried by this incident because I was told that my days are numbered and that I would die soon. I'm just doing all these for the people. Now they're telling me this; I think they're getting used to this kind of act," he said. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) condemned the death of Lozada. Lozada earlier filed a complaint against Navarro with the PTFoMS, citing the death threats he had been receiving. PTFoMS issued a "red-flag" letter to Navarro on October 24 but it was too late, as he was killed that morning. "Lozada was killed even before the letter-warning could reach the mayor," PTFoMs said in a statement, adding that it suspected the mayor to be behind the threats to Lozada's life because of the graft case before the Ombudsman. In his complaint, Lozada cited threatening text messages that he reportedly received form Navarro. "Leave Bislig if you do not want to die," the alleged text message read. Police Superintendent Eder Collantes of Task Force Usig has been instructed to "immediately" investigate the killing.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker, RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2017
- Event Description
After a publisher reprinted chapters of his book Post-Hindu India (2009) into booklets in Telugu, Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, 65, has faced death threats, abuse and criticism from some members of the Arya Vysa community. In this interview given on the phone, the Hyderabad-based academic explains what he means by "social smuggling" and why that offends the castes that dominate Indian capitalism. Excerpts: Why are the Arya Vysas (Baniyas) of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh protesting against you? I wrote this book in 2009 in the background of a debate over merit and the demand for reservation in the private sector. It includes several chapters on various castes - a chapter on barbers is called "social doctors", one on dhobis is called "subaltern feminists", and so on. The chapter on Baniyas was called "social smugglers" and the one on Brahmins was called "spiritual fascists". This June, a small publisher printed each chapter as a separate booklet, with caste names on the cover page. This has led to protests and violent abuses by the Arya Vysa community. Two people have threatened to take my life on television. A TDP MP, P G Venkatesh, said in a press conference that I should be hanged and killed as is done in the Middle East. On September 23, I was returning from a meeting when my car was attacked. I was saved because my driver managed to take me out and reach the police station. I have filed cases at the Osmania University police station and requested for full police protection. The state has done nothing - at least as much as CM Siddaramaiah has done to protect intellectuals in Karnataka. Has anyone in the government reached out to you? Ministers in my Telangana state, including the home minister, joined the Arya Vysas in condemning me. The CM is silent. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has been sending out feelers that he will ban the book. Look at the climate in which I am fighting this battle - the murders of Gauri Lankesh and M M Kalburgi in my neighbouring state. This is the fear I have. Therefore, I placed myself under house arrest. I am telling the world that if the Indian government cannot protect an intellectual who is known in the country and world, then other intellectuals have no safety in this country. What do you mean by calling Baniyas social smugglers? Social smuggling is a concept I coined to capture caste-based economic exploitation, from the village upwards to the monopoly Baniya capital, which involves the Ambanis, Adanis, the Laxmi Mittals, and so on. Social smuggling is a method of deceptive business, which accumulates wealth in the Baniya economy itself, and does not let it go back to the producers, who are the source of the wealth. Historically, because of the nexus between the Baniya and the Brahmin priestly community, the wealth was also transferred into temples. This led to non-development of mercantile capital in the medieval and late medieval age, and later indigenous capital. This encirclement of business is done through the spiritual dictum of Manu, Kautilya and Vedic texts. Unlike in the West, only one caste was allowed to do business in India. Smuggling means taking away wealth out of the borders of the nation illegally, but "social smuggling" means taking away the produce of all castes into the vaults of one caste - the Baniya, without any access to others. Wealth remains within the nation but in the control of one caste. It does not go back into the agricultural economy or the philanthropic economy or the education economy. This happened historically and is now happening even in the modern, privatised economy. That is the reason why 46% of the corporate directors in India are Baniyas, whereas their population is 1.9%. Brahmins come second, with 44.6% of corporate directors from their caste. So, you are saying that in this form of capitalism, caste cannot be challenged. It is this caste-controlled, socially smuggled capital which does not want to give preferential treatment or reservation in the private sector. They have been talking about our meritlessness. But we have proved our merit in producing the wealth, in the agrarian economy. Why are they not sharing this wealth with 90 per cent of the other castes, including Jats, Patels, etc, by giving them space in the private sector? Is it true that you have set terms for withdrawing the book? These are the conditions I have set (to the Baniya community to disprove that they are social smugglers). Look at our soldiers on the border. When the nationalism debate is taking place, Amit Shah and (PM) Modi are holding up the soldiers as an example. But, among these foot soldiers, there are no Baniyas or Brahmins. I am asking for one job for the family of each soldier serving on the border in the private sector. Look at the number of constables fighting in Naxalite regions or in Kashmir. Their family members should be given jobs in the private sector. Farmer suicides is one of the biggest issues in the country today. I am asking for a farmer protection fund from the entire industrial capital - at least 1% of their annual profit, around Rs 30,000 crore. Corporate social responsibility doesn't fight the caste system, or help the tribal or Dalit issue. It should be a social responsibility. What is the social consequence of this "socially smuggled capital"? When Adam Smith wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments, he said that without moral sentiment, a transparent capitalism cannot survive. The buyer and seller will have to be honest and treat each other with respect. In this Baniya-Brahmin capitalism, that empathy, that goodwill towards the poorest of the poor is missing. To the point of ignoring the death of the farmers, who is the source of wealth. Industries must prove their nationalism like the soldiers are proving their nationalism on the border. Why do you think writers are facing such anger today? Earlier, we have had writing which has become controversial when gods or prophets are involved, or women are involved. But this is an academic concept and as a research scholar I have full rights to formulate it. This is not an issue that can be settled on the streets. Tragically, and to my surprise, the Indian intellectuals or economists have not responded to this debate. In this environment of cow vigilantism, killings of intellectuals, if communists and liberals are silent, if the English media is not reporting this, it is very frightening. That scares me more. Why are our progressive intellectuals silent? Because I am a lower-caste intellectual?
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to Protest
- HRD
- Academic, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 26, 2017
- Event Description
Mr. Ashish Kumar Chaturvedi after obtaining documents regarding irregularities in the medical entrance examination, through Right to Information Act and ascertaining the seriousness of the matter had filed several complaints before Madhya Pradesh government authorities. The said complaints were taken up by the crime branch, Indore initially and later on the investigation was handed over to the special Task Force (STF) and the same was monitored by Madhya Pradesh High Court. Mr. Chaturvedi is under constant threat from that day onwards. He had been threatened numerous times and is being supplied with PSO for his protection. Over the period of investigation of "VYAPAM" matter, where Mr. Chaturvedi is one of the main witness, had received and is still receiving threats. Most of the threats have been communicated to the PSO Guards by Mr. Chaturvedi. Apart from Mr. Chaturvedi even the CBI Inspector (Mr. Harish Goyal) who is investigating the Crime No. 285/14 (Where Mr. Chaturvedi is the complainant and in which names of some influential people have come up), was also threatened over phone. The PSO Guard, who has been assigned to look after the safety and security of the Mr. Chaturvedi has been provided with a video camera for recording Mr. Chaturvedi's movements and activities In this respect Mr. Chaturvedi has requested for information under Right to Information Act, 2005, for which the office of Jhansi Road Police Station, Gwalior has given information in its reply dated 25.04.17 regarding the video camera. The PSO guard from the date of issuance of the video camera, have been involved in recording the activities of Mr. Chaturvedi round the clock. Mr. Chaturvedi has been illegally and with mala-fide intentions, been kept under around the clock surveillance by video graphing his actions and movements, which is a complete violation of his fundamental right to privacy as provided by the Constitution of India. On January 26, 2017, the PSO guard crossed their limits when they illegally, vehemently and without the consent of Mr. Chaturvedi entered into his house and started video graphing, including his mother and sister. The same was objected by Mr. Chaturvedi, however, the PSO guard started abusing him and told that this has been done under the instructions of Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Dinesh Kaushal (Nodal Officer) and T.I. Rajkumar Sharma. The guards are still continuing to record and monitor the day-to-day activities of Mr. Chaturvedi by the video came or in their respective mobile phones. The video graphing of day to day life of Mr. Chaturvedi and his family members by the PSO guards has harassed Mr. Chaturvedi and his family to the core and in the guise of surveillance, the recording is nothing but a tool for the Police authorities to harass the HRD. Mr. Chaturvedi has made several complaints to the competent authorities and apprised them about the video graphing and monitoring by the PSO guard but no actions has been taken yet. Although the camcorder was issued for the purposes of safety and security of Mr. Chaturvedi, however, there were several incidents where Mr. Chaturvedi was attacked by some miscreants but the recording of such incident was not done by the PSO guard. In one such incident, Mr. Chaturvedi was engaged in preparation for his sister's marriage and three persons from a political party tried to abduct Mr. Chaturvedi and used force against him in the presence of PSO guard equipped with camcorder, and the recording of said incident took place. In this respect, Mr. Chaturvedi has filed a complaint with the Police authorities, but no action has been taken till date. The recording by the PSOs till this date is continued, the only difference is that the video recording is now being done by using their mobile phones. Mr. Chaturvedi's normal life has been harmed and his social image has been damaged by such act. It has not only affected his social life, but his right to privacy and right to move freely has been sacrificed and breached by such act. This holds much greater importance after the recent Supreme Court's 9 member bench ruling that privacy is a fundamental right.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Whistleblower
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2017
- Event Description
Authorities in many Vietnamese localities have been tightening security ahead of the APEC Summit, detaining many local activists for interrogation and placing others under house arrest, the victims have complained. In Danang, where the summit is taking place on November 6-10, local security forces have summoned activists Khuc Thua Son and Lam Bui and others to local police stations for questioning for days. In Ho Chi Minh City, police officers detained environmentalist Tran Quynh Nhu Uyen when she was riding with her motorbike. Police beat her and later took her to a police station for questioning. Several hours later, police took her back to the place where she was kidnapped. Uyen said police threatened her that they would kill her if she traveled alone. In the central province of Nghe An, on November 3, police detained former prisoner of conscience Tran Duc Thanh and questioned him about the Brotherhood for Democracy. Thach, a member of the online pro-democracy group, has been under constant harassment of the local police. In the southern province of Dong Nai, police summoned eleven Catholic followers of the Tho Hoa parish to question on relation with social orders. Along with kidnaping, beating, and interrogating former prisoner of conscience Bui Thi Minh Hang, security forces in Hanoi have also been placing many local activists under de facto house arrest. Vu Quoc Ngu, chief executive officer of Defend the Defenders said police came to his private residence to seek for him. As the family told them that he was not at home, two policemen left. The security head of the Thanh Tri police also sought him by telephone. Meanwhile, many international human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Civil Rights Defenders as well as many foreign intellectuals have urged Vietnam to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience, and stop ongoing severe crackdown on political dissidents, human rights defenders, social activists and independent journalists. Vietnam holds over 100 of prisoners of conscience, while Hanoi always denies this, saying it keeps only law violators behind bars. Vietnam will host the APEC Summit in Danang on November 6-10, with participation from U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 10, 2017
- Event Description
An editor working for a prominent Chinese human rights website is being held on suspicion of "insulting a national leader,' weeks after the end of a major political congress in Beijing, fellow activists said. Editor Ding Lingjie of the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website is being held at the Shijingshan Detention Center on the outskirts of the Chinese capital after initially 'disappearing' in Shandong's Zibo city. She met with her defense attorney Ren Quanniu for the first time this week. "One of the reasons they detained her was to do with a video clip regarding[President] Xi Jinping that was given to her by petitioners, that she posted directly to the site," Ren told RFA after the meeting. "When they were interrogating her, they wouldn't let her watch it. All they wanted was her admission that it was she who posted it," he said. "The interrogators told her she was being questioned on suspicion of 'insulting a national leader.'" Ren said the authorities had violated China's criminal code during the investigation. "Not one of them told her their full name, nor did they produce any form of ID, which is against the Criminal Procedure Law," he said. "All she knew was the charge she was accused of. Neither did they provide her with any of the documents she was supposed to be given. She has received no documents since her detention," Ren said, adding that Ding's case has been shrouded in secrecy from the start. "We don't even know which government agency is prosecuting this case," he said. "Before I met with her, I had thought it was the Shijingshan police department, but I asked them about this twice and they said they had never heard of the case. I suspect that their name was used[as a smokescreen]." Ren said Ding is also in poor health. "According to what she told me, she can't straighten her back properly," he said. "I asked her about this, and she said it was due to bone hyperplasia. She said her health has worsened because of having to sleep on hard boards in the detention center." Ding's friend and colleague Cheng Yulan said she had been denied permission to visit her friend in the detention center on Wednesday. "Firstly, we are worried because the charges against her have changed, and also, another concern is that her health is poor. We are short-staffed now; our website has suffered a huge blow, but we will definitely carry on."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Online, Right to health
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 21, 2017
- Event Description
On November 21, police in Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi harassed a group of activists after a meeting with foreign diplomats from several countries. The group consists of Vice President of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam (IJAVN) Nguyen Tuong Thuy, former prisoners of conscience Bui Thi Minh Hang and Nguyen Vu Binh, Mrs. Trang- the wife of Pham Van Troi who was arrested on July 30 and charged with subversion, land rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong and Phan Van Bach, member of he Chan Hung Nuoc Viet (Vietnam Revival Movement). During the meeting in Fortuna hotel near the U.S. Embassy in the capital city, activists reported Vietnam's human rights violations and the government's harassments against local activists. Activists said plainclothes were around and watched the event. When the meeting finished and activists were going to leave the venue, they recognized a car with plainclothes agents in front of the hotel. Feeling they may be being detained by police, activists came back and asked the diplomats to escort them to safe places. When Ms. Hang and Mr. Thuy got in a car, plainclothes agents chased them with their car. It took long time for the driver to escape from police. This is the second harassment Ms. Hang faced within a week. On the noon of November 16, police detained Hang after a meeting with the EU Delegation, She was interrogated for hours and released her in the evening of the same day.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- HRD
- Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Oct 19, 2017
- Event Description
A Bangladeshi human rights lawyer on Wednesday said he sought police protection after complaining about death threats received for writing about and advocating for his country's LGBT community. Shahanur Islam Saikot said unidentified men, whom he suspected were militants, repeatedly threatened him over the phone, with the latest two calls made on Nov. 9. The death threats, including ones sent on Facebook, began in October. "On Oct. 19 and 23, some unidentified callers threatened to kill me if I did not stop writing in favor of the LGBT people in Bangladesh. They tagged me as an atheist and reminded me of dire consequences," Saikot, a blogger and 2010 fellow of Switzerland-based rights group JusticeMakers, told BenarNews. The South Asian nation is where Muslim extremists carried out a spate of grisly killings targeting secular writers, intellectuals and LGBT activists in 2015 and 2016, according to Bangladeshi police. "I have been getting repeated threats on Facebook where I share my story in favor of the LGBT community," he said. "Who would threaten me on this issue other than the militants? The militants are behind the threats." Homosexual acts are outlawed in Saikot's Muslim-majority country. Defendants can be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of sodomy, but the law is not seriously enforced, according to a 2016 U.S. State Department country report on human rights in Bangladesh. Saikot said he filed a complaint with the police on Oct. 27 in northern Naogaon district, where he was when he received one of the threats over his phone. In his complaint, a copy of which was obtained by BenarNews, Saikot said the caller cursed him and told him to stop writing blogs perceived as favoring the LGBT community, whose initials stand for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender." "Otherwise, you would be sent to the other world to stop the writing completely," the caller said, according to Saikot. Home | News | Bengali news Bangladeshi Lawyer, LGBT Advocate Seeks Police Protection after Getting Death Threats Kamran Reza Chowdhury Dhaka 2017-11-15 Email story Comment on this story Share story Share Comment Email 171115-BD-lgbt-620.jpg Bangladeshi LGBT people pose in front of the Osmani Memorial Auditorium Complex in Dhaka during a rally marking World Aids Day, Dec. 1, 2015. Monirul Alam/BenarNews A Bangladeshi human rights lawyer on Wednesday said he sought police protection after complaining about death threats received for writing about and advocating for his country's LGBT community. Shahanur Islam Saikot said unidentified men, whom he suspected were militants, repeatedly threatened him over the phone, with the latest two calls made on Nov. 9. The death threats, including ones sent on Facebook, began in October. "On Oct. 19 and 23, some unidentified callers threatened to kill me if I did not stop writing in favor of the LGBT people in Bangladesh. They tagged me as an atheist and reminded me of dire consequences," Saikot, a blogger and 2010 fellow of Switzerland-based rights group JusticeMakers, told BenarNews. The South Asian nation is where Muslim extremists carried out a spate of grisly killings targeting secular writers, intellectuals and LGBT activists in 2015 and 2016, according to Bangladeshi police. "I have been getting repeated threats on Facebook where I share my story in favor of the LGBT community," he said. "Who would threaten me on this issue other than the militants? The militants are behind the threats." Homosexual acts are outlawed in Saikot's Muslim-majority country. Defendants can be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of sodomy, but the law is not seriously enforced, according to a 2016 U.S. State Department country report on human rights in Bangladesh. Saikot said he filed a complaint with the police on Oct. 27 in northern Naogaon district, where he was when he received one of the threats over his phone. In his complaint, a copy of which was obtained by BenarNews, Saikot said the caller cursed him and told him to stop writing blogs perceived as favoring the LGBT community, whose initials stand for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender." "Otherwise, you would be sent to the other world to stop the writing completely," the caller said, according to Saikot. Gay activists slain Police said they were trying to track down suspects, but acknowledged the difficulty that investigators faced because they lacked proper technology needed to trace incoming calls. "We have yet to trace the people behind the threats. The numbers used for issuing threats are not local," Himel Roy, an additional superintendent at the Naogaon Police, told BenarNews. He said he would refer the case to the police in Dhaka, the nation's capital. Saikot expressed fears for his safety two days after a U.S.-based group, which monitors freedom of expression, underscored that internet freedom had declined in Bangladesh, citing a recent surge in the number of fatal attacks by religious extremists. Freedom House emphasized that religious extremists claimed responsibility for the April 2016 killing of Xulhaz Mannan, the founder of a magazine that promoted LGBT rights; as well as the spate of deadly machete attacks on secular bloggers, publishers and intellectuals. Police have determined that five to seven men killed Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy on April 25, 2016. But investigators have since made no significant headway and have arrested only one suspect, who was caught days after the attack. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) claimed responsibility for the double-murder, but investigators have blamed a local militant group with AQIS leanings, Ansarullah Bangla Team, for carrying out the killings. Home | News | Bengali news Bangladeshi Lawyer, LGBT Advocate Seeks Police Protection after Getting Death Threats Kamran Reza Chowdhury Dhaka 2017-11-15 Email story Comment on this story Share story Share Comment Email 171115-BD-lgbt-620.jpg Bangladeshi LGBT people pose in front of the Osmani Memorial Auditorium Complex in Dhaka during a rally marking World Aids Day, Dec. 1, 2015. Monirul Alam/BenarNews A Bangladeshi human rights lawyer on Wednesday said he sought police protection after complaining about death threats received for writing about and advocating for his country's LGBT community. Shahanur Islam Saikot said unidentified men, whom he suspected were militants, repeatedly threatened him over the phone, with the latest two calls made on Nov. 9. The death threats, including ones sent on Facebook, began in October. "On Oct. 19 and 23, some unidentified callers threatened to kill me if I did not stop writing in favor of the LGBT people in Bangladesh. They tagged me as an atheist and reminded me of dire consequences," Saikot, a blogger and 2010 fellow of Switzerland-based rights group JusticeMakers, told BenarNews. The South Asian nation is where Muslim extremists carried out a spate of grisly killings targeting secular writers, intellectuals and LGBT activists in 2015 and 2016, according to Bangladeshi police. "I have been getting repeated threats on Facebook where I share my story in favor of the LGBT community," he said. "Who would threaten me on this issue other than the militants? The militants are behind the threats." Homosexual acts are outlawed in Saikot's Muslim-majority country. Defendants can be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of sodomy, but the law is not seriously enforced, according to a 2016 U.S. State Department country report on human rights in Bangladesh. Saikot said he filed a complaint with the police on Oct. 27 in northern Naogaon district, where he was when he received one of the threats over his phone. In his complaint, a copy of which was obtained by BenarNews, Saikot said the caller cursed him and told him to stop writing blogs perceived as favoring the LGBT community, whose initials stand for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender." "Otherwise, you would be sent to the other world to stop the writing completely," the caller said, according to Saikot. Gay activists slain Police said they were trying to track down suspects, but acknowledged the difficulty that investigators faced because they lacked proper technology needed to trace incoming calls. "We have yet to trace the people behind the threats. The numbers used for issuing threats are not local," Himel Roy, an additional superintendent at the Naogaon Police, told BenarNews. He said he would refer the case to the police in Dhaka, the nation's capital. Saikot expressed fears for his safety two days after a U.S.-based group, which monitors freedom of expression, underscored that internet freedom had declined in Bangladesh, citing a recent surge in the number of fatal attacks by religious extremists. Freedom House emphasized that religious extremists claimed responsibility for the April 2016 killing of Xulhaz Mannan, the founder of a magazine that promoted LGBT rights; as well as the spate of deadly machete attacks on secular bloggers, publishers and intellectuals. Police have determined that five to seven men killed Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy on April 25, 2016. But investigators have since made no significant headway and have arrested only one suspect, who was caught days after the attack. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) claimed responsibility for the double-murder, but investigators have blamed a local militant group with AQIS leanings, Ansarullah Bangla Team, for carrying out the killings. Case of the missing professor On Monday, the New York-based PEN America said Bangladesh had failed "to protect independent voices within Bangladesh's intellectual sphere," as it cited the disappearance of Mubashar Hasan, a Dhaka professor and policy analyst known internationally for his work on Islamic extremism. "The disappearance of Dr. Mubashar Hasan is another in a long line of grave threats to scholars and independent thinkers in Bangladesh," Karin Karlekar, a PEN America director, said in a statement. "The authorities must step up efforts to find and free Dr. Hasan from whatever forces are responsible for his disappearance as soon as possible." Hasan was last seen on Nov. 7, 2017 after teaching his class at North South University and while on his way to a meeting at the U.N. office in Dhaka, PEN said in the statement. It said Hasan was a scholar of religion and politics who focused on the rise of Islamic extremism. He is also the founder of the secular website alchonnaa.com, which strives to promote democracy and pluralism within Bangladesh. "Hasan's disappearance is part of larger pattern of free speech violations in Bangladesh by both state and non-state actors," PEN said. "According to local and international groups, extrajudicial executions of political opponents and other critical voices by security forces, particularly the Rapid Action Battalion, remain a serious concern, with dozens of cases reported each year." A senior official of an NGO that promotes LGBT rights in Bangladesh told BenarNews that the militants had been encouraged by the failure of authorities to conclude their investigation into the Mannan and Tonoy killings. "Now, they have targeted the other people supporting the LGBT community. When we go to the police seeking protection, the police do not take our concern seriously. They make objectionable comments about us instead," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "That is why [LGBT groups] do not feel safe asking for police help," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- HRD
- Academic, Lawyer, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Nov 29, 2017
- Event Description
Cambodia's government on Wednesday launched a probe into a leading human rights organization, days after Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to shut it down, prompting an outcry from groups who called the move further evidence of the country's slide into dictatorship ahead of elections next year. Deputy director-general of the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Administration Chhim Kan told government-aligned Fresh News that his ministry had initiated a "study and investigation" into the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)-a rights group cofounded by opposition leader Kem Sokha, who is currently in pretrial detention facing charges of treason. The ministry "has yet to decide CCHR's fate," Chhim Kan said, adding that expert officials are awaiting the outcome of the investigation to determine how to proceed. Over the weekend, Hun Sen said that the group "will have to be shut down" because Kem Sokha "followed foreigners to create the center in Cambodia," noting that "this is the same guy who incited people to topple the government." In response to Hun Sen's comments, CCHR issued a statement affirming its "non-partisanship" and "independence from all political parties," and said any independent and impartial investigation into its activities would "find no wrongdoing whatsoever." Kem Sokha was arrested on Sept. 3 for allegedly collaborating with the U.S. to overthrow the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP)-charges the U.S. embassy has rejected. Cambodia's Supreme Court on Nov. 16 ruled that his opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) be dissolved for its part in the plot, essentially eliminating Hun Sen's competition ahead of a general election scheduled for July 2018. Hun Sen's government has faced widespread condemnation in recent months over its actions targeting the CNRP, as well as for orchestrating the closure of independent media outlets and cracking down on nongovernmental organizations. International response Local and international organizations suggested that the investigation into CCHR could lead to a wider shut down of NGOs in Cambodia, and decried it as arbitrary and lacking legal basis. Toronto-based IFEX, a global network of groups promoting free expression that counts CCHR as a member, "strongly and unequivocally" condemned Hun Sen's call for an investigation into the organization following "the politically motivated" dissolution of the CNRP and arrest of Kem Sokha. "The closure of such a principled and dedicated group as CCHR would be devastating for the safeguarding of Cambodians' rights at a time when they are under increasing threat, and would irrevocably add to the climate of censorship that has taken hold," said IFEX executive director Annie Game. "Considered alongside other important voices that have been silenced, such a brazen action would signal to the world that Cambodia's stated support for free expression and association is an empty platitude." IFEX urged the government to drop its "baseless" investigation into CCHR, in accordance with protections for freedom of expression and association enshrined in Cambodia's constitution, and called on the international community, including donors and trade partners, to pressure Cambodia over the case. IFEX's statement echoed earlier concerns over Hun Sen's comments from the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), which said in a post on its Facebook page over the weekend that his attacks on the CCHR constituted "further evidence of Cambodia's continued slide deeper into dictatorship." In the post, APHR chairperson Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament, said the push to shut down the group "is the ruthless action of a dictator, and it will perpetuate widespread fear among civil society." He called on authorities to "immediately reverse course and allow CCHR to continue its important work free from threats and intimidation," adding that international partners should worry about the implications for productive engagement and sustainable development in Cambodia, given the country's shrinking civic space. Local reaction Soeung Sen Karona, spokesperson for local rights group ADHOC, told RFA Wednesday that if authorities are going to conduct an investigation into the CCHR, it must be done transparently, instead of simply as a response to Hun Sen's comments. He added that the Ministry of the Interior must look into the benefits that CCHR has provided to society, calling the group an "unequivocal partner for strengthening respect of human rights and social justice in Cambodia." "We hope that what Hun Sen has said are simply his remarks and that those who conduct the[investigation] will do so in a professional manner," he said. "Should they fail to find any[evidence] backing up[Hun Sen's] claim, such a crucial institution should be maintained so that it can further contribute to helping society and the nation in accordance with the government's goal of respecting human rights and democracy." Since late August, the government has also expelled U.S.-funded NGO the National Democratic Institute (NDI), suspended some 20 radio stations that aired content by U.S. broadcasters Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, and forced the closure of the English-language Cambodia Daily with a hefty tax bill. Since Kem Sokha's arrest, some 20 CNRP lawmakers, along with deputy presidents Mu Sochua and Eng Chhay Eang and a number of party activists, have fled Cambodia fearing retaliation by the CPP following important electoral gains by the opposition in June's commune ballot, which are seen as pointing to a strong showing in next year's vote. Last month, a group of 55 nongovernmental organizations said a "severe deterioration in the state of human rights and democracy" in Cambodia required a reconvening of the Paris Peace Conference, which ended conflict in the nation in 1991 and led to the U.N.'s administration of its government during its transition to a system of democratic elections.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Dec 1, 2017
- Event Description
Chinese rights activists say they have been warned off any form of public activism or protest on World AIDS Day, in a crackdown on civil society in the country that began around two years ago. Henan-based AIDS activist Sun Ya, a long-time activist with the Beijing-based Aizhixing health rights group, said he would like to take part in public events on Friday in support of the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, but doesn't dare. "They have urged us[not to do this]," Sun said. "On top of that, there is also the fact that they are monitoring our communications, listening in." "There are controls on our activities now, including buying tickets for bus or train with a real-name system, which means they can send someone to follow you," he said. "People are routinely getting detained, and all of the lawyers who used to stand up for us are being taken off[such cases] for a variety of reasons," Sun said. Sun said his 21-year-old son, who lives with HIV, is discriminated against in employment, like many others with HIV/AIDS. He said employers still discriminate against people with HIV, in spite of greater awareness of how the virus is transmitted. "With this kind of discrimination, employers want to avoid extra hassle. They are worried that if they hire people[with HIV] and you get sick, they will have to pay your medical expenses," Sun said. Many people with HIV/AIDS are given a handout of just 200 yuan a month to cover their living expenses, making it impossible to get by. Little government interest Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia, who has long campaigned against discrimination on health grounds, said the government has little interest in standing up for people with HIV/AIDS. "In the regions where there is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, such as Henan and Anhui, but mostly Henan, in all the years of advocacy work since 2001, I have yet to hear of a single victorious lawsuit in the area of HIV/AIDS and government compensation," Hu said. He said many people in China have contracted the virus through tainted blood-transfusions, spurred on by the practice of blood-selling in poverty-stricken rural areas. He said people infected by such schemes should receive compensation, as they were infected by unsafe blood-handling practices out of their control, as well as psychological counseling. HIV/AIDS advocacy work has been hampered in China by a wide-ranging clampdown on the activities of civil society and nongovernment groups, especially those receiving foreign funding. "Rights organizations aren't allowed to get involved in the Henan AIDS epidemic, so it's very hard to get transparent information about the health status of those infected," Hu told RFA. "People only really remember their existence on World AIDS Day, and the message from the[state-run] media is always about how the government is taking care of them," he said. HOME | NEWS | CHINA Chinese Activists Warned Off Protests on World AIDS Day 2017-12-01 Email story Comment on this story Share story Print story Print Share Comment Email Workers in India prepare signs for World AIDS Day in an undated photo. Workers in India prepare signs for World AIDS Day in an undated photo. Reuters Chinese rights activists say they have been warned off any form of public activism or protest on World AIDS Day, in a crackdown on civil society in the country that began around two years ago. Henan-based AIDS activist Sun Ya, a long-time activist with the Beijing-based Aizhixing health rights group, said he would like to take part in public events on Friday in support of the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, but doesn't dare. "They have urged us[not to do this]," Sun said. "On top of that, there is also the fact that they are monitoring our communications, listening in." "There are controls on our activities now, including buying tickets for bus or train with a real-name system, which means they can send someone to follow you," he said. "People are routinely getting detained, and all of the lawyers who used to stand up for us are being taken off[such cases] for a variety of reasons," Sun said. Sun said his 21-year-old son, who lives with HIV, is discriminated against in employment, like many others with HIV/AIDS. He said employers still discriminate against people with HIV, in spite of greater awareness of how the virus is transmitted. "With this kind of discrimination, employers want to avoid extra hassle. They are worried that if they hire people[with HIV] and you get sick, they will have to pay your medical expenses," Sun said. Many people with HIV/AIDS are given a handout of just 200 yuan a month to cover their living expenses, making it impossible to get by. Little government interest Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia, who has long campaigned against discrimination on health grounds, said the government has little interest in standing up for people with HIV/AIDS. "In the regions where there is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, such as Henan and Anhui, but mostly Henan, in all the years of advocacy work since 2001, I have yet to hear of a single victorious lawsuit in the area of HIV/AIDS and government compensation," Hu said. He said many people in China have contracted the virus through tainted blood-transfusions, spurred on by the practice of blood-selling in poverty-stricken rural areas. He said people infected by such schemes should receive compensation, as they were infected by unsafe blood-handling practices out of their control, as well as psychological counseling. HIV/AIDS advocacy work has been hampered in China by a wide-ranging clampdown on the activities of civil society and nongovernment groups, especially those receiving foreign funding. "Rights organizations aren't allowed to get involved in the Henan AIDS epidemic, so it's very hard to get transparent information about the health status of those infected," Hu told RFA. "People only really remember their existence on World AIDS Day, and the message from the[state-run] media is always about how the government is taking care of them," he said. Blood-selling at fault Official figures show that more than 654,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in China, while more than 201,000 people died of the disease in 2017. Officials at Beijing's National Health and Family Planning Commission say that sexual transmission is the main source of infection in the country. But U.S.-based dissident doctors such as Wan Yanhai and Gao Yaojie say the majority of new HIV infections come from a network of thousands of blood-selling and transfusion clinics which are still operating in poorer regions of the country. Both Wan and Gao fled to the U.S. after official reprisals for their whistle blowing on the blood-selling scandal, and for their insistence that it continues in poorer regions of the country to this day.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to health, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
Radio Free Asia?searchterm:utf8:ustring=activist)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Jun 11, 2017
- Event Description
About 30 villagers escorted two environmental activists from Kandal province's Sa'ang district to the relative safety of Phnom Penh yesterday after the pair were allegedly harassed by local police for helping coordinate a protest against sand dredging in the area the day before. The activists, Thun Ratha, 25, and Meng Heng, 27, of the group Mother Nature, were brought to the city in the afternoon on a remorque alongside 15 of the villagers, while the rest followed on their motorbikes fearing that the activists might be arrested, according to Heng. The pair had travelled to Koh Kor village in Raka Khpos commune on Sunday to help coordinate a protest to demand that the authorities halt sand dredging operations in the Tonle Bassac river, after about 10 homes had collapsed into the water over the past year. Ratha said police had demanded to photograph his national identification card on Sunday after his fellow activist presented a photo of his own ID card, but that he had refused. At around 10:30pm, he said, about 10 commune police officers and the local village chief showed up to the house where he was staying, demanding once again to see his identification. More commune, district and provincial police returned in the morning, Ratha said. "They told me to show my NGO work card and ID card, wanting to know where I'm from, but I declined," he said. "No law orders us to show them the document as a simple citizen. I am not a criminal." Kandal Police Chief Eav Chamroeun said he had seen a video the activists posted on Facebook in which they said they wanted to end dredging in the area. He said he believed they were going to "incite" villagers. "I wanted them to show who they are," he said. "And I told my policemen to ask them." Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, a co-founder of Mother Nature who was deported from Cambodia in 2015, said he was not surprised by the alleged case of harassment, explaining that the activists "faced this issue countless times" when organising protests against sand-dredging. Sorn Ramana, a project coordinator at the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the activists had rights to freedom of assembly and association under Cambodia's Constitution. "While no arrest was made in this case, the repeated confronting of Mr Thun Ratha by large numbers of state forces constitutes an act of intimidation and a restriction of Mr. Ratha's rights," Ramana said. Mines and Energy Ministry spokesman Dith Tina said that there are four licensed dredging companies operating legally in the in the area, identifying the firms as Leng Chin Group Co Ltd, Song Sopheap, Bassac Mekong Development Co Ltd and Porniron Co Ltd. All received a two-year dredging licences last year, Tina said, and the nearest dredging zone was about 600 metres from the collapsed homes. After a riverbank collapse occurred in the area in March, the ministry sent a specialist to inspect, and determined the collapse was "due to natural erosion of the riverbank", Tina added.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 18, 2017
- Event Description
Unknown individuals threw paint and broken glass particles into the private residence of Hanoi-based blogger Phan Xuan Bach on late night of August 18, the victim told Defend the Defenders. Due to the attack, his apartment was full with red paint and tiny particles of glass. However, no one of his family got hurt, said the blogger who is conducting live streams programs on his Facebook account about the country's hot issues on environment, corruption, and other issues which are ignored by state media. In early morning of Saturday, Back received a box from an unknown individual and when he opened the box, he found three cans containing liquid substance likely made from decaying shrimp, and a flag of the former Vietnam Republic. Bach said it is a plot against him because possessing flags of Vietnam Republic may be considered as an anti-state act. The attack was the fourth attack against Bach and his family since late July, and he supposed the attackers are pro-government individuals who found his critical live stream programs harmful for the ruling communist party and its government. The first attack was on the afternoon of July 29 as his apartment was attacked with a mixture made from decaying shrimp, oil waste and dead crabs. One week later, a group of ten people including war veterans and other members from the Fatherland Front, a mass organization working under umbrella of the ruling communist party, came to his apartment to threaten to beat him. On the afternoon of August 12, two young individuals came to his apartment, threatening to kill him if he continues to criticize the government. At 10 PM of the same day, his apartment was attacked with a substance containing decaying shrimp. Bach, who ran for a seat in the country's parliament in the general election in May last year but was eliminated unfairly by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, have reported the thugs' harassment to the local police, however, police have yet to take measures to protect his family from the thugs. Bach is among several bloggers belong to the Chan Hung Nuoc Viet (Vietnam Revival Movement) which aims to fight for multi-democracy, human rights and transparency in Vietnam. A number of members of the movement has been imprisoned, including founder Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Vu Quang Thuan, and Nguyen Van Dien. Mr. Thuc is serving his 16-year imprisonment on charge of subversion under Article 79 of the country's 1999 Penal Code while Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien were arrested in early March and charged with "conducting anti-state propaganda" under Article 88 of the law. Bach and other members of the movement have been summoned by Hanoi police for questioning their relations with Mr. Thuan and Mr. Dien. The Communist Party of Vietnam and its government closely control media and impose severe censorship in social media. The government has used controversial articles of the Penal Code such as 79, 88 and 258 to silence local political dissidents and online bloggers. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Vietnam is one of countries with highest number of imprisoned journalists while Reporters Without Borders ranked Vietnam at the 175th position out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index in 2017. Meanwhile, many Vietnamese activists have also been assaulted by pro-government thugs along with being harassed and persecuted from the government. Blogger Le My Hanh was attacked twice in May by pro-government thugs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City but perpetrators remain unpunished despite denunciations from the victim while activists Nguyen Lan Thang and his family was also attacked with paint by pro-government thugs.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 8, 2017
- Event Description
After practising lawyer and human rights defender Mr Sishir Dey of Karimganj district in Assam (India) posted a short satirical comment on facebook on 8 December 2017 denouncing terrorism in the name of Hindu religion and violent ideas of Hindu political groups, he received abusive and intimidating comments and outright threats with physical assaults and murder. The comment was made in the context of video of a gruesome murder of a migrant labourer in Rajasthan state on 6 December 2017 that was circulating on internet where the perpetrator was seen boasting about the murder and claiming that he did it as a warning against inter-religious relationship. A complaint was also filed at the Karimganj Sadar police station against Mr Dey. Mr Dey is at risk of physical and mental harm from the supporters of concerned political groups as well as of harassment by the police. Mr Sishir Day is a lawyer practising at the Karimganj district courts. He is a voluntary member of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (Registered vide no. RS/CA/ 243/B/61 of 2002-03), a voluntary human rights organisation mainly documenting and making legal intervention in cases of violations in Assam. He is responsible for reporting violations of human rights in the district. He is also honorary secretary of the district committee of Assam Mojuri Sramik Union (Registered Vide No. 2287 under the Trade Union Act) a lobour rights defending organisation. He is an active member of Forum for Social Harmony, a platform fromed collectively by different social activists and human rights defender groups of south Assam to combat the religious violence and protect peaceful co-existence of communities in the area. On 6 December 2017 a video was uploaded on internet by one Shambhulal Regar or Shambhu Bhawani, an inhabitant of Rajsamand district in Rajasthan state. In that video it was seen that he was killing a man by hacking him with a hammer like weapon in cold-blood. He then burnt that man pouring some kind of liquid that looked like petrol over the body of that half-dead man. He said that he murdered that person because that person had committed "Love Jihad", a term used by the Hindhu religious extremists to denote inter-religious marriage or relationship as a form of Islamic terrorism. Later on, the murdered man was identified as Mr. Afrajul Haque (aged 48), a migrant labourer from Maldah in West-Bengal state. That video went viral and created mixed reactions among people. The progressive, humanitarian and human rights defender groups condemned this brutal act and denounced those political and religious groups that support and encourage violence in the name of religion, religious identity and religious sentiments. However, some other people also tried to rationalise and justify this kind of violence and killings on social media platforms and applauded Mr Regar by putting his picture as their profile picture. In that context, Mr Sishir Dey posted a public "status' on his Facebook wall on 8 December 2017 stating in Bengali that "??????? ?????? ?? ? ????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ????? ????" which translates as "Down with the Ram devotee apes, their Sanghi brutal ideas and Hindu-terrorism". After he made the post, abusive and threatening comments started to pour in the comment section of his post. Abuses and threats were also posted by some people in their own facebook pages. They accused him of hurting their religious sentiments and threatened him with assaults and murders. On 10 December a complaint was also filed against him in the Karimganj Police Station by Mr. Debdulal Das and Mr. Pankaj Das, both identified themselves as the President and Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuba Morcha, North Karimhanj Block Mondal, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP is the political party which is now running governments both at Assam state and Union of India. However, till the time of writing this report it could not be confirmed if the complaint was registered by the police. After the BJP formed governments both at union in 2014 and in Assam state in 2016, India has been witnessing a rise of religious fundamentalism and politically motivated violence. Before, the perpetrators of violence committed in the name of religions and violations of human rights by state agencies did not enjoy the kind of political support and impunity as they are getting now. Many Muslim youth were killed in the name of cow protection, and protection of women from alleged "love-jihad" and other excuses. South Assam, also known as Barak valley, is a relatively peaceful area in the state. But now it is evident that to gain political advantage a group of people are trying to flare up communal violence in the valley. Recently a relatively new Kolkata (in West Bengal state) based outfit known as Hindhu Samhati called a conference on 2 December, 2017 at Silchar, the main town in Barak valley, where some of their leaders delivered communally provocative speeches and tried to polarise people in the name of religion. One of their guest speakers Mr. Debatanu Bashu openly asked his followers to go for mass killing of the Muslim people in the valley*. In this connection a first information report (FIR) was registered by police but no further actions were taken. In this background it appears that the abuse, threats and complaint against Mr Dey were an effort to create an environment of fear among the human rights defenders and progressive community workers. Mr Dey is at risk of getting physically assaulted and even killed by the extremists who issued threats. He is also likely to be harassed by the police in connection with the complaint against him, though it does not attract any penal provisions. There are also concerns about safety and physical and mental wellbeing of his family and friends and other human rights defenders working in Assam.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jan 10, 2018
- Event Description
A prominent Pakistani journalist has escaped an attempt to abduct him by armed men in the capital Islamabad. Taha Siddiqui says 10-12 unidentified men beat him and threatened to kill him as he took a cab to the airport. He jumped out of the vehicle and fled. The journalist said later he was "safe with police", who are investigating. Mr Siddiqui featured in a recent BBC article about press freedom in Pakistan, one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Speaking to the BBC in front of an Islamabad police station where he gave a statement, Mr Siddiqui looked still to be in shock, our reporter Secunder Kermani says. The buttons on his shirt had been ripped off in the struggle, and he was caked in dirt from hiding and crawling through a ditch during his escape. But he promised he would not be silenced. Mr Siddiqui was on the main Islamabad expressway to the airport to take a morning flight to London for work when a car overtook his taxi. "The car suddenly stopped right in front of me... and it just braked in the middle of the road," the award winning reporter, who has worked for the New York Times, France 24 and many other international media, told the BBC. "Four guys came out - they were all armed, they had AK-47s. One of them had a pistol." Mr Siddiqui said his would-be kidnappers dragged him from the taxi and roughed him up before taking the cab driver's keys. "I realised I was being abducted... and I started resisting," he said. "I started screaming and shouting and saying 'let me go, let me go'." Mr Siddiqui said he then realised a second car was involved in the kidnap attempt. A man from that vehicle put him in a headlock and he was forced back in the cab. "They were saying 'shoot him if he resists' - in English - and then they said 'shoot him in his leg'." The journalist said he pretended to calm down in the hope he might get a chance to escape and then noticed the door on the other side of the cab was unlocked. He opened it and jumped out, before running to the other side of the road and flagging down a passing taxi. It took him a few hundred metres along the road and then its occupants realised he was the target of the kidnap attempt and demanded he leave the vehicle. "One of them said, 'this guy is the one the military people were trying to take away'. So they pushed me out." Mr Siddiqui hid in a ditch, removed his red jumper to make himself harder to spot and after a few minutes crawled away to catch a lift with another vehicle and go to the police by a different road. His assailants took away all his belongings, including his laptop, phone and passport. He has now asked for police protection because his "life is under threat, my family's life is under threat". Asked who he thought was behind the abduction attempt, he said: "I am somebody who does not exercise self-censorship. I have been talking about them on social media - and this is basically the powerful establishment as it's called, euphemistically, in our country." Mr Siddiqui, who is known for criticising Pakistan's powerful military, is bureau chief for Indian channel World Is One News in Islamabad. He told the BBC last year he often received calls from security agencies wanting to discuss his work. But he said he would not be deterred by the kidnap attempt. "The only way to stop this happening is to continue talking about these tactics to intimidate us. So I will not go silent." Pakistan ranks 139th out of 180 countries listed on the World Press Freedom Index 2017, compiled by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) and threats to journalists are increasing. In October, another journalist, Ahmad Noorani, was severely beaten by six men wielding chains. His investigations into the Panama Papers case had unearthed embarrassing revelations about the role of the military. A year ago a number of social media activists were briefly "kidnapped" by unknown men. Fingers were pointed at the military, but the cases were never investigated by civilian authorities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 7, 2018
- Event Description
A Tibetan man self-immolated on Wednesday in Sichuan's Ngaba county in an apparent protest against Chinese rule and policies in the far-western region of China, a Tibetan source living abroad said. Tsekho Tukchak, set himself ablaze in Ngaba's Meruma township at about 5 p.m. local time and died at the scene, said Meuruma Kungyam, a Tibetan political prisoner living in Australia who is from the same town as Tukchak. "At the time of his self-immolation, Tsekho called out, "Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet,'" Kungyam said. "The self-immolation was a protest against China's repressive policy in Tibet." Tukchak, also known as Tsekho Topchag, was in his early 40s and is survived by his mother, wife and two daughters, he said. Local residents told Kungyam that Tukchak had lately expressed concern about China's occupation of Tibet and repression of the Tibetan people and their culture. "He paid great attention to Tibetan issues and was very capable of speaking out about the cause," Kungyam said. "Whether it was at a tea shop or in the market, he often discussed Tibetan issues and convincingly explained Tibet's situation to others." In recent days, Chinese authorities have deployed an increased number of security forces in Meruma, ready to crack down on large gatherings and blocking internet service, he said. Tukchak likely self-immolated on Wednesday because he assumed the heavy security presence would have made it difficult to carry out his plan on March 10, Kungyam said, referring to the 59th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese occupation of the formerly self-governing region. Security forces are spreading throughout the region in the run-up to the anniversary of the incident, which saw thousands of Tibetans killed amid a crackdown by Chinese authorities and led to the Dalai Lama's flight into exile in 1959. The day will also mark the 10th anniversary of the beginning of several days of peaceful protest that were brutally suppressed by police and culminated in an anti-China riot in Tibet's capital Lhasa on March 14, 2008. During the riot, Tibetan demonstrators torched ethnic Han Chinese shops in the city and carried out deadly attacks on Han residents. Protests then spread across Tibet and into Tibetan-populated provinces of western China, causing official embarrassment ahead of the August 2008 Beijing Olympics. Hundreds of Tibetans were detained, beaten, or shot as Chinese security forces quelled the protests. Chinese officials later said that 22 people, mostly Han Chinese and Hui Muslim civilians, had died in the Lhasa rioting, but denied that police had fired on protesters. "Prayers for his martyrdom' Meanwhile, news of Tukchak's death has spread throughout Meruma township and beyond. "Tibetans in Tibet are sad to hear the news and are mourning the death of the self-immolator Tsekho," a source inside Tibet, who declined to be named, told RFA. "Many Tibetans are saying prayers for his martyrdom," the source said. "The situation in the area is very tense." Tukchak's self-immolation was also noted by Lobsang Sangay, president of the India-based Central Tibetan Authority (CTA), who expressed "deep concern" over the incident and reiterated an appeal by the CTA to Tibetans to refrain from such protests in a statement on Wednesday. Sangay said that self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet, however, "evidences that repression in Tibet under the Chinese rule is making lives unlivable" and urged China's government to heed to the calls of those who "long for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet." Tukchak's protest brings to 153 the number of self-immolations by Tibetans living in China since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009. Most protesters who have set themselves on fire have called for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from India, where he has lived since escaping Tibet in 1959.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to life, Right to self-determination
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 10, 2018
- Event Description
Ms. Swathi Vadlamudi is a journalist based in Hyderabad and associated with national daily "The Hindu". Apart from working for print journalism, she is a creative artist and, as a form of expression, has been drawing cartoons on social issues. The recent rape incidents in Kathua and Unnao, have led to a series of protests and public outcry across several Indian cities and towns. The protests have assumed various forms, formats and shapes, a prominent one being a variety of artistic expressions including drawing and publishing of caricatures and cartoons. On April 10, 2018, Ms. Swathi Vadlamudi published a cartoon on her social media pages, i.e. Twitter and Facebook. The cartoon made a reference to the mythical Hindu Gods, Ram and Sita, in the context of current spate of abduction and rape against women and widespread protests in India. In her cartoon, Ms. Swati Vadlamudi has shown Sita, upon learning about the sexual crimes, telling her husband (Ram), "I was so glad I was kidnapped by Ravan and not your bhakts!". This depiction, having no intention to hurt religious sentiments of any community, was a subtle attempt to contribute in a democratic manner to the debate about the criticism of those trying to shield rape accused, particularly in reference to the protests held by Hindu Ekta Manch, a right-wing outfit that was demanding the release of Deepak Khajuria, one of the prime accused in the Kathua rape case. After sharing this cartoon on her social media pages, Ms. Swathi Vadlamudi has been at the receiving numerous online abuses, including on WhatsApp. Most of the abuses are extremely intimidating, including threats to kill her. One of the abusers commented that she would meet the same fate as journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru in September, 2017. Another one threatened her with a Charlie Hebdo style attack of January 2015. In a series of abuses, she is linked with terrorist outfits alleging that she has been paid for this "anti-Hindu' post. Ms. Swathi Vadlamudi has been drawing cartoons for a long time now, including some on some of the sensitive issues, but never witnessed this kind of backlash. She admits that these abuses, the death threats especially, have indeed intimidated and frightened her. On April 14, 2018, the Hindu Sanghatan, an off-shoot group of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, through its President Advocate Karuna Sagar Kashimshetty, filed a police complaint against Ms. Swathi Vadlamudi at the Saidabad police station in Hyderabad under Section 295 (a) of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). The Hindu Sanghatan has also filed a complaint against another journalist, Mr. Shabbir Ahmed, the Deputy Editor of the news channel "Times Now", who merely shared her cartoon on his Twitter profile.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 8, 2018
- Event Description
Chinese authorities in the eastern province of Shandong have sent a prominent Muslim poet for "re-education," but police in Jiangxi detained and searched him en route, in a move he said could be linked to his recent writings on the Uyghur ethnic group. Cui Haoxin, a member of the Hui Muslim ethnic group known by his pen-name An Ran, was asked to attend a week's "red" ideological education by the Lu Xun College of Literature, which is officially sanctioned by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. He complied but was detained, searched, and questioned by Jiangxi state security police as he got off the plane en route to the event at Jiangxi's Jingangshan airport on Sunday. "I'm not really sure what happened yesterday," Cui told RFA on Monday. "I traveled to Jingangshan as part of an official delegation, and yet I was suddenly apprehended by police, who deprived me of my liberty." Cui said he refused to cooperate, because nobody else in his delegation had been subjected to similar treatment. "They said they wanted to investigate me, and search my luggage, which I thought was very strange," he said. "They had no warrant or summons. They just waved their police ID at me, which said Taihe county police department." Cui, 39, said he was attending the event because he had been told to do so by the authorities. "Of course I'm not interested in singing revolutionary songs or events of that kind where you have to act a certain way," he said. "I don't have that kind of mindset, and I'm not cut out to be an actor." LInk to article Cui refused to cooperate with the search or interrogation, insisting on a search warrant and other legal documentation, and was released only after other members of his delegation intervened with the police at the airport. He said he believes the reason for his detention was a recent article he penned looking back at his collection of poetry, which contains a number of poems referencing the troubled region of Xinjiang, home of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group. "I wrote a piece called 'My Poems,' looking back at the time when I wrote them, and talking about the theme of Xinjiang that runs through them," Cui told RFA. "From today's point of view, those poems are still very sensitive, but I think that they are meaningful to anyone. I wanted to encourage people to reflect, and for them to resonate with the majority of people." At one point, the article references the conflict in Syria, to which Cui describes himself as "almost a witness, in this high-technology information age." "I witnessed the Arab Spring, which mutated from marches, suppression, and protest backed by the West, into the worst humanitarian crisis in history," the article reads. "I witnessed the cruelty of dictators, the fickle nature of politicians, and the people's pain and helplessness." A massive presence In the same article, Cui describes Xinjiang as having left a "planet-sized impression" on him. "Xinjiang, that massive presence that defies expression, left a planet-sized impression on me that is ineradicable," Cui wrote. "This is a land of poetry and song ... when I headed out west to the Central Asian city of Kashgar, no sooner had I arrived than I made straight for the tomb of an ancient poet, and raised my hands in prayer for him beside the dusty tomb swathed in green silk." Sulaiman Gu, a rights activist currently studying in the United States, said he sees Cui's invitation to "re-education" as part of the ruling party's "united front" work under President Xi Jinping, who recently began an unlimited term in office, and who is extending ideological controls throughout Chinese society, particularly in education, the media, internet, and the publishing industry. "[I think they thought] let's bring him into the Lu Xun College of Literature, put him through some political education, and make him part of the establishment," Cui said. "This is how the[idea that the] party leads in everything manifests itself in the Xi Jinping era, and it's a Chinese Communist Party tradition to make literature and culture serve the interests of socialism." "But An Ran refused to surrender, and actually spoke of his concern for the plight of Uyghurs within the Lu Xun College of Literature," Gu said. Heavily policed Xinjiang-where Uyghurs complain of pervasive discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule-has become one of the world's most heavily policed places and a testing ground for increasingly restrictive policies since the region's party chief Chen Quanguo was appointed to his post in August 2016. Around 120,000 ethnic Uyghurs are currently being held in political re-education camps in Xinjiang's Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture alone, a security official with knowledge of the situation told RFA in January. Independent Chinese PEN secretary general Zhang Yu said authors who refuse to be coopted by the ruling party's ideological outreach programs, especially those who write about politically sensitive topics, run the risk of becoming targets for "stability maintenance"by the state security police. "Anything to do with Xinjiang is sensitive, and[Cui] is also a Hui Muslim," Zhang said. "I'm guessing that has something to do with it." "Political education is taking us backwards to the Cultural Revolution and before that. Everyone should be treated with dignity, and this crosses a line for too many people." Writers targeted Chinese writers have been targeted by the Communist Party since the 1950s for their "bourgeois" insistence on artistic freedom and creativity, for failing to represent the experiences of the masses, and for criticizing the party after late supreme leader Mao Zedong called for an intellectual renaissance in the "Hundred Flowers" movement. Writers have been sent to the countryside for "re-education," banned from publication and academic posts, and even subjected to torture and other abuses, most notably in the "anti-rightist" campaigns of the 1950s to the violence and turmoil of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Dec 25, 2017
- Event Description
Mr. Luu Van Vinh, who is in pre-trial detention on allegation of subversion, said he has been threatened by an inmate in the Chi Hoa temporary detention facility in Ho Chi Minh City. At a recent meeting with his wife, Mr. Vinh, who was arrested in June last year and charged with "Carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration" under Article 79 of the country's 1999 Penal Code, said he is held together with the inmate who continuously threatens to beat him to death. Mr. Vinh informed the prison guards about his situation and asked to be placed to another cell but they refused, his wife told Defend the Defenders. Due to his worsening vision capacity, he asked his wife to provide him with a pair of glass, however, the prison authorities deny it, not allowing her to send glasses to him, she said. Recently, police in HCM City said they completed the investigation of his case and handed the investigation results over to the city's People's Procuracy, advising it to prosecute him on allegation of subversion. Vinh and his friend Nguyen Van Duc Do face life imprisonment even death penalty if convicted, according to the current law. At a recent meeting with their lawyers, both Vinh and Do claimed that they are innocent. While Do claimed that he has no political engagement, Vinh said he just exercised his right of freedom of expression enshrined in the country's 2013 Constitution and had carried out no activities against the communist regime
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 18, 2018
- Event Description
SINGAPORE - Artist and activist Seelan Palay has been charged with taking part in a public procession without a permit, for a performance art piece last year meant as a tribute to longtime political detainee Chia Thye Poh. Mr Seelan, 33, who appeared in court on Friday (May 18), was performing a piece titled 32 Years: The Interrogation Of A Mirror, when he was arrested on Oct 1 last year. Dr Chia, a former Barisan Sosialis member, spent 32 years living in detention and under restriction. Carrying a mirror that he would draw on, Mr Seelan started the performance in Hong Lim Park before making his way to the National Gallery Singapore, and then Parliament House, where he was arrested. Court documents said the procession took place from around 2.20pm to 3.10pm, and was carried out for three reasons. Apart from marking Dr Chia's detention, the procession was also to "demonstrate opposition to the actions of the Singapore Government in relation to that detention", said the documents. Another aim was to "demonstrate opposition to the Singapore Government's actions of designating the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park as an area for public entertainment in the form of performances". Mr Seelan has previously spoken out on a range of issues, from the death penalty to detention without trial. If found guilty, Mr Seelan, who is out on bail of $5,000, may be fined up to $3,000. Dr Chia, who is 77 this year, was arrested in October 1966 for organising and leading an illegal street procession to demand the release of all political detainees and the abolishment of laws he deemed undemocratic, among other things. After being detained for 23 years, Dr Chia was released in 1989 and allowed to live on Sentosa island. Since 1992, he has been allowed to live on mainland Singapore. Restrictions imposed on his travel, public speeches and political activities were fully lifted by the Government in 1998.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 1, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam's northern province of Bac Ninh are intimidating the family of anti-corruption activist Do Cong Duong, who was arrested on January 26 and charged with "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens" under Article 331 of the country's 2015 Penal Code. On June 1, Bac Ninh province's Police Department sent two letters to Mr. Duong's family, asking his daughters Do Hong Anh, 14, and Do Lan Anh, 17, to be to the department's Investigation Agency on the next day to "work" on his case. However, his wife and the two girls rejected the summoning, saying they have nothing to work with police. Mr. Duong, 54, was arrested on January 26 when he was filming a land seizure in the neighbor commune of Tam Son in Tu Son town.Police announced nine days later that they charged him with "causing public disorders"but in April, they changed the allegation to "Abusing democratic freedoms." He will face imprisonment of up to seven years in prison if convicted. Mr. Duong is an activist on land issue. Together with other local residents, he filled a letter to the state's leaders to accuse Tu Son town's government of illegal land seizure. Duong is also a citizen journalist, producing hundreds of video clips and posted on his Facebook accountto report local officials' corruption and cronyism, including provincial communist leader Nguyen Nhan Chien, who has big houses and had promoted numerous relatives to key positions in province's agencies. The state-run media has also covered news affirming the information unveiled by Mr. Duong. Due to his anti-corruption activities, Duong and his family have been suppressed by local authorities. He was summoned to police station for interrogation many times. Police also came to his private residence to threaten him. His house has been attacked with dirty messes while his children have been discriminated in schools. The arrest and charge of Duong are likely reprisal for his efforts to fight illegal land grabbing and state officials' corruption, said his fellow My while hisattorney lawyer HaHuy Son said authorities in Bac Ninh provinceand Tu Son townare seeking to silence the anti-corruption activist and citizen journalist without respecting the country's law and the presumption of innocence. Land grabbing is a systemic problem in Vietnam where all land belongs to the state and local residents have only right to use it. The central government and local governments are authorized to seize any land from citizens for socio-economic development without paying adequate compensation. In many localities, authorities have grabbed local residents' land at very low compensation prices and give it to property and industrial developers at prices much higher. Thousands of farmers losing their land in that way are gathering in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to demand for justice. The land petitioners are treated like second-class residents by the government. They are living in streets and house with cheap renting fees, being subjects of torture and detention by security forces. Vietnam is among most corrupted nations in the world. According to Trading Economics, the nation scored 35 points out of 100 on the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Index in Vietnam averaged 27.80 points from 1997 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 35 points in 2017 and a record low of 24 points in 2002. In Vietnam where communists have ruled for decades, the government strictly controls media. Dozens of bloggers and independent journalists have been harassed and jailed. Vietnam's press freedom index is ranked at the 175th out of 179 countries in the Reporters Without Borders' 2017 Report.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Family of HRD, Land rights defender, Whistleblower
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jan 28, 2018
- Event Description
An anti-junta activist has decided to flee Thailand after learning that she faces up to 15 years in prison for sharing a profile of the Thai King written by the BBC. She is the second person charged under the notorious l��se majest_ law for sharing the story. Chanoknan "Cartoon' Ruamsap, an anti-junta activist and member of the New Democracy Group, has revealed on her Facebook page and to Prachatai that the police sent her a summons to hear a charge under Article 112, the l��se majest_ law, for sharing an article by BBC Thai profiling King Vajiralongkorn. Chanoknan said she received the summons on 16 Jan to report to Khan Na Yao Police Station, Bangkok, on 18 Jan. A military officer, Lt. Sombat Tangtha, filed a l��se majest_ complaint against her, she said. The activist said she was first confused as to why the police summoned her only in January when she had shared the story in December 2016 -- around the same time that Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, a fellow anti-junta activist, shared the story and was almost immediately charged. On August 15, 2017, the court sentenced him to five years in prison but halved it due to his confession, for a total of two years and six months. During the trial, the court repeatedly denied his bail requests. Chanoknan observed that the delay was due to an internal management problem of Khan Na Yao Police Station. Chanoknan said she decided within 30 minutes after learning about the charge to flee Thailand to an Asian country. She asked Prachatai not to reveal the country where she is seeking refuge. "After learning about this, almost everyone told me to leave. But in the end, it's me who made the decision. The time I spent to decide was so short and quick. I had less than 30 minutes to decide whether to stay or to leave. What is difficult is the fact that I won't return after this journey. Then I went to say goodbye to my father and mother. Everyone was shocked but agreed. No one wanted me to be in jail for five years merely for sharing a BBC news story," Chanoknan writes on her Facebook page. "On the first day I arrived here, I just cried because I saw no way out. Everything seems puzzling and confusing. I didn't know how to deal with things. I kept asking myself a question whether I made the right decision to flee or I should go back to jail and then afterwards I could meet family and friends like before. But I got the answer that I couldn't backtrack now."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 6, 2018
- Event Description
A news conference by the Democracy Restoration Group was called off on Tuesday following a police warning not to hold the event or risk violating a junta ban on public gatherings. Activists had planned to hold a news conference at the Maneeya Center in Bangkok - home to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) - to call on the junta to keep its promise of an election this year, but police issued a warning that stopped the event from going ahead. The meeting was led by Nuttaa Mahattana, a television reporter and activist, who spoke to Thai and foreign reporters gathered outside the building on Tuesday. "The police contacted the management of the FCCT yesterday. They were worried that a press conference here would breach security laws and constitute an illegal assembly," Ms Nuttaa told reporters outside the FCCT on Tuesday. She is among seven activists from the Democracy Restoration Group who have been summoned by police to face charges of defying a ban on public gatherings after organising a protest in downtown Bangkok last month demanding that the junta not postpone a general election that is scheduled for this year. The police crackdown comes amid growing disgruntlement over the military government and a scandal involving the deputy prime minister that has led thousands to call for his immediate resignation. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said an election will be held in November but there is growing uncertainty as to whether the date will be kept. Protests calling for the junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to return Thailand to civilian governance have mushroomed in recent weeks.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- NGO, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 8, 2018
- Event Description
On 8 February 2018 at around�_3.00 AM�_three Manipur Police Commandos forced their way into the house of Manoj Thokchom, a human rights defender that established Human Rights Initiative for Indigenous Advancement and Conflict Resolution (HRI). His father was woken up by the entrance of three men, who demanded him to confirm if Manoj resided in their house. After doing so, they entered Mr Thokchom's bedroom and told Mr Thokchom that their Officer-in-Charge wanted to ask him a few questions. When Mr Thokchom asked them for an arrest memo, it was revealed they never had any. Mr Thokchom was then taken by the police to the Manipur Police Commando Complex. Mr. P. Achuoba, Officer-in-charge of the Imphal West Police Commando, arrived at the complex at around�_10.00 AM. He interrogated Mr Thokchom, accusing him of being involved in the activities of armed groups. Having found nothing incriminating against him, Mr Thokchom was released from their custody at around�_6.30 PM�_the same day. It is believed that this act of arbitrary harassment is linked to Mr Thokchom's work in the HRI, and specifically the organization's collaboration with the Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR) in submitting a memorandum to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and arbitrary executions in Manipur. This memorandum, which revealed that there has been 1528 cases of extrajudicial executions of citizens in Manipur, was converted into a petition to the Supreme Court last year, and eventually led to the decision for for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate into each of these cases, and hold state actors accountable. At present, around 90 cases have been investigated. Human rights activists have argued that with this investigation taking place, the police are purposefully harassing and intimidating human rights defenders to create an atmosphere of fear.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Feb 11, 2018
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: Vocal supporters of #UndiRosak became the target of hate in cyberspace soon after the controversial campaign gained traction among disillusioned voters. For 26-year-old Maryam Lee, sleepless nights followed after she spoke at a forum on the campaign two weeks ago. Sexist remarks such as "whore", "slut" and other name-calling were just the tip of the iceberg for Maryam, who even received death threats on social media. "I will find you and cut you into half," read a message sent by an unknown Facebook user. "There are even sexually explicit pictures. My face was superimposed on porn stars," Maryam told The Star. Maryam, a programme manager for interfaith dialogue outfit Projek Dialog, said she has been forced to take extra precautions whenever she goes out in public. "My movements are now limited. I don't go anywhere public if it's not necessary. I only go to work and I meet people in safe places. But I'm not afraid for my life yet," she said. Aside from attacks by keyboard warriors, Maryam has also been targeted by other activists. "These are professionals with large followings. So, it got me really curious because these are supposedly educated people and still, they could stoop this low. "One even said I should go for mental therapy and I thought that was really mean. "How can she assume there's something wrong with me mentally?" Maryam said. While other #UndiRosak activists have also been attacked, Maryam said she bore the brunt of it because she is female, young and single. "It's like bullying a child. I find it heartbreaking and depressing. "But I can't let it get in the way of my work. Otherwise, how am I supposed to make a living? "Like it or not, I still have to keep on going," she added. The Star also met with Hafidz Baharom, a political columnist and a vocal supporter of #UndiRosak. Some of the nasty remarks he has received include "Who's that big fat guy in the big T-shirt?" and "I'm going to kill both your parents in front of you and make you watch". This happened soon after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Tariq Ismail created the hashtag #OtakRosak (brain damage) in a strongly-worded Facebook posting in response to the #UndiRosak movement. "He (Tariq) has since apologised and I've accepted it. But the damage has been done," Hafidz said. "Unfortunately, the attacks haven't stopped. It's still going around,". Hafidz, however, was unfazed by the threats and insults, dismissing them as just words by "loudmouths on Twitter". "I don't see it as a credible threat so I'm fine. It's just lots of name-calling and fake Facebook pictures. "I don't take it personally and I just laugh it off," he said. Hafidz said amateur political commentators should not resort to cyberbullying to justify their views. "Instead, we should discuss it rationally and I think this is something Pakatan (Harapan) supporters don't understand," he added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- WHRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 13, 2018
- Event Description
The authorities have summoned a student activist who planned to hold a pro-election rally in Chiang Mai. Meanwhile, the police are searching for a pro-election protester in Buriram. On 13 February 2018, a student activist (name withheld due to privacy concerns) from the Liberal Assembly of Chiang Mai University for Democracy (LACMUD) revealed that the police had summoned him after learning that the group plans to hold a pro-election protest on 14 February in front of the university. The student went to Phuphing Police Station to meet the authorities, but the officer who summoned him was absent. He added that the authorities also know his detailed personal information, like venues of classes he has to attend in a week. The activist assumed that the university provided his information to the authorities. He stated that the LACMUD had asked the police for permission to hold the activity but the authorities denied the request, reasoning that the group has to seek approval from the university. However, the group insisted on staging the rally tomorrow. In a related development, Yupha Saengsai, a redshirt, told Prachatai that police officers had visited her house in Buriram after she participated in the last weekend pro-election protest at Democracy Monument, Bangkok. The authorities claimed that she had violated the junta's order. "I'm not worried, but people surrounding me are very terrified. My mom, my dad and my child are frightened when they know[about the intimidation]," said Yupha. "Personally, I have nothing to fear. I've chosen this path. This is what I have to face. If there's an activity next time, I will go again." In April 2016, Yupha was arrested for joining a protest that urged the junta to free eight individual prosecuted for mocking the junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha on Facebook. The authorities released her without charges, however.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 14, 2018
- Event Description
Despite a court ruling, the Thai Army has filed a defamation lawsuit against a torture victim in the Deep South, who exposed his experience on TV in support of an anti-torture bill. On 14 February 2018, the Internal Security Operations Command (SOC) Region 4 filed a criminal defamation charge against Isma-ae Tae, a founder of Patani Human Rights Organisation. The accusation is related to a TV show on 5 February where Isma-ae recalled his experience of torture by Thai soldiers when he was a student in Yala. On the TV show titled "Policy by People" on Thai PBS channel, Isma-ae revealed that the authorities beat him and pointed a gun at his head, forcing him to confess that he was responsible for the insurgency in the Deep South. He also proposed that Thailand should have a law against torture by state authorities to prevent victims like him in the future. The ISOC claimed that his speech defamed the Army and therefore sued him for damages. An ISOC legal staff added that that the Army will fight the case until the end regardless of pressures from civil society organisations. This prosecution is despite the 2016 ruling by the Songkhla Administrative Court which orders the Army to pay 305,000 baht as compensation for Isma-ae. The court also ruled that the authorities detained the victim for over seven days, which constitute a violation of the Martial Law.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Whistleblower
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 29, 2017
- Event Description
Woman Human Rights Defender (WHRD)Mrs. Christina Pyrtuh and her family have suffered a series of abuses including assault and, molestation that has now driven them out of their home and village, as a result of exercising her right to protest against corruption in the local area. She also protested against malfeasance of funds meant for Indira Avas Yojana (now rechristened as Pradhan Mantri Avas Yojana). According to Mrs. Christina Pyrtuh, there were allegations of gross corruption in the construction works of the the road sanctioned under the MLA fund. Villagers of Baikam Punji organized a meeting on 19 December 2017 regarding the issue where Ms Pyrtuh raised her voice against the GP president Bablu Das as well as some of local people including Dilip Pyrtuh, Jan-Mukhim, Daboymi Lamare, Sidwel Suchiang and the village headman Drickson Shyllain, all of whom she believed were implicated in corruption. Following her remarks, the accused persons lashed out at Mrs Pyrtuh and other the protesters . They organized a meeting of their own in the village and asked the villagers to boycott and ostracize the dissidents. One of the accused, Daboimi Lamare, who is a neighbor of the Mrs Pyrtuh started abusing her after getting drunk. He asked her to leave the village, threatening her that he would to make her life worse than hell by cutting her water connection if she did not flee. On on 29 December Mrs. Pyrtuh saw that the pipe through which her family got water from the local water-reservoir was indeed cut down. Mrs Pyrtuh replaced this pipe but it was destroyed again. Mr Lamare admitted to having ruiner her water pipe. On 1 January 2018 two of the accused persons namely Daboy Lamare and Jan-mukhim again attacked Mrs. Pyrtuh's house. All night they circled her house - vandalized her yards, verbally abused the victim's family and threatened them with death. In Mstr. Arayan Pyrtuh's words, Daboy Lamare said, "I will flee to Bangladesh after killing you with my Do-nala and fouling the graveyard with the venom of your dead body." On 2 January Mrs. Pyrtuh lodged a complaint to the police regarding the ongoing abuse. Following the complaint, the police arrested two of the accused but released both of them within 2 days. After their release the two accused continued their harassment of Ms Pyrtuh. They went door to door trying to manipulate the villagers saying that she didn't want the development of the village. During this time Mrs. Pyrtuh's family was not only living in constant danger of harassment, but due to shortage of drinking water the victim family fell ill and Mrs. Pyrtuh, Mstr. Dannyster Pyrtuh and Mstr. Aryan Pyrtuh, two of her children, had to be hospitalized in the Kalain Primary Health Center on 3 January, 2018. Nonetheless, the abuse continued, in another community meeting on 5 January, 2018 the accused persons pressured Mrs. Pyrtuh to withdraw the case and not to give any statement to the press. That night members of the meeting, namely Jan Mukhim and his accomplices furthermore pelted stones to the victim's house at the Punji. Mrs. Pyrtuh therefore filed another complaint to the Gumra Police Investigation Center on the incident of stone pelting and threatening but no actions have been taken by the police. Seeing no other options, Mrs. Pyrtuh contacted Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) and came to the office on 19 January 2018. BHRPC advised her to give a representation to the higher police officials. Accordingly she met Superintendent of Police, Cachar on 23 January 2018 and submitted a representation requesting for investigation of cases and for providing security to her and her family. With still no action being taken, BHRPC also wrote to the SP on 12 February 2018. No response has been given. BHRCP therefore sent an appeal on 17 February 2018 to the Director General of Police, Assam and other authorities requesting for appropriate actions. At the moment, Mrs. Pyrtuh and her family are living with a relative in Meghalaya temporarily. However, Mrs. Pyrtuh regularly visits the Police Investigation Centre, Gumrah to know about the status of her case.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to health, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to information
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Whistleblower, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 27, 2018
- Event Description
On the intervening night of 26 and 27 February 2018 at around 1.00 A.M., Ranjeeta heard a knocking at her door and calling out for one "Somendro". Ranjeeta responded to the call telling that there is no one called Mr. Somendro in her house. But the voice, in Manipuri, insisted that she should open the door as they were looking for a person called Somendro. Ranjeeta went out to the balcony on the first floor of her house from where she could see the person in police uniform demanding that she open the door. Ranjeeta once again reasoned out that the person they were looking for was not there but the police personnel insisted on opening the door as they wanted to conduct a search. When Ranjeeta asked if he was accompanied by any officer authorized to conduct search. Then, an Army officer stepped out in to the dimly lit area and identified himself as an Army Major stating that he was the authorized officer. Ranjeeta stepped back into her house and discussed the situation with her siblings. The knocking on her door became even more constant and heavier. the combined team responded positive by nodding his head. Ms. Ranjeeta confronted the officer pointing out that Ronen is not Somendro whom they were looking for. The officer and the army personnel cornered Ronen at a little distance from the house and spoke to him. Then, the officer demanded the identity card of Ronen. Identity documents of Ronen were also showed to him. Thereafter, the officer asked the family members to sign a declaration which was not read over to them. The family members reluctantly signed on the paper and the combined team left the location. There is every reason to believe that this act of the Army and the police disturbing the family at the dead o fnight in such an uncalled for action and intimidating way, is nothing but an act of harassment of human rights defenders for carrying out their legitimate human rights work. HRA takes the act of intimidation very seriously, particularly at a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation and National Human Rights Commission is conducting investigation on extrajudicial execution of several cases involving the combined team of Manipur Police and the Army under the orders ofthe Supreme Court of lndia. Ms. Ranjeeta Sadokpam is a Researcher at Human Rights Alert (HRA). HRA is Petitioner No. 2 of the Extrajudicial Execution Victirns' Families Association, Manipur and Another Vs. Union of India and Another[Writ Petition (Cril) 129 of 2012].
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 8, 2018
- Event Description
On March 8, Vietnam's authorities detained prominent political blogger Pham Doan Trang for about eight hours and released her in late night of the same day. Trang, who was forced to leave her mother's apartment in Hanoi to go into hiding in late February to avoide police's harassment, had gone missing from a new apartment from early afternoon of Thursday and her friends failed to contact her by phone. Local activists assumed that she was detained after many attempts to reach her but failed. Currently, Trang is still under heavy police surveillance and still not safe. Her detention today may be related to the ongoing visit of a delegation from the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) led by Ms. Cynthia Veliko, head of the OHCHR Regional Office in the Southeast Asia. The delegation held a meeting with local activists in the headquarters of the UN Representative Agencies to Vietnam in Hanoi on the afternoon of March 8. On November last year, Trang was also detained and interrogated for many hours after participating in a meeting between local activists and a EU delegation on human rights. This is the second hours-long detention of Trang within two week. On February 24, Trang was kidnapped by security officers from the Ministry of Public Security who took her to a police station to interrogate her about her recently-published book titled "Ch�_nh tr? b��nh d��n" or "Politics for the masses." Along with arrest and conviction, Vietnam's communist government has banned hundreds of activists from going abroad and meeting with foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations. Blogger Nguyen Tuong Thuy, vice president of the unsanctioned Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam, who was also invited to meet the OHCHR's delegation on March 8, was not able to go to the event as local authorities sent police to block his private residence in Thanh Tri district from evening of March 7 until late evening of the next day.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Mar 10, 2018
- Event Description
KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 - Several participants of a rally today in conjunction with the International Women's Day this week, were allegedly harassed by a group of men after the march had wound down. Women's March Malaysia committee member Yubanesan Balan told Malay Mail that among others their placards were snatched near the Dang Wangi police station here by men who threatened that they would lodge a police report against them and the march. "Mind you the placards were not displayed by the group of women and were simply held. We were also disheartened to hear the incident took place near the police station and yet there was no immediate response from the police on the matter," Yubanesan said. "Thankfully no one was hurt but this incident is a reflection of the level of discrimination and injustice that woman in our country have to face on a daily basis. "We detest such attitude and violence against women but this will not hamper our work to voice out against gender discrimination,'' he added. Earlier today, hundreds of Malaysians, most of them women, took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to march from the Sogo shopping mall to Tugu Takraw at the Jamek Mosque, aiming to reclaim women's space in the public. There were five demands of the march today: To eliminate gender discrimination, destroy rape culture and sexual violence, strengthen rights for political space and democracy for all, strive for equal opportunities and wages, and stop destruction of the environment. But even after the march was over, several participants continued to be harassed on social media, especially those who shared photos documenting their participation with the hashtag #WomensMarchMY. Several civil society groups such as the All Women's Action Society Malaysia (AWAM) and Justice for Sisters have documented the abuse on their Twitter accounts, which ranged from fatshaming, transphobic comments, to threats of violence. "Take care, check in on each other, block and report liberally. Log off if you need to," AWAM advised on its Twitter account.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Women's rights
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 10, 2018
- Event Description
Police on Saturday detained several activists and leaders, including Prof. M. Kodandaram, who sought to take out the "Million March' to supposedly commemorate the first such march that took place in 2011 as a part of the agitation for a separate Telangana. Permission to take out the march planned for Saturday afternoon was denied by the police. People were warned against going towards Tank Bund, where a large police force was deployed. On Saturday, the police detained protesters in Hyderabad, mainly near Tank Bund and at a few places on city outskirts. Prof. M. Kodandaram, Chairman of Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC), one of the organisers of the march, was detained by the police near his house. "A posse of policemen were posted outside my house on Friday evening. On Saturday, as I headed for the march, I was detained," Prof. Kodandaram told The Hindu from Bolarum Police Station, where he was detained. The T-JAC chairman alleged violations by the police in handling detainees. "In districts, some people were detained on Friday itself and were in detention until Saturday evening. The Constitution says the police cannot detain a person for more than 24 hours," he said, while claiming that around 3,000 people were detained. Before he was being detained by the police, Prof. Kodandaram said the march was a move to peacefully recollect the first march and highlight social problems in the State. Other prominent persons, including CPI State Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, noted political activist and singer Vimalakka, and women's rights activist Sandhya, were detained when they attempted to reach Tank Bund. Representatives of many student organisations that announced support for the march were also detained. To prevent demonstrators from reaching Tank Bund, the police closed the area to general traffic, diverting commuters away from the venue of the protest. Diversions slowed down traffic movement in many parts of the city. The road was opened to traffic late in the evening.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 16, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in Hai Duong province detained and interrogated former prisoner of conscience Nguyen Ba Dang on March 16. Still holding his cell phone, police requested him to go to police station on March 19 for further questioning.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 30, 2018
- Event Description
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Friday filed a complaint against 57 pro-democracy protesters for allegedly committing sedition. Those named in the complaint included Kan Pongpraphapan, Sirawith Seritiwat, Rangsiman Rome, Nattha Mahuttana, Ekachai Hongkanwan and Anon Nampa. The complaint was made by Colonel Burin Thongprapai, a member of the NCPO's legal department. It was in response to last week's demonstration in which protesters called for the army to stop supporting the NCPO as they marched from the Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus to the Royal Thai Army headquarters. Most of the named demonstration leaders have been previously charged with several offences related to a series of protests calling for an election to be held this year. Police officers reportedly were also mulling whether to charge the protesters for using amplifiers, resisting an officer's orders, and assaulting officers. The latter relates to demonstrators breaking through officers lining up to block them from marching on the Army headquarters, resulting in a brief clash.
- Impact of Event
- 57
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 7, 2018
- Event Description
An activist of the Extrajudicial Execution Victims Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM), a group seeking petition into 1,528 alleged extra Judicial killing was allegedly threatened by the Manipur police commando on Saturday. Salima Memcha, the coordinator of EEVFAM, is a victim of armed whose husband was killed in fake encounter by the security forces. In the early hour of Saturday around 5 am a team of police commandos reportedly forced through Memcha's door and started displacing all her belongings without giving any proper reasons. "The police commandos rushed inside my house and started destroying properties. They entered each and every room and started searching every nook and corner of the house in a violent manner, putting every pieces of my room upside down, including the TV set. I requested them not to destroy my properties, but instead the police team dragged out all my belongings from the cupboard, bed, etc. and threatened me", said Memcha in a complaint letter addressing to the DGP Manipur. She urged the DGP to intervene the matter and take necessary action against the perpetrator who not only intimidated her but also dismantle her properties. Salima said her husband, late Md Fajiruddin was killed in fake encounter by the 33 Assam Rifles in 2010. The National Human Rights Commission recommended monetary relief in the case which has been received by the family. "My husband's case is a part of 62 cases submitted before the Supreme Court", Salima mentioned in her complaint to the police chief. According to Memcha, criminal investigation department (CID) has taken up a case in connection with the killing of her husband. Subsequently, she was supposed to visit the CID-crime branch on Saturday morning but failed to do so fearing any untoward action against her from the police, who reportedly threatened her with more dire consequences. Condemning the highhandedness of the police, EEVFAM president, Renu Takhellambam, felt the incident could be an attempt to discourage the activist from working against the interest of the security forces. "It is very unfortunate that the law enforcers instead of keeping the people safe are abusing their power and instilling fear in the minds of innocent civilians. I feel very sorry for Memcha's family for the trauma inflicted by the incident which is a grim reminder of the death of her husband, who was killed after being arrested from home", said Renu. Reacting to the incident, the DGP Manipur said that the SP concerned has been asked to enquire into the matter before adding that appropriate action would be taken against anyone found guilty. The EEVFAM case seeking probe into the fake encounter cases before the court is listed on April 16 for hearing. On July 14 last year, the Supreme Court had directed to set up an SIT comprising of five CBI officers, and ordered registration of FIRs and investigate the alleged extra judicial killings in the state. So far the SIT team has lodged 55 different cases in connection with the fake encounter case.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Denial effective remedy, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Mar 30, 2018
- Event Description
PETALING JAYA: Police today visited the office of electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 to record statements from four individuals who allegedly organised the demonstration outside Parliament two days ago. Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng however said they would only go to have their statements recorded with the presence of their lawyers. "We will go to have our statements recorded, but we have to check with our lawyers on when they are available to accompany us. "The police cannot surprise us like this as they did not serve us a notice under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code," he told reporters after the two policemen from the Dang Wangi police station had left the office. According to Yap, he is one of the four individuals wanted by the police to facilitate investigations under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for allegedly organising a rally without a 10-day notice. The three others are Bersih acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Shaari, secretariat member Mandeep Singh and Suaram project coordinator Amir Abd Hadi. Yap said the police left the office by 11am after taking down his particulars. He did not say when they would go to the police station. Officers from the Dang Wangi station also visited Suaram's office, looking for Amir. However, Suaram project coordinator Dobby Chew informed them that Amir was not there. On Wednesday, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Shaharuddin Abdullah said they had identified the organisers of the demonstration and would be calling them in to record their statements. Between 200 and 300 people were estimated to have joined the protest against the Election Commission's (EC) redelineation report. The new electoral boundaries were passed in the Dewan Rakyat that same day, with 129 MPs supporting the motion and 80 against it. The report was gazetted by the king the following day
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 15, 2018
- Event Description
RINAGAR, INDIA (REUTERS) - Eight men accused of involvement in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in India's Jammu and Kashmir state appeared in court on Monday (April 16) for the first hearing in a case that sparked nationwide outrage and criticism of the ruling party. Disgust over the horrific crime led to protests in cities across India over the past few days, with anger fuelled by support for the accused initially shown by ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. The protests have also focused on another rape incident allegedly involving a BJP lawmaker in the crime-ridden, most populous, poor northern state of Uttar Pradesh. More rallies demanding action against rapists and violence against women were expected on Monday in the capital and Ahmedabad, the state capital of Mr Modi's home state of Gujarat. The girl from a nomadic community that roam the forests of Kashmir was drugged, held captive in a temple and sexually assaulted for a week before being strangled and battered with a stone in January, the police said. According to the charge sheet, the kidnapping, rape and killing of the girl was part of a plan to drive the nomads out of Kathua district in Jammu, the mostly Hindu portion of India's only Muslim majority state. The alleged ringleader, retired bureaucrat Sanji Ram, looked after a small Hindu temple where the girl had been held captive and assaulted. Two of the eight on trial were police officers who are accused of being bribed to stifle the investigation. After the initial hearing on Monday, the judge adjourned the case until April 28. Ahead of the trial, the lawyer representing the family of the victim said she had been threatened with rape and death for taking up her case, and requested for the trial to be held outside Jammu and Kashmir. "I was threatened yesterday that 'we will not forgive you'. I am going to tell (the) Supreme Court that I am in danger," said lawyer Deepika Singh Rawat, who has fought for a proper investigation since the girl's body was found in January. It was only when the charge sheet was finally filed last week, giving details of the horrendous crime, that Indians reacted en masse. Two ministers from the BJP, which shares power in Jammu and Kashmir, were forced to resign after being pilloried for joining a rally in support of the accused men. The national outrage over the Kathua case has drawn parallels with the massive protests that followed the gang-rape and murder of a girl on a Delhi bus in 2012, which forced the then Congress-led government to enact tough new rape laws including the death penalty. But activists say crimes of violence against women are often inadequately investigated, and in some cases accused with political connections have been protected. More incidents of child rape, including one in Surat in Gujurat, were reported over the weekend. On Friday, Mr Modi assured the country that the guilty would not be shielded, but he has been criticised for failing to speak out sooner. Before leaving for an official visit to Europe this week, Mr Modi received a letter from 50 former civil servants upbraiding the country's political leadership over its weak response. "The bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child shows the depths of depravity that we have sunk into," the letter said. "In post-Independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, (and) the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Mar 30, 2018
- Event Description
Karapatan claimed that on March 30, 2018, suspected military agents attempted to enter the home of Audrey Beltran, member of the Karapatan National Council and Vice Chairperson of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), a regional chapter of Karapatan. In a Facebook post, Beltran said her family "heard loud thuds that alarmed us." "I was still awake at that time so I went to check whether some things fell in our kitchen where the sound came from. I was shocked to see that the kitchen door was open and that two locks have already been destroyed. Someone was pushing the door from the outside. I hurriedly took my phone and called up Station 5 of the Baguio City Police Office and also took effort to close the door without allowing whoever it was outside to get hold of me. After I was able to close the door, I heard faint footsteps of a person hurrying away from the door," Beltran said. "The attempt to break in to our house seemed planned and precise by the pieces of information we were able to gather. We could not discount it as just a mere case of burglary as it coincided with the harassment against our office, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance at #55 Ferguson Road, a day before the attempted break-in to our house," she added. On top of handling other cases of human rights violations in the Cordillera, CHRA is also assisting human rights defenders named in the Justice Department petition proscribing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army as terrorist organizations. Karapatan noted that the names of at least 60 human rights defenders were listed in the petition, including that of Karapatan National Executive Committee member Elisa Tita Lubi, two other officers of the Batangas Human Rights Alliance-Karapatan, and UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. On April 2, flyers containing false and dangerous propaganda that incite and justify violence against ten human rights defenders in Cagayan Valley, including Karapatan staff and officers, were purportedly distributed by the military and its agents in Isabela. Cristina Palabay Karapatan secretary-general, said the rights activists were tagged as "minions of godless communists" and "terrorists." "The more insidious motives of all this red-tagging and demonizing is to prevent the intelligent discussion of issues, and worse, to justify witch-hunting and physical attacks against activists and the communities they work with," Palabay said. "This incident also comes with the repeated public pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte inciting state-sponsored violence against Karapatan and other people's organizations," she added. She claimed that since October 2017, Duterte has threatened to "go after" Karapatan and other progressive organizations at least six times, prompting the human rights alliance to file a complaint to UN independent experts on March 1, 2018. The organization conducts monitoring and documentation work on human rights violations in the Philippines and provides services for victims of rights violations and their kin as part of their advocacy for human and people's rights. Palabay said Karapatan's human rights workers in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Southern Tagalog, Negros, Panay, Central Visayas, Caraga, Socsksargends, and the Southern Mindanao region have been reporting several cases of surveillance, harassment and threats by state security forces since last year. She said they also face fabricated charges filed by the military and police. Palabay added the organization's Negros Oriental coordinator, Elisa Badayos, was killed on November 28, 2017 during a fact finding mission. s Since 2001, there have been at least 40 human rights workers of Karapatan killed by state forces. "Instead of addressing complaints of human rights violations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines shoots and harasses the messengers in its sorry attempts to silence and deter the work of the organization. These cowardly acts have reached new lows under the Duterte administration." Palabay said. "As Elisa Tita Lubi said in a statement, human rights attackers should back off and they should keep their hands off human rights defenders, their families and communities," Palabay concluded.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Feb 6, 2018
- Event Description
The police and military have summoned 11 villagers in Phayao during the night and later accused them of violating the junta's ban on public gatherings. The villagers were prosecuted after holding a rally in support of the civil rights march from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. On 6 February 2018, the police accused 14 villagers in Phayao of violating the Head of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order 3/ 2015, the junta's ban on public gatherings of five people or more. The authorities filed charges against the villagers for expressing support for We Walk, Walk for Friendship, the march for civil rights from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. If found guilty, they will face up to six months in prison and fines of up to 10,000 baht. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), a day earlier the villagers held a minor activity to show solidarity with the We Walk march. They walked for 500 meters and read a statement calling for land reform, community rights and progressive taxation. Later in the night, the authorities summoned 11 participants at the rally to Phu Sang Police Station and interrogated them until morning. There was no defence lawyer throughout the interrogation. At around 3 am, police officers told the villagers that they would be accused of violating the junta's order, adding that the authorities will issue a summons for three other participants who did not show up at the police station. The youngest suspect is only 16 years old and has a mental disability, reported TLHR. At 9.30 am, the police took 10 villagers, excluding the youngest one, to Chiang Kham Provincial Court to seek permission to detain them in custody. The villagers denied all accusations and the court released them on bail with 5,000 baht as surety for each. The 10 include seven members of the Northern Peasants Federation, Saeng Sopbong, Wanlop Phandi, Prayun Yamongkhon, Nom Karanoi, Nan Chatunam, Choen Daengmani and Bunyuen Saengkaeo; and four student activists from Chiang Rai, Somchai Kuwiwatthanasakun, Kanthima Mongkhondi and Worasathit Buadaeng. The police also issued summonses for three other villagers, Amphon Somrit, Phon Khankhachi and Kaeo Unpo, who failed to show up at the police station the previous night. The We Walk march kicked off at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus on 20 January with four main issues: the right to universal health care, the rights of farmers, community and environmental rights, and the Constitution. Since the beginning, the rally has faced repeated obstruction by the police and military. On the first day, the authorities blocked the activists from exiting Thammasat University, claiming the march violated the junta's ban on public gatherings of five people or more. The protesters then divided into groups of four people and marched from the university group by group. Previously, the administrative court ruled to guarantee the right to freedom of assembly of the We Walk march and ordered the authorities not to obstruct the activity, but the intimidation remains. Eight organisers of the march are also facing prosecution for violating the junta's ban on public assembly.
- Impact of Event
- 14
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Apr 19, 2018
- Event Description
ISLAMABAD: Armed burglars on Thursday night raided the residence of the editor of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent watchdog, which recently published its annual report on human rights in Pakistan. The commission in a statement on Friday said, "At about 8.45 PM last night (Thursday), two armed men broke into the house of Ms. Maryam Hasan, editor of HRCP's annual report, in Lahore and took away her laptop, two hard drives and two mobile phones, as well as some jewelry and cash." The 296-page HRCP report, launched on April 16 in Islamabad, had painted a bleak picture of Pakistan's human rights record, highlighting rising incidents of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings. It attributed some of the disappearances to criticism of the establishment and advocacy of better relations with India. Dedicated to HRCP's founder, Asma Jahangir, who passed away in February, the report stated that the controversial blasphemy law continues to be misused, especially against dissidents on mere accusations of blasphemy. This also leads to deadly mob violence in Pakistan, the report said. Citing attacks on Shias, Christians and Ahmedis, the report noted that religious minorities continued to be targeted in Pakistan. "In a year when freedom of thought, conscience and religion continued to be stifled, incitement to hatred and bigotry increased, and tolerance receded even further," the report said. It revealed that more Pakistani died in incidents described as "encounters" than in gun violence or suicide attacks last year. Hasan said that she suspected that the two "suave raiders were no ordinary thieves". She called on the government of Punjab to apprehend the culprits and establish their identity. She said she will hold the provincial authorities responsible for any attempt by state or non-state actors to harass any persons associated with the HRCP. They raiders told Hasan, who lives alone, that they had also come the day before but did not burgle since she was not at home. "They questioned about her professional engagements and intimidated her in a roundabout manner, finally leaving at 10 PM," the statement said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to privacy
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 15, 2018
- Event Description
Dalit leader and Independent MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani was stopped at the Sanganer international airport here on Sunday and prevented from travelling to Nagaur district. Mr. Mevani was scheduled to address a Dalit rally as part of the B.R. Ambedkar birth anniversary celebrations. While the Nagaur district administration restricted Mr. Mevani's visit, the Jaipur police stopped him at the airport to inform him of the order, and asked him not to address any public meeting in the State capital as well till April 30, in view of the prohibitory orders in force here. Mr. Mevani termed his detention "absolutely unconstitutional" and violative of his fundamental rights. Questions Raje rule "If they can do this with an elected representative, what would be the condition of ordinary citizens and Dalits in the Vasundhara Raje rule?" he asked in a statement. The activist-turned-politician, who had flown in from Ahmedabad, went to the house of a local activist and member of his "Team Rajasthan" in the city, where the police force was deployed to keep a watch on his movements. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jaipur East) Kunwar Rashtradeep said Mr. Mevani had "neither been detained nor arrested". The Dalit leader warned Chief Minister Ms. Raje of an electoral setback and tweeted: "Vasundhara Ji, hamara bhi vada raha. Chunav me maza ayega[I promise you, Ms. Raje, you will face the music in elections]."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Minority Rights
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 12, 2018
- Event Description
Two persons were arrested by the Peroorkada police on Friday in connection with an assault on two transgender activists at Ambalamukku the previous night. The police identified the accused as Bibin, 24, of Kudappanakunnu, and Nikesh, 29, of Nettayam. They were allegedly part of a gang which waylaid social activist Diya Sana, a member of the District Transgender Justice Board, and transman R. Dev, an official of the State Transgender Cell under the Social Justice Department. The alleged incident took place at the Ambalamukku junction around 10.15 p.m. on Thursday when the two activists were leaving an ATM kiosk. Two others, identified as Pramod and Akhil, who were part of the gang, allegedly hurled abuses and manhandled them. They, however, managed to escape and are still at large. Victims in hospital Both the injured are being treated at the government hospital at Peroorkada. Those arrested have been booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to sexual harassment and assault with intent to outrage modesty, the police said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to healthy and safe environment, SOGI rights
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Event Description
MANILA - State security forces repeatedly blocked members of a fact-finding mission investigating human rights violations in Mindanao. Since their arrival at the airports in Davao City, Lagindinangan and Butuan City yesterday, April 6, all the way to highly-militarized peasant and Lumad communities in Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region, members of the three-team mission were subjected to different forms of harassment and intimidation. Suspected soldiers took pictures of the Caraga team members and "welcomed' them with a banner that read, "Just do it right" upon their arrival at the airport in Butuan City. The Southern Mindanao team members saw streamers in Tagum City that read, "OUT NOW IFFSM; WE WANT PEACE." Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the military was behind the streamers. "The AFP has no credibility in talking peace. We thus revise the slogan; instead it should read: AFP OUT NOW; WE WANT PEACE," he said. The Northern Mindanao mission team, meanwhile, was blocked three times by police and military forces from the airport in Lagindingan to Cagayan de Oro. From the city to the mission site in Patpat village in Malaybalay, the team was blocked eight more times. Rafael Mariano, former Agrarian Reform secretary and head of the Northern Mindanao team, said, "We came here for a very urgent reason, we came here to verify mounting reports of rights abuse against peasant and Lumad communities perpetrated allegedly by military elements. No wonder the military people do not want us here." President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole island under martial law on May 24, 2017 after an attack in Marawi. Citing "continued threat of terrorism and rebellion," Duterte asked the Congress to extend martial law until December this year. Duterte's supporters in Congress railroaded the extension. Seventy-one full battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are operating in Mindanao, of which 41 are focused on counterinsurgency operations. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said at least 65 percent of the AFP's combat troops are concentrated in Mindanao, where large-scale foreign plantations and mining concessions are to be found. Human rights alliance Karapatan documented 126 victims of political killings as of December 2017, of whom 110 were farmers mostly coming from Mindanao. Mariano. In Southern Mindanao alone, 63 cases of extrajudicial killings have been recorded. "The unabated militarization and Martial Law itself in Mindanao must be understood as a means for government, big landlords, oligarchs and multinational corporations to further bulldoze their way into the vast lands and resources of the island," Mariano said. "This is not the way to address the roots of the armed conflict. This is not the way to a just and lasting peace." The teams also reported to have been closely tailed by several vehicles from the airport to the orientation sites and to the villages where interviews with victims victims were to be held. Undeterred, the teams were able to finally proceed to their respective mission areas. "We managed to get past all the checkpoints so far after seemingly endless negotiations with the state forces but this is only the first day and the day is still long and so we must remain vigilant throughout the rest of the day and the entire duration of the three-day mission," Mariano said. Former congressmen Satur Ocampo and Fernando Hicap, and incumbent representatives of the Makabayan bloc, are among the delegates of the International Fact-Finding Mission to Defend Filipino Peasants' Land and Human Rights Against Militarism and Plunder in Mindanao organized by KMP and the Mindanao for Civil Liberties. Also joining the mission are the Asian Peasant Coalition, Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific, People's Coalition for Food Sovereignty, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) Commission 6, Youth for Food Sovereignty (YFS), Karapatan, and Tanggol Magsasaka
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Indigenous peoples' rights defender, Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 17, 2018
- Event Description
On April 17, 2018, in the evening at around 8.25 PM, two persons arrived on a motorcycle with their faces covered and hurled petrol bombs through the bedroom window of Patricia Mukhim's residence, while she was at her residence. The bombs caused a minor fire with flames arising in her house. Ms. Patricia in the past has received death threats on social media and she has also filed a complaint in Rynjah police station under sections 336 (Acts endangering safety of others), 436 (Mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. She has been writing about illegal coal mining and rat-hole mining, which though has been banned by the National Green Tribunal is reportedly being practised in parts of Meghalaya. According to sources, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma met Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi seeking his intervention to lift the ban that is reportedly causing a loss of Rs 700 crore and Ms. Mukhim wrote two editorials criticising the illegal and unregulated practices in the mining business, days after this meeting.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 2, 2018
- Event Description
A nationwide protest was held on April 2, 2018, against the recent Supreme Court's order on the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In a show of support and solidarity, Dalit organisations from Phalodi subdivision area of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan had also planned for a joint protest at Phalodi "Ambedkar Chowk" April 2, 2018. Around 10 AM, about 5,000 members from different organisations had gathered near Ambedkar Chowk, Phalodi. It was decided by the participants of the protest to have a meeting and proceed for a rally to the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and present a memorandum to him addressed to the President of India. While they were proceeding towards SDM's office, they were stopped by SDM, police personnel and other authorities. The administration and police asked the protestors to stop the rally as there were counter-protests underway in the near-by areas. The people holding counter protests, mostly from the dominant castes, were in possession of lathis and weapons. Agreeing to the request of the SDM and other authorities, with the intention to contribute towards maintaining law and order, the members of dalit organisations and others gathered in support of them submitted the memorandum to the SDM at the same place. Around 12.30 PM the participants of the rally started returning to their respective villages. On their return, a mob suddenly started attacking them in the presence of police troops and officers deputed on duty. All the protestors started running back to the place where they had held meeting before starting the rally, but the violent mob chased them to the place and continued to attack them. The police personnel did not take any action to stop the attack on the peaceful protestors, even when the violent mob crossed the Phalodi police station. The statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was also damaged and about 50 Dalit protestors were injured in this attack. The mob also indulged in damaging public properties, torched a motor bike torched and damaged another 15-20 other vehicles. At about 2 PM, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), SDM and other officials reached the spot of violence. The mob had also vandalised a Dalit human rights defender Mr. Dheraram's house at Indira colony, Phalodi. In an immediate response to the targeted violence, members of Dalit organisations submitted eight complaints to the police against the violent mob and returned back to their individual villages with police protection. Later false and fabricated complaints were registered against 46 members of the Dalit community while no action was taken on the complaint filed by Dalit organisations. Following it, the police called Dalit leaders from the Phalodi village, including Modaram Askok, Gopal, Shanti Devi, Anop, Jagadish to the police station. Only Modaram, Ashok and Gopal went to the police station on April 6, 2018, where the police threatened the Dalit human rights defenders of dire consequences. A team of the Dalit human rights defenders met the Director General of Police in Jaipur on April 6, 2018 under the leadership of Advocate Gordhan Jaipal and apprised him about the ground situation on how the local police was harassing the dalit human rights defenders by registering false complaints.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 9, 2018
- Event Description
As per the sources, on April 9, 2018, while nominations were being filed for the upcoming local body elections in West Bengal, there were violent clashes between cadres and supporters of various political parties in which many people including contestants were brutally attacked. The journalists at Kolkata were covering once such incidence of violence in Alipore, Kolkata. The violent mob suddenly started attacking journalists who were recording with cameras the attacks and clashes between supporters of political parties. The mob started thrashing the journalists, clothes torn and stripped and their cameras were damaged. Mr. Biplab Mondal from Times of India while refusing to delete the videos and photos from his mobile, was beaten up badly and stripped by the mob. They forcibly deleted all the video and photos from the mobile phones and cameras of other journalists. While they tried to snatch the camera of Mr. Manas Chatterjee, he resisted and was attacked brutally. There were reports of violence and attacks of similar kind from other districts like Murshidabad, Hooghly, Birbhum where photojournalists were facing assault. Though the journalists and media houses have complained to the police about the brutal attacks on journalists, the police did not take any action on the matter
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Apr 21, 2018
- Event Description
On April 21, a group of Hanoi-based intellectuals, including Dr. Nguyen Quang A, retired police Colonel Nguyen Dang Quang and veteran writer Nguyen Binh Nguyen, visited villagers in Dong Tam commune, My Duc district. On their way back to the city's center, they were stopped by thugs and later police in a trumped-up traffic accident. After long detention, the group was released in the late evening of Saturday. On the next day, many activists in Hanoi were placed under house arrest as local authorities sent plainclothes agents and militia to their private residences in a bid to prevent them from going to Dong Tam to mark the first anniversary of the end of Dong Tam hostage crisis.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Apr 21, 2018
- Event Description
BAGUIO CITY-Flyers labelling activist groups in Ifugao province as creations of the "terrorist communist rebels" were found scattered in the streets of the capital town, Lagawe, on Saturday morning (April 21). Lagawe residents out for their morning walk found the flyers at 5:45 a.m., according to Brandon Lee of the Ifugao Peasant Movement (IPM). Some flyers were signed by a group called Kaagapay ng Maralitang Ifugao and list Ifugao women's groups and farmer's associations as "organized by the terrorist New People's Army." Another flyer bearing the acronym Makamasa says, "The Ifugao Resource and Development Center (IRDC) in Poblacion South, Lagawe is housing the terrorist NPA! Obliterate it!" A third type of flyer names Lee and five other Ifugao residents as "accomplices of the terrorist NPA in Ifugao," signed simply as "Para sa Masang Ifugao." In 2015, Lee was among the Ifugao activists who received flyers bearing a photograph of the "gamong," the Ifugao fabric used for the dead, with the words "Gray-May, June-Gloom, No Sky-July." On March 2, Ricardo Mayumi, an IPM member and vocal objector to the Quad River hydro project in Tinoc town, also in Ifugao, was murdered in Kiangan town. He also received the death cloth flyer. On March 25, 2014, IPM member and IRDC leader William Bugatti was gunned down along the provincial road in Kiangan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 10, 2018
- Event Description
A woman said Thursday she was held involuntarily for three nights and drugged at a state-run mental hospital after encouraging the monarchy's support for the people at a recent pro-democracy rally. Sasinutta Shinthanawanitch said some 20 police officers from Chanasongkram Police Station led her away from the Saturday rally at Thammasat University for interrogation. They later sent her to Somdet Chaophraya Hospital, a state-run psychiatric hospital in Bangkok, where she was held four days and injected against her will with sedatives. "I was sedated and lost my faculties. A nurse told me once I am there, they had that right," Sasinutta said Thursday, two days after being released. Neither the hospital nor police dispute her account, saying they were acting within the law. But the 49-year-old said her rights were violated. Police officers told her they want to make sure she's not mentally ill and asked to escort her for a psychiatric test at the hospital. The station police chief said she violated no law. Sasinutta was among numerous speakers to take the stage Saturday at a rally by the Democracy Restoration Group, where they took turns calling for elections to be held this year. She was the only to mention the monarchy while on stage. The royal family is a freighted topic, especially for junta opponents who have been threatened under the severe royal defamation law. The ordeal began after Sasinutta, who refused to identify herself on stage, called on the monarchy to "stand by the Thai people" and called on the king to support the public on May 22, the fourth anniversary of the coup d'etat that brought the ruling junta to power. Police asked her to go with them to have her mental state evaluated. She said she agreed, never imagining she would be locked up for four days and three nights, sedated by injection and then oral tablets. A nurse at the hospital said its actions were taken under a Thai mental health act which stipulates that anyone handed over by police and suspected of being mentally ill must be examined by medical professionals to ascertain their state of mind. Arunrat Khamsirntha, a registered nurse at Somdet Chaophraya, said the hospital could not divulge the results of its examination or its rationale for admitting Sasinutta for three nights, however. Chanasongkram police chief Chakkarit Chosoongnern said officers escorted Sanittnutta to the hospital for a check-up because she appeared to be incoherent. Chakkarit said the woman agreed to be accompanied by police along the way. "We didn't force her. We invited her over to the police station, and she agreed to go. We assessed her emotional state and and her thoughts. She was unlike normal people. There was something complicated, unlike us," Chakkarit said. Upon being discharged, the hospital told her to return for further examination this afternoon. Sasinutta, who insists she is not mentally ill, decided not to take further risk and refuses to go. "If I go for another examination today, they could accuse me of being insane. This is politics. I would lose my driver license, the right to my properties and the right to be a normal person. There are people who are trying to make me out to be an insane person," said Sasinutta, frustration filling her voice. Human rights attorney Arnon Nampa, who is representing Sasinutta, said she has the right not to return to the hospital. She owns a small oyster sauce factory in Pitsanuloke province, he said. Arunrat, the nurse, agreed that since Sasinutta was discharged Tuesday, she is no longer obliged to return for further tests. Sasinutta said her treatment at the facility suggested a political motive. Her evaluation began with questions she considered unpleasant from a psychiatrist, who asked her why she joined the protest. "How do you know that Thai people are not happy? Does Thailand have that many problems?" Sasinutta said the doctor asked. In the end, Sasinutta said she resisted and was physically handled by four male nurses while a female nurse gave her an injection. She slept the first night with 50 or so other patients in a locked common room. The next two nights she was transferred to a single room where she was locked inside and given tablets to swallow. Her release came after blood and urine tests and two more verbal examinations with two other doctors, she said. Protest leader Nuttaa Mahattana, who was managing the stage Saturday, defended police, saying they had no intention to frame the woman as insane. Nuttaa said that Sasinutta's comments were not in line with other demonstrators who called for quick elections because she mentioned the monarchy. Nutta said Sanittnutta was asked to give her name on stage but replied that she had "no name," leading police to become more suspicious. Nuttaa added that if there's anything that is wrong, it is the lese majeste law, which she regards as not a normal law. Prosecutions spiked since the 2014 coup under the law, which can see people jailed for up to 15 years per violation after a secret trial by military tribunal. Exiled lese majeste fugitive Nithiwat Wannasiri wrote online Tuesday that it was "most painful" to see the issue of her confinement at the hospital being "censored" by the pro-democracy camp. As for Sasinutta, she said some security forces have since started calling her son and older brother to ask they convince her to end her political activism. Sounding upset, Sasinutta said she told them to tell the officers to just call her. "This is a threat," she said. The Chanasongkram police chief said his men had nothing to do with the calls, saying that special branch police or the military may make such calls. He said Sasinutta did not violate any law.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 30, 2018
- Event Description
Mr. Kamal Shukla is a resident of Kanker district in Bastar area of Chhattisgarh. He is the editor of the Bhumkaal Samachar, a local e-news which focuses on the rights of adivasi in the Bastar area. Mr.Shukla, is known for voicing against fake encounters in the region. He also writes for several local and national news portals. Through Patrakar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, he initiated a movement demanding a law for the protection of journalists in Chhattisgarh. A case of sedition under section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against Mr. Kamal Shukla at Kotwali police station for posting a cartoon on his Facebook page. The complainant in this case resides in Rajasthan and filed the complaint with the Raipur cyber cell. The complaint was then transferred to anker police. He has not been arrested yet, but he is apprehending arrest for the charges against him. With regard to the cartoon, Mr. Shukla clarified that he had expressed concerns about the situation of the higher judiciary with specific reference to the case of the death of Judge Loya. The same is a point of public debate given the unfolding of series of events in the Supreme Court. Mr. Shukla through posting the cartoon in this case has only exercised his right to freedom of expression. Mr. Shukla also apprehends that Chhattisgarh police may file fabricated false cases against him due to his independent journalism and human rights work. It is important to mention here that Mr. Shukla has been raising the issue of abduction of tribal girls, sexual violence by security forces, fake encounters etc. He has been instrumental in the demand for a journalist protection law in Chhattisgarh. Mr. Shukla played an active role in the campaign for the release of journalists in Chhattisgarh who were booked under fabricated cases when Mr. SRP Kalluri was the Inspector General of the Bastar Range. HRDA would like to recall that all these cases against journalists in Chhattisgarh and other human rights defenders were also petitioned before the National Human Rights Commission, leading to Mr. Kalluri being summoned by the Commission and transferred out from the Bastar region.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Online
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- May 5, 2018
- Event Description
On 7th May, it was brought to our attention that a post was uploaded on Facebook on 5th May by a Myanmar national inviting the Tatmadaw (or anyone else, for that matter) to pursue defamation charges against our Executive Director, U Aung Myo Min. The basis for such allegations is an article (Rights Groups Question Tatmadaw Chief's Denial of Sexual Violence) posted on 2nd May in The Irrawaddy where U Aung Myo Min - among other CSO leaders - commented on recent declarations made by S.G. Min Aung Hlaing to UNSC Envoys on acts of sexual violence committed by the Tatmadaw in the country and how the Tatmadaw has (or has not) handled these cases. With 22 people tagged, 24 reactions, 6 comments (all of them highly offensive) and 3 shares so far, we do consider this post as a serious threat, just not imminent. Considering the highly charged political environment in which we operate, all precautions are not enough. Some of you have expressed concerns about Sayar Myo's safety in the past so we thought you should be informed too. This is not the first time he receives serious threats - was declared "enemy of the faith" by Buddhist nationalists last year-. We will monitor this and other posts and offer updates. Please, do let us know if similar posts come to your attention so we can monitor them as well. A very rough translation of the post and the comments is attached. If anyone is interested to see the original post, i'd be happy to redirect individually. Not copying here due to privacy reasons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security, SOGI rights
- HRD
- NGO staff, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2018
- Event Description
On May 16, Maria Do Thi Minh Hanh, president of the civil society Viet Labor Movement was stopped at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, where she planned to take a flight to Germany to visit her mother. Hanh, 33, said in a video posted on Facebook that officials at the airport told her that she was not allowed to leave the country for "national security" reasons. She said she wrote on an official document that "I am clearly deprived of my rights to freedom of travel." However, security officials said the document with the complaint was not accepted. The activist said Vietnamese authorities had earlier promised German officials that they would allow her to go abroad. She subsequently was able to travel to neighboring Cambodia. "The government tricked the German government and me when they allowed me to go to Cambodia, but have now barred me from travelling to Germany," she said. She felt ashamed of the Vietnamese government's unacceptable treatment of her, Hanh said. The recent bar was the fourth such against her in the past three years. The union activist was arrested for "disrupting security" in 2010. She was sentenced to seven years in prison, but released in 2014. This year, the U.S. Department of State recognized her as human rights heroine for her efforts to promote human and workers' rights in Vietnam. On May 14, Redemptorist Father Joseph Dinh Huu Thoai was stopped by army officers at a land border with Laos when he intended to travel on to the United States to visit relatives and friends. In an audio recording posted on Facebook, Father Thoai asked officers to explain why he was banned from leaving the country. Officials maintained that they were acting under orders from their superiors. The priest said he had not violated any laws and was not the subject of any police ban order. Last November, he was able to travel out of Vietnam. Father Thoai accused the government of taking away citizens' freedom of travel and violating the law by interfering with the activities of independent groups. Father Thoai regularly speaks out against human rights violations and abuses of religious freedom. And he is active in supporting former South Vietnamese soldiers who have lived in extreme poverty since the Vietnam War ended in 1975. In 2011, the priest was also barred from going to Cambodia. Since June 2017, three Redemptorists have been barred from going abroad.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Labour rights
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist, Labour rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2018
- Event Description
Background: The Mumbai - Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project is being proposed with financial aid from Japan through its agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is said that the Indian government has exempted the project from environment and social impact studies. However, the JICA finance mandates that social and environment impact be carried out to ascertain minimum impact due to the project.There are guidelines provided by JICA to undertake the social and environment impact studies and it also provides that transparency be maintained by taking the stakeholders into confidence and holding consultations for the same. There is a discontent brewing among the affected farmers and populace as there is not much information shared with them by the project authorities about the impact and likely displacement. Incident Details: On May 14, 2018, the environment consultation for the Bullet Train project was announced by National HighSpeed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a special purpose company registered under the Companies Act with the ownership of Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. The consultation was organised by Arcadis, a company from Netherland holding the contract to undertake surveys.The said consultation wasto be held at 3 PM at Gandhi Smruti Hall, Nanpura, Surat. For the public hearing invitations were sent to elected representatives of local bodies and also through newspaper advertisement to the general public to participate and raise their queries. There was unprecedented police deployment at the entrance and inside of the Gandhi Smruti Hall, around 150 police personnel were present.Peoplewho came to attendthe consultation were frisked and thoroughly checked at the entrance itself. Even their hand-kerchiefs were checked for the colour, to ensure that only people supporting the project get access to the consultation. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created by the police to intimidate the farmers and deter them from representing themselves and facts in a fair manner. Before the start of the consultation, Mr. Darshan Nayak, Member of the Surat District Panchayat and Director of Sayan Sugar Co-operative Society who was in conversation with the designated land acquisition officer was taken into custody by police personnel. The farmers and activists demanded to know his whereabouts. The police then detained other farmer leaders and environment activists who demanded the whereabouts of Mr. Darshan Nayak who was detained by the police. The farmers and leaders were forcefully taken away from the venue and were illegally detained by the police for more than two hours, thus, preventing them from participating in the public hearing and to raise and share their legitimate concerns and issues
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 22, 2018
- Event Description
Police in the Thai capital blocked a march Tuesday by pro-democracy activists protesting four years of military rule and detained several of the movement's leaders. About 3,200 officers were deployed, police said, to prevent about 200 demonstrators from defying a junta ban on protests with a march from a Bangkok university campus to Government House, where they were to demand that elections be held this year. Faced with barricades, a tropical downpour and lines of police, the protesters dueled with authorities by loudspeaker, trying to outshout police warnings that the demonstration would tarnish Thailand's image, scare tourists and cause congestion. Activist Seriwith Seritiwat said the protesters would "never back down," and tempers briefly flared as they pushed and shoved with police. By late afternoon the demonstrators began to disperse after police said they were charging protest leaders with violating the law on assembly. Three of he leaders turned themselves in. Tuesday was the fourth anniversary of a bloodless coup in 2014 that toppled Thailand's elected government, the country's second coup in less than a decade. The junta vowed reform and reconciliation for a politically divided Thailand but its rule has been tarnished by corruption scandals and repeated postponement of promised elections. The protesters, mainly middle-aged and elderly people led by a core of student activists, have been holding regular rallies for the last few months, calling for the junta to resign. Its most recent promise of elections is for February next year, but the protesters want the junta to stick to an earlier pledge to hold them in November. Political gatherings of five or more people are banned by the military government, which has regularly summoned its opponents to military bases for what it calls "attitude adjustment." Amnesty International used the anniversary of the military takeover to reiterate its calls for the junta, known formally as the National Council for Peace and Order, to restore civil rights in the country. "The sweeping and wholly unjustified restrictions on human rights put in place by the NCPO in the wake of the coup were supposed to be exceptional and temporary measures," Katherine Gerson, the group's Southeast Asia campaigner, said in a statement. "Four years on and countless abuses later, they remain firmly in place and are relentlessly deployed by authorities." Analysts say junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup and is now prime minister, is keeping a tight grip on political activity and dissent and is maneuvering to retain power even if elections are held.
- Impact of Event
- 200
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 6, 2018
- Event Description
Hanoi-based pro-democracy campaigner and human rights defender Nguyen Tuong Thuy said his private house has been attacked by under-covered policemen who tried to rob him after he conducting money transfer at home. Mr. Thuy, a member of a charity group Bau Bi Tuong Than (People's Solidarity), said at 4.30 PM of June 6, a bank dealer came to his house in Thanh Tri district to hand over to him a donation of a person to the group. Few minutes after the transfer was madeand the dealer left his house, a group of around ten men in plainclothes appeared and forcebly entered his house. They blocked his wife and went to the second floor where Mr. Thuy went to put the money to the family's safe. Alerted by his wife, Thuy locked himself in his room so they could not break in. After few minutes failing to break in, the men left the house. Mr. Thuy's wife said four of the men blocked her so she couldnt call for help from neighbors. The men told her that they are police so there is no need to make noise. When the men came, she was with her 18-month son. The baby was so scared with the men, and one of them stepped on his hand while trying to block his grandmother. Mr. Thuy, who is also a vice president of the unregistered Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam, suggested that the men gained the transfer's information from the bank or eavesdropped the telephone conversation between him and the bank staff so they knew about the transfer and organized the rob attempt. Mr. Thuy plans to report the incident to the local police, however, he does not expect they will seriously investigate the case. Many activists and their relatives have been robbed by under-covered police in similar way, said Mr. Thuy. The victims included the wives of former prisoner of conscience Vi Duc Hoi and Nguyen Trung Ton, and freelance journalist Nguyen Dinh Ha immediately after they took out money from banks or conducted transfers with bank agents. Bau Bi Tuong Than is a group receiving financial supports from Vietnamese in the country and overseas and re-distribute to activists and victims of the communist regimes, including land petitioners. Their main targets are prisoners of conscience and suppressed activists and their relatives.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 8, 2018
- Event Description
Chinese authorities in the northern region of Inner Mongolia have refused to issue a passport to a prominent human rights lawyer detained in a recent crackdown, effectively banning her from leaving the country. Human rights lawyer Wang Yu and husband Bao Longjun were both detained in a massive nationwide crackdown on rights lawyers and activists that began in July 2015. They have been prevented from sending money out of the country to finance their son's studies in Australia, and Wang had hoped to take him the money in person. But she has now been slapped with an effective travel ban by the police-run entry and exit bureau in Inner Mongolia's Hinggan (in Chinese, Xing'an) League, Bao told RFA on Friday. "The moment she got out her ID card and swiped it, they said 'no way'," he said. "They said they couldn't process her passport application for reasons of national security." Bao said Wang had hoped to visit the couple's son, Bao Zhuoxuan, who is currently studying in Melbourne after being denied permission to leave China for more than two years in the wake of his parents' detentions. "The authorities have had our passports all along, and we were hoping to get around that by applying for them," he said. Bao said the couple are thinking of lodging an administrative complaint, although he is unsure how effective that would be. "They are afraid of what we might say when we left the country," he said. "There are some things they don't want people overseas to know about." He said the cases against himself and Wang were "fake" right from the start. "All of the cases in the July 2015 crackdown[on lawyers and rights activists] were fake; they just wanted to go after human rights lawyers as a group," he said. "They will stop you from leaving the country if they think you[and your work] is a bit sensitive, or if you're not that easy to control." Repeated calls to the Hinggan League entry and exit bureau rang unanswered during office hours on Friday, while calls to the publicly available Hinggan police department number went unconnected. Growing use of travel bans Rights lawyer Chen Rui said "national security" wasn't the real reason for denying Wang a passport. "This is just an excuse, of course it is," Chen said. "She's not allowed to leave China; she can't even apply for a passport, but how has she harmed national security?" Travel bans are becoming increasingly common for critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, which is cracking down hard on any form of public dissent, direct or implied, under the administration of President Xi Jinping. In the central province of Hunan, Changsha-based activist Liang Taiping said he had been placed under a travel ban six months ago, and the authorities have yet to respond to his complaints, or requests for more information. "They never gave me a clear reason why I couldn't leave the country," Liang told RFA. "I only found out about it when they stopped me from going through immigration." "I told them that I wouldn't do anything illegal, but that I would speak my mind," he said. Bao Zhuoxuan, also known by his nickname Bao Mengmeng, was just 16 when his passport was confiscated in the wake of his parents' arrest on the night of July 9, 2015, scuppering his plans to pursue an education overseas. He later tried to escape across the border from the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan into northern Myanmar in the company of two rights activists posing as tourists, but all three were detained and handed over to the Chinese authorities. Bao's application for a passport was eventually granted, and he is currently attending university in Melbourne. But when his parents went to transfer money to Australia for the first time, to meet his expenses, they found that the payment wouldn't go through. Bao Zhuoxuan's departure in January was part of a plea bargain struck with the authorities that led to his and Wang Yu's "confession" to subversion charges and their subsequent release on "bail," to be held under surveillance as a family. Wang and Bao once worked for the now-shuttered Fengrui law firm that was the first target of police raids and detentions in July 2015 that broadened into a nationwide operation targeting more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff, and associated rights activists for detention, professional sanctions, house arrest, and travel bans, including for family members.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Dec 31, 2017
- Event Description
A prominent human rights activist in the Maldives says she has received several death threats over an alleged anti-Islamic Twitter post, that has also prompted a criminal investigation. Shahindha Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network (MDN), told Al Jazeera that anonymous accounts on Twitter and Facebook have been calling for her death, after a newspaper article and religious scholars accused her of advocating for secularism in the Sunni Muslim state. "I do not feel safe in the Maldives and I fear for my life," she said on Sunday. The furore over Ismail's post began on December 20, when she responded to a speech by President Abdulla Yameen, in which he had vowed to crack down on what he said were domestic and international efforts to propagate faiths other than Islam in the Maldives. "Religions other than Islam exist in this world because Allah allowed for it. No other religion would exist otherwise, is it not?" Ismail said on Twitter. Her post prompted threats, with one Twitter user, referring to Ismail, saying: "I'm one of hundreds who will cut people like that to pieces." That post has since been deleted. Several comments on Facebook reviewed by Al Jazeera also called for attacks on Ismail and said she should "be thrown out of the country". Islam is the official religion in the Indian Ocean archipelago of 400,000 people. On December 28, amid the furore, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued a statement urging Maldivians to refrain from "nonsensical talk that advocates for any faith other than Islam in the Maldives". Hours later, the police announced that it had launched an investigation against Ismail. Several ruling party politicians, including Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan, thanked the police for the probe. A police spokesman said Ismail was being investigated under the Religious Unity Act, which criminalises actions that may lead to religious strife in the Maldives. It carries a prison sentence of up to five years. "Police have announced an investigation against me while ignoring the open threats against me on social media," said Ismail. "Human rights defenders have always been labelled as anti-Islamic or as Western agents to wipe out Islam," she added. "Too many of us have been attacked, disappeared and murdered for any of us to be safe any more." A liberal blogger was stabbed to death earlier this year in the Maldives' capital, Male, after he lodged a police complaint over death threats against him, also for alleged secular and anti-Islamic views. Ismail has previously criticised law enforcement agencies for inaction over attacks against liberal and moderate voices, which also include the disappearance of a journalist in 2014 and the killing of a parliamentarian in 2012. Both of these cases remain unsolved. Police Superintendent Ahmed Shifan said he was uncertain if Ismail had filed any complaints. "We assure you, however, if we can identify a potential threat, then we will launch an investigation," he told Al Jazeera. 'Profiling and incitement' Rights groups have previously criticised the country's government for using new laws and criminal cases to silence, among others, human rights defenders and civil society groups. A vocal critic of Yameen's human rights record, Ismail said threats against her "escalated" after the pro-government tabloid Vaguthu Online published a news article headlined, "Shahindha has indirectly called for other faiths in the Maldives." The article prompted an outcry from some religious scholars. In a Facebook post, one railed against what he called the spread of secularism in the Maldives and called on Ismail to repent, while the religious conservative group Jamiyyath Salaf called for action against those who mock Islam. The MDN, which Ismail heads, said it was "appalled" that the police have chosen to investigate the content of her Twitter post rather "than those who have openly called to kill and behead her". Ismail said she believed the outcry over her tweet was "part of the same trend of extensive profiling and incitement" that preceded previous physical attacks on the blogger, journalist and parliamentarian. Forum Asia, an Asian rights-group based in Thailand, said it was "seriously concerned" by the threats and the police inquiry against Ismail. The police have "failed to respond appropriately" to calls for violence against critics and dissidents in the past, said Refendi Djamin, a board member of the organisation. "The Maldives government must protect human rights defenders instead of targeting them," he told Al Jazeera. UPDATE: On 30 March 2018, Ms Ismail was summoned by police to be investigated for "attempting to disrupt religious unity by creating religious discord through #Twitter " and investigated under section 617 (1) a and b of the Penal Code.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 27, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City,and other Vietnamese localities have been placing local activists de facto under house arrest on May 27 after an online call for peaceful demonstrations to protest China's increasing aggressiveness in the East Sea (South China Sea). Dozens of activists from Hanoi and HCM City reported that plainclothes agents and militia have posted near their private residences from the evening of Friday or early morning of Sunday in a bid to prevent them from going out. Retired teacher Tran Thi Thao from Hanoi said she recognized a group of five or six under-covered policemen and militia staying near her apartment in the flat from very early onSunday. They werethe same group sent in other occasions when the local authorities wantedto lock her inside. Blogger Nam Phuong from Hanoi did not know why she wasplaced under house arrest until reading the call of Mr. Linh on Facebook, the most popular social network in Vietnam with tens of millions of accounts. In HCM City, blogger Nguyen Hoang Vi said plainclothes agents and militia were stationednear her apartment from the evening of Saturday. Some activists were permitted to go shoping but under close surveillance. Police surveillance has increased after pro-democracy activist Nguyen Trung Linh in Hanoi posted a call for peaceful demonstrations in citycenters in the morning of Sunday to protest China's aggresive acts in the East Sea to solidify its illegal claim of nearly the entire resource-rich sea which is also very important for international trade. In his statement posted on his Facebook account "Trung L?nh Nguyen,"Mr. Linh also criticized the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and its government for weak response to China's violations of the country's sovereignty in the East Sea. Vietnam's government does not welcome peaceful demonstrations which it cannot control. Protestors are facing criminal charges of "causing public disorders" or "resisting on-duty state officials" with potential punishments of years in jail. Many activists who oppose China's violations of the country's sovereignty in the East Sea have been beaten, intimidated, arrested and imprisoned in the past few years.
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 20, 2018
- Event Description
A Meghalaya youth leader and Right to Information activist was killed in a coal belt in the hill State's East Jaintia Hills district on Tuesday morning. Police said the body of Poipynhun Majaw, the president of Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF), was found on Rymbai Road near Khliehriat, the headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district bordering Bangladesh and a prime mining area in the State. "We found wounds on his head probably caused by a heavy iron object. This looks like a case of murder, but we are waiting for the post mortem report to find the culprits and uncover the motive behind the murder," Nazarius Lamare, the district's Superintendent of Police told The Hindu. "Mr. Majaw lived in Jowai (22 km from Khliehriat) and had come to Khliehriat yesterday (Monday). He was last seen at the deputy commissioner's office about 3pm," Mr. Lamare said. A.R. Mawthoh, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range), said a wrench was found near Mr. Majaw's body and that the police were hunting for more clues. Misuse of public funds Rights activists say they suspect the 38-year-old Mr. Majaw could have paid the price for exposing a nexus between heads of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and cement companies that were allegedly allowed to mine limestone without permission. Besides coal, East Jaintia Hills district is rich in limestone. A year ago, Mr. Majaw had, through RTI, revealed misuse of public funds by the JHADC and its leniency towards more than a dozen cement companies that were violating the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and mining limestone without permission. These cement companies, owned by non-locals in the Narpuh area of the district, have allegedly been accused of operating against the interest of local people and harming the fragile ecology of the area. The JHADC, currently headed by Andrew Shullai, denied any "evil nexus' with cement companies. "A former chief executive member of JHADC was arrested after Mr. Majaw filed an RTI and exposed a scam in the council. He had given to the police recordings of threats from this chief executive member," Agnes Kharshiing of Civil Society Women's Organisation said. "We condemn this murder and demand stern action against those responsible for Mr. Majaw's death," she said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to life
- HRD
- RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Mar 16, 2018
- Event Description
The Maldives Police arrested three journalists of opposition-aligned Raajje TV on March 16 and charged two of them with criminal offences for allegedly uploading videos on social media which were critical of the government. The police arrested senior video journalist Mohamed Wisam and Head of Programmes Amir Saleem with court orders after the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leaders accused Raajje TV of producing and uploading the YouTube video. The video showed three masked people in police uniform saying that they would join the opposition rally. On March 18, the Criminal Court remanded Wisam and Saleem for 10 days in custody. Journalist Mohamed Fazeen was arrested on allegations of defying police orders during the opposition parties' protest demonstrations in Male'. He was handcuffed and taken into custody by traffic police. Fazeen was released on March 17 after more than 24 hours in detention. Raajje TV denied that the station or its staff were involved in making or uploading the video. Following the accusations and calls by the PPM to shut down the station on March 16 and 17, the station have also received several threats of arson attack and has sought police protection. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses serious concerns over the incidents of arrest of journalists; and accusations without evidence of carrying out illegal activities. The IFJ also condemns threats of arson attack on the station and demands that the journalists be released immediately, and security is ensured to protect the television station from any attack. The IFJ said: "The IFJ is seriously concerned by the pressure on independent media in the Maldives since the imposition of the state of emergency on February 5. Press freedom has suffered as journalists have been subjected to harassment, and opposition media has been baselessly blamed for supporting protests. The IFJ urges the Maldivian government to respect press freedom and ensure that journalists and media can freely report on happenings of the country without fear of reprisal." The IFJ has joined the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee of Protect Journalists (CPJ) to express deep concerns on ongoing restrictions and threats on media and press freedom in the Maldives, and called on authorities to allow media to carry out work without reprisal.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 6, 2018
- Event Description
Bangladeshi police detained and later released a leader of a secular movement that was preparing to protest stepped-up anti-narcotics operations, officials said Wednesday, while the prime minister vowed to sustain the crackdown that has killed at least 130 people. The brief detention of activist Imran Sarkar took place the same day U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein condemned what he described as "extrajudicial killings" in Bangladesh since the government launched a "zero tolerance" campaign against illegal drugs three weeks ago. Sarkar, a spokesman for the grassroots movement known as Gonojagoron Moncho (Mass Awakening Platform), was "invited" for questioning at the Shahbag intersection in Dhaka after defying warnings not to organize a rally without a permit, Lt. Col. Mohammed Emranul Hasan, a commander of the Bangladeshi police's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) wing, told BenarNews. "There are more cases against him," Hasan said, explaining that officials had warned Sarkar on Sunday not to pursue his well-publicized plan to hold rallies in the capital without prior permission from police. Witnesses said members of RAB took Sarkar to a police vehicle, as members of his group tried to form a human chain to protest the bloody anti-drug campaign. Hours later, Hasan told reporters that Sarkar had been released after undergoing interrogation. In 2013, Sarkar, former son-in-law of Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, led mass protests at the Shahbag intersection calling for the execution of alleged war criminals from the 1971 Bangladeshi war of independence from Pakistan and a ban on religion-based parties in Bangladesh. "A total disregard for the rule of law': UN official Since mid-May, at least 130 drug suspects have reportedly been shot dead and about 13,000 arrested by security forces across Bangladesh, according to a statement issued in Geneva by the U.N. human rights chief. "I am gravely concerned that such a large number of people have been killed, and that the Government reaction has been to assure the public that none of these individuals were "innocent' but that mistakes can occur in an anti-narcotics drive," Zeid said. "Such statements are dangerous and indicative of a total disregard for the rule of law," he said. Every person has the right to life, he emphasized. "People do not lose their human rights because they use or sell drugs," Zeid said. "The presumption of innocence and the right to due process must be at the forefront of any efforts to tackle crimes." However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a speech at her official residence Wednesday, vowed to carry on with pursuing a drug-free Bangladesh. "The drives against militancy, terrorism and drugs will go on. We want to build a drug-militancy- and terrorism-free Bangladesh," the local Daily Star newspaper quoted Hasina as saying. "There'll be no room for injustice and unjust in the country." Hasina's government launched the anti-narcotics campaign to tackle the spread of yaba, a cheap stimulant in tablet form that contains methamphetamine and caffeine. Authorities estimate that about 300 million yaba pills were smuggled into Bangladesh from neighboring Myanmar last year. Bangladeshi rights activists and members of the political opposition have expressed fears that the violence could spiral into a campaign of mass killings similar to the Philippines, where rights groups say thousands of suspected drug users have been killed in alleged shootouts with police officers. Responding to Zeid's criticism, Bangladeshi Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told Reuters: "We are not killing anyone. Our forces are compelled to fire back when they are fired at. We'll continue this drive to stamp out drugs to save our young generation." In his statement, Zeid also expressed concern that poor Bangladeshis were being targeted in the anti-drug campaign. Rights groups in the Philippines had said that slum dwellers were also mostly the victims of Manila's anti-drug war. During its Universal Periodic Review before the U.N. Human Rights Council on May 14, Bangladesh vowed to investigate reports of extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and other serious violations, Zeid said. "The developments since that date, with increasing reports of such human rights violations, are deeply worrying," Zeid said. The killings began the day after that review, the U.N. official noted.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2018
- Event Description
An environmental activist based in the Areng valley region of southwest Cambodia's Koh Kong province on Tuesday urged authorities to launch an investigation into an attempt on his life over the weekend, saying he is no longer safe in his own home and expects his would-be killers will strike again. An unknown assailant fired several shots at activist Ven Eth at around 10:00 p.m. on May 12 as he walked around 10 meters (33 feet) from his home in Chrak Russey village, in Thmar Baing district's Chum Noap commune, to his outdoor toilet. The gunfire missed him, but struck the wall of his bathroom, he told RFA's Khmer Service, adding that he fled the area shortly afterwards to stay with an acquaintance. "I think that if I continue to stay there, they will surely return to try to kill me again-this person will not abandon their plan," Ven Eth said. "I call on competent authorities to investigate the matter and monitor this case, so as to identify the person who attempted to assassinate me. I want to return safely to my village." According to Ven Eth, his assailant may have been politically motivated-as he is a former member of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November over an alleged plot to topple the government-or sought revenge against him for his work exposing illegal deforestation. "Firstly, I am former CNRP member-I was lobbied to defect to[the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) after the dissolution of the CNRP], but ... I always refused, which has angered people," he said. "Moreover, I am also an environmental activist. This also angered people since those who destroy forests and those who protect them are always at odds." The attempt on Ven Eth's life came following a legal complaint he had lodged with local authorities in connection with what he said was an April 17 death threat made against him by Tel Chan, the vice-chief of Chum Noap and a member of the CPP. Ven Eth said he had initially lodged his complaint with Chum Noap Administrative Police Station, but received no resolution, so he moved himself, his wife and his children into hiding to protect their safety. After spending two weeks in an undisclosed location, he had returned to his village last week without his family to testify at the Thmar Baing Administrative Police Station about the death threat, and the failure of commune authorities to adequately look into the case. Ven Eth said that the two sides had "agreed to a compromise" and his case was "resolved" on May 9, but nonetheless, the attempt was made on his life three days later. "I thought that when Tel Chan made an agreement to ensure my safety, everything was resolved, plus, the issue was widely known, so I assumed that no one would dare do anything," he said. "I returned to clean before bringing my wife back home, and it was then that these people unexpectedly decided to get revenge and go ahead with their attempt on my life. So, at this time, I can't return home until the situation is fixed." In addition to pursuing complaints with the Chum Noap and Thmar Baing Administrative Police Stations, Ven Eth said he intends to ask for help from human rights organizations. He said he doesn't expect local authorities to intervene on his behalf, because they have no interest in seeing his case settled. In the meantime, while he remains in hiding, his family is running short on funds and his children are unable to attend school, he said. Authorities in Chum Noap and Thmar Baing were not immediately available to comment on Ven Eth's case. Dedicated campaigner Huor, a legal advocate with local rights group Licadho, told RFA that the authorities were obligated to investigate Ven Eth's case to a satisfactory conclusion, according to Cambodian law. "Moreover, they must seek various measures to ensure his safety, since Ven Eth wants to return to his home, instead of having to flee and remain in hiding like this," Huor said. "He has never had any dispute with anyone for as long as he has been living in Chum Noap commune ... until this threat. It seems to me that the relevant parties are exactly those who were involved in the same[threat] case, and should be subject to investigation in order to determine the truth." Lim Kim Soar, an environmental activist who regularly works in the Areng valley, told RFA that Ven Eth is a dedicated campaigner who regularly advocated against the construction of the controversial Chhay Areng dam, which opponents say would force more than 300 ethnic minority families off of their ancestral lands and destroy the habitats of endangered animals. She said that Ven Eth's case has caused other activists working in the region to fear for their own safety. "I always thought that this village and commune were safe, until I saw that regular citizens were at risk of being shot at like this," Lim Kim Soar said. "Now,[Ven Eth] has fled the village where he used to live, leaving his house locked. His house used to be a place for people to gather to drink coffee ... but now it is quiet. I feel so sorry for him." The attempt on Ven Eth's life came weeks after supporters held a low-profile ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh to mark the sixth anniversary of the still-unsolved murder of Cambodian environmental activist Chut Wutty. Shot to death on April 26, 2012 while investigating illegal logging in Koh Kong's Mondul Seima district, Chut Wutty had been active in organizing communities to protect Cambodian forests against land grabs. He had also campaigned against the government's granting of land concessions in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Noting that an official investigation into his father's death was closed in October 2013 when a court in Koh Kong province abruptly ended its proceedings, Chut Wutty's son vowed at the time to continue to fight for justice in his father's case.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 5, 2018
- Event Description
Broadcast journalist Asad Kharal was beaten by masked men in Lahore on Tuesday, police said. SP Bilal Zaffar Cantonment Division confirmed the attack on Bol TV anchor Kharal, whose car was intercepted by masked men who physically assaulted him. Kharal was then taken to Services Hospital to be treated for his injuries. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the incident, asking the inspector general (IG) Punjab to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours. Earlier, journalists from various media outlets all over Pakistan condemned the attack on Kharal. Hamid Mir, a senior journalist, tweeted: "You can differ with the views of a journalist and you can even criticise him, but no one has the right to attack any journalist or peaceful citizen. This attack on Asad Kharal is condemnable. The injuries on the body of Kharal are reflecting the injuries of media freedom in Pakistan." Journalist and news anchor Nasim Zehra was also vocal against the attack and tweeted: "What the hell is happening? Just saw this pretty bloody attack on Asad Kharal. Totally condemnable. Catch attackers and kidnappers fast." In April, a Reporters Without Borders report said the Pakistani media was regarded as among the most vibrant in Asia but due to pressure being exerted by extremist groups and intelligence agencies it was increasingly resorting to self-censorship. In a separate incident, police confirmed that journalist and activist Gul Bukhari was abducted by unknown persons in Lahore on Tuesday night. Early on Wednesday, her family confirmed she was home and "fine".
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Event Description
VOD article states that General Dept of Taxes (GDT headed by Kong Vibol) has filed complaint to Anti Corruption Unit (ACU headed by Om Yieng Teang) against Thun Saray/President of ADHOC & his wife claiming they have not paid taxes on their rental property, ADHOC office, for 2015 & 2016. In article, ADHOC Senior Monitoring staff said that if GDT could not find any documents related to the taxes paid by ADHOC, it should have asked ADHOC to verify rather than filing a complaint to ACU which is beyond its authority
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 29, 2018
- Event Description
Vietnamese female activist Cao Hoang Tram Anh has been kidnapped and tortured for hours after participating in recent peaceful demonstrations to protest two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security, the victim told Defend the Defenders. Ms. Anh, a designer from the central province of Khanh Hoa and lives in its coastal city of Nha Trang, told Defend the Defenders that she was abducted by four men in early hours of June 25. The men sprayed a liquid to her face so she fell unconscious and they took her to a abandoned house in the city where they tortured her physically and mentally for hours, Anh said. They released her in the early morning of the same day, she said. She is still shocked and could not remember much of the incident. After she went missing, other activists had alerted to seek for her on social network. They suggested that security forces in Khanh Hoa were under the abduction in response to her social engagement. Anh told Defend the Defenders that before her kidnap, police in Khanh Hoa came to her apartment twice to request her not to write about politics. Ms. Anh has posted a number of articles about country's issues on her Facebook account Hoang Paris, particularly on systemic corruption, human rights violations and the increasing Chinese influence on the Vietnamese regime despite Beijing's violations of the country's sovereignty in the South China Sea. According to pictures circulated on social network, including Facebook, Ms. Anh participated in peaceful demonstrations in Nha Trang in mid-June. On June 10, tens of thousands of Vietnamese rallied on streets of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang and other cities to protest the bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. The peaceful demonstrations were biggest for decades which attracted ordinary peoples in many localities across the nation. In response, the Vietnamese security forces responded aggressively, sending large numbers of riot police, militia and plainclothes agents to disperse the crowds. In many places, police used tear gas and smoke bombs as well as water cannons and even Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) to suppress peaceful demonstrations on Sunday. According to state media, the devices were imported from the US for equiping patrol ships of the Vietnam Coast Guard. Police were reported to detain hundreds of protestors during the protests or after that, most of them being interrogated and beaten for hours. Many activists, including Nguyen Thuy Hanh from Hanoi and Trinh Toan, his wife Nguyen Thanh Loan and Catholic follower Nguyen Ngoc Lua in HCM City suffered severe injuries after being attacked by police. Defend the Defenders has learned that sometime police filmed peaceful demonstrations, recognizing the most active protestors or organizators so later they arrested them or summoned them to police stations for questioning and other forms of harassments. In order to keep the country under a one-party regime, the communist government has little tolerance to local dissent. Along arresting hundreds of activists and sentencing them to lengthy imprisonments on trumped-up politically-motivated cases, Vietnam has also applied many forms of persecution against dissidents, including kidnap and torture, close surveillance and block all economic activities as well as international travel ban. Although the right to assembly is enshrined in the country's 2013 Constitution, the government does not welcome spontanous demonstrations and has violently dispersed the protests which can challenge its power. Peaceful protestors may be arrested and charged with "causing public disorders," "disrupting security" and "resisting on-duty state officials" in the Penal Code.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Torture
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- WHRD
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 15, 2018
- Event Description
On August 15, Vietnam's authorities kidnapped former political prisoner Nguyen Anand held him in a secret place for nearly two weeks until August 27, his daughter Nguyen Thi Tra My has told Defend the Defenders. Ms. My said police from Quang Trung commune, Thong Nhat district in Dong Nai province together with plainclothes agents from the province's Police Department detained Mr. An at around 4.30 PM while he was having a drink at a cafeteria about two kilometers from his village Le Loi. The cafeteria owner witnessed the detention and informed his family. Police took him to the Quang Trung communal police station. When his family came to ask about him, they said they would release him soon. At 7 PM of the same day, a seven-seat van with the registration number 50A-005.34 belonging to the Ho Chi Minh City's Police Department came and police dragged him into the car and sped away. The family couldn't chase the vehicle. In next days, his family went to the communal police station to question police chief Cang but the officer refused to answer, just saying Nguyen An had been taken to HCM City. On August 20, My and her mother Dao Thi Hue went to the Investigation Branch of the HCM City Police Department station in Phan Dang Luu No. 4, Phu Nhuan district to ask about him but police officers told them that they did not have him, saying he maybe held by the police unit under the authority of the Ministry of Public Security. When the family went to the Southern Region's Representative Office of the ministry, they met a police officer named Phuc who the family recognized as one of police officers participating in Mr. An's abduction the previous week. Phuc told them that the police would release An soon. Four days later, the family returned to the office but received the same answers. In late night of August 27, Ms. My informed that her father came home unexpectedly. However, she did not answer Defend the Defenders' questions about her father's detention. Mr. An, 60, isa former soldier of the Vietnam Republic's Army. He was arrested in 1979 and charged with subversion. Later, he was sentenced to four years in prison, and released in 1983. My told Defend the Defenders that her father participated in the peaceful mass demonstration on June 10 this year to protest two bills on Special Economic Zone and Cyber Security. About one month prior to his detention, he was summoned by the local police for interrogation, however, he was busy and did not go to meet with police as they asked.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
[Vietnam HR Defenders](http://www.vietnamhumanrightsdefenders.net/2018/09/02/vietnam-human-rights-defenders-weekly-report-for-august-27-september-2-2018-many-activists-detained-as-police-tighten-public-security-to-prevent-mass-demonstration/()
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 17, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in the southeastern Chinese province of Guangdong have announced a probe into the defense lawyer of detained rights activist Huang Qi, in a move that could remove his ability to represent his client, RFA has learned. Huang's defense attorney Liu Zhengqing received notification of proceedings against him from the government-controlled Lawyers' Association in the provincial capital, Guangzhou, where he lives. The notice says Liu has been accused of breaching regulations in the police-run Mianyang Detention Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, where Huang is being held, when he visited him on July 30. Liu reportedly handed over cigarettes to Huang during the meeting, the notice cited "the plaintiff" as saying. Sources said this is a commonly accepted practice in Chinese law enforcement. The move comes after Liu accused Mianyang prosecutors of beating Huang about the head last month in a bid to force him to confess to "leaking state secrets overseas," a charge which Huang's mother has said rests on very flimsy evidence. The investigation means Liu now faces the suspension or cancellation of his license to practice, which is granted by his local justice bureau. "Now they are starting on me," Liu said in a post to a lawyers' group on social media that was seen by RFA. However, he was unavailable to comment on Wednesday, suggesting he may already be under pressure from the authorities not to speak to the media. The official named as the case officer at the Guangzhou Lawyers Association, Niu Jingzhi, declined to comment when contacted by RFA on Wednesday, on the grounds that he was handling other cases. Meetings with diplomats Meanwhile, Huang's mother Pu Wenqing is continuing her campaign to discredit the prosecution's case against her son, arriving in Beijing this month to petition the Supreme People's Court. She also met with diplomats from a number of embassies in Beijing. "Several Beijing-based diplomats from various countries met with us," Pu said in an interview on Tuesday. "I told them about Huang Qi's case." "On Oct. 12, I went to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, which refused to accept my complaints," she said. "I also went to the petitions office of the[ruling Chinese Communist Party's] Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, but they wouldn't accept my complaint after reading through the files." "Today, on Oct. 16, I went to the Supreme People's Court, but they wouldn't take the complaint either," she said. High-profile case Canada-based lawyer Zhu Shengwu said Huang's case is a very high-profile human rights issue that is internationally recognized. "Huang Qi himself has refused to make any concessions, so the Communist Party really has a big headache here," Zhu said. "They have always believed that having Liu Zhengqing as his lawyer has strengthened Huang's resolve, as well as supporting his mother, so they want him out of this case as soon as possible." "This sudden investigation into Liu Zhengqing has nothing to do with the probity of the law. It has everything to do with there not being a human rights lawyer like Liu Zhengqing to keep up the fight on behalf of ... Huang and others," Zhu said. Huang, who was formally arrested by the state prosecution office in Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, in December 2016 on charges of "illegally supplying state secrets overseas," is in very poor health, with deteriorating kidney function. His trial has been repeatedly delayed by the authorities, amid fears that he may die in detention. Pu has previously said she has documentary evidence that the authorities are deliberately carrying out an act of revenge on Huang after he helped some of the most vulnerable groups in China lodge official complaints against the Communist Party and local governments.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 7, 2018
- Event Description
The Rakhine government has instructed Ann Township Deputy General Administrator to file a lawsuit against another social activist under Section 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Law. The police chief of Ann Myoma Police Station told Narinjara News on Sunday that Ann Township Deputy General Administrator filed charges against Ko Myo Lwin, a local Ann resident, on October 1 for posting a fabricated report on dead clams. The deputy general administrator was instructed by the Rakhine State government to file the charges. "We are trying to summon Ko Myo Lwin to investigate him. He said he is out of town so he cannot come to the police station now. We will start the investigation after he arrives," said the police chief. When Narinjara News contacted Ko Myo Lwin from the Rakhine National Resources and Environmental Network - Ann (ANREN - Ann), he said the police chief of Ann Myoma Police Station called him on October 6 (Saturday) and asked him to come to the police station. Although he was informed about the lawsuit, he was not told why he has been charged and he would only find out when he arrives at the police station. "I haven't been officially informed about what charges have been filed against me. I heard that it's concerned with the dead clams. I was reporting to the Rakhine State government with a constructive view on the environmental damages and loss of natural resources. I submitted to them. In my post, I've written about the need to do an inspection," he said. Section 390 (b) of the 2008 Constitution states that every citizen has the duty to assist the Union in carrying out environmental conservation and it will go against the 2008 Constitution if he is to be charged for the clam issue, Ko Myo Lwin explained. He continued that this act can be considered as a great threat towards environmental activists in the future. According to Ko Myo Lwin, millions of dead clams were found in Ta-O Creek, a tributary of Laung Stream that flows into Kyaukpyu and Ann townships in the Rakhine State and the dead clams were spread an acre wide along the creek bank. Although local residents believe water pollution in the Thanzit River in Kyaukpyu Township and also in Ann and Myebon townships is has caused the massive deaths of the clams, the government stated that they were killed by the entry of freshwater due to heavy rain.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Land rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 2, 2018
- Event Description
Political cartoonist Badiucao was forced to cancel his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, due to threats from the central Chinese government. The exhibition was scheduled to open on November 3 as the headline event at Hong Kong's Free Expression Week. On November 2, the organizers announced they were cancelling the event: We are sorry to announce that the exhibition "Gongle," by Chinese artist Badiucao, has been cancelled due to safety concerns. The decision follows threats made by the Chinese authorities relating to the artist. Whilst the organisers value freedom of expression, the safety of our partners remains a major concern. Badiucao has built his reputation on Twitter, drawing political cartoons that challenge censorship and dictatorship in China. The Chinese-Australian artist's work has been featured by The New York Times and The Guardian. The event was seen by many as a test of the limits of free speech in Hong Kong, which enjoys more freedoms than mainland China, under a principle known as "One Country, Two Systems." In recent years, Beijing has more forcefully asserted its influence over Hong Kong. Those who support more democratic rights, such as genuine universal suffrage, or outright independence, have faced fierce repression. The organizers have not described the nature of the threats that the artist received. He is typically outspoken online, but has not updated his Twitter since November 1. Badiucao had not intended to travel to Hong Kong, but was supposed to participate in a panel discussion via video call with Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, Hong Kong artists Sampson Wong and Oscar Ho, and Russian punk-rock protesters Olga Kuracheva and Veronika Nikulshina, both members of the band Pussy Riot. Although the exhibition was cancelled, the panelists decided to proceed and hold a discussion about art and freedom of expression in a small studio. They live-streamed the event on Facebook. Chinese non-profit media the Stand News reported on the panel discussion in which Sampson Wong expressed concerns about Badiucao's safety. He explained that he has been trying to contact the artist since November 2, but that Badiucao has been incommunicado. Wong saw the exhibition as a test case for freedom of expression in Hong Kong. He was disappointed that more people had not spoken out against the threats from Beijing. Oscar Ho, a local art critic and scholar, was shocked by the cancellation. He pointed out that Beijing's censorship practices in Hong Kong are unclear. There is a general expectation that Hong Kongers "should know" where the red line lies, but there are relatively few clear indications of what is and is not permissible. He expressed a desire for people to be more creative in fighting against censorship. Joshua Wong said he wanted more exchange with international civil society, in hopes that international networks could help local groups defend democracy and freedom. Pussy Riot member Olga Kuracheva emphasized the importance of public support and solidarity for people like Badiucao: We are very sorry to know that things are getting worse here. I think it is very important to be here now just to express our solidarity... I would advise people not to be afraid, because one voice is not so much...but voices of solidarity should sound loud. (Quote from Hong Kong Free Press' report) Kuracheva and Nikulshina are among four members of Pussy Riot who served a 15-day jail sentence after protesting against Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the football World Cup final in Moscow in July 2018. They said threats to exhibitions and political art events are "common practice" in Russia. Cedric Alviani from Reporters Without Borders pointed out that Hong Kong's ranking on RSF's press freedom index has dropped from 18 in 2002 to 70 in 2018. He believed that the best way to support artists under threat is to disseminate their works in spaces where it is possible to do so.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Nov 8, 2018
- Event Description
The raid was carried out by dozens of armed plainclothes police who arrived at this prestigious Pakistani press institution at around 10:30 p.m., stormed inside and proceeded to search all the rooms, including meeting rooms, kitchens and the sports room. According to a Karachi Press Club statement, the police harassed the journalists and club officials who were present, and took photos and shot video footage throughout their search without asking permission. "It is absolutely intolerable that police officers should act in a completely illegal manner like this in order to intimidate journalists," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "We urge the Sindh province authorities to investigate this violation of what is a highly symbolic place for press freedom and to punish those responsible. Respect for the rule of law in Pakistan is at stake." Witnesses said the plainclothes gunmen arrived in at least six double-cabin vehicles, a police truck and other vehicles. When the club's president requested an explanation, an officer claimed not to know that it was the press club and said they had come to arrest individuals who were wanted by the authorities. "The police tried to give the appearance of something simple but the story is much bigger," RSF was told by a senior club member on condition of anonymity. "You can't believe that the police officers who carried out this raid did not know where they were. There was a conspiracy." Karachi's journalists met this afternoon to protest against the raid. Founded in 1958 and with around a thousand members, the Karachi Press Club is a place where journalists meet to defend their profession, condemn press freedom violations and violations of human rights in general, and to stage protests. Pakistan is ranked 139th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 15, 2018
- Event Description
Security forces in Hanoi have detained Saigon-based pro-democracy campaigner Pham Le Vuong Cac, robbing him and forcing him to go back to Ho Chi Minh City, the victim told Defend the Defenders. Mr. Cac, a law student in Hanoi-based University of Economics and Technologies, said he took a flight from HCM City on Friday to the capital city to attend an examination. After landing in Noi Bai International Airport at 1.40 PM, the 32-year-old student was caught by security officers who took him in a room where they confiscated his cell phone and requested him to provide its password. Cac denied so police held his phone without making any document for confiscating the phone. Holding him until 6PM, police took his wallet with VND1.3 million ($57), and forced him into a flight back to HCM City. Cac said he missed the examination and has to come back to Hanoi for the examination.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 12, 2018
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Myanmar government's latest interference in the work of journalists, a ban on local broadcasting by US government-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) for rightly using the term "Rohingyas" to refer to members of the persecuted Muslim community in Rakhine state, in the west of the country. The ban is officially imposed today, six months to the day after the arrest of two Reuters journalists who had been investigating a massacre of Rohingya civilians. The last broadcast of an produced programme in Myanmar was yesterday evening. It was carried by MRTV, a TV channel owned by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), which was ordered by the authorities to stop transmitting RFA programmes if they continued to use the word "Rohingyas." "Radio Free Asia will not compromise its code of journalistic ethics, which prohibits the use of slurs against ethnic minority groups," RFA president Libby Liu said. "We would like to express our solidarity with the RFA journalists who have been working constantly in the field to provide the Myanmar public with freely and impartially reported news and information," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "It is the prerogative of totalitarian regimes to want to impose their "newspeak' by banning the media from using certain terms - all the more so when the rest of the world uses the term. A prohibition on the word "Rohingya' is indicative of a desire to rewrite history and reality. In a reminder of the former military government's worst era, this latest press freedom violation has further compromised the transition to democracy begun by Aung San Suu Kyi's party." Orwellian order The authorities first announced their Orwellian ban on the word "Rohingyas" in June 2016, two months after the installation of a government headed by Suu Kyi, who was long seen as the embodiment of democratic hopes in Myanmar. The word was to be replaced by the improbable phrase "people who believe in Islam in Rakhine state," the authorities said. Since then, Myanmar media that want to continue publishing or broadcasting have had to comply with the directive. Those that are critical of the government's policies in Rakhine state, such as the Myanmar Times, use the neutral term "Muslims." But media that support the government use the discriminatory term "Bengalis," implying that the Rohingyas are just immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh in order to legitimize the ethnic cleansing to which they have been subjected since August 2017. In reality, the Rohingya presence in Rakhine state dates back centuries. The BBC's Burmese language service announced on 4 September 2017 that its daily programmes would no longer be broadcast by its local partner, MNTV, because MNTV was being pressured by the authorities over the use of the term "Rohingya." The ban on using the word "Rohingya" is indicative of the scale of the taboo that this issue represents for Myanmar's authorities. Six months ago, just as Reuters was preparing to publish a report about a massacre of Rohingya civilians in the village of Inn Din, two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, were arrested on a charge of possessing official secrets after being lured to a meeting with a police officer and being handed some documents. Myanmar fell six places in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index and is now ranked 137th out of 180 countries.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Censorship, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Nov 7, 2018
- Event Description
Exiled Chinese writer Ma Jian has said his two events at Hong Kong's Tai Kwun art space this week "can no longer be held." Ma- who was born in Qingdao but lives in exile in the UK - said no reason was given for the cancellation. An English translation of his book China Dream was published last Thursday. Ma, 65, was scheduled to host two talks this Saturday at Central's Tai Kwun, as part of the events of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. He had partly planned to introduce his new book and talk about Hong Kong through the lens of literature. But on Wednesday night, Ma tweeted: "Just been told that my two events at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival this week can no longer be held at Tai Kwun, where all the other events are taking place. An alternative venue will have to be found. No reason has been given to me yet." "Yes, it is Tai Kwun's decision to cancel my two events. The Literary Festival are trying to find an alternative venue," Ma told HKFP. Ma said on Facebook that he will notify his readers of the new venue when it is available. "The event time in the afternoon of November 10 should be unchanged - if I do not get "disappeared,'" he said. Tai Kwun is operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and comprises of the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. The introduction of Ma's new book said it was "[a] poetic and unflinching fable about tyranny, guilt, and the erasure of history, by the banned Chinese writer hailed as "China's Solzhenitsyn'." "In seven dream-like episodes, Ma Jian charts the psychological disintegration of a Chinese provincial leader who is haunted by nightmares of his violent past," it continued. "From exile, Ma Jian shoots an arrow at President Xi Jinping's "China Dream' propaganda, creating a biting satire of totalitarianism that reveals what happens to a nation when it is blinded by materialism and governed by violence and lies. Blending tragic and absurd reality with myth and fantasy, this dystopian novel is a portrait not of an imagined future, but of China today." Ma previously said no Hong Kong publisher was willing to publish the original Chinese version of his book, owing to its sensitivity. Festival Organiser Phillipa Milne said updates to their programme would be announced soon: "[W]e have been asked to change the venue for two events by Tai Kwun. We aren't speculating on the reasons for the move and instead focus on our mission of ensuring our authors are all heard." In a statement, literary group PEN Hong Kong noted that the art space was renovated "in partnership" with the local government, though daily operations fall under the Jockey Club Charities Trust: "PEN Hong Kong is concerned that political pressure may be a factor in Tai Kwun's decision, given that Hong Kong has faced increasing pressure from Beijing to silence dissent." The group's president called upon Tai Kwun to reaffirm its commitment to free expression: "The cancellation appears to be at the very least an act of self-censorship, which would add to a growing list of incidents of suppression of free expression in Hong Kong. It is all the more jarring that the decision was made by a publicly funded venue that claims to celebrate and support the arts and creativity." Writing in exile Ma's debut novel Stick Out Your Tongue was published in 1987 - it led to the permanent banning of his books in China. He moved to Hong Kong that year. But Ma returned to Beijing in 1989 to take part in the pro-democracy protests. He was able to travel back and forth between Hong Kong and mainland China after the Tiananmen Massacre on June 4 that year. He moved to Germany in 1997 after the Hong Kong Handover, before moving to the UK. He was banned from entering mainland China in 2011. His works have been translated into more than 20 languages, and have received awards including the Index on Censorship Book Award and the Athens Prize for Literature. HKFP has reached out to Tai Kwun for comment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 19, 2018
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: Freelance journalist Le Thi Thu has been arrested and beaten by Dong Nai province's police for interviewing relatives of mid-June peaceful protesters on the day of their appeal, the victim has informed Defend the Defenders. Ms. Thu, who was a former reporter of a local website Dan Tri, said when she interviewed relatives of some convicted demonstrators in a cafeteria near the People's Court of Dong Nai on the sidelines of their appeal in Bien Hoa city on November 9, she was detained by men in plain clothes who introduced themselves as police officers from the security police unit of Dong Nai province's Police Department. The police officers ordered her to stay when she tried to leave the cafeteria, and grabbed her two cell phones. About 15 minutes later, around the lunch time of Friday, police from Hoa Binh Ward came and they took her to the ward's police station. In the station, police confiscated her belongings, Thu said, noting that inhumane treatment of police against her started. Police requested her to provide them with information of these people who were together with me in the cafeteria. They also asked her personal information, she said. In the early evening of the same day, a police officer named Do Anh Tuan, who introduced himself as a deputy head of the Security Police Unit of the province's Police Department, suddenly grabbed her two phones and threw them at her. Tuan then pressed against her to grab the back of her neck and jerk her back, one hand choking her neck. Afterwards, he released his hands from her neck, tightly clenched her hair, and pounded her head on a table. As he pulled her hair up again, Tuan used his other hand to grab her jaw to raise her face, lowering his next to her's to say, "Look at my face this way," and pressed his forehead against her's one. These actions happened continuously and sequentially as outlined above. Later, Tuan said,"Your phones are so dirty, let me wash them." He then took them to a bathroom where he submerged them in water in the sink. Finally, at 08:00, he and another police officer constrained Thu's hands and forced her down to the first floor of the police station and requested her to leave. On the way home from the police station, Tuan and some other police officers followed in a car behind her. When Thu stopped at a restaurant, he threatened her and did not allow her to eat, instead forcing her to continue to drive. This has been one of series of Ms. Thu's assaults and detentions carried out by Vietnam's police in recent years after she left Dan Tri and works as freelancer, she told Defend the Defenders. Last year, when she covered a protest of traders in the Saigon-based An Dong Market, police detained her, snabbed her face and broke her Macbook, she said. In other times, police confiscated her cell phones and left her at an remote area near the border between Vietnam and Cambodia, she said. Meanwhile, at noon of November 9, the People's Court of Dong Nai upheld the sentences of 15 peaceful demonstrators given by the People's Court of Bien Hoa City in the first-instance hearing on July 30. The defendants were sentenced to between eight months and 18 months in prison for participation in the mass proteston June 10 this year which aimed to protest the communist regime's plan to pass two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security.The first is likely to favor Chinese investors to hire land for 99 years amid increasing concerns about Beijing's aggressiveness in the South China Sea while the second aims to silence online critics.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 19, 2018
- Event Description
The Haryana police has come under fire for conducting an alleged illegal raid at a prominent human rights activist's house in the Mewat region of the state. On June 19, when Mohammad Arif - the state coordinator of Aman Biradari, a civil society group working to promote communal harmony - was away on a fact-finding visit in a nearby village, the Haryana police raided his house in Tain village near Nuh. The police alleged it had information that Arif had stored illegal weapons. However, police did not find any contraband in Arif's house. The police action has since come under the scanner as the raid was conducted without any complaint and a search warrant. Since no female police officers accompanied an all-male team, civil rights groups have also criticised the Haryana police for breaching procedures. Mewat has witnessed a series of communally-violent incidents and alleged fake encounter killings of Muslims over the last few years. The raid has, therefore, assumed significance, as Arif has been leading independent investigations into at least five, alleged fake encounters and one custodial death in the region recently. Civil rights groups have alleged that the police action appears to be vindictive with the sole purpose of intimidating Arif as he has been probing the role of police officials. Speaking to The Wire, Arif said, "On 19 June, I and a few colleagues from Aman Biradari had left at 8 in the morning for a fact-finding mission to Punhana, a town near Nuh. I received a call from one of my friends that the police was raiding my house. I was worried because only my mother, my wife and my brother's daughter were present in the house. When I called my mother, she said that the police was alleging that I had stored illegal arms in my house and that they were using abusive language." "The raid was led by assistant sub-inspector of Tain, Abid Hussain, and around three or four other policemen. There were no women officers. They searched every bit of the house and found nothing. I do not have any problem with the police conducting raids if it follows proper procedures. I was amazed because not a single complaint has been filed against me in all these years. How can the police conduct such a raid without any search warrant or a complaint?" he asked. Arif and his supporters sat on a dharna on June 20 demanding that the police personnel should be booked for conducting an illegal raid. It is then that he received a call from deputy superintendent of police of Tauru, Virender Singh, suggesting that he file a police complaint. "I told the DSP that how can he suggest filing a complaint at the same police station whose officers conducted the raid?" Arif said. Virender Singh, however, told The Wire, "If Arif wishes to file a complaint at the nearby Nuh police station or even at the SP's office, we will conduct an inquiry into the incident. But he has to come forward to file a complaint first." Meanwhile, civil society activists have written letters of complaint to both the National Human Rights Commission and the Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. "Mohd. Arif is a frontline human rights defender and activist working with Aman Biradari where he is providing socio-legal support to the families of lynching victims as well as those who lost their lives in police encounters. He has an impeccable human rights record working for the Mewat community on various human rights issues including education of girl children, rural digital empowerment, entitlements and more recently raising the issue of lynching and alleged false encounters by police before various forums including human rights commissions, police officials and the courts," the letter written to the chief minister by five eminent activists - John Dayal, Navsharan Singh, Natasha Badhwar, Harsh Mander, Priya Ramani, Amitabh Basu - stated. The letter further added, "It is feared that through these illegal means (raids), attempts are being made to silence Mohd Arif's voice against lynchings and illegal encounters and also falsely implicate him in legal cases which could lead to criminal charges being filed against him, and even his incarceration and assault on his reputation. We hope that you will take the strictest action against the errant officials, and seek a categorical assurance that he would be protected under all circumstances, as would be his family and his reputation." Suroor Mander, an advocate and an Aman Biradari activist, told The Wire, "Because of Arif's unflinching efforts to secure justice for some of the lynching and false encounter victims, he has become an important voice in the Mewati community. People are now approaching him to give testimonies against illegal police action. Arif is a stickler for procedures and rules. He was the one who has been leading the protests, speaking to the victim's families and has been providing legal and social support to them. Clearly, the raid was an intimidation tactic."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to privacy
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 22, 2018
- Event Description
The family of a rights activist known for her criticism of Pakistan's military says their home in Islamabad was broken into and ransacked, and that two laptops and travel documents were taken. The break-in happened while the family was away on vacation. Activist and journalist Marvi Sirmed's husband says she learned about the incident upon returning home on Thursday. The husband, Sirmed Manzoor, says no other valuables were taken. Manzoor would not speculate who was behind the break-in but Sirmed has been on the radar of the country's intelligence service for promoting friendly ties with neighboring India. She has also been vocal in her criticism of militant groups. The incident raises concerns it's part of heavy handed crackdown by the military and the secret service on rights defenders and journalists.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 24, 2018
- Event Description
Under-covered policemen in Vietnam's Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have attacked labor activist Do Thi Minh Hanh and her father with stones and a hand-made bomb in a bid to threaten the former prisoner of conscience, the victim told Defend the Defenders. Ms. Hanh, president of the unsanctioned organization Viet Labor Movement, said that plainclothes agents have intensified their harassment against her in recent days. On June 24, two plainclothes agents attempted to attack her near the private resident of her father in Di Linh district, where she lives in recent months with her old father who is around 80 now. During nights, they have thrown stones into their house, breaking window glass and furniture of the house. At 11 PM of June 26, they threw a hand-made bomb with TNT into the house, but luckily, the bomb did not work, Hanh said. Hanh tried to call the local police to report the assault but they did not answer, she said. Ms. Hanh, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on allegation of disrupting security for her union activities but spent four years and four months in prison in 2010-2014, has been a subject of harassment of Vietnam's security forces. When she stayed in Ho Chi Minh City to study a university course, she had been under close surveillance. Hanh had recently returned from HCMCity to DiLinh to take care for her foldfather in Lam Dong. However, the local police maintain tight surveillance. Under-cover policemen have hired a room near her father's house to keep close eyes on her. The recent aggressive moves of the Lam Dong police likely aim to force her to move out of the province. In May, she was blocked from going to Europe to visit her mother who stays with her older sister in Austria. Hanhis the third victim of theLam Dong police inrecentweeks. Lastweek,they also attacked former prisoner of conscience Truong Van Kimand religious activist Hua Phi. In the morning of June 27, disable blogger Dinh Van Hai came to Hanh's house to support her. On the way to go home, he was beaten up and badly injured by a group of thugs. They hit him on his head, hand, and shoulder with sticks. Hai received a broken right hand and left shoulder from the assault. Mr. Hai was taken to the Di Linh district general hospital for treatment of the injuries.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance , Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Labour rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 22, 2018
- Event Description
Sub-dignitary Hua Phi, chair of Representative Committee of the Popular Bloc of Cao Dai Church and a member of the unsanctioned organizationInter-Faith Council of Vietnam, has been humiliated and beaten by police and thugs in his private residence. The incident happened at around 7 PM of June 22 in his private residence in Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province, his family told Defend the Defenders. Mr. Phi said when his family was taking dinner, a man introduced himself as policeman Long of the Hiep Thanh commune knocked his house's door. When Phi opened the door, a group of around ten uniformed police officers and plainclothes agents stormed in his house, covered his head with clothes, and started to beat him. When Mr. Phi fell unconscious, they stopped, cutting off part of his beard and threatening other members of the family before leaving. The family said that three hours earlier, at 4 PM of the same day, two police officers from the Duc Trong district police came to hand over a summoning letter to request him to go to the communal government building in the morning of Saturday to work with the local authorities on his failure to obey by their decision on imposing an administrative fine on him. Advocating for religious freedom, Mr. Phi has been under constant harassment from the Lam Dong province's police who regularly place him under house arrest, including the time in November last year when Vietnam hosted APEC Summit in the central city of Danang.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Freedom of religion/belief activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 22, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have hauled in the husband of a rights activist who fled torture and official harassment in China, to seek political asylum on the democratic island of Taiwan. Huang Yan, a former torture victim who spoke out publicly in support of rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, has been granted a temporary stay in after being recognized as a genuine refugee by the United Nations. But her husband Wu Guisheng remains behind in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou, where he has been summoned by police for questioning in recent days, she told RFA in a recent interview. "They have had him under house arrest this whole time, but he was[recently] held in the police station for more than 10 hours," Huang said. "I was in contact with a woman[from back home] and she passed on the message that my husband says I am on no account to contact him." Huang, who fled China after years of harassment, repeated incarceration, and torture at the hands of the mainland Chinese authorities linked to her rights activism, said Wu has also been mistreated by the authorities. "Back when police were in the home of Gao Zhisheng, they installed a number of surveillance devices," she said. "I think they have probably also placed them in our home, so as to check up on whether my husband really is in touch with me not, and what sort of things he is discussing." She said police were trying to use Wu to put pressure on her not to speak out about the couple's treatment at the hands of the authorities. "The main thing is to stop me from speaking out," Huang said. "They want to put the fright in me. They only let him out because of media pressure." Huang, who abandoned a flight from Jakarta to Beijing during its stopover in Taiwan last month, and sought political asylum on the island instead, said the authorities are hoping to force her to return to China, and to silence her into the bargain. "They are afraid that I will talk about all the persecution I suffered in the past, while I am in Taiwan," she said. Wu confirmed in a brief interview on Jun. 18 that he is now back at home. "I'm back home. I got home[on Jun. 17]. Thank you for your concern," he said, but declined to comment further. "I really can't answer that ... this isn't a normal phone; everything we say can be heard," he said. Huang's escape to Thailand from the former British colony of Hong Kong, which runs a separate immigration border from mainland China, was assisted by Bob Fu, president of U.S.-based Christian rights group China Aid, and culminated in her being recognized as a genuine refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
Radio Free Asia?searchterm:utf8:ustring=activist)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jul 3, 2018
- Event Description
Unidentified assailants have stepped up their late-night assaults on a former political prisoner and her father at their home in Vietnam's coastal Lam Dong province, cutting the power to their house this week before attacking it with noxious gas and a barrage of rocks, the woman said. Speaking by phone with RFA, Do Thi Minh Hanh, who was released in June 2014 after serving four years of a seven-year sentence for distributing leaflets to workers at a footwear factory, said that her home was attacked at about 11:30 p.m. on July 3. "They threw rocks into my father's room and sprayed it with gas," Hanh said. "I looked for a wet towel to give him, but they kept spraying the gas, and we had to look for a place to hide," she said, adding that the attack left her father, 76, unable to breathe. "My own arms and feet went numb, and my face felt hot," Hanh said. "After the attack, I collected a big bucket of bricks that they threw into the house," she said. Though Hanh informed town and district police about the attack, officers showed little interest, refusing to directly answer questions they were asked, Hanh said. "Sometimes, they hung up their phones in the middle of our conversation," she said. Failures to respond Wednesday night's attack followed other incidents including a June 26 attack in which a fire-bomb thrown at Hanh's house failed to ignite and friends were beaten outside her house by unidentified assailants. Police failures to respond and protect Hanh point to likely government involvement in the assaults on the labor activist and her father, Phil Robertson-Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch-said in a July 4 statement. "There are serious issues of state complicity in the attacks, and impunity being extended to those involved in these retaliatory actions clearly designed to intimidate and silence community activists," Robertson said. "Lam Dong provincial police and officials should immediately stop their attacks against labor rights activist and political dissident Do Thi Minh Hanh," he said. Rights group Amnesty International meanwhile called on local authorities to take "urgent steps" to protect Hanh and her family "before the situation deteriorates further." "It's outrageous that the police are abdicating their responsibility and allowing these attacks to happen without taking any action," Minar Pimple, Senior Director of Global Operations at Amnesty International, said on June 2, a day before the most recent attack. "Human rights defenders such as Do Thi Minh Hanh must be able to carry out their peaceful work without harassment or violence," Pimple said.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to health, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 12, 2018
- Event Description
The ruling Chinese Communist Party has placed a number of dissidents and rights activists under house arrest or forced them to leave their homes ahead of the first anniversary of the death of Nobel peace laureate and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo. Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said he is being forced to leave town ahead of Friday's anniversary marking Liu's death of late-stage liver cancer while serving a 13-year prison sentence for subversion. "I think actually the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death is one of the most politically sensitive of all," Hu told RFA. "Of course they will be stepping up surveillance and security measures on July 13." "I have been under various surveillance measures for the past couple of days, and I won't be able to go to the seaside," he said. "I won't be allowed to stay in Beijing, either." Last year, activists held ceremonies at beaches and shorelines across China to mark the burial of Liu's ashes at sea by his widow Liu Xia, who was allowed to fly to Germany earlier this week following eight years under house arrest, amid intense pressure from the international community. "There will definitely be people[holding secret ceremonies] by the sea," Hu said. "But I don't know if people will dare to go there, given the very tight surveillance by the police. Anyone doing that openly would be in trouble." Beijing-based veteran political activist He Depu said the state security police have been watching his home since July 2. "They are outside right now," He said. "I'm allowed to go out, but then they follow me," he said. "They even follow me when I go to buy groceries, and stick to me like glue." "So there's no way I will be able to take part in any mourning activities for Liu Xiaobo," He said. "Everyone mourns his passing, but we have no way to organize; it's a great shame." An official who answered the phone at the Beijing municipal government offices on Thursday declined to comment. "There is no way I can answer this, madam, as we don't have access to the relevant rules and regulations," the official said. Repeated calls to the cell phones of several former friends of Liu Xiaobo's, as well as fellow rights activities, rang unanswered on Thursday. However, Sichuan-based rights activist Wei Xiaobing, who is currently working in Guangzhou, said he had received a phone call from the authorities in recent days, asking him to leave the city over the anniversary. "They said very clearly that they wanted me to leave Guangdong province," Wei told RFA. "The main reason was the seashore memorials last year; they were afraid of trouble." "Things are pretty tense, for them to send me back here ahead of time, and they have put pressure on my family, too," he said. Majority unaware However, the majority of ordinary Chinese are still unaware of Liu Xiaobo, or of the significance of the anniversary, according to Perry Link, Emeritus Professor of East Asian Studies at Princeton University. Speaking in Chinese, Link told RFA's Mandarin Service that Liu hadn't been very well known in his own country. "If there was a free press in China, then Liu Xiaobo would be much better known," Link said. "He would also have become a leading public intellectual, not because of his genial personality, but because of the keenness and depth of his thinking." But his former friend and political commentator Liu Junning said the international media hadn't paid much attention to Liu's actual ideas, either. "The international community didn't really pay much attention to what was going on in China," Liu Junning said. "Some American journalists were interested, but mostly in the news aspects of the story." "I didn't get the impression that these reporters were very interested in what Liu Xiaobo had to say, or his potential impact on China's future," he said. Meanwhile, Liu Xia's mood has improved since her arrival in Germany on Tuesday, but she is physically still very weak, sources told RFA. Germany-based exiled dissident Liao Yiwu said she had undergone medical and psychiatric health checks on arrival, and was found to be suffering from no major diseases, other than extreme weakness. "She had been planning to eat with us and so on, but when she stood up and took a few paces, she became very dizzy, and wanted to lie down," Liao said. "She said she couldn't speak to the media because she didn't feel up to it," he said. "Her head is all over the place right now." However, sources said Liu Xia, who looks set to be awarded permanent residency in Germany, will likely attend a memorial service for Liu Xiaobo at the Gothsemanekirche in Berlin on Friday.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jul 14, 2018
- Event Description
Tarek Rahman, a leader of the ongoing demonstration demanding quota reforms in public services, has been missing since Saturday, his family said. Tarek, himself a jobseeker who had Master's degree from Comilla University, went to a Fakirapool shop on Saturday evening for printing some banners and papers for the quota reform demonstration and since then he could not be traced anywhere, said Tarek's family quoting his friends. Another leader of the quota reform movement, and a Dhaka University student, Faruk Hassan, disappeared on 2 July but he was later found in police custody. Shown arrested on 3 July, he is now in jail on completion of two-day police remand and he was denied bail on Sunday. Tarek's sister Tanjila Yasmin told Prothom Alo, "He was threatened in many ways since he joined the quota reform demonstration. We last talked to him over phone on Saturday at 3:00pm." "In the evening, we came to know from Tarek's friends that he went missing. His phone is found switched off," she added. Tarek is a joint convener of Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council, a platform which is leading the demonstration. He is also preparing himself for the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations, staying in Dhaka after completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Comilla University. His mother Shahana Begum went to Shahbagh police station around 12:30am on Sunday to file a general diary (GD) over Tarek's disappearance. The police received Tarek's details and told her to wait for one day. Contacted, the Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge (OC) told Prothom Alo that he knew nothing about it.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jul 2, 2018
- Event Description
Faruk Hossain, a Dhaka University student who is one of leaders of the ongoing demonstration demanding quota reforms, has been missing since Monday. His brother has complained about his disappearance, but the police said they did not know anything about 'someone named Faruk'. Faruk Hossain, joint convenor of Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokhon Parishad, was allegedly picked up by the ruling party-backed student activists from Central Shaheed Minar area in the capital on Monday morning. Following Faruk's disappearance, his brother Md Ariful Islam searched for him at the Shahbag, Ramna, New Market police stations on Tuesday, but he was not found anywhere. On Monday, activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked a human chain of quota reform activists led by Faruk on the Central Shaheed Minar premises. A member of the ruling party student wing later picked up Faruk and handed over him to the Shahbag police station. Faruk's brother Ariful told Prothom Alo that a certain Al Amin, a member of Bangladesh Chhatra League, confessed to him that he took Faruk to Shahbag police station. The BCL activist Al Amin also told Prothom Alo that he took Faruk to Shahbag police station by motorbike on Monday. When contacted over phone and SMS, Shahbag police station officer-in-charge Abu Hasan did not respond. At one stage, the Shahbag police station on-duty officer Ramzan Hossain answered the phone and told Prothom Alo that there was no one named Faruk at the police station. No case was filed against Faruk with the police station either, he added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 17, 2018
- Event Description
Social activist Swami Agnivesh was thrashed, punched and kicked by a mob allegedly of BJP workers in Jharkhand on Tuesday, on a day the Supreme Court said "mobocracy cannot be the new normal" and held governments responsible for preventing such attacks. A day later, a top police officer confirmed that there have been no arrests till now, even though the attack is on camera. In one image of the horrific attack, the 80-year-old activist is seen on the ground, his arms raised in a defensive stance against the crowd, his clothes ripped. The attackers were allegedly members of the BJP Yuva Morcha or youth workers. "It was a lynch mob. A mob of 100-150 people attacked me. I was pushed and I fell. I was on the ground, my clothes torn...they accused me of supporting gau maas (beef). They raised slogans of Jai Sri Ram. Abused me," Swami Agnivesh told NDTV later. "With folded hands I kept saying - what's the problem, what is my mistake, why are you angry, nobody listened to me." Swami Agnivesh has been provided security by the state government. Chief Minister Raghubar Das has asked the police to investigate the incident. The BJP, which rules the state, has denied that the attackers were linked to the party. At the same time, a party leader said the attack shouldn't be seen in isolation and "Swami Agnivesh's 'track record' is such that the reaction doesn't come as a surprise". "There have been cases where Swami Agnivesh's speech hurt religious sentiment. The state government will investigate on the attack. What we know so far is that, Swami Agnivesh said a few things which hurt religious sentiments of people," said Deepak Prakash, a BJP leader in Ranchi. Amid concerns over a series of mob attacks triggered by cow vigilantism and WhatsApp rumours, the Supreme Court had yesterday said that no citizen can take the law into their hands and "it is the state's duty to ensure order and prevent mobocracy." COMMENT Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said: "Horrendous acts of mobocracy cannot be allowed to become a new norm and has to be curbed with iron hands."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 5, 2018
- Event Description
Status of the Human Rights Defenders: Mr. Rajeev Yadav is a human rights defender and the head of the Rihai Manch, a human rights organization in Uttar Pradesh. Details of the Incident: As per the sources, on the night of July 5, 2018, Mr. Yadav was threatened and harassed on a phone call by the police personnel of Azamgarh district, UP for raising voice against extra judicial police killings in Uttar Pradesh. He released the audio clip of the same at a press conference held by Rihai Manch on July 6, 2018 demanding action against UP police official who threatened him. Mr. Yadav received a call from police station incharge, Mr. Arvind Yadav from his CUG No. 9454402912 from Kandhapur police station in Azamgarh, UP. During the call, Mr. Arvind threatened to file a false case against Mr. Yadav for bringing up his name and alleging his involvement in an extra-judicial killing case. Mr. Yadav had issued a press release based on his conversations with families of victims in Azamgarh and the recent Supreme Court notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the encounters. Mr. Yadav also stated that the police threatened the lawyer Adv. Farman Naqvi in the Muzaffarnagar Furqan fake encounter case and the case was withdrawn by Furqan's family following threats and harassment of the family by police officials. HRDA strongly believes that threats to Mr. Rajeev Yadav are an effort to create an environment of fear among the human rights defenders fighting against the extra-judicial killings in the State of UP. There are concerns about his safety and physical and mental well-being of his family and friends and other human rights defenders working in UP, particularly on the issue of extra-judicial killings.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 16, 2018
- Event Description
A prominent Muslim poet has been visited and threatened by police after tweeting about the mass incarceration of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China's political "re-education camps." Cui Haoxin, a member of the Hui Muslim ethnic group known by his pen-name An Ran, received a visit from the local state security police after he sent and retweeted posts from his Twitter account about the detentions. "Chinese police raided my home and warned me not to use my social media account, such as Twitter and Facebook," Cui wrote in a blog post about the Aug. 16 visit. "Five policemen went into my home and talked with me for two hours. The threat is real!" "Recently a meeting of the U.N. discussed re-education camps that hold several million Muslims in China," he wrote. The U.N. has estimated the numbers detained at around one million. "Today this discussion happens between Chinese police and me." "They still denied it and warned me not to be made use of[by enemies in the] West," he said. "The Chinese authorities are unwilling to hear the different views and confuse dissent with disloyalty." "The government doesn't resolve the question but they resolve the questioner. A lot of Chinese Muslims were resolved. Some of them are my friends. Some of them disappeared. Some are in prison like Professor Ilham Tohti," Cui wrote. In a later interview with RFA, Cui said the authorities had taken issue with three tweets in particular. "In the first, I retweeted a tweet that mentioned the issue of 'concentration camps'," he said. "They asked me if I believed that, and I said I did, because there are a lot of witnesses and a lot of evidence, and video. Why wouldn't I believe it?" "They told me I shouldn't allow myself to be used by hostile forces in the West," he said. "They said that[reports of] events in Xinjiang had been concocted by the foreign media to smear China, and they wanted me to stop commenting on overseas websites." Facing brutality Cui said he had previously kept a low profile following threats to his family in 2013 by state security police. But the mass detention of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other minorities in "re-education centers" had changed his outlook, he said, citing his recent viewing of the movie "Schindler's List." "I think that what's happening in Xinjiang will eventually spread to the rest of China, and we will meet with the same fate," he said. "That gave me courage to face up to this brutality." "I don't want to drift and dodge through life; I want to live and die in dignity," Cui said. Sulaiman Gu, a rights activist currently studying in the United States, said Cui had also been a vocal opponent on social media of plans to demolish a huge mosque in the northern region of Ningxia, which were put on hold after thousands of people protested outside. "An Ran, who spoke out courageously at a crucial moment on the Weizhou Mosque, is now being threatened because of the Uyghur issue," Gu said. "China is sending Uyghurs to[concentration camps] and taking mosques away from Hui Muslims because they want to crush us into the mud, so we'll keep quiet," he said. "That's why they have to gag anyone who speaks the truth," he said. "This ethnic cleansing that is going on right now shows us that China isn't our country; much in the same way that Nazi Germany wasn't the country of the Jews." UN panel 'deeply concerned' Earlier this month, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concerns over China's mass internment of ethnic Uyghurs and restrictions on their religious freedom. The panel said it was "deeply concerned" by reports that China "has turned the[Xinjiang] Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy" in the name of eradicating "religious extremism" and "maintaining social stability." Beginning in April 2017, Uyghurs accused of harboring "strong religious views" and "politically incorrect" ideas have been jailed or detained in political "re-education camps" throughout the region. A recent editorial in the ruling party-affilated Global Times dismissed international coverage of the Xinjiang re-education camps, which it labeled "training institutes," saying western media outlets were incorrectly labeling them as "detention" sites and "baselessly criticizing China's human rights." Aside from the brief mention in the article, China's central government authorities have not publicly acknowledged the existence of political re-education camps in Xinjiang, and the number of inmates kept in each facility remains a closely guarded secret. But in interviews with RFA, local officials in many parts of the region have described sending significant numbers of Uyghurs to the camps and even described overcrowding in some facilities. Meanwhile, the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) exile group told the panel that basic legal rights for Uyghurs in China, including the right to legal representation, a fair and prompt trial and due process, "are virtually non-existent."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Online
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 17, 2018
- Event Description
Jailed Vietnamese human rights defender Tran Thi Nga has received beatings and death threats from a cellmate assigned to her by authorities, her husband told RFA's Vietnamese Service on Monday after writing a petition to law enforcement officials. Noted in Vietnam for her online activism, Nga, 40, was sentenced in July 2017 to nine years in prison for spreading "propaganda against the state" under Article 88 of Vietnam's penal code, a provision frequently used to silence dissident bloggers and other activists. Her appeal was rejected in December. "On August 17, Nga called me and told me that she has been beaten and threatened to be killed. I decided to write a petition to authorities," Nga's husband, Phan Van Phong, told RFA. Phong sent his petition to Gia Trung prison, the ministry of police, the supreme people's procurator, Gia Lai province judicial authorities, and international organizations, he said. Nga, who is allowed to talk to her family by telephone five minutes a month from Gia Trung prison in Gia Lai Province, had called home on July 26 and told her husband that she was placed in a cell with another prisoner, whose surname is Hai and is nicknamed Hai Ho. Former prisoner of conscience Bui Thi Minh Hang, who served time at Gia Trung prison, told RFA that she knows Hai after sharing a cell with her. "She is famous for being very aggressive and violent. They made me stay with her (and) she had threatened to kill me," Hang told RFA. "When I was there they (prison authorities) let other prisoners threaten me and attack me. I had to go on hunger strike for two months to protest," she said. "They (authorities) know everything and give other prisoners a signal to do such things because they are in charge of arranging our cellmates," added Hang. Amnesty International urged the Vietnamese community to "call and write to the Gia Trung prison urging them to ensure Tran Thi Nga's safety." Meanwhile, in Nghe An province, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, 52, started a hunger strike on Aug. 14 to protest police pressure on him to plead guilty in exchange for amnesty. He was jailed in 2010 for 16 years for writing online articles criticizing the government under Article 79 of Vietnam's penal code and is serving at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An province. "(We) visited him at prison and was told that he has been on hunger strike for five days and he would continue until august 23. He said he would continue his hunger strike after that if his demands are not addressed," Tran Huynh Duy Tan, Thuc's brother, told RFA that he and Thuc's wife visited Thuc in prison on August 18. Thuc told his family that he'd rather stay in prison than plead guilty, he said. "He'd rather stay in there until the end of his sentence. He said he is innocent," said Tan. Tan also told RFA that about two months ago the prison brought in a new manager, who created more difficulties for Thuc. He is now not allowed to write as many letters to his family as before, and his petitions to authorities have been limited in frequency. "They had failed in pressuring Thuc to plead guilty, so they are resorting to their usual trick, which is to create more difficulties for him in prison," activist Le Cong Dinh wrote on social media. Tan said the family is worried about Thuc's health because he looked very tired. "He said that he would conduct a 10-day hunger strike, but his health got worse. We are very worried about his decision. We want him to stop the hunger strike soon to protect his health and his life," the brother added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2018
- Event Description
The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur has expressed serious concerns against the repeated arbitrary summoning of secretary, CRA, Manipur, Jiten Yumnam by Manipur Police Commandos without serving any notification or reasons. A release signed by president, CRA, Manipur, Sanaton Laishram informed that on August 13, around six Manipur police commando personnel came in a gypsy at Jiten's residence at Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi Ninthoujam Leikai around 2:30 pm and summoned him at Manipur Police Commando complex at the time when he was visiting Sikkim for environment programme. No written document and reasons were furnished to his family by the police personnel for the summon, it said. The police personnel verbally informed his mother that a case is pending against him, as a member of the Committee of Human Rights while providing no details of the case to his family, the release informed. They took pictures of his residence but did not disclose their identities and left a phone number for contacts to his family, it continued. The Manipur police commandos had earlier summoned Jiten on October 2, 2013 at Manipur Police Commando complex without serving any notification or reasons, it maintained. Such repeated order to come at police commando complex without any explanation in an extra-legal manner caused much anxiety and uncertainty for his physical integrity and mental wellbeing, and similar concerns to his family members, especially children, while also damaging his impression among his locality, it stated. Such verbal summon constitutes a continued threat and harassment to human rights defenders of Manipur, it added. The CRA, Manipur is concerned that the summon at Manipur police commando complex reminds him of the third degree torture subjected to him during his arrest, detention and interrogation on September 14, 2009, it further said. Further, there are concerns that the verbal summon at commando complex may lead to similar acts of atrocities or fabricated charges against him as happened earlier in 2009, it continued. He was arrested on September 14, 2009 as a member of the Committee on Human Rights for protesting against the infamous July 23, 2009 incident related to the killings of Chungkham Shanjit and Thockhom Rebina, the release informed. However, Jiten was among those released unconditionally on January 7, 2010 after an agreement was reached between the former, chief minister, and Apunba Lup on January 6, 2010, it further informed. And as such, all cases against him should have been withdrawn, it added. Jiten Yumnan is an environmentalist and a human rights defender, involved in protecting Manipur's environment, land, and resources and the human rights, it informed. He writes regularly for the Imphal Free Press, the E-Pao.Net and others on development and human rights concerns and challenges in Manipur, it said. The organisation urge the government of Manipur and the Manipur police to stop the verbal summoning of human rights defenders by police personnel at Imphal West Commando Complex without following due process of law, it continued. And to withdraw all FIR and close all cases filed against him, if pending, as per the agreement of Apunba Lup and the former chief minister of Manipur on January 6, 2010 related to the protest of July 23 incident, the stated. The organisation appealed authorities concerned to recognise the rights and role of human rights defenders, to ensure their security and protection and end all forms of harassment to human rights defenders as per the provisions of the UN declaration of the Rights of Human Rights Defenders, 2008 and as per the directives of the National Human Rights Commission, it added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 28, 2018
- Event Description
Status of the Human Rights Defender: Pooja Shukla is a student activist and leader, having raised several issues for social justice in campus as a student of Lucknow University. She was criminalised and jailed for 26 days last year for waving black flags at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to protest 60% fee hike at Lucknow University. Due to her involvement in the protest, she is being denied admission to the masters course at Lucknow University and results of her entrance test were withheld, prompting her to sit on hunger strike.[1] She is a member of Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha and part of Student Alliance for Democratic Rights (SADR), an outfit formed by students in Uttar Pradesh to voice their dissent against the facist nature of the central and state governments Incident detail: As per news reports, on July 28, 2018, student leader Pooja Shukla was dragged into a van and kidnapped by 8-9 police men and one woman constable, when she came out of her friend's flat in Ismailganj to go to Sheroes caf_ in Gomtinagar, Lucknow. Her phone and bag were also snatched, and she was slapped for resisting to hand over her phone and showered with profanities. This incident preceded the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city. Pooja Shukla was taken to an undisclosed location, where more women constables joined them, and was illegally detained all day and finally released only after 9 p.m. pursuant to news coming in that the Prime Minister had left. As per her own testimony on social media, she has alleged that she was manhandled by the police, intimidated and threatened that she will be killed in an ecounter. Her pleas to allow her to talk to her family and friends were consistently refused during the entire period of her detention. She also claims that her phone calls were answered by the police, who mislead her family members, friends and acquaintances of her whereabouts. It is only when she insisted on going to the washroom that she was taken to Fun Mall, where she borrowed the phone of another woman in the washroom and managed to make a call to a friend and request that her parents be notified that she has been illegally detained and kidnapped by the police. However she was caught by the police constable who snatched the phone and abused her and took her back to the jeep, where she was taken once again to an undisclosed location and made to stand there. All the while she was under detention, she was threatened with physical harm and injury and threated that she would be put behind bars for a long time and pessurised to leave politics. Her health was affected due to the torture meted on her. It has been reported that upon being contacted by the media, ASP (trans-Gomti) Harendra Kumar said that police force was deployed to keep surveillance on some leaders, but denied that anyone was detained. However, Inspector Mahila Thana, Sharda Chaudhary, said that some women constables were sent to apprehend a girl student leader but she was not aware of the name and profile.[3] Pooja Shukla has also informed that search operations and raids were carried out by police from Sarojini Nagar and Vibhuti Khand police station at both her parent's and sister's home on July 28, 2018 and July 29, 2018 to perpetuate fear and intimidate her family members. It is not far to seek that the aforesaid acts of the police were meant to terrorize and intimidate human rights defender, Pooja Shukla and to quell any voices of opposition and dissent against the ruling dispensation. These acts are clearly unconstitutional, patently illegal, constitute grave human rights violations and are against the democratic fabric and ethos of the country, and need to be thorougly investigated and dealt with strictly.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Student, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 27, 2018
- Event Description
Pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong speaks tot he press outside a polling station after casting his vote for the Legislative Council by-elections in Hong Kong on March 11, 2018. AFP A Hong Kong pro-democracy group led by high-profile activist Joshua Wong said Monday two of its members had been detained and questioned in mainland China. The pair were released within hours but were warned not to publicise their experiences, the Demosisto party said in a statement. Hong Kong has rights unseen on the mainland but concerns are growing that those liberties are under serious threat as China tightens its grip on the semi-autonomous city. Wong described the detentions as a "clear signal" that Chinese security forces were trying to suppress the democracy movement. Demosisto campaigns for self-determination for Hong Kong, a concept which Beijing considers intolerable and a challenge to its territorial integrity. The pair, who according to the statement were not key members of the party, were allegedly picked up at train stations in the southern Chinese towns of Shenzhen and Guangzhou in March and August. Both members were asked about their participation in recent protests and for information about Demosisto, the group said. The first was questioned at a police station and released around three hours later, according to the statement. The second was taken to a hotel, where they were attached to what the group said resembled a lie detector and accused of "trying to stir up trouble in the mainland". Demosisto said the member was offered payment to provide information after returning to Hong Kong, before being asked to sign an apology and released after five hours. Beijing considers calls for self-determination in Hong Kong as tantamount to demands for independence. The emergence of an independence movement in the last four years has led to a crackdown in the city, with some activists jailed and others barred from office. It also comes as Hong Kong prepares to launch a high-speed rail link to the mainland at the end of September. The new line will see China's security staff operating on the city's turf for the first time, prompting fresh fears over citizens' freedoms. Demosisto founder Wong said the rail link could enable Chinese state security to "fully review and follow... every citizen" who visits the mainland. /ee
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender, Youth
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Aug 8, 2018
- Event Description
Pictures of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik posing with the Malaysian flag have been taken down from a photography exhibition at the George Town Festival (GTF) 2018 on "instruction". Datuk Vinod Sekhar, who is a sponsor for the Stripes and Strokes exhibition by photographer Mooreyameen Mohamad in the Penang capital, said he would not have expected this to happen even during the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, much less in the "New Malaysia" under Pakatan Harapan (PH). "Since when did we discriminate against ordinary Malaysians reflecting on their patriotism?" Vinod told Malay Mail yesterday. "For it to happen in Penang is even more ridiculous," he said, as he described Nisha and Pang as inspirational "people of courage" who should be applauded. "This is something that all Malaysians should fight. The moment we give in to narrow-minded insular ignorant hate mongers, then where do we draw the line?" Photographs of trans rights activist Nisha and gay rights activist Pang were part of a set of portraits of citizens posing with the Malaysian flag by Mooreyameen, including veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and other civil rights leaders like Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Siti Kasim. Mooreyameen's photography exhibition is running throughout GTF 2018, a month-long arts and culture festival in George Town from August 4 to September 2. According to the GTF website, the photographs were first shot and exhibited last year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Malaysia's independence. This year's GTF is exhibiting 20 portraits from the collection. Nisha posted on Facebook Monday her portrait for the Stripes and Strokes exhibition and said people were trying to use her picture, as well as those of Pang and Siti, against the PH government. The caption for Nisha's portrait at the exhibition noted that she was the first transgender woman to receive the International Women of Courage Award in 2016 and described her as a soft-spoken, strong and tenacious person. "I have got so many hate messages, comments and even posting. They called me all kind of degrading names, there were lots of vulgarity, they tried to body shame me, make fun of my name even to the extent of asking me die. There were even some of them asking people to RAPE and Sexually torture me to teach me a lesson," Nisha wrote. "Most of the comments are from people who call themselves Muslim but the way they comment does not portray the kindness and loving image of the religion." Pang wrote on Facebook last Sunday that a Facebook page - which posted the exhibition portraits of him, Nisha and Siti - had received over 1,000 comments that were mostly homophobic, transphobic and misogynist, including a threat to shoot him. "But what concerns me most is that I wish it was a better photo of me and not my resting bitch face. At least my rainbow is erect," he said. The caption for Pang's portrait described him as "the gay icon for Malaysia" who put LGBTQ on the agenda and deserved more recognition for his "courageous voice". Siti, whose portrait caption called her a "superhero", told Malay Mail she was surprised her photograph was not taken down too. "The problem here is that it seems like our government, whether federal or state - they are succumbing to this pressure from the Islamists," said the lawyer and activist who champions the rights of the Orang Asli and LGBT. "What the hell is going on? Have we voted a much worse government than before?" GTF organiser Joe Sidek confirmed that he was asked to remove Pang's and Nisha's portraits from the Stripes and Strokes exhibition, but declined to comment further. Vinod praised Joe's work in building up GTF since its inception in 2010. "Under Joe Sidek, GTF has taken the arts to new heights and really established Penang and Malaysia as an Asian arts centre. And all credit for what GTF has become today is his. "That's why it's terribly wrong and unfair at the basic level of decency to do this to not just the two individuals involved and Yameen, but to Joe," he said. Sinar Online reported yesterday Nibong Tebal Umno Youth chief Mohd Norhiesam Ismail as saying that the portraits of Nisha, Pang and Siti at the GTF exhibition showed the Penang state government's insensitivity towards Muslims. "The three of them have been made icons in the exhibition and in fact, their biodata clearly state that they are LGBT activists, unacceptable people who go against the culture and religion of this country," he told the Malay news outlet.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, SOGI rights
- HRD
- SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities at a prison in Vietnam's Bien Hoa province are threatening female protesters who seek to appeal the jail sentences they were handed last month for their roles in a rare, large-scale demonstration over two controversial government policies, their lawyer said Tuesday. The women are among a group of 20 protesters who were sentenced from eight months up to one and a half years in prison on July 30 for "disrupting public order" in the June 10 protest in southeast Vietnam's Dong Nai province, which official media in Vietnam said had blocked roads and created traffic jams on major highways in the area. Dang Dinh Manh, the lawyer who represented the 20 defendants in their trial last month at the Bien Hoa City People's Court, told RFA's Vietnamese Service that the women among the group are being ill-treated in prison. "I was told by their families that the female defendants have faced intimidation from the prison's authorities," who warned them that if they want to appeal their verdict they would be subjected to sexually transmitted diseases, he said. "I am very upset, because this is a serious violation of the law." Manh said that he had sent a petition to the provincial police to complain about the threats his clients had received. He said he had also met with prison officials who told him that there was no evidence that the defendants had faced intimidation, but promised to conduct an investigation of the claims. Nguyen Thi Kim Vui, the sister of defendants Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong and Nguyen Thi Truc Anh, said that during a visit with her siblings, they "cried to me, saying[the prison guards] told them that," but acknowledged that "I don't know if it's true." Vui said her sisters suggested they "were told not to appeal," but are planning to do so anyway. On June 9 and 10, protests rocked major Vietnamese cities including Hanoi and Saigon, also called Ho Chi Minh City, as demonstrators challenged government plans to grant long-term leases for foreign companies operating in special economic zones (SEZs) and the adoption of a controversial cybersecurity law. The protests prompted clashes with police that saw demonstrators beaten and an unknown number detained. Calls for probe and release Manh's claims came a day after London-based rights group Amnesty International called on authorities in Vietnam to launch an independent probe into the death of a farmer who took part in the protests, amid reports that he was tortured in police custody. A local rights group has said that Hua Hoang Anh, a 35-year-old farmer from Kien Giang province died after four police officers visited his home in Chau Thanh district on Aug. 2 to question him about his involvement in the protests, citing his wife who claims she returned from making them tea to find him "collapsed with some injuries to his neck and belly." While the group suggested that Anh may have died of hemorrhaging, police in Ken Giang have said the farmer committed suicide. Local authorities reportedly forced Anh's family to bury him the following day. The claims of intimidation in prison also follow a declaration signed over the weekend by five local civil society organizations and some 50 individuals calling on the government to immediately release the dozens of people detained and convicted in recent weeks for their part in the protests. According to the Aug. 4 declaration, a copy of which was recently obtained by RFA, 52 people have been taken into custody by the police since the protests, including the 20 people convicted in Bien Hoa. "We demand the government of Vietnam to immediately release all people who joined the peaceful protest against the SEZ and cybersecurity laws on June 10," the document reads. "Bien Hoa City should release all 20 people who were convicted in the July 30 trial and annul their sentences, return all property belonging to protesters which was confiscated by the police or court, apologize to the protesters, and compensate protesters who have been illegally detained," it said. The declaration also called on Vietnam's National Assembly, a rubber-stamp parliament, to ensure that legal protections for demonstrators are upheld, according to stipulations in the country's constitution. Rights group Amnesty International estimates that at least 97 prisoners of conscience are currently held in Vietnam's prisons, where many are subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Aug 9, 2018
- Event Description
Yet again, journalists exposing irregularities relating to contractor and government officials have been attacked. Senior journalists Chhabilal Tiwari and Om Prakash Ghayal were attacked by a contractor on August 9 in Parbat, a district in Province 4 of Nepal. Journalist Ghayal is the station manager at Radio Saligram and Journalist Tiwari is associated with the Nagarik daily. According to the Freedom Forum's representative for Province 4 Rajan Upadhaya, journalists Tiwari and Ghayal were attacked by the local contractor Puskal Sharma and his team at Chhamarke of Kushma-4 in the evening. Both the journalists were assaulted while returning back from the caf_. The drunken contractor not only thrashed them but also abused verbally. He also tore Ghayal's clothes injuring him. Earlier, both journalists had exposed irregularities relating to the contractors and government officials. Representative Upadhaya further reported that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Bhuwaneswar Tiwari of Kushma also condemned the attack and said that he was informed through telephone about the incident in the evening and he immediately ordered the Inspector for further investigation. Both the journalists also filed an FIR in the District Administration Office, Parbat. With the federalism in place, the local levels have been empowered with huge budget and authorities to propel the development activities. But the irregularities on the development activities are fueled by undue contract involving the government officials. These are obviously the stories for journalists to investigate and bring the facts to light. But, the growing hostility to the media for reporting corruption and irregularities is taking toll on press freedom. Freedom Forum therefore vehemently condemns the attack on the journalists and demands urgent action from the authorities to book the attackers. It is the sheer violation of press freedom and freedom of information. Such activities not only discourage free reporting but also contribute to self-censorship, which is against the media freedom and professionalism.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 17, 2018
- Event Description
Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang on Monday detained a prominent member of a now-banned pro-democracy party for questioning on suspicion of "subversion," just months after his release from his second jail term for subversion based on a poem he wrote. Zhu Yufu was released from the Zhejiang No. 4 Prison in March, where he had reported retaliatory treatment, including the cancellation of his meals, after his relatives traveled to the United States to campaign for his release. Left with no income or health care as a result of his time in jail, Zhu now faces further potential charges, police have told him. "At around 10.00 a.m. on Sept. 17, Zhu Yufu was visited by uniformed and plainclothes police officers at his home in Shangcheng district, Hangzhou city, who issued him with a summons for questioning and demanded his cooperation," the Hubei-based rights website Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch reported. The summons document said that the Hangzhou police department had opened an investigation into Zhu, who is under suspicion of "subversion of state power," it said. Police also searched Zhu's home, confiscating his two notebook computers and five receipts for courier shipments, it said. "Then Zhu Yufu was taken away for questioning," the report said. Zhu was released later on Monday, and told RFA that the "investigation" was linked to his recent participation in an art auction via the social media platform WeChat. "Actually, I am selling my calligraphy right now for purely commercial reasons," Zhu said. "I want to make a living by selling my art, and I wanted to use the auction as a way of testing its value and gaining recognition in the eyes of others about how much it's worth. Then I would have a benchmark." "This was my first time ... and under normal circumstances I would have to pay[a fee] to the auctioneer, but I didn't have that money, so I asked if they could donate the proceeds to the families of prisoners of conscience," he said. Broken rules Zhu said the police officer who questioned him had provided no explanation of the "subversion" investigation, but merely repeated that he had "broken the rules" of his residential surveillance. "He told me I didn't have the right of publication, but that means I can sell calligraphy, which has nothing to do with publishing anything," he said. Zhu's wife Jiang Hangli told RFA later on Monday that police had retained his electronic and communications devices. "All of his computers and cell phone are still over there[at the police department]; they just let him come home." She said Zhu wasn't supposed to speak to the media. "The state security police told him not to give any interviews," Jiang said. Zhu's friend and fellow activist Qi Huimin said Zhu is currently in very poor health after serving many years in jail for peacefully opposing the ruling Chinese Communist Party, and he currently lacks any pension or health insurance. "The authorities refused to give Zhu Yufu a pension because he'd been in jail," Qi told RFA. "That is totally unreasonable." "Zhu Yufu is in great financial difficulty right now ... I'm guessing that this summons was a kind of warning, because Zhu still has a lot of influence, and he is able to write for money and sell calligraphy," he said. Friend and fellow activist Zou Wei said the police were deliberately making a mountain out of a molehill. "They are doing this to act as a deterrent to any other political dissidents," Zou said. "They want people to be nervous and frightened." Zhu was handed a seven-year jail term in January 2012 for "incitement to subvert state power" after he penned a poem calling on the Chinese people to vote with their feet. At his trial, the prosecution cited as evidence a poem, "It Is Time," that Zhu wrote and shared during online calls for 'Jasmine' rallies inspired by protests in the Middle East in early 2011. Party banned Zhu was one of several prominent Chinese political activists who tried to set up the banned China Democracy Party (CDP) by applying for official permits from civil affairs bureaus across the country in 1998, but the attempt ended with the banning of the party and the sentencing of three of its founders to lengthy jail terms. Zhejiang dissident Wang Youcai, Wuhan-based Qin Yongmin, and Beijing-based Xu Wenli were sentenced, respectively, to 11, 12, and 13 years in prison on charges of "instigation to subvert state power." Also sentenced were Zhu, Sichuan-based Liu Xianbin, Beijing-based Zha Jianguo, as well as Hangzhou-based Chen Shuqing and Wu Yilong. Xu Wenli and Wang Youcai were exiled to the United States on "medical parole" on Dec. 24, 2002, and March 4, 2004, respectively. But CDP activists who remain in China and who have continued their activism have faced repeated jail terms. Qin was redetained in 2015 and sentenced last July to 13 years' imprisonment by the Wuhan Intermediate People's Court, which convicted him of "incitement to subvert state power." He had served nearly 26 years in jail prior to the latest sentence. CDP activist Lu Gengsong was jailed for 11 years in June 2016 by the Intermediate People's Court in Hangzhou after pleading not guilty to charges of "incitement to subvert state power." Chen Shuqing was handed a sentence of 10 years and six months on the same charges.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security, Right to property
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Sep 28, 2018
- Event Description
A Catholic nun who has been active in social justice issues in the southern Philippines is fearing for her life after she was tagged as a communist by the military. Sister Susan Bolanio of the Oblates of Notre Dame condemned what she described as "red tagging" by the military, describing it as a "farcical lie." In a statement on Oct. 2, the nun called on authorities to investigate those behind efforts to label her as a communist rebel, saying it exposes her life to danger. "The mere suggestion of affiliation to a terrorist communist group poses a serious threat to the lives, dignity and security of the persons singled out," said Sister Bolanio. A social media post on Sept. 28 accused Sister Bolanio and tribal leaders Dande Dinyan and Victor Danyan of being part of the Far South Mindanao Region rebel front. The post was no longer available on Oct. 2. Danyan used to be chairman of the tribal group Taboli-Manobo S'daf Claimants Organization. He was killed along with seven other tribal people in December 2017. Dinyan replaced the slain leader as head of the organization. Sister Bolanio, who is executive director of the church-run Hesed Foundation in General Santos City, has been helping the tribal organization with its livelihood and development projects. The nun said the attempt to link her to the underground rebel movement was a "malicious and vile design to put her life in danger, especially as Mindanao is under martial law." "To be linked to a terrorist communist group is to condemn a person as all-out anti-government," she said. The nun has been actively involved in local and regional special government bodies in the region in the past 30 years. "How can I be a terrorist, an enemy of the state, when I have been engaging with officialdom?" she asked. Lt. Col. Jones Otida, commander of the Philippine Army's 27th Infantry Battalion in South Cotabato province, said his unit was not behind efforts to implicate the nun. "We don't know where that information came from," he said in a radio interview. Sister Bolanio said her lawyers were already looking into possible cases to file against the military.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 15, 2018
- Event Description
More than 100 Myanmar garment workers are continuing a strike on Wednesday in front of Maha Bandula Park in downtown Yangon, demanding that a Chinese-owned textile factory rehire 30 workers responsible for starting the labor action and punish those responsible for a violent attack on striking workers on Monday that injured 25 people. They also called on officials to enact laws to protect workers in Myanmar. Workers from the Fu Yuen Garment Company Ltd. in Yangon's Dagon Seikkan township have been on strike since Aug. 21 demanding better work conditions and an end to mistreatment by factory owners. After the 30 members of a committee that had been campaigning for better conditions for workers were sacked, others set up a protest camp outside the factory. On Monday, the striking workers clashed with thugs hired by the factory, who attacked them with iron bars, leaving 25 laborers injured. Following the violent clash, neighborhood residents demanded that police take action against those who beat the striking workers. After police told them to file complaints so they could arrest the assailants, the locals got into a fight with people still working at the factory, and authorities arrested two student union leaders on Wednesday. RFA's Myanmar Service was unable to reach the relevant police station and Fu Yuen's manager during several phone calls. Authorities issued false information that striking workers sustained injuries in a clash with those still on the job, instead of publicly acknowledging that they were beaten by thugs hired by factory owners, said Thet Htar Swe, chairwoman of the Fu Yuen factory union, who was among the striking employees. "Everybody knows who's right and who's wrong," she said, adding that the problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible. "If not, there could be more serious problems, and the government and the Myanmar Police Force will be the ones who create instability," she said. "Even if factory officials let us continue working at the factory, we can be discriminated against and face danger, and we'd have to protect ourselves. We can't depend on anybody to protect us." Activist Myat Kyaw, who is helping the striking workers, said some suspect that police collaborated with the factory's owner in making a plan to crack down on the workers' protest. "We would like to request that authorities implement a plan to resolve this problem," he said. Yangon regional lawmaker Nyi Nyi said that the police and other administrative organizations are responsible for delivering justice in this situation. "They also need to be transparent and release information, which is why there has been a delay in resolving the dispute between Fu Yuen and its workers," he said. "The factory is wrong, and the tension between the factory and workers is getting worse," said Mya Sein, a lower house lawmaker representing Dagon Seikkan township. "I have sent report letters on this case to the minister of labor, the Yangon regional minister, and the[ruling] NLD[National League for Democracy] party because I feel we need to solve this problem as soon as possible." Two student activists arrested On Tuesday, plainclothes police officers arrested two student activists who were part of a group from the Basic Education Student Union and the All Burma Federation of Student Unions protesting outside Dagon Shopping Center in Yangon in support of the striking factory workers. Hnin Aung, one of the arrested activists, told RFA that officer Win Naing plans to file a case against him and fellow protester Wai Yan Oo for violating Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which allows public demonstrations only if organizers first obtain permission from local authorities. Police released both activists on bail Tuesday night. "We staged a protest questioning whether authorities were ignoring the attack on the workers by a group of thugs hired by the owner," Hnin Aung said. "They told us that we will be contacted later to undergo the legal process," he said. RFA could not reach the San Chanung township police station where the two activists were taken. Two dozen of the workers injured during Monday's clash between workers and the hired thugs were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Thet Htar Swe said. The injured workers have filed a case against the attackers at Dagon Port police station, she said. The case is pending until medical reports have been received. RFA could not reach the Dagon Port township police station or the manager of the Fu Yuen factory for comment. On Monday, thugs believed to be hired by factory owners and other employees still working at the plant destroyed the protest camp and beat dozens of workers as they demanded the reinstatement of the 30 fired employees. Those injured were taken to Sanpya Hospital, said injured factory worker Aye Thet Moe. "They hired gangsters to crack down on the protesters," he said. "I got hit on my head and had to get three stitches." Zayar Phyo, a union member of the MCE Rainbow Soup Factory who sent the injured workers to the hospital, told RFA that more than 20 workers were being treated at the medical facility for injuries to their heads, legs, hands, and other parts of their bodies and for broken bones. As protesters blocked both of the two entrances to the factory, supervisors and assailants created a small entryway along the factory's rear wall for non-striking employees and the thugs to access the building, he said. "We, the protesting workers, blocked this door because the protest has gone on for months, and the workers are tired," he said. But assailants wielding iron pipes and wooden sticks beat workers, most of whom were women, who blocked the entryway.
- Impact of Event
- 22
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 12, 2018
- Event Description
We in the Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) urgently request your support for Filipino land and environment defenders and other activists across the region of Cagayan Valley who have recently faced a systematic campaign of vilification and harassment from suspected military intelligence operations from October 12 to 16, 2018. Last October 12, 2018, the Cagayan Valley chapter of the Karapatan - Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights received reports that leaflets and streamers were scattered around several towns in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, and Cagayan implicating the names of leaders and members of peoples' organizations as "leaders and recruiters" of the communist rebel group New People's Army (NPA). These are organizations that have led protest movements against land grabbing and environmental destruction pushed by large-scale mining projects such as illegal gold mining in Isabela, black sand mining in Cagayan, and large-scale gold mines in Nueva Vizcaya. On October 15 to 16, 2018, the Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan (ANVIK), the provincial member organization of Kalikasan, monitored a second wave of leaflet distribution and streamer hanging in the towns of Solano, Diadi to Bagabag. This time, leaflets included a new list of names of 27 environmental defenders, including public interest lawyers Atty. Fidel Nemenzo and Atty. Ed Balgos, and scientists Finesa Cosico, Alfonso Shog-oy, and Tess Acosta who are supporting the campaign against the large-scale mining operations of Australian-Canadian multinational corporation OceanaGold. This "red-tagging' is part of a vicious textbook pattern employed by the military where activists are repeatedly vilified to justify a series of attacks that include harassments, intimidation, arrest, strategic lawsuits against public participation, and ultimately extrajudicial killings. Elements of the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army engaged in a similar vilification campaign last September 2017 in the town of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, where Oceanagold's mining project is located. The recent massacre of nine (9) sugar plantation workers in the town of Sagay, Negros Occidental province last October 20 was preceded by a similar red-tagging campaign by the military since April 2018 accusing the land occupation and cultivation areas of the workers as NPA communal farms
- Impact of Event
- 27
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Event Description
The Extrajudicial Execution Victims Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) has informed that the life and security of EEVFAM coordinator of Jiribam district, Yengkhom Ibomcha Singh is under threat from inspector, Manipur police, S. Ibotombi and appealed for urgent intervention of the director general of police. In a statement addressed to the DGP, the organisation sought immediate necessary action in connection to the alleged threat and intimidation by inspector, S. Ibotombi for posting court order of Chief Judicial Magistrate (Imphal West) where his name is mentioned as one of the accused in the CBI charge sheet pertaining to EEVFAM v/s Union of India case, writ petition criminal no. 129 of 2012 of the Supreme Court of India. Ibomcha, a resident of Jiribam IB Leikai under Jiribam police station, Jiribam district was actively involved in data collection and coordination of families of the victims of fake encounters in Jiribam, it said. One day, Ibomcha received a court order of the CJM (Impha West) from a Whatsapp group pertaining to the charge sheet filed by the CBI, it informed. As a coordinator of EEFVAM, he disseminated the document to various Whatsapp groups, it informed. In the last week of September when Ibomcha was busy for organising Lamyanba Irabot celebration to be held at Hojai Langka, Assam where ministers,MLAs and leaders of civil voluntary organisations from Manipur were to attend, he received several phone calls from Jiribam Police Station and told him that he should visit the police station, the statement further informed. When he enquired about the reason, the police insisted him the he should visit the police station without any delay, it said. Soon after Ibomcha's arrival at his home, he got another call from Jiribam Police Station, thereafter, Ibomcha visited Jiribam Police Station, it continued while adding the officer on duty inquired about the court order that he had shared on social media. The police officer on duty insisted Ibomcha to make an apology for sharing the said court order to which Ibomcha replied it was not he who shared the court order first, it informed. After some time, one of the police personnel of Jiribam Police passed a mobile phone and inspector Ibotombi, who was on the line, told Ibomcha that the investigation conducted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is illegal and he had received gallantry award, the statement informed. The inspector further told Ibomcha that some member of Kalinagar Youth Club have already sought his apology for sharing the said court order, and insisted that Ibomcha should also make an apology for sharing the said document otherwise Ibomcha would face dire consequences, it stated. The statement sought the urgent intervention of DGP by taking necessary legal action against inspector Ibotombi to that Ibomcha can carry out his legitimate human rights work without intimidation and fear, it added
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Oct 15, 2018
- Event Description
The Security Investigation Agency under Ho Chi Minh City's Police Department have summoned Tran Le Thanh Ha, the 13-year-old daughter of detained activist Tran Thanh Phuong, to police station for interrogation about his activities, Defend the Defenders has learned. Ha, who is a 8th class student, was requested to go with her mother Le Thi Khanh to the agency's office on October 15, 45 days after Mr. Phuong was kidnapped by local security forces. The girl did not obey by the police's request, saying she knows nothing about her father's activities. Mr. Phuong is a member of the unregistered group of activists named Hi?n Ph��p (Constitution) which is striving to educatepeople abouthuman rights as well as political and civil rights by disseminating Vietnam's 2013 Constitution among citizens. Its members were key figures in the mass demonstration on June 10 in HCM City which aimed to protest the Vietnamese parliament's plan to approve two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. In the first week of September, in order to prevent public demonstrations during the three-day holiday on the occasion of the Vietnamese Independence Day (September 2) amid online calls for public gathering, security forces in HCM City arrested and kidnapped many government critics, including nine members of the Hi?n Ph��p group. The police in HCM City kidnapped Mr. Phuong on September 1 and took him into custody without informing his family about his arrest and detention. He is held in the temporary detention facility managed by the city's police located in Phan Dang Luu street. Six other members of the group are also kept in the same facility. So far, only four members of the group were charged with controversial articles of the national security provisions in the 2015 Penal Code. Two activists Ngo Van Dung and Ho Van Cuong were accused of "disruption of security" under Article 118, Huynh Truong Ca was alleged with "anti-state propaganda" under Article 117 while Le Minh The was said to had abused democratic freedom under Article 331. Police released Hung Hung but still hold Doan Thi Hong, Tran Hoang Lan, Do The Hoa and Tran Thanh Phuong without publicizing the charges against them. Meanwhile, local activists reported that the police of Tra Vinh province arrested Dang Van Thanh, 25, who is said to be linked with the to-be-established Vietnam National Coalition. On October 10, the People's Court of HCM City sentenced democracy campaigners Luu Van Vinh, Nguyen Quoc Hoan, Nguyen Van Duc Do, Tu Cong Nghia and Phan Trung to between eight and 15 years in prison due to their links to the organization. Vietnam's communist regime has intensified its relentless crackdown on local dissent which started in early 2016 when the ruling communist party elected its new leadership with many police generals holding senior posts in the party and state aparatuse. In 2016-2017, Vietnam arrested around 50 activists. So far this year, Hanoi has detained 27 human rights defenders and democracy campaigners and convicted 39 individuals, sentencing them to a total 294.5 years in prison and 66 years of probation. In addition, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were beaten, detained and tortured. As many as 56 of them were sentenced to between eight and 54 months in prison due to their participation in the mid-June protest.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 15, 2018
- Event Description
Cambodian workers taking part in protests against Prime Minister Hun Sen in other countries should be identified and beaten by gangsters or made to suffer "traffic accidents," a ruling party official says in a recording taken from a phone call, and now circulating widely on Facebook. Speaking in a minute-long sound bite, Labor Ministry spokesperson Heng Sour urges an unidentified colleague to set up a network to target and attack Cambodian migrant workers opposed to Hun Sen, who recently won re-election in a national vote widely condemned as unfree and unfair because he had banned the only credible opposition party before the vote. "Let's find some gangsters and thugs and then use them to beat up the identified targets. Just do whatever you can to break them down," Heng Sour says, adding that if the attackers are later arrested, they will probably be sent back to Cambodia after serving short terms in jail. "And when they return to our country, we will feed and support them," he said. Citing protests by Cambodians working in Japan during Hun Sen's visit to Tokyo at the beginning of October, Heng Sour noted that protesters had destroyed a large photo of the prime minister, adding that a subordinate named Sreng had now learned the names of leading activists involved. "Now we will take action against them," Heng Sour said. "And if they come back[to Cambodia], we will make sure that they suffer traffic accidents." "We cannot tolerate those who insult our leader," he said. Spreading fear Speaking to RFA's Khmer Service, Son Seyha, Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Association of Cambodia and a representative of Cambodian workers in Thailand, said that Heng Sour's threats have already spread fear among Cambodians working abroad. "I urge the government of Cambodia to get to the truth in this case," he said, noting that Heng Sour has already denied the voice on the recording is his and has blamed the controversy on a plot against him by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). "This is a matter of life and death for Cambodians working in South Korea and in other countries, and for those still in Cambodia who support the CNRP," he said. Speaking from Japan, CNRP activist Hay Vanna told RFA he has already notified Japanese authorities regarding the threat, adding that he knows the man named Sreng mentioned in the recording. "I know the suspect named Sreng," Hay Vanna said. "He fled Cambodia to live in Japan when Cambodia fell to the communist regime." "But now he has returned to Cambodia and works to bring Cambodian workers to Japan, and I guess he has worked very closely with Heng Sour to do this," he said. Also speaking to RFA, Yim Sinorn, a CNRP activist and representative of Cambodian workers in South Korea, said that he has now translated Heng Sour's sound bite and given it to authorities in South Korea, adding that he knows Heng Sour and has spoken to him in the past. "I used to respect him," Yim Sinorn said. "But I am very surprised after listening to the vicious death threats contained in this recording." "His plan to kill[Hun Sen's] opponents and set up traffic accidents to hurt people should never have come from an educated person like him." "I cannot accept this," he said. According to Cambodia's Labor Ministry and NGOs, about 1.6 million Cambodians were working in Thailand in early 2018, with nearly 6,000 shown working in South Korea and 2,300 in Japan the year before.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Oct 31, 2018
- Event Description
ISLAMABAD: Lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook, who fought the case of Asia Bibi, left the country on Saturday owing to threats to his life. Mulook's latest victory saw the acquittal of Bibi, a Christian woman who had been sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. The Supreme Court on October 31 ordered Bibi's immediate release stating that blasphemy charges could not be proven against her. Following the apex court's decision, religious parties staged protests in major cities across the country and incited violence against the lawyer as well as the judges. Ahead of boarding a plane to Europe early Saturday morning, Mulook spoke to AFP and said, "In the current scenario, it's not possible for me to live in Pakistan." "I need to stay alive as I still have to fight the legal battle for Asia Bibi," he said. When asked about the protests following the decision, Mulook said it was "unfortunate but not unexpected". Regarding an agreement between the government and the protesters led by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), after which demonstrations across the country ended, Mulook said, "What's painful is the response of the government. They cannot even implement an order of the country's highest court." He added that "the struggle for justice must continue". "Her life would be more or less the same, either inside a prison or in solitary confinement for security fears" until a decision on the appeal, he further said. The agreement signed by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat and Pir Mohammad Afzal Qadri and Mohammad Waheed Noor from the TLP stated that the government will not object to a review petition over Bibi's acquittal. Due process will be followed immediately to include the name of Asia Bibi in the Exit Control List (ECL), it was further agreed.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 21, 2018
- Event Description
The house of activist Rehana Fathima, one of the two women attempting to enter the Sabarimala temple, was attacked Friday morning. Two unidentified bike borne people attacked her house in Kochi and threw stones. Additionally, initiating action against Rehana, Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council president A Poonkunju said in a press statement Saturday that she had been expelled from the community. He said the Council has also directed the Ernakulam Central Muslim Jama'ath to expel her and her family from the membership of Mahallu. "Her act hurt lakhs of Hindu devotees," the statement said. Her act was also against the rituals of Hindu community, it said. Rehana, a model and activist who was part of the 'Kiss of Love' movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, was among the two women who had reached the hilltop, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Ayyappa devotees. Rehana and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavitha were taken to the hills with heavy police protection. A mother of two and employee of the BSNL, the activist had kicked up a row last year by posing for topless photos with watermelons in protest against a Kozhikode-based college professor's statement comparing women's breasts to watermelons. Meanwhile, a case has been registered by police in Pathanamthitta against the activist for hurting religious sentiments. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by one Radhakrishna Menon. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by then chief justice.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 4, 2018
- Event Description
AN INDIGENOUS Peoples' (IP) leader condemned the arrests of activists Gerry Basahon and Carmelita Dorado, both members of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) who were accused as New People's Army (NPA). Basahon and Dorado were arrested in Gingoog City on Thursday, October 4, after an arrest warrant was issued by a court in Cagayan de Oro City for two counts of attempted murder and frustrated murder charges. Both were tied in the attack of Binuangan town police station last December 3. The attack left four policemen wounded including the station's commander. According to police, two were alleged members of the Guerilla Front 4B. But Datu Jomorito Goaynon of Kalumbay lumad organization insisted that the charges against them are trumped-up charges and denied they were part of the attack. For Goaynon, the arrest was not only efforts by the state to harass or silent them, but also a symbol of Duterte's dictatorship, he added. Goaynon said October is a critical month for activists who are targets of an intensified crackdown by the government. "Maybe it's the end for us even before this month ends. They intend to destroy us lumads because they have interest in our ancestral lands," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2018
- Event Description
On Monday 5 November 2018, Mr. Poek Sophorn, a staff member of non-governmental organization Ponlok Khmer, was presented with a summons to appear for questioning at the Preah Vihear Provincial Court on 14 November 2018, over charges of being an accomplice to arrest, detention and unlawful confinement (Articles 29 and 253 of the Criminal Code of the Kingdom of Cambodia). According to the information contained in the summons, the charges relate to events which took place back in 29 December 2014 in Prame commune, Tbaeng Mean Chey district, Preah Vihear province. No further details are provided in the summons, which contravenes Mr. Sophorn's right to know the charges against him. The summons did not contain the correct family name and personal details of Mr. Sophorn, who declined to accept the summons and asked the police to bring it back to the Court for corrections. On the same day, Mr. Lut Sang, another Ponlok Khmer worker, was informed that the local police tried to deliver a summons to him as well. He was on field mission at the time and therefore has not received the summons. He is unaware of the charges associated with this summons. Ponlok Khmer is a small NGO based in Preah Vihear province, that works to promote sustainable development and the protection of Cambodia's natural resources, including by empowering vulnerable and indigenous people to ensure the protection of their rights. In addition, at least four community members from the Kui indigenous group in Prame commune also received summonses on 5 November 2018 to appear at the Provincial Court on the same day as Mr. Sophorn. They are summonsed over charges of arrest, detention and unlawful confinement (Article 253 of the Criminal Code) in relation to acts allegedly committed on 29 December 2014 in Prame commune. It has been reported that a total of ten community members received the said-summonses, however CCHR was only able to see four of them. Since 2012, the commune of Prame has been the theatre of a land dispute involving the local Kui indigenous community and two companies, Lan Feng and Ruy Feng in relation to two economic land concessions attributed in 2011 for the purposes of growing rubber, acacia and sugar cane, and located on the Kui indigenous community's ancestral land. On 29 December 2014, bulldozers came to clear out the farmlands of the villagers for the ELC. The villagers, who have been awaiting a resolution to the land dispute, stopped the bulldozers in an effort to attract the attention of the authorities and the companies and to resume negotiations for a dispute resolution. In the absence of any reaction, on 30 December, the villagers pressured the bulldozer drivers to drive back to Prame commune, to meet with the authorities. The bulldozers' drivers left with the authorities on that day. As no resolution was found, the community members refused for the bulldozers to be taken away. The bulldozers were kept at the commune office till 2017, where they were reportedly taken away by the authorities as evidence for further proceedings. Mr. Lut Sang and several community members have already summoned for questioning over the 29 December 2014 events, back in June 2015, in relation to charges of arrest, detention and unlawful confinement. Since no further development occurred since, they believed that the case had been closed.
- Impact of Event
- 11
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Land rights defender, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Nov 6, 2018
- Event Description
Three human rights lawyers named Dang Dinh Manh, Nguyen Van Mieng and Trinh Vinh Phuc have been attacked by unknown individuals few days ahead of the appeal hearing of 15 peaceful demonstraters, Defend the Defenders has learned. Lawyer Manh said that the three attorneys went to Bien Hoa with his car in the morning of November 6 to meet with their clients to prepare for their defense in the appeal hearing set on November 9. When they were inside the car and ready to move, they heard a bid explosion and saw the window glass of the car's right side broke. It was likely some individuals shot Manh's car with a hand-made device. However, it was not a gun, according to how the glass broke, said the lawyers who remained safe after the attack. Manh, Mieng and Phuc are among few lawyers who often involve in political cases in recent years to protect local dissidents. The assault may be made due to their participation in the appeal hearing of 15 peaceful protesters from Bien Hoa city which will be carried out by the People's Court of Dong Nai province. The convicted protesters challenged the decision of the People's Court of Bien Hoa city made on July 30 in a trial in which 15 out of 20 peaceful demonstrators were sentenced to between eight and 18 months in prison just because of joining peaceful demonstration on June 10 to protest two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. After the trial, lawyer Manh said authorities in Dong Nai threatened the convicted protesters, saying they should not appeal the court's decision otherwise they may receive harder sentences. This is the second attack against Vietnamese lawyers in recent years. In 2016, Hanoi-based human rights lawyers Tran Thu Nam and Le Van Luan were also attacked by plainclothes agents when they went to visit the family of Do Dang Du, who was beaten to death while being held in a detention center under the authority of the Hanoi Police Department. Later, communal policemen came to the lawyers' private residence to apologize for the attack and ask for forgiveness. In mid June, tens of thousands of Vietnamese from different social groups rallied on streets in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Nha Trang, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Binh Thuan and other localities in a nationwide demonstration to protest Vietnamese communist regime's plan to approve the two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. The first is likely to favor Chinese investors to hire land for 99 years amid increasing concerns about Beijing's aggressiveness in the South China Sea while the second aims to silence online critics. In response to the demonstration biggest for decades, Vietnam's communist regime used violent measures to deal with peaceful protesters. Authorities in manylocations used water cannons, tear gas and riot police to disperse the demonstration. Police beat and arrested hundreds of protesters. So far, nearly 100 protesters have been convicted, 98 of them were sentenced to between eight and 54 months in prisons while eight of them were given probation of between five months and two years for allegation of causign public disorders. Vietnam's government is expected to prosecute many other mid-June protesters in coming weeks. A human rights defenders told Defend the Defenders that authorities in the central province of Binh Thuan have placed many protesters under house arrest and may try soon on allegation of disturbing public security.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 11, 2018
- Event Description
According to the information received, on November 11, 2018, the Daily Janakantha published an article by the newspaper's reporter Bibhash Baroi titled "The controversial organisation Odhikar is again involved in murky activities"[2]. In the article, Odhikar was accused of involvement in "various nefarious activities critical of the forthcoming elections[scheduled for December 30, 2018], the State and the government", "anti-State conspiracies", and "constantly spreading false propaganda against Bangladesh." The author of the article alleged that intelligence agencies recommended that the activities of Odhikar be shut down due to its "violating a circular issued by the Prime Minister's Office with regard to the NGO Bureau[NGOAB]" and its "taking cash money from donor agencies after funds were closed due to cessation of projects". In addition, the author himself recommended that "the registration of[Odhikar] be cancelled and all its activities stopped". The article also accused Odhikar of having published distorted and false information through a fact-finding report on the killing of civilians by security forces in May 2013, which had already led to the arbitrary arrest on trumped-up charges of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar, in August 2013 (see background information).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 22, 2018
- Event Description
At least five women working for an NGO have been abducted and gang-raped at gunpoint in eastern India's Jharkhand state, police have said. "An FIR (First Information Report) and a statement in court has been lodged. We are trying to identify the criminals. Our probe is ongoing," Ashwini Kumar Sinha, superintendent of police in Khunti, told Al Jazeera. "A team of street play artists had gone to perform in a school in Kochan, the remotest area of Khunti when some men came and threatened them. Nine men and women were abducted. Five women were raped while the men were beaten," he said. The women were performing a play raising awareness of human trafficking in the Khunti district on Tuesday when armed men abducted them at gunpoint, it was reported on Friday. Attackers filmed the assault and used the video to blackmail the women not to go to the police. The women were working for Asha Kiran, an NGO supported by Christian missionaries, police officer Rajesh Prasad told AFP news agency. "We have been questioning several people," Prasad told AFP. Police rounded up some supporters of Pathalgadi, a self-rule movement associated with hostility to outsiders. The National Women's Commission on Friday ordered state police to provide them with a report about the gang rapes. Sister Julia George, project director at Asha Kiran in Ranchi, told Al Jazeera that men arrived at the scene on bikes and overpowered the NGO workers. "They put them in the same vehicle by which the Asha Kiran group were travelling and drove some kilometres away from the place. Then they were raped," George said. This is the latest high-profile sexual assault in India. Three girls were raped and set on fire in India in one week in May, two of them in Jharkhand state. In 2012, the fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a moving bus in New Delhi sparked street protests. In 2016, 39,000 rape cases were reported in the country.
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Women's rights
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 28, 2018
- Event Description
Chennai-based journalist Sandhya Ravishankar has alleged intimidation by unidentified persons and has put out CCTV footage from the camera outside her house on Thursday. Sandhya Ravishankar is an independent journalist known for her exposes on the sand mafia in Tamil Nadu. In a series of tweets on Friday morning, she said that on Thursday morning she found that the petrol tube in her bike was cut, when she went to start her bike. She then went on to watch CCTV footage taken from the camera fitted in her house, overseeing the parked vehicles outside the house. In the first video clip attached in the thread, it can been seen that two men stop their bike in front of her house at 11.43 pm on Wednesday. One of the men, gets down with a bottle in his hand, while the rider sitting on the bike with his helmet on his head tears a cloth and gives it to the man who got down. They are then seen doing something with the bottle and the cloth. The rider too then gets down from the bike, his helmet intact, and walks towards Sandhya's bike. What he does after that is not visible in the clip since a wall blocks the CCTV's. After a few seconds both the men ride away. The second clip tweeted by Sandhya shows the men again coming back at 11.51 pm and the man with the helmet alighting from his bike and coming near the wall of the house, similar to the previous clip. The guys then speed away after 20 seconds. In the final tweet in the thread, Sandhya also attached a picture of the complaint she filed with the Kumaran Nagar police station detailing out the incidents seen in the CCTV footages and told that the police had since increased patrolling in her street. Speaking to TNM regarding the incident, Sandhya said that the inspector and the sub inspector from the Kumaran nagar police station visited her house on Thursday evening and the patrolling has been increased around her house since then. "This is my sixth complaint within a year and the patrolling has been increased since last night. However, no FIR has been filed for any of my complaints so far," she said. She also added that the incident cannot be a coincidence as it was only recently that she had filed a police complaint against the police department. A blogger named Savukku published a post with CCTV footage showing her meeting with former DGP Ramanujam at a cafe on Chamiers road in Chennai. Sandhya had questioned how the CCTV footage of an innocuous meeting that she as a journalist had with her source was leaked to the blogger. In a letter to the Chennai Police Commissioner, she had said that private establishments download CCTV footage only at the behest of the police and that she suspected there was a plot against her. Condemning the harassment and intimidation tactics meted out against Sandhya Ravishankar, various journalists and journalists associations have come out in support of her. They have also urged the state government and the police to take action on the complaint filed by Sandhya.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, Whistleblower, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Oct 19, 2018
- Event Description
Social activist Aadii Roy who is well-known for his bold stance on injustices in society as well as government and military actions on Friday shared that he had been threatened for exercising free speech. He made the revelation on social media website Twitter where he disclosed that someone had tried to intimidate him using the names of his family members. There is nothing important than family for us,i have been threatened again taking my siblings names.May Allah protect us. - (@Aadiiroy) October 17, 2018 Many notable personalities from the journalist community including Gul Bukhari condemned the action. Threats to #AadiRoy & family are despicable - Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) October 18, 2018 Stay strong man; the bullying seems to be because of your outspokenness. In solidarity!#AadiRoy #Pakistan https://t.co/BLaSvphsCO - Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) October 18, 2018 Social Media Advisor Faisal Ranjha also came out in support of Aadii Roy, mentioning his own story of being in a similar situation. Hi @Aadiiroy we all are with you, once I received a call and my sons name was used to threaten me .. Irony is the guy didn't had clue about me and my credentials yet they threatened me .. They don't care hopefully PMLN take care of their Family! @MaryamNSharif - Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) October 19, 2018 Members of the public offered their support too. If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. #AadiRoy - Humaira B. Minhas (@humairabadar) October 18, 2018 Earlier on Wednesday, senior journalist Matiullah Jan, who has been critical of the government and the establishment's interference in the political affairs was asked to tender in his resignation within 24 hours. His social media account was accused of spreading "negative propaganda' against state institutions. Furthermore, Pakistani impressionist and comedian Syed Shafaat Ali, who is known for his impressions of Pakistani public figures, tweeted that an advertisement he had appeared in had been taken off air as part of media censorship by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 27, 2019
- Event Description
Vietnam’s security forces have kidnapped a female environmentalist, interrogating her during one-day detention about her activism, Defend the Defenders has learned.
Ms. Cao Vinh Thinh, a key member of the independent group Green Trees, was detained by undercover police officers in the morning of March 27 when she was on her way to her shop named Zero Waste Hanoiwhich is selling environment-friendly products in the capital city of Hanoi.
The kidnappers confiscated her laptop and cell phone and took her to an office of the Security Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security located in Nguyen Gia Thieu street, Hoan Kiem district where she was questioned by officers about activities of her and her group Green Trees which aim to protect the country’s environment.
Police also deployed IT specialists to try to get access to her equipment because she refused to give them the passwords for her laptop and cell phone.
Police released Thinh at 10 PM of Wednesday but still keep her equipment.
Thinh is one of the most active members of Green Trees which was established by activists in 2015 to protest a plan of Hanoi’s leadership to chop down thousands of aged trees in the capital city’s main streets. The group played key roles in the mass protest in Hanoi that year which forced the city’s leadership to stop its plan.
The group also involved in a campaign in 2016 which protests the Taiwanese Formosa Steel plant in the central province of Ha Tinh after hundreds of tons of fish died in the central coastal region due to Formosa’s discharge a huge volume of industrial waste into the sea. In October of 2016, the group released its comprehensive report about the environmental disaster caused by Formosa.
Recently, the group launched a film named Đừng Sợ (Dont Be Afraid about Vietnam’s independent civil society organizations. The film is expected to be projected across Vietnam in early April to mark the 3rd anniversary of Formosa’s environmental disaster.
In Vietnam, the ruling Communist Party is striving to control all organizations and does not welcome the formation of independent ones. All activities of Green Trees are considered as anti-government, police officers told Thinh.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Nov 4, 2013
- Event Description
Complaint made to the HRC-SL and IGP by Dr. Nimalka Fernando The radio programme titled Rata Yana Atha (The way country is forging ahead) broadcasted in the Commercial Channel of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on 4th November 2013 was based on a voice cut given by me to the Hiru TV to be relayed in the HARD TALK segment during the daily news bulletin. I had listened to the original version of the HARD TALK relayed on Sunday 3rd of November by HIRU TV. On 4th November morning I received several telephone calls from friends and relatives stating that a statement made by me to HIRU TV is being used in a radio programme of the SLBC in an improper manner including causing threat to my life. According to them what was said in this programme was going to cause a real danger to my life. Since the telephone calls received were of serious nature taking note of their concerns I decided to switch on the radio to listen to this particular programme around 9.00am on the 4th. I listened to the programme for about 30 minutes. What I heard was so violent , defamatory and stressfulI and I had no mental strength to continue to listen any further. The synopsis of what I heard is given below: The main title of the Programme was
Stoning the Sinner Woman' Broadcast: Sections of what I said in the Hard Talk interview
59 years old...divorced....serving 30 organisations...about Rs 100,000...since 1989 carried tales....' From the studio voice of Mr Hudson Samarasinghe Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSee what she has done' Then calls were taken. I am writing only what I remember though much more abusive and defaming statements were made by the callers , Mr Hudson Samarasinghe and a person called Gayan who was present in the studio as the compeer of the programme: Call 1: " We can not allow persons like Nimalka Fernando to live in this society" Call 2: " We use insecticides to eliminate the spread of mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes develop a resistance to such spray. These people are like that. We have to find a method to destroy them." Call 3: "If we do something to them the government will be blamed by the human rights people. We should use a lorry and cause an accident." Call 4: " There is something call cleaning in the army. Mr Gotabaya knows this. We should hand her over to the cleaning system." Call 5: "Chairperson, today you have started a good activity. Continue this upto March 2014 and begin to deal with the NGO clan one by one." While callers were making such statements Mr Hudson Samarasinghe was actively involved in supporting the ideas expressed to eliminate me. The words he used welcomed such ideas as well as endorsed them. The person called Gayan too (present in the studio) joined him agreeing to the ideas and facilitated the calls. Most of the callers were men. During the 30 minutes at least 3 of them identified themselves as those who had served the armed forces and retired. Another caller said that he has a friend who was injured during the war. Some callers also mentioned names of Vickramabahu and Lal Kantha who are political leaders in Sri Lanka who have expressed fearlessly their positions publicly. They were of the view that
the society has not taken action against them'. Mr Hudson Samarasinghe who is the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation did not stop the callers from making offensive and derogatory statement nor spreading such violent ideas against me. He did not disassociated himself from these comments which called for my annihilation. I heard a caller referring to me as a prostitute. The Chairperson of the SLBC encouraged all these comments and further encouraged openly defamation and my annihilation. The totality of this programme is the creation of a dialogue through a government media to destroy my life. On 26 November 2013, a Joint Urgent Appeal (JUA) was addressed to Sri Lanka by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Sri Lanka has not responded.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
Sri Lanka Brief26/11/13 JUA: UN OHCHR
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 12, 2012
- Event Description
A Cambodian journalist who exposed illegal logging and forest crimes involving the local elite has been murdered, police said Wednesday, after his battered body was found in the trunk of his car. Hang Serei Oudom, 42, a reporter for the local Virakchum Khmer Daily newspaper, had been missing since Sunday afternoon and his body was found on Tuesday in northeastern Cambodia's Ratanakiri province, said Ek Vun, the police chief for Balung City, the provincial capital. Authorities are working to identify suspects involved in the murder of the reporter, who had recently written a string of stories about deforestation and timber smuggling in Ratanakiri, where logging and mining in recent years have taken a big toll on the environment. "We have already collected the necessary evidence and we are investigating the case," provincial governor Pao Ham Phan said. Police also found the reporter's camera and press card in the car, which was abandoned at a cashew plantation. The Ratanakiri-based reporter had been beaten with sticks and had bruises on his head and other parts of his body, Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) provincial investigator Chhay Thy said. Intimidation The Club of Cambodian Journalists condemned the murder as a threat to freedom of expression in the country and appealed to the authorities to arrest those responsible. "The Club of Cambodian Journalists regards the murder as an attempt to intimidate professional journalists. The suspects also attempted to obstruct journalists from upholding freedom of press and expression," the group said in a statement. In his most recent article on Sept. 6, Hang Serei Oudom accused the son of a military police commander of smuggling logs in military-plated vehicles and extorting money from people who were legally transporting wood, according to Agence France-Presse. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights and Southeast Asian Press Alliance issued a joint statement calling for a thorough investigation into the case, saying the reporter had uncovered several cases linked to the country's powerful, well-connected elite.Illegal logging Hang Serei Oudom's murder follows the death in April of environmental activist Chut Wutty, who was gunned down while investigating illegal logging in southwestern Cambodia's Koh Kong province. According to military police, Chut Wutty had been leading two journalists from a local newspaper to show them what he thought were illegal logging activities when he was killed. A security guard from a logging company was charged in connection with the murder, but conflicting accounts given by the authorities about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death prompted calls from rights groups for a thorough investigation. Rights groups said Hang Serei Oudom was the first Cambodian journalist killed since 2008, when reporter Khim Sambo and his son were shot dead in Phnom Penh. Khim Sambo, who wrote for the pro-opposition Moneakseka Khmer newspaper, had published an article on nepotism and corruption within Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party. Police have completed Hang Serei Oudom's autopsy and sent his body to the family for the funeral. They have still not established the motive for the murder.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 17, 2012
- Event Description
Alleged attack on human rights defender. According to the information received, on 17 December 2012, Mr. Gunaratne Wanninayaka was attacked outside his home by four unknown individuals carrying assault rifles. Mr. Wanninayaka managed to escape and enter his house, while the armed individuals followed him and attempted unsuccessfully to gain entry to his residence. Mr. Wanninayaka is a high-profile campaigner for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka and is President of the Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyers Association. He was at the forefront of a recent campaign opposing the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Nov 1, 2013
- Event Description
Land activists who were brutally cracked down on at a protest in September submitted video and pictorial evidence of masked suspects slinging marbles, beating and electric shocking them to Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. The group of 70 Borei Keila and Boeung Kak activists are suing Phnom Penh officials for their alleged involvement in the attack on a peaceful vigil at Wat Phnom in September by plain-clothed men as a large security detail stood guard. Eleven people were injured in the unprompted clash, including journalists and rights workers. Su Sophal, who sustained injuries from the crackdown, said he and nine other victims filed a lawsuit at the municipal court last month against four Daun Penh district officials: Sok Penhvuth, deputy chief; Kim Vutha, director of order and regulation; Pich Socheata, council official; and Soa Nol, deputy police chief. "In the morning[yesterday], we took evidence including nine photos and a CD which show the intentional abuse by the suspects ... and handed them to the[municipal] court," Su Sophal said. Meas Chanpiseth, deputy prosecutor, received the evidence and told the protesters that officials are investigating. The protesters also submitted the additional evidence to the national police. Since the Wat Phnom attack on September 22, police and other security officials have frequently employed violence to disrupt land dispute protests, most recently at City Hall on Wednesday. "The court seems to not take up any measures to protect the land activists who are arrested and detained one after one because of those police officials," housing rights activist Tep Vanny said. "However, we hope that the lawsuit will be considered by the court and that the truth will be found. We will get justice." Sok Penhvuth, Daun Penh district deputy chief, and Pich Socheata, an official at Daun Penh district hall, could not be reached for comment.
- Impact of Event
- 11
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 28, 2013
- Event Description
Authorities in China's capital detained an editor of a well-known Uyghur website over the weekend on charges of "attempting to escape the country" before releasing him following pressure from a number of prominent activists. Perhat Halmurat, an editor for Uyghur Online, was taken into custody at Beijing International Airport around midnight on Sept. 28, minutes before his scheduled departure to Turkey, he told RFA's Uyghur Service following his release. He had received a scholarship for anthropology at Istanbul University and was traveling to Turkey to pursue his studies. The Uyghur Online website is run by university professor Ilham Tohti, a vocal critic of the Chinese government's treatment of Uyghurs, whose homeland is in China's northwestern Xinjiang region and who complain of discrimination by the authorities and the country's majority Han Chinese. Perhat Halmurat, who is ethnically Uyghur, said that authorities never explained to him why he had been taken into custody where he was held for 16 hours, but that the documents he was given on his release stated that he was "attempting to escape overseas." "When I was arrested I told them that I did not break any law and was innocent," he said. "The police didn't say anything about what law I broke, nor did they explain why I was being arrested. There was no official seal on the warrant, which only stated in the reason section "attempted to escape the country.' I oppose the allegations." He said that only through the intervention of a number of prominent activists-including Ilham Tohti, activist artist Ai Weiwei and rights lawyer Wang Lixiong-was he released. "When the police took me in, I informed Ilham Tohti through my girlfriend. Later, Ilham Tohti contacted Ai Weiwei, Wang Lixiong and other human rights lawyers," he said. "With their help I was released after 16 hours. I express my gratitude to those who worked on behalf of my release." Uyghur Online published a report after Perhat Halmurat's release, detailing his experience in detention. The young man from Illi Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture's Tokkuztara (in Chinese, Gongliu) county, near Xinjiang's Ghujla (in Chinese, Yining) city, was educated in Chinese schools from a very early age and was fluent in Mandarin Chinese. He received a bachelor's degree in ethnic studies from Beijing's Minzu University in 2012 and had been pursuing graduate studies in anthropology at the same university before his planned trip Turkey. He has no criminal record. Xinjiang role Ilham Tohti confirmed that he and other activists had worked to secure Perhat Halmurat's release, adding that the pressure may have led the Beijing police to refuse to hand him over to authorities from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region who he said had originally ordered his detention. "Not even the Xinjiang police would explain to him why he was detained," he said, adding that he believed the police in Xinjiang had likely "wanted to ask him questions about[other Uyghur activists]." "The reason why the Beijing police did not give Perhat up to the Xinjiang authorities is that they don't agree with the arbitrary detentions frequently employed in Xinjiang. But we really don't know why he was detained in the first place." According to Ilham Tohti, Perhat Halmurat was arrested in front of his girlfriend and family members. He had previously visited Hong Kong and other East Asian countries, including majority Muslim Malaysia, without any intervention from the government. But he added that people associated with Uyghur Online, including a former volunteer for the website who was detained at the Beijing airport in July as he prepared to fly to Turkey to continue his studies and remains missing, were "always at the center of the government's attention." "The detention of Perhat Halmurat and disappearance of[former volunteer] Mutellip Imin ... shows how little space there is for freedom of speech in China," he said. "The authorities are breaking their own laws, blocking the channels we[Uyghurs] have to communicate with the government and the Chinese people. I condemn the Xinjiang authority's systematic oppression against these authors and other people who are expressing their discontent in a peaceful way." Other detentions Ilham Tohti was himself detained in February at the Beijing airport and prevented from taking a flight to the United States to take up a post as a visiting scholar at Indiana University. Following Beijing's refusal to allow him to leave the country, unknown hackers attacked his website, which is hosted overseas and discusses Uyghur social issues and news from Xinjiang, briefly shutting it down. He has spoken out for better implementation of China's regional autonomy laws in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs say they have long suffered ethnic discrimination, oppressive religious controls, and continued poverty and joblessness. Another of Uyghur Online's webmasters, Shohret, was detained and interrogated earlier this year by police and forced to disclose Uyghur Online webmaster passwords, sources said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2013
- Event Description
A group of Vietnamese dissidents and their families detailed on Thursday their harrowing experience when police broke up a dinner party at a blogger's house, violently beat them, and dragged them away on the ground in pouring rain. All eight of them have been released following the raid on blogger Nguyen Tuong Thuy's house on Wednesday night but have yet to recover from the shocking experience, accusing the police of brutality and abusing their legal authority. "They broke the door and entered the house without any notice or papers for legal order," Nguyen Thi Nhung, the mother of activist Nguyen Phuong Uyen, told RFA's Vietnamese Service. "They went upstairs where we were and held our hair and pushed us against the wall violently. It was very cruel." "It was raining very hard but they threw us on the ground and dragged us to the car," Nhung said. "We were all soaked, without shoes. It was like an abduction." Uyen, a 21-year-old student activist who was released earlier this year after her sentence for spreading "anti-state propaganda" was reversed, has gotten a fever after beatings that made her nose bleed and left her face swollen, her mother said. Farewell dinner The group had gathered at Thuy's house to have a farewell dinner for Uyen and her mother, who were about to fly back to their home in southern Vietnam's Long An province following a visit to Hanoi. Also herded away to the police station in Hanoi's Thanh Tri district were Thuy's wife and daughter as well as Duong Thi Tan - the ex-wife of jailed popular blogger Nguyen Van Hai - and Le Quoc Quyet, the brother of prominent rights lawyer Le Quoc Quan, who is set to stand trial next week on tax evasion charges. Police took Nhung and daughter Uyen to the airport and forced them on a plane home late Wednesday night. Nhung said police dragged them across the floor and assaulted them. "Her feet are still bleeding," she said of Uyen. Tan said she went to the airport with a small group of people to try to see the pair off, but police and plainclothesmen forcibly stopped her from meeting them. "[The police] pushed me down on the floor. I don't know what they used but after that I saw my hand bleeding profusely, my body ached," she said. "When I got home, I checked and saw many bruises. I don't know how they did it but I know policemen were trained very well to beat people," she said. Le Quoc Quyet injured Quyet was also beaten harshly in the raid. "They kicked him on both sides of his torso," his mother Nguyen Thi Tram told RFA, saying she was caring for his injuries and she was concerned he was severely injured. "I'm worried that he might have some internal injuries," she said. Quyet has been campaigning for the release of his brother, an outspoken blogger actively involved in a string of anti-China demonstrations last year over Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea. "I saw[police] grabbing his[Quyet's] neck and throwing him out," said Tan, who was also not spared beatings. "I saw them kicking him.... They kicked him in the face a lot," she said. "I was in terrible pain myself and could not think much." Activists said they were given no legal reason for the raid and police carried no papers for the detention. Unwarranted Thuy said the raid on his house was unwarranted and that only a few of those who carried it out were police in uniform while most were in plainclothes. "According to the law, officers on duty have to wear uniforms and name badges and have to show their papers to prove they are from the government and what agency they come from," he told RFA. "It was wrong. Even a child would know that." The blogger, who has written critically of the government and been interrogated by police six times, said the incident was not the first time he had faced harassment from local authorities. "Now this time they came to destroy my house," he said. Hanoi police director Nguyen Duc Chung refused to comment when contacted by RFA on Thursday. The Thanh Tri district police chief could not be reached. Police surveillance and harassment is a common experience for dissident bloggers and dissidents in Vietnam, where dozens have been jailed for speaking out online since the one-party communist state stepped up a crackdown three years ago.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
Radio Free Asia?searchterm=activist)
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2013
- Event Description
IN a brutal show of force, dozens of police and thugs dressed in civilian clothes descended on a peaceful vigil at Wat Phnom last night, and set upon the roughly 20 protesters with slingshots, batons and electric prods. At least six people were injured, while an additional five were treated at Calmette Hospital for slight wounds. An unknown number of people - journalists and rights workers among them - sustained injuries from electric prods and marbles fired from slingshots by men in facemasks who appeared to be under police protection. The forces arrived at about 10pm last night, just as the protesters were clearing up the area where they had staged a demonstration for peace - spelling out the word "justice" with candles. As they left the area, according to witnesses, police and a group of young men began shooting marbles into the group with slingshots. "They were hidden behind the stupa and wearing civilian clothing," Boeung Kak activist Bo Chorvy said. Several witnesses said the group appeared to be intent on catching high-profile activist Tep Vanny, who ran into a car when the clash began and was allowed through the gates of the US Embassy - only after the windows of the car had been smashed in by the attackers. Her mother, Si Heap, was among those badly wounded after a longan-sized marble was slung between her eyes. Also seriously injured was activist Nhet Khun, 73, who was shot in the chest with a marble and may have suffered a lung injury, according to witnesses at Calmette. Doctors were not immediately available for comment. "The police arrived with[electric prods] and ran after me and my friend and began kicking him," said Phan Chunreth, who sustained a head injury after being kicked to the ground by police. "It was the police who did that, but the other men came at us with sticks." As journalists and human rights workers approached the scene shortly after 10pm, thugs armed with electric batons, sticks and slingshots chased them down the street while police looked on. Several journalists and rights workers were shocked with the electric prods and hit with marbles as they ran away, while a Post journalist had his camera smashed. According to Chorvy, a US Embassy vehicle attempted to enter the area but was forced to turn around by police. Stunning as the brutality was, however, a marked lack of police presence chilled many. Unlike at the incidents at Stung Meanchey and the Kbal Thnal overpass, few - if any - officers were sent to the scene after violence broke out. Over the course of an hour and a half, only a single truck carrying a dozen military police officers drove through the nearly deserted streets leading to Wat Phnom. "I think they're trying to kill all Cambodians," an agitated Bopha Vi said, while watching the thugs wave tasers in the air in the distance. "The boys try to kill us and the police try too." Military police spokesman Kheng Tito said he was unaware of the incident but defended the actions saying, "the people wanted to do something, but our force stopped[them], would not allow them to do anything." On 27 September 2013, a Joint Urgent Appeal was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Cambodian government has not responded.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to information, Right to property, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 17, 2013
- Event Description
COLOMBO -- A Sri Lankan media rights group on Sunday accused the military of intimidating journalists who reported a deadly army crackdown on villagers protesting at contaminated water supplies. The army has been come under pressure after soldiers fired on unarmed locals on August 1 in a village outside Colombo, killing three, as they protested against a factory which they say polluted their ground water. The Free Media Movement (FMM) said the army summoned reporters, photographers and video persons to give evidence as part of a military investigation into the incident. "Summoning the journalists who were also badly assaulted by the army to give evidence is seen by us as further intimidation," FMM convener Sunil Jayasekera told AFP. "They (the media) were asked to come to an army camp on Saturday, but they did not comply." Jayasekera said the rights group was willing to cooperate with a separate police investigation also under way , but not one conducted by the army considering its own soldiers were accused of wrongdoing. "We have asked the military to tell us under what law are they summoning the journalists to army camps to give evidence." Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya denied troops were intimidating witnesses, and said they issued summonses in the interests of a fair inquiry and to corroborate evidence gathered so far. At least 26 journalists have fled Sri Lanka in the past five years to escape threats, intimidation, violence and imprisonment, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. At least five journalists have been killed in the same period. Sri Lanka was ranked 162 out of 179 countries in a recent press freedom index compiled by the Paris-based Reporters without Borders. Media rights groups say journalists have been forced to self-censor their work due to fear of attacks. Residents of Weliweriya, the village 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Colombo, have also told Sri Lanka's Human Rights Council of their fear of intimidation following army summonses to give evidence, local media reports said Sunday. The U.S. and the European Union have condemned the August 1 shooting and called for a speedy civilian inquiry to prosecute those responsible. The incident comes ahead of a visit next week by U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay, who has demanded an international probe into alleged war crimes by Sri Lankan forces during the final stages of a war against Tamil rebels in 2009.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to Protest
- Source
[China Post](http://China Post
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 27, 2012
- Event Description
Nguyen Cong Chinh, 43, allegedly wrote and distributed material that slandered government authorities and "distorted Vietnam's domestic situation". His sentence was made worse by ties with anti-government groups. For Human Rights Watch, his conviction is "yet another demonstration" that Vietnam violates freedom of religion. A Vietnamese court has sentenced the pastor of a banned Mennonite church to 11 years in prison for undermining national unity. State media today reported Tuesday that Nguyen Cong Chinh was found guilty of writing and spreading material that slandered government authorities and "distorted Vietnam's domestic situation." He was also accused of ties with anti-government groups. Rev Chinh's conviction is the latest case of religious repression in Vietnam but not the only one. Yesterday, Vietnamese authorities denied entry to a Vatican commission working on the cause of beatification of Card V?n Thu?n. Rev Nguyen Cong Chinh, a 43-year-old Mennonite clergyman, was accused of sending documents to anti-government organisations in Vietnam and overseas. "He distorted the domestic situation, calumniating the government, the state and the army in interviews with the foreign media," the English-language Vietnam News daily said, quoting the court. His one-day trial was held yesterday in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, where Chinh was arrested in April 2011. For Human Rights Watch, Chinh's conviction is "yet another demonstration" that Vietnam disregards freedom of religion. Government repression is especially hard on small minority groups and sects that are not affiliated with state-sanctioned religious associations. Mennonites are the largest Anabaptist group, with about 1.5 million members around the world, especially in the United States, Canada, Africa and India. In Vietnam, they have no official status. Today's conviction comes after the authorities cancelled entry visas for a Vatican commission travelling to the Southeast Asian nation to hear the cause of beatification of Card Francis Xavier Nguyen V?n Thu?n. Card Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and was due to visit Vietnam from 23 March to 9 April, was scheduled to lead the Holy See delegation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to fair trial
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Aug 21, 2013
- Event Description
An anti-mining activist from Nueva Vizcaya went missing since August 21, the human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley claimed this week. Bryan Epa, 34, was reported missing after police allegedly arrested him on August 21 in Barangay Salvacion, Dumlao Boulevard in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Barangay official Alfonso Shog-oy reportedly saw six policemen taking Epa aboard their patrol vehicle and announced during the arrest that Epa will be taken into custody because he looked "suspicious.' Shog-oy reported that Epa resisted arrest but was punched in the stomach by two of the policemen, and then hit in the hand by a baton. The following day, Shog-oy and lawyer Fidel Santos reportedly sought Epa at the police station, but they did not find him there. Later, the police claimed that they have released a detained person on the same night that Epa was arrested, but records showed instead that it was another person- Felix Bacsa, Jr.- who was released and not Epa. Epa has figured in the protest movement in Nueva Vizcaya opposing the entry of Australian mining company Royalco Philippines, Inc. He is also reportedly among the locals manning the barricades, set up since 2007 to prevent mining equipment. As such, the Manila-based group Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) is expressing its concern over the continued disappearance of Epa. According to KAMP, there had been 35 extra-judicial killings of indigenous peoples since Pres. Benigno Aquino III took office.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
PhilStar | http://www.landcoalition.org/sites/default/files/publication/1614/Compilation_LER_HRD_Dec2013_final.pdf)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Sep 2, 2013
- Event Description
COLOMBO : A Catholic-run human rights group working in northeastern Sri Lanka said Monday it had been harassed by security personnel after meeting UN rights chief Navi Pillay last week. Pillay ended her first official visit to the formerly war-ravaged country at the weekend with a stinging press conference in which she accused the government of becoming "increasingly authoritarian". Veerasan Yogeswaran, a 60-year-old Jesuit priest who runs the Centre for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, said five or six plainclothes policemen visited him at midnight and before dawn, just hours after the meeting with Pillay. "The concern is that they are going to homes at midnight and questioning people," the priest told AFP from his home in Trincomalee, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo. "This should not happen four years after the war has ended. People feel harassed and intimidated. "Just imagine the plight of the ordinary people when they are visited at midnight by the security forces." Pillay denounced the intimidation of people she had spoken to during her week-long fact-finding mission to probe alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, which is under international pressure over its rights record. "This type of surveillance and harassment appears to be getting worse in Sri Lanka, which is a country where critical voices are quite often attacked or even permanently silenced," she said on Saturday. The Centre for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in eastern Sri Lanka helps families of people who went missing during and after Sri Lanka's decades-long Tamil separatist war as well as people in detention. Rights activist Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, who heads the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), said he travelled to the war-affected districts of Mullaittivu and Jaffna and spoke to local people who also said they were questioned after meeting Pillay. "I have had reports confirming that civilians who spoke with her... had been visited and questioned by people they suspected to be military intelligence or army," Saravanamuttu told AFP. The CPA chief who is a member of the ethnic Tamil minority is routinely denounced on state television as a traitor and Tamil Tiger supporter. Sri Lanka's government has criticised Pillay, saying that she transgressed her mandate. It denied anyone who spoke with her had been harassed. Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the government was prepared to probe her allegations of intimidation if she could provide evidence. "Those who make these allegations are only trying to discredit the country," Rambukwella told reporters. "If there is a complaint from them to the law enforcement authorities, we are ready to have a complete investigation." There was no immediate comment from the UN in Colombo or Pillay's office in Geneva to government demands for evidence of intimidation. Sri Lanka's battle with separatists from the minority ethnic Tamil group ended in 2009 with a no-holds-barred military offensive which crushed the Tamil Tiger rebel group. The military campaign sparked allegations that troops killed up to 40,000 civilians and committed other war crimes such as executing surrendering Tamil rebels and shelling civilian centres which had been declared no-fire zones. In March, the UN passed a second resolution in as many years pressing Sri Lanka to investigate alleged war crimes more thoroughly.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Sep 17, 2013
- Event Description
MANILA, Philippines-Militant farmers on Wednesday decried the arrest of Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap and 10 other agrarian reform advocates at Hacienda Luisita, branding it as an example of human rights abuses purportedly committed every day at the sugar estate owned by President Benigno Aquino III's family in Tarlac. Hicap was attending a fact-finding mission on land distribution in the sugar estate at about noon Tuesday when he and his 10 companions were apprehended by members of the Philippine National Police. The group was reportedly being held at the Tarlac City Police Station on charges of illegal assembly, direct assault, trespass to dwelling and malicious mischief. In a statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas described the arrests of Hicap and the other agrarian reform advocates as an example of purported abuses experienced by farm workers and residents of Hacienda Luisita. "The national fact-finding mission team (was) in Hacienda Luisita to document political and economic rights abuses suffered by farm workers," KMP secretary general Antonio Flores said. "Unfortunately, the team experienced first-hand the day-to-day violence experienced by Hacienda Luisita farm workers and residents," he said. The KMP said no formal complaint had been lodged against Hicap and his 10 companions as of Wednesday morning even as they remained under the custody of Tarlac police. "The illegal arrest and detention of Ka Pando and 10 other land reform advocates show that Hacienda Luisita is under a state of terror," Flores said. "Even[a] person who supposedly enjoys parliamentary immunity was not spared. Imagine the life of an ordinary Hacienda Luisita farm worker at the hands of the President's family," he said. "And this state of terror is continuously being used as a major component of the Cojuangco-Aquinos and the Department of Agrarian Reform's campaign of deception and denial of Hacienda Luisita farm workers' rights to the lands," Flores said. The KMP reiterated its calls for the "free distribution" of Hacienda Luisita, insisting that the distribution of the landholdings "should be beyond the bounds of the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program." "Hacienda Luisita should be distributed for free," Flores said, noting that the order of the Supreme Court to compensate the landowner "does not automatically mean that farmers should pay amortization." The group also accused the Tarlac Development Corporation (Tadeco), a firm controlled by the Cojuangco family, of land grabbing and eviction of Hacienda Luisita farm workers. The group said Tadeco issued a "notice to vacate" dated July 30, 2013 and received in August, instructing farmers in Barangay Sta. Catalina (now Cutcut) inside Hacienda Luisita to stop planting and leave the land within 15 days from the receipt of the letter. The KMP said farm workers in Barangay Balete received similar demand letters from Tadeco in what it called "blatant land grabbing."
- Impact of Event
- 11
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 1, 2013
- Event Description
A popular Buddhist leader and advocate for herders' rights in China's Inner Mongolia region is in failing health following his arrest on charges of "fraud," a rights group said on Monday. Yunshaabiin Seevendoo, who was detained for a month before being formally arrested on July 4 for the "crime of fraud," is being held in the Right Ujumchin Banner[county] Detention Center and denied visitation rights, according to the U.S.-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC). The group said family members are concerned about the deteriorating health of Seevendoo, who had frequently clashed with Chinese authorities over his efforts to organize ethnic Mongolian herders to uphold their rights to collective ownership of threatened grasslands. Interviewed by phone, Seevendoo's wife Hongmei told SMHRIC that she had been shown an arrest warrant "without any further details of the alleged crime," adding that she and the couple's children had been allowed to visit him only once since he was taken into custody. "I am really concerned about his health," Hongmei said. "He had a serious kidney problem and had been in medication until his arrest. The condition at the detention center is terrible, and he has no access to any medical treatment." "During my visit last month I noticed his health was deteriorating," she said. Outspoken criticism SMHRIC said that Seevendoo's activities promoting herders' self-organization and self-empowerment and his outspoken criticism of the Chinese authorities' "illegal" land expropriation had put him at high risk for harassment and retaliation from local officials and the government. Beginning in 2008, Seevendoo had worked to help ethnic Mongolian herders request Certificates of Collective Land Ownership "to defend their grazing lands collectively from government and corporate encroachment," the group said. "Inner Mongolia's grassland is suffering from the worst environmental rampage in history," Seevendoo told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post in an interview last year. "Fear won't save us," he said. "The invaders charge like wolves when we're afraid but scatter like rats when we're angry," Seevendoo told the Post. "It's time to fight back." The newspaper said that Seevendoo had been previously arrested for "compiling, printing and distributing illegal publications," though these were only pamphlets of Chinese laws translated into the Mongolian language. The report also referred to his direct confrontation of local officials and mining company representatives who attempted to seize the Mongolian herders' grazing land. Herders 'unaware' of rights According to China's Land Law, Inner Mongolia's grasslands "should be, and mostly had been" divided among self-governing pastoral communities called gachas, the Post said in a July 19, 2012 report. "It was just that the Mongolian gacha chiefs, themselves herdsmen, had never been told, and were therefore entirely unaware that they owned the land," the newspaper said. Ethnic Mongolians, who make up almost 20 percent of Inner Mongolia's population of 23 million, frequently complain of environmental destruction and unfair development policies in the region. On Aug. 19, Bayanbaatar, a Mongolian herder, was beaten to death by Han Chinese railroad workers while protesting the occupation of grazing lands. He was at least the fifth Mongolian herder to die amid altercations over grazing land in recent years, including one who committed suicide in July after stabbing to death the head of a local "livestock grazing prohibition team." In 2011, the death of herder Murgen, who was run over by a worker driving a coal-hauling truck while protesting the destruction of grazing lands by a mining company, triggered weeks of demonstrations by herders and students across Inner Mongolia.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Sep 9, 2013
- Event Description
Vietnamese police have summoned bloggers for questions and accused them of holding "illegal gatherings" at the U.S. and Swedish embassies in Hanoi. The bloggers are conducting a campaign of meetings at foreign embassies to lobby against Article 258, which makes it a crime to speak or write in a way that infringes upon Vietnam's state interests. The bloggers say the law is meant to curb free speech and dissent and they want western governments to pressure Hanoi to repeal the measure. Police say the gatherings at the embassies are illegal because they did not have permits. No one has been formally detained yet. Blogger Nguyen Dinh Ha, a participant in the campaign, told VOA's Vietnamese service the questioning shows how severely human rights are violated in Vietnam. "The reason stated for the summon violates freedom of movement and the basic civil rights of the people in this country. For so long, we've been protesting against those regulations banning 'gatherings without permission' because they violate basic human rights. Those rules are nonsense and severely violate our rights," he said. The bloggers stress that their campaign will keep going with more stops at foreign embassies. The U.S. and other western governments have been critical of Vietnam's human rights record, including its suppression of free speech and dissent.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Internet freedom, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Dec 19, 2018
- Event Description
Activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri was questioned today by the police in regards to a forum discussing a review of Malaysia's history textbooks held in July. This the second time the police have recorded her statement, the first time being in September, following a police report lodged by an NGO Gerakan Islam Muslimah Malaysia against her regarding the forum. During a media conference held at the Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) office in Petaling Jaya today, human rights group raised concerns over activists being 'targeted' by the police. Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni (below) said Amnesty is concerned about the continued harassment Fadiah has been receiving from the authorities and called for a stop to the harassment against activists. "The forum that Fadiah was speaking at a few months ago was an academic discourse. It was to discuss Malaysia's history in a space which should have been provided for to encourage that kind of conversation, debate, and critical thinking into Malaysia's history. "And that is what the freedom of expression is. It is a place for debate to happen. While there can be voices that agree and disagree, the space should have been protected and safe in order for the discourse to happen in the first place," she said. In July, Fadiah was a panelist in a forum in Kuala Lumpur which was hijacked by certain people who were against the discussion which Fadiah said was held in relations to People's History of Malayan Emergency where they commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Malayan Emergency. Fadiah said that she explained to two police officers who visited her at the Suaram office in Petaling Jaya today about the heated argument that broke out between organisers and a group of protesters during the forum. "Some people, whom we did not know, came and started shouting and hurling racist remarks saying that we were trying to advocate communism in Malaysia. "The organisers and speakers managed to calm everyone down and at the end of the forum, one of them apologised. "They said that they accepted our explanation that this is a discourse about history and that we should not make racist remarks. "We had explained that we should actually listen to this part of history, which is important to our country in order to address some of problems that we have, for example, racism and inequality," she said. Suaram project coordinator Mohammad Alshatri said that activists should be given the freedom to express their opinions in public spaces without intimidation from anyone. "In Fadiah's case, when there's an intimidation, the police should investigate thoroughly, not simply target certain individuals who were contributing to the forum itself," he said, adding that Suaram will craft a protection mechanism to be proposed to the government so that activists can express themselves publicly without feeling threatened. Fadiah reiterated that she will continue to speak up as an activist despite receiving intimidation and threats from certain quarters. "The fear is there because I'm human. I fear for the safety of my family too. Some netizens commented that they would kill or rape me. But I think my responsibility is bigger than my fear and I'm going to deal with it," she said. Earlier, in July, she was also questioned twice by police regarding her controversial column she published in a blog Malaysia Muda, as well as on the vigil held in solidarity with her in front of the Brickfields district police headquarters
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Mar 21, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have detained a labor activist who campaigned for workers affected by workplace-related sickness and injury. Wei Zhili was taken away during a 1:00 a.m. encounter with police on Thursday, as he made his way back to his parental home in the provincial capital Guangzhou, the Weiquanwang rights website reported. "The police then entered and searched his room, handcuffing him and confiscating his possessions," the report said. Police accused Wei of opposing the ruling Chinese Communist Party and of "disrupting public order." They told his parents he had been "brainwashed" into his activism, and was being taken away for "re-education." The same night, fellow activist Ke Chengbing was also detained, Wei's wife told RFA. Wei's detention came after he and Ke had supported workers in the central province of Hunan to pursue compensation for pneumoconiosis linked their working conditions. "They have long been concerned about the living conditions and rights of ... migrant workers, and have spoken out on behalf of vulnerable groups with no concern for themselves," Weiquanwang's report said. Wei's wife Zheng Churan, one of the five feminists detained ahead of International Women's Day 2015, said she had made inquiries with police in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, where Wei worked. "I couldn't get any information," Zheng said. "The police station near his[parental home] denied that they had detained him." "As for Ke Chengbing, I am pretty certain that he has been detained, because the police told Wei's parents that they were detaining a lot of people that night, and Ke Chengbing has been incommunicado for more than 24 hours now," she said. Crackdown on labor movements The detentions come amid an ever-widening crackdown on grassroots labor movements in Chinese factories. Activists in Hong Kong have called for the release of more than 30 former workers at the Jasic Technology factory in neighboring Guangdong province and members of the Jasic Workers' Solidarity Group (JWSG), who were supporting them. At least 44 labor activists, students, and recent graduates of China's top universities have been "disappeared" or criminally detained since the nationwide crackdown on the Jasic labor movement, which started in July and continued with further waves of arrests and detentions in August, September, November, and January, the JWSG reported on its Github page. Among the "disappeared" are Sun Yat-sen University graduate and Jasic movement spokeswoman Shen Mengyu and Peking University #MeToo campaigner Yue Xin.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Labour rights, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Labour rights defender
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 28, 2018
- Event Description
The Kanyakumari police authorities illegally detained two journalists from Tamil Nadu on 28 and 29 November 2018. D Anandhakumar and M Sriram, who are both Chennai-based journalists, were assisting two French investigative journalists Arthur Bouvart and Jules Giraudat in documenting the threats to journalists reporting on illegal beach sand mining in the state. The four of them had visited Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. On the morning of 26 November 2018, the two French journalists along with a local parish priest Father Kildoss, met an official at the Indian Rare Earths Limited. Neither Anand nor Sriram were aware at this point that the French journalists intended to visit IREL or that they had already entered the premises; they were in their respective hotel rooms when the priest and the two French journalists met with IREL officials. IREL is the Central government's beach sand mining agency and comes under the purview of the Department of Atomic Energy-it is a prohibited and high-security zone. Later in the day, around 12:30 PM, Anand and Sriram met with the French journalists elsewhere in Kanyakumari district. It is only after the priest told them that the three of them (the priest and both French journalists) had entered IREL, that the Tamil Nadu-based journalists realised what had happened. After a series of calls from unknown persons, all of them decided it was time to pack their bags and leave. The two French journalists returned to Paris via Trivandrum and Mumbai, while Anand and Sriram returned to Chennai on the morning of 27 November 2018. Throughout the day on 27 November 2018, Anand and Sriram continued to receive calls from Kanyakumari DSP Bhaskaran. He demanded over the phone that they arrive in person by 28 November 2018 (the next day) and said that they would be allowed to return to Chennai the same day after giving their statement. They were told that it was only an enquiry. Both Anand and Sriram left Chennai-voluntarily-on the night of 27 November 2018 and arrived in Kanyakumari the next morning (28 November 2018) and met DSP Bhaskaran in his office at 11 am. An enquiry took place with representatives from the Intelligence Bureau, state Intelligence, Q Branch, CID and other agencies, with the DSP acting as the investigating officer. In the middle of the enquiry, the two French journalists made a video call via WhatsApp to Anand's mobile phone and spoke to the DSP. They explained their credentials as journalists and also displayed their ID proofs to the police personnel, one of whom recorded the entire conversation on his mobile phone. The questioning of Anand and Sriram went on for hours, during which DSP Bhaskaran specifically and repeatedly told Anand not to mention anything about illegal beach sand mining or take the name of the key miner VV Mineral. He also "educated" Anand that coastal erosion had nothing to do with beach sand mining and that it was due to "global warming". The DSP repeatedly told Anand not to tell the other investigative agencies about the fact that they were actually working with French journalists on the impacts of illegal beach sand mining. After this, Anand and Sriram were asked to write a statement and sign it, to which they complied. But by around 3 pm, the duo was taken to room number 412 in Sun World Hotel-and locked up. Their mobiles were taken away. They were brought back to the DSP's office six hours later-that too only after several concerned journalists persistently called the police asking why had they been illegally detained in the first place. Subsequently, the duo was taken to Kanyakumari police station. Following this, Sriram was allowed to go back to the Hotel while Anand continued to be detained illegally at Kanyakumari police station. He did not have access to his mobile phone. Alarmed by the number of calls that began pouring in from journalists across the country, who were demanding to know from the DSP and local Kanyakumari police as to why Anand was being detained illegally, the police returned Anand's mobile phone to him at around 1.30am and dropped him back at the Hotel around 3am where he and Sriram stayed the night-along with four policemen sitting inside the room as they slept. The next day, 29 November 2018, the duo was once again taken to the DSP's office and were asked to sign summons stating that they would appear before the police for questioning on the same day at 2 pm. However, Anand refused to sign the papers until a lawyer had vetted the same. Senior lawyer D Geetha then intervened and the police finally released both the journalists-but only after DSP Bhaskaran claimed that they were not in police custody. Anand and Srira returned to Chennai by around 10 pm on the same night. Subsequently, the Kanyakumari police, instead of stating facts, have stated the two French journalists were "spies." This has been reported widely in the vernacular and English media. Kanyakumari SP R Shree Nath and DSP Bhaskaran, both have gone on record with an assorted variety of contradictory versions-and insist that the two Tamil Nadu journalists were present along with the French journalists when they entered the premises of IREL. The Manavalakuruchi police has also booked the two French journalists under Section 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) of the IPC, along with sections 14(A) (penalty for for entry in restricted areas), 14(B) (penalty for using forged passport) and 14(C) (penalty for abetment) of the Foreigners Act.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2013
- Event Description
Chinese authorities have detained an activist who was accompanying detained veteran dissident Zhang Lin's family while they visited Shanghai to apply for a U.S. visa for Zhang's 10-year-old daughter. Yao Cheng, a close friend of Zhang's, was taken away late Tuesday after more than a dozen police raided a hotel where he and the family were staying, Zhang's former wife Fang Cao said. The family was in Shanghai to apply for a visa for Zhang Anni to leave China as a last resort after they were unable to secure a place in school for her during the new academic year. Anni was removed from an Anhui province school in February, sparking protests that she was being punished for her father's activism. Yao had been helping take care of the family while Zhang, a veteran activist with a banned opposition party, is held on public disorder charges stemming from a long-running dispute with the authorities over Anni's schooling. In the raid, police from Anhui and Shanghai took Yao away in handcuffs, Fang said in an interview Wednesday. "I don't know where they have taken him," she said. "I have no way of contacting him now, and Yao Cheng's family has had no official information, either." "[The police] showed no documents, except the ID of the Shanghai police officers who checked the room," she said. "I asked them why they were taking him away, and they said it had nothing to do with me." Application denied Fang said the family had turned to relatives in the United States as a last resort after a school in Nanjing turned down their application for Anni. "We are planning to send her to my aunt's family in America, so she can go to school there," Fang said. Uncle Yao Cheng Anni gave her own account of the raid. "They said they had to check our[hotel] room yesterday evening at about 11:00 p.m., so my mother and sister showed their ID cards," she said. "Then they came to check my uncle Yao Cheng's ID card. One of them said 'Yes, that's Yao Cheng,' and took him away." "About 10 or 20 minutes later, they came back to uncle Yao Cheng's room to pick up his things, and then they left," Anni said. Campaign for schooling Zhang, a veteran activist with the banned opposition China Democracy Party (CDP), was formally arrested on Aug. 22 for "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order" following a dispute with the authorities after they pulled Anni out of primary school in February. In April, Zhang and Anni left the provincial capital of Anhui for the family's hometown of Bengbu after more than 30 activists from around the country converged on Hefei in protest at Anni's Feb. 27 removal from the city's Hupo Elementary School by police. The family was held under house arrest and Anni was still denied permission to attend school, prompting Zhang to escape house arrest to press his case with National People's Congress delegates in Beijing. State security police brought the pair back to Bengbu amid firm promises that Anni could attend school and that no retaliatory action would be taken. But the authorities swiftly moved against Zhang, holding him under criminal detention soon after his return, and prompting a lone protest from Anni outside the Bengbu detention center, where she held up a placard which read: "Release my father and let me go to school." Anni said she was worried that the police would continue to detain the rest of her family. Right to education Fellow activist Kang Suping, who is tutoring Anni at home, said the authorities' action against Anni was unacceptable. "Even if her father was a murderer, she would still have the right to an education," Kang said. "My motivation for helping her was that simple; I wanted her to have an education." "She hasn't done anything[wrong]...She desperately wants to go to school, and I feel very sorry for her and her helpless situation." "They should at least give the child a way forward." The campaign for Anni's schooling sparked clashes with unidentified men in Anhui, as well as the detention of journalist Sun Lin, who filmed it for the overseas-based news website Boxun. China's nationwide "stability maintenance" system, which now costs more to run than its People's Liberation Army, tracks the movements and activities of anyone engaged in political or rights activism across the country. Under this system, activists and outspoken intellectuals are routinely put under house arrest or other forms of surveillance at politically sensitive times. Zhang, 50, is a veteran of the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Anhui and served more than 13 years in prison on subversion charges for his political activities since the banning of the opposition China Democracy Party (CDP) in 1998.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to education, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Dec 5, 2018
- Event Description
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said today he has been called in for questioning tomorrow morning, likely over investigations into fellow activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri. The human rights activist said when contacted by the Brickfields police district headquarters, the officer speaking to him could not provide further details beyond that. "Earlier in July, when Fadiah was called in for investigation under sedition at the same place over her article on Malaysia Muda, I helped to organise a solidarity event outside the compound. "During the event, I made a speech where I called for the abolition of the Sedition Act 1948, for the government to implement what they had promised, and to ask for a moratorium on the Act's usage. Perhaps that could be why," Sevan told Malay Mail when contacted. Another possibility he has not ruled out is a forum he had helped organise several months ago in Kuala Lumpur, where the Malayan Emergency was discussed. "I have been made to understand the police will also call in Fadiah tomorrow, so I cannot say for certain what the actual reason is," Sevan said. He was earlier notified of being called in on Tuesday, and is set to appear at the Brickfields police district headquarters at 10.30am tomorrow.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Dec 7, 2018
- Event Description
Vietnamese activist Nguyen Trung Ton, currently serving a 12-year jail sentence, is being punished by prison authorities for maintaining his innocence of charges he plotted to overthrow his country's communist government, his wife said on Friday. Shortly after visiting her husband in prison, Nguyen Thi Lanh told RFA's Vietnamese Service that prison authorities are forcing him to sit separately from the other inmates as he reviews prison rules because they are worried that he may influence the others. "They are trying to force him to write a confession every day and accept the accusations against him, but he refuses," Nguyen Thi Lanh, said. "He told them he is fighting for democracy so that people can enjoy all the freedoms specified by the international convention on human rights," she said, adding, "My husband is very firm, and he accepts his imprisonment[over falsely pleading guilty]." Arrested on July 30, 2017 by Vietnamese security officers because of his connection with the Brotherhood for Democracy group, Nguyen was accused of plotting to overthrow the government and charged under Article 79 of Vietnam's penal code. Taken into custody at around the same time were fellow Brotherhood for Democracy members Nguyen Van Tuc, Pham Van Troi, Truong Minh Duc, and Nguyen Bac Truyen, according to information provided by relatives and the website of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. Judicial authorities in Hanoi handed down harsh prison terms to Nguyen and five other Brotherhood for Democracy members on April 5, 2018, earning the condemnation of international rights groups who had called for the charges of subversion to be dropped. Vietnam's one-party communist government is currently detaining at least 130 political prisoners, including rights advocates and bloggers deemed threats to national security, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch. It also controls all media, censors the internet, and restricts basic freedoms of expression.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Dec 4, 2018
- Event Description
Security officers of Ho Chi Minh City's Police Department are still striving to interrogate the wife and the older daughter of democracy activist Tran Thanh Phuong, who was arbitrarily detained by the city's police in early September this year. Mrs. Le Khanh has informed Defend the Defenders that she and her daughter are targetted by the city's police who are willing to summon them for questioning about activities of her husband. Mr. Phuong is still held incommunicado by the city's police since his detention on September 2. On December 3, when she went to the city police's Temporary detention facility where her husband is held to provide him with food, investigation officers told her that they were willing to ask her about her husband's activities. Police officers also told her that they will summon her daughter Tran Le Thanh Hato a police station for the same purpose. Her daughter is only 13 years old. In mid October, police sent a summoning letter to request the kid to go to a local police station for interrogation about her father, however, she did not obey by the police's request. Mr. Phuong is a member of the unregistered group of activists named Hi?n Ph��p (Constitution) which is striving to educatepeople abouthuman rights as well as political and civil rights by disseminating Vietnam's 2013 Constitution among citizens. Its members were key figures in the mass demonstration on June 10 in HCM City which aimed to protest the Vietnamese parliament's plan to approve two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. In the first week of September, in order to prevent public demonstrations during the three-day holiday on the occasion of the Vietnamese Independence Day (September 2) amid online calls for public gathering, security forces in HCM City arrested and kidnapped many government critics, including nine members of the Hi?n Ph��p group. The police in HCM City havekidnapped Mr. Phuong and took him into custody without informing his family about his arrest and detention. Six other members of the group are also kept in the same facility. So far, only four members of the group were charged with controversial articles of the national security provisions in the 2015 Penal Code. Two activists Ngo Van Dung and Ho Van Cuong were accused of "disruption of security" under Article 118, Huynh Truong Ca was alleged with "anti-state propaganda" under Article 117 while Le Minh The was said to had abused democratic freedom under Article 331. Police released Hung Hung but still hold Doan Thi Hong, Tran Hoang Lan, Do The Hoa and Tran Thanh Phuong without announcingformal charges against them. Vietnam's communist regime has intensified its relentless crackdown on local dissent which started in early 2016 when the ruling communist party elected its new leadership with many police generals holding senior posts in the party and state apparatuses. In 2016-2017, Vietnam arrested around 50 activists. So far this year, Hanoi has detained 27 human rights defenders and democracy campaigners and convicted 39 individuals, sentencing them to a total 294.5 years in prison and 66 years of probation. In addition, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were beaten, detained and tortured. As many as 56 of them were sentenced to between eight and 54 months in prison due to their participation in the mid-June protest.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 21, 2018
- Event Description
On 21.12.2018 at around 10 AM, a meeting of "Amra Simantabasi' (we the people of border) was organized at village- Banskothal under Post Office- Sukarur Kuthi, Police Station- Sahebgunj, Block- Dinhata II, District- Cooch Behar, West Bengal. MASUM facilitated the meeting and commoners from the adjoining bordering villages attended the same to discuss about the unnecessary and illegitimate restrictions created by the Border Security Force) BSF to run the normal livelihood activities. The meeting was held at Kadamtala Bazar of the Banskothal village. After the meeting the participants decided to paste posters published by "Amra Simantobasi' addressing the ongoing restrictions by BSF to run normal civil life at Indo- Bangladesh border and they pasted several printed posters at Banskothal Kadamtala Bazar. Matter of the poster was in Bangla, vernacular language, in English translation, it was " BSF should be posted in actual border, not inside the village; BSF should stop creating obstruction to cultivate the land of the villagers; stop torture, trafficking, murder, enforced disappearance of bodies by BSF; punish those officials of BSF who are corrupt and torturous". The commission is aware of the fact that there are thousands of complaints of torture, killing, rape, obstruction to livelihood are pending before your office for years together. It was learnt that at around 6.45 to 7.00 PM, the "Intelligence Babu' of G company of Border Outpost- Banskothal of BSF Battalion No. 38 with other BSF constables, are in uniform and sophisticated arms in their hands, came to Kadamtala Bazar of the Banskothal village and torn the pasted posters, after that they visited the house of Mr. Shah Alam; one of the organizers of the said meeting at the village and a family member of the Ms. Umrao Bewa; a victim of extra judicial killing by BSF (NHRC Case No. 1680-25-6-2014-AFE) and questioned about the organizers and purpose of the meeting. The BSF personnel who visited his house even suggested that the issues could be resolved by mutual discussions and the organizers of the meeting should contact Mr. Nadim Saheb; the Sector Officer over phone to resolve the issue; during the meeting the husband of the local gram panchayet member was also present. Mr. Shah Alam in contrary asked the Sector Officer of BSF over phone to come to the village and discuss the issues with the aggrieved. The Sector Officer queried about the presence of MASUM activists during the meeting and Mr. Shah Alam informed the Sector Officer that Ms. Tilakbala Barman, District human Rights Monitor of MASUM was present during the meeting. This illegal activity of BSF and their intention to curb and stifle the voice of the aggrieved further intensified the solidarity of the populace and they pasted posters at the said locality including the vicinity of the Border Outpost of mentioned BSF rank on 22.12.2018. It was learnt that the BSF officer called the Sahebgunj police station thereafter and made a telephonic complaint and just after that the Officer in Charge of Sahebgunj police station called Mr. Shah Alam asked him to desist from pasting posters at the vicinity of the said BSF camp. The whole illegal actions of BSF and supported by policeare in contravention of rights ensured by the Article 19 (a) of Indian Constitution and Article 19 (1) and (2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The act of BSF is infringing the Goal Number 16 of Sustainable Development Goals earmarked by the United Nations and in both these international instruments; Government of India has responsibility to comply and adhere.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 4, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in the northern province of Thai Binh sent a group of around ten policemen to station near the private residence of prisoner of conscience Nguyen Van Tuc, effectively placing his family's member under house arrest from January January 4, his wife Bui Thi Re informed Defend the Defenders. The police blockage may be related to him who is serving his 13-year imprisonment in Prison camp No. 6 in the central province of Nghe An, she said. Mrs. Re said her husband is under the prison's discipline due to his refusal to attend a political course of the prison which aims to force prisoners to study the communist party's policies. She said the prison's authorities are not happy with him as he has been denying to make confession and admit wrongdoings as the courts stated. In addition, he refuses to wear clothes of the prison which labels Ph?m Nh��n (person who commits criminal acts). She said police are still holding his VND2.53 million ($110) when he was arrested on September 1, 2017, and refused to return the money, saying he has to pay the appeal court's fee of VND400,000 first. Meanwhile, Mr. Tuc refused to pay the fee, arguing that he is innocent and has no obligation to pay. Mrs. Re said police als confiscated an ATM card with VND18 million of their son-in-law and still hold the card. Mr. Tuc, 54, was arrested in September 2017 and charged with "carrying out activities aiming to overthrow the government" for his membership in the unregistered group Brotherhood for Democracy which was established by prominent human rights advocate Nguyen Van Dai. In the trial on April 10, 2018, he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years under house arrest by the People's Court of Thai Binh province. Five months later, the Higher People's Court in Hanoi upheld his sentence. After losing his appeal, he was transferred to the current prison. He has been suffering a number of serious diseases, including hemorroids due to severe conditions in Vietnam's prisons and inhumane treatment against prisoners of conscience. Speaking with Defend the Defenders on January 13, Mrs. Re said policemen stationed her her house in one week and left on January 11. She urged human rights groups to pay attention to her husband.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 14, 2019
- Event Description
Defend the Defenders: One activist working to protest the wrongly-placed An Suong Highway Toll in Ho Chi Minh City had got dissappeared while three others have been blocked by local police and thugs near the facility, according to bloggers. Blogger Vo Hong Ly, one of brave Facebookers in Vietnam on human rights, democracy and anti-corruption as well as environmental issues, said on her Facebook account that there has been no information about activist Huynh Long since late afternoon of January 14 while bloggers Phuong Ngo, Truong Huu Chau Danh and a woman got stuck in a car surrounded by police and thugs since 12 PM of the same day. It is likely Huynh Long got arrested due to his activities which aimed to block and force the An Suong Highway Toll to stop taking money from drivers since it was wrongly placed in the National Road No. 1 in Binh Hung Hoa B ward, Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City. He may be arrested and beaten by police or being kidnapped and tortured by thugs hired by the toll owners, said other activists. Mr. Huynh Long reportedly went to the toll on late afternoon of Monday. Meanwhile, Phuong Ngo, Truong Chau Huu Danhand the woman travelled to the toll area by their car at 6 PM yesterday. Police and thugs reportedly surround their car, not allowing to move. In order to protect themselves, the trio stay in the car and call for helpfrom others. While thugs threaten them, police came to request them to go out, however, the activists refuse. They would be arrested by police or even beaten by thugs if they get out of their car. They stay in the car with little food and water during the night and still in the vehicle, connecting with other bloggers by Facebook. When the report is made, the trio are still in their car after 22 hours. There are 96 of tolls for BOT (Build-Operation-Transfer) for roads in Vietnam, according to the state media and dozens of them were placed wrongly. These tolls belong to interest groups backed by senior officials. In order to protest these wrongly-placed tolls, hundreds of drivers and activists in the country have been gathered to these facilities to block them. Many times, a number of tolls have been forced to suspend their works and remove barriers to allow vehicles go through. Many drivers come with their vehicles to block wrongly-placed tolls while others have been using banknotes with small values or very large values to make their payments longer in minutes or even hours. Under social pressure, many wrongly-placed tolls have been moved to places where they should be. However, An Suong and other tolls are still operating since they still receive strong support from senior officials and local authorities. In order to deal with protesters, authorities in these locations where the wrongly-placed tolls station send police including riot policemen to disperse the peaceful demonstrators. Meanwhile, tolls' owners often hire thugs to threaten and beat drivers. Vietnam has been spending huge financial resources for building roads to serve its fast economic development. However, the quality of the newly-built roads is poor and they have been degrading in short time after being put into operation. Corruption is the main cause for the problem. Many roads and road parts have been built by private companies under BOT form and they are allowed to make tolls to collect fees from drivers.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 25, 2019
- Event Description
(Kathmandu/Bangkok, 30 January 2019) - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned over the threat, intimidation and verbal abuse of women human rights defender Shila Bewa, 28 years old. Shila is an active member of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a member of FORUM-ASIA, which works on human rights issues in the border areas of West Bengal, India. FORUM-ASIA condemns the continuous harassment of Shila, and urges the authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators. Shila was distributing posters on 25 January 2019 in river bank areas of in Toltoli village in Ghospara Gram Panchayet in West Bengal, India. She was verbally abused, threatened, and intimidated for distributing the posters, which is a peaceful human rights activity. Threats, intimidation and harassment of a women human rights defender for distributing posters is a clear violation of her fundamental rights of rights to expression guaranteed under article 19 of Constitution of India. FORUM-ASIA is concerned that women human rights defenders are increasingly facing gender-based violence and harassment for carrying out peaceful human rights activities across India. FORUM-ASIA urges both the State and Central Government to conduct an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. FORUM-ASIA calls on the National Human Rights Commission to exercise its power under the Protection of Human Rights Act (1993) to intervene in this case taking cognizance of the two communications sent on 26 and 29 January 2019 by MASUM. It should also address the issue of increasing attacks on human rights defenders, such as of MASUM advocating for constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jan 15, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese region of Guangxi have raided a legal consultation company started by disbarred human rights lawyers and ordered it closed, RFA has learned. Dozens of police officers on Tuesday raided the China Lawyers' Club set up last September by Tan Yongpei, a former rights attorney stripped of his license by the local justice bureau for taking on too many "sensitive" human rights cases. "There were more than 30 police officers, as well as officials from the civil affairs and justice bureaus, so 40-50 people in total," Tan told RFA. "They told us we couldn't hang up our sign, and that we are an illegal organization of banned lawyers." If the club continued to operate, members were warned that further action would be taken. Police then went around the premises taking photos and left, after which Tan said he rehung the sign. The club had initially lodged an application with the bureau of civil affairs to register as an organization, but was rejected, Tan said. "They are afraid that Chinese lawyers may later form a political opposition, maybe a political party," he said. Tan said he plans to lodge an official complaint with the civil affairs department and to apply once more to have the club's registration approved. He said he believes the order for the ban came from the police department. "Their aim was to frighten and threaten us ... they went around filming and taking photos in every corner," Tan said. "When I wouldn't give them the sign, they ripped it down." "This is an office environment. We have a right to display any sign we want to," he said. China Lawyer's Club A nationwide police operation under the administration of President Xi Jinping has targeted more than 300 lawyers, law firms, and related activists for questioning, detention, imprisonment, debarring and travel bans since it launched in July 2015. The China Lawyers' Club was set up in Guangxi's regional capital, Nanning, by a group of former rights attorneys who lost their "business license" at the hands of local justice departments, and may no longer represent clients in court. Formally established on Sept. 29, 2018, the club's aim is to find employment and income for dozens of experienced litigators who no longer have an income in the wake of the crackdown. The club is a legal services company, and signs lawyers in a manner similar to the way sports teams sign big stars. Under current regulations, Chinese lawyers need a business license to represent clients, but not to offer legal consultancy on petitions and complaints. Club executive secretary Chen Keyun agreed that the organization appears to have become a political target of the government. "They have already designated it a an illegal organization, so if we continue our public activities under the club's name ... their next step may be ... arresting people," Chen said. An official who answered the phone at the civil affairs bureau of Nanning's Xixiangtang district government declined to comment when contacted by RFA on Wednesday. "Sorry, we haven't heard about this," the official said. Oath required China last month further stepped up pressure on its embattled legal profession, requiring more than 100,000 lawyers to take a new national oath to "root out instability," particularly in ethnic minority areas of the country. Justice minister Fu Zhenghua attended a collective lawyers' oath-taking ceremony in Hohhot, the regional capital of Inner Mongolia, on Sunday, the same day as more than 100,000 lawyers took the same oath in hundreds of Chinese cities, the ministry of justice said at the time. The lawyers swore allegiance to the People's Republic of China, and to "strive to build a socialist country ruled by law," it said. The oath ceremonies were aimed at "strengthening lawyers' ideological and political education," the ministry said. But under newly revised rules on oath-taking, lawyers who failed to take the oath could face professional sanctions.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 2, 2019
- Event Description
According to the information received, on February 2, 2019, Chapra police registered a criminal case against Mr. Kirity Roy, MASUM Secretary, MASUM members Mr. Ramen Moitra, Mr. Subhrangshu Bhaduri and Mr. Sujoy Singh Roy, and the driver of a car hired by MASUM, Mr. Ganesh Sarkar, under Sections 186 ("obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions"), 323 ("punishment for voluntarily causing hurt"), 345 ("wrongful confinement of person for whose liberation writ has been issued"), 506 ("punishment for criminal intimidation") and 509 ("word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman") of the Indian Penal Code. The case was filed after the defenders had taken part in a meeting earlier that day with more than 150 villagers who reported acts of torture allegedly committed on a daily basis by members of the "A' Company of the 81st Battalion of the BSF, which is posted at the Mahakhola Border Outpost (BOP) under the jurisdiction of the Chapra police station in Nadia district. At around 2.15 pm, shortly after the meeting had ended, MASUM members noticed approximately 100 villagers waiting beside the road for the border gates to be opened at 3pm by the BSF so that they could return home. Mr. Roy approached BSF Head Constable Mr. Jay Bhagwan, who was guarding gate number 10 of the Mahakhola BOP and asked him to open the gate. The latter refused and asked Mr. Roy to show his identity card. Another BSF officer, Mr. Sanjay, also refused to open the gate, and both men subsequently tried to confiscate the mobile phones of the MASUM members present at the scene. After a short period of time, the Commander of the "A' Company, Mr. S N Sharma, arrived and started pushing and shoving the people who had gathered there. He told MASUM members that they had come to the village "to create disorder", before he and another BSF Company Commander, Mr. Rajveer Singh, started taking video footage of the scene. Company Commander Mr. S N Sharma then called the Chapra police station of Nadia district and complained to the Officer-in-Charge that human rights activists were trying to instigate villagers to commit violence and unrest. Mr. Rajveer Singh subsequently wrote down the names of the four MASUM members who were present, took photographs of their identity cards, and told them that they should have asked for permission to come to the village. Around 3pm, MASUM members were allowed to leave, after Mr. S N Sharma told them that if they were to come back again without their permission, they would "face dire consequences". At around 4.30pm, police officers from the Chapra police station came and collected information from villagers. Two hours later, Messrs. Kirity Roy, Ramen Moitra, Subhrangshu Bhaduri, Sujoy Singh Roy and Ganesh Sarkar were informed that Chapra police had registered a criminal case against them after BSF Commander Mr. S.N Sharma lodged a written complaint to the Chapra police station. On February 3, 2019, Mr. Roy filed a written complaint with the Officer-in-Charge of Chapra police station to denounce the BSF's behaviour.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Feb 14, 2019
- Event Description
Swiss NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) has called on the authorities to stop all intimidation against indigenous leaders following reports that an Orang Asli leader was threatened with arrest over protests against an oil palm plantation on native land in Mulu, Sarawak. BMF cited community reports claiming that Special Branch officers had threatened to arrest Penan leader Ukau Lupong at a meeting between community leaders and local government officials on Feb 14. It said Ukau was one of the organisers of a protest letter by 268 indigenous Penan and Berawan villagers to the authorities over the destruction of their forest land by a local oil palm company. "Bateu Bungan is a Penan village located on the edge of the Unesco-protected Mulu National Park. "The planned oil palm plantation threatens the villagers' livelihoods and is feared to cut off an important wildlife corridor near the Mulu National Park," it said in a statement today, adding that the planned plantation would cover 4,400 hectares. Urging the police to stop all intimidation against the Orang Asli communities, it also called on the Sarawak and federal governments to initiate "meaningful dialogue" with those affected by the Mulu oil palm encroachments.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Land rights
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Indigenous peoples' rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Feb 1, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam's southern province of Ben Tre have intensified crackdown on local government critics, interrogating a number of Facebookers for their online activities. The state-run media has reported that police had summoned Mr. Phan Tri Toan, a 35-year-old resident of My Thanh An commune, Ben Tre city to question him about his posts on his Facebook account Phan Rio. Accordingly, his posts aim to incite anti-state protests. On February 1, the province's police also interrogated Tran Ngoc Phuc, a 21-year-old student of Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City. The resident of Tan Phu commune, Chau Thanh district, was accused of using his personal account to propagandizing against the Communist Party of Vietnam and its government. The state media also reported that authorities in Ben Tre have imposed an administrative fine of VND15 million ($650) on 55-year-old Dang Tri Thuc, a resident of Hoa Loc village, Mo Cay Bac district, for using his Facebook account to call for people to join street protests. It is worth noting that local shrimp grower Nguyen Ngoc Anh was arrested on August 30, 2018 and charged with "conducting anti-state propaganda" under Article 117 of the 2015 Penal Code. While Mr. Anh is held incommunicado in pre-trial detention and faces imprisonment of between three to 12 years in prison, it is unclear the charges against Mr. Toan and Mr. Phuc. The local police say they are still investigating their cases.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Feb 15, 2019
- Event Description
Vietnam's security forces detained a dozen of local activists and placed tens of others under house arrest on the 40th anniversary of China's invasion of the country's six northernmost provinces. In order to block local activists from gathering in cities' centers to mark the 40th annyversary of the invasion of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) and commemorate the fallen soldiers and civilians killed by the northern invaders, authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and other localites sent plainclothes agents to their private residences in recent days, effectively placing them under house arrest. Some activists such as Nguyen Chi Tuyen, Dang Phuoc Bich, Le Hong Hanh, Hoang Ha from Hanoi and some from HCM City were arrested when they were on their way to King Ly Thai To Memorial in Hanoi and General Tran Hung Dao Memorial in the southern economic hub. They were held in police stations for hours before being freed. Retired army officer Pham Tri Dinh from Hanoi went to King Ly Thai To Memorial to pay attribute for fallen soldiers. When he arrrived, pro-government thugs tried to block him to the site. Later, two plainclothesn agents forced him to leave the area. Few activists successfully came to the site to mark the event. The situation is similar in Ho Chi Minh City, the country's biggest economic hub. The local authorities placed many garbage trucks around General Tran Hung Dao Memorial and took its incensory away in a bid not to allow local residents to come to pay attribute to the fallen ones during the Chinese invasion. Earlier this week, the state-run media for the first time in decades publicized many articles about the invasion of the PLA 40 years ago However, it failed to mention China as the invaders and the military conflict was decribed as "border clashes." The Vietnamese government treatment against local activists regarding China's invasion is not new one. In previous years, on the occasions of the Chinese invasion of the Hoang Sa (Paracels) on January 19, 1974 or the loss of Gac Ma (South Johnson Reef) in the Truong Sa (Spratlys) on March 14, 1988, commemorations organized by activists were barred and participants were suppressed. In order to keep their regime, Vietnam's communist leaders are striving not to make Chinese communist regime angry even in issues concerning the country's sovereignty. They also try not to allow the formation of opposition and persecute all activists and independent groups. China was one of the biggest donors for the Vietnamese communists during the wars against France and the US. However, the relationship between Hanoi and Beijing became hostile when Vietnam found the former Soviet Union as its new political ally. After Vietnam invaded Cambodia and defeat the China-backed Rough Khmer regime led by Pol Pot, Beijing angered and on February 17, 1979, it sent around 600,000 soldiers to attack six northernmost provinces of Vietnam. Before withdrawing one month later, the PLA killed tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians and destroyed all infrastructures there. Vietnam and China normalized bilateral relations in late 1990s and Hanoi considers Beijing as its closest political ally. In exchange, a large Vietnamese land, including Nam Quan Port and the larger part of Ban Gioc Waterfall, now are in China's territory. Many Vietnamese major infrastructure projects have been carried out by Chinese investors. Many Vietnamese activists who oppose China's expansionism in the East Sea (South China Sea) have been imprisoned or harassed by the Vietnamese communist regime. In mid June last year, Vietnam's security forces brutally suppressed peaceful demonstrations of tens of thousands of people who rallied on streets in HCM City, Hanoi and many other cities to protest two draft laws on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. The first bill seems to favor Chinese investors and ignore the country's sovereignty while the second bill aims to silence local online dissent
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 17, 2019
- Event Description
Shehla Rashid Shora is a Ph.D. student at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and was vice-president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) in 2015-16. She is vocal about the human rights situation in Kashmir, particularly for ensuring justice to minor under trials and has been active since 2010 when she was part of organising a youth leadership programme in Kashmir. Ref No: - HRDA/North/UK/06/02/2019 February 28, 2019 In February 2016, Shehla Rashid, as the vice-president of JNU students' union, had led a students' agitation against the arrest of her fellow-students Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya on charges of sedition. She has been vocal on social issues. According to sources, a case against the former vice-president of Jawaharlal Nehru University's students' union, New Delhi and activist Ms. Shehla Rashid was registered on 17 February, 2019 night at Uttarakhand capital's Prem Nagar police station on the basis of a complaint by a local resident. The police filed an FIR, after Rashid tweeted on 16 February, 2019 that Kashmiri students are being harassed and assaulted in parts of the country after a terror attack in Awantipora area in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019. Rashid in her tweet had claimed that 15 to 20 Kashmiri women students were trapped in a hostel at Dolphin institute/College in Dehradun, while an angry mob stood outside their university to demand their expulsion. She had claimed that police were present at the spot, but were "unable to disperse the mob". It was reported by the station house officer of Prem Nagar police station, Dehradun that Shehla Rashid has been booked under sections 505 (to incite any class or community to commit any offence against any other class or community), 153 (indulge in wanton vilification or attacks), and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Police in Dehradun claimed that a first information report (FIR) was registered against former JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) leader Shehla Rashid for allegedly trying to incite "acommunity to commit offence, indulging in wanton vilification and provoking someone to breach peace." Shehla Rashid had tweeted about the alleged incident at the backdrop of attacks on Kashmiri people living in other parts of India after the terrorist attack on convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019. It is pertinent to note that Shehla Rashid in the past has been victim of trolling in social media due to her political views. This complaint against Shehla Rashid is to intimidate and harass a woman human rights defenders to deter her from expressing her views as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 15, 2019
- Event Description
Mr. Thokchom Veewon is the former president and present advisor of Manipuri Student Association, Delhi (MSAD). On February 15, 2019 at around 5.20 p.m. a four- member joint team of Delhi Police and Manipur Police came to his resident at Saket in search of him. The police physically assaulted him and took him away in the samecondition as he was, he was not even allowed to wear his slippers. At the time of the incident his younger sister was at home, who later informed the family members about his arrest. It is mention worthy that the team of police did not inform the arrestee about the reason of arrest and the physical assault. After around one hour of his arrest, the family members came to know that Veewon was detained with the Special Brach of the Delhi Police at Janakpuri. Veewon's brother, Venus and some members of MSAD who went to Janakpuri Police Station were informed that his arrest was for sedition charges under Section124A of the Indian Penal Code. On February 13, 2019 at around 6 p.m. a team of Manipur Police from both Imphal East and West visited his residence at Lamlai Mayai Leikai, Imphal and searched his room, took pictures of his parents and threatened his parents and advised them to ask Veewon to concentrate on his studies.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 3, 2019
- Event Description
Vietnam's authorities have barred local activists from gathering to mark the 31stanniversary of the loss of Gac Ma (South Johnson Reef) to China ahead of a visit of President Nguyen Phu Trong to Beijing. From early morning of March 14, plainclothes agents and militia were sent to private residences of activists in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities to effectively place them de facto under house arrest. Some were allowed to go out but remained under close police surveillance. University lecturer Dao Thi Thu in Hanoi told Defend the Defenders that she couldn't to go to her class as undercover police and militia did not permit her to go out with her motorbike. When she tried to get a bus, police officers violently stopped her, making her watch broken. Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy, vice president of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam, said he planned to go to Hanoi's center to commemorate the 64 naval soldiers killed by the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) in Gac Ma in 1988, he was blocked by a group of around five undercover policemen. Authorities in the capital city sent a group of dozens of women to dance near King Ly Thai To monument in the city's center where activists were used to gather in similar cases, making the place unavailable for other activities. The similar situation was in HCM City and local activists were forced to stay at home to mark the event. In previous years, authorities did not block activities from gathering but sent government's supporters to disturb the activists' commemorations. On February 27, in order to prevent activists from gathering to Tran Hung Dao Great General to mark the 40thanniversary of the invasion of the PLA in Vietnam's six northernmost provinces, authorities in HCM City removed his .... To another place. This year, for the first time in decades, some state-run newspapers covered news on the loss of Gac Ma or the Chinese invasion in 1979, however, they still avoided to name Beijing as the aggressor. Meanwhile, Nguyen Phu Trong, the communist chief, planned to go to visit China for the first time after grabbing the country's president post left by former Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang, who died from unclear reasons last year.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 1, 2019
- Event Description
Following a Thai police raid two weeks ago on the home of Bach Hong Quyen, a Vietnamese blogger who fled his country and currently lives in Bangkok, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) fears that the Thai authorities could allow Vietnamese agents to abduct Quyen and urges them to respect his UN-guaranteed status as a political refugee. Bach Hong Quyen, who has lived in Bangkok since May 2017, has been in hiding ever since the police came and questioned him at his home on 1 March. He fears that he could be arrested at any momentand deported back to Vietnam although his refugee status is guaranteed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The day after Quyen helped fellow Vietnamese blogger and journalist Truong Duy Nhat to apply for the same refugee status at the UNHCR office in Bangkok, Nhat mysteriously disappeared while in a Bangkok shopping mall on 26 January. Nhat was probably abducted by Vietnamese agents with the complicity of the local authorities, fuelling fears that other Vietnamese journalists who have fled their country could suffer the same fate. Accused by the Vietnamese authorities of disturbing public order, Quyen hopes to obtain asylum for himself and his family in Canada and is currently registered with Canada's refugee reinstallation programme. "We urge the Thai government to respect the status of Bach Hong Quyen and his family as refugees and to stop intimidating Quyen in any way," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "Aside from the obligation to respect the fundamental rights of an individual whose only crime was to have informed his compatriots, Thailand's credibility on the international stage is stake." "Repatriation" Quyen is well known for his investigative reporting on environmental issues, speaking on media outlets that broadcast in Vietnamese from abroad. In particular, he raised questions about the responsibility of certain Vietnamese officials in a marine environmental disaster resulting from a toxic spill from a steel plant owned by the Taiwanese firm Formosa. Thailand was once a refuge for journalists persecuted by the region's most repressive regimes but, under the current government headed by Gen. Prayut, it has on several occasions been complicit in the "repatriation" of journalists to the countries where they were wanted. The victims have included Yang Jiefei, a Chinese cartoonist arrested in 2015, and Gui Minhai, a Chinese-born Swedish publisher who was abducted in 2015 while on vacation in Thailand. Both ended up in Chinese prisons. Nhat, the Vietnamese blogger who disappeared seven weeks ago, has not yet "reappeared" in a Vietnamese prison. Thailand is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index, while Vietnam has Southeast Asia's lowest ranking - 175th.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Mar 18, 2019
- Event Description
On March 8, International Women's Day, thousands of women in Pakistan came out and marched to show solidarity with their fellow women to push for accountability and restorative justice against violence, harassment, and injustice. The rally was called Aurat (Women) March. it was open to all and no organization or society tried to own it. The women gathered for the march under the banner of "hum Auratain" (we women), which is not an organization or group but a label which they have given to all women of Pakistan. Aurat March started last year in Karachi and spread to the whole country this year. It has emerged as a new wave of feminism in Pakistan - and with that, the march organizers have been receiving rape and death threats online. Nighat Dad, founder of the Digital Rights Foundation, is one of the organizers in Lahore. She received rape threats on Twitter in reply to one of her posts on the Aurat March. Five other women reached out to her nonprofit organization, which works for digital rights in Pakistan and runs a cyber-harassment helpline, to complain of receiving rape and death threats. Dad took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce that complaints had been filed against dozens of social media accounts that were inciting violence against women marchers and organizers of Aurat March. Complaint has been filed against more than dozens of fb, Twitter and YouTube accounts who incited violence against women marchers and organisers of @AuratMarch. DG FIA has ordered Inquiry immediately. We have already identified few people behind some accounts. U know who you are. - Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) March 18, 2019 A number of established politicians, religious scholars, and actors also attacked the Aurat March, calling it against Pakistani cultural values. Minister of the National Assembly Aamir Liaquat Hussain requested that Prime Minister Imran Khan run an inquiry to discover the actual actors behind the march and their agenda. Sindh Assembly lawmaker Abdul Rashid registered a complaint with the police against the organizers of the Aurat March for promoting vulgarity. He also protested in the assembly against placards displayed at the march, demanding that the provincial government take action. A video of a well-known Islamic cleric is making the rounds on social media, in which he is visibly furious over a placard at the Aurat March. The sign read, "Mera jism meri marzi" (my body, my choice). He threatened women with rape, saying that if they claim to right to their bodies, men can also claim that right to rape women. This video has more than 67,000 views on YouTube. What Is the Aurat March? Last year, more than eight NGOs working for the rights of women in Karachi came together with a plan to organize a march on International Women's Day open to all women and transgender and non-binary people. They decided to keep their role anonymous and to not take over the march's agenda. When contacted, they said simply that the women of Karachi arranged it. This year, similar marches were held in other cities too - mainly Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. Thousands of young girls and women came out and marched with many others to smash the patriarchal norms and demand a balanced society for all. Lawyer and women's rights activist Shumaila Hussain Shahani is one of the brains behind the Aurat March. She said that last year, when they opened the call for the march, women who had not been out in politics were very skeptical about the idea. "Many of my friends who hadn't been to a march before were skeptical about the idea of a march. But after its success, we saw excitement and an acceptance towards the women. Many women who otherwise are not seen actively taking part in political activities also joined the march this year," she said. Aurat March released a manifesto a day before Women's Day, in which they demanded economic justice, implementation of labor rights and the Sexual Harassment Against Women in the Workplace Act 2010, recognition of women's unpaid labor, and the provision of maternity leave and daycare centers to ensure women's inclusion in the labor force. The World Economic Forum ranked Pakistan as second worst in its 2018 Global Gender Gap Report, which gauges economic opportunity, education, health, and political empowerment. The manifesto also focused on climate change and how it affects women. Gender rights activists demanded access to clean drinking water and air, protection of animals and wildlife. Other demands covered nearly every aspect of social justice: recognition of women's participation in the production of food and cash crops, access to a fair justice system, equal representation of women with disabilities and transgender people, reproductive justice, access to the public, the rights of religious minorities, promotion of an anti-war agenda, and an end to police brutality and enforced disappearances. The Controversy Though the manifesto addressed very important issues women face in Pakistan, anti-march critics slammed the organizers for not focusing on the "real issues" of women and using their platform to promote nudity, vulgarity, and anti-Islamic norms in the country. The Aurat March had been making more headlines in local media for the backlash and criticism it received than for its actual purpose. Last year, two placards from the Aurat March Karachi chapter particularly attracted the ire of people on the internet. One placard read "khud khana garam kar lo!" (Heat up your own food) and other "Mera Jism, Meri Marzi" (My body, my choice). Both placards were badly criticized on every forum - mainstream media, social media, and religious gatherings. Pictures of both women with their placards were widely shared on the internet. Some social media pages also made memes on them. One of the women contacted DRF after her picture went viral and someone tracked down her identity. She had not told her family that she was going to the march. DRF reached out to Facebook and requested that the social media giant remove some of the most liked pictures on their website. While struggling with the conservative structure of Pakistani society, women seemed more prepared for the Aurat March this year. Most of the criticisms were again leveled at the placards the women brought to the march, which some found provocative. Renowned feminist poetess Kishwar Naheed also criticized some of the slogans used at a Women's Day celebration event. Naheed had written a provocative poem "Hum Gunahgar Aurtein" (We Sinful Women) that earned her fame both as a feminist and poetess. Her comments on the Aurat March left the entire feminist circle in shock. Some doctored images of Aurat March placards also went viral on social media, which the organizers consider an attempt to harass women. Shahani counts the backlash as a dent in the patriarchal structure, indicating that it is resisting. "We have gained support from the ruling party of Sindh. I do not think such petty right-wing tactics will deter the marchers. Marches will continue, our struggle for a gender-just world will continue," she said. Aurat March organizers are asking lawmakers with a pro-women approach to come and support their cause. Chairman the Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Zardari Bhutto has assured his support to them. This March, the female humor depicted through the placards has exposed the fragility of the patriarchy and kicked off a new feminist movement in Pakistan. Farida Shaheed, executive director of the non-profit organization Shirkat Gah - Women's Resource Center, pointed out that the feminist movement had received the same sort of criticism in the past too. Even Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, wife of Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, was not spared from a vilification campaign by the bigoted clerics. They called her a prostitute for supporting the women's movement. "It is just the start of a new era. We need to be proactive, not reactive," she said. Tehreem Azeem is a digital media journalist based in Lahore, Pakistan. She reports on women rights, minority issues, blasphemy, and media censorship. She tweets @tehreemazeem
- Impact of Event
- 12
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Women's rights
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Mar 5, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities in northwestern Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province on Tuesday summoned a former local representative of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) after he and others gathered in support of the return of acting party chief Sam Rainsy from self-imposed exile. Ly Soun, ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) deputy chief of Svay Chek commune, questioned CNRP commune seat representative Minh Hor and two other members of the party-which was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November 2017-in a bid to force them to end their support for the return of Sam Rainsy, Minh Hor told RFA's Khmer Service, adding that he will not be intimidated by authorities. Minh Hor had held the public "unity strengthening gathering," which was attended by about 30 CNRP supporters, on Feb. 28 to discuss how to welcome Sam Rainsy back to Cambodia, where he has pledged to return from more than three years of exile to in 2019, despite threats by Prime Minister Hun Sen to arrest him for a host of convictions that are widely seen as politically motivated. According to Minh Hor, Ly Soun asked the three CNRP members on Tuesday why they held an event to show support for Sam Rainsy's return, and whether the acting CNRP president "joined the meeting" by phone or video conference. The CNRP representative said that despite the efforts of the local authorities to intimidate him by questioning them, "their tactic didn't work" because he and other party members had already "sacrificed themselves for the country" and believe that "only Sam Rainsy and[former CNRP president] Kem Sokha can restore Cambodia's democracy." "I am very disappointed by the authorities' actions, but our spirits are strong and we cannot be intimidated, despite the many threats from Hun Sen that he will "destroy' the opposition party," he said. "Our spirits are strong and we are united," he added. Hun Sen on Monday said that Kem Sokha will not be released from detention despite hitting the 18-month maximum allowed by law in pre-trial detention, a move denounced by the opposition as a violation of the constitution. Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017 for alleged acts of "treason" and the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the CNRP two months later, which paved the way for Hun Sen's CPP to win all 125 seats in parliament in a July 2018 general election. CNRP activist Yat Phyrom, who witnessed Tuesday's questioning, agreed with Minh Hor's assessment that the move was part of a bid to intimidate the opposition. "As I a citizen, I will continue my activities[with the opposition party] to protect the constitution, which states that people have the rights to freedom of expression and assembly," he said. Svay Chek commune chief Chrouk Sophal confirmed to RFA on Tuesday that she had summoned and questioned the CNRP activists, but said that it was in connection with a comment Minh Hor had posted on Facebook that defamed local authorities involved in a land dispute, and had nothing to do with politics. "It was about defamation," she said, adding that she could not provide any further comment, as she was busy with a meeting. Sum Chankea, Banteay Meanchey provincial coordinator for local rights group Adhoc, told RFA that Cambodia's constitution protects the right of the people to gather and their freedom of expression, and that the CNRP activists were not in breach of the law by holding the event in support of Sam Rainsy. Police officers or local authorities who abuse those rights, on the other hand, are violating the law, he added. "Authorities dare to[question] people because there is no institution that will prosecute them for doing so," he said. "In a democracy, those who abuse the freedom of expression are held accountable." Call for removal In an interview with RFA on Monday, Sam Rainsy called on his supporters, as well as the workers and farmers of Cambodia, to "stand up" and "peacefully bring down the Hun Sen regime" if the prime minister fails to reverse course on a crackdown on the political opposition, independent media and NGOs in effect since the lead up to last year's general election. The U.S. has since announced visa bans on individuals seen as limiting democracy in the country, as part of a series of measures aimed at pressuring Cambodia to reverse course, and the European Union, which was the second biggest trade partner of Cambodia in 2017, has said it will drop a preferential trade scheme for Cambodian exports based on the country's election environment. Sam Rainsy again pledged to return home within the year, "as long as global pressure remains at its peak," saying that Hun Sen is facing "political suicide" if international sanctions are leveled on Cambodia, and that he is willing to consider working with the CPP to resolve the political crisis if the prime minister-who has ruled the country for more than three decades-is first "removed from office." "The CNRP does not demand a regime change-we extend an embrace towards the ruling party, as only these two parties can determine the destiny of Cambodia," he said. "We are considering working with the CPP, but we request that Hun Sen be removed. Removal of Hun Sen is the first step." Speaking to RFA from Finland, political commentator Kim Sok said that the two sides should hold talks to resolve the political crisis with the national interest in mind. "As for conditions for the talks, I think it should be about promoting democracy-a democracy with fair competition, which is a standard in democracies," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 1, 2019
- Event Description
A 26-year-old Indian journalist has been at the receiving end of death threats from hard-line groups in the country for helping save Kashmiri students post Pulwana attack. Earlier on February 14, a Kashmiri youth had rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into a convoy of security personnel, killing 40 Indian soldiers in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK). Following a raft of incidents of Kashmiris being attacked across India, Sagrika Kissu helped arrange lodging and transport for 18 students who left the cities of Ambala, Dehradun and Jaipur. Kashmiri students had tweeted thanking her for taking care of them. Since then however Kissu was hit with a volley of vile messages, slander and abuse on social media. Pulwama attack rage puts Kashmiri students against the wall in India A post on Facebook, written by a Kashmiri Pandit, called her a "female," who "is offering to help those Wahhabis who kicked out her family in 1989 out of Kashmir." This was not the first time that Kissu was targeted on social media. In 2016, she was criticised for uploading a photograph with Khurram Parvez, a prominent human rights activist in Kashmir. She removed the photograph. In March, last year, she was bashed for reporting that Rohingya Muslims did not attack a Republic TV journalist as he had claimed. A Facebook post, with photos of her with author Arundhati Roy and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, said she was seen with "anti nationalists." "We Kashmiri Pandits were always nationalists and will remain nationalists come what may," the post said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Feb 26, 2019
- Event Description
Vietnamese dissident bloggers and democracy advocates are being kept under police watch at their homes as U.S. president Donald Trump prepares to meet for talks this week in Hanoi with North Korean national leader Kim Jong Un, sources in Vietnam say. Speaking on Tuesday to RFA's Vietnamese Service, Nguyen Lan Thang-an activist blogger and frequent contributor to RFA-said that authorities are watching him closely at his home in Hanoi, adding that he is largely unaware of what is happening now in the capital. "I do see that communist regimes like those in North Korea and Vietnam have been successful with their propaganda, though," Thang said, speaking to RFA reporters via livestream on his Facebook page. "Even those Vietnamese who have not been picked for media interviews have had positive things to say about the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi," he said. "Most common people here have no idea how miserable the lives of North Koreans are under the Kim family's rule." Also speaking to RFA, writer and activist Ngo Duy Quyen and his wife Le Thi Cong Nhan-a well-known dissident, rights lawyer, and former member of the banned Bloc 8406 democracy movement-said that their apartment on the third floor of their building in the capital is also being watched. Cameras have meanwhile been set up outside the home in Bac Giang province of former teacher To Oanh, who once traveled to the U.S. to speak about human rights concerns in the one-party communist state, To Oanh said. "Senior security officers also came to see me and ordered me to stay home until the summit is over," he said, adding that he poses no threat to the Feb. 27-28 U.S.-North Korea talks, in which the U.S. is expected to press Pyongyang to follow through on previous pledges to end its nuclear weapons program. "Is it really likely that my name would appear on a list of suspected terrorists?" he asked. 'I might go anyway' Dissident blogger Nguyen Truong Thuy meanwhile told RFA he had been visited on Sunday by three police officers and the head of his neighborhood group-a committee set up to address community concerns and report to authorities on residents' activities. "They came to my house and asked me not to go to welcome Trump and Kim," he said. "I told them that for the time being, I had not intended to go. But then a police officer said I had just given my commitment not to go, and I told them "No,' that I rely on the law and have not made any verbal promise or commitment, and that I might change my mind and go anyway," he said. "There have been cases now where some have been locked in from the outside, to keep them from going out," added the wife of activist blogger Dung Voa, surnamed Hue. "Others are being kept under close watch, and if some manage to go out, they are closely followed," Hue said. "They don't want us to accept any invitations from foreign embassies to join them for a talk," she said. A disturbing record Ahead of this week's talks, three U.S. lawmakers called on U.S. President Donald Trump to raise human rights issues with officials in Vietnam during his visit to the one-party Communist Southeast Asian nation for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In a letter dated Feb. 19, U.S. House of Representatives members Zoe Lofgren, Chris Smith, and Alan Lowenthal-co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam-expressed concerns that Hanoi is hosting the second U.S.-North Korea summit scheduled for Feb. 27-28, given Vietnam's poor rights record. The lawmakers highlighted what they called Vietnam's "disturbing record" on prisoners of conscience, pointing to a list released last year by London-based Amnesty International that includes nearly 100 dissidents jailed for expressing views critical of the government, and who they said endure "alarming" treatment in detention. The request from the three U.S. representatives followed two separate letters from Vietnamese intellectuals and activists, urging Trump to help thwart China's gradual takeover of the South China Sea, where Hanoi and Beijing are embroiled in maritime territorial disputes. China's claims and construction of artificial islands in the region have sparked frequent anti-China protests in Vietnam, which the one-party communist government in Hanoi fears as a potential threat to its own political control.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Feb 11, 2019
- Event Description
According to an alert released by the RMP-NMR, a certain CPT. Lorefel Judaya INF, Intel Officer of 1st SFBn went to the home of Jandayan in Brgy. Macabalan, Manolo Fortich Bukidon and took her to the Barangay Hall for questioning on the allegation that she is Medic of the New People's Army. She was later informed that she needs to be brought to the Philippine Army's 1st SF Batallion camp in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon for further questioning. Further information stated that Gloria and Gleceria demanded for an arrest warrant and refused to go with Cpt. Judaya when the latter failed to produce said warrant. But Judaya was insistent on bringing Gloria with him, and Gleceria then decided to accompany her mother to ensure her safety. At 10:30 am, Gleceria was able to send a message that they are being held at the 4th IDPA camp in Patag, Cagayan de Oro City and their phones are about to be confiscated. Nothing was heard from them since. Jandayan is a Barangay health worker and is the point person of Makabayan Partylists to assist beneficiary patients in the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). Jandayan is also a Gabriela Women's Party member. Balangiao on the other hand has been a member of Panday Bulig and is currently working with the RMP-NMR. Even without Martial Law, the rural poor and their supporters, including rural missionaries and lay workers have always been victims of human rights violations for their firm stand against anti-poor programs and policies of the government. With the ML in place, militarization of rural communities have intensified resulting to increasing number of victims of human rights violations such as extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention and filing of trumped-up charges. This harassment against Jandayan and Balangiao is not isolated and is part of the continuing attack against Church people, human rights defenders and the rural poor in Northern Mindanao. Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chair of Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization, and Ireneo Udarbe, chair of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao was illegally arrested last January 28 in Bukidnon. Meanwhile, 5 members of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) and two minors were also illegally arrested and detained last January 30 in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. We demand for the immediate release of Gloria and Gleceeria and we call on our fellow Church people to denounce this latest harassment. We also call for the immediate release of Goaynon and Udarbe, and of the five members of the MOFA and the withdrawal of fabricated charges against them. Furthermore, we demand for an end to these attacks against land and peace advocates in Northern Mindanao and an end to Martial Law in Mindanao. As Christians who vowed to fulfill our mission with the rural poor, we will continue to stand with them and will continue to expose the injustices committed against them.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Family of HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Feb 26, 2019
- Event Description
Two Myitkyina News Journal journalists sued six employees of a company on Tuesday after they were allegedly detained in Kachin State's Waingmaw Township and physically abused, over an article published the previous day about an apparent attempt by the company, whose ownership is unclear, to establish an illegal banana plantation. At around 10am on Tuesday, employees of Tha Khin Sit Mining Company asked the two reporters, Moon Moon Pan and Ah Je, to leave the Myitkyina News Journal's office in the Kachin capital Myitkyina and accompany them to their company's compound in Waingmaw, about seven miles from the city, the journal's editor-in-chief Seng Mai Maran told Frontier. She said company employees told the journalists they wanted to discuss the article, published Monday, which cited local residents' concerns about land that they said was being cleared for a banana plantation, by two companies including Tha Khin Sit. Illegally grown tissue culture bananas, almost all of which are exported overland to China, are fuelling land conflict and environmental degradation in Kachin State, as Frontier reported in January. At the company's compound, the journalists were separated, Seng Mai Maran said. She said Ah Je was ordered to complete 100,000 squats and Moon Moon Pan's face was slapped with a copy of the Myitkyina News Journal. Ah Je managed to contact Zaw Khun, the journal's CEO, who went immediately to Waingmaw Township with other staff from the journal. There, they asked a police officer and two local administrators to accompany them to the company's compound. Meanwhile, at 10.56, Seng Mai Maran uploaded a post to the journal's Facebook page which said the two reporters had been detained by the company. She told Frontier that the company's employees saw the post, and asked the reporters to remove it. Salai Khwe Shane, one of the journalists who accompanied Zaw Khun, said that in the compound they talked with the company employees, who denied the allegations in the report, and said the company was not developing a banana plantation. Moon Moon Pan and Ah Je were released about two hours after they were detained, by which time Ah Je had completed about 300 squats, Seng Mai Maran said. The Facebook post was taken down from the Myitkyina News Journal's page at 12.16, and Seng Mai Maran uploaded the same post to her personal Facebook page. When they were released, the reporters went to Waingmaw Township police station to file charges against the company, Seng Mai Maran said. She said they sued six people from the company under sections 114, 294, 323, 341 and 354 of the Penal Code, which cover assault or criminal force to a woman "with intent to outrage her modesty", obscene acts, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, and abetment. If convicted, the company employees may face imprisonment and a fine. Frontier was unable to reach the company or the police for comment. "The boy is struggling to walk after having to do three hundred squats," Seng Mai Maran said. "The girl was crying to me on the phone because she was beaten up". A group of journalists from Kachin State published a statement on Wednesday that condemned Tha Khin Sit for abusing the two reporters and for assaulting Moon Moon Pan. They urged the state government to protect journalists, and the right to information, and called for action to be taken against Tha Khin Sit's managing director U Dein Saung. Seng Mai Maran said the nationality of the company's owners is not known, though they are locally believed to be Chinese.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Agricultural business, Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 22, 2019
- Event Description
The Delhi Police on Friday detained Kashmiri human rights activist Mohammed Ahsan Untoo when he was about to enter Pakistan High Commission, said officials. Untoo, who runs an organisation International Forum of Justice and Human Rights, had been invited among others, including separatists, from the militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir by the High Commission to attend the Pakistan Day. Separatists from the State, including moderate Hurriyat Conference chairperson Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and others, have been staying away from the function for the last three years. Untoo had recently met jailed JKLF leader Yasin Malik at Kot Balwal jail in Jammu. He has been taking up the cases related to alleged human rights violation at the State Human Rights Commission. The government on Friday decided to boycott the Pakistan National Day event to be held at its High Commission here as Kashmiri separatist leaders were also invited. India's representation at the annual event has been at the level of a Union minister. The decision comes in the wake of heightened tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent air strike by India on a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26. Pakistan retaliated the next day by unsuccessfully attempting to target Indian military installations. The JeM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 13, 2019
- Event Description
Imprisoned human rights advocate and democracy campaigner Nguyen Van Tuc is being treated inhumanely by authorities of Prison camp No. 6 located in Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province. The information came from his wife Bui Thi Re, who went to visit him on March 13. Mr. Tuc was convicted of subversion and sentenced to 13 years in prison last year for his peaceful activities. During the meeting, Mr. Tuc told his wife that he is placed in a cell together with a criminal convicted for drug trafficking. Encouraged by the prison's authorities, the criminal reportedly beat him very often in exchange of his sentence reduction. The former president of the unregistered Brotherhood for Democracy (BFD) said when his family sends food for him, the prison's authorities keep the food and give him only when it spoils. Mr. Tuc, 54, was arrested in September 2017 and charged with "carrying out activities aiming to overthrow the government" for his membership in the unregistered group Brotherhood for Democracy which was established by prominent human rights advocate Nguyen Van Dai. In the trial on April 10, 2018, he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years under house arrest by the People's Court of Thai Binh province. Five months later, the Higher People's Court in Hanoi upheld his sentence. After losing his appeal, he was transferred to the current prison. He has been suffering a number of serious diseases, including hemorroids due to severe conditions in Vietnam's prisons and inhumane treatment against prisoners of conscience. His wife is not sure that he can survive to complete his sentence after being treated inhumanely by the prison's authorities. Inhumane treatment against prisoners of conscience is not rare in Vietnam where the ruling communist party is striving to keep the country under a one-party regime. Prisons' authorities are systematically applying tough measures, including solitary confinement, using criminals to beat prisoners of conscience, and tainted food to punish jailed activists to break their mentality. A number of imprisonedactivistshave been conducted hunger strike to protest prisons' inhumanetreatment, including Nguyen Van Hai (aka Dieu Cay), Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (aka Mother Mushroom) and Nguyen Van Hoa, a citizen journalist. The first two were released but forced to live in exile in the US while the third reportedly started hunger strike in An Diem Prison camp on February 22 for many days.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Singapore
- Initial Date
- Mar 2, 2019
- Event Description
SINGAPORE: Social worker and activist Jolovan Wham is being investigated for protesting outside State Courts without a valid permit, police said on Saturday (Mar 2). Wham had posted a photo on Dec 13 on social media channels, which showed him standing outside the court complex while holding up a piece of paper that read: "Drop the charges against Terry Xu and Daniel De Costa." The protest happened the same day Terry Xu, the editor of socio-political website The Online Citizen, and Daniel De Costa were charged for publishing an article that alleged corruption among the Singapore Government's highest officers. In response to Channel NewsAsia's queries, police said that Wham had written to the police earlier in November to apply for a permit to stage a protest outside the State Courts. His application was not approved. "The State Courts is gazetted as a Prohibited Area under the Public Order Act, with stricter security protocols," police said. "He was well aware that a police permit was required for such an event. Still, he went ahead to protest outside the State Courts on Dec 13, 2018." Police also cited Wham's prior public order related offences, and said it reflected "a pattern of Wham's wilful disregard for Singapore's laws". Wham was sentenced on Feb 21 for organising a public assembly without a permit. He was fined S$3,200 but chose to serve jail time for 16 days in default. He was found guilty over a November 2016 event - titled Civil Disobedience and Social Movements - that featured a live speech by Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong Chi-Fung. In 2017, Wham also organised a "silent protest" on an MRT train and pasted two A4-sized sheets on the window. In July that year he asked the public on Facebook to participate in a vigil outside Changi Prison Complex and proceeded to hold the event without applying for the requisite permit. Wham also refused to sign statements to the police, which is required by law. "There are avenues for Singaporeans to express their views on issues that concern them. The Speakers' Corner was set up in 2000 to allow Singaporeans to conduct public assemblies without the need for a permit, subject to certain conditions being met," police added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Jan 28, 2019
- Event Description
MENEMENG, Indonesia - An environmental activist and his family survived an attack on their lives early Sunday morning after assailants barricaded them inside their home and set it on fire. Murdani heads a chapter of Indonesia's largest environmental NGO, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). At around 3 a.m., he and his wife woke to the smell of burning on the second floor of their home in Menemeng village on Lombok, an island next to Bali. Over the past few months, Murdani had noticed people watching his house. He had recently taken to sleeping on the front porch in order to keep guard, though on this night he slept upstairs. Upon waking, Murdani and his wife immediately woke their two children. Murdani grabbed the younger one and rushed downstairs to find the front door on fire. The fire had surrounded part of the house and was spreading inside. His wife brought the older child down by way of the roof of a kiosk next door. Seeing her shouting, the neighbors rushed over to help. It took them 45 minutes to douse the flames. After dawn broke and the police arrived, they found a pillow under the front wheel of Murdani's car, apparently used to set it alight. They also found a plastic bag that smelled of gasoline by the house. Whoever started the fire had covered the security camera above the front door with a hat. They used a wooden chair to jam the door shut and a bamboo table to block another door. "The goal was to trap us inside," Murdani told Mongabay two days after the attack. Precisely why Murdani was targeted is not yet clear. The list of contentious development projects he has spoken out against in West Nusa Tenggara province, where he heads Walhi's operations, is long - from the reclamation of Bima Bay on the neighboring island of Sumbawa to gold mining on Lombok. However, Murdani suspects it was his work on sand mining that prompted the attack. Sand mines abound in the part of Lombok where Murdani lives. Under his leadership, Walhi's chapter in the province has fought illegal sand mines and urged the government not to issue permits for new sand mines. A year ago, residents asked Murdani to help advocate for the rejection of a proposed sand mine on the border of Menemeng and Bilebante, a village known as an ecotourism destination. Residents have complained the sand mining has resulted in damaged roads, landslides and cloudy water. At one point the developers behind a controversial plan to reclaim Bali's Benoa Bay floated plans to dredge sand from Lombok to be used as infill for the massive tourism project, although the provincial government rejected the proposal. "We've received a lot of threats by text message," Murdani said. There are many players in the local sand mining industry. Murdani doesn't want to speculate as to the culprit. He wants the police to handle it, although Walhi has formed its own team to investigate the attack. Murdani's case is not an outlier, said Puri Kencana Putri, campaign manager with Amnesty International. She pointed to the 2015 murder of Salim Kancil, a farmer who organized protests against a sand mine in Lumajang, East Java; and an attack last November on the office of the Mining Advocacy Network, or Jatam, in East Kalimantan province. "In Murdani's case, we know he advocates for and defends people's rights in the natural resource and extractive sectors, including mining," Puri said. "There are groups who don't like what he does." She called on the government to ensure protection for Murdani and his family. From 2010 to 2018, there were 171 recorded cases of violence against activists in Indonesia, according to Ainul Yaqin from the Indonesian Human Protection Foundation (YPII). Most of the victims were environmental activists. Muhammad Isnur of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation called on the police to focus on catching not just the people who attacked Murdani's house, but whoever put them up to it. "They've got to go after the mastermind," he said. However, he was pessimistic about the police getting to the bottom of the case, citing the lack of progress in the Jatam investigation.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Mar 25, 2019
- Event Description
The family and relatives of former prisoner of conscience Mrs. Pham Thanh Nghien has been harassed and besieged by police in Hai Phong City when she and her husban former political prisoner Huynh Anh Tu and their daughter visited her home city in Dong Hai 1 ward, Hai An district. From March 25, all her family members were monitored, said Nghien who moved to Ho Chi Minh City after married to Mr. Tu, who spent 14 years in prison in 1999-2014. Nghien said in the morning of March 26, police in Hai Phong kidnapped former prisoner of conscience Nguyen Ngoc Tuong Thi when he was standing outside the house of Nghien's parents. Thi, who accompanied Nghien's couple from HCM City, was brought to the ward police office for a 2-hour-interrogation before being released. Due to the harassment, Mr. Thi left Hai Phong next day to return to HCM City, dropping his plan to stay longer in the city. Plainclothes police set up a temporary point near her parents' house to monitor her family as well as families of her older brother and two older sisters. Undercover policemen also followed one of her nieces and threatened one of her sisters, saying they will request her sister's employer to sack her. Faced with the terror unleashed on them by Hai Phong police, Mrs Nghien and her family were extremely fearful and worried. Mrs Nghien was convicted of "conducting anti-state propaganda" and sentenced to four years in jail for conducting an in-house sitting protest and hanging a banner inside her house that read "The Spratlys archipelago belongs to Vietnam." She was also targeted for helping the fishing community whose members were shot at and killed by Chinese ships when they operated in their traditional fishing area in the East Sea (South China Sea). In January 2019, authorities in HCM City destroyed several hundred houses in Loc Hung Vegetables Garden including Nghien couple's newly built house. They had to rent a place to stay and had to move several times since.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Feb 22, 2019
- Event Description
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - Journalist groups and a human rights organization denounced an anonymous list distributed to journalists in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, February 22, that tagged several groups and individuals as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The red-tagging document came from an unknown person and was given to journalists during a human rights forum in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday. The document, written in Bisaya, said, "Here is the list of several members of the Communist Party of the Philippines here in our city that are aspiring to wrestle the government." Among those included in the list are: lglesia Filipina Independiente priests Rolando Abejo, Khen Apus, Kris Ablon, and bishop Felixberto Calang Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Alliance of Concerned Teachers Journalist Leonardo "Cong" Corrales, his son LA, and his wife Ai Lawyer Beverly Musni and her lawyer daughters Czarina and Beverly Ann Musni Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao Kabataan Partylist Karapatan-Northern Mindanao in a statement Friday deplored the list as yet another case of harassment against human rights defenders in Northern Mindanao. Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general, said that two brown envelopes with 13 copies each of the document were handed over by "military-looking" men to the security guards of Philtown Hotel, where human rights groups were holding an assembly. Palabay said the document tagged the names in the list as communists. "The notorious lists have further endangered the already perilous situation of human rights defenders. We have repeatedly raised how these arbitrary and baseless accusations incite threats to the lives and security of named individuals, the worst of which they become victims of extrajudiial killings," Palabay said. "We call on the Commission on Human Rights and the local government to protect the rights of defenders and make accountable those who continue to put their lives at risk," she added. But the 4th Infantry Division denied the allegation thrown at them by Karapatan. "To all our media friends, it's for Palabay to prove it...burden of proof," Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Osias of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command said. "My take on this is if Karapatan cannot prove that it came from the Army then I say that they[Karapatan] are the ones who made it to sow intrigues among our ranks!" he said. Captain Ryan Delgado, spokesperson of the Army's 403rd Brigade, and Captain Regie Go, acting spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, both denied that the document came from them. "This is the first time I've seen this document. We don't know where that came from," Go said. 'Virtual death sentence' The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in a statement deplored the inclusion of its member and former director Corrales, as well as his wife and son in the list. "There is nothing more cowardly and deplorable than to vilify persons and put them in mortal peril behind the cloak of anonymity," the statement said. "As has happened all too often, red-tagging is not mere intimidation. All too often it can be a virtual death sentence," the NUJP said. The group added: "Even media have not been spared from red-tagging and other acts clearly intended to intimidate a critical press into silence, as with the ongoing vilification campaign against the NUJP and the cyberattacks on alternative media." The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) also condemned the list. "The COPC strongly debunks the allegation that Board Member Leonardo Vicente 'Cong' Corrales is affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines as what has been stated in a document circulated during a press conference in a hotel this morning, February 22, 2019," the organization said. The COPC added, "Let it be known that we will stand with Board Member Corrales as we call on the authorities to investigate this red-tagging and ensure that media personalities be spared from this accusation." Corrales, meanwhile, said that whoever put him and his family on the list is a coward. "We are not, have never been and never will be members of CPP. My wife is a marketing executive with Gold Star Daily, where I am the associate editor. My son is a regular staff of the Commission on Elections-10 and is currently serving in the commission's city office. He is also currently studying at Xavier University College of Law. Our credentials are readily available," Corrales said. "We denounce this list as it is not only aimed to intimidate me in my work as a journalist but has endangered my family. We know fully well that red-tagging is a virtual death sentence." "On my end, I will not let this cowardly act push me to silence. I will continue speaking truth to power," Corrales added. - Rappler.com
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Lawyer, Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 28, 2019
- Event Description
BEIJING - A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer disappeared on the day of his scheduled release from prison Thursday and was reportedly taken away by unknown persons. Jiang Tianyong, who defended politically sensitive clients like blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng and followers of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group, had completed a two-year sentence handed down for crimes against the state. But supporters who arrived at the prison in central Henan province were told that unknown individuals had already picked him up and taken him away, said his wife Jin Bianling. "The Chinese government is so shameless," Jin said in a phone interview from Los Angeles, where she lives with their 16-year-old daughter. "He's completed his sentence now, so he should be free," she said. "Is Chinese law just a piece of scrap paper?" Jiang's sister and father have also been missing since Wednesday afternoon, when state security agents were supposed to be escorting them to the prison, Jin said. Calls to the prison Thursday rang unanswered. China has increasingly placed those it considers dissidents under various types of extra-legal detention even after they have served their sentences, with no due process or additional charges filed. Chen, the blind legal activist, was confined for years at his home in a northern Chinese village, guarded around-the-clock by hired thugs until his escape in 2012. Environmental activist Wu Lihong has been restricted to his home in the eastern city of Wuxi under constant surveillance since his release in 2010 after serving a three-year sentence over allegedly trumped-up charges of financial crimes. Such restrictions are tightened during politically sensitive occasions, such as next week's start of the annual session of China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress. Jin said Jiang's sister visited him earlier this month and reported that he was in poor health. His skin tone was darker, he appeared gaunt, and his lips were cracked, Jiang's sister told Jin. He requested that his sister pick him on his release date and bring him to their ancestral home in Henan's Luoshan county. On Tuesday, however, state security agents visited Jiang's parents and said he would not be permitted to return home, and would instead be sent to Zhengzhou, Henan's capital, where the government would determine his housing and employment. The next day, state security agents said they would escort Jiang's sister and father to the jailhouse to meet him upon his release. The two have since been unreachable, Jin said, with their cellphones shut off despite a prior promise to call Jiang's mother when they arrived at the jail. Prior to Jiang's arrest in 2016, he had worked to publicize the plight of lawyers arrested in a sweeping crackdown on legal advocates that began in July 2015. He was forced to stop practicing law in 2009, after authorities refused to renew his legal license. Jiang was sentenced in 2017 to two years in prison for inciting subversion of state power, a vague charged often levied against human rights activists. Prosecutors accused Jiang of using social media platforms to denigrate the government and judicial authorities said he incited others to subvert state power, including fabricating claims that another lawyer had allegedly been tortured in custody. Jin said she worries about her husband's health, as he suffers from high blood pressure. "Our daughter was looking forward to talking to her father," Jin. "Now what can we do?"
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Feb 12, 2019
- Event Description
DAVAO CITY - An employee of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) received on Monday afternoon threating text messages from an unknown sender. RMP-NMR - an inter-diocesan and inter-congregational group composed of priests and lay people - also posted a statement about it on Tuesday. Fr. Allan Khen Apus, spokesperson of Karapatan in Northern Mindanao, did not name the employee for security reasons, but he said the employee received four text messages from mobile number 0906-154-0493. The sender addressed the RMP-NMR employee as "Tagalog," according to Apus. Below are the messages: "Tagalog nadakop na yung isang kasama niyo wala ka magresponde?"[Tagalog, one of your colleagues has been arrested, aren't you going to respond?] "Nawala ka dito sa cagayan tagalog ha ha haaa."[You have been missing here in Cagayan Tagalog ha ha ha.] "Bakit ka kasi nagpunta pa ng mindanao tagalog ka naman hindi ka dapat nakialam mabilis ka din gumawa ng kontra."[Why did you have to go to Mindanao. You're Tagalog. You should not have meddled. You're so quick to oppose.] "Tagalog kung gusto ka mag media ayaw lang sa mga npa."[Tagalog if you want join the media but not the NPA "NPA" in the fourth message stands for New People's Army. Apus said the text messages came a day after the arbitrary detention of Gleceria Balanguiao, another RMP-NMR employee, and her mother, Gloria Jandayan of Gabriela Women's Party. In a text message sent to RMP-NMR on Monday, Balanguiao said they were being held at a camp of the 4th Infantry Division in Patag, Cagayan de Oro City. In its statement issued on Tuesday, the RMP-NMR said: "We call on the faithful to lend their support in calling out these types of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders. Let us continue the good fight in supporting each other against the enemies of truth, peace and justice."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 15, 2014
- Event Description
Daily Star Report: Md Nur Khan, a director of rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), narrowly escaped an abduction attempt while emerging from his Lalmatia office in the capital this afternoon. The latest development has created more panic among the people already reeling from a wave of abductions. Talking to The Daily Star, he said some six to seven youths aged between 28 and 30 began following him as soon as he got out of his office around 5:10pm. Nur Khan added that the youths in a white microbus prevented his rickshaw just yards away of his office. He said he somehow managed to return to his office as the youths were getting out of the vehicle to drag him into it. "A group had been following me since the last month," Noor said, adding some people even went to his office to get information about his movements. The rights activist said he filed a general diary with Mohammadpur Police Station on April 20 in this regard. A sense of insecurity has been prevailing in the country since the abduction and killing of seven people including Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker late last month. ______________________________ FORUM-ASIA Urgent Alert Dear Ms. Sekaggya, Mr. Kiai and Mr. La Rue, We urgently want to inform you about the abduction attempt of Human Rights Defender, Mr. Nur Khan in Bangladesh. Nur Khan is the Director (investigation) of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), the leading Human Rights organization in Bangladesh (www.askbd.org). On 15 May at around 5.10pm Noor Khan left ASK office (7/17, Block B, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207). He got a rikshawa(manually paddled three wheeler) with another colleague and were just about few yards away from the office when a white micro bus obstructed his rickshawa. Being suspicious, Nur Khan quickly got down from the rickshawa and ran back to ASK office. His colleague noticed 5/6 people aged around 30 inside the micro bus. Mr. Nur Khan is a prominent Human Rights Defender. Along with his organization, he was always very vocal against the Human Rights violations by the Law enforcement agencies. Recent time he observed someone always following him in a motorbike and even coming to the office inquiring about his movement. On sensing insecurity earlier on 20 April Nur Khan filed a General Diary with Mohammadpur Police Station (No 1557 of 20/04/2014, attached). After today's incident, he has filed another GD (No 1250 of 15/05/2014, attached) The incident has already been reported in the online edition local media (The Daily Star Bangladesh We request your urgent intervention into the case. We will keep you posted with latest developments. Thanks in advance for your urgent intervention.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 29, 2014
- Event Description
Suspending an order of a trial court at Vapi in a defamation case against environmental activist Sunita Narain, the Gujarat High Court gave relief to her today and stayed proceedings against her as well as four of her colleagues.Justice S G Shah has stayed the defamation proceedings as well as the non-bailable warrant issued by a trial court at Vapi until the next hearing on June 26. Narain, a Padmashri awardee, has sought to quash proceedings and a non-bailable warrant against her and her colleagues Vibha Varshney, Arnab Pratim Dutta, Sanjeev Kumar Kanchan and Ankur Paliwal, issued by the additional judicial magistrate in Vapi on April 29. Narain had to move the Gujarat High Court after a defamation complaint filed by a Vapi-based company called United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) under the Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code against Narain, who is the editor and publisher of the magazine 'Down to Earth' and others, about an article published in it. The company alleged that an article published in the magazine, titled 'Dirty For Ever', misrepresented facts and damaged its reputation. UPL had also sought action against the NGO 'Society for Environmental Communication', which publishes the magazine. Acting on the complaint, the Vapi court had issued a non-bailable warrant and also directed Ambedkarnagar police station of New Delhi to produce the accused on June 12. Seeking quashing of the order, Narain's advocate contended that in that alleged defamatory article they did not mention any company's name. "We have not published the names of any company. The complaint has been filed with malafide intention," Advocate Bomi Sethna submitted before the Gujarat High Court today. The petitioners further submitted that the Vapi based court erred in issuing the non bailable warrant against Narain and four of her colleagues. "If the accused do not remain present (as per the court's orders), then bailable warrant could be directed, but the trial court had directly issued a non-bailable warrant," advocate Sethna said.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Apr 14, 2014
- Event Description
On the night of April 14, 2014, Mr. Sivagnanam Selvatheepan, a Tamil journalist, was brutally attacked by two masked men in the Puraapporukki area of Jaffna Peninsula, in Northern Sri Lanka. Although, the assailants attacked with metal rods with intent to kill, Selvatheepan miraculously survived the murderous attack. The International Council of Eelam Tamils strongly condemns the attack on journalists who are risking their lives to bring out news about the atrocities committed by the occupying forces. Selvatheepan was the Jaffna Vadamaraachchi region correspondent for Virakesari, Thinakkural, and Valampuri newspapers. As a member of the Jaffna Press Club, he had been informing the Jaffna Press Club and his fellow journalist about the continuing threats to his life. Recently, the Nelliady Police Station had obtained personal details about him. The assailants who followed him for a few kilometers clearly identified him prior to the vicious attack. It should also be noted that Selvatheepan, accompanied by his mother, gave evidence about his missing brother to the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka. The fact that he was attacked in a closely guarded area with heavy military presence points to the strong links between the assailants and the military. Journalists and editors working for Puthiyavan, another regional newspaper from Mannar District located in the Northwestern part of Sri Lanka, have been receiving death threats from a politician aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka has also refused to extend the Visa of BBC correspondent Mr. Charles Haviland. All of these point to a strong culture of repression of the press freedom in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will continue to muzzle the press in order to hide its genocidal project coming to the attention of the international community. We strongly urge the international community to intervene and stop the attack on journalist and protect the Tamils from ongoing genocide.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Mar 5, 2019
- Event Description
On 5 March, Ekkachai Hongkangwan, a political activist, got hit again in the head after attending a hearing with the Medical Council of Thailand against Dr. Rienthong Nanna. Two people rode a bike without a registration sign to approach Ekkachai. The biker wore black jacket and a helmet, while another one at the back wore camouflage mask and clothes. One of them battered Ekkachai in the head with a stick, and another was coming with an iron pipe. Fortunately, a good citizen intervened, so the offenders fled away before having a chance to use it. This is the sixth time that Ekkachai was physically assaulted. Earlier, his car was also torched in front of his house. Ekkachai had injury in the head and bruises in his arms and arrived at Phra Nang Klao Hospital with a help from rescuers. When it happened, the political activist was leaving the Medical Council of Thailand at 16.00 after having a hearing with an ethical committee to launch an investigation against Dr. Rienthong Nanna, the director of Mongkutwattana Hospital. He had filed a complaint on 17 January in order to revoke Rienthong's medical license on the ground of discrimination, verbal abuses, and posting inappropriate statements on Facebook. These actions, Ekkachai claimed, are against the medical ethics. Rienthong Nanna is a chairman of Rubbish Collection Organisation (RCO), the ultra-royalist vigilante group very active in enforcing lese majeste law and promoting royalist agenda. In January, Rienthong has threatened a lecturer at the College of Politics and Governance, Mahasarakham University after posting in support of the election in the context of its delay and coronation scheduling. After the threatening, Ekachai and Chokchai wanted to talk to Rienthong, leading to a debate on street about that issue as well as everything else that was happening.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 13, 2014
- Event Description
Mr. Laimayum Sevananda Sharma, aged about 35 years, S/o. L.Kedarnath Sharma, residing at Sagolband Salam Leikai, Imphal West District, Manipur. He is a Law Officer associated with Human Rights Law Network's (HLRN) Imphal center. HRLN is the network of lawyers and social activists working in solidarity with like-minded organizations and individuals to realize civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental rights and social justice for all. It works on promoting human rights through free / pro bono legal aid and legal awareness programmes, advocacy, networking and publications. Sharma has been associated with HRLN since 2010 and practices law at the Imphal district court and also visits different trial courts nearby, in the state of Manipur. He does pro-bono lawyering on matters like Domestic Violence, Environment etc. and has filed several Public Interest Litigations. According to the information received, on June 13th 2014 at about 6.30 p.m. while he was returning from his office in his personal two-wheeler vehicle two persons followed him in a four wheeler vehicle (car) and intercepted him. When Sharma questioned them about this, the two persons seated in the car came out and started assaulting Mr. Sharma as a result of which he suffered severe pain in his chest and fell down from his vehicle. As per the information, in the meanwhile another vehicle (TATA DI), in which about 8 Manipur Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel were travelling, also came there. Sharma identified one of the persons who assaulted him as Dhanbir Singh who is a commando with the Manipur police. Sharma managed to escape somehow and went for a medical examination on the next day i.e. on 14th July 2014, and filed a complaint before the Director General of Police for necessary immediate action. The human rights work that Sharma is involved in has brought on this attack on him and he fears such assaults in future too.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Mar 12, 2019
- Event Description
Academician and activist Ram Puniyani has said three policemen, claiming to be from the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID), visited his Mumbai home under the pretext of passport verification and tried to obtain information about him and his family. However, a top official on Tuesday denied that any such "inquiry" was conducted by the CID. "Why will CID conduct any inquiry when we don't have any case pertaining to Mr. Puniyani?" he asked. He said some police personnel, not from the CID, might have visited Mr. Puniyani's residence claiming to be from the department. Mr. Puniyani, 73, used to teach Biomedical Engineering at IIT Bombay. He regularly conducts seminars and workshops on themes like threat of communal politics to democratic society, human rights and so on. The author of several books, he is the recipient of the Indira Gandhi Award (2006) and the National Communal Harmony Award (2007) for his contribution to national integration. Mr. Puniyani said that the police personnel, in mufti entered his flat in Powai on the 11th floor around 2.30 p.m., claiming they were from the local police station. They told him and his wife that they had come for verification of passport application. However, the Puniyanis have not applied for any passport. "My wife questioned their real motive, saying we have not applied for any passport. When she asked them whether they are from the CID, they nodded in agreement and tried to show us their identity cards," Mr. Puniyani said, but he did not check their identity. He said the trio questioned him about the location of his wife's clinic and his children's careers. "They also asked me and my wife why I gave up my career with IIT Bombay. They also wanted to know what my children are doing, and where are they settled," he said. Mr. Puniyani said, initially, he didn't take the trio seriously. "But they again inquired about us from servants at the ground floor of the building," he said. He further said the trio didn't try to intimidate him and his wife, and behaved well. "However, the motive behind the visit definitely worries us. They wanted to locate us it seems," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 27, 2014
- Event Description
Source of Information on the Incident: MASUM, (Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Manch), a human rights organisation based in West Bengal, India. About the Human Rights Defenders under attack: Mr. Mohar Ali Mondal is the son of Late Shahar Ali Mondal, a resident of Village and Post Office- Gobindapur, Police Station- Swarupnagar, District- 24 Parganas (North) in West Bengal. He has been working as the District Human Rights Monitor for MASUM. The Perpetrators: Mr. Bajlur Rahman, Sub Inspector of Police, Swarup Nagar Police Station. Date and time of Incident: 27 July, 2014, 11.50 PM Place of Incident: Swarup Nagar Police Station, 24 Parganas (North) District in the East Indian state of West Bengal. Incident According to the information received, on 27th July 2014 at around 8.00 pm, few villagers of Gobindapur under Swarupnagar Police Station, District- 24 Parganas (North) informed the MASUM District Human Rights Monitor Mr. Mohar Ali Mondal that the cross-border cattle smugglers had attacked and severely beat one Mr. Kabirul Mondal, son of Late Afsar Mondal of the same village. According to the source, those smugglers operate with support of the police and BSF. The villagers requested Mr. Mohar to assist them in lodging a formal complaint against the cattle smugglers at the police station.At around 11.00 pm, Mr. Kabirul's uncle, one Mr. Siddik Mondal, son of Late Ahad Ali formally made the complaint at the Swarupnagar police station. The then on-duty officer of the police station read the complaint as well enquired about the incident. Then he asked the complainant along with the human rights defender from MASUM to wait in the courtyard of police station for Mr. Bajlur Rahman, the Sub Inspector (SI) of that police station. Mr. Rahman came at the police station at about 10.00 pm forcing the villagers and the human rights defender to wait for one and half hours. Mr. Rahman also read the complaint and apparently narrated the whole complaint over his mobile phone to some higher-ups and also informed the complainant that the Officer in Charge was not at the police station at that moment.When the complainant and Mr. Mohar Ali were about to leave the police station at around 11.50 pm, Mr. Rahman, the SI, called them again to the room where the Duty Officer was sitting. All of a sudden; Mr. Bajlur Rahman SI of Police caught hold of Mohar Ali's collar and started threatening him saying, "You have to face the consequences of your involvement with human rights work" and "You will pay for your activities against the police and BSF". Mr. Mohar Ali and Mr. Siddik Mondal were literally prevented from any sort of movement and made to stand for 40 minutes while the other villagers were asked to vacate the police station. Later the said police personnel obtained signatures on "arrest cum inspection" memo and released them. This is not an isolated incident; rather the police and Border Security Force administrations are trying to throttle the voices of protest against their incessant acts of torture. A similar incident happened to another human rights defender of MASUM at Murshidabad district earlier on. This incident is also a blatant attack on initiatives to check the atrocious acts of the police and BSF personnel at the Indo-Bangladesh border areas of West Bengal and against the internationally accepted ethos and guidelines to protect the human rights defenders. The incident also reveals that the smugglers and the police and BSF share a hand in glove relationship. On 28th July 2014 (today) Mr. Mohar Mondal made written complaints to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, 24 Parganas (North) asking legal action against the erring officers and security for self.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Sep 18, 2014
- Event Description
The main contractor and partner of the company that runs the Chatree mining complex in Phichit province has threatened to take legal action against activists, accusing them of making false claims about the impact the gold mine has on villagers' health. The move comes after local activists recently submitted a petition bearing the names of 179 villagers to the National Council for Peace and Order, accusing the mine of harming the environment and the villagers' health. The junta ordered an investigation and a hearing into the dispute, including conducting blood and urine tests among villagers. The company accused some of the mine's former employees-turned-activists of orchestrating the anti-mine campaign with the ulterior motive of trying to force Akara Resources, the company that holds the mining concessions in the area, to buy their nearby land holdings at exorbitant prices. "Everybody knows they[the former employees] are motivated by self-interest, and by making these false claims they're jeopardising the livelihoods of several hundred villagers and their families." said Nucharee Sailasuta, the managing director of Lotus Hall Co, the main contractor and partner in the gold-mining operations in the area. Ms Nucharee rejected activists' claims the gold mine has caused environmental and health hazards. "While Lotus Hall welcomes any opportunity to work with the authorities, I will call on them[the authorities] to let common sense prevail and resolve this issue quickly. "We need to secure a prosperous long-term future for my employees, their families and the community," she added. Nantida Sangwal, a protest leader, said the locals are not concerned about the actions of the mining company, since they have been threatened several times in the past. She is facing a defamation suit by the mine operator but prosecutors have yet to indict her. Ms Nantida denied claims the company's former employees were behind the protest, saying the opposition to the mine and the impacts on the community from it have been swelling for a decade, while the company had laid off the employees in question only recently. She said it was not right that the mine operator threatens locals who are seeking help from the junta. "We are asking you[Lotus Hall Co] to improve yourselves, but you come out to intimidate us instead, widening divisions in society," she said. She insisted the mine has hurt the environment. "We even have to buy vegetables from other areas." she said. Source: Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/432816/mine-company-threatens-locals-with-legal-action)
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 9, 2014
- Event Description
On Tuesday, 9 Sept. 2014, Cambodian authorities detained two employees of Equitable Cambodia (EC) without just cause. Ms. Meg Fukuzawa, a research consultant who has dual citizenship in the United States and Japan, and Mr. Lida Sok, a Cambodian research officer, had been in Oddar Meanchey province since last Monday to conduct field research on the human rights impacts of forced evictions resulting from the development of industrial sugarcane plantations. The plantations are owned by the Mitr Phol Group, one of Coca-Cola's top three global suppliers. Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok were working to collect research data to provide to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, which is investigating Mitr Phol's activities in Cambodia. Around 4:30 p.m., four police vehicles attended Bos village where Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok had been conducting their research. In 2008, the rice fields of approximately 100 families in Bos village were seized to make way for sugarcane plantations. When officers approached the researchers, they immediately asked Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok to accompany them to the Oddar Meanchey provincial police station. The officers' requests were denied, as by then, it was dark and the EC staff were concerned about traveling by motorcycle at night. An hour later, Long Sokun, the Deputy Police Chief of Oddar Meanchey, arrived at the village and asked to see Ms. Fukuzawa's immigration documents. Ms. Fukuzawa did not have her passport in her immediate possession. At approximately 8:30 p.m., a police vehicle attended Bos village and Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok were transported under duress to the provincial police station. The officers did not inform them of the reason for their detention, nor was an arrest warrant produced. They were held in police custody and interrogated about their research activities for over three hours, after which Mr. Sok was released from police custody. However, he chose to remain with his colleague to act as her translator and to provide support while she remained in custody. At the police station, Ms. Fukuzawa attempted to show both Mr. Long Sokun and his assistant scanned copies of her Japanese and American passports, which were sent to Mr. Sok's telephone. On both occasions, she was told that it was not necessary to provide such documents. Ms. Fukuzawa was held in police custody overnight and transported to the Department of Immigration in Phnom Penh on the morning of 10 Sept. 2014. After an interview was conducted with the Director of the Department of Immigration, Ms. Fukuzawa was released from police custody at 3:30 p.m. Police indicated to the researchers that they were asked to leave the village for their own safety because it was a remote area. Neither Ms. Fukuzawa nor Mr. Sok were concerned about their safety while undertaking their research at the village. The community members had treated the visitors with respect and hospitality. It was only after police arrived and detained them against their will that Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok felt their safety was at risk. Ultimately, the authorities claimed that Ms. Fukuzawa was detained because she could not produce her original passport when questioned by the police in Oddar Meanchey. No charges were laid nor fines imposed. Equitable Cambodia condemns the arbitrary detention of its employees, both in Oddar Meanchey and Phnom Penh. The absence of a passport upon request by police does not result in criminal sanctions. Moreover, neither individual was engaging in illegal activities. As such, there were no credible grounds to justify Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok's detention in police custody, the former lasting nearly 24 hours. Without warrant or reasonable grounds to seek detention, police and immigration officers violated Ms. Fukuzawa and Mr. Sok's constitutional right to not be arbitrarily detained and deprived them of their liberty without just cause.[ We the undersigned condemn the continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders in Cambodia. We call upon the competent authorities to investigate those responsible for ordering the illegal and unjust detention of Meg Fukuzawa and Lida Sok.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 18, 2014
- Event Description
Beijing-based veteran rights activist Hu Jia has received death threats by text message, while explosive substances were placed into his heavily vandalized vehicle during the trial of a fellow activist this week, Hu told RFA on Friday. Hu, who was taken in for questioning on Wednesday by Beijing police on suspicion of "beating another person," received a text message on Thursday threatening to kill him, before discovering his car had been vandalized with red paint and a small explosive shell placed on the dashboard on Friday morning, he said. Photos posted on Hu's Twitter account showed his Volkswagen sedan slathered in red paint, both inside and outside, on the driver's side, with a small black pot-like object placed behind the steering wheel. Hu is a close friend and vocal supporter of detained Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, who stood trial on charges of "separatism" in the northwestern region of Xinjiang on Wednesday and Thursday. "There haven't been any clues yet[about who might have done this]," Hu told RFA on Friday. "All I can say is that it was done by the same people who carried out the[earlier attacks]." On July 16, Hu was set upon as he made his way back to his car on a Beijing street by people he identified at the time as "trained men," and likely "plainclothes cops." Hu tweeted at the time that he was grabbed by some "plainclothes guys in black," grabbed by the throat, punched in the eye and nose, then kicked in the stomach. Further threats and vandalism took place last month, including a death threat on Aug. 12 and damage to his parents' property on Aug. 26. "It is clear that these attacks are escalating," said Hu, a long-time campaigner on AIDS issues and for civil rights in general who has served time in jail for subversion, as well as being subjected to prolonged "criminal detention" and periods of house arrest at his Beijing home. He said he is convinced that the attacks are a covert form of intimidation by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. "The type of explosive they planted was a shell used by the Communist Party for ceremonial occasions," Hu said. "That's not something your average person can easily get hold of." "The authorities knew I would go public with this if they planted explosives," Hu said. "They know they can't scare me, but they might scare some other people." He said the vandalism and previous attacks seemed calculated to frighten off anyone thinking of opposing the Chinese government. "They police said maybe the explosives were put there by someone with a private grudge against[me]," he said. Asked if the authorities had taken steps to protect him against further attacks, Hu replied: "They won't send anyone to protect me, because I'm not a government official. It's a very difficult situation for me, because I don't know how things will develop." Health at risk Hu, who suffers from hepatitis B, said he has been warned that his activism may be damaging his health irreparably. "The doctor told me very clearly that strenuous work and strong emotions will damage my liver and gall bladder," Hu said. "But I don't seem to be able to get away from an environment that makes me angry." "During the past three days, I was put under house arrest because of Ilham Tohti's trial, and that will continue[on Friday and Saturday], although I don't know why," he added. "It's hard to see how I'm going to get well." Hu was handed a three-and-a-half year jail term in 2008 for "incitement to subversion" after he wrote online articles critical of China's hosting of the Olympics. A campaigner for human rights and AIDS victims in China, Hu was awarded the Sakharov Prize, a major human rights award, by the European Union in 2008. He had acted as a key source of information for foreign media on human rights and environmental violations, government abuses, judicial injustices, and the mistreatment of dissidents. More recently, Hu has been a vocal supporter of jailed Uyghur dissident Ilham Tohti, regularly speaking out against Chinese government policy in the troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang. Source: Radio Free Asia (Radio Free Asia
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2014
- Event Description
According to human rights organization Makkal Mandram, on the night of 23rd September 2014, at around 11.30 PM, one of their workers Poovarasan was woken up by a team of 5 policemen and taken to the Kaveripakkam Police Station. This team of five police men consisted of Kandiban Inspector (SHO), Mohan Special Sub Inspector, Sundar Constable (SB), Kadiresan Writer, and the Inspector's driver. At the Station, they stripped him naked, tied his hands behind his back, and all five of them proceeded to beat him black and blue with their batons. After some time, a baton was inserted under one arm and pushed underneath the other arm so that he was raised high in the air by two policemen while Mohan SI beat him severely on the soles of his feet and shins with a baton. Then he was ordered to keep his hands open in front, and Kandiban brutally caned both his palms till these became swollen and numb due to lack of circulation. Then they made him jump up and down or shake his hands vigorously to bring back the blood circulation, and the police again started the process of beating him black and blue. Two policemen held him down forcefully by standing atop him with their boots; meanwhile, a third policeman thrashed him on the buttocks and waist. Two batons were forcibly thrust into his mouth; one was twisted into the jaw bone and the other was pressed against the roof of his mouth. They also kicked him in the chest, thighs, and back with their booted feet. In between these beatings, he was given several jars of pain relief balm to apply on palms and soles. The moment the pain reduced a bit, the brutal beatings would start again. All the time, he was continuously abused by filthy language with caste derogatory curses. The inspector Mr. Kandiban demanded to know "do you think you are such a big shot that you will stop sand mining'. This vicious treatment went on from 2.00 am till 6.00 am. All five of them took turns assaulting him brutally for the entirety of these hours. By this time, he was no longer in a position to sit or stand and was barely conscious. But Poovarasan was chained to a table with an iron chain and left in that position till the next morning. At 7.00 AM the next morning (24-9-14), Poovarasan's father accompanied by a lawyer and some relatives reached the police station. The lawyer and others noticed that his left hand and both feet had swollen conspicuously. His right jaw bone had a guava-sized bulge. His buttocks and waist were puffy and thoroughly bruised. He could neither stand up straight nor take a step. He could not even sit up. When they helped him up, he coughed up blood. The lawyer protested to this treatment but they did not release him from his chains till 11.00 am. At 11.30 am, Poovarasan was sent to the District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate - I Court for remand under the charge of a Head Constable. Before leaving the station, he was threatened not to reveal anything about the abuse he had suffered to the court. There was no complaint against him. The Inspector had booked a case against him under Sections 294 (A) (using abusive language) and Section 506 (I) (criminal intimidation). The Judicial Magistrate Ms. Gayathri Devi took one look at him and asked him what had happened. He narrated the entire episode of police brutality in custody. She returned the remand by asking the police constable to take the prisoner to Wallajahpet Government Hospital for medical examination and come back with the doctor's opinion as there were many visible injuries on his person. At the hospital, Dr. Suganya, duty doctor in the emergency ward, only made a cursory examination of the victim and did not make the mandatory Accident Register (AR) entry. It appeared that the Kaveripakkam police had already contacted her. By this time, a team of lawyers from Makkal Mandram had reached the hospital. They insisted that the AR entry should be made properly. She rudely told them to leave the place and said she would make the entries later. The team of lawyers met the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital immediately and insisted that the mandatory medico-legal procedure be followed with due care so that an accurate and genuine medical record can be made available to the court. The Medical Superintendent immediately called up Dr. Sukanya and reprimanded her for not doing her duty properly and instructed her to record an entry in the AR at once. It was only after this laborious insistence that the incident information-names and details of assaulters, details of injuries, locations, as well as other facts-was recorded in the hospital records. There appeared to be at least four fractures apart from multiple other injuries. Back in court, as he was not in a condition to walk, Poovarasan was left lying in the ambulance with his father by his side, while two constables guarded it outside. A few policemen and Makkal Mandram's team of lawyers went back into the court. The Judicial Magistrate was looking at the remand papers once again. Meanwhile, the Inspector of Kaveripakkam Station arrived along with a few constables, boarded the ambulance and unlawfully ordered the driver of the ambulance to take it away. The driver drove it out of the court premises at considerable speed. Inside it, the Inspector threatened Poovarasan and his father that he would destroy their entire family if Poovarasan did not retract his statement to the court. Poovarasan's father called Makkal Mandram's advocate on his cell phone immediately and Poovarasan cried out into the phone, "sir please save me, I don't know where they are taking me. The inspector is threatening me with dire consequences.' The advocate switched on the loudspeaker in his cell phone so that the Judicial Magistrate's clerk could hear it as well. On being informed, the Judicial Magistrate got infuriated and ordered the court police to call all their departmental officers back into court at once with the ambulance or else she would take strict action against them. She also rang up the Superintendent of Police Vellore and gave him a telephonic report about the abduction of Poovarasan by Kaveripakkam police from the court premises. As there were no options for further intimidation left, the ambulance was forced to return to the court. The Judicial Magistrate admonished the Inspector of Kaveripakkam PS and gave him a stern warning in open court. The DSP Arakkonam rushed to the spot and tried to mediate a compromise. Poovarasan, his family and Makkal Mandram refused it and instead demanded justice for him and punishment for the guilty officers. The Judicial Magistrate released Poovarasan on bail by mentioning in the order "apart from the merits of the case, the court is inclined to enlarge the accused on bail considering his injuries and treatment'. The Judicial Magistrate also recorded this incident in writing and forwarded it to the higher authorities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2014
- Event Description
On 31 August 2014, 'Malaysiakini' magazine journalist and HRD Susan Loone interviewed Mr. Phee Boon Poh, chairperson of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS), after he was arrested and detained for almost 24 hours. PPS, a group declared illegal by the police for not being registered with the Registrar of Societies, took part in the Merdeka Parade at the Esplanade on 31 August. The interview was published the following day in Bahasa, "Disoal siasat selama 4 jam, dakwa dilayan seperti 'penjenayah'" ('Questioned for four hours, treated like 'criminal') and was considered seditious publication. On 3 September 2014, Loone was contacted by one ASP Jamal to give her statement at 11.30 evening on the article she wrote online. On 4 September 2014, 3:00 in the afternoon she presented herself at the Northeast District Police District headquarters for questioning; and, was arrested thereafter under section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act for publishing an article online which the police deemed seditious. OCPD Assistant Comm. Mior Faridalathrasha Wahid had confirmed the arrest. Loone was released on police bail at 11:45pm the same day after almost nine hours of interrogation. The police took her fingerprints and asked her to sign a document putting her under arrest. Her mobile phone was confiscated as part of the investigation. She was asked to report back to the police district headquarters on 3 October 2014. In recent weeks, there has been a surge in individuals who are being investigated under the Act and in the past years, the vague and broad provisions in the Act have been invoked to quell political dissent and critics of the government.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Source
[Malaysia Kini](Malaysia Kini
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jan 14, 2013
- Event Description
Alleged attack on, and stabbing of, a prominent blogger in Dhaka. According to the information received, on 14 January 2013, Mr. Asif Mohiuddin was attacked by three unidentified men as he was leaving his office in Uttara district. He was stabbed several times in the neck and back and was in critical condition at the time of sending the communication. Mr. Mohiuddin is a prominent blogger, whose Bengali language blog ?Almighty only in name, but impotent in reality? is reportedly one of the most visited websites in Bangladesh. In his blog, Mr. Mohiuddin, who is an atheist, frequently criticized religion, and also provided commentaries on free speech and other human rights issues.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Internet freedom, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Oct 15, 2014
- Event Description
An unknown group calling themselves " Patriotic Force that defends the country"[rata rakagathdeshapremeebalakaya] directed death threats to the journalist participants, organisers and their families at an event which was held on 15th October in Colombo. This event was organized to award certificates of a journalism training programme conducted by the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) section. Senior journalist and coordinator of the event Mr.Jayasiri Jayasekara and journalists Mr. Janoor Kichilan and Mr. Amadoru Amarajeewa are among those who received death threats. Mr.Shan Wijethunga, the organiser and Ravaya consultant editor Mr. Victor Ivan, resource persons of the event too had received threatening SMS messages. The Free Media Movement (FMM) asserts that this so-called "'Patriotic Force'' is another puppet group which is protected by the intelligence agencies. This conclusion has been reinforced by the statement given by journalist Mr. Amadoru Amarajeewa stating that the mobile phones that originated these threatening telephone calls belonged to some intelligence officers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jan 10, 2013
- Event Description
On 9 January 2013, the Prime Minister announced the tranfer of all non-government all primary schools, both registered and non-registered to Governmental control and funding. However, secondary schools were not included in such process which provoked discontent from teachers and employees from these schools who decided to hold a series of protests. On 10 January 2013, a group of teachers was dispersed by police forces which used teargas and pepper spray, whose chemical composition was reportedly particularly toxic. Protestors were conducting a peaceful hunger strike, by sitting in front of the National Press Club and later gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. According to sources, at least 20 teachers were injured in the course of the dispersal, of whom 10 had to be taken to the Dhaka Medical Hospital. It is alleged that Mr. Maulana Sekander Ali, a teacher who participated in the assembly and protested in a peaceful manner, died in Patuakhali five days after the police's intervention. It is reported that a journalist working for the TV channel Somoy was also injured in the course of the police operation. On 12 January 2013, another group of hunger strikers reportedly gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. Police forces allegedly dispersed them. Subsequently, it is further reported that they formed a human chain on a nearby road at Dhaka University, but they were dispersed again. Both dispersions were allegedly executed using batons and pepper spray. On 13 January 2013, some protesters were allegedly dispersed while peacefully assembling before the National Human Rights Commission's office premises. Police forces reportedly used a water cannon and pepper spray. On 15 January 2013, a group of demonstrators went to Manik Mia Avenue to start a hunger strike. Sources state that the police set up barricades in order to block them at a corner of the avenue. After being dispersed, a group of teachers went to Sobhanbagh to stage a sit-in before the building Prince Plaza. It is alleged that police officers dispersed them by using tear shells and water cannons. On 18 January 2013, the teachers reportedly decided to postpone their demonstrations for three months after assurances were given that the Minister of Education would meet them. On 21 January 2013, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court issued a ruling giving the Government a deadline of three weeks to explain why the police could use pepper spray on demonstrators. The ruling was issued following a writ petition, filed by a Supreme Court lawyer.
- Impact of Event
- 20
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 4, 2014
- Event Description
The Lawyers Collective has strongly condemned death threats to two of its leading members, Attorneys-at-Law, Namal Rajapakshe and Manjula Pathiraja. In a statement it said Rajapakshe and Pathiraja have been leading human rights activists and lawyers with long experience in public interest litigation. They appeared in a series of sensitive cases challenging arbitrary actions of all organs of the Government, including the Defence Authorities. Around 6:20 p.m. on 13 September 2014, two unidentified men with full face covered helmet and jackets, had rushed to the legal office of Rajapakshe, situated near the Thorana junction, Kelaniya, in the Colombo district. One of them had been armed, and he had taken Rajapakshe to a corner, and threatened that he and Manjula Pathiraja would be killed, if they appear in "unnecessary cases'. They particularly mentioned about several cases where Rajapakshe and Pathiraja had appeared against a controversial Buddhist monk. The two individuals had then fled on an unidentified motorcycle. Rajapakshe had made a complaint at the Peliyagoda Police Station bearing number CIB/III - 230/123. On 4 August 2014, Attorneys Rajapakshe, Pathiraja and Lakshan Dias were intimidated by a group of thugs inside the Maradana Police station, in front of the Head Quarters Inspector. The three of them were making representations on behalf of their clients, on the breaking up of a peaceful private meeting and criminal trespass. Rajapakshe had made a complaint regarding this incident on 5 August 2014. No actions have been taken by the Police in respect of this intimidation. Rajapakshe, Pathiraja and Dias have frequently appeared for victims of human rights violations across the country, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds, often pro bono. They have made themselves available for emergencies at all times and days. While upholding the highest traditions of the legal profession, all three of them have been well respected and committed human rights defenders who have been taking forthright and courageous positions on issues of democracy, rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka. Lawyers Collectice urges the Inspector General of Police to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of all three of them and to take all possible steps to hold accountable, all those responsible for these threats and intimidation.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 12, 2014
- Event Description
An expert in forensic medicine and an anti-mining advocate, Doctor Benito E. Molino received a death threat via private message to his Facebook account which was posted by a certain Dexter Movilla, also known as Mark Minimo, on October 15, 2014 at 10:35 a.m. The message was (in Tagalog dialect), "Mxado kng ma papel mga tao nwlan ng trabho dhl sau tndaan m isang bala k lng mag ingat ingat k bka isang araw patay kna." (You're a meddler. People lose their jobs because of you. Keep in mind that one bullet can kill you. Beware, one day you're dead.) Another message was sent on October 12, 2014 at 8:08 p.m. It said, (also in Tagalog), "Wla pla mrami ng wlng trabaho nyan dhl sa pilit ny0ng ipahnto ang mining Alm nyo b dhl sa gnwa nyo mraming gl8 sa in u d mta2hmik buhay nyo sa gnwa nyo lahat ng mining pna hnto nyo." (People lose their jobs because you coerced the mining company to stop. Do you know, because of what you did, many are angry with you, you will not have peace because of what you did, you stopped all mining operations.) Dr. Molino, fondly called as "Doc Ben", 57, is at the center of the struggle against mining operations in Sta. Cruz. Currently, he has been at the receiving end of criticisms from supporters of mining companies in the province. Mine workers have blamed Doc Ben for the suspension of mining activities that cost them their jobs. Doc Ben is the chairperson of the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales (CCOS). CCOS is of the active anti-mining groups in the province that has been strongly campaigning for the cancellation of mining operations due to the vast amount of destruction in the environment that would eventually affect the health and livelihood of the people. According to Doc Ben, nickel laterite (soil layer rich in nickel compound) has clogged the natural flow of water from rivers, creeks, fishponds, shorelines and farmlands. Apparently, more than 300 hectares of farmlands have already been destroyed which has caused farmers of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria millions worth of income. On July 15, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office in Central Luzon suspended the operations of four mining companies that extract nickel laterite in the province, citing their "unsystematic mining or stripping method." Doc Ben claimed that the suspension order was only an initial victory for Sta. Cruz residents who, they say, have been struggling to revive their sources of livelihood, which are mostly farming and fishing. Recently, mine workers appealed to the provincial officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to lift the suspension order against four mining companies in Sta. Cruz, Zambales such as the Diversified Metals Corporation, Benguet Corporation Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., and LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. Aside from his activities in the anti-mining movement, Doc Ben is currently working with the Medical Action Group (MAG), in partnership with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) for the protection of human rights defenders in the country. Doc Ben is a lecturer and an expert in medical investigation and documentation of torture cases. He is also involved in the investigation and documentation of alleged cases of enforced disappearances, particularly in exhumations.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 18, 2013
- Event Description
From 18 to 21 January 2013, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) | [Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation], a government body responsible for providing infrastructure and services in the Greater Bangalore Metropolitan area, reportedly bulldozed 1,200 homes and evicted over 5,000 people living in "economically weaker section" quarters (EWS-for those earning an annual income of Rs 100,000 or less) in Koramangala, Bangalore. The demolition affected around 1,200 women and 2,000 children. Prior to the eviction: reportedly, no consultation was conducted with affected residents. Water supply and electricity were cut off four days before the evictions started. The authorities did not provide any written notice or reason for the demolition to the residents. During the eviction: given the lack of notice about the exact date of the eviction the residents were allegedly left with no time to collect their belongings. A large police force consisting of 500 policemen and 20 policewomen was present. When residents tried to resist the demolition, the police reportedly used violence against them, beating them with sticks. Reportedly, on 19 January, police arrested seven residents (five women and two men), who were reportedly peacefully protesting against the eviction, and detained them in the dugodi police station until the evening. On 20 January, police arrested around 21 women residents, including two human rights activists.They were kept in prison overnight and released on bail on 21 January. However, charges under the Indian Penal Code, namely on grounds of being a member of an unlawful assembly, rioting, assault against a public servant, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and criminal intimidation, are still pending. After the eviction: Reportedly, BBMP residents who have not been able to find any alternative place to stay are now spending days and nights in the open. They do not have any shelter or access to basic services, such as drinking water, sanitation and toilets. Given these conditions, residents' health is a growing concern. Children are not able to go to school. Many residents fear they will lose their livelihoods if they move away from the neighbourhood. Reportedly, people have been promised houses in Sulekunte village, along Sarjapur Road. Sulekunte village is outside the city limits, on the southeastern outskirts of Bangalore, around 15 kilometres away from the EWS quarters and the evicted residents' places of work. Karnataka Slum Development Board is allegedly supposed to build apartments for the 900 families in a five-acre plot there. This may take between one to three years. It is reported that residents were living informally in the EWS quarters after their housing, originally built by the BBMP in 1990, was destroyed by the BBMP following the collapse of some of the buildings due to poor quality construction. In 2005, BBMP decided to rebuild new housing at the same site and a year later issued ID cards to 1,512 resident households-thereby recognizing their legal right to housing. Since then no housing was built on the site, forcing residents to live in informal inadequate housing at the site. Particular concerns have been expressed regarding the situation of tenants and sub-tenants living in the EWS quarters. Reportedly, BBMP claims that it is responsible for providing interim relief to only 1,512 original allottees, and not the tenants and subtenants. However until now the BBMP or any other government authority has failed to provide any alternative-even temporary-arrangements for the evicted residents, be they recognized households or tenants.
- Impact of Event
- 21
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Jan 20, 2013
- Event Description
The weekly magazine Lal Rakshak allegedly published an article containing various allegations against Ms. Sharma, Mr. Subodh Pyakhurel and Mr. Dixit, naming them as hostile to the Maoist political agenda and the peace process, as well as accusing them of crimes including corruption, labour exploitation and sexual violence. The article reportedly also mentioned Messrs. Sushil Pyakhurel, Charan Prasai and Kapil Shrestha. It is alleged that the Lal Rakshak article also contained a paragraph outlining the result of a survey the magazine had undertaken on what ought to be done about the persons named in the article. Reportedly, this included quotes by representatives stating that legal action against Ms. Sharma, Mr. Subodh Pyakhurel and Mr. Dixit would be fruitless due to their access to foreign funds, and that "people?s action" should be taken against them. "People?s action" in this context is understood to refer to punishment through violent attacks. It was allegedly used with this meaning during the violent conflict in Nepal during the 1990s and 2000s. Similar articles were allegedly printed in a number of local newspapers, including the 21 January 2013 edition of Gandaki Awaj (published in Pokhara), the 22 January 2013 edition of Taja Khabar (published in Rupandehi), and the online news portal Onlinekhabar. It is also alleged that calls for "people?s action" were repeatedly made on FMradio stations across Nepal against the above-mentioned members of AWC. Sources further inform that in an interview with Krishnasenonline, a Maoist-affiliated news portal, a spokesperson for the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN (Maoist) mentioned NGOs "who prefer dollars to the nation" and who had "called imperialist Britain to have Colonel Kumar Lama arrested" in exchange for dollars. The spokesperson allegedly made explicit mention of Ms. Sharma and the Advocacy Forum as having sent information to the British and so gotten Colonel Kumar Lama arrested. Reports have also been received of alleged harassment of Ms. Sharma and Advocacy Forum-Nepal. It is alleged that on 14 February 2013, Ms. Sharma received a warning from a government official that she should be careful, implying that the army might hinder Advocacy Forum?s work. In addition to this, Advocacy Forum reportedly received a letter from the District Administration Office soon after the arrest of Colonel Lama stating that an investigation would be undertaken against the organisation. Reportedly, a physical attack against Mr. Yadav Prasad Bastola took place on 28 February 2013, around 19:30, as he was walking back from Birendranagar to Vidhyapur Village Development Committee (VDC) -04, in Surkhet district, where he resides. Sources inform that as Mr. Bastola was walking through the jungle along this route, he noticed four unidentified persons following him, with covered faces.Two of the persons then reportedly blocked his way and proceeded to ask him whether he had written an article for the local newspaper ___Pahichen Daily?,consequently accusing him of "trying to send the Maoists to jail". It is alleged that the four persons were then joined by two other unidentified persons. They allegedly grabbed Mr. Bastola?s hand and neck and proceeded to beat his back with iron rods multiple times. Mr. Bastola reportedly fell to the ground while the beating with the iron rods continued and the assailants started to kick him with their boots. It is reported the assailants fled when two motorcycles approached the scene, allowing Mr. Bastola to escape. Sources inform that Mr. Bastola was helped by villagers and police in a nearby village and was consequently taken in a police van to the local hospital and later to Deuti Nursing Home for treatment. He was reportedly discharged the next day. It is reported that Mr. Bastola filed a First Information Report of the event on 1 March 2013 at the District Police Office in Surkhet. It is reported the police is still conducting an investigation.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Vilification, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Feb 25, 2013
- Event Description
On 25 February 2013, the Home Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, upon reception of a letter from the Home Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, issued an order to deputy commissioners and police officers of various districts to put a halt to all activities of AGHE-Pakistan. In this letter, the Home Department informed that AGHE-Pakistan was no longer a registered NGO, and that a "No Objection Certificate' was required from both the economic division and the Government of Gilgit in order for the NGO to continue its activities. AGHE-Pakistan was reportedly never informed of this decision, which is believed to have been taken due to pressure from religious extremist groups, who previously made threats to members of the NGO to compel them to stop working on women's rights and girls' education. AGHE-Pakistan has reportedly been the target of a defamation campaign by sectarian and fundamentalist groups which publicly labeled the NGO as a foreign organization which "implements the agenda of Western countries". Furthermore, it is reported that a number of governmental agencies exerted pressure on the organization to stop its project called "Citizens' Voice for Effective Legislative Governance", funded by USAID, as well as some other activities partially funded by USAID and the Aurat Foundation's Gender Equity Program.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to education, Right to work, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Sep 21, 2014
- Event Description
Sri Lankan military intelligence operatives have intensified attacks on independent Tamil journalists in Vanni in recent days. A 33-year-old reporter from Paranthan, Sinnarasa Siventhiran, who files news stories at Uthayan's branch office at Karadippoakku junction had a narrow escape from a squad that intended to kill him by throwing him in front of a vehicle on A9 Road Sunday 21st September 2014. Two masked men stopped Mr Siventhiran, who was returning home in his bicycle on A9 road after filing stories at the office of the Tamil daily Uthayan. He is a teacher and files stories in the evening as an independent journalist. He cycles to the branch office of the Tamil daily between 8:00 and 8:30 p.m. to write his stories, as he doesn't have computer or Internet facilities at home. First, the two men who claimed they were from Criminal Investigation Division interrogated him for 10 minutes. When Mr Siventhiran said he could go to the police station if there is anything he needed to clarify, the men claimed they were from a higher authority than the police and said they wanted to finish him off to give a lesson. The attackers claimed that there was no use in disciplining certain Tamil journalist, according to Mr Siventhiran. The incident took place at a least-populated locality situated between Paranthan and Karadippoakku. After attacking the journalist, the masked men wanted to throw him in front a speeding bus trying to kill him and make it look like an accident. However, the attempt failed as the driver of the approaching vehicle managed to turn his vehicle away from the person lying on the road. Mr Siventhiran managed to run towards a restaurant and the public gathered to confront the masked men who were chasing him. Siventhiran, in his complaint to the police on Sunday said he could identify one of the masked men who had pulled off his mask before pushing the journalist in front of the vehicle on A9 road.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Killing, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
[Tamil Net](TamilNet - http://tamilnet.com/art.html)?catid=13&artid=37389)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 5, 2013
- Event Description
On 5 March 2013, about 600 human rights defenders, including relatives of disappeared persons from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts, were reportedly heading to Colombo in a convoy of 13 buses in order to attend a peaceful demonstration organized by the Association of the Families Searching for the Disappeared Relatives, an association set up to seek justice for victims of enforced disappearances, and thereafter march to the United Nations office in Colombo with a view to submitting a petition. This peaceful protest was meant to be part of a larger advocacy campaign organized by relatives of disappeared persons.When defenders started gathering at the Vavuniya Urban Council (VUC) ground in Vavuniya, men in plainclothes, believed to be intelligence officers, started enquiring about the identity of the organizer, and the purpose and funding of their trip. The men advised them to return home. Around 5.30p.m., police officials registered the details of the buses and drivers, and then agreed to allow the buses to proceed to Colombo, although it is reported that no such registration, nor permission, is needed for buses and private vehicles to travel from Vavuniya to the capital or any other destination. At 8.30p.m., when the buses, loaded with people, started to move out from the VUC ground, the police reportedly stopped them on alleged security grounds since, according to the police, a bus had been stoned between Vavuniya and Anuradhapura. The police claimed that they would not be able to ensure the security of the convoy should it proceed.The police eventually resorted to block the path in front of the buses with their trucks. The military was reportedly ready to intervene. Defenders inside the buses became disconcerted, and the police gave them assurances that they would be allowed to travel the following day at 4.30a.m.. On 6 March 2013, at 1:00a.m., 11 bus drivers were reportedly called by men dressed in plainclothes, believed to be police officers, to remove the buses from inside the VUC ground. The men warned the bus drivers that they would be prevented from working in Vavuniya, and that they could lose their route passes enabling them to operate commercial buses in the north of the country, should they not follow their instructions. As a consequence, nine of the 11 bus drivers moved the vehicles outside the VUC ground, and drove their buses home. It is further alleged that two more bus drivers received similar threats on the phone, and they reportedly removed the buses from Pampaimadu, about 10 kilometers west of Vavuniya, where their buses had been parked. At 5:00 a.m. the organizers went to the police headquarters, and were told that they could leave after 5.30 a.m. However, it is reported that at the same time the police instructed all bus drivers in Vavuniya, including the Private Bus Owners Association, not to drive the peaceful demonstrators to Colombo, warning them that they would be in trouble should they do so. The organizers eventually had no other choice than cancelling their travel to Colombo.They decided to peacefully march to the office of the Government Agent with a view to handing over a memorandum to him, in which they called, inter alia, for the release or disclosure of names of individuals abducted and detained. After some exchanges between representatives of the group of peaceful demonstrators and the Government Agent, the latter went out of his office to receive the memorandum.At 2:00p.m., a delegation of human rights defenders and members of political parties met with the Inspector-General of Police in Colombo to report and enquire about the action of law enforcement authorities who prevented their colleagues from reaching Colombo to attend a peaceful demonstration.
- Impact of Event
- 600
- Violation
- Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jun 30, 2012
- Event Description
During the crackdown on the anti-China protestors across the country in June and July 2012, Mr. Le Cong Cau was prohibited from joining the demonstrations. It is reported that, on 30 June 2012, he was subjected to police interrogation for seven hours from 3:30pm to 10:30pm in Thua Thien- Hue. Throughout the night, his house was surrounded by the police. The next morning of 1 July 2012, as he was leaving his house, he was forcibly escorted home and forbidden from participating in the demonstrations.2 Sources further inform that on 12 March 2013, Mr. Le Cong Cau was summoned by the Security Police for another interrogation at the Truong An district police station. From 8.00am on 13 March 2013, he was subjected to intensive interrogations for the next two and a half days. Contrary to usual practice, the police interrogation was conducted by officials from the Provincial and Municipal-level Security Police, not by local police. During the interrogation, they presented Mr. Le Cong Cau with several articles from the Internet and accused him of "slandering the regime and spreading propaganda about an illegal organization named the UBCV". Before releasing him on 15 March 2013, the police declared that they had obtained "sufficient evidence" to prosecute him under Articles 87 and 88 of the Criminal Code, allegedly after forcing him to write a statement admitting the illegal nature of his online articles. It is further reported that while Mr. Le Cong Cau wrote the statement, he denied that writing his opinions online was a criminal act. He tried to add to the statement: "I stand by my convictions and ideals. Everything I have done is in line with the rights enshrined in the Vietnamese Constitution. All those who try to prevent me are violating our Constitution. I refuse to collaborate with those who trample on the Vietnamese Constitution". However, the Security Police deleted these lines from his statement. On 12 April 2013, a Joint Allegation Letter was sent to Vietnam by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. On 2 July 2014, Vietnam provided a substantive response to the Joint Allegation Letter, claiming that Mr. Le Cong Cau has a history of inciting inter-communal and inter-religious violence and that he was a threat to public order, national security and social stability. UPDATE 1/1/2014: Mr. Le Cong Cau was arrested at Phu Bai Airport near Hue, subjected to a 13-hour investigation, and prevented from leaving his house for one night. Police seized two laptops, two flash drives and two mobile phones. No reasons for his detention were given and no charges were laid, in contravention of international law. His arrest is likely related to his planned visit to an elderly monk under house arrest in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Internet freedom, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 12, 2013
- Event Description
On 12 May 2013, Mr. Suraswadi reportedly gave a media interview while checking the status of preparations of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit, warning environmental activists, water-resources activists, and other members of civil society that they would be arrested if they protested at the upcoming 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit. He allegedly stated that "if you come to protest you will be arrested; do not come to protest. Those who violate this instruction will be arrested; this is not a place for demonstration. . . Do not come, it is against the law and I will order your arrest.Those people in Chiang Mai should not allow these garbage-like people to clutter up the meeting, follow what I just said". 28/05/2013- JAL sent by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. No response has been given as of May 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Nov 1, 2014
- Event Description
Mayuri Inoka, the wife of a disappeared husband, Madushka Haris De Silva, was herself abducted on 1 November 2014. According to Mayuri, her abductors threatened her not to engage in any activities calling for the recovery of her husband. Mayuri's husband disappeared in September 2013, and remains missing. Issuing a statement the Asian Human Rights Commission says; On 27 October 2014, Mayuri spoke at a public gathering in front of the "Monument for the Disappeared" at Raddoluwa, Seeduwa, during the annual commemoration ceremony for disappeared persons. The persons who abducted Mayuri identified themselves by stating, "we are from the police". They followed her and boarded the three-wheeler in which she traveled to the city centre in Anuradhapura, where she wanted to purchase milk powder for her 11-month-old twin babies. According to Mayuri's statement, broadcast in BBC's Sinhala Service, a well-built man, pointing a gun at her face boarded her three-wheeler, tied her hands behind her back, blindfolded her, and took her in a three-wheeler. Later, she was shoved into a van. She was driven around for about an hour and half in this van, a period when she was continually abused and threatened by her abductors, who asked her "not to engage in the campaign and protests to find her husband". She has recalled that, several times, one of the abductors aimed a pistol at her neck and threatened to shoot her. Mayuri says she was terrified and feared for her life. She was repeatedly told that "she will also be taken to where her husband is", if she continued to search for him, which, in fact, is nothing other than an assassination threat. Mayuri was finally thrown out of the van, onto the roadside near Nochchiyagama. Talking to BBC Sinhala Service following her ordeal, Mayuri says that when she was thrown out by the side of the road, with her hands still tied behind her back, and yelling for help, no person came to her assistance. Later, after sometime, several police officers in civilian clothes arrived and abused her in foul language, threatened her, and treated her as if she were a prostitute. Every month Mayuri holds a fast (hunger strike), in front of the Anuradhapura Police Station, demanding information about the whereabouts of her husband. The case regarding the disappearance of her husband is fixed for tomorrow, 4 November 2014, at the Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court. She has named Senior Police Superintendent Mahesh Senarathna and a group of other police officers as those who are involved in the abduction of her husband. She has complained to the police and to the courts about this disappearance and about whom she thinks is responsible for the disappearance. On a previous occasion, two persons have visited her house and threatened her to keep silent or face the consequences, and threatened her with her own death and that of her children. It is obvious that a group of police officers, afraid of being discovered for involvement and links to the disappearance of Madushka Haris De Silva, are pursuing her in order to intimidate her and to silence her. Given previous experiences in similar incidents, it will not be a surprise if Mayuri will be assassinated. The Asian Human Rights Commission calls on the Inspector General of Police and all government authorities to immediately inquire into Mayuri Inoka's abduction and the constant threats that have been levelled at her and her children by persons identifying themselves as "police officers". Meanwhile the AHRC also calls upon the Inspector General of Police to provide special protection to Mayuri Inoka and her children. The AHRC particularly calls upon the women's movements in Sri Lanka to come to Mayuri Inoka's assistance and to prevent her possible assassination. The AHRC also calls upon all human rights organizations to do everything they can, to provide for her protection. The AHRC will also take steps to bring this matter to the attention of the United Nations Human Rights agencies and the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- May 5, 2013
- Event Description
Over the last two weeks (since May 5 2013), members of opposition parties, protesters and human rights defenders were reportedly harassed and, in some cases, arrested by authorities as a consequence of their involvement in demonstrations questioning the electoral results. Protesters were also allegedly physically harassed, inflicting in some instances bodily injuries, by groups supportive of the Government. On 17 May 2013, a leader of the opposition People's Justice Party and Selangor state assembly person, Nik Nazmi, was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 or allegedly having failed to serve the police with sufficient notice for an opposition-led demonstration at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on 8 May 2013. Six Pakatan Rakyat leaders were subsequently charged under the same law for organizing similar rallies in different locations throughout the country. On 18 May 2013, student activist Adam Adli was arrested in Kuala Lumpur. On 23 May 2013, he was subsequently charged under the Sedition Act 1948, for allegedly uttering a seditious statement during a public forum on 13 May, where he called for street protests against the Government. He was released on bail on the same day, pending court hearing set for 2 July 2013. A candlelight vigil that was held on 22 May 2013 to call for the release of Adam Adli resulted in the arrest of further 18 participants, who were also questioned by the police. On 29 May 2013, authorities allegedly re-arrested opposition Member of the Parliament Tian Chua, opposition PAS Islamic Party member, Tamrin Bin Abdul Ghafar and civil society activist, Haris Ibrahim, along with a student activist Safwan Anang under the same Sedition Act in Kuala Lumpur. They were first arrested on 23 May 2013, but were later released by the magistrate. Their arrest is reportedly linked to their involvement in protests.Thousands of copies of printed publications by opposition parties were reportedly seized in various States. Officers from the Home Ministry had not only seized the publications but also raided the vendors' stalls. The Home Minister allegedly stated that some of the seized publications had violated Section 5 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 19841. Authorities have reportedly further contributed to the atmosphere of tension by making statements blaming minorities for the political instability. On 12 May 2013, the former Court of Appeal Judge Mohd Noor Abdullah (now a commissioner for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) reportedly stated that the Chinese Malaysians must be prepared for a backlash from the Malay community given their betrayal in the recent elections. UPDATE: 3/06/13: JUA sent by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. No response as of May 2014. UPDATE: On 28 May 2013, the police issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Hishamuddin Rais, political activist affiliated to Bersih 2.0, after he reportedly made a seditious statement at a public forum at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on 13 May 2013. On 29 May 2013, he surrendered himself at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, and was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act. He is due to appear before the court on 2 July 2013. On 5 June 2013, Mr. Badrul Hisham Shaharin, leader of PKR, was charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court because he allegedly failed to notify the police about a rally he had organized on 25 May 2013 in Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya. He claimed trial, and the Court set 9 July 2013 for case management. On 15 June 2013, Mr. Edy Noor, Mr. Shariful Azmir Mustafa, Mr. Abdul Aziz, Mr. Anwar Yaacob, Mr. Sky Lau Tock Sang, Mr. Gerald Tang, Mr. Safwan Shamsuddin, Ms. Zanina Mohamed, Mr. Abdul Muqit, Mr. Ekhsan, Bukharee, Mr. Ibrahim Babu, Mr. Muhamad Al Fateh, Mr. Sulaiman Harun, Mr. Roslee Mohd Shariff, and Mr. Muhd Akmal Fizani (aged 10), took part in a peaceful flash mob at the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, with a view to informing the public of the date of a forthcoming rally scheduled for 22 June 2013. The aforementioned activists were arrested under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act, and investigated under Section 9(5) of the same Act. They were all released later that day under police bail. 112 statements were taken from the aforementioned individuals (with the exception of the minor). Concerns are reiterated that the aforementioned individuals were arrested, charged or had statements taken because of the exercise of their rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and peaceful assembly. UPDATE (ADAM ADLI) 24/06/2014: a sessions court judge has ruled that the prosecution has proven a prima facie case against Adam Adli, and that he must therefore enter a defence on the charges. The defence argues that Mr. Adli's words on 13 May 2013 were in line with his right to freedom of expression under the constitution. He is scheduled to give evidence on 22 July 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 30
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 10, 2013
- Event Description
We would like to draw the attention of your Government to information we have received regarding the sentencing of eight student protestors to prison terms following their participation in peaceful demonstrations in the Tibet Autonomous Region in November 2012, calling for, inter alia, equality among nationalities, and respect for and freedom to study the Tibetan language. The arrest and detention of, and the alleged excessive use of force against, peaceful protestors during these demonstrations were the subject of an urgent appeal, dated 10 December 2012, by the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We acknowledge receipt of the reply of your Government dated 7 February 2013. According to the information received: on 10 April 2013, the Gonghe County People's Court sentenced the following student protestors from the Tsolho Technical School for "illegally holding demonstration" and "causing harm to social stability" in November 2012 in Gonghe: - Mr. Sangye Bum sentenced to four years in prison; - Messrs Kunsang Bum, Lhaten and Jampa Tsering sentenced to three years and six months in prison; - Messrs Wangyal Tsering and Choekyong Kyap sentenced to three years and three months in prison; and - Messrs Tsering Tashi and Dola sentenced to three years in prison. The above mentioned individuals have been detained since then. Serious concerns are expressed that the sentencing of the eight aforementioned students may be linked to their legitimate human rights activities, in the exercise of their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, and of opinion and expression. Further concerns are expressed for their physical and psychological integrity while in detention. 12/06/2013: JUA sent by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. 12/07/2013: China responds to the JUA, stating that the arrests and convictions were in accordance with the law and not in violation of the rights of the accused.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Right to education, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2013
- Event Description
On 4 June 2013, at approximately 15.30 hours police and military personnel came to Pa Rein village with some construction materials and workers for the construction of temporary long-houses. The village community had previously objected to the construction of the long-houses during several meetings with authorities, stating that they wished to construct their own houses on their original village location. The authorities arrived at the village in two boats together with about 30 workers from the neighbouring village of Led Mar. There were seven regular police and ten army personnel who accompanied the workers. A crowd of approximately 40 to 50 people gathered to protest against the construction, most of whom were women. Men did not join the protest due to fears of the police, though four to five men were present. Reportedly, some of the women may have become angry and verbally confronted the workers for some time at the scene. However, the protestors did not have weapons and did not resort to violence. When verbal arguments started, the security forces told the women to move back but they did not do so. The stand-off lasted for approximately one hour, after which shots were fired by the security forces in the air and allegedly directly into the crowd of protestors. It is not clear whether any order to fire had been given or any prior warning given that the security forces would open fire. When the shooting stopped, police and army personnel left the scene. When they had left, the villagers went forward to collect the injured and dead and took them to their houses. Three women were reportedly killed and five persons were reportedly injured (threemen and two women), all by gunfire. All the dead and injured had bullet wounds. In some cases, individuals were struck by bullets while they were in their house compounds and away from the immediate scene of the shooting and protest. Despite fatalities and serious injuries, the authorities, including the Township Administrator and Township Medical Officer, did not arrive in the village until 7.00 hours the following day (5 June). Two of the injured persons were taken to Sittwe hospital by an International Non-Governmental Organization. State medical staff reportedly saw the dead bodies and examined the wounds, but did not take the bodies for a post mortem examination. Furthermore, it is alleged that the authorities did not interview or ask any questions of the villagers. Access to the village was denied to some United Nations and other international actors by the authorities for some days following the incident. Among those reportedly injured are a boy of 15 years who suffered a gunshot wound to his knee when walking with his friends on the road to see what was happening, and a 25 year old woman, who was wounded in the lower left leg by a bullet when near a house close to the main road. 11 June 2013: A Joint Allegation Letter is sent by the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, human rights defenders, Myanmar, summary executions, torture, and violence against women. 22 July 2013: the Burmese government responds to the allegations, alleging that the protestors were in fact a heavily armed mob that attacked police officers.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to housing, Right to Protest, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2013
- Event Description
On 4 June 2013, at approximately 4 p.m., Ms. X was brutally attacked in her own residence in Hyderabad. It is reported that the alleged perpetrators cut off her hands, ears and fingers, gouged both of her eyes and robbed valuable jewelry. She was later found in her apartment by a family member, Mr. Z, who brought her to a civil hospital where she soon died as a result of her injuries. Ms. X was a human rights defender working for women's rights with a local non-governmental organization, named Social Welfare Organization, which provided social services in Tando Jam. It is reported that Ms. X recently conducted activities to raise awareness on the case of the murder of a Hindu man in the Gulashan Hali police station, who allegedly died as a result of severe injuries sustained while he was being tortured by the local police. According to reports, Ms. Y, the younger sister of Ms. X, and a family member, Mr. Z, held a protest in front of the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police of Hyderabad. They allegedly placed the body of Ms. X on the ground and urged authorities to identify and detain those responsible for her killing. It is reported that a Station House Officer threatened them with arrest should they continue with the protest and urged them to remove the body from the road. Ms. Y's intention was for the police to file a First Information Report (FIR). She carried evidence materials, including pictures and video clips that she recorded at the scene of the alleged murder of her sister. On 5 June 2013, it is reported that a police officer received 3,300 Rupees from Ms. Akhter's family to lodge a FIR against two accused men, including a police officer. The FIR, which received a code number 44/2013, was registered under sections 302, 380 and 34 of the Penal Code. It is alleged that an internal inquiry was launched which exonerated the accused based on fabricated grounds, as prosecution witnesses denied the murder. As a result, Hyderabad police refrained from launching an investigation into the killing of Ms. X. According to reports received, both Ms. Y and Mr. Z received death threats for pursuing the case of Ms. X. Mr. Z allegedly challenged the police inquiry denying the murder. His case is currently being considered by a civil judge and judicial Magistrate in Hyderabad (number 8). Moreover, on 29 June 2013, at around 11:30 a.m., Ms.Y was fatally killed by three armed men. She was shot as she and Mr. Z returned from a court hearing for the petition to demand an inquiry into the murder of Ms. X. Allegedly, Ms. Y was dragged out of her rickshaw as they approached the vegetable market at Sabzi Mandi, and was shot at close range. While the assailants left the area, Ms. Y managed to stand up despite her injuries. One of the men, who allegedly had been involved in the murder of her sister,reportedly went back to the scene and shot eight bullets into the body of Ms. Y. Ms. Y died immediately. Mr. Z reportedly managed to survive the attack despite being shot at by the assailants. It is also reported that another family member, Mr. Q, took the body of Ms. Y and placed it in front of the Office of the Senior Superintendent of Police in Hyderabad . He held a protest demanding justice and the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Ms.Y. Mr. R managed to make the police file a FIR and received a permission to carry out anautopsy. It is reported that Mr. R is also receiving death threats for pursuing the case of Ms. Y.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Killing, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to life, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 15, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in the Chinese capital have placed under criminal detention the lawyer and relative of detained human rights attorney Pu Zhiqiang, as well as a prominent rights lawyer based in the southern city of Guangzhou, lawyers and rights groups said. Qu Zhenhong, Pu's niece and legal representative, is being held by Beijing police on suspicion of "illegally gathering citizens' information," her colleague and lawyer Zhang Sizhi told RFA. "They said she is being held under criminal detention," Zhang said. "Originally, I thought it was because of the Pu case, but the charges don't seem to fit, so it's hard to say." Zhang said the detention center where Qu is being held had turned down his request for a meeting with her for a second time on Thursday. Meanwhile, Chinese police on Friday detained prominent rights lawyer Tang Jingling on charges of "causing a disturbance." Chinese authorities have detained and questioned dozens of activists and family members of victims of the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square student-led pro-democracy movement after they held a seminar to mark the sensitive 25th anniversary. Around 20 human rights lawyers, academics, and family members of victims attended the May 3 seminar in Beijing, where they called for a public inquiry into the crackdown on unarmed civilians by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Some of those questioned were subsequently released, but Pu Zhiqiang and four other activists-online writer Liu Di, social scientist Xu Youyu, house church leader and democracy activist Hu Shigen, and Beijing Film Academy professor Hao Jian-were held on public order charges last week. Tang, who also attended the seminar, is the sixth of the seminar group to be charged and held under criminal detention. Meeting refused Meanwhile, a lawyer for outspoken writer Liu Di, who is being held on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," said the authorities had repeatedly declined his requests for a meeting with his client, although Xu, Pu, Hu and Hao had already met with their attorneys. "I had arranged to meet[with Liu] last Friday, but when I got there, they said her case had been sent for arraignment," lawyer Ma Gangquan said, in a reference to the formal reading of charges to pave the way for a trial. "So I rescheduled it for Monday, but they called me back the same day and said she had been taken away again," Ma said. "[On Thursday], it was the same excuse." He said the refusal to allow a meeting with Liu Di wasn't legal. "It's an excuse, 100 percent," Ma said. "The rules on lawyers state clearly that any request by a lawyer for a meeting with a suspect must be met within 48 hours." Hunger striker Meanwhile, Henan-based rights lawyer Jia Lingmin, who has represented victims of forced evictions, was finally able to meet with her lawyer on Wednesday after a week of hunger strike under criminal detention. Her lawyer Lin Qilei said Jia had refused food for seven days in protest at the refusal of her right to meet with a lawyer. "She is still walking unsteadily, but there's nothing wrong with her mental state," Lin said. "She still speaks with plenty of animation." "The main point[of her hunger strike] was to protest that the police were breaking the law, in refusing to allow her a meeting with her lawyer." "Now she has met with a lawyer, she has gone back to eating her food." Lin said police had been holding Jia under a false name, possibly as a way of deterring visits from lawyers. String of charges The detentions are the latest in a string of similar charges against activists, lawyers and journalists widely regarded as moderately critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Earlier this month, authorities in Beijing placed outspoken veteran journalist Gao Yu under criminal detention on charges of leaking state secrets. Meanwhile, freelance journalist Xiang Nanfu was criminally detained for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" after he contributed sensitive stories to the overseas-based Boxun news website.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 7, 2014
- Event Description
It is not unusual for dissidents and activists to find themselves under increased scrutiny, even detention, ahead of the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown. But with the 25-year milestone still almost a month away, it is a sign of just how sensitive things are that a group of gay rights activists should also find themselves caught up in the security sweep. The seminar due to be held in a Beijing hotel was to discuss, among other things, legal procedures for establishing gay advocacy groups. Gay relationships have been legal in China since 1997 but, shortly before the seminar was due to begin on Wednesday morning, nine of the participants were taken to police stations for questioning and told to send out a message to say the event had been cancelled. Subversive One of the organisers told the BBC that while they sometimes face difficulties with the police pressurising venues not to host their events, they have held such seminars before. This time, though, they say the link to the Tiananmen anniversary was made quite explicit. "Arresting nine of us altogether is unusual," the organiser said. Nonetheless, however high the current level of official anxiety might be in the run up to 4 June, the targeting of a gay rights group probably says something significant about the way in which homosexuality is still viewed as subversive in China. After all, one has to assume that whatever the time of year, nine people organising, say, a cookery seminar in a Beijing hotel would not find themselves similarly hauled off. In Shanghai at least the city's increasingly open gay subculture can lead to the misconception that stigma and prejudice are no longer major problems in China. Things are certainly changing. What is being called "the largest gay club in Asia" recently opened here, and next month's Shanghai Pride event (scheduled to begin a good few days after that all-important anniversary) has a 10-day line up of activities including a gay movie festival, a 6km (3.7 miles) run and panel discussions. But gay people in China still face deep cultural barriers to acceptance, pressure from their families to marry and a complete lack of any legislation under which they can challenge discrimination. Shanghai Pride lacks one key ingredient - a parade - because any such gathering needs state approval, and the gay film festival takes place only with the help of friendly foreign consulates providing the venues. All nine of the activists detained this week have been released. The state-run Global Times newspaper reported the story but omitted any mention of a possible connection with the Tiananmen anniversary. It is, by far, the bigger taboo.
- Impact of Event
- 9
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, SOGI rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- May 16, 2014
- Event Description
Two student activists were abducted by the Government of Sri Lanka and 17 student activists were remanded until May 19th, says the Inter University Students' Federation. Issuing a statement the IUSF today said; "Abducting and illegally detaining students without warrants and assaulting them is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of the students activists. We categorically condemn this political witch hunt of student activists by the police in collusion with the courts, especially in the context of the Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake's open threat towards IUSF activists and their families. We invite the people of this country to organize and rally to protect educational, political and fundamental rights of the students."\ We publish below the statement in full; Although the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to give solutions to the cut in the Allied Health Sciences' degree and the resistance action of Rajarata students against the repressive university administration, it has launched a campaign of repression against the student activists fighting for education rights. The latest step by the police in this direction is following students in civil attire and abducting and illegally detaining them. Police has conducted two such illegal abductions. In both these abductions they have produced fake warrants against the students. These abductions happened when the students were leaving after a protest action held in front of the University Grants Commission yesterday (16) afternoon. The first abduction happened at about 3.45 in the evening in front of the Post Office in Town Hall. Police officers in civil attire have followed 4 students, ambushed them and a three wheeler and a jeep that arrived suddenly have abducted them. Then they were illegally detained at the Kirulapona Police Station. Second abduction happened at about 5.35 in the evening. Students have got into a bus to go to Colombo Fort and again police officers in civil attire had got into the bus had attempted to arrest a student under a warrant issued in the name of a different person. Students had protested the illegal arrest of the fellow student and the police had arbitrarily ordered the driver to take the bus along with the 13 students to Slave Island Police Station. When the bus arrived at the Police Station the police have inhumanly attacked the students with batons and poles right in front of the Police Station. As of now, students who were injured were not even hospitalized. Students were presented in front of the Fort Magistrate at his residence in Mount Lavinia at about 10.30 in the night and the Magistrate had ordered them to be remanded until 19th. Allied Health Science Students activists of Universities of Ruhuna and Peradeniya are thus being illegally detained and Students Council President of University of Peradeniya, Dimuthu Gunasekere is also among the illegally detained. Abducting and illegally detaining students without warrants and assaulting them is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of the students activists. We categorically condemn this political witch hunt of student activists by the police in collusion with the courts, especially in the context of the Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake's open threat towards IUSF activists and their families. We invite the people of this country to organize and rally to protect educational, political and fundamental rights of the students.
- Impact of Event
- 17
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of movement, Right to education, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- May 8, 2014
- Event Description
An Australian journalist covering protests in Burma was deported by authorities today, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the move. The exile-run news outlet Irrawaddy reported that today's case was the first time a journalist had been forced to leave the country since 2012, when President Thein Sein's administration started taking measures to address its restrictive anti-press practices. "Deporting journalists harkens back to Burma's half-century of military rule and is one of many signs that democratic reforms have been illusory," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Bob Dietz. "Burma should allow foreign journalists to enter the country and report freely." Angus Watson, 24, an intern video journalist for the exile-run news website Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), flew out of Yangon today after authorities accused him of violating the terms of his visa by participating in a protest, according to news reports. Watson was covering protests in the Magwe region against a one-year jail term given to another DVB journalist last month, according to news reports. Ye Htut, a presidential spokesman and deputy minister of information, said in a statement on Facebook that Watson was on a business visa but had broken the law when he "participated in a protest that did not have government permission," The Associated Press reported. "Ye Htut's comment that I was involved as a protester is baseless," Watson told CPJ today. "I was at the protest only in the capacity as a DVB journalist. It seems as if my deportation is another attempt to intimidate media workers with the use of legal clauses unrelated to press law." Earlier this year, Burma's Ministry of Immigration began denying three- to six-month visas for foreign journalists working for exiled media groups, including DVB, according to Irrawaddy. Some were given visas for only two or three weeks. To counteract the move, some journalists with foreign passports began applying for business visas, while others had used business visas before the new restrictions were imposed, the report said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Deportation, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Apr 14, 2014
- Event Description
On 14.04.2014 at about 11 pm, Mr. Biplab Karmakar; the Officer-in-Charge of Raninagar Police Station, Mr. Goutam Dutta; the Sub-Inspector of Raninagar Police Station and Mr. Sirajul Sahehin; the Assistant Sub-Inspector of Raninagar Police Station suddenly came to the said saw mill taking with other ten or twelve involved police constables by three "Zypsy' (four wheelers vehicle) cars while the victim was in duty. They started to chase the victim, Mr. Ripon without disclosing any reason while shouted to kill him "guli kore de shalader". Seeing the police personnel they came under fear and tried to take shelter in a hut in the said saw mill. But the police personnel surrounded the said hut from outside and caught him. The police personnel afterwards started to beat him black and blue and dragged him near the police vehicles. It is alleged that the police personnel threatened to break his legs and hands with the intention to permanently disable him physically after falsely implicating him into severe criminal charges. It was reported that those police personnel verbally abused him with filthy languages and said that they would teach him a lesson as his uncle Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar raised his voice against the alleged police atrocities in the district and they would illegally detain him for indefinite period. It was alleged that the police personnel continuously threatened him that they would teach everybody who would try to raise their voice against police and they would now show the power of police to his uncle Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar. The police personnel later put the victim into their car by giving him brutal physical torture and at the same time, the police personnel verbally abused him saying "chudir vai' (the brother of a prostitute). Mr. Babu Seikh, son of Mr. Lalu Seikh being a witness of the incident and also the neighbor of the victim informed our fact finding team that the police personnel without disclosing any reason attacked the victim while he was in duty in the aforesaid saw mill and threatened to implicate him falsely into severe criminal charges. He also informed our fact finding that the police personnel threatened to permanently disable him physically by giving him grievous physical torture. He also informed that the police personnel tried to prove that Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar made a mistake by raising his voice against them. It was informed by Mr. Mukul Seikh and Mr. Anarul Islam; the neighbors of the victim to our fact finding team that the police personnel had trouble when they came to know that Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar started to work as human rights activist and raised his voice against the alleged police atrocities. It was also alleged the police personnel took away Rs.8700/- cash from the possession of the victim. It was alleged that on the same day, Mr. Safikul Islam @ Tapan; the neighbor of the victim was also taken into the custody of the police personnel with the victim. It was alleged that on the date of the incident, Mr. Sahidul Islam (brother of the victim) and Mr. Abdul Majid (father of the victim) were informed about the whole incident by their neighbors and they went to Raninagar police station to meet with the victim. But the Officer-in-Charge of the said police station did not allow them to meet with the victim. They asked him to disclose about his refusal. The said officer suddenly started to use abusive languages by the name of Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar being the DHRM (District Human Rights Monitor) of MASUM and told them that they could meet with the victim if Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar would come to the police station and request them to release the victim. He also threatened them that the victim would be implicated falsely with severe criminal charges to teach a lesson to Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar. It was alleged that the police personnel afterwards implicated the victim and Mr. Safikul Islam into a criminal case vide Raninagar Police Station Case No. 158/2014 dated 15.04.2014 under sections 3/4/5/6 of Explosive Substances Act. It was alleged that the victim was repeatedly tortured by the police personnel in the said police station for whole night. He was not provided with any medical assistance while he was undergoing with severe pain and the police personnel did not provide any water or foods to him while he was in illegal detention. On 15.4.2014 the victim and Mr. Safikul Islam were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Lalbagh in connection with the aforesaid case by the police personnel of Raninagar police station in handcuffing. The advocate for the victim stated by filing written application in the court that he was subjected to custodial torture in the police station. The court observed several hematoma and bruises over the body of two accused persons and passed order upon Lalbagh Sub-Correctional Home to provide proper treatment but rejected their bail application and at present they are in judicial custody at Lalbagh Sub-Correctional Home. Our fact finding team called Mr. Biplab Karmakar on 14.04.2014 at about 11.43 pm and asked him whether he arrested the victim from the saw mill or not. The said officer replied it as yes and started to threaten our fact finding by saying that Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar made a mistake by raising his voice against police. He would face dire consequences due to that. He also threatened our fact finding stating that MASUM (Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha) could do nothing to save him. They do not bother about the activities of MASUM and they have enough power to eliminate the name of MASUM from Murshidabad district and would torture all those persons who are attached with MASUM. He said to our fact finding team MASUM would not do anything if they would kill the victim. Afterwards, our local activist asked that said officer to disclose the reason of physical torture upon the victim. He replied that they would permanently disable the victim by breaking his legs and hands and would put in the breaking parts on his back. On 15.04.2014 and 16.04.2014 respectively the father of the victim and Mr. Ajimud. din Sarkar being the uncle of the victim lodged written complaints before the Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad informing the whole incident of police torture, false implication and illegal detention of the victim. But till date no action has been taken in response to the said complaints.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- May 26, 2014
- Event Description
Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd has confirmed that it has pressed kidnapping charges against activists who detained two of its Chinese employees overnight while demanding that the mining project be closed down. Speaking to DVB on Monday, Wanbao spokesman Dong Yunfei said that the firm had pressed charges of kidnapping at the police station in Monywa against whoever was responsible for detaining their staffers on 18 May. "We cannot accept this kind of criminal action, whether it is against our Chinese or Myanmar employees," he said. "It is terrible." He said that the two Chinese employees - Lu Yuanhao and Miu Jie, both 23 - had their hands bound with rope and held for more than 30 hours by local villagers. He told DVB that the men were not hurt or harmed during their detention, although an earlier press release stated that the men had been beaten and that death threats had been issued. The Wanbao spokesman said that one of the detainees, Lu, was now suffering from mental trauma because of the ordeal. "He[Lu] wants to return to China for treatment, but we have requested that he stay here[in Burma] while legal proceedings take place," he said. A third abductee, a 21-year-old Burmese driver for the company named Khin Aung Moe, was released by his captors shortly after the three had been taken to the village of Set_. Locals villagers from Latpadaung held a press conference on 22 May at the Myanmar Journalists Network office in Rangoon where they sought to clarify the abduction of the two Chinese nationals. A spokesman for the Latpadaung villagers insisted they did not kidnap the company staffs but only "detained" them for a short time while they stressed their demands regarding disputes over confiscated farmland. Sanda Thiri, the abbot of a Buddhist monastery in neighbouring Zeetaw village who helped mediate the situation, said the villagers decided to detain the two Chinese as they were surveying the area to build fences on farmland for which the locals had not agreed to accept compensation. "The villagers were disappointed with the company employees who continued fencing off their land even though compensation had not been agreed upon, despite repeated calls to desist sectioning off the disputed lands," said Sanda Thiri. "The two Wanbao employees were handed over to the company in the late afternoon on 19 May in front of the district administrator and a police commander who witnessed and confirmed that they had sustained no injuries," he said. "This was neither an abduction nor a kidnapping." Set_ residents at the press conference said locals from 26 villages in the area agreed on 19 May to hand over the two Chinese at Wanbao's liaison office in Latpadaung after local district administrator Zaw Myo Nyunt pledged to prevent the company from building fences on local farmland, and to allow farmers to work on vacant land plots that are not being utilised in the mining project. "I would like to make it clear that we did not kidnap the Chinese," said Mar Mar Shwe, a villager from Zeetaw. "They even admitted to us that they came to lay markers on the land to build more fences, and we treated them well before we handed them back to officials after the negotiations."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- May 9, 2014
- Event Description
A worker with the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) has been intimidated and received death threats while trying to document the plight of three families involved in a bitter land dispute with a developer in the country's capital, according to the center. The worker, Vann Sophath, was shooting a video at the dispute site in Phnom Penh's Sangkat Boueng Kak 1 on May 9 when he was confronted by around six civilians known to work as security guards for the developer, Khun Sear Import Export Company, CCHR said in a statement. "Vann Sophath went to the site while the Khun Sear Company security guards were demolishing the home of one of the three families," the statement said. "He was interrupted by a group of Khun Sear Company security guards, who were armed with knives, axes and hammers. They pushed him out of the site as other[s] threatened to cut him on the head." CCHR said that one of the security guards screamed at Vann Sophath, saying, "Old fool! I will not allow you to be free" and ordered others to take photos of the worker and his car's license plate. Vann Sophath left the site shortly after being threatened. CCHR plans to file a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against the Khun Sear guards because of the threats made against Vann Sophath, said Chhay Chhunly, project coordinator for CCHR's Human Rights Defenders Project, which closely tracks those working to protect human rights in Cambodia "We think this is a serious threat," she told RFA's Khmer Service. "This group is a brutal group. They have attacked the villagers[involved in the land dispute with the company]." Chhay Chhunly said that the security guards had also threatened other rights activists, but that they had targeted Vann Sophath because he was filming the three families at the site. "We want to produce a documentary which profiles the victim families," she said. Earlier incident Vann Sophath and his team first visited Sangkat Boueng Kak 1 on April 25 to begin shooting interviews with the family of Ly Sreakheng-one of the three households involved in the dispute with the Khun Sear Import Export Company, which has offices on property adjacent to their homes and has been seeking to extend its property to include the residents' land. During the shoot, around 10 company security guards "tried to interrupt by verbally attacking Mr. Sreakheng," CCHR said, while one of them photographed the team, focusing on Vann Sophath's face. CCHR said that Ly Sreakheng and the two other families have been living on the plot since 1982, prior to which it had been occupied by the Vietnamese army after invading Cambodia in 1979 and driving out the notorious Khmer Rouge regime. The three families have repeatedly attempted to register the land under the country's 2001 Land Law, but have been ignored by the authorities, CCHR said. On Oct. 4, 2010, Cambodia's Council of Ministers granted the land to Khun Sear and, in order to facilitate the transfer, the Phnom Penh municipal government in 2013 issued a certificate stating that the site belongs to the state. Since then, Khun Sear has claimed ownership of the land and has repeatedly harassed the three families, destroying crops, disconnecting electricity, damaging property and beating the residents, CCHR said. In October last year, ahead of a protest march on City Hall by dozens of residents involved in land disputes in the capital, the three families found three poisonous cobra snakes had been placed near their homes. Days earlier, after company employees had threatened the families about killing their pets, two of their cats and one of their dogs were poisoned to death and left on the doorstep, unidentified persons sprayed insecticide on one of the houses, and others harassed customers at one of the families' businesses, according to a statement by rights groups. Ly Sreakheng and his family members have requested intervention from nongovernmental organizations, including CCHR, regarding security and mediation in finding a solution to the land dispute. Bitter problem Land disputes are a bitter problem for Cambodia, where rural villagers and urban dwellers alike have been mired in conflicts that the U.N.'s special rapporteur for human rights to Cambodia has warned could threaten the country's stability. The country's land issues date from the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime, which forced large-scale evacuations and relocations, followed by a period of mass confusion over land rights and the formation of squatter communities when the refugees returned in the 1990s after a decade of civil war.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to housing, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 24, 2014
- Event Description
Military authorities in Thailand should immediately release a local journalist who was taken into military custody on Sunday after being summoned for questioning, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Military authorities have summoned and detained dozens of politicians, political activists, and outspoken academics following the military's seizure of power from Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan's caretaker administration on May 22, The Associated Press reported. Most of the detainees are accused of being associated with the ousted government, the report said. In the roundup over the weekend, at least 35 individuals, including at least one journalist, were summoned for questioning. Many have been detained, according to reports. On Saturday, Pravit Rojanaphruk, columnist for the English-language daily The Nation, was summoned by the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council, Agence France-Presse reported. He and his lawyer were detained when they responded to the summons the next day, the reports said. Their whereabouts are unknown, according to local reports. No charges have been disclosed. Pravit has written stories criticizing Thailand's l��se majest_ law for several years, reports said and has been critical of the recent coup. On Monday, Thailand's military leader, Army Commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha, was endorsed by the royal family, which is seen as instrumental in legitimizing power, reports said. L��se majest_ laws, which shield Thailand's royal family from criticism, carry prison penalties of up to 15 years. "Journalists are vital to the flow of information, particularly during this time of political upheaval," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "It's not the army's job to decide what news organizations can publish. The detention of Pravit Rojanaphruk sends a chilling message, which must not stand. He should be released immediately." On Tuesday, Thai military authorities summoned two journalists for questioning, accusing them of asking Gen. Prayuth "inappropriate" questions in a news conference, according to reports. The journalists, who were only identified in news reports as working for Thairath and Bangkok Post, were not detained. On May 22, military officers detained Wanchai Tantiwitthayapithak, deputy director of Thailand Public Broadcasting Service, after he aired news on YouTube despite military orders not to broadcast. Wanchai was later released, according to local reports.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jul 15, 2013
- Event Description
On 15 July 2013, Mr. Kyaw Hla Aung was taken by police from his home in Thet Kae Pyin, Sittwe, and since then has been held in police custody for questioning. To date, he is being held for questioning reportedly based on accusations relating to protests against the verification exercise within the Muslim village and internally displaced persons (IDP) areas that took place on 26 April 2013. On 26 April 2013, the local government of Rakhine State began implementing a "verification exercise' among Muslim IDPs and villagers currently present in Sittwe Township to provide the Government with accurate household and population data to implement short and long term development plans. The exercise was reportedly conducted by a joint team of immigration officials, police and the border security force (Nasaka). Village household holds and IDPs were reportedly given leaflets informing them about the exercise, and meetings were held with community leaders between 7 and 25 April 2013. In these meetings, the community leaders were told that non-cooperation would be considered a refusal to comply with the rule of the law and that legal action would be taken accordingly. When being told of the forms requiring Muslim IDPs and villagers to be registered as Bengali, the community leaders reportedly repeatedly stated the unwillingness of community members to be registered as Bengali. The exercise began in Thet Kae Pyin and Baw Du Pha, where several individuals objected to being registered as Bengali. In both locations, children from the local schools, reportedly went into the street and shouted they were Rohingya. Observers described the incident as small in scale and mainly involving children and youths. Some stones were allegedly thrown that resulted in some members of the verification team being lightly injured. Following these incidents the verification exercise was suspended. Mr. Kyaw Hla Aung is 74 years old and is in ill health with high blood pressure and swollen joints, and is often in pain from his arthritis and cannot move easily. He takes medication for both. Concerns are expressed that the detention of Mr. Kyaw Hla Aung may be linked to his human rights activities as a community leader. Further concerns are expressed for his physical and psychological integrity while in detention, especially in light of his weak health condition which requires adequate medical treatment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2014
- Event Description
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - In the latest blasphemy case to highlight growing intolerance in Pakistan, the police in Punjab Province said Tuesday that they had filed blasphemy charges against a group of 68 lawyers at the instigation of a Sunni extremist leader. The mass charging was an unusually wide application of Pakistan's colonial-era blasphemy law, which carries a potential death sentence. But it was consistent with what human rights groups call an increasingly frequent abuse of the law to settle scores, silence opponents or persecute minorities, and comes at a time when freedom of expression in Pakistan is under concerted assault from extremists. "Blasphemy has become a political battle," said I. A. Rehman, a veteran human rights activist. "It's no longer just a criminal or religious problem - it's become a political issue that is used to silence voices and create a climate of fear." Mr. Rehman's family suffered directly from the blasphemy laws last week. His nephew, a prominent defense lawyer and rights activist named Rashid Rehman, was shot dead in the southern city of Multan, weeks after he received death threats for defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy. The case against the 68 lawyers occurred in Jhang, a district in central Punjab that has a history of sectarian upheaval and is the birthplace of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, one of the country's most virulent Sunni extremist groups, which has since been renamed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and was banned in 2012. On May 7, dozens of lawyers, mostly from the country's Shiite minority, staged a street protest against a senior police official, Umar Daraz, according to the police and lawyers. The lawyers said Mr. Daraz had detained and beaten a lawyer after arguing with him. The police removed Mr. Daraz from his position in response to the complaints. But the lawyers continued their protest for several days, urging the police to arrest Mr. Daraz and several of his subordinates. The lawyers shouted insults at Mr. Daraz, sometimes calling him a dog, a frequent occurrence in Pakistani protests. They also referred to him by his first name - one that is common in Pakistan but is also shared by Umar Farooq, a revered historical figure in Islam who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia. The leader of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, was at the police station during one of the protests. He claimed the lawyers were shouting and insulting the name of the religious figure, not the police officer, said the town police chief, Zeeshan Asghar, in a phone interview. Mr. Ludhianvi recently entered electoral politics, and though he has said he renounced violence, critics of his group say he has continued to whip up anti-Shiite sentiment. A few days later, one of his associates lodged a formal blasphemy complaint against the 68 lawyers. Eight of the lawyers were named in the police report, but the other 60 were unidentified, a common practice in Pakistan aimed at giving leverage to the complainants. "Call it our bad luck," said Mr. Asghar, referring to the presence of Mr. Ludhianvi during the protest. Muhammad Afzal Sial, president of the local bar association, insisted the lawyers had not intended any offense to Islam. "Our lawyers only named only the police officer, but certain elements tried to exploit the situation," he said in a phone interview. Blasphemy cases have become more frequent in Pakistan, often in absurd circumstances, underscoring how a law intended to protect against religious intolerance has become a tool of bigotry. That also makes it a minefield for judges, journalists, police officers and lawyers, for whom one wrong step can have life-threatening consequences. In 2011, Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab, and Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minorities, were shot dead in separate attacks after advocating changes to the law. Such killings have created a tinderbox atmosphere in parts of the country with a history of sectarian problems. The Jhang police chief, Mr. Asghar, said the lawyers' protests had stirred up wider tensions in the community and at one point led to an altercation between Sunni and Shiite lawyers. He had been forced to bring the blasphemy case, he said, to restore public order. "Armed clashes could have erupted in the city otherwise," he said. The police hope to end the standoff by persuading Mr. Ludhianvi to withdraw his complaint. In Multan, police officials reported no progress in the case of Mr. Rehman, who was shot several times by unidentified gunmen who broke into his office on May 7. At the time, Mr. Rehman was the lead defense lawyer in a blasphemy case that others had rejected, fearing for their lives. Weeks before his death, Mr. Rehman publicly complained of receiving a death threat in open court from lawyers for the prosecution, but the police and judiciary did not follow up. "He did not fail anyone, everybody who mattered failed him," his uncle, I. A. Rehman, wrote in the newspaper Dawn. "What matters more now is the sight of a society that seems to have lost all sense of shame or responsibility."
- Impact of Event
- 68
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to life, Right to Protest
- Source
New York Times?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 30, 2014
- Event Description
Hundreds of masked men have attacked villagers in Loei province who are protesting chemical contamination from a local gold mine. Witnesses said over 300 assailants stormed barricades set up by villagers in Na Nong Bong village in Wang Sapung district last night. The barricades were intended to block operations at the nearby gold mine owned by Tungkum Company. The incident is the latest development in the long-running dispute between the villagers and Tungkam Company, which is a subsidary of the mining giant Tongkah Harbour Public Company Ltd. For almost ten years, Na Na Bong villagers have tried to shut down the mine because of the widespread contamination of lethal substances they say its operation has caused. In 2013, Na Nong Bong villagers erected the "Wall of Heart" barricade to stop trucks from entering the mine. Last night's masked attackers, many of whom were armed according to the witnesses, quickly overwhelmed the 200 villagers who were guarding the barricade. At least 30 villagers were held hostage at gunpoint while the masked assailants proceeded to dismantle the barricades. Angsana Puangpaiwan, a 22-year-old resident, said the attackers arrived on two pick-up trucks and four minivans. "Dozens of shots" were fired into the air to frighten the villagers, Ms. Angsana said. When other villagers learned about the confrontation at the barricade, they rushed to the scene and attempted to help those who were being held hostage by the armed assailants, Ms. Angsana said. However, the perpetrators reportedly charged at the crowd of villagers, beating the group back. During the clash, a convoy of twelve 18-wheeler truckers drove past the remnants of the barricades into the gold mine, presumably to collect the mined ores left behind by the company's employees. Rows of armed, masked men guarded the convoy while the minerals were being collected. After the convoy left, the militants reportedly released their hostages and forced villagers to delete any images of the clash from their cellphones. Some villagers were also forced to surrender their cellphones to the armed men. Over 40 villagers were reportedly injured in the assault, and they were only transported to hospital after the perpetrators left the scene, witnesses say. The villagers pressed charges at Wang Sapung Police Station this afternoon, accusing the perpetrators of attempted murder, assault, and theft. Na Nong Bong residents began their protests against the mine in 2006 after some of them began suffering illnesses they suspected were caused by the nearby operation of the Tungkam gold mine. From 2007-2011, studies by local authorities and environmental agencies reported a widespread contamination of deadly substances such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and cyanide in the area adjacent to the gold mine. Despite the published studies and a lawsuit filed by the villagers to the Administrative Court, the Tungkam gold mine was permitted to continue its operation. Frustrated by the lack of concrete response from the authorities and the company, Na Nong Bong villagers erected the "Wall of Heart" barricade in late 2013. Tungkam Company hit back with a lawsuit to the Loei Provincial Court, accusing the village's leaders of obstructing the company's enterprise. The lawsuit also demands 50 million baht in damages from the villagers.
- Impact of Event
- 8
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Right to food
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 10, 2013
- Event Description
In January Mohammad Shamsuddin, the person who drives the car belonging to Saira Rahman Khan, the wife of Adilur Rahman Khan, was called up by a man who said he was a police of the Detective Branch. He knew Shamsuddin's name and told him that he must give information regarding Adilur Rahman Khan to the DB police whenever they asked for it. Shamsuddin said he did not work for Adilur Rahman Khan, but for his wife; and thus did not know where "sir' went, so he was unable to provide information. The caller became angry and began threatening Shamsuddin with dire consequences if he did not cooperate. On 5 March, at approximately 7:45 in the evening, Shamsuddin was picked up from near his home and taken to Banani Police Station, where he was put in handcuffs and beaten on his knees, arms and back with a heavy wooden ruler by the police, who demanded Tk. 10,000 from him. His family paid Tk. 5000. We came to learn of his arrest from his brother-in-law at 8:00 the next morning, after family members had gone to the Banani Police Station to see him. When they got there, he was already in a police van waiting to be taken before the Magistrate. He had been charged under the Drugs Act, allegedly for possession of ganja. Odhikar arranged for a lawyer to represent him and informed his family. Advocate Shamsuzzaman asked for bail, opposing the 5-day remand that the police sought. The Magistrate sent Shamsuddin to Dhaka Central Jail without granting bail or remand. On Thursday, 13 March, he was freed on bail. On 13 March, Adilur Rahman Khan was taking his mother for a check up to Square Hospital located in the central part of Dhaka City. When the family driver, Milon (who is in charge of Adilur Rahman Khan's father's car) parked the car and sat in a nearby furniture shop, two men approached him and called him by his name. They said they were from the Detective Branch of Police and one showed him an ID card. They had followed the car since it left the house. They told Milon that he had to give them information about Adil's daily schedule and where he went every day. Milon replied that he could not do so as he worked for Adil's father and other family members only. The men then casually asked about Shamsuddin and whether he was "out yet'. Milon feigned ignorance and told them that he only knew that Shamsuddin was on leave. The men then told him that they knew that Adilur Rahman Khan was helping Shamsuddin get and had arranged for his lawyer. They also made Milon give them his cell number and told his they would be in touch. On 13 March an Audit Officer from the NGO Affairs Bureau paid a visit to Odhikar to carry out further investigation into Odhikar's projects. He told Odhikar in confidence that he was told to spend as much time as possible in the Odhikar office to dig out problems; since his earlier reports did not satisfy his superiors. He came to the Odhikar office at 11:00 am and left at 6:00 pm. He said he would return again. It must be noted here that fifty percent of the funds for Odhikar's EU-funded and EKN-funded projects have not been cleared by the NGO Affairs Bureau. The Organization will not be able to pay its current staff after March 2014. Six staff have already left Odhikar due to financial and security reasons. Funds Frozen Since the NGO Affairs Bureau (under the Prime Minister's Office) has barred Odhikar from receiving funds, Odhikar staff did not receive their salaries in April 2014. They have been given a basic amount of payment from Odhikar's reserve funds. The situation will be the same in May. Staff Intimidated Mohammad Ziauddin, is the head teacher of the Rizia Nasrin Asiya Motalleb High School in Chittagong. He has been a human rights defender associated with Odhikar since 2008. Along with other documents, he submitted a certificate he received from an Odhikar- Minority Rights Group training on "Minority Friendly Inclusive Education' to the School Management Committee of his School (SMC). On receiving this, the SMC asked him to stay away from Odhikar. He no longer feels secure to work with Odhikar. Syeda Rakha Pervin has also been a human rights defender associated with Odhikar from 2008. On 11 August 2013, she organised a human chain in Chittagong demanding the release of Adilur Rahman Khan. After this event, police visited her home and her workplace to inquire about her and to tell her to cut off all association with Odhikar. Since then, she in unable to participate in Odhikar's local level activities.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jun 3, 2014
- Event Description
As a first step to fast-tracking development high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has submitted a classified document identifying several foreign-funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are "negatively impacting economic development". "A significant number of Indian NGOs (funded by some donors based in the US, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and Scandinavian countries) have been noticed to be using people centric issues to create an environment which lends itself to stalling development projects," says the IB report marked to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "The negative impact on GDP growth is assessed to be 2-3 per cent per annum," says the June 3 report, identifying seven sectors/ projects that got stalled because of NGO-created agitations against nuclear power plants, uranium mines, coal-fired power plants, farm biotechnology, mega industrial projects, hydroelectric plants and extractive industries. While detailing what it calls "anti-development" activities by the NGOs during 2011-13, the 21-page report highlights their plans for 2014 and the areas that would come under pressure. These include a campaign against palm oil imports from Indonesia and disposal of e-waste of Indian IT firms, organising construction workers in urban areas, protests against identified projects such as Gujarat's Special Investment Regions, Par Tapi Narmada River Interlinking Project and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. The report says that while caste discrimination, human rights and big dams were earlier chosen by international organisations to discredit India at global forums, the recent shift in the choice of issues was to encourage "growth-retarding campaigns" focused on extractive industries, genetically-modified organisms and foods, climate change and anti-nuclear issues. According to the report, the funding for such campaigns came from foreign donors under charitable garb for issues ranging from protection of human rights, violence against women, caste discrimination, religious freedom etc or to provide a "just deal" to the project-affected displaced persons or for protection of livelihood of indigenous people. The NGOs become the central players in setting the agenda, drafting documents, writing in the media, highlighting scholars-turned-activists and lobbying diplomats and government, it says. "These foreign donors lead local NGOs to provide field reports which are used to build a record against India and serve as tools for the strategic foreign policy interests of the Western government," adds the report. "The strategy serves its purpose when the funded Indian NGOs provide reports, which are used to internationalise and publicise the alleged violations in international fora. All the above is used to build a record against a country or an individual in order to keep the entity under pressure and under a state of under-development," says the IB report.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Aug 13, 2013
- Event Description
On 13 August 2013, Ghulam Fatima, owner of a small grocery shop in Sahimal, Punjab, was severely beaten and almost killed by a group of men attempting to force her to sell her property. According to the allegations received, Ms. Fatima was previously allegedly threatened and harassed a number of times by this same group of persons. Human rights defenders and journalists, some of whom are members of the Press Club of Kamir - learned that the police refused to file a FIR because they claimed they needed to investigate the incident first. Soon after, what happened to Ms. Fatima was widely reported in the print and electronic media, including live broadcasting in local TV channels. According to reports, on 14 August 2013, journalists and human rights defenders visited the police station to inquire about the status of the FIR. A police officer allegedly threatened them indicating that a "fake encounter" could be conducted against them for interfering in the official work of police. A day later, a case was reportedly filed against persons to interfering with police business, although the identities of these persons are unknown. In this connection, Mr. Barkat Ali Gulzar, President of the Press Club, and Mr. Sabir Shehzad, Director of the International Human Rights Commission were reportedly informed that should they continue reporting the case, they would be "booked in the open FIR". On 4 September 2013, a Joint Urgent Appeal was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Right to property, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 23, 2014
- Event Description
A graduate student from Thammasat University was charged on Friday with lese majeste offence after he was detained for seven days after protesting the coup last week. The police claimed the military had received evidence taken from the defendant's Facebook post. Apichart (last name withheld) was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison on Friday after the court denied him bail, citing flight risk. The 25-year-old man was also charged with Section 14 of Computer Crime Act and violation of the junta's order. Despite guarantee from Deputy Dean of Thammasat University Parinya Tewanarumitkul, the court rejected it saying that their relationship is not as close as relatives. He was arrested on May 23 when he joined the anti-coup protest in front of Bangkok Art and Cultural Center, and later was detained at the Police's Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok. Apichart works as an intern for The Law Reform Commission of Thailand. UPDATE 2/06/2014: Mr.Apichart was denied bail by the Criminal Court for the second time. His mother had put forward 500,000 baht and another 500,000 through the Government Savings Bank Lottery, but the court ruled that flight risk remained high.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jun 8, 2014
- Event Description
Vigilante mobs have abducted and interrogated several young men in Mal_ City in a push to identify online activists advocating secularism or professing atheism, Minivan News has learned. Eyewitnesses told Minivan News the young men were taken to isolated locations in Mal_ City in separate incidents in recent days. A vigilante mob interrogated them on the identities of administrators of Facebook groups advocating secularism and atheism in the Maldives. Minivan News understands the abductions are also related to the hijacking of a Facebook group called "Colorless' on Sunday. The group has 4,865 members and was set up with in the wake of February 2012's transfer of power with the aim of bringing a "divided nation to a common ground as a platform to advocate peace, love and harmonic co-existence." The group's administrators were expelled on Sunday and new administrators have changed the group's banner to a black flag with the Shahadha or the Islamic creed declaring the oneness of Allah and the acceptance of Mohamed as Allah's prophet. Meanwhile, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) issued a statement condemning the abductions and said the hostages were threatened with death. The party has called on the government to take immediate action. The Maldives Police Service said it is looking into whether these incidents have been reported. The President's Office was not responding at the time of press. Abductions The vigilante mob - estimated at 40 men - accused the young men of homosexuality and atheism, eyewitnesses said. The mob consisted of religious extremists and prominent Mal_ City gang members, sources said. Eyewitnesses said the young men were interrogated on their religious beliefs and asked to recite the Shahadha as a test of their belief in Islam. They were also tested on prayer verses and passages from the Quran. The young men were threatened and forced to hand over the passwords to their Facebook accounts. They were also asked to identify the administrators behind the "Secular Democratic Maldives Movement' and "Maldivian Atheists' on Facebook. The "Secular Democratic Maldives Movement' page was founded in December 2012 to advocate for a secular democracy in the Maldives. It has 2,463 followers. The "Dhivehi Atheists/ Maldivian Atheists' page has 575 followers and advocates for the rights of atheists in the Maldives. It was set up in June 2013. All abductees were eventually released, sources said. The MDP believes religious extremists were behind the abductions. "The Maldivian Democratic Party has received information that some religious extremists have kidnapped young people claiming they had committed irreligious acts. The extremists blindfolded the young people, took them to remote locations against their will, threatened them with sharp weapons, threatened them with death, issued sentences in a vigilante trial and are now implementing these sentences," the party's statement said. The kidnappers then told the hostages they would be killed if any news of the abduction were shared, the MDP said. The party said it believed "these dangerous acts of terrorism" are against the Maldives constitution, laws and Islamic Sharia and committed by individuals for a certain gain. Hijacked Jennifer Latheef, a human rights activist and former administrator of "Colorless', said the four administrators of the group had received several warnings from Facebook users over recent months to remove offensive comments posted by members allegedly mocking Islam. However, the administrators opted to allow free speech and appealed to all members to be responsible and refrain from attacking and insulting the other's religious beliefs. Pictures identifying the group's administrators were then posted and circulated online by a separate Facebook group called "Shariah4Maldives'. The group alleged "Colorless' administrators had allowed "the mocking of the Prophet Sallalaahu Alaihi Wassalam and outright lies about Islam on their group, and when we warned them about this issue, they refused to remove such posts mocking Islam." On Sunday, infiltrators expelled and removed Jennifer and the group's original administrators without warning. Jennifer, who currently lives abroad, said death threats have been issued against the group's administrators. "I am scared for Maldives. I am scared for the people who are there," she said. Analysts have raised concerns over the growing threat of extremism in the Maldives. A recent report by the US State Department expressed concern over radicalization of youth groups and said funds are being raised in the Maldives to support terrorism abroad. Maldivians are alleged to have died in suicide attacks in Syria, and online jihadist groups last week insulted and taunted the Maldives Police Services after they said they were investigating the deaths. Maldivian media have also said they feel threatened by religious extremists and gangs. UPDATE 11/06/2014: As the intimidation of perceived LGBT or secular people by religious groups continues, reports have arisen that government officials met with the same religious groups that carried out the attacks and abductions to discuss "homosexuality" and "attacks on Islam" just days before they occurred. The Vice President of the Human Rights Committee of the Maldives has called for an immediate response by the state to ensure the safety of all citizens and clarify what is happening.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Internet freedom, Minority Rights, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Sep 28, 2013
- Event Description
Since late September 2013, the Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives, Transparency Maldives and Maldives NGO Federation have reportedly been facing acts of harassment following the issuance of a number of press statements which criticize the Supreme Court injunction on 23 September 2013 which ordered the Elections Commission (EC) to delay the second round of presidential elections. On 28 September 2013, a Transparency Maldives intern was allegedly attacked on the street and her cellphone was stolen by an unidentified individual. On 29 September 2013, Transparency Maldives allegedly received death threats directed towards the staff via a phone call by an unidentified person. Transparency Maldives was also allegedly the subject of a death threat via Tweeter stating: "We will slaughter all of you goats until there are none left". Transparency Maldives reported these incidents to the police and was reassured by the Commissioner of Police that the police would investigate these matters. On 29 September 2013, Transparency Maldives allegedly received a phone call from the Ministry of Home Affairs, asking for a copy of their latest press statement. According to the information received, on 30 September 2013, the State Minister for Home Affairs, who also serves as the Registrar of NGOs, allegedly stated on the local television station Villa TV that the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Transparency Maldives are under investigation for challenging the Supreme Court. Allegedly, he further stated that the Ministry for Home Affairs will not allow any organization to "challenge the law' and that NGOs acting outside of the law will be dissolved. On 1 October 2013, the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Maldives NGO Federation allegedly received letters from the Ministry of Home Affairs, signed by the Registrar and State Minister for Home Affairs, requesting them to submit a copy of their latest press statement to the Ministry before noon of 6 October 2013. On 5 October 2013, the home of one of the Coordinators of the Transparency Maldives' Right to Information programme was allegedly broken into and his cellphone was stolen. Grave concern is expressed with regards to the threats directed towards the staff of Transparency Maldives. Further concern is expressed that the investigation of the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Transparency Maldives and the threat of dissolving NGOs in the Maldives is based on their legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Korea, Republic of
- Initial Date
- Jun 10, 2014
- Event Description
Miryang city government and the police on Wednesday forcibly removed three camps of locals engaged in a prolonged protest against the construction of a high voltage power line in the area. A total of five tower construction sites had been occupied by protesters, and the Miryang authorities plan to clear the remaining two within the day. At about 6 a.m. Tuesday, officials from the South Gyeongsang Province city began taking down the protesters' makeshift abodes with the support of about 2,000 police personnel. The protesters had been ordered to withdraw by June 2. The city officials and police were met with strong resistance from the protesters, who responded by throwing manure and physically resisting the officials. According to reports, a number of Miryang residents and a nun supporting their cause were injured and taken to hospital. In addition, a protester identified by the surname Bae was taking into custody for interfering with public officials. Korea Electric Power Corp. is reported to be placing fences around the area to prevent protesters from reoccupying the towers' construction sites. The project was approved by the government in November 2007 to link the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulsan to a substation in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, through a 765-kilovolt transmission line across 90.5 kilometers with 161 towers. The locals have protested the project since the beginning, and two have committed suicide to further their cause. Of the 161 towers, 109 have been completed while construction on five has been delayed. Of the total, 52 towers are located in the Miryang area. Since work was resumed in October, 47 towers have been completed.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- May 25, 2013
- Event Description
This appeal concerns the arrest and detention, and in some instances disappearances, of 20 individuals in connection with their participation in peaceful assemblies or human rights campaigns in different parts of the country, protesting, inter alia, against alleged corruption among Government officials or calling on the State to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Many of them are believed to belong to, or be inspired by, the New Citizen Movement, a network of peaceful activists who reportedly call for transparency about the financial assets of top Chinese leaders, and promote political and legal reforms. According to the information received: The following individuals have reportedly disappeared: - Mr. Yang Tingjian was arrested in late May 2013 in Guangdong province, and has disappeared since. It is alleged that Mr. Yang had organised an event in which participants would share information about democracy and freedom via mobile phone on 4 June, which is the anniversary of the June 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. Mr. Yang's whereabouts are currently unknown. - Mr. Zhang Fuying of Lianoning was arrested on 13 June 2013 in Beijing municipality, and has disappeared since. Sources indicate that Mr. Zhang had sought public disclosure of the financial assets of top Chinese leaders. There are further indications that Mr. Zhang may have been transferred to Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, where officials have reportedly said he would "disappear forever". The following individuals have reportedly been criminally charged: Mr. Xu Zhiyong, legal advocate and founder of the NGO Open Constitution Initiative, has spearheaded the New Citizen's Movement. He was allegedly taken into custody on 16 July 2013 and was formally arrested on 22 August 2013. - Mr. Liu Yuandong, was taken into custody on 23 February 2013 outside the headquarters of the Southern Weekly where there had been a demonstration in support of press freedom. Mr. Liu had also been supporting activists in Guangzhou province, as well as engaging in human rights advocacy work. He was formally arrested on charges of "withdrawing contributed capital after incorporation of a company". He is detained at the Tianhe District Detention Center. There have been allegations that Mr. Liu has been subjected to illtreatment, including sleep deprivation, whilst in detention. - Ms. Ying Jixian of Zhejiang was apprehended on 18 May 2013 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". She was detained at the Xicheng District Detention Center, and released on bail on 26 July 2013, pending trial. - Mr. Deng Zhibo of Jilin was apprehended on 18 May 2013 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". He was detained at the Xicheng District Detention Center, and released on bail on 25 July 2013, pending trial. - Ms. Zhang Jixin was apprehended on 18 May 2013 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". She was detained at the Xicheng District Detention Center, and released on bail on 26 July 2013, pending trial. - Mr. Zhao Guanjun of Liaoning was apprehended on 18 May 2013 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order" and "creating a disturbance". He was detained at the Fengtai District Detention Center, and released on bail on 26 July 2013, pending trial. - Ms. Zhu Pingping of Shanghai was apprehended on 18 May 2013 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order" and "creating a disturbance". She was detained at the Fengtai District Detention Center, and released on bail on 26 July 2013, pending trial. - Mr. Xu Nailai of Tianjin and Mr. He Bin of Hubei were apprehended on 27 May2013 after they and other petitioners expressed their sympathy for hurricane victims in the US by gathering outside the US embassy with banners. They have been criminally detained since late June on charges of "creating disturbance". Both are in detention at The Chaoyang District Detention Center. - Mr. Gu Yimin was apprehended at his work place on 1 June 2013, and sources indicate that police simultaneously searched his home and confiscated his computer. He was formally arrested on 14 June 2013 on charges of "inciting subversion of State power" and is being detained at the Changshu City Detention Centre. He had allegedly posted photos of the 1989 Tiananmen Square prodemocracy protests online and had also refused to withdraw a petition to hold a gathering to mark the anniversary of the event. Sources indicate that Mr. Gu faced trial on 29 September 2013 at Changshu People's Intermediate Court. Although his family was allowed to attend the trial, it has been indicated to us that fellow pro-democracy campaigners were forbidden from doing so. - Mr. Zhao Zhenjia of Liaoning was apprehended on 9 June 2013 at the Beijing South railway station, and is currently being held at the Haidian District Detention Center on unknown charges. He had been working on the campaign for disclosure of public assets. It is alleged that he was held incommunicado for some weeks after his arrest. - Mr. Shen Guodong was apprehended on 5 July 2013, and was formally arrested on 6 August 2013 on charges of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". He is being detained at the Wuxi City No.1 Detention Center. - Mr. Yin Xijin was apprehended on 5 July 2013 and formally arrested on 6 August 2013 on charges of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". He is being detained at the Wuxi City No.1 Detention Center. - Mr. Song Ze was apprehended on 12 July 2013 and temporarily fell out of contact before being formally arrested on 16 August 2013 on charges of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". He is being detained at the Beijing No. 3 Detention Center. Mr. Song is reportedly involved in the New Citizen's Movement. - Mr. Guo Feixiong and Mr. Sun Desheng were detained on 8 and 13 August 2013, respectively, on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order" and have been detained since then at the Tianhe District Detention Center. On 27 August 2013, it is reported that officials refused Mr. Sun's lawyer's request to meet him, citing the need for permission from higher authorities. Mr. Sun and Mr. Guo have both participated in the New Citizen's movement and Mr. Sun has also sought the release of legal advocate Mr. Xu Zhiyong. - Mr. Zhou Weilin, apprehended on 6 September 2013 in Hefei, has been detained since on the charge of "gathering a crowd to disrupt order". Police simultaneously searched his home and confiscated his computers, cell phone and publications. He is being detained at the Feixi County Detention Center. Mr. Zhou had previously been detained for participating in the campaign for the right to education of Mr. Zhang Lin's daughter. - Mr. Yao Cheng was apprehended on 6 September 2013 and has been detained since. Neither Mr. Yao's place of or reason for detention are known. He had previously been detained for his role in the campaign for the right to education of Mr. Zhang Lin's daughter.
- Impact of Event
- 19
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Enforced Disappearance, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to education, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Oct 31, 2013
- Event Description
On 31 October 2013, Ms. Nalini Elumalai, Executive Director of the human rights non-governmental organization Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Mr. A. Thevaraj, SUARAM's Coordinator, Mr. Parameiswary Elumalai, activist from the Oppressed Peoples' Movement, as well as seven residents of the Kampung Hakka Mantin village, three grass root activists from the Socialist Party of Malaysia, four State Assembly representatives, and two members of Parliament, were taking part in a peaceful protest against the demolition of the said village, when they were arrested by security forces for "obstructing public servant[s] from carrying out their work", pursuant to Article 186 of Malaysia's Penal Code. It is reported that the 19 protestors, who sought a peaceful negotiation of the situation with police officers, were aggressively manhandled by them. One of the peaceful demonstrators was forcibly pushed to the ground, kicked and slapped by the officers, one of whom sat on him while he was been handcuffed. The remaining demonstrators were tightly handcuffed for more than two hours. The 19 peaceful protestors were taken to a police station and subsequently released on police bail later the same day. They face up to three months' imprisonment, as well as a fine of MYR 1,000 (around USD 315). On the same day, the demolition of the village was temporarily suspended following a stay of execution order issued by the Court of Appeal.
- Impact of Event
- 19
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to housing, Right to property, Right to Protest, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 1, 2014
- Event Description
Activist Jittra Cotshadet was arrested after she arrived on a flight from overseas at Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday, but denied she violated the order of the military's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to report to military officials. The 42-year-old labour activist and candidate in the cancelled Feb 2 election was apprehended after she disembarked from a flight from Sweden. Immigration Police asked her to sign a document conceding that she defied the 44th announcement of the NCPO summoning her to report to the military, but Ms Jittra refused to sign it. She was taken to the Crime Suppression Division for formal charge procedures. Ms Jittra, an advocate of bail rights for political prisoners including those on lese majeste charges, departed Thailand on April 24, a day after red-shirt poet Maineung Kor Kuntheera was murdered in Bangkok. "I did not defy the NCPO's order at all. Upon learning I was summoned I reported on June 3 at the Thai embassy in Stockholm, where I have been holidaying with Swedish friends at their invitation," Ms Jittra said. "I think the embassy is part of the Thai state and since I could not get back to Bangkok right away, that's the thing I could do." Ms Jittra rose to prominence as a leader of the labour union at the factory operated by lingerie producer Triumph. She was fired from her job. She endeared herself with the red-shirts when she put up a paper banner saying, "Only good at Talking" in a protest against the government of former prime minister Abhisit Vejjaijva. At the Feb 2 polls, which were later voided by the Constitutional Court, Ms Jittra, a Suphanburi native, ran as a party-list MP for the Palang Prachatipatai (Democratic Force Party). The party was a breakaway from the Pheu Thai Party, which supported the controversial blanket amnesty bill. Ms Jittra and many other red-shirt sympathisers disagreed with a blanket amnesty for all involved in the protests since 2006, because it would also include members of the security forces who shot and killed people during the crackdown on the April-May 2010 protests. The NCPO's 44th announcement at 8.20pm on June 1 summoned Ms Jittra and others to report to them on June s. She said she reported to the Thai embassy in Stockholm on June 3.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- May 25, 2014
- Event Description
On May 25, around 3.30 p.m, the army searched the house of Somyot Phueksakasemsuk, editor of a pro-red shirt magazine currently serving 11 years in prison for lese majeste. The army arrested Sukanya Phrueksakasemsuk, Somyot's wife, who has been campaigning for political prisoners, and his son Panitan Phrueksakasemsuk, a fourth-year Law student a Thammasat University and an activist himself, taking them both to the Army Club. According to Sukanya, the army also seized two laptops. Somyot was active in labor movements before becoming the leader of a red shirt faction called June 24 for Democracy. He was sentenced on January 23, 2013, when the court found him guilty of publishing two articles deemed defamatory against the monarchy. UPDATE: Sukanya and Panitan Phueksakasemsuk were released on May 25, around 10 p.m., however their siezed computer laptops were not yet returned. Sukanya posted on her Facebook afterwards on May 26 that they "were asked to refrain from giving interview, joining any protest nor expressing opinions into the public for a while in order to maintain peace."
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- May 1, 2014
- Event Description
RANGOON - Burmese activists who publicly opposed a controversial interfaith marriage bill say they are receiving violent threats from anonymous callers. At least four activists have been targeted by threats after listing their contact information in early May on a public statement backed by nearly 100 civil society groups that objected to the bill. Since then, they have received anonymous phone calls and online messages threatening violence. One activist was forced to change her phone number after her original digits were posted on a Facebook page advertising prostitutes. Another activist, Aung Myo Min, says he has been urged to stop fighting the interfaith marriage bill, which places restrictions on marriages between Buddhist women and men of any other faith. "Some messages were like, "You will regret it. Stop working for this issue. If you continue, don't blame others for the consequences,'" the director of Equality Myanmar told The Irrawaddy. Khon Ja, a well-known women's rights activist from the Kachin Peace Network, said some anonymous callers have even used phone numbers from Thailand and Malaysia. "They called saying, "If you dare come to Mandalay, you will be dead when we see you," she said, adding that she wondered if the Association to Protect Race and Religion, a radical monk-led group promoting the bill, knew about the threats. Zin Mar Aung, founder of the Rainfall Gender Study Group,says she has received obscene messages on Viber, a phone application. She said one Viber group has been created with the name, "We will kill those who destroy the race." May Sabe Phyu, senior coordinator of the Gender Equality Network, says she is reluctant to connect to the Internet on her phone due to negative messages. "Once I connect, lots of Viber messages come up instantly, with some asking to call so we can talk," she says. Burmese civil society groups have grown increasingly concerned about the interfaith marriage bill, which is part of a package of four bills to protect race and religion. The other three bills would ban polygamy, enact population control measures and restrict religious conversion. The interfaith marriage bill calls for Buddhist women to receive permission from parents and authorities before marrying a man of another faith, who would be forced to convert to Buddhism. Opponents have criticized the bill as undemocratic and discriminatory. Some say it prevents women from making their own choices, while others believe it is intended specifically to prevent conversions to Islam. Aung Myo Min of Equality Myanmar said he is taking precautions with his safety following the threats. "If they are courageous, they need to tell us who they are and why they are doing this," he said of the callers. "It's like they are threatening us from the dark. "Our aim is not to destroy or disrespect race and religion. We also want to protect these. But there are some aims and concepts[in the bill] that we can't accept."
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Minority Rights
- Source
The Irrawaddy?PageSpeed=noscript)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Oct 22, 2013
- Event Description
On 22 October 2013, two military Special Branch officers came to Aung Zaw Oo's house at 3:45 p.m. They reportedly offered the removal of Aung Zaw Oo's name from a political activists watch list in exchange for his signature on a written statement committing him not engage in political activities. Aung Zaw Oo reportedly rejected this request. On 24 October 2013, as Aung Zaw Oo was leaving an internet caf_, a man on a motorbike ran into him. Aung Zaw Oo narrowly escaped serious injury. On 26 October 2013, a man on a motorbike again reportedly tried to run him over from behind. On 27 October 2013, as Aung Zaw Oo was on his way to a bus station a motorbike reportedly ran into his right arm. Following this, Aung Zaw Oo informed the police special branch of these three incidents. On 3 November 2013, while Aung Zaw Oo was driving his motorbike home from work, another motorbike reportedly intentionally crashed into him. Aung Zaw Oo was reportedly left unconscious by the impact, with his motorbike badly damaged. He woke up two hours after the incident with severe head pain, and received five days of treatment in Taungyi Sissan Tun Hospital. He is reported to still be experiencing head pain, backbone pain, and pain from a rib injury. Aung Zaw Oo reportedly informed the police about the incident and was told that this was a case for the traffic police. He then went to the traffic police office and asked to file a case. On 8 November 2013, the traffic police reportedly told Aung Zaw Oo that his claims were false and that the location of the incident was incorrect. They subsequently asked Aung Zaw Oo for proof of ownership of his motorbike, which he was not able to provide, and was subsequently reportedly accused of receiving stolen property. When Aung Zaw Oo went to the hospital to request his medical records, he was reportedly told by the hospital staff that the police had ordered them not to provide Aung Zaw Oo with his records. One of the motorbikes that hit Aung Zaw Oo is reported to have had a 969 sticker and a sticker depicting a leaf on one of the knee guards of the driver, allegedly indicating that he was a youth member of the 969 movement.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights, Right to liberty and security, Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jun 16, 2014
- Event Description
Thai police on Wednesday charged Worachet Pakeerut, a law academic from Thammasat University and member of the courageous Nitirat group, for not reporting to the junta -- on time. He was released from Bangkok Remand Prison at about 6.30 pm on Wednesday. Worachet flew back from Hong Kong to Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok on Monday. The Immigration Police detained him and took him to the Army Club in Theves, Bangkok. He was later taken to the 11th Infantry Regiment for interrogation. On Wednesday at 10.20 am, the military took Worachet to the Crime Suppression Division for interrogation. The police decided to charge him with defying the coup makers' order. At around 1 pm, he was taken to the military court where the police submitted a custody petition. At around 5 pm, the military court granted his bail request. His family put up 20,000 baht in cash as security. The academic was summoned twice on May 24 and June 9. On June 10, Patcharin Pakeerut, Worachet's wife, submitted a letter to the military, saying that Worachet did not intend to flee, and would delay reporting due to his health problems. On June 7, another member of Nitirat, Sawatree Suksri, was detained at Don Muang airport and detained by the military for three days after she returned from a US State Department-sponsored trip to the United States and had not reported when summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Sawatree, however, was not charged. In March 2012, Worachet was assaulted by royalist twins. The twins said they were dissatisfied with Worachet's staunch opposition to the l��se majest_ law. Nitirat is a group of seven law scholars from Thammasat University. The group has proposed an amendment of the l��se majest_ law in line with human rights principles as well as a draft amnesty bill for political prisoners. UPDATE 10/07/2014: Worachet appeared before court again, where the police's request to extend his detention by another 12 days was granted (for the third time). He was, however, again granted bail.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 9, 2014
- Event Description
The government's recent warning that politically active students may be subject to expulsion could be linked to a campaign supporting constitutional reform, legal experts and activists said. A statement by Burma's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), released on 9 June and distributed at some state-operated schools, warned that students who have been convicted on charges related to any political activities that result in "unrest" could be punished with expulsion. Critics have claimed that the vague language of the announcement could lead to abuse by educational administrators, and suggested that the move was meant to preempt involvement in a growing campaign to support amending Article 436 of Burma's military-drafted 2008 Constitution. "We have some questions regarding the definition of "politically-related offences'. We don't know exactly what that means," said Sithu Aung, a technological university student. "Now it's risky for us to participate in any activities." The concern is exacerbated by a handful of laws that some say have been used to punish activists, such as Section 505(b) of Burma's penal code, which broadly criminalises any activities that could cause "fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility." Any court ruling related to such charges would now come with additional academic penalties.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jun 19, 2014
- Event Description
A Buddhist monk, who campaigned for inter-faith harmony was found assaulted today with cut wounds, and has been hospitalized in Sri Lanka. The General Secretary of Jathika Bala Sena, Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thero was reportedly abducted and found beaten with cut wounds in the Bandaragama area this morning, the police said. He was admitted to the Panadura hospital and was later transferred to Colombo National Hospital for further treatments. According to the information received by the Panadura Police, Ven. Wataraka Vijitha Thero was found with his hands and feet tied up early this morning on the road side in an area called Hirana. Ven. Wataraka Vijitha Thero was threatened by Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, leader of the extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in April during an inter-faith press conference he held with the Muslim religious leaders. The militant monk leader of BBS disrupted the press conference and made Watareka Vijitha Thero to apologize. The Thero later complained to the Slave Island police that he apologized due to threats to his life. Earlier this month the BBS leader threatened the lawyer, former Provincial Councilor of the United National Party (UNP) Maithri Gunarathna, who was representing the victimized monk, at the court premises. Panadura Police has begun investigations into the assault on Watareka Vijitha Thero.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief, Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Mar 16, 2014
- Event Description
Last night's arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen in Kilinochchi on terrorism charges, soon after the arrest of Jeyakumari Balendran and her young daughter on suspicion of harbouring a criminal, is extremely disturbing and an urgent call to action. In stark contrast to what the Government says in Geneva is what it does in Sri Lanka. Human rights activists are being arrested under draconian laws which permit the authorities to interrogate them in isolation for extended periods of time. It is clear the government wants to go after those who flag human rights abuses. This is happening when deliberations at the Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka are taking place, demonstrating the regime's scant regard for international opinion and scrutiny. It is an urgent call to hold the government accountable and use all means necessary, in Geneva and elsewhere, to secure the safety of Ruki, Fr. Praveen, Jeyakumari, her daughter and others similarly under arrest and detained. Failure to do suggests that words aside, the international community accepts the democratic deficit in Sri Lanka. We received the following updates last night: At around 10.05 pm tonight, several of us received a text message from Ruki Fernando, on his mobile number 0773874xxx stating that Ruki and Father Praveen have been detained at the killnochchi police station, apparently on suspicion of a shooting. Later, Ruki informed a colleague also via text, that he and father Praveen were being questioned separately. A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police station, was informed that no such persons were arrested by the Killinochchi police or being held at the police station. However the police said that two persons had been arrested by a specially appointed unit of the TID and were being held at a separate location in Killinochchi. Another lawyer who spoke to the OIC Killinochchi was informed that Ruki and Praveen were being questioned and a decision regarding their continued detention would be made in the morning. This directly contradicts the version in the para above. We don't know the details of arrest or the facts leading up to it. We are very concerned for their safety and urgently need a lawyer who can visit the police station tonight and find out where they are being held on for what reasons etc. We published two more updates to the situation: Update 1: A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police, was informed that ruki and fr. praveen were being questioned by around 15 TID officers at the Killinochchi Police station. The HRC has also been informed that both persons are being held at the police station. Still no clear reasons for this treatment and we have also not been able to find a lawyer in Jaffna/Vavuniya/Killi who can visit the police station. Update 2: there is a possibility that ruki and father praveen ay be moved to colombo or vavuniya, but we have not been able to verify where they are at present.As journalist Dinouk Colomboge notes on Twitter, Ruki has been a prolific author on Groundviews, covering over the years issues and incidents mainstream media has often glossed over and the Government claims simply don't exist, are fabricated or over-hyped. A number of videos featuring Ruki's take on the human rights conditions in Sri Lanka can be viewed here. UPDATE : 21 March 2015 Statement to mark one year since the issuing of the gag order, travel restrictions and TID investigation against Sri Lankan human rights defender Ruki Fernando. The 21st March 2015 will mark one year since a court order restricting the freedom of expression on leading Sri Lankan human rights defender and writer, Ruki Fernando was obtained by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). Such restriction on freedom of expression of a prolific writer and commentator on human rights issues such as Ruki, is unprecedented in recent Sri Lankan history. Ruki and another colleague were arrested on 16th March 2014 during a fact finding mission to the war ravaged Northern part of the country. Both were released on 19th March 2014 after massive national and international outrage. Immediately after his release, Ruki gave interviews to local and international media. As a result of this, he faced intimidation after his release and a fresh investigation was launched against him by the TID. The TID also obtained Court Orders restriction Ruki's overseas travels and freedom of expression, and also confiscated communication equipment , all of which are effective till today. Ruki's arrest had resulted in him being branded a traitor and terrorist supporter by some media and Sinhalese nationalist groups, and the restriction on freedom of expression had made it difficult for him to respond to such accusations and defamation and defend himself. His human rights work locally and internationally as well as personal life has been constrained by the need to go to courts each time he needs to travel overseas. Even after obtaining court permission, he was compelled to miss a flight when he was travelling overseas for a human rights conference and he had faced delays, humiliation on other occasions he was travelling overseas for human rights work, due to being stopped and questioned by the Immigration and State Intelligence Service officers. It is now more than 4 months since Ruki's lawyers had made verbal and written submissions to the Attorney General's Department about the closure of the case and lifting of the restrictions . There has been an indication of readiness to lift the travel restriction. But the Attorney General's Department and the TID has refused to close the investigation, return the confiscated equipment and lift of the gag order. This clearly indicates the continuing anti -human rights and media freedom mind-set of the security establishment and the insensitivity of the new political leadership towards same. It shows that HRDs released from detention can be subjected to continued harassments and restrictions, despite the new political leadership in Sri Lanka. The conditions imposed on Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, a woman HRD released on bail on 10th March 2015 after 362 days in detention, reaffirms this. We the undersigned fully endorse and look forward to "...the day when all human rights defenders and dissenters can be free from accusations of supporting terrorism and are able enjoy their rights to express themselves and travel freely" (as said by Ruki ). Signatures: Individuals 1. Ainslie Joseph - Convener/Chief Animator, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) 2. Amal de Chickera 3. Anberiya Hanifa 4. Anthony Jesudasan 5. B. Gowthaman 6. Balasingham Skanthakumar 7. Brito Fernando 8. Budi Tjahjono 9. Chamila Thushari 10. Damaris Wickremesekera 11. Deanne Uyangoda 12. Dr. Cheran Rudhramoorthy 13. Dr. Leonie Solomons - Executive Director, Language Matters 14. Dr. Muhammad Muzzammil Cader - Convener, People's Movement for Non-Violence 15. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu - Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) 16. Dr. Richard Perera 17. Dulan de Silva 18. E.M. Bandara Menike 19. Emil van der Poorten - Community Activist seeking to uphold basic human rights 20. Faizun Zackariya - Citizens' Voice for Justice and Peace 21. Freddy Gamage - Editor, Meepura Newspaper 22. Godfrey Yogarajah - Executive Director, World Evangelical Alliance - Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) 23. Herman Kumara - Convener, NAFSO 24. Ian Ferdinands 25. Indika Udugampola 26. Jake Oorloff 27. Jayampathi Bulathsinhala 28. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala 29. Joanne Senn 30. Joe William 31. Jovita Arulanantham 32. K. Guruparan - Attorney-at-Law 33. Kalani Subasinghe 34. Kelly Senanayaka 35. Krishan Rajapakshe 36. Kusal Perera - Journalist 37. Laaurence KWARK 38. Lesley Sirimane 39. M. Nilashani 40. M.M. Rahman - Journalist, Mannar 41. Manjula Wediwardana 42. Marianne Johnpillai 43. Marisa de Silva 44. Melani Manel Perera - Journalist 45. Melisha Yapa 46. Menaha Kandasamy - Red Flag Women's Movement 47. Monica Alfred 48. Nalini Ratnarajah - Women Human Rights Defender 49. Nicola Perera 50. Nilantha Ilangamuwa - Journalist & Editor of Sri Lanka Guardian 51. Nilshan Fonseka 52. Nimal Perera - CSM 53. Nimalka Fernando 54. Nirmala Rajasingam 55. P. Selvaratnam 56. P. Vijayashanthan - Theatre Activist 57. P.N. Singham 58. Paba Deshapriya 59. Philip Setunga 60. Poddala Jayantha 61. Prof. Ajit Abeysekera 62. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda - University of Colombo 63. Prof. Jayantha Seneviratne - University of Kelaniya 64. R.M.B Senanayake - Retired C.C.S 65. Rajany Chandrasegaram 66. Ranjith Henayakaarachchi 67. Rasika Manobuddhi 68. Ravindra Chandralal 69. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph - Bishop of Mannar 70. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos 71. Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane 72. Rev. Fr. T. L. R. Dominic 73. Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja - Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri 74. Rev. Sr. Anne Perera- HF - CSM 75. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando - HF 76. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando - SCJM, Sri Lanka 77. Rohini Hensman - Writer and Independent Scholar 78. S. R. Perera 79. S.C.C. Elankovan 80. Sampath Samarakoon 81. Senaka Wattegedara 82. Shantha D. Pathirana - Human Rights Defender 83. Shreen Saroor 84. Sunanda Deshapriya 85. Suren D. Perera 86. T. Mathuri - Attorney-at-Law 87. Tanuja Thurairajah - Researcher 88. Tejshree Thapa 89. Udaya R. Tennakoon 90. V. Sanjeev 91. Visaka Dharmadasa Organizations 92. Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) 93. National Peace Council (NPC) 94. Rights Now Collective for Democracy
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jun 21, 2014
- Event Description
China's newly-minted National Security Council has ordered a probe into foreign-based non-governmental organisations operating in the country, reports said Friday, in the latest sign of tightening control by the ruling Communist Party. The "thorough investigation" - which was launched by the security council and is apparently being administered by local governments - began in May and will continue until the end of July, according to a report on a local party-run news portal in Yuncheng in the northern province of Shanxi. The news comes as foreign companies and other organisations come under heightened scrutiny by Chinese authorities. Earlier this week, a senior anti-corruption official warned that experts at the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) were spreading false ideas online and allowing foreign "infiltration" in their work. Chinese authorities have also moved to limit access to US-based search engine Google in recent weeks, while in the past year a host of foreign pharmaceutical firms including US-based Eli Lilly, Denmark's Novo Nordisk and British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline have found their business practices placed under scrutiny, according to state media. According to a notice released by the Yuncheng local government and posted online this week by the government-linked Yuncheng Sunlight Rural Public Integrity Network website, the probe into foreign NGOs and their relationships with Chinese partner organisations aims to "lay a foundation for further strengthening the administration of standards". Links to the original posting appeared to have been taken down by Friday. But several other Chinese news sites posted screenshots of the notice, which stated that foreign foundations, societies, chambers of commerce, institutes and non-profit institutions would be included in the "in-depth" investigation. The notice also advises local government officials not to speak publicly about the investigation so as to "avoid triggering domestic and foreign concern and speculation". Neither the Yuncheng local government or the National Security Council immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Jun 25, 2014
- Event Description
Four activists who organised a protest against sexual violence in the town of Matupi in Chin State have been charged for staging a rally without permission - Chapter Three of Burma's controversial Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act. Women's rights activists Thang Zin and Khin Lwe Parh, and Chin Youth Organisation members Mong Han and Tate Manh, were summoned to the Matupi police station around noon on Wednesday after they had led some 200 local demonstrators through the streets the two previous days. "The women were interrogated by police who informed them of the charges and instructed them to wait for the court summons," said Mai Alli of the Chin Women's Association. "The local police chief apparently told them not to be worried - as they might be let off with just a fine." The two Chin Youth activists, Khin Lwe Parh and Thang Zin, were released on bail at around 5pm on Wednesday. Khin Lwe Parh later told DVB that she led the protest to raise awareness and call for an end to rampant abuses in the region, including domestic violence, and said she would face any charge for doing what she believes in - promoting female empowerment. "I will go to prison and take whatever punishment they give me for doing what I can for women's rights," she said. Thang Zin said she will continue to educate women so they know their rights, and to protect and defend them in cases of sexual and domestic violence. "There is a tradition in Burma that women are not allowed to talk back to their husbands, and due to a lack of rule of law, they are reluctant to make an issue of the domestic violence they suffer, which encourages the perpetrators even more," she said. "We staged the protest to raise awareness, and encourage women not to be afraid to speak out." Another group of female activists who held a similar protest in nearby Rezua sub-township concurrently with the rally in Matupi have also been summoned by police. The organisers of the two protests requested permission from local authorities and police prior to the events in accordance with the law, but their applications were rejected.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Right to Protest, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Jul 1, 2014
- Event Description
The ultra-nationalist Thai newspaper Manager ASTV has published a "mock column" describing in graphic detail of how prisoners will gang-rape a fugitive anti-coup LGBT activist when she is finally arrested. Published under the newspaper's parody section, known as"Phujadkuan," the mock article describes how the the military junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will arrest and send LGBT activist Aum Neko to a prison in Bangkok to "return happiness" to the male inmates who have been deprived of sex for years. The article also says that Jakrapob Penkair, a former politician and leader of an anti-coup organisation in exile, will be arrested and sent to prison alongside Ms. Aum, whose real name is Saran Chuichai. "[Mr. Jakrapob and Ms. Aum] will be bestowed to the inmates so they can provide intimate, wet happiness, with thrusts reaching up to their intestines," the article wrote. "We expect that the pair will tour the entire prison and offer their bodily happiness to every prison section, from the first section to the death row section." The article then quoted a fictitious inmate as saying he is longing to be the first prisoner to have sex with Ms. Aum. "Whenever I see nong[sister] Saran, or Aum Neko, I always feel aroused. Judging from her behaviour, I think she has a lot of weird and difficult sex positions. I will try to be the first in the line to have sex with her," the fictitious inmate said as he masturbated, according to the parody piece. Other parts in the article contain threats of gang-raping Mr. Jakrapob, who Manager ASTV has previously not-jokingly accused of being gay. Ms. Aum, who is enrolled at Thammasat University, is a well-known transgender activist who has campaigned for more freedom of expression on campus. She is known for undertaking controversial actions to promote her cause, such as striking a provocative pose in a photo with the statue of Thammasat founder, Pridi Banomyong. Ms. Aum has also spoken out against Thailand's harsh lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws, as well as the 22 May military coup. The military junta summoned her to report shortly after the coup, but she has refused to turn herself in. Her whereabouts are currently unknown although she continues to criticise the junta on social media. "I strongly condemn this kind of news not because it is about me but because everyone who has a different opinion in this society should not be treated like this," Ms. Aum told Khaosod English. "They[Manager ASTV] live with hatred, not the duty to report the truth. Will we call this action an acceptable thing in the world of so called democracy and humanity?" The "Phujadkuan" section of Manager ASTV newspaper has a history of publishing "mock articles" which include false and libelous remarks about individuals who belong to the political faction that supported the former government. For example, the paper published a fake interview in March quoting a progressive actress as saying she changed her surname to "Shinawatra" in support of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the political camp that supported the former government deposed in the 22 May coup. The piece also "quoted" the actress, Intira Charoenpura, as urging Mr. Thaksin to form a new country by leading a secession movement in the North. The piece became popular among pro-monarchy Thais, many of whom failed to realise that it was a satire. In 2009 Mr. Thaksin's lawyer pressed charges against Manager ASTV on behalf of his client, accusing the newspaper of defaming Mr. Thaksin by publishing a photo that was doctored to depict the former Prime Minister revealing his testicles.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- SOGI rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Apr 3, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong this week briefly detained a prominent women's rights activist linked to a campaign to help the daughter of a leading dissident who is held under house arrest, her husband and rights lawyers said. Su Changlan was detained on Tuesday at her home in Foshan city, but no reason was given for her detention, her husband, who gave only his surname Chen, told RFA's Mandarin Service. Su was released later that day, after questioning likely linked to her involvement in a campaign for Zhang Anni, daughter of Anhui-based dissident Zhang Lin, to be allowed to attend school, lawyer Sui Muqing said. "Su Changlan has just been taken away by the Foshan police," Chen told RFA's Mandarin Service on Tuesday. "There were two of them, and they didn't give a reason." "She was taken away by a state security officer from Nanhai[district] and a Foshan police officer," he said. Su had been a volunteer for the New York-based rights group Women's Rights in China, and had campaigned vigorously for the political, economic and social rights of women and girls. Sui, a Guangzhou-based lawyer, said Su had taken part in a number of politically sensitive campaigns since last year, including campaigning in the Anhui capital Hefei for Anni, who was barred from attending school last year. Anni has since moved to the United States to continue her education, and her father, a veteran pro-democracy activist who previously served 13 years in prison on subversion charges for his political activities, stood trial in December on public order offenses. "Su Changlan ... went to[Anhui provincial capital] Hefei last year, and when the police detained[fellow activist] Tian Li, they kept asking about the incident in Hefei, and what part they had played in it," Sui said. Chen said he guessed that the detention could have something to do with a visit Su made to Anhui last year. "It seems like she got into an altercation with someone higher up," he said. Beijing-based rights lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan said he is acting for Su's fellow activist Tian Li, and that he had received a number of phone calls from Su's family on the day of her detention. "I think it's about the Anni incident, because Su Changlan and Tian Li went to Anhui together," Liu said. "But it's ridiculous if they are still detaining people over Zhang Anni." He said Anni's father Zhang Lin was still awaiting sentencing following a mid-December trial in Anhui's Bengbu city. "They can't sentence him, and it seems they have postponed it, because there are other cases linked to Zhang Lin's still with the prosecutor, but they can't back out now," Liu said. Dubbed "China's youngest political prisoner," Zhang Anni was held under house arrest and removed from two schools, sparking protests that she was being punished for her father's activism. Now at school in the United States along with her sister Ruli, Anni has written to U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S. Congress and the European, British, and Canadian parliaments, saying that the charges against Zhang Lin are "groundless."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to education, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Apr 4, 2014
- Event Description
The Sri Lankan government's decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country's Tamil minority, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. The government should provide evidence of the unlawful activity of specific groups and individuals or remove them from the list. On April 4, 2014, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made public an order signed on March 20, on the advice of the defense secretary, freezing the assets and financial resources of entities ranging from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was militarily defeated in 2009, to nonviolent Tamil organizations around the world. Chief Military spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya reportedly said that under the order, legal action would be taken against anyone having links with the listed groups. This would place local activists and alleged group members visiting the country at risk of being detained and held without charge under Sri Lanka's abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act. "The Sri Lankan government is using vague counterterrorism regulations to tie the major diaspora Tamil groups to the ruthless but defunct LTTE," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "This broad-brush sanction could then be used to punish local Tamil activists and politicians with international ties." Sri Lanka's United Nations Regulation No. 1 of 2012 empowers the government to designate individuals, groups or entities believed to "commit or attempt to commit or participate in or facilitate the commission of, terrorist acts" and freeze their financial assets and economic resources. The government's order provides no factual basis for its actions. Most of the groups listed in the order are lawfully registered entities in the various countries in which they are based. The asset freeze also covers 424 individuals. The government should address its legitimate concerns about foreign terrorist financing primarily through legal cooperation with foreign governments. It should promptly produce the factual basis for listing, and ensure organizations and individuals are able to contest their designations before independent and impartial courts. United Nations Resolution No. 1 is derived from UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and requires countries to freeze assets and entities of those "who commit or attempt to commit terrorist acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts." Human Rights Watch has extensively reported on how Resolution 1373 has provided governments broad leeway to create vague and overbroad definitions of terrorist activity and to curtail basic rights. In 2009, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that Resolution 1373, by serving as a vehicle for "numerous" countries to enact provisions that derogate from international human rights treaties, has had "a very serious negative impact on human rights." In 2010, the then-UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Martin Scheinin, said in his final report to the UN General Assembly that the counterterrorism regime created by the Security Council "continues to pose risks to the protection of a number of international human rights standards." Government statements on the asset freezes did not allay concerns of future rights abuses. The chief of national intelligence, Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana said that those having dealings with the listed persons and organizations could continue to do so as long as they do not violate Sri Lanka's constitution or collect money for terrorism, but did not specify further exactly what actions would be prohibited. Hendawitharana also left open the possibility that the government might issue an outright ban on the persons and organizations listed, and said that more could be added. "The government is putting all Tamil activists at risk by delegitimizing the major Tamil organizations abroad," Adams said. "Putting organizations engaged in peaceful political activity on a terrorist list is a modern version of McCarthyism."
- Impact of Event
- 16
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jul 14, 2014
- Event Description
Against the backdrop of some organisations defying the regulations governing NGO activities, the government has decided to enact a law, before the end of this year, making it mandatory for all of them to register with the National Secretariat on NGOs. NGO activities are currently governed by the provisions of the Voluntary Social Service Organizations[Registration and Supervision] Act Number 31 of 1980 and Voluntary Social Service Organizations[Registration and Supervision][Amendment] Act Number 8 of 1998. As required by the relevant acts, the NGOs are required register themselves with the National Secretariat on NGOs which functions under the Ministry of Defence. There are 1421 NGOs registered with this secretariat. Recently the secretariat issued instructions to NGOs to refrain from conducting press conferences and workshops for journalists unless they were mentioned in their annual action plans and approved by the secretariat. However, some organisations such as Transparency International and the Centre for Policy Alternatives, openly defied the instructions by the NGO Secretariat. Against this backdrop, Saman Dissanayake, the director of the NGO Secretariat, said the proposed law would be introduced in the form of an amendment to the existing Act and enacted before the end of this year. Then, he said, all these organisations would be required to register with the NGO Secretariat. "Otherwise, there will be legal restrictions on their activities. They will face restrictions in getting foreign funding," he said. Currently, though they operate as NGOs, some have been registered as nonprofit organisations under the Companies Act. Mr.Dissanayake said the new bill had almost been drafted. "The Legal Draftsman is giving it final the touches now," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Jul 16, 2014
- Event Description
Prominent Chinese activist Hu Jia says thugs ambushed him in the streets of Beijing and left him with a fractured nose. The outspoken human rights supporter says he believes the attackers were plainclothes police out to teach him a lesson and deter him from his activism. Activist Hu Jia told VOA he was assaulted late Wednesday outside a subway station where he parked his car earlier in the day. "It was raining, so I was carrying an umbrella. With that it was more difficult for people to see my face. But they recognized me after I pressed the button to open my car, and within seconds they jumped on me and started with the beating targeting my eyes," he said. After punching and kicking him for two minutes, Hu says the men left using a car driven by a third man. A CT scan at a nearby hospital revealed a fracture on the bridge of Hu's nose. The men did not wear a uniform, but Hu says he is certain they were plainclothes police. Hu says he wanted to fight back, but the assailants were too strong and it was clear they knew how to beat people. He says they did not call him by name or tell him why they were beating him. Hu says they only repeated "I teach you a lesson" with a low voice. Short of a general warning for his activism, Hu says the specific lesson they sought to teach him remains unclear. The attack against Hu comes amid a general crackdown against political speech in civil society. On Friday, a court in Beijing will pronounce the verdicts against two members of the New Citizens Movement, a group founded by legal scholar Xu Zhiyong to promote government transparency and more equal education policies. The organization has become the target of authorities who jailed its founder and put on trial scores of other members. On social media, Hu Jia had called for people to gather outside the courtroom Friday to show support for the defendants, charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order". Hu Jia also endorsed Occupy Central, a political movement that calls for democracy in Hong Kong. On the day of the attack, Hu says he was wearing an "Occupy Central" T-shirt, which authorities had warned him was too sensitive for him to wear outside the house. "We are concerned that a prominent activist like Hu Jia is attacked in a public place, but I think it will be difficult to pin point what exactly caused this attack because we do not know who these people are," said Ye Shiwei, senior program officer at the advocacy group Human Rights in China. Hu started his advocacy on behalf of rural AIDS patients over a decade ago. He became one of China's most critical voices against human rights violations and spent three-and-a-half years in jail for inciting subversion. He was released in 2011.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice, Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 10, 2014
- Event Description
The Internal Security Division (ISD) of the State police will investigate whether non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the State were getting foreign grants and will take suitable action if they are found to have violated Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), Home Minister K J George said on Thursday. Replying to an issue raised by K R Ramesh Kumar (Congress) in the Legislative Assembly, George said the ISD would look into the functioning of all the NGOs registered in the state. It will also probe into their funding and expenditure pattern, he said. Kumar had alleged that since 2006 the NGOs in the State had received Rs 1,069 crore. He said that Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were the sources for his information. Kumar said that the NGOs used the foreign funds to hamper developmental activities on various pretexts. The members of the NGOs enjoy lavish lifestyle by staying in five star hotels and flying in executive class, he said. Kumar said that one NGO had even sent handwritten maps to Germany on locations of uranium availability and proposals to start nuclear power plants in the state. He did not name the NGO but said such activities could result in a threat to national security. "They organise protests against hydel projects, thermal project and other developmental projects using foreign money and portray themselves as saviours of the nation. Such NGOs should be exposed," he said. The functioning of many NGOs lacks transparency and they have never make their accounts public, he said. K G?Bopaiah (BJP) who said that NGOs were hand in glove with officials, added that several NGOs had mushroomed in his home district of Kodagu in the name of tribal welfare. The NGOs have claimed credit for rehabilitation programme undertaken by government, he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Aug 7, 2014
- Event Description
Beijing-based Tibetan poet and writer Tsering Woeser said Chinese authorities detained and "intimidated" her during three hours of interrogations on arrival at the airport in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. She said on her Twitter account that security personnel searched through all of her personal belongings and interrogated her after detaining her as she was about to leave the departure gate at Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 11 a.m. local time. "Chinese security personnel stopped me before I left the main departure gate," Woeser said. "They interrogated me and went through my personal belongings in my handbag, taking pictures of my lingerie, medicine, cosmetics, books and DVDs, and even copying all the contents of my computer. They also thoroughly checked my cell phone." Woeser said that airport security had "intimidated" her during the three-hour interrogation. "Last year I had the same problem, but this time the one thing I couldn't tolerate was that they even interrogated my 72-year-old mother yesterday[Aug. 7]," she said. Her mother lives in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Woeser told RFA's Mandarin Service via Skype that it was inconvenient for her to be interviewed because "the authorities told me that they would 'take actions' if they found my conduct during my stay in Lhasa unacceptable." Chinese authorities frequently subject Woeser-an outspoken writer who has criticized Beijing's policies in Tibet-to tight restrictions and surveillance, particularly during visits from western dignitaries to the Chinese capital. Last month, she was placed under house arrest along with her husband at her Beijing home as Chinese officials began a high-profile round of annual talks with a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State John Kerry. She said the move came after she posted on Twitter and Facebook that she had received an invitation from officials at the U.S. Embassy to attend a meeting and banquet. Woeser "has emerged as the most prominent mainland activist speaking out publicly about human rights conditions" for Tibetans, the U.S. State Department said in a statement after she won its "Woman of Courage" award in 2013. Her website Invisible Tibet, together with her poetry and nonfiction and writings on social media have given a voice to millions of Tibetans "who are prevented from expressing themselves to the outside world due to government efforts to curtail the flow of information," the State Department said. Woeser was prevented from leaving China to collect the award in person.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Minority Rights, Right to self-determination
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 18, 2014
- Event Description
The National Peace Council has expressed deep concern over the increasing and continuous surveillance of civil society activities by the Rajapaksa-regime using military and law enforcement authorities in the post-war period. In a media statement issued yesterday, the NPC has noted the escalating surveillance operations - initially widely prevalent in the North and East but now spread to the entire country - includes every aspect of civilian life including weddings, puberty ceremonies, memorial services in addition to seminars and workshops organised by civil society organisations in the North. Underpinning their accusations and concerns, the NPC has pointed out that during the past month, its activities implemented under the inter-religious reconciliation programme have been subjected to surveillance by security forces on three occasions. Among the three incidents where the NPC activities were disturbed by military and police surveillance were: 1) An inter-religious dialog in Kandy - the event had been held inside a private hall of a reputed civil society organization. Despite informing the relevant authorities of the event, intelligence personnel had entered the hall in civvies and had recorded the discussion. 2) An event in Galle -Despite inviting the local Police to attend the event,another Police team had arrived at the premises to investigate the programme 3) A youth Amity camp in Addalaichenai in the East - Although the local police and local government authorities had been informed of the event, uniformed military personnel with weapons had arrived and questioned the organisers of the programme on three separate occasions over a two day period. The NPC has pointed out that two of the incidents occurring outside the former war zones of the North and East indicates surveillance is now being carried out in the entire country. In its statement, the NPC has also pointed out that this type of activity has resulted in the polarization of social relationships and a perpetuation of such conditions of insecurity will contribute to the creation of a lasting social mistrust between communities and jeopardize reconciliation. It has also stressed on the fact that such spying on civilian activities will also lead to the emergence of forces that lack faith in peaceful methods to rectify their grievances as happened in the 70s. "The government needs to recognize that the surveillance of civil society activities by members of security forces strikes fear and resentment in the minds of the people - particularly those of the ethnic and religious minorities that would in turn lead to self-censorship and reluctance to voice their grievances," the statement notes adding if not, the concerns will remain stifled and would continue to fester within the hearts of the people who feel victimized and deprived of justice. Writing furthermore, the NPC has pointed out the breakdown of affection towards the government as a result of the public being intimidated due to spying and surveillance, will turn the reconciliation process harder to achieve. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Amid allegations of NGO attempts to collect evidence to be sent to Geneva, the government has decided to consider a proper regulatory framework to monitor their accountability, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said today. [More...] He said the Government would take a serious view on this matter, though there was no intention of taking punitive action against the NGOs that had attempted to collect evidence to be submitted to the UN investigative panel. The minister said a regulatory system would be put in place to monitor the activities of the NGOs. "It is necessary to look at the quantum of money they receive and how it is used," he said at the Fourth Defence Seminar, which commenced today at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo, organised by the Sri Lanka Army and added that such a regulatory framework existed in South Asian countries "A foreign minister of an Asian country told me that there was an avalanche of foreign funds was received by NGOs when elections are around the corner in his country. Elections are meant for people of a particular country to decide their future. In certain cases, NGOs mention their purpose vaguely. Therefore, it is a matter that warrants consideration. It has been flagged for consideration now," the minister said. However, he said no firm decision had yet been taken on this matter so far. "Our good Samaritans or do-gooders do not live up to our expectations and they simply forget that ours is a tradition-rich society. You can now see how Sri Lankans feel the sense of belongingness as the national anthem rends the air. We will therefore be alert to elements who are intent on doing harm to us with foreign funds, some of which are spent for the sake of so called "capacity-building', etc. Explaining the series of positive and pragmatic measures that have been taken by the government after putting in place local mechanisms with the implementation of social and economic equity projects, enhancing credibility and the trust, being reposed in a society that has been affected continuously for near 30 years was as a result of bloodshed and violence, caused by the LTTE. "It is a matter of profound regret that we look at some foreign powers who are targeting Sri Lanka without learning or seeing what we are today and our involvement and the trajectory for the future, to couple with our social and economic growth. Our critics conveniently say that physical development, alone is not adequate. But they always fail to see reconciliatory moves, set in motion in war-affected areas in correct perspectives," Prof Peiris said. "HE the President took the bold decision with political courage to have elections in the Northern Province after absence of 28 years. That gave the people the chance to use their franchise as they prefer, and now the Northern Provincial Council, like other provincial councils elsewhere, has sufficient authority to deliver to their people. Isn't it a home-spun and home grown process? Those rudiments denigrate the public opinion and their cherished values and traditions," Prof Peiris claimed. "It is the constructing approach that is wanted, instead, what is forthcoming is the disincentive to engage in earnest in domestic process, by application of devolved power. All what they talk is 13th amendment. Other than Police powers, everything has already been devolved and such devolution has to go on," Prof Peiris commented, saying that it is the people who would identify their needs and not the powers that dedicate terms to us." People believe that the hard-won victory in the country should be maintained and should not be allowed to be torpedoed by organizations with vested interests, he added.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Surveillance , Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- May 1, 2014
- Event Description
In recent weeks, well-known Vietnamese activists have found themselves suddenly unable to log in to their Facebook accounts. Their personal pages have been suspended for "abuse" even though there was no apparent violation of any Facebook policy. According to Angelina Trang Huynh, who temporarily lost access to her Facebook account earlier this month, the culprit is the Vietnamese government's online army, known as "opinion shapers" (d? lu?n vi�_n). These opinion shapers used Facebook's "report abuse" system to orchestrate an onslaught of reports that likely led Facebook to suspend the targeted accounts. With 25 million Vietnamese users, Facebook is the social network in the country. Since Facebook took off in Vietnam in 2009, authorities have tried unsuccessfully to restrict its explosive growth and role as a medium for free expression. Early attempts by authorities to block Facebook did not succeed and only encouraged netizens to learn how to circumvent and became versed in civil disobedience. In 2013, 30-year old Dinh Nhat Uy was the first Vietnamese activist known to be arrested for his activities on Facebook. He was convicted for "abusing democratic freedoms" through status updates calling for the release of his younger brother who also used social media to express dissent. Uy's arrest sparked widespread attention but did not temper enthusiasm for using the social network for political discussion and organizing. It appears that Vietnamese authorities have given up on totally blocking Facebook. The country's economy and image depend on authorities maintaining some semblance of an open Internet. However, through "opinion shapers" authorities apparently hope to achieve their goal of stifling free speech. This online army has been blamed for creating an environment of intimidation and harassment, as evidenced by their tidal wave of toxic and profanity-laden comments. By flagging an account en masse, not unlike a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, these government henchmen can quickly trigger the takedown of a Facebook profile or community page with content critical of the Hanoi government. Facebooker Trinh Huu Long posted a list of accounts taken down recently. It reads like a list of who's who in the Vietnamese online activist community: 1. Angelina Trang Huynh - an administrator of Viet Tan page 2. Ba Ngoai Xi Tin - blogger 3. Bach Hong Quyen - human rights activist. Member of the Vietnam Path Movement 4. Ch�_ T?u - blogger, writer. Real name is Nguyen Xuan Dien 5. C�_ G��i ?? Long - blogger, journalist. Real name is Le Nguyen Huong Tra 6. ?inh Nh?t Uy - former prisoner of conscience, currently serving a suspended sentence for a conviction under Article 258 of Vietnam's Penal Code for postings on Facebook objecting to the government's unfair treatment of his brother, ?inh Nguy�_n Kha, another prisoner of conscience. Mr. ?inh Nh?t Uy was the first person ever to be convicted criminally for postings on Facebook. 7. ?? Trung Qu��n - writer, poet 8. Doan Trang 9. H?i Ph? N? Nh��n Quy?n - a community organization page 10. JB Nguyen Huu Vinh - blogger 11. Lacgiua Saigon - blogger 12. Lan Tuong Thuy - blogger 13. L�_ ?? VN 14. Ng��n An - blogger 15. Nguyen L��n Th?ng - blogger 16. Nguyen Tien Trung - former prisoner of conscience, recently released on April 12, 2014 17. Nguyen Tuong Thuy - blogger 18. Nh?t K�_ Y�_u N??c - a news/media page 19. Pham Thanh Nghien - blogger, former prisoner of conscience 20. Qu�_ Choa - blogger, writer. Real name is Nguyen Quang Lap 21. T?p h?p D��n Ch? ?a Nguy�_n - a community organization page 22. Thuy Nga - blogger, human rights activist 23. Trinity Hong Thuan - an administrator of Viet Tan page 24. Vi?t T��n or Viet Tan - community organization page Expect Vietnamese netizens to strike back, says Angelina Trang Huynh: Offline, the authorities wield security police to physically abuse peaceful activists. Online, they use "opinion shapers' to silence bloggers. Does the Vietnamese government really think they can get away with this abuse?
- Impact of Event
- 24
- Violation
- Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 15, 2014
- Event Description
On 15th July 2014, morning the employees, security guard and vehicles of DB Power Company entered Bwayeb Colony. When villagers queried why the company personnel were entering the village when there was a stay on them by the National Green Tribunal, they did not respond. Subsequently a group of villagers opposed their entry into the village. Mr. S. Sajal Kumar was not present there at that time, but the security guard lodged a false complaint against Mr. S. Sajal Kumar in the local police station the next day i.e. on 16th July. The local police are investigating the matter and Mr. S. Sajal Kumar is being threatened by the company goons and the police because which he has been forced to be away from his house. Background In the year 2007, DB Power Ltd. got an approval from the state government for an open cast mining of coal in village Dharamjaigarh in Raigad district of Chattisgarh. It has been allowed about 540 HC of land. The major area to be acquired is from village Dharamjaigarh. Around four villages nearby will also be impacted by the project. Concerned about the displacement of the villagers concerned and the environmental impact, the villagers formed a common platform to resist, named "BHUMI BACHAAO SANGARSH SAMITI" in 2007. There are about 1000 members and Mr. M. Mangalchand Biswas aged about 75 years and residing at Gram Panchyat, Bwayeb Colony Dharamjaigarh is the president of the forum. Mr. S. Sajal kumar has been one of the active members of the forum since its inception. The company employees have filed about four false cases against Mr. S.Sajal Kumar in the local police station. Mr. S. Sajal Kumar aged about 36 years, S/O Atul Chandra Madhu is a resident of Bwayeb Colony, Dharmajaigarh in the Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh. Sajal Kumar is an active member of the Bhoomi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, a platform resisting DB Power Company's land acquisition in the area for a coal mine and the environmental impacts that it will cause. He is the Petitioner against the said Company in a case with the National Green Tribunal.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jul 6, 2014
- Event Description
On the 7th of July, 2014 Raj Kumar Singh and his friend Vijay Shankar were going to the district headquarters from his village Bagali Pizara in an auto rickshaw. His village is situated at a distance of 6 KM from Mau town. When they reached a place called Rahjania, around 2 Km from their village, their auto was stopped by 5 people. The assailants dragged Raj Kumar Singh out of the auto and assaulted him brutally. It appears that it was a premeditated act aimed to put his life and liberty in danger. He was stabbed many times which caused serious body injuries. His legs were broken with a hammer. Raj Kumar Singh was admitted in district hospital for treatment. He sustained fracture in his leg because of an attack made by a knife. Raj Kumar Singh identified 2 assailants but could not recognize other 3 assailants. One of the identified assailants Mr. Amit Kumar Singh is a proclaimed criminal of the area. Background Raj Kumar Singh has filed at least 10 RTI queries against the present Village Panchayat Head who is a woman. Although she is the head, Panchayat affairs are controlled by her husband and other family members who are said to possess strong political clout. He has exposed discrepancies in the use of funds by the village Panchayat Head and other corrupt practices. On the basis of Raj Kumar Singh's queries the district administration has ordered to recover funds to the tune of Rs. 13 Lakh from the Panchayat Head. Raj Kumar Singh filed an FIR against the Panchayat Head in 2011 also. Since then attempts are being made to threaten him. It is apparent that Raj Kumar Singh is being targeted for his activities related to unravelling illegal practices in the use of public funds. Raj Kumar Singh is still facing threat to his life and is especially concerned about the safety of his family members. He has two adult sons.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Sep 18, 2014
- Event Description
The military and police on Thursday evening detained four academics and three student activists for organizing and participating in a seminar about the end of dictatorial regimes in foreign countries after forcing the seminar to be stopped. They were released about 9.30pm. The seminar was a part of the political seminar series "Democracy Classroom", organized by League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD), a progressive Thammasat student group. The seminar featured four academics, Nidhi Eoseewong, Prajak Kongkirati, Chaowarit Chaowsangrat, Janjira Sombutpoonsiri. It was held at Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus. After about 30 minutes into the seminar the police came in, detained all of them and brought them to Klong Luang police station. "Today we have to close the classroom now, not because that I don''t want to teach, but as long as we can not make the university the place where ideas can be exchanged, Thai society will have no future," Prajak Kongkirati told the participants before leaving the "classroom.' Before the event was held, the military asked the university to force the students to cancel the event. The university then locked the room earlier assigned for the seminar. The students, however, continued with their plan and held the event at the hall on the first floor of a university building instead. "Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha once told representatives of foreign businessmen that he is not a dictator," posted Piyabutra Saengkanokkul, Thammasat law lecturer and member of the courageous Nitirat law academic group, on his Facebook account on Thursday evening. "The NCPO has never admit it is a dictator. Today's seminar talks about dictators overseas. Why the army and authorities need to be so scared?" This is not the first time that the military tried to stop a seminar at Thammasat. On 8 August, the Thai military 'asked for cooperation' from Thammasat to stop an academic seminar on the interim charter, held by the same group of student activists; however, the university and the event organizers defied the military. A letter, signed by Col Noppadon Tawrit, Commander of the Kings Guard's 1st Field Artillery Regiment, to the university rector, states "the seminar may affect the attempts to solve national conflict", so the university should stop the event in order "to prevent the resurgence of differences in political attitude." Before the event started, there were negotiations between the event organizer, representatives of the university and the police. The resolution of the meeting was that the university would not stop the event and that the student group could hold the event at their own risk. Source: Prachatai (Prachatai
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jul 30, 2014
- Event Description
Authorities in Vietnam on Wednesday prevented several dissident bloggers and activists from attending a social media conference held at the Australian Embassy in the capital Hanoi, according to a former prisoner who was among those blocked. The Australian Foreign Ministry had invited an equal number of civil society and government representatives to attend Wednesday's seminar on "Modern Non-State Media in Vietnam"-the first by Australia to include participants from both sides, said Nguyen Van Dai, of the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience group. "Recently, the Australian Embassy sent out many invitations, including to Pham Ba Hai from the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience as well as to three members of the Brotherhood for Democracy," said Dai, who is also the founder of the Brotherhood. "Pham Ba Hai was prevented from attending. The Brotherhood for Democracy had two members blocked from attending, and only one person was able to go," he told RFA's Vietnamese Service. Dai said that the two members of The Brotherhood for Democracy who were prevented by authorities from attending the seminar were students Nguyen Van Trang and Ta Minh Thu. "Yesterday morning, a group of three to five security officers entered[Trang's] dorm room and monitored him. During the middle of the night, they pressured the landlord to kick him out. Without a place to stay, he had to return ... to his hometown[in Thanh Hoa province]," he said. "Also yesterday, security officers approached[Ta Minh Thu's] family and asked her parents to make her stay at home during the seminar." According to media reports, in addition to the members of the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience and The Brotherhood for Democracy, representatives from other civil societies were also prevented from attending. The reports said Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as Me Nam, and part of the network of Vietnamese Bloggers, was blocked by police, while Nguyen Thi Nga and Huynh Phuoc Ngoc from Vietnamese Women for Human Rights were surrounded by security forces at the Truc Son motel in Hanoi and prevented from leaving. According to Dai, the seminar, which was sponsored and organized by foreign diplomatic agencies, was created through funds annually put aside by the Australian government to improve the standards of law and human rights in Vietnam. He said that setting up seminars and study trips which include both government and civil society representatives had been part of his recommendations to Australia's Foreign Ministry when approached "some time ago" for suggestions on how to appropriate the budget. Activists targeted Dai said that Wednesday's seminar was not the first event organized by a foreign agency or international organization in which invited members of Vietnam's civil society groups were prevented from attending. "Just yesterday, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief planned to visit the wife of[jailed] Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh in Gia Lai, but Gia Lai officials did not allow him to visit her home," he said. Chinh, who is also an activist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2012 for "undermining unity" by maintaining ties with dissident groups and distributing material deemed to have "slandered" government authorities. According to Dai, the Vietnamese government still maintains ties with international organizations while persecuting local activists because "the nature of Communism ... is monopoly on power." "[The authorities] stop everything and anything that they cannot oversee and manage," he said. "Civil societies exist because Vietnamese citizens see an indispensable need, so they volunteer. This lies outside the government's scope of inspection and control so the regime does not want them." He said the authorities in Vietnam also fear that civil societies will form strong bonds with international organizations, which could give them the ability to influence the country's people. "According to the nature of the Communist Party, they would never want that. Therefore, they find every way possible to prevent[foreign] influence or prevent civil societies from participating in both international and local events." Developing civil society Dai said that government methods to block civil society groups from participating in events like Wednesday's seminar are gradually losing their effectiveness because improving technologies allow people greater access to information. "The people of Vietnam and civil societies can, in one way or another, still have access to such knowledge. And they can interact and communicate with representatives of foreign governments or international organizations through social media or the Internet," he said. "To me, these blockages are becoming less and less effective every day, and at some point the government must also become aware of this and abandon these methods." Dai added that civil society groups are increasingly learning how to harness technology to promote their own information about democracy and human rights in Vietnam. "This is a revolution changing ideology and knowledge. At the same time, links are being created via websites. Originally, individuals raised their voices for action in isolation, but gradually they formed groups and organizations," Dai said. "When you have many groups and organizations,[a movement] can create the potential to spread across society, forming larger groups, larger organizations, and even forming alliances. Only when we achieve this higher level can we create change in society," he said. "Civil societies and movements have yet to meet people's expectations. But I have hope that in the days to come, they will take steps to develop faster and more powerfully to provide for a better Vietnam."
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Internet freedom, Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jul 25, 2014
- Event Description
Seven journalists attached to Tamil newspapers in the Northern province had been detained last night and questioned for over six hours by the law enforcement authorities sabotaging a workshop they were planning to attend in Colombo today, under charges of possessing marijuana. The journalists had been en-route to Colombo to participate in a workshop last night. Tamil politician Gajendra Ponnambalam who has been tweeting on the incident claims the van had been tailed by the military since the group left Jaffna. According to his tweets the vehicle had been initially stopped at Mankulam and searched by the Army. Thereafter the second stop had been made at the Omanthai checkpoint where three Army personnel had placed in the front seat of the van, which had been searched thereafter. During the search, a packet of marijuana had been recovered from the van. Ponnambalam's tweets state that at least three journalists had witnessed the bag of cannabis being placed in the front seat of the van by the Army personnel. The group had thereafter been taken to the Omanthai Police where they were questioned for over six hours. The journalists also state that although they attempted to lodge a complaint concerning their suspicions over the planting of evidence, the Omanthai Police did not accept it. Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya commenting on the incident claims the checking was carried out after the officials at the Omanthai checkpoint received a tip on a possible transportation of heroin last night. "About ten minutes later, this vehicle in question had approached the checkpoint and it had been stopped to be checked during which, a packet of marijuana had been recovered. The driver and the van has been detained but the other seven passengers have been released. It is unfortunate that they had to be journalists," he said speaking at a media conference today. He also rejected allegations of an Army official stationed at the check point planting the evidence and said it could not have happened since it was two Police officials who discovered the marijuana packet from the van. Meanwhile, during a media conference organized by the Free Media Movement (FMM) today to raise objections over the harassment of the seven journalists, it was revealed that its Convener Sunil Jayasekara has been receiving death threats for holding the event. "I received a call from an unknown number, which I could not dial back - and the individual on the other end said he will not let me live if I hold this press conference today," he said adding that democracy and civil rights in Sri Lanka have been severely threatened presently and accused the Rajapaksa regime of attempting to turn journalists into puppets under their control.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Aug 27, 2014
- Event Description
Civil society and human rights groups have strongly criticized National Police chief Gen. Sutarman for stating that the force will continue to investigate a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), a state-sanctioned watchdog, for speaking out in a TV interview about rampant corruption in the police. Sutarman's target was Adrianus Meliala, also a professor of criminology at the University of Indonesia (UI). Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) chairman Neta S. Pane said on Wednesday that the legal battle against Adrianus reflected the police's reluctance to accept criticism and begin the long-stalled process of bureaucratic reform within the institution. "There are scores of corruption cases implicating rank-and-file officers up to police generals, yet the force appears to keep those from public scrutiny and does not bring corrupt officers to justice," Neta said during a meeting at Kompolnas in Jakarta. Adrianus, a former journalist, is under investigation for allegedly defaming the force in a recent interview on Metro TV, in which he said that criminal investigation divisions at the regional police level were often exploited like "automatic teller machines" by the police's top brass to enrich themselves. The statement was made in response to the arrest of four West Java Police officers, who were caught red-handed tampering with an online gambling investigation and accepting over Rp 5 billion (US$425,894) in bribes. Adrianus declined to withdraw his statement and insisted it was based on numerous public complaints and reports from police officers received by Kompolnas. Sutarman said the intention of investigating a promiment professor of criminology due to the latter's comments remained intact. Sutarman said Adrianus should be held responsible for his words, despite Adrianus speaking out in his capacity as the member of Kompolnas. "I will always accept criticism based on facts, but we cannot accept them if they are some sort of analytical view. Even my seniors - former National Police chiefs - feel these analyses are unacceptable," he said. IPW's Neta said there were several unresolved cases, including an alleged bribery case implicating Jakarta Police Traffic Corps director Sr. Comr. Nurhadi Yuwono and East Java Police Traffic Director Sr. Comr. Rahmat Hidayat. However, despite possessing strong evidence, the National Police have not launched an investigation into the allegations. In May, Nurhadi, Rahmat and several of their subordinates were removed from their posts for allegedly accepting hundreds of millions of rupiah in kickbacks from agencies arranging driver's licenses and vehicle registration documents. The National Police have also been accused of dragging their feet in investigating a civil servant in Batam municipality, Riau Islands. The individual had a questionable bank balance of Rp 1.3 trillion and was allegedly linked to the fuel-smuggling business. Ray Rangkuti of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle said the investigation into Adrianus gave the impression that the National Police were belittling Kompolnas, which was tasked with supervising the police's performance. "Adrianus' summons may be the police's way of showing that they can treat Kompolnas as their little brother or subordinate," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Oct 22, 2014
- Event Description
The military harassed Boonyuen Siritum, consumer rights and energy reform activist, and former senator at her house in a bid to suppress rallies on energy reform. Eight military officers on Wednesday morning raided the house of the former central Samut Songkram elected-senator and accused her of inciting people to stage rallies and being unusually rich. The officers searched the house in Samut Songkhram's Muang District without warrant, claiming that they can search any house under the martial law. Boonyuen was not home when the military arrived. On the same day, Kamolpan Cheewapansri, another energy reform activist led a rally to the Government House, to protest against an unconfirmed report that the government plans to grant renew a petroleum concession. Boonyuen said the military mistook her for being responsible for the rally and insisted that she was not involved with the rally.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 10, 2014
- Event Description
An AIDS researcher, Wang Qiuyan, was prevented from attending a women's rights conference put on by the United Nations, when authorities forcibly registered her at a hospital. Jess Macy Yu reports for the New York Times: Wang Qiuyun, 46, a member of the Women's Network Against H.I.V./AIDS China, was to have consulted Thursday with experts reviewing China's case before the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In an interview on Wednesday, she said she was currently under close surveillance at her home in Hebi, Henan Province, after local officials took away her passport with her newly issued Swiss visa on Oct. 10. On that same day, she was driven to the Hebi City Infectious Disease Hospital by six officials, registered as a patient and told to notify the conference that she was "too sick to attend." That night, she said she was able to quietly escape the hospital. Ms. Wang, formerly director of women's services with the Henan Province Family Planning and Medical Station, has in recent years devoted her time to the Women's Network Against H.I.V./AIDS China, an organization founded in 2009 with the support of Unaids, the United Nations agency dealing with AIDS, to help Chinese women with H.I.V. improve the quality of their life.[Source] Simon Denyers at the Washington Post looks at Wang's work and the possible reasons for her travel ban. Wang herself contracted HIV, most likely during an operation when Henan was the center of an HIV epidemic in the 1990s: "I don't know why this happened," Wang said in a telephone interview. "I've explained to the police and other officials many times that I was just going to talk about helping women with AIDS, and about children who suffer discrimination because of their parents' HIV status." The report she was due to present, on behalf of the nongovernmental group Women's Network Against HIV/AIDS China (WNAC), concludes that the HIV epidemic among women in China is on the rise, partly because of a lack of awareness and low condom use among sex workers. It also argues that women face "serious discrimination and humiliation" in health care, employment and education, and that strong laws against prostitution - including police regulations that equate condom possession with prostitution - were discouraging sex workers from carrying condoms.[Source]
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 17, 2014
- Event Description
A radical group has threatened to use force to close down a seminar on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) issues organized by Sanata Dharma University's School of Psychology. "We have requested the seminar be cancelled. If not, we will cancel it by force," Muhammad Fuad, leader of the Ka'abah Defender Movement, one of the elements grouped under the Islamic Society Forum (FUI), said on Wednesday. He said he was worried that so-called academic freedom had been hijacked by some groups of people who wanted to inject the society with discourses on LGBT issues. He said the LGBT orientations should be viewed like a spreading disease that could harm Islamic values and the morals of society. Sanata Dharma rector Johanes Eka Priyatma said he had been made aware of the threat, saying that the university would reconsider and cancel the seminar if it turned out that the seminar's theme would hurt the feelings of some groups in town. "We always have the option to cancel the seminar if we find out that it could hurt the feelings of some groups," Johanes said on Wednesday. However, he argued that the sole reason behind organizing this seminar was to provide a stage upon which to discuss LGBT issues from an academic perspective. LBGT activist Renate Arisugiwa acknowledged his disappointment at the threat, saying that it wasn't necessary as they would gather and discuss about topics like the rights of LGBT people who are often neglected in daily life. "We want to discuss problems that are often being experienced by LGBT people," he said. He also criticized the view that the LGBT orientations should be viewed as diseases, citing that the World Health Organization had not categorized them as diseases since the 1990s and Indonesia had ratified the same policy in 1993. The director of the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Yogyakarta branch, Samsuddin Nurseha, said the police should react to the threats by providing protection for both the seminar and its participants. Sleman Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ihsan Amin had refused to comment on this matter, giving as a reason that he was in the middle of a meeting. (dic) Source: Jakarta Post (The Jakarta Post
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Freedom of assembly
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 1, 2014
- Event Description
According to sources, On 1 September 2014, officials of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two social activists, Arun Bhelake and Kanchan Nanavare, as suspected naxalites in Pune. They were given third degree treatment and made to issue a statement. This statement was used by ATS to implicate other progressive social activists in this alleged arrest case. Then the Bharatiya Republican Paksha Bahujan Mahasangha's Govandi Corporator Mr. Arun Kamble, Republican Panther's Jaatiant Movement's State President Sharad Gaikwad, Rahul Seva Mandal's President Shankar Patil, Kabir Kalamach's Rupali Jadhav from Pune and mass movement's key members from Pune were summoned to the ATS office in Pune for "enquiry". They were made to sit at the office for the entire day after which their statements were recorded. They were called to the ATS office multiple times for interrogation and the same questions were repeated a number of times. While a person is expected to cooperate with the authorities for an enquiry for a legitimate case, ordering them to come to Pune every now and then, under the pretext of enquiry and making them confess as per incorrect statements under coercion is mental harassment. These activists were asked to disclose name, address and contact details of other members from the above mentioned organisations. Some are persons whose names are not even remotely connected with this case and do not have any summons been issued or pending against them. This act of ATS is clearly an attempt to intimidate the members of these organisations and members of civil society. On the 28th of September, the police entered Dalit human rights defender Sudhir Dhawale's Govandi residence and conducted a search without any warrant or summons after which they interrogated him.[Earlier on 15 May 2014, after 40 months, Gondia Session Court had acquitted Sudhir Dhawale. He was falsely booked for waging war against the state under section 121 of the Indian Penal Code and charged with sedition (Sec 124) and booked under Sections 17, 20 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). However, the police continue to harass him]. The police bundled him into a van and escorted him to Deonar police station where they confiscated his mobile phone after which Dhawale was made to give a written statement.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Minority Rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2014
- Event Description
Activist Ali Abd Jalil was today rearrested by police to facilitate sedition investigations shortly after posting bail at the Shah Alam court complex. Police did not specify the reason for Ali's rearrest other than to say he was being sent to Johor to facilitate investigations. Ali's lawyer, New Sin Yew, said there was no need for police to rearrest his client, who had posted RM8,000 bail, if it was for sedition investigations. "If he is being accused of posting seditious messages on Facebook, I do not know why he is being taken to Johor. "He is based here, it is a form of harassment," New said outside the courtroom today. Ali had arrived at the courthouse today at 3pm where, accompanied by New and the police, he posted bail. However, immediately after paying the RM8,000 bail, New told reporters that his client had been rearrested and was being sent to Johor. "Police have not specified why Ali was being sent to Johor when his Facebook comments had been posted in Kuala Lumpur," New said. As he was leaving the court complex, Ali spoke with about 20 activists and supporters who had gathered outside the main entrance. "The people must rise up, the people are the kings," Ali said to cheers and applause. Earlier today, The Malaysian Insider reported that Ali, who had been held at the Sungai Buloh prison on remand after being charged with sedition, had alleged that he was assaulted by a prison official. The incident reportedly occurred on the first night of his detention on September 8. The Malaysian Insider has been made to understand that a police report was lodged by his elder brother at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station on Saturday. Ali had earlier informed his family about the beatings when they visited him at the Sungai Buloh prison. He was first brought to the prison on September 8 and claimed that he was beaten by a prison officer who spoke with an east coast accent. The officer allegedly punched, slapped and hit Ali using a baton and a rubber pipe in an empty room. Ali, however, said the beatings did not leave any marks or injuries on the body. He was also not able to tell anyone of this as he was not allowed to meet anyone before Friday, when he met New. Ali, who was charged with sedition on September 8 over his Facebook postings in January, said another warden had threatened to get the other prisoners to beat him up. Ali, who is with the Anything But Umno (ABU) movement, is accused of posting seditious remarks on a Facebook page called "Kapitalis Bangsat" through three separate comments, allegedly belittling the Johor sultanate and calling for it to be abolished. - September 23, 2014.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Oct 25, 2014
- Event Description
Sri Lanka's anti-terrorism police on Saturday 25th October arrested a 58-year old Tamil man in Kilinochchi for allegedly distributing forms meant to be circulated among the witnesses of the ongoing war crime probe by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Sri Lankan police has claimed that the Terrorists Investigation Department (TID) personnel on Saturday "has arrested Chinniah Krishnarajah at Mulankavil in Kilinochchi while he was distributing UNHRC witness forms". The police has also claimed to have recovered from Krishnarajah a set of UNHRC witness forms and other materials that were to be submitted to the UNHRC. According to sources, he has now been brought to the TID headquarters in Colombo for further investigation and is likely to be sent to the notorious Boosa detention camp in the South under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) laws . Several hundreds of Tamil men and women have been held indefinitely in Sri Lanka's prisons without any charges under the provisions of PTA. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not only refused to cooperate with the OHCHR inquiry, but has threatened to take action against those cooperating with the investigation, resulting in fear amongst the war-hit Tamil people. Leading human rights activists, however, have urged the survivors of the bloody war "to quietly and discretely have their evidence sent across" before it expires at the end of this month. The High Commissioner for Human Rights who presented an oral update during the September session of the Human Rights Council on the progress of the probe, will present the final report to the council's March 2015 session.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Censorship, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Access to justice
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 2, 2014
- Event Description
The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong took an ugly turn with women protesters alleging sexual assaults by men opposing the Occupy Central movement. A woman protester has alleged that she and other female pro-democracy activists were sexually assaulted by a man opposing the Occupy movement and police did nothing about it. A video uploaded on the website of the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post showed an older man in a white polo shirt violently groping a young woman while arguing with her. A woman identified as Christine was quoted by the Post as saying that she was standing as part of a human chain when the man lying on the ground sexually assaulted the girl. "I felt very, very scared, insulted and threatened," she was quoted as saying by the Post. "I yelled, That guy has assaulted me. The police were there but they didnt really do anything," she said. Other people at the scene had shouted at the man to move, but he refused to leave the women alone, she added. "I wasn't scared of the tear gas but I was scared of this. It was non-violent but it was more violent," she said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence
- Rights Concerned
- Women's rights
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 10, 2014
- Event Description
Ms. Soni Sori, presently a member of the Aam Admi Party has been a human rights defender who has questioning the arbitrary practices of the state. She is an Adivasi school teacher turned political leader in Sameli village of Dantewada in south Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India. She was arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch for Chhattisgarh Police in 2011 on charges of acting as a conduit for Maoists. During her imprisonment, she was allegedly tortured and sexually assaulted by Chhattisgarh state police. By April 2013, the Courts had acquitted her in six of the eight cases filed against her due to lack of evidence. After her release from Jail on Bail in 2014, Soni joined Aam Aadmi Party. Since her return to Chhattisgarh, Soni has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the people. She has not shied from questioning the veracity of alleged encounters of the police, surrenders and the casual attitude of the police in the case of human trafficking. Due to this she has been subject to harassment and constant warnings to stop questioning the police and threatened with dire consequences if she continues. According to sources, on 10th October 2014, a crew from a German television channel based out of Delhi, comprising of one German national and four Indians, had come to interview Soni to document her struggles with a special focus on the custodial torture she was subjected to while imprisoned. Soni took them to her village at Palnar where they met the police station in-charge and even had a small conversation with him wherein the members of the team were introduced. After the completion of the interview the team left for Jagdalpur and Soni went to her home in Geedam. During the period of the interview one of her colleagues at the Aam Admi Party kept receiving phone calls from the local police enquiring about the whereabouts of Soni. In the evening around 8:30 PM, one woman and several men in plain clothes barged uninvited into the house of Soni Sori and started grilling her regarding the identity of the video team. It is pertinent to note that Soni's household is an all-woman household along with three of her children the eldest of whom is only 13 and the youngest is just 8. While Soni did not recognize all of them she did recognize a few of them as members of the local police of Geedam. Some of the members kept questioning Soni, few of the others barged into the other rooms including the bathroom and started searching and looking around. Despite Soni's demands asking them to leave her house they continued with the questioning. Furthermore, these persons refused to answer all questions of Soni regarding their identity, but continued their questions regarding the crew. The team then went on to state that Soni should have immediately informed the police regarding the coming of the team and in future she should inform them about any people visiting her and provide details regarding the purpose of the visit. By the time the team left, Soni's family was quite shaken up, especially her children, as they had thought that the team had come to once again arrest Soni and put her in jail. Previously also Soni was subjected to a barrage of questions when a couple of filmmakers had come to document her election story. After this incident Soni filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police regarding the harassment and illegal intrusion by the police into her place of residence at night. The Superintendent assured to take action on the case. However, the very next day to the filing of the complaint, a local newspaper carried a report claiming that "a foreign national' had come to Bastar to meet the local leaders of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and went on to imply that Soni Sori had assisted in organizing these meetings. The report also questioned the identity of the German National as a journalist by referring to him as an "alleged journalist.' All these allegations are completely baseless and a grave violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Constitution. No one from the team either met any members of the CPI (Maoist) or even intended to meet any Maoist. All the journalists are from "ARD First German TV' and their names including that of the German National Gabor Halasz are included in the list of journalists accredited by PIB (Press Information Bureau). The journalists including Mr Gabor after completing their interview with Soni Sori left for Raipur and did not meet anyone in the forest. Moreover, at no point did the team evade the local police. In Raipur the team met Additional Director General of Naxal Operations R.K.Vij on 11th October and informed him of the purpose of their meeting with Soni Sori and the reasons for it. There is no requirement in Soni Sori's bail condition that she has to provide immediate information to the police about any people who come to meet her. Such demands are arbitrary and in complete violation of her fundamental rights. Furthermore, by hindering the media and placing unreasonable obstructions on the freedoms of the press, which is of extreme importance in a conflict zone, the avenues to seek justice for Human Rights Defenders like Soni Sori become even more limited.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to self-determination
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 3, 2014
- Event Description
Tibetan businessman Pasang Wangchuk has been taken into custody by authorities in China's western province of Sichuan after launching a solitary protest challenging Beijing's rule in Tibetan areas, according to sources. He staged his protest on October 3rd in the downtown area of the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) county seat in Kardze prefecture, a Tibetan living in India told RFA's Tibetan Service, citing sources in Kardze. "He called out for the return of[exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama to Tibet," RFA's source said. During his solo protest Wangchuk also carried a banner bearing slogans calling for the Dalai Lama's long life and for human rights and religious freedom in Tibet, the source said. "He was able to protest for about ten minutes before he was overpowered by police and taken away," he said. No further details were immediately available regarding Wangchuk's condition or where he was taken. Reached by RFA for comment, an officer at the Kardze county police office angrily hung up the phone. UPDATE 3rd November 2014: Pasang Wangchuk, 37, a businessman and father of three, detained in China's Sichuan province last month for launching a solitary protest challenging Beijing's rule in Tibetan areas has been freed after being interrogated over slogans he wrote on his protest banner, Tibetan sources said. He was taken into custody on Oct. 3 as he protested in the downtown area of the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) county seat in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, calling out for human rights and religious freedom in Tibet, sources said. "He was released around 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 3," a Tibetan living in Nepal told RFA's Tibetan Service on Friday, citing local sources. "I could not speak to him directly, but it is confirmed that he has been released," the source said, adding that his contacts could not say whether Wangchuk had been beaten or tortured during the month he spent in jail-a punishment most detained Tibetan protesters say they undergo. "It is also unclear why he was freed," the source continued, speaking on condition of anonymity. During his solo protest, Wangchuk-who is also known as Ngodru-carried a banner bearing slogans calling for the long life of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and shouted slogans calling for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet, sources had said. "We have now learned that he also wrote slogans on his banner urging Tibetans to "remember our heroic patriots' and calling for a peaceful dialogue to resolve the question of Tibet," RFA's source said on Friday. "During his detention, he was questioned mainly about these writings on his banner," he said. Wangchuk's release has fueled various speculations. "Some say that he was released because of "improving conditions' in the area, while others say that he was freed because he is a well-known businessman with good connections," the source said. "Others are saying that some of his close business associates paid for his release," he said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Oct 8, 2014
- Event Description
G Thevaraja, a human rights defender from Vavuniya, was assaulted by an unidentified gang on October 8th while Sri Lanka's human rights record was being reviewed at the UN Human Rights Committee. Thevaraja was attacked hours after he concluded a discussion with members of the Vavuniya citizens committee on a protest they were planning to stage on Friday 10th October urging the authorities to free detained human rights defender Balendran Jayakumari. He was attacked by four people and was heavily assaulted by iron rods. According to reports, the attackers threatened to kill him if he went on to stage the protest. Thevaraja has been admitted to hospital to receive further treatments.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Sep 4, 2019
- Event Description
The last time Musa Mahmodi saw his friend alive, the young human rights defender said he knew his life was at risk. It was August in Kabul, and Abdul Samad Amiri, 28, had recently traveled the 10 hours east to the capital from his home province of Ghowr, where persistent threats from the Taliban and local militias had created an increasingly volatile environment. “The Taliban was everywhere there, and I was so scared,” Mahmodi, Amiri’s former boss at Afghanistan’s governmental Independent Human Rights Commission, recalled Amiri saying about his journey. Weeks later, on the same road, Amiri was found shot dead, according to Wardak province police spokesman Hekmatullah Durani. The Taliban has not commented publicly on the attack, but Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday that the militants were responsible for his killing and that it amounted to “a crime against humanity.” Amiri’s violent death last week came amid a spike in Taliban violence in the days after the top U.S. negotiator in peace talks with the group said the two sides had reached an agreement “in principle.” On Saturday evening, President Trump unexpectedly called off the talks, saying in a tweet he had canceled plans to “secretly meet” with Ghani and Taliban leaders at Camp David on Sunday over concerns of escalating violence, including a bombing that killed a U.S. service member in Kabul on Thursday. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted on Sunday that an agreement between U.S. and Taliban officials had been “finalized” in recent days and the Qatari government planned to announce it, seeming to contradict Trump’s claims. “President Trump’s tweets have been unbelievable and certainly damaged his credibility,” he wrote. In recent days, Afghan officials and civilians have expressed concerns that a U.S. deal with the Taliban that excluded the Afghan government would fail to protect civilians and security forces in the event of a U.S. troop drawdown. Amiri’s killing left his community in Afghanistan reeling over the loss of someone they said was a devoted family man and an energetic, selfless advocate for justice — someone who represented the best of what his generation had to offer. As acting head of the commission’s office in Ghowr, Amiri was aware of the risks his work posed. The commission promotes women’s rights and religious freedoms, and training defense forces and religious scholars in human rights. He had worked extensively on reports about civilian killings in his home region and was responsible for looking into incidents suspected to be perpetrated by the Taliban. That work made him a target of the militant group, which governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and has been fighting the Afghan government and allied forces ever since. The Taliban’s rule was marked by a repressive interpretation of Islamic law that restricted the rights of women and minorities. Four members of the commission for which Amiri worked have been killed in recent years, including a former head of the same office in Ghowr. And just last week, Amnesty International reported that human rights defenders in Afghanistan are “under intensifying attacks from both the authorities and armed groups.” “This is one of the most dangerous moments to be a human rights activist in Afghanistan,” Amnesty International’s deputy South Asia director, Omar Waraich, said in a statement at the time, pointing to others who had been targeted for their work. After Amiri’s death, Amnesty said his killing was “a war crime.” Amiri had recently considered moving to the United States, Mahmodi said, but had changed his mind, compelled to instead continue his investigations in Ghowr and support his sisters’ dreams of graduating from university. In a phone call from India, where she is studying for a master’s degree, his younger sister Atifa said that she was in shock from the news of his death. Boys’ education is often prioritized over that of girls in Afghanistan. But Amiri helped her with chores so she could take college prep courses, she said, then supported her when she decided to pursue further education abroad. “He was not only a brother, he was a friend and supporter,” she said. “I can’t be happy anymore. I am hopeless.” He was recently married, and his wife had just given birth to a baby girl. In a photo his sister shared on social media, he cradles his daughter close to his face, beaming with pride.
Amiri’s killing and a spate of attacks in Kabul in recent days have left civilians here on edge. Last week, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a Kabul compound housing foreigners that left 16 people, mainly Afghan civilians, dead. On Thursday, the group bombed a busy traffic circle in the capital, killing 10 Afghan civilians and two NATO troops, including an American. Amiri belonged to the minority Hazara ethnic group, a frequent target of Taliban attacks, making him an even more likely mark. In Kabul, members of the Hazara community, most of whom practice Shiite Islam, are bracing for an upcoming holiday, fearing mosques and public gatherings could be targeted. Mahmodi said that as an impartial human rights investigator, Amiri would often attend to the immediate aftermath of serious crimes, risking his own life to ensure justice for the victims. “He was the first to send a report and call an investigator and say, okay, this happened,” Mahmodi said. And he took notice of worrying incidents that others often overlooked — launching, for example, an investigation into an increase in women’s suicides in his province. “His investigations were thorough, his work was very good quality, his reports were credible,” Mahmodi said. “Everything he was doing was very good, and he was also so personally dedicated.” An ardent reader and excellent student, Amiri earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Kabul University before pursuing a career in human rights advocacy, said Khodayar Naiebzada, a childhood friend. In his hometown, Naiebzada said, “the people were proud of him and counted on him.” In a Facebook post last week, Amiri shared a photo of himself standing on a mountaintop in Ghowr. In the caption below, he reflected on how much he’d grown in the seven years since he graduated from university. Through his work and travels, he said, he had gained a better understanding of “the trauma of 40 years of war.” “I believe that we have obligations to our mother country, and whatever I do for my country, though insufficient to what I owe, makes me happy,” he wrote. “Despite the difficulties, I owe my life to this land and will work for its betterment so long as I live.” He was killed shortly after.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Freedom of religion/belief activist, Minority rights defender, NHRI/ NHRI staff
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2019
- Event Description
A Kashmiri photojournalist was hit by pellets and three other scribes were injured when personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police allegedly attacked them as they covered a Muharram procession in Srinagar’s Hasanabad area Saturday.
The journalists told ThePrint that police used batons to disperse them and chased after them when they attempted to leave the area. They were caught and beaten with lathis, they added.
The camera of a fifth journalist was allegedly broken by J&K Police personnel in their efforts to stop the coverage of the procession.
The incident took place around 2 pm at the Hasanabad locality of Rainawari area, which has a predominantly Shia population. The photojournalists were in the locality to cover a religious procession on the seventh day of the Islamic month of Muharram.
Shia Muslims commemorate the tragedy of Karbala during the first 10 days of Muharram, where they believe the grandson of Prophet Muhammad was killed along with his companions and family members.
Across the world, Shia mourners take out processions to commemorate Karbala. But such processions have been officially banned in Kashmir since the eruption of the 1989 insurgency.
Each year, Kashmir’s Shia mourners attempt to take out processions in the Valley but it invariably ends in clashes and detentions.
According to the photojournalists, station house officer Rashid Khan ordered his men to beat up the reporters. When the photojournalists tried to flee, they added, police resorted to pellet-firing, which resulted in injury to one of the local scribes.
“I was hit by three pellets, one in the head, one in the shoulder and one in the leg. A local person helped me take them out of my body,” said the injured freelance photojournalist, who wished to remain anonymous.
The three journalists who were allegedly beaten up were Shahid Khan, Mubashir Dar and Bilal Bhat.
“They came and started to yell at me that I shouldn’t cover the procession. Even before I could respond to them, they started beating me. I had to run away,” said Shahid Khan, while showing the injuries he received on his back.
Another photojournalist said the CRPF personnel posted alongside J&K Police tried to intervene and asked them not to hit the scribes. “But they didn’t listen. They just kept hitting the photojournalists till all of us had to flee. I was seeing this from a short distance and managed to run away before police could catch hold of me,” the photojournalist added.
Yasrab Khan, a journalist with the local news channel ANN News said his camera was broken by a policeman chasing him. The area was sealed soon afterwards, making it impossible for journalists to reach local police for a comment.
Muharram restrictions in Srinagar
The state administration has issued directions that no processions will be allowed in Srinagar on 8, 9 and 10 September, and the government is likely to impose strict restrictions from Sunday in view of Muharram.
A senior government official said Saturday that maintaining peace during the last days of Muharram was a top priority for the security forces here.
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Offline
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2019
- Event Description
Sirisak Chaited, an LGBT rights activist, said she has received a threatening email ahead of the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF) on 10 – 12 September, while Siyeed Alam, chair of the Rohingya Association in Thailand, said he has been contacted by Special Branch officers.
On Saturday (7 September), Sirisak posted on her Facebook page that she had received an email from an anonymous sender requesting “co-operation in peaceful communication” and asking her to discuss human rights in the APF meeting “without affecting the image of the country and other ASEAN members.”
The email also said that “we understand the current situation. Speaking the truth directly is something that should happen, but in certain situations, we need to think of the collective interest both at the national and the ASEAN level too, especially when criticizing issues that may affect the image of our country or may cause conflicts between nations."
"We hearby request your cooperation. This is also because we are concerned for your safety and that of the people in this country and in other ASEAN member states."
Siyeed Alam, chair of the Rohingya Association in Thailand, also said that Special Branch officers had contacted him to get information on members of the Rohingya community who are attending the APF. Officials have called him asking to schedule a meeting and to photograph his “0 Card” or the identity card for persons without registration status.
Meanwhile, the Forum was moved from the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam to the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University after the organizing committee refused funding of around 10 million baht from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, citing as their reason interference from security officials in, for example, requesting for a list of overseas participants. However, the Director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security said that the Ministry is unable to issue funding since the organizers did not provide them with a list of participants. The Ministry is also organizing a parallel ASEAN Peoples’ Forum at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam on 9 – 12 September.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Minority Rights, Offline, SOGI rights
- HRD
- Minority rights defender, SOGI rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government, Judiciary, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Oct 11, 2014
- Event Description
On the afternoon of October 11th 2014, police in Oddar Meanchey beat a staff member from human rights organization Equitable Cambodia after they refused to allow officers to search their car without a warrant and gain access to a camera. Police stopped the car as it was transporting villagers back to their community, following interviews with Equitable Cambodia staff at an office belonging to ADHOC. Following the illegal search and beating of the staff, police confiscated the car and deleted a number of photos from the camera. The staff from Equitable Cambodia are now in Oddar Meanchey Provincial Police Station negotiating with police but are not currently detained. The violence comes after Equitable Cambodia staff were detained last month during a visit to Bos village in Oddar Meanchey, to investigate a case where approximately 100 families were affected when their rice fields were destroyed to make way for sugarcane plantations.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to property
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 16, 2014
- Event Description
A young Tibetan called out in public for Tibet's freedom before being assaulted and taken into custody by Chinese police in the second solo protest in Sichuan province's Kardze prefecture this month, according to sources. Dorje Rinchen, believed to be in his 20s, launched his solitary protest shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday the 16th October in the central square of the Serthar (in Chinese, Seda) county seat in the Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a local source told RFA's Tibetan Service. "Many witnesses saw him throw leaflets in the air and shout slogans calling for the long life of[exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama and for freedom for Tibet before he was overpowered by police," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The detaining officers tied Dorje Rinchen's hands behind his back, forced his head down, "and took him away, beating him severely at the same time," the source said. "A large contingent of police were then stationed in the square and imposed harsh restrictions in the area," he added. Separately, a Tibetan living in exile confirmed Rinchen's detention, citing contacts in the Serthar area. Rinchen, a resident of Horshul village, had once been a monk at Serthar's Nubsur monastery but "had left monastic life and pursued various trades in the nomadic community," the source, Golog Jigme, said. "At this time, it is difficult to know whether his family members have been allowed to see him or learn where he is being held," Jigme said. Sporadic demonstrations challenging Chinese rule have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008, with 133 Tibetans to date setting themselves ablaze to oppose Beijing's rule and for the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2019
- Event Description
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Unscrupulous individuals are apparently trying to make money following an attack on a lawyer in this city on Monday.
At least three Cebu-based human rights lawyers received a call from a man claiming to be a leader of a gun-for-hire group from Davao City, who demanded P100,000 from them in exchange for sparing their lives. The caller said the lawyers’ names were on his group’s hit list.
But lawyers Magdalena Lepiten, Ian Manticajon and Kim Grace Mendoza suspected that the calls might have been a scheme to extort money from them.
The calls were received in separate times on Tuesday, a day after two men on board a motorcycle attacked lawyer Inocencio de la Cerna while he was leaving the Cebu City Hall of Justice.
De la Cerna survived the attack, but had cuts from glass shards after the suspects fired at his Toyota Land Cruiser.
Same number
Lepiten said she received a call at 9:39 a.m. Tuesday from a certain Bobby who claimed to be from Davao.
She said she did not entertain the caller and instead turned off her phone. Moments later, she said received a text message from the same number—0997-1779161.
The message read: “Ma swerte lang c dela cerna. ekaw ug dli ka makig coperate mamatay ka. 100K kapalit sa imung kinabuhe (Dela Cerna was fortunate to have survived. If you won’t cooperate, you will die. P100K in exchange for your life).”
Lepiten said she posted her conversation on her Facebook account to know if other lawyers received the same call. It turned out she was not the only one.
Mendoza posted on her Facebook account a recording of her conversation with the caller who used the same mobile phone number.
Probe
The man told Mendoza that she was next in the list after De la Cerna but he would spare her life if she had P100,000.
Mendoza, however, told the man to “just kill me” as she didn’t have the money. Irritated, the man called her “crazy (pagkabuang gyud nimo)” before dropping the call.
Manticajon, who missed a call from the same number four times on Tuesday, urged the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest the people behind the threats.
“Although it’s a scam, it still somehow instilled fear among us. It’s not alarming but rather annoying … The government must do something to make every citizen safe and feel safe,” he said.
Col. Gemma Vinluan, city police chief, said she created a team to investigate the matter.
“Although the motive here might be extortion, these lawyers should not take the threats likely. No matter what you call it, it’s still a threat,” she said.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 2, 2019
- Event Description
In 2016, the police issued an order to all the kindergartens, including all the early education centers in Beijing’s Shijingshan District (石景山区) to not accept my son at their schools. My son, Quanquan (泉泉), had stayed home, unable to attend school since May 2018. Then, by luck and coincidence, I found a private school that accepted him. Quanquan finally was able to go to school, joining the top kindergarten class there.
It was a hard-won opportunity for Quanquan, and he was very excited. On the first day of school [in 2018], he woke up at 6 am. He tugged at me, acting cute one moment and threatening me the next. I had to get out of bed. We washed together, and after getting dressed, he wanted to go to school. Reluctantly, I told him that the school bus wouldn’t arrive at the gate until 7:48 am. His single-eyelid eyes flashed with ardent hope, and he said to me pleading: “I want to go early to wait at the gate. Please?”
So I gave in, unable to say no to his adorable face. So, we sat on the side of the street waiting for the bus for more than an hour before it was due to arrive. Quanquan was a little anxious; he would stand up and sit down, stand up and sit down again, making me dizzy just watching him. His small pudgy face was full of worry, and he asked me over and over again: “Mom, are you sure we’re waiting in the right place for the school bus?” It was annoying and amusing at the same time; all I could do was answer “Yes!” over and over again. At that time, I thought, it was only children who’ve been unable to attend school who could feel such excitement about going to school.
Quanquan really liked his school. The flowers and trees in the school grounds, the sandboxes, the trampoline, and the various insects on the lawn made each day full of surprise and joy. The school’s atmosphere was happy, relaxed, and full of love, which led to Quanquan arguing that he wanted to go to school on Sundays. He also made a lot of friends, and he even secretly liked a little girl.
Quanquan successfully completed kindergarten without incident. I thought at the time that attending school would no longer pose a problem.
Come September 2, Quanquan was promoted to primary school. School has only been in session for four days, but the police have visited multiple times already to put pressure on the school. As a result, my son is once again forced out of school.
Having been told that that Quanquan could not continue school, I felt all my strength was sucked out of me there and then. Heavyhearted, I walked out of the school gate. At home, Quanquan’s maternal grandpa had just suffered a severe cold, stooping after days of high fever and coughing. I tried hard to pull myself together, not wanting to cry in front of him. But I broke down after all, tears streaming down my face.
I was thinking, why? Why?
It’s no wonder that every time I visited Quanzhang (王全璋), what he worried about most was whether our son could go to school. No wonder he repeatedly sought confirmation from me whether our son was indeed going to school.
When Quanzhang was detained four years ago, our son was only two and a half years old. Now, it looks like our son has been made into a bargaining chip which officials are going to use to coerce Quanzhang. Maybe that’s why every time I see Quanzhang he tells me not to come visit; maybe that’s why Wang Quanzhang said he did not want medical parole (as I write this, I recall that Quanzhang has lost three teeth in the past four years; maybe that’s why Wang Quanzhang said that after he is released from prison next year, he would continue to be subject to government monitoring, and would not return to Beijing, but stay in Jinan!
They detained and isolated an innocent lawyer from the outside world for four years; they held a secret trial of him without lawyers present to defend him, and then transferred him to prison to serve his sentence, and repeatedly blocked me, his wife, from visiting him. Now they are making an issue of a 6-year-old boy attending school.
I have to ask, what do you want?
Do you intend to make a mother give in and give up by making her suffer pain and despair over her son’s loss of schooling? Or, are you using his son to strike the imprisoned father and force him to bow to your menacing?
Or, perhaps you are concocting a tribute to your grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China by depriving this six-year-old child of schooling, and inflicting pain on this family.
Quanquan knows that he can’t go to school anymore starting today. He asked me: “I am the leader of Team No. 1 in martial arts class. I can’t lead the team anymore, what to do? The teacher is going to teach a lot of new moves, which I won’t know — what should I do?” He’s not ready to accept that fact that he has no school to go to anymore. He’s said repeatedly that he wants to go school, he wants to go to school.
I wiped my tears, and began to smile, telling him:
“If we can’t attend this school, I believe that God will provide another school for us that is just as good as this one!”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to education
- HRD
- Family of HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 11, 2019
- Event Description
On 11 September 2019,Mr. Ashok Mahindra left his home on his bike in MuktsarSahibcity in Punjab at around 7 pm. As he barely moved a few meters from his house on the street in B R Ambedkar Marghe was attacked from behind and fell down from his bike. He somehow managed to escape from the spot and run towards his house. When he reached home, the two assailants mainly Soma Singh and his father Jaswinder Singh Sinder came to his house and Soma Singh was carrying an iron rod and Jaswinder was having a small baton (lathi). They both started hitting the Mr. Ashok Mahindra indiscriminately with the intention to kill him and after receiving a blow on his neck, he fell down and became unconscious. The assailants were unsuccessful in executing the brutal attack because of the intervention of some of his neighbours and other people at the site of the incident. Fortunately, Mr. Ashok Mahindra survived the attack but he received three severe injuries. His right hand suffered fracture and left hand also got injured. He was immediately rushed to the civil hospital at MuktsarSahib, Punjab. He was admitted in the hospital and treated from 11 September, 2019 to 13 September, 2019.The Station House Officer of the area police station came to record his statement. Although they have registered the case but they have not included IPC section 452 which is imposed for allegedly committing house-trespass, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person. It is alleged that by not including section 452 the police has beenseekingto diminish the enormity of the crime committed against the defender. Mr. Ashok Mahindra was assisting Mr. Kamal Kumar, a Dalit who was attacked with a gun some time back. In his case the police did not invoke the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against the assailants. The defender lodged a complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Policeof Muktsar Sahib district to charge the accused under these relevant sections. Mr. Ashok Mahindra also organized an agitation in this regard.About three years ago Mr. Ashok Mahindra helped Mr. Gurmeet in filing a police complaint against an accused who attacked Gurmeet with a rifle. On the same day the accused was arrested. According to the sources in the present case the accused are involved in the drug trafficking activities and are suspected to have been hired by the vested interests to target the HRD. Mr. Ashok Mahindra has been a victim of vendetta like so many human rights defenders in the countryand the state and police machineryhas not taken any proactive measures to helpthe victim. They have not taken the accused on remand so far.Pertinent to this particular case of Mr. Ashok Mahindra, it is pointed out that under the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, it is stated that in the context of human rights violations by third parties, the obligation to protect, first, involves ensuring that defenders do not suffer from violations of their rights by non-State actors. Failure to protect could, in particular circumstances, engage the State‘s responsibility. Even acts and omissions committed by non-State actors under the instructions, control or direction of the State can, under certain circumstances, give rise to State responsibility. Therefore, it is paramount that prompt and full investigations are conducted and perpetrators brought to justice. Failure by States to prosecute and punish such perpetrators is a clear violation of Article 12 ofthe Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Denial effective remedy, Minority Rights, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Minority rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Sep 19, 2019
- Event Description
On September 19, an ongoing surveillance and a threat of a raid by the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) of the Philippine National Police into the joint office of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) and the Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines (CEC-Phils) was reported by a reliable source to the two organizations.
This came after the two organizations participated in a number of important work on environmental defenders. Kalikasan delivered a testimony on the state of human rights and environment in the Philippines during the National Inquiry on Human Rights Defenders organized by the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) held last week, and CEC raised the issue of environment defenders during the ASEAN People’s Forum 2019 held in Bangkok, Thailand.
This is clear harassment and an obvious effort to silence civil society groups like CEC and Kalikasan.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2019
- Event Description
A human rights lawyer based in Roxas City survived an ambush attack late morning today, Sept. 23, after attending a hearing.
Lawyer Criselda Heredia posted on her Facebook account that her car was strafed while traversing Timpas, Panitan town in Capiz, just a stone’s throw away from a military camp Antonio Belo.
Nine bullets were recovered from the car, she told Bulatlat.
Heredia was accompanied by her daughter and a client.
In a message sent to Bulatlat.com, Heredia said the target of the assailant could either be her or her client.
In a statement, lawyers group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chapter in Panay held state security forces accountable.
Heredia, according to NUPL, has been “red-tagged in posters and has been personally threatened by a military agent who visited her office and warned her to slow down on her human rights advocacy.”
Apart from being a lawyer, Heredia is also a cultural worker who used to perform musical presentations and has mounted painting exhibits in both Iloilo and Roxas City.
NUPL-Panay said the attack came in the wake of the call of international organizations to President Duterte to protect lawyers in the Philippines.
Under Duterte, 47 lawyers, including judges and prosecutors, have been killed.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Indonesia
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2019
- Event Description
Journalists covering student protests in cities across Indonesia were attacked by police in a series of brutal incidents on September 24. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemn the systematic harassment and brutality by Indonesian police and call for immediate action by authorities to hold all perpetrators to account.
Thousands of university students held rallies across Indonesia this week to protest the revision of several Indonesian laws in Jakarta, Bandung, Garut, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Palembang, Medan, Denpasar, Makassar and Palu. AJI said some journalists covering the rallies were injured by police, while others were intimidated to stop filming or were asked to delete the videos.
At least four journalists were attacked during the Jakarta protests. According to AJI Jakarta branch, a journalist for Kompas Nibras Nada Nailufar was intimidated by police to delete footage of alleged police brutality against a protester near the Jakarta Convention Centre during the evening of September 24. Vanny El Rahman, a reporter of IDN Times, was assaulted and also pressured to erase a video of police violence in Slipi, in West Jakarta. Tri Kurnia Yunianto, of Katadata, and Febrian Ahmad, of Metro TV, were attacked in Jakarta. Despite showing a press card, police confiscated Kurnia’s mobile phone and deleted a video of police firing tear gas at protesters. In a separate incident, Metro TV’s Febrian Ahmad was set upon by a mob of protesters who attacked his work car with sticks and stones.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, AJI Makassar reported that three journalists were assaulted by police at a rally in front of the regional legislative council. Journalists Muhammad Darwi Fathir, of Antara news agency; Saiful, of inikata.com; and Ishak Pasabuan, of Makassar Today; were physically attacked by police during police clashes with student protesters. In Palu, on Central Sulawesi, police snatched the camera of Rian Saputra, a journalist with public broadcaster TVRI Central Sulawesi and demanded he delete videos.
AJI calls on authorities to investigate the attacks and urged Indonesia’s Press Council to establish an independent task force to deal with violence inflicted against journalists during the mass protests in the country.
AJI Chairman, Abdul Manan, said: “We must remind all sides to respect journalists’ safety while they are on the jobs. We also ask newsrooms to provide tools to keep journalists safe.”
The IFJ said: “We condemn the attacks against journalists in Indonesia while they are endeavouring to do their jobs and report in the public interest. Indonesia’s authorities need to respect the media’s role and ensure every effort to ensure the safety of journalists while they are covering protests.”
- Impact of Event
- 4
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2019
- Event Description
Hong Kong authorities should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the recent assault of an Apple Daily reporter and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Yesterday, four men dressed in black and wearing yellow helmets rushed into a restaurant in Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong district where a reporter from the pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper Apple Daily was dining with her family, and kicked and punched the reporter and then fled the scene, according to a report by Apple Daily and other news reports.
During the assault, the attackers mentioned Jimmy Lai, founder and chair of Next Digital, which owns Apple Daily, according a report by the newspaper.
The journalist was taken to a hospital with injuries to her head and right ear, according to the newspaper, which published photos of her injuries but did not release the reporter’s name.
“If the rule of law means anything in Hong Kong, police must take swift action to apprehend not just the men who carried out this assault on an Apple Daily reporter, but anyone who planned the attack as well,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. “Attacks against journalists have gone unpunished for far too long in Hong Kong.”
Apple Daily editor-in-chief Ryan Law Wai-kwong said in a statement on the newspaper’s website that the reporter was targeted for her reports and live-streams of the protests that have taken place in Hong Kong since June. The protests were originally sparked by an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to face trial in mainland Chinese courts, as CPJ reported at the time.
The journalist’s personal information had recently been published by an anonymous website opposed to the protesters, according to a statement published on Facebook by the Hong Kong Journalists Association.
Hong Kong authorities have asked the website to remove identifying information of about 20 Apple Daily journalists, as well as more than 70 activists, student leaders, and protesters, but the website, which is registered to a Russian domain, has kept the information online, according to the South China Morning Post.
Jimmy Lai’s home was firebombed earlier this month, but no one was hurt in the incident, according to news reports.
The Hong Kong Police Force told CPJ in an email that the case is under investigation and no arrests have been made.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2019
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for an independent investigation into this week’s severe beating of a reporter in India’s east coast state of Andhra Pradesh who has repeatedly criticized a local legislator and the corruption associated with the state’s sand mafia. Those behind this attack, the third this journalist has received in as many years, must be identified, RSF said.
Nagarjuna Reddy, who works for the local Telugu-language daily Neti Surya, was nearly killed in this latest assault, which occurred shortly after he left a police station in the town of Ongole on the evening of 23 September.
He was intercepted by around 25 individuals armed with sticks, steel bars and knives, who took him to an isolated spot, proceeded to beat him and torture him, and finally dumped his body, presumably believing him to be dead. He was found by passers-by who took him to a hospital in the neighbouring town of Chirala, where he is being treated for severe injuries all over his body, including a broken leg.
“He is very badly injured and may be bed-ridden for the next four or five months,” RSF was told by Ravi Kumar, an Ongole-based journalist with the newspaper Sakshi who is a friend of Reddy and who visited him in hospital two days after the attack.
“This is the third major attack on Reddy since 2017,” said Charan Teja, a journalist with The News Minute in the nearby city of Hyderabad. “He had openly said he faced threats to his life from a local politician.” Reddy had even filed a complaint about the threats with the police.
Courageous reporter
“Nagarjuna Reddy embodies a courageous and determined journalism that does not hesitate to investigate the private interests of certain persons when they conflict with the public interest,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.
“The repeated extremely violent attacks, like the one he has just sustained, are therefore all the more shocking. In view of the widespread corruption prevailing within the local elites, we urge Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy to order an independent enquiry that identifies the real instigators of these attacks and brings them to justice.”
After questioning Reddy in hospital and interviewing his wife, Jyothi, the police announced that they have arrested five individuals. Everything indicates that the attack was motivated by Reddy’s articles about Amanchi Krishna Mohan, a member of the state legislative assembly, and about Mohan’s alleged links with the Chirala sand mafia.
It was Reddy’s coverage of illegal sand mining that prompted the severe beating he received in 2018. “It was the same leg that was broken when he was beaten up by miscreants in 2018,” an Ongole-based journalist told RSF on condition of anonymity.
Police inaction
An extremely violent mob nearly lynched Reddy in the street in February 2017. In a shocking video showing part of this attack, Mohan’s brother can be seen beating Reddy with a steel bar.
A few months later, an independent panel of journalists, lawyers and academics concluded that this attack took place in front of Chirala’s main police station and that the police was looking on without intervening. Worse still, the police subsequently registered complaints against Reddy based on spurious allegations of extortion and deception.
At least six journalists were killed in connection with their work last year in India, which is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Cambodia
- Initial Date
- Sep 3, 2019
- Event Description
On 3 September 2019 at 8h30 am, the Ratanakiri Provincial Court has unfairly summoned Mr. Pen Bunnar ADHOC Senior Officer to appear. He is accused for “incitement to commit crimes On June 2017, Seda’s community required the support of ADHOC concerning a land issue. Indeed, the community was trying to prevent land clearing in the Lumphat district and ADHOC is providing a legal support to the communities with their land rights issues in the course of a program financed by USAID. On June 22 and 23, 2017, the communities tried to obtain help from the authorities with the monitoring and support of ADHOC represented by Mr. Pen Bunn. Then considering the lack of interest concerning this case from the government, they determined that the legal way was the best option to solve this issue. Mr Pen Bunnar and other community members have lodged a complaint against the land clearers but the court refused to take its responsibilities in this case. Instead, a lawsuit was launched Mr Pen Bunnar the ADHOC’s member that was supporting communities.”. Tomorrow convocation is for the second trial since the defendant have been already summoned by the investigating judge Mr Sreng Simsorya on 12 August 2019. On the first trial, where Mr Pen Bunn wasn’t present or represented because he couldn’t hire a lawyer and come to Phnom Pen in time (he got informed very late). During this first court, a few community members lied, under the pressure of the trial, and told the court that Mr Pen Bunn he was encouraging people to clear the lands. In exchange, the accusers received the right to use the cleared land from the court. ADHOC is very concerned that Mr Pen Bunnar could face charges and/or arrest and detention under Article 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. This is a basic and vicious attempt to attack a defender of human rights and a violation of community’s rights. This trial is placed under the mark of corruption and is threatening a dedicated human right advocate from our organization. We call upon local, regional and international partners, embassies and UN representatives to intervene before the situation continues to deteriorate.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Oct 4, 2019
- Event Description
eporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns a brutal attack on two TV journalists who were investigating the suspected embezzlement of state funding for schools in a tribal area of Gujarat state, in western India. Those responsible must be arrested quickly, RSF said.
One of the journalists, TV9 reporter Kuldip Parmar, was hospitalized with a broken leg after the attack on 4 October in which both he and his brother, cameraman Ashok Parmar, were badly beaten and temporarily abducted.
The assault took place after the brothers arrived at a school in the village of Kunvarsi. Men armed with sticks attacked Ashok as he waited outside the school while his brother went inside to talk to the principal. When Kuldip came out, he was also given a severe beating.
The two journalists were then bundled into a car and taken to a nearby farm where they were forced to drink alcohol with a woman while being photographed for blackmail purposes. After being threatened, the injured journalists were finally dumped at the side of a road near another village.
Ashok has identified their main assailant as Vadansinh Barad, the brother of Lakshman Barad, the leader of the local branch of India’s ruling BJP party.
“A physical attack of this kind cannot go unpunished,” RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk said. “The beatings that this reporter and his cameraman received while doing investigative reporting in the public interest put all of the region’s journalists in danger. The police must carry out an investigation and severely punish those responsible.”
The two TV9 journalists went to the village to investigate the alleged misuse of state funding for schools in tribal areas. To combat illiteracy and promote secular education among India’s disadvantaged tribes and castes, the state has been building and assisting schools since 1990.
India is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Initial Date
- Sep 29, 2019
- Event Description
Multiple media violations against journalists were recorded during the fourth round of Afghanistan’s presidential elections on Saturday, September 28. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Afghanistan affiliate, the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) in highlighting the challenges for journalists in covering elections and calls for stronger efforts to stop election-related violations that impact the media’s ability to report.
According to AIJA, at least three journalists were attacked during the weekend election, which was covered by local and international media in various parts of Afghanistan. AIJA also fielded at least ten complaints by journalists regarding access to information, access to voting sites and telecommunications shutdowns.
In the early hours of September 29, the journalists Maqbol Noori, of Salam Watandar, reported he was threatened and humiliated and his phone taken when the brother of the chief of the provincial council of Parwan province entered the Jul Saraj voting site with his bodyguards. The incident occurred when the journalist requested to take a picture of him. His phone was later returned when police were called in to intervene.
Blocking of access to reporting was also recorded in the first hours of the election at around 10 am in provinces including Kabul, Khost, Bamyian, Balkh and Faryab. AIJA reported that some issues were resolved with the help of Afghanistan’s election commission and other security agencies. One complaint recorded by journalist Said Ismail Sadat, of Sima radio, in Samangan province was that media were denied access to report during vote counting at a local school voting site at Ajani Malika.
In a statement AIJA said it “appreciates efforts of Independent Election commission for cooperation with media which lead to unprecedented coverage of elections and hopes that these problems will not be seen in future elections.”
The IFJ said: “With further voting still to come in Afghanistan’s presidential election campaign, we call on Afghanistan’s election commission and security forces to ensure that all officials are educated and trained to respect the importance of transparency, safety and access to information for the country’s media during elections.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 21, 2019
- Event Description
An activist doctor and professor received death threats a few hours after joining a protest demanding a bigger budget for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Dr. Gene Nisperos, president of the All UP Academic Employees Union-Manila Chapter (AUPAEU-Manila), received a text message Monday night, October 21, saying he and his family would be killed soon.
“I know where your condominium is. We will get your family one by one…You are dead by…including your children and wife,” the message read.
The message was sent by an unidentified person through mobile phone number +639567955995.
Nisperos blamed the climate of violence created by the Rodrigo Duterte government against those who seek substantial reforms and genuine change in Philippine society for the latest threats against him and his wife, also a doctor.
“In these times, those who do good and stand for what is right are persecuted. It [this administration] is sowing fear because it rules by fear. This must be opposed in whatever form and whenever it occurs,” Nisperos told Kodao.
As he was being interviewed by Kodao, Nisperos received another threat from the same number Tuesday morning.
A graduate of UP College of Medicine’s prestigious Intarmed program, Nisperos and wife, Dr. Julie Caguiat, served as community doctors in Mindanao before returning to Manila to advocate for community-based health programs in the national level.
Nisperos is an assistant professor who teaches Community Medicine in UP Manila.
Duterte government as suspects
The AUPAEU-Manila condemned the most recent death threats against Nisperos and family.
The union said the threat comes at a time when the AUPAEU-Manila is calling on all faculty, administrative staff, and researchers of the university to unite against the impending budget cut for the University of the Philippines, particularly on the UP Manila and Philippine General Hospital (PGH), and to campaign for the regularization of contractual workers, among others.
The union said the threats are attempts to sow fear among teachers and unionists who assert for their rights and to fight for a higher state subsidy for social services such as education and health.
“[O]ur Union will not tremble in the face of vicious repressive measures and increasingly fascist attacks by this administration,” AUPAEU-Manila said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 31, 2019
- Event Description
Authorities arrested 56 persons they alleged were communist rebels and “rescued” six minors supposedly undergoing “training and “indoctrination” during simultaneous raids on the offices of three activist groups and a private residence in Bacolod City early Friday evening, October 31.
Several firearms and grenades were also reported recovered during the raids on the offices of the Bayan Muna party-list and Gabriela in Barangay Bata, the National Federation of Sugar Workers at Libertad, and the home of Bayan Muna’s Romulo Bito-on and his wife Mermalyn, who were both arrested.
All three organizations have long been openly accused of being “legal fronts” of the communist movement.
Bito-on, on the other hand, has been previously arrested and charged for being an alleged communist.
But human rights group and some of those apprehended denied the accusations they were rebels and said the weapons had been “planted.”
Video taken of the search at the nearby office of Gabriela showed a police officer inspecting a revolver and ammunition taken from a backpack at a corner of the yard.
Local media quoted Captain Cenon Pancito, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, as saying 49 persons, including the minors, were taken into custody from the Bayan Muna compound.
Among those arrested there were known activist leaders John Milton Lozande and Danny Tabura of the NFSW, Proceso Quiatchon of the human rights group Karapatan, Nilo Rosales of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Aldrin de Cerna of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Lozande said the raiders held them for around an hour and then he was called to a house in the compound and showed “an obviously planted” gun supposedly found in his bag.
Nine other persons were arrested at the Gabriela office and two more from the NFSW.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said among those arrested at the Gabriela office was Anne Krueger of the newly established alternative media outfit Paghimutad, which has been covering social issues, including extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses.
They were all taken to the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office.
Interestingly, the raids were covered by search warrants issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of Branch 89 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City.
Karapatan, in a statement, called this suspicious and said this was reminiscent of the Oplan Sauron 2 operations in Negros Oriental in March, which were covered by search warrants issued in Cebu City.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate also condemned the “dastardly Gestapo-like raid … simultaneously conducted by state forces against the offices of Bayan Muna, Gabriela and NFSW in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.”
He noted that the raids were conducted “at night before a long weekend so as to ensure that the courts are closed tomorrow so that the planted pieces evidence and subsequent trumped-up charges filed cannot immediately be challenged.”
Karapatan called the raids part of a “full-blown crackdown on activists and red-tagged legal organizations,” noting that earlier in the day, police arrested Cora Agovida, the Metro Manila chairperson of Gabriela, and her husband Mickael Tan Bartolome of the urban poor group Kadamay, and claimed a .45 caliber pistol and two grenades were seized from their home.
However, Pancito told media the raids, which he described as “part of cutting the source of manpower to Red areas,” or territory were the rebels operate, would prove to be a “big blow to the Red fighters of the New People’s Army” and would “trigger the downfall” of the insurgency on Negros.
- Impact of Event
- 6
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Oct 24, 2019
- Event Description
Police in southern China detained feminist activist and journalist Huang Xueqin after she returned to the mainland from Hong Kong and Taiwan, her friends said Friday.
Authorities in Guangdong province's Guangzhou city arrested Huang last Thursday on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," her friends said. The vague charge is commonly used against activists viewed as threatening by the ruling Communist Party.
The friends spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared government retribution for being publicly associated with Huang. Calls on Friday to Huang's lawyer and Guangzhou's Baiyun District Detention Center, where friends say she is detained, rang unanswered.
The friends said police harassed Huang's family after she published an essay describing her experience at a protest in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese city that has been roiled by months of anti-government demonstrations.
"Perhaps, under the powerful machine of the party state, ignorance and fear can be cultivated," Huang wrote in her essay. "But if you have personally experienced it, witnessed it, you cannot pretend to be ignorant."
In August, Guangzhou police confiscated Huang's passport and other travel documents, preventing her from pursuing a postgraduate law program at the University of Hong Kong.
Huang has been an outspoken voice in China's #MeToo movement, helping sexual assault victims highlight cases against university professors. She has worked as an independent reporter covering issues surrounding gender, equality and disadvantaged groups.
Detained, harassed
"It is unclear exactly the reasons for Huang's detention, but in recent weeks, more and more activists, writers and regular citizens in the mainland have been detained or harassed by authorities for their peacefully voicing support for the Hong Kong protests," said Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch.
"Huang's detention shows that the Chinese government has intensified the crackdown on mainland Chinese who peacefully showed solidarity with Hong Kong protesters, and that authorities are fearful that the protests in Hong Kong could inspire challenges to the government in the mainland, and any expression of ideas of freedom and democracy is a threat to their grip on power," Wang said.
The protests in Hong Kong began over the summer in response to a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to stand trial in mainland China, where critics say their legal rights would be threatened. The sometimes-violent demonstrations have since ballooned to encompass broader calls for democratic reform and an inquiry into alleged police abuse.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Offline
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Nepal
- Initial Date
- Oct 25, 2019
- Event Description
Editor of Rekhdekh Weekly and Treasurer of Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) Prabir Dadel, 30, a resident of Musikot Municipality-13 has accused Ward Chairperson Dipak KC, 37, of threatening him on October 25.
Dadel accused KC of attempting to manhandle him in connection with a news report published about corruption in Rekhdekh Weekly. KC threatened the journalist after his name was also mentioned in the report about the corruption. Dadel has filed an oral complaint against KC at District Police Office and District Administration Office.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2019
- Event Description
MANILA, Philippines – Gabriela Women's Party – which won a seat in the 18th Congress – was red-tagged by both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) in a hearing held inside the Batasang Pambansa.
Facing members of the House committee on national defense and security on Tuesday, November 5, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Major General Reuben Basiao presented a list of 18 organizations that are alleged communist fronts.
Third on the list was Gabriela, which is currently represented in the House by Arlene Brosas after the party-list group secured more than 446,000 votes during the May 2019 elections.
The congresswoman, however, was not present during Basiao's presentation. When she arrived at the conference hall, she requested to see the list once again.
"Mismo dito sa Kongreso ay tina-tag kami as a communist terrorist group? Ano ba 'yan? Ano bang nangyayari? Bakit ganyan?" asked the second-termer congresswoman.
(We're being tagged as a communist terrorist group even here in Congress? What gives? What's happening? Why are you doing this?)
Brosas lashed out against the AFP and the DND, asking if Gabriela's inclusion in the list is a "prelude" to martial law.
"Familiar naman po kayo sa mga ginagawa namin. Binoto po kami ng taumbayan. Binoto po kami. May mandato po kami. Bakit nakalagay ang pangalan ng Gabriela Women's Party in particular? Ano pong ibig sabihin nito? Prelude ba ito sa martial law na ang mga legal entities at legal organizations in particular ay tina-target ngayon ng AFP?" asked Brosas.
(You're familiar with what we do here. We were voted by the people. We were elected. We have a mandate. Why put the name of Gabriela Women's Party in particular? What does this mean? Is this a prelude to martial law, with legal entities and legal organizations in particular now being targeted by the AFP?)
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana then said that based on documents recovered by the military across the country, Gabriela is a "legal front" for the Communist Party of the Philippines.
But the DND chief said they are "not red-tagging" Gabriela.
"There is no prelude to martial law. We are not red-tagging Gabriela. We are just saying that they are [a] front of the communist movement. We based this conclusion from documents that we captured from our operations all over the country," said Lorenzana.
"Palaging lumalabas 'yung Gabriela tsaka 'yung iba pang mga fronts nila. So what can you conclude there? I'm not saying you are communist. I'm saying that you are fronting, kayo 'yung legal front nila," he added.
(Gabriela's name keeps on popping up along with other fronts. So what can you conclude there? I'm not saying you are a communist. I'm saying that you are fronting, that you are their legal front.)
In a statement released after the hearing, Brosas once again slammed the AFP and the DND for their "attempt to criminalize dissent." (LISTEN: [PODCAST] Dapat bang gawing ilegal ang pagiging komunista?)
"Hindi kami armadong grupo at hindi armado ang mga miyembro namin. Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang Konstitusyon at mga batas, hindi krimen ang mag-organisa at hindi krimen ang maging aktibista. Gabriela Women's Party strongly condemns this clear attempt to criminalize dissent and weaponize the law," said Brosas.
(We are not an armed group and our members are not armed either. Under the current Constitution and our laws, it is not a crime to organize and become activists. Gabriela Women's Party strongly condemns this clear attempt to criminalize dissent and weaponize the law.)
Gabriela's clash with the AFP and the DND came on the same day the Manila police arrested 3 members of progressive groups during a raid in Tondo past midnight.
On October 31, law enforcers in Bacolod City also arrested 56 persons affiliated with progressive and human rights groups during raids on their offices.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2019
- Event Description
According to the information received, on November 5, 2019 at8:10 AM, Dhananjay was abducted and brought to the Bihar Police Station in Bihar Sharif town of district Nalanda by a police team lead by the SHO Mr. Deepak Kumar. At the police station, hefaced degrading and inhuman treatment, including torture. Extreme methods of torture were used by the police including verbal abuse,slapping and beating with sticks. He was forced to remove his clothes, given electric shocks on his head near his ears, severely beaten including on the private parts. Sources informed that Dhananjay was picked up by the SHO Mr. Deepak Kumar from Jhing Nagar Mohalla (a locality in Bihar Sharif town) at around 8:10 AM,while he was going to meet the former ward counselor (parshad) on his bike. According to Dhananjay, he was not made aware of the grounds or reasons for detention and was abducted. He was first taken to Ali Nagar to the residence of Mr. Tinku Gupta, who is allegedly a dealer in illegal arms and ammunitions and has pending criminal charges regarding the same. At Tinku’s residence, Dhananjay was physically assaulted and was repeatedly forced to confess buying arms from Tinku. Dhananjay refused to succumb to any pressure to undertake a false confession. Dhananjay was then taken to the Bihar Police Station and illegally detained till 10:00 PM. He was once again brutally beaten and also subjected to extreme physically tortured, including electric shocks on his head near his ears. He was released only around 10:00 PM after the intervention of local respected persons. Dhananjay’s family members admitted him in the Sadar Hospital in Bihar Sharif immediately after he was released from the police custody on November 5, 2019. On November 6, 2019, the doctors at Sadar Hospital referred him to get treated in a high specialty hospital of the city. He was later taken to the Jeevan Jyoti hospital, Bihar Sharif for the treatment of his internal injuries.The Hon’ble Commission being the nodal agency on violence in police custody and attacks on HRDs is urged to take immediate action in the recent case and penalise the erring police officials who have blatantly violated the D.K. Basu and NHRC guidelines on pre-arrest & post-arrest guidelines. As per legal precedent,torture is not at all permitted whether it occurs during investigation, interrogation or otherwise. Custodial violence is in effect direct invasion of human rights. Torture in custody flouts the basic rights of citizens recognized by the Indian Constitution and is affront to human dignity. Custodial Torture is a calculated assault on human dignity and nothing can be more dehumanising as the conduct of police in practicingtorture of any kind on a person in their custody.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Torture, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, RTI activist
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Nov 7, 2019
- Event Description
Independent think tank Ibon Foundation expressed alarm over a notice of “ocular inspection” from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in the wake of successive raids of offices of progressive organizations.
In a statement, Ibon Foundation said it received a call from a certain Col. Joaquin Alba of NCRPO at around 4 p.m. informing them that a warrant of arrest will be served on someone supposedly within the office building.
Ibon Foundation told Alba that the person indicated in the warrant does not hold office there but the latter insisted that they will still go to conduct “an ocular inspection.” The research group received information that a police team from Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was preparing to go to Ibon to ‘pick up’ someone (“may kukunin na tao”).
“This is alarming and we believe that it is part of the Duterte government’s worsening crackdown on activists upholding human rights and hence critical of its retrogressive policies and authoritarian governance,” the group said in a statement.
Ibon noted that the incident comes on the heels of a week of consecutive military and police operations against various activists and activist groups in Manila and Negros. “This included using spurious search warrants to raid homes and offices, planting guns and grenades, and arresting activists on bogus charges,” the group said.
Some 60 activists have been illegally arrested and detained in the past week.
Ibon is among many activist organizations and cause-oriented groups that have been red-tagged by the Duterte administration.
“The Duterte administration is attacking IBON because our research, education and advocacy work exposes Philippine economic realities that the government wants to conceal,” the group said.
The group also blamed the so-called task force to end local communist armed conflict for the ongoing crackdown against NGOs and progressive organizations.
As of press time, police forces have not showed up at the premises of Ibon Foundation building at Timog Avenue in Quezon City.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also alerted members of the Philippine media as Altermidya network holds office at the second floor of the building.
In a statement, Altermidya warned the Philippine National Police to stay away from its office. “Make no mistake about it, any breach into our office premises will be construed as a grave violation of press freedom and will be met with widespread condemnation and legal action,” Altermidya said.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2019
- Event Description
The secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan received threats of death and rape, among others, during the annual celebration of International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, she said.
Cristina Palabay said she received a phone call and a series of texts from an unknown number. Related Stories How activists respond to being tagged as rebels
“I received a phone call from this number (a call which I took because I thought the caller might be a distressed victim or a journalist), presumably yet another caller from the military intelligence or paid hitman from the government threatening to kill me,” Palabay’s Facebook post on Tuesday read.
“He was asking where I live and said all the worst possible things that he/they will do to me.”
The caller subsequently sent texts containing praises of President Rodrigo Duterte and threats of rape against the Karapatan official. Screen captures of the said texts were included in Palabay’s post.
“Karapatan strongly condemns this verbal assault and series of threats against our secretary-general. Such use of words meant to demean Cristina on the basis of her identity as a woman is precisely indicative of the fascist character and toxic masculinity perpetrated and replicated by President Duterte and his supporters,” the rights group said in a Wednesday release.
Moreover, Karapatan said that aside from attacks targeting female leaders, the incident holds grave implications on the state of human rights in the Philippines considering it happened during a holiday meant to celebrate the observation of human rights.
“This latest attack confirms that as we commemorate human rights day, the Philippines has regressed to an all-time low with regard to its protection and respect for women's and people's rights,” the group said.
Despite the attack taking place through the official mobile number used by Palabay in media lists and press releases distributed during protests, including to police, Karapatan said that it will not be deterred.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Death threat, Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 2, 2020
- Event Description
A day after Chennai Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said that the police would probe the Pakistani links of advocate Gayatri Khandhadai, who participated in the anti-CAA kolam protest, she explained that in 2016 she had only filed a report for ‘Bytes for All’ [a Pakistan based advocacy group] highlighting the discrimination faced by religious minorities in nine Asian countries.
“In this report, I have also written about the discrimination faced by Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh. It would have been nice if the police had read the report completely and then addressed the press conference,” she told journalists in Madurai on Thursday.
“By revealing my Facebook profile during the press conference, Chennai City Police have compromised my privacy and security. Chennai City Police Commissioner is responsible for my safety and security,” she said. Ms. Khandhadai denied that she had deleted any content from her Facebook account.
The Commissioner had also said that the police detained anti-CAA protesters only after an elderly person opposed the protesters from drawing kolams in front of his house.
However, Ms. Gayathri contended, “We did not go to that house or meet that person. We did not draw kolams in front of houses that opposed us.”
Henri Tiphagne, founder and executive director of People’s Watch, charged that the police are targeting human rights defenders including Ms. Khandhadai and Arappor Iyakkam and condemned it. “A complaint regarding this has been submitted to the National Human Rights Commission and we will take steps to ensure that the issue was taken by the Bar Council of India,” he said.
Senior advocates T. Lajapathi Roy and M. Ajmal Khan also condemned the police for detaining advocates who went to provide legal aid to the protesters. They stressed that the Bar Council of India must consider the incident suo motu and take necessary action.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri demanded that the police investigation against Ms. Khandhadai’s alleged Pakistan connection be dropped immediately. Mr. Alagiri said she was not associated with any organisation in Pakistan but had only undertaken research for a Pakistan based research organisation. “In the 80-page report filed by her about minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Indonesia, there is nothing that is supporting Pakistan. If he finds such a thing in the report, the Police Commissioner must furnish proof,” Mr. Alagiri said.
Mr. Alagiri said the action against Ms. Khandhadai was vindictive on the part of the government and requested the Commissioner to not toe such a line of the rulers.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- NGO staff, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Thailand
- Initial Date
- Dec 9, 2019
- Event Description
On 09 December 2019, around seventy heavily armed rangers raided human rights defender Arfan Wattana’s house in the Narathiwat Province of Thailand at 12:30am. Arfan Wattana was present at his home along with his family when the incident took place. Four days later, the grounds for the raid have still not been communicated.Arfan Wattana is a prominent Patani leader and human rights defender predominantly working in the region of Patani, one of the most militarized regions in Asia which has been under martial law for the past 15 years. He currently works as assistant of foreign affairs at an NGO, The Patani organisation. In his capacity, Arfan Wattana advocates for Patani issues at the international level. He is a vocal critic of Thailand’s assimilation policies in Patani and the recipient of the Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative scholarship.On 9 December 2019, a little after midnight, Arfan Wattana’s house was raided while he and his family of nine were at home. About 70 rangers in fifteen cars surrounded his house and asked the human rights defender and his family to exit the house. The raid was led by the 48th ranger forces regiment along with the Department of Special Investigations. All of the family, including two young children and his ailing older parents were asked to leave the house while it was being raided. The human rights defender requested that the children be allowed to sleep, but no regard was given to the request. The officers then began to photograph Arfan Wattana and in return, the human rights defendertook photographs of the officials, at which point one of themsnatched his phone away and deleted all the photos on it. Arfan Wattana was further threatened that he would be taken to the military base if he tried to resist the raid. The raid took place over a two hour period and ended with the human rights defender having to sign a few documents. In addition to this, the officers also took copies of his and his family’s ID. Due to the Martial Law in place in the region, the military have been able to exercise their authority with no checks. According to Section 8 of the Martial Law Act, “the military authority shall have full power of search, compulsory requisition, prohibition, seizure, staying in, destruction or alteration of any place and turning out of persons”. Police and military officers can also “cordon off, search, arrest and detain persons without having to establish search warrants or arrest warrants issued by the Court”.This is not the first time that Arfan Wattana’s house has been raided. Since 2007, Arfan’s house has been searched 10 times by the police or military on account of his involvement in student activism calling for the respect of human rights and the Patani’s right to self determination.It has become increasingly common for Patani leaders to be arbitrarily detained, tortured or killed over the past years. To add to this climate of fear, the region is closely watched by a military force which is guarded by impunity laws so, despite the alarming human rights violations, no military officials have ever been prosecuted.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Dec 17, 2019
- Event Description
On 17 December 2019, human rights defender Sevan Doraisamy was questioned for an hour by the Royal Malaysian Police in relation to a human rights forum organised by his non-governmental organisation, SUARAM. The forum discussed the effects of the “draconian” Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of 2012.
Sevan Doraisamy is part of the Citizen Action Group On Enforced Disappearance (CAGED), a coalition of 48 civil society groups which was formed at the beginning of May 2017 to monitor cases of enforced disappearances and assist the families of missing victims. He is the executive director of Suara Rakat Malaysia (SUARAM), a non-governmental human rights organisation working on enforced disappearances, the right to trial, and freedom of expression. He also acts as the spokesperson for CAGED.
On 17 December 2019, Sevan Doraisamy was called in for questioning by the Bukit Aman’s Classified Criminal Investigation Unit in relation to a public platform co-hosted by SUARAM. The forum which took place on 25 November 2019, discussed the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of 2012 (SOSMA), with the intention of educating the public about the oppressive aspects of the law. Particular focus was given to the arrest and detention of twelve alleged Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members who were charged under the Act. The human rights defender is could be investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code that deals with statements “that induce the public to commit an offence against the state”. If found guilty, Sevan Doraisamy may be punishable with a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.
This is not the first time that Sevan Doraisamy has been investigated for his human rights work. In his five years at SUARAM, the defender has been called in for questioning on ten separate occasions. In October 2019, he was placed under investigation after assisting in a case where victims alleged that they were wrongfully detained and abused during detention. On 16 May 2017, he, along with two fellow human rights defenders, were summoned by police for questioning over a statement they released, alleging that various abductions perpetrated between November 2016 and February 2017 in Malaysia were enforced disappearances. SUARAM and its employees are constantly called in for investigations pertaining to the several platforms and gatherings they organise to promote human rights. The organisation has now called for an open discussion with the inspector-general of police to prevent further intimidation and harassment of those who work in defence of human rights.
Front Line Defenders condemns the repeated and ongoing judicial harassment of human rights defender Sevan Doraisamy, which it believes is solely motivated by his human rights activities. Front Line Defenders believes he is legitimately exercising his right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 6, 2019
- Event Description
Aluthgama Police were yet to arrest the suspects identified in connection with the assault of Daily Mirror /Lankadeepa Aluthgama Correspondent Thusitha Kumara de Silva and his wife on Friday night, over an alleged exposure of artificial toddy mafia in the Kalutara District.
A large number of Kalutara District journalists representing mainstream print and electronic media organisations staged a silent demonstration yesterday afternoon demanding Aluthgama Police to bring the culprits of this attack to book without delay.
Thusitha Kumara and his wife who had been rushed to Aluthgama Base Hospital in a traumatic condition with assaults to their heads and body with clubs on Friday night had later been transferred to Kalutara General Hospital in Nagoda on Saturday. The journo and his wife who were away from home on a personal matter had rushed back hearing that an armed gang had stormed their house and was attacking it around 7.00 p.m. Friday (06). Their son was the only occupant at home during the incident. When the couple reached the scene about 10 to 15 men armed with clubs had started attacking them with threatening “you were the one who wrote about the artificial toddy industry in newspapers and exposed us”.
The gang had soon left the scene leaving the wounded couple behind who were rushed to the hospital by the neighbours.
Thusitha Kumara had lodged a complaint with the Aluthgama Police regarding the assault and had given details of five of the gang as identified to be residents of the same area. His mobile phone and cash amounting to Rs.4,800 had also been missing in the attack.Speaking to the Daily Mirror, National Organiser of Independent Media Foundation of Kalutara Suresh Wijeyarangana said the district journalists gathered in solidarity to demand justice to Thusitha Kumara and his wife.
He said Thusitha was renowned for his brave reporting against illegal artificial toddy manufacturers in the area, where several large scale detections were made by the Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel a few months back and seized 40,000 litres of chemical toddy in Aluthgama.
The demonstration was held to urge the law enforcement authorities to secure the lives of journalists who fight against this illegal and artificial toddy industry in the area carried out by the goons of top politicians and some leading underworld figures of Kosgama area.
Meanwhile, the Aluthgama Police had searched the houses of the five identified suspects who had reportedly fled the area.
A special police protection has been given to journo Thusitha Kumara and his wife at the hospital as well as to their smashed house in Hettimulla. JVP Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also took part in the demonstration.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Family of HRD, Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jan 1, 2020
- Event Description
A veteran television journalist has lodged a police report over death threats he received following a segment he produced on a Kuala Terengganu-area tahfiz (religious) school that was allegedly failing to provide its students with basic necessities.
Mohd Ishak Abdillah Ngah’s news report, broadcast on Malaysia’s most widely-watched news network, TV3, accused the school of lacking basic amenities including electricity and water for their primary students in the town of Wakaf Mempelam.
Speaking to national newswire Bernama, Mohd Ishak said that the threats originated on Facebook in relation to a post about the story, but have since escalated to real-world confrontations.
“I was criticized with harsh words and murder threats. Besides that, some people even posted abusive comments that they wanted to smack my face as well as to destroy property,” he told reporters at the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters.
“At 5:15pm on Jan. 1, I was approached by a man who was dissatisfied with the news reports and claimed that he was the Kawasan Cabang Tiga [area] leader.”
He added that his decision to file the police report was made in order to ensure the safety of himself and his family.
Facebook user Nurul Hana Mamat posted to her social media account, claiming to be a parent of one of the students, and stated that while amenities were lacking at the school, she had been informed of the situation. She added that only one parents complained, sparking the report from TV3.
Following the reports of young students paying to study in amenity-less facilities, Terengganu state’s chief minister, Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, maintained that the school — identified as Sekolah Rendah Islam Darul Iman (SRIDI) Wakaf Mempelam — had indeed experienced a cut in electricity and water, but they had since been restored.
No explanation was offered as to why the students had been studying under the adverse conditions.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Jan 21, 2020
- Event Description
A field reporter of Radyo ni Juan based in Tagum City, Davao del Norte was harassed by police in Carmen town as he covered a protest by banana workers Jan. 21, according to an alert released by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Radyo ni Juan reporter Glenn Jester Hitgano was covering the strike of workers of banana company Philippine Dream Farm Development when policemen cut short his interview and took took him to the police station, where he was held for an hour. The policemen also attempted to confiscate his phone and ordered him to erase his interview, but the reporter asserted his rights as a journalist.
“They subjected me to psywar and harassed me, saying I was not allowed to carry out interviews,” Hitgano said.
National alternative media group Altermidya denounced the intimidation and arrest of Hitgano.
“Altermidya condemns this attack on our colleague, who was clearly being coerced into silence by state forces who were uncomfortable with the truth. The arrest and intimidation of journalists like Hitgano is a blatant violation of media’s task of exposing the truth to the public,” the group said in a statement.
Altermidya said members of the Carmen police should be held accountable.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Dec 13, 2019
- Event Description
Vyapam scam whistleblower Ashish Chaturvedi is said to have been threatened for taking up the issue of illegal colonies in certain parts of the state.
The anti-graft activist, known for his noted exposures in the Vyapam scam has lodged a complaint with Jhansi Road police following which an inquiry was lodged into the matter.
The Vyapam case refers to irregularities in exams held by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board, also called Vyavasayik Pareeksha Mandal or Vyapam for admission in professional courses and state services.
Sources said an anti-mafia squad, formed by Gwalior collector, has also taken cognizance of the threat issued to the activist.
Chaturvedi told News18 he came across some documents that suggested several colonies were built on encroached land by a group of builders. Soon after, he had served legal notices to the builders through his lawyer and wanted to know about the colonies and unsuspecting buyers.
On Saturday, he said he received a call on his cellphone and the caller asked him about the notice he had served to the builders.
When the activist told the person to instead make a written reply to the notice, the unidentified caller started abusing him and even threatened to eliminate him. A case has been lodged against the unidentified caller under sections 292, 506 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Recently, the Kamal Nath-led government had announced to take action against the Mafiosi prevalent across the state, following which officials in Indore, Gwalior and Bhopal swung into action.
On Saturday, a restaurant owned by local BJP leader Pravin Sharma in Gwalior was razed down and dismantled a garden built over a nullah. The garden was owned one Abdul Razzaq.
In Gwalior, officials demolished the fourth floor of a building owned by a builder.
In Bhopal, the Economic Offence Wing of the MP Police lodged a case against Ghanshyam Rajput and 24 others in an illegal land acquisition case of Rohit Housing Society. The society has been under the authorities’ lens for years for alleged land irregularities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Whistleblower
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 9, 2019
- Event Description
Freedom Media Movement vehemently condemns the threat to journalist K. Prasanna by Palani Digambaram, Minister of Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, in connection to an article titled ‘Does the Indian Housing Scheme provide fund the Minister’s food?’ written by journalist K. Prasanna using Right to Information Act.
This article by journalist K. Prasanna highlighting the irregularities that had taken place in the implementation of the Housing Scheme under the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, was published in the ‘Thinakkural’ Tamil Newspaper on 4.08.2019. The journalist had written this article using the RTI. Prasanna told us that Minister Digambaram and the Minister’s Coordinating Secretary contacted and threatened him following the publication of the said article. Journalist K. Prasanna has lodged a complaint with the RTI Commission. Free Media Movement views this as an act of intimidation on the freedom of the press and a threat to the Right to Information Act, thus it calls upon all parties to cooperate with journalists in their work without hindrance.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Jan 23, 2020
- Event Description
Ms. Jagriti Rahi is a social activistand engaged on issues related to women and children at national and state levelsfor the last 20 years. She has been a member of several regional/district level committees for protection of women and child rights in Uttar Pradesh. She is a member of Juvenile Justice Board for the last 3 years. She is also a member of National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM)state committee and Sajha Sanskriti Manch working on environment issues such as Ganga and sisterrivers.She also worked for the Gandhi 150 (150thbirth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) with childrenandyouth and was part of more than 40 Sadbhavna Sangams organised in eastern Uttar Pradesh against hatred and communal agenda.
According to information received,on January 29, 2020,anon bailable warrant has been issued by the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate, Varanasi against Ms. Rahiin case no: 09/2020 registered under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 188, 332, 353, 336, 114, 120 B and Section 7 of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act (CLA).On January 23, 2020,Uttar Pradesh Police filed a FIRin Varanasi’s in the Chawk Police Station (case no: 09/2020) naming 32 persons and 500 to 600 unknown personsfor protests on January 23, 2019. Though Ms. Rahi is not named as an accused in the FIR, the note in the FIRhas her referencein relation to the anti-CAA/NRC protest. The note accusesMs. Rahi for inciting violence andsocial disharmony during the protest dharna organised at Beniyabag ground earlier on December 19, 2019,in Varanasi. On January24, 2020,Ms. Rahi came to know this through newspapers and administrative sources that her name is also now being associated with the dharna programme organisedon 23 January, 2020. Ms. Rahi informed the HRDA that a media portal with the name ‘Amritprabhat’ also published her photograph in an attempt to spread alarming false rumourand perpetuate misunderstanding,claiming this to be a part of an organisedconspiracy against her. Ms. Rahi also informed that she had no participation in either the protest demonstration held in Beniyabag, Varnasi on December 19, 2019 or in any its preparatory meetings. She has neither been named nor there is any reference of her participation in any FIR related to the December event. Her name has been referred in thenote of theFIR filed on January23, 2020,at the Chawk police station in Varanasi whereas on that very day she was present in her office till 5 pm. Ms. Rahi had no connection whatsoever with the incidents of either on December 19, 2019 or incident of January23, 2020.Ms. Rahi is being targeted by the police administration and other non-state actors in a smear campaign which is aimed at attacking her reputation, credibility and harass and criminalise her work. Reference of her name in police FIR and smear campaign against Ms. Rahi are an effort to slander the woman human rights defender in order to silence her. Sheis facing the threat of her arrest and judicial prosecution due to false charges being levelled against her by the Uttar Pradesh Police.After the non-bailable warrant issued on January 29, 2020,Ms. Rahi is facing the threat of her imminent arrest and detention.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Sep 5, 2019
- Event Description
A senior Sinhala journalist was interrogated by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) for around six hours for allegedly threatening national security after reporting on the arrest of Kilinochchi’s Judicial Medical Officer (JMO).
Kilinochchi JMO and senior Tamil doctor Dr S Sivaruban was arrested by TID on August 18 for alleged links to terrorist activities.
Sinhala journalist Thinasena Rathgama was summoned to the TID in Colombo after publishing reports that the terrorism police were alleging Dr Sivaruban was involved in an assassination plot against former Defence Secretary and presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and having links with the LTTE.
Rathgama said he had been accused of threatening national security by publishing the reports.
Dr Sivaruban, who remains in detention, was involved in several high profile cases as JMO, including providing medical reports linking the Sri Lankan army with the so called 'grease devil' attacks of 2011. He was also a key medical witness in the case of the rape and murder of a child by a member of the EPDP paramilitary group.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Nov 8, 2019
- Event Description
It began when Rana Ayyub, who is nowadays a Washington Post columnist, posted a cryptic message on Twitter on 8 November about the ruling that India’s supreme court was due to issue the next day on a fraught 30-year-old dispute between Hindus and Muslims over a religious site in the northern city of Ayodhya. It ended with the words, “I hope my country does not disappoint me tomorrow.”
It immediately unleashed a torrent of Twitter insults and calls for Ayyub to be raped or murdered that were orchestrated by trolls linked to the Hindu nationalist movement. Even more amazingly, it elicited a threat of legal action that came from the Twitter account of the police in Amethi, a town 100 km south of Ayodhya.
Posted less than half an hour after Ayyub’s original tweet, it said: “You have just made a political comment. Delete it immediately otherwise legal action will be taken against you by @amethipolice.” Amethi has no jurisdiction over either Ayodhya or Mumbai, the city where Ayyub lives.
Ayyub, who is currently on a visit to the United States, told RSF that, because of this threat, she feared that could be arrested on her return to the India. The message has not been disowned by India’s home affairs ministry.
“Police wanting to prosecute a journalist for making a so-called ‘political comment’ is something one might expect from the worst dictatorships,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk. “Either someone hacked into the Amethi police Twitter account, which would indicate serious incompetence, or the police are complicit in a campaign of calls for Rana Ayyub’s murder. We urge the home affairs ministry to conduct an internal investigation to identify these responsible for this unacceptable scandal.”
Wave of hate
The author “Gujarat Files,” a book examining the rise to power of Narendra Modi, who was reelected as prime minister by a clear majority in May, Ayyub is one of the favourite targets of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s notorious army of trolls.
In April 2018, RSF condemned an earlier and unprecedented wave of online hate messages against Ayyub, in which her phone number and address were posted online. RSF referred the case to the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, who then wrote to the Indian authorities requesting protection for Ayyub.
This kind of campaign is orchestrated by followers of Hindutva, an ideological blend of fascism and Hindu nationalism that inspired Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
India is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 18, 2019
- Event Description
Sri Lankan police threatened residents of a Mannar village including the local priest when they protested against Sinhalese people illegally extracting sand from the village.
Residents of Thottaveli have for several years complained of illegal sand mining causing environmental damage to the area and leaving villages prone to flooding and soil erosion.
While local authorities including the divisional and district councils have repeatedly denied giving permission for sand extraction the problem has persisted due to the perpetrators producing ambiguous permits for other purposes, obtained from southern politicians.
In this latest incident on Wednesday, villagers, led by parish priest Father Alexander Benno Silva, confronted the sand miners. Following a verbal exchange, the miners initially agreed to refrain from extracting the sand.
However, a short while later, the extraction vehicles returned, this time with a police escort.
The villagers once again took to the streets and carried out a road-block to prevent the sand mining from taking place.
During a confrontation with police, one officer pushed Father Benno to prevent him from getting on his motorcycle, and continued to verbally threaten him and other residents while filming the women that were protesting.
As tensions were heightening, senior priests from the Mannar diocese and the head of the Mannar police station went to the village and attempted to defuse the situation.
The offending police officer was made to apologise to Father Benno, although villagers continued to criticise the police for protecting the sand miners.
The problem of sand mining continues to grow across the North-East, causing worsening relations between police and communities.
Tamil groups say the police use the issue as a guise to target and surveillance communities, accusing police departments of taking bribes to protect actual perpetrators.
In 2017, an unarmed Tamil man was shot dead by police in Vadamarachchi during a purported confrontation about sand mining.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 4, 2019
- Event Description
A prominent Tamil disappearances activist and her daughter were attacked and hospitalised in Batticaloa on Sunday evening.
Amala Nayagi, the vice-president of the North East Families of the Disappeared Association and the president of the Batticaloa District Association, and her daughter were deliberately hit and knocked off their motorcycle by an oncoming motorcycle with three men.
The injured Amala Nayagi and her daughter were admitted to Karadiyanaru hospital in Batticaloa. They had been travelling to Batticaloa to attend a funeral when the attack took place.
While the attackers drove off after hitting the two, local youths attempted to chase and apprehend the three men. Although two escaped, one was caught and arrested by Karadiyanaru police.
Amala Nayagi has faced many threats over the years that she has been at the forefront of campaigning with families of the disappeared in Batticaloa. The activist said she was certain today’s attack was intended to intimidate her.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the arrested attacker was linked to a paramilitary group.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, Family of HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 10, 2019
- Event Description
Families of the disappeared decried the surveillance and intimidation they endure at the hands of Sri Lankan security and intelligence forces, while Sri Lankan intelligence officers came out in force to photograph and carry out surveillance of a mass rally in Mullaitivu on Tuesday.
“We the mothers participating in the struggle are also panicked that we may also go missing after realizing past incidents. As a proof to our dangerous situation, the military interference and surveillance have now increased,” the families said in a letter to the United Nations.
“The military intelligence personnel are very often interrogating our participant mothers while following us secretly and monitoring our daily activities. They visit our homes in odd times and carry out interrogation. They wantonly attack our District leaders and vanish. No action by the police even though we make entries at the respective police stations. Intimidation continues.”
Leaders of the protests, many of whom are vulnerable women, have been routinely attacked and threatened by suspected intelligence personnel since the roadside protests started and gained momentum almost three years ago.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Nov 9, 2019
- Event Description
We, the undersigned individuals strong condemn the recent threats, harassment and unfair treatment against human rights defender, Kumaravadivel Guruparan, by the Sri Lankan military and University Authorities. Guruparan, is a prominent human rights lawyer and academic based in Jaffna, in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. He is the founder of the Adayalam Center for Policy Research, and is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Law, at the University of Jaffna. He is also a Co-Spokesperson of the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF). On 09 November, 2019, Guruparan was informed by the Jaffna University Council, that he had been barred from private legal practice as per a decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC). We condemn this decision of the UGC, which was instigated by the military, and is aimed at silencing and suppressing Guruparan’s human rights work and legal advocacy.
Over the past decade or more, Guruparan has been a strong voice for human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka. Despite living and working in a highly militarized and hostile context, he has been consistently vocal against the failure of successive Governments to hold those responsible, especially the military, accountable for crimes against civilians.
The restrictions and harassment meted out against Guruparan are direct reprisals against his human rights work. We are deeply concerned at the conduct of the UGC and the University of Jaffna (UoJ), in their treatment of a senior faculty member. Both the UGC and the UoJ are civilian institutions, responsible at least in part, for moulding and guiding generations of university students in this country. In this instance, they have shown a crippling inability to withstand pressure from the military, a trend which threatens dangerous consequences. On 21August, 2019, the military wrote to the UGC questioning the basis on which Guruparan was permitted to practice law in court. Despite there being clear provisions under the University Establishment code under which a faculty member may be permitted to engage in private practice, and the military having no standing whatsoever to question or interfere in internal university matters, the UGC took the surprising decision on 05 September, that Guruparan should no longer be permitted to practice law. The decision of the UGC was communicated to the University of Jaffna which then in turn on 09 November 2019 has decided to ask Guruparan to act according to the UGC directives.
There has been a pattern of threats, intimidation and harassment against human rights defenders, especially those working in the North and East, in the lead up to the November election. Lawyers and activists working on military accountability have been particularly targeted. The recent threats and restrictions against Guruparan are believed to be linked to his representation of victims in the Navatkuli Habeas Corpus case, which relates to the enforced disappearance of 24 boys from military custody in 1996. Following the hearing of the case on 01 August 2019, Guruparan and other lawyers were photographed by unidentified men within the court premises. On 07 August, three officers from the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) visited the Adayalam Center office and demanded staff details and information about their work. Other lawyers working on the case have also faced similar harassment and intimidation.
We reiterate that the restrictions and harassment against Guruparan are a reprisal against his human rights work. The restrictions on his legal practice is a clear attempt to subvert justice by preventing his cases from being litigated successfully in court. We stand in solidarity with Guruparan and other lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders in the North and East, who face an increasingly tense and restrictive environment.
We also call upon the Judicial Service Commission to take note of the serious implications of such actions by the military, whose members have been named as respondents in the case that Guruparan is representing. Attempts to influence as to who appears on the other side through intimidation and undue influence is a very serious issue affecting the fundamental right to equality before the law and recourse to justice.The Hon. Attorney General who appears for the military must also appropriately advice his clients to desist from such reprehensible behaviour.
In conclusion, we condemn the UGC for aiding the military call on them to rescind the order, and clarify the rights of university legal academics staff to engage in practice.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Academic freedom, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to work
- HRD
- Academic, Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military, Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Oct 10, 2019
- Event Description
The Maldives government on Thursday shut down human rights group Maldivian Democracy Network over “content slandering Islam and the Prophet Mohamed” in a 2016 report on radicalisation.
Citing an ongoing police investigation prompted by public outrage, the registrar of associations at the community empowerment ministry ordered the NGO to suspend its operations. In a statement released shortly thereafter, the foreign ministry said the Maldives remains committed to upholding constitutional rights but noted that free speech in the country was “subject to refrainment from creating communal discord or blatantly contravening the fundamental tenets of Islam.”
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also recognises that the right to freedom of expression “cannot be exercised maliciously, in the form of hate-speech, or in a manner that contributes to public discord and enmity,” it added.
“The maintenance of public order and communal harmony while ensuring the rights of citizens are the highest obligations of any government. Islam is one of the fundamental sources of our country’s democratic framework as well as a source of unity and peace within our community,” the statement continued.
“The government unequivocally condemns those who foment hatred, send out threats and call for violence against others in the name of defending religion. We will not hesitate to use the full force of the law against those who do so. We call upon all parties to exercise their rights in a manner that is respectful of each other and the sentiments of the wider Maldivian community.”
A campaign led by religious scholars to ban MDN was launched earlier this month after screenshots of offensive sections in the report were widely shared on social media. The Islamic ministry asked police to investigate as President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih promised to take action.
In the face of the public outcry, MDN removed the report from its website and apologised for offending public sensitivities with the language used in the report. The NGO said it has decided to revise the report with the help of religious scholars.
In a second statement last week, MDN reiterated that it does not “accept or condone disrespect to Islam” and warned of “targeted campaigns to spread disinformation and hatred” in an alleged attempt to divert the focus of new counter-terrorism efforts. The NGO condemned death threats made against its members and staff.
“We accept the unfortunate use of language in some sections of the report. We have offered an apology for any offence to public sensitivities as soon as these issues were raised, and have since retracted the report for further review. MDN is providing full cooperation to the Maldives Police Service in its investigation against this organisation,” it added.
MDN Executive Director Shahindha Ismail told The Wire that the government was “trying to appease extremists and in doing so contradicting with due process and democratic principles by obstructing the legitimate work of a 14-year-old human rights organisation.”
On Friday, Human Rights Watch called on the government to immediately reverse MDN’s suspension and “investigate Islamist groups responsible for inciting violence against rights groups in the Maldives.” By shutting down the NGO, President Solih was “feeding a frenzy of threats and incitement by Islamist groups,” said Patricia Gossman, Asia associate director at the international human rights organisation.
HRW’s call was echoed by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
“Instead of impeding the legitimate and important work done by MDN, the government should address rampant religious extremism and protect human rights defenders,” said Adilur Rahman Khan, FIDH Vice-President.
“It’s the ongoing use of social media to threaten and intimidate Maldivian human rights defenders that should be investigated, not a three-year old report that impeccably described instances of radicalisation among certain sectors of Maldivian society,” said Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Offline, Online
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Oct 11, 2019
- Event Description
Detained Vietnamese environmental activist Nguyen Ngoc Anh has been placed in solitary confinement after being beaten unconscious at the hands of his cellmate and refused treatment for his injuries, his wife said Friday, adding that he “fears for his life” in jail.
After visiting Anh at the Binh Phu Detention Center in Ben Tre’s Thanh Phu district on Friday morning, his wife, Nguyen Thi Chau, told RFA’s Vietnamese Service that her husband was left with a limp following the attack.
“When I sat down, I saw my husband come out, but he could barely walk,” she said, adding that she had to hold back tears to ask him what had happened.
“My husband told me that last Friday, [prison authorities] invited [his cellmate], a convicted criminal, for a talk. When the [talk] was finished, he walked up to [my husband] pointing his finger at him and said, ‘I can kill you and I won’t have to [answer for it]. I will kill you this time.’”
Chau detailed her husband’s account of the fight that ensued.
“He jumped into the cell and threw a punch, but my husband was able to dodge,” she said.
“[My husband] turned around to grab a bath towel, but the criminal kicked him from behind. My husband fell and hit his head on the [concrete] bunk and he lost consciousness,” she said.
Chau said that after the fight, Anh requested medical attention, but prison authorities refused to help him.
“He was turned down [for medical attention]. They also didn’t arrest the guy that beat my husband, and escorted my husband to a separate cell, like for solitary confinement,” she said.
Anh, a shrimp farming engineer, was arrested in August 2018 in Ben Tre province for making politically charged posts on Facebook.
He was convicted in June 2019 on charges of “making, storing, spreading, and declaring transmitted information and documents to combat the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” according to Article 117 of Vietnam’s 2015 Criminal Code. Anh has rejected the sentence and launched an appeal.
The environmental activist has reported trouble with his cellmate over the past few months, according to his wife.
Last month, Chau told RFA that Anh had detailed physical and mental abuse by his cellmate during an earlier visit, and that he had also been threatened with death.
She also claimed that prison authorities are pressuring her husband to plead guilty and give up his appeal, and that the abuse becomes increasingly severe each time he refuses.
Difficult conditions
Chau described the conditions of Anh’s cell in solitary confinement as extremely difficult, and said guards refuse him basic necessities.
“While he’s in there he doesn’t have [access to] boiled water, he can’t read newspapers, he isn’t allowed to watch TV, or listen to the radio,” she said, adding that the injuries he sustained in the recent attack made the situation nearly intolerable.
“While he was in pain, he was unable to walk or even clean himself. Today he was barely able to walk when we visited him. He said he could not eat, or sleep.”
Chau said that Anh “dare not speak out” about his treatment in prison, because “the more he said, the more difficult it will be for him.”
“He fears for his life,” she said. “I just want the international community and human rights organizations to protect and help save my husband. I need nothing more than that.”
No date has been set for Anh’s appeal trial, and authorities have so far refused him permission to meet with a lawyer.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Viet Nam
- Initial Date
- Jan 20, 2020
- Event Description
Police officers from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security have kidnapped Hanoi-based activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh for interrogation for hours about their assistance given to land petitioners in Dong Tam commune, My Duc district.
On the afternoon of January 20, Mrs. Hanh and her husband Huynh Ngoc Chenh went to the Vietnam Bank for Commerce (Vietcombank)’s branch in Ba Dinh district to question the bank for freezing her account with around VND528 million ($22,500) of donations for the family of Mr. Le Dinh Kinh, a 84-year-old resident of Dong Tam who was killed by police during the raid on January 9.
During a meeting with the bank’s representatives, Mr. Chenh recognized that plainclothes policemen were deployed in the office, probably the bank branch informed police for the presence of the couple.
After receiving unsatisfied answers from the bank’s representatives, the couple left the office to return home with their motorbike. Not far from the bank, they were stopped by police officers in plainclothes who said Hanh must to go with them to their office for “working.” Hanh was forced to go in their car and the vehicle went to the Security Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security at Nguyen Gia Thieu street, Hanoi where many activists were interrogated and beaten.
During the three-hour interrogation, five police officers questioned about the 50K Fund she established last year for assisting prisoners of conscience and activist-at-risks, and the donations from Vietnamese in the country and abroad for Mr. Kinh’s family after the bloody police raid on January 9.
During the interrogation, police officers said they would arrest some other activists, including land petitioner and human rights defender Trinh Ba Phuong for his covering news on the brutal police attack in Dong Tam on January 9, Hanh said.
The abduction and the interrogation against Mrs. Hanh were made few days after her account in Vietcombank was suspended. On January 13, the Ministry of Public Security said on its website that the ministry had ordered local banks to freeze accounts of some activists, including Mrs. Hanh who have been receiving donations for persecuted Dong Tam residents. The ministry said the financial aids from people can help Dong Tam citizens purchase weaponry to deal with the government.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese activists continue to call for a boycott of Vietcombank’s service and ask the Japanese Mizuho to reconsider its investment in the Vietnamese bank. Currently, the Japanese side owns 15% stake in Vietcombank.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
[Defend the Defenders](Police officers from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security have kidnapped Hanoi-based activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh for interrogation)
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 24, 2020
- Event Description
On Monday, NDTV's Akshay Kumar Dongare was assaulted by a mob while he was reporting, at around 4 pm. During a live report, he and his cameraperson were surrounded by a mob. Akshay was slapped but kept trying to pacify the attackers. The mob tried to snatch his mic and mobile.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Kyrgyzstan
- Initial Date
- Jan 29, 2020
- Event Description
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about an attack and threats against Ms. Cholpon Dzhakupova and other representatives of the non-governmental human rights organisation “Legal clinic ‘Adilet’” (Adilet)
during a public discussion of a controversial draft law amending the current legislation on non-governmental organisations.
According to the information received, on January 29, 2020, representatives of the Adilet convened a roundtable to facilitate public discussion of the draft law № 6-28018/19, which was introduced to the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan (Jogorku Kenesh) in December 2019. Adilet had earlier criticized the proposed amendments in media and on its website as tightening the State control over the nonprofit sector and undermining the freedom of association in Kyrgyzstan.At 9 am on January 29, 2020, just prior to the beginning of the roundtable, a group of 11 unknown individuals attempted to break into the conference room of the “Europa Hotel” in Bishkek, where the event took place. The perpetrators were shouting threats and insults directed at employees of Adilet, securing the entrance, and their attempts to get in persisted for more than two hours. Around 11.30 a.m., the perpetrators managed to break in pushing away the employees of Adilet. One of the employees sustained bruises as a result of the assault. After entering the room, the perpetrators started threatening the employees with physical attacks — including by menacing to beat them with bricks and armatures, — and with the dissemination of false messages alleging that Adilet employees belong to the LGBT+ community and thus promote LGBT+ rights; a sensitive field of work association with which could cause a violent backlash against human rights defenders among the general public. They also shouted insults at the director of the Adilet Ms. Cholpon Dzhakupova and other participants, including the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Tokon Mamytov and Ms. Asel Arzybaeva, the Representative of the President’s Office. The representatives of the United Nations Development Programme office in Kyrgyzstan, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, German and the United States diplomatic missions present at the event witnessed the assault. Partly, the incident was captured on video by the attendees of the event and a number of Kyrgyz media published them.
The Observatory is particularly concerned with inaction of the authorities regarding the protection of Adilet members: one of the attendees called the police, however police officers remained at the venue for 20 minutes and left, without taking any concrete measures in securing the safety of participants of the round table, including by arresting the assailants. As of the date of publication of this Urgent Appeal, the identities of these individuals remain unknown, however, they presented themselves as civil society activists and claimed that they received information about the roundtable from one of the authors of the draft law, deputy Mr. B. Raiymkulov. On January 30, 2020, Adilet lodged a complaint before the Internal Affairs Office of the Sverdlovsk District of Bishkek requesting impartial investigation into the case and urging the authorities to ensure the safety of the human rights defenders employees of Adilet. The authorities registered the complaint in the appropriate manner.
The Observatory fears that these attacks constitute a reprisal for the critical attitude of Adilet and its employees towards the legislation, including the above mentioned draft law, which limits the independence of civil society organisations. The attack against the human rights defenders seems particularly disturbing against the backdrop of systematic attempts by the Kyrgys authorities to tighten State control over civil society and the rising number of far-right groups harassing civil society activists and independent journalists.
The Observatory strongly condemns the attack against the Adilet members and the inaction of the authorities regarding the increasing attacks, acts of harassment and provocations against human rights defenders, and urges the State to take swift and stern measures to reverse the current trend detrimental to the independence of the civil society and democracy in Kyrgyzstan.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community), Woman
- Violation
- Gender Based Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Vilification, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- NGO staff, Public Servant, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Feb 11, 2020
- Event Description
Five labor rights activists, including a labor activist from a US-owned garment factory, were threatened with 24 days in prison unless they paid fines of 30,000 kyats (US$21) at Yangon’s Dagon Township Court on Feb. 11 for an unlawful assembly.
The five led more than 400 factory workers from the Natural Garment Company in Shwelinban industrial zone, Hlaing Tharyar Township, to the Yangon regional government offices on Nov. 7, 2019. They called on the National League for Democracy’s regional chief minister, U Phyo Min Thein, to take action against employers who they said violated labor rights and employment contracts.
Garment factory worker leaders Ma Thandar Phyoe, Ko Kyaw Myo Htike, Ko Chit Nan Maung and Ko Pyae Sone Aung and activist Ma Moe Sandra Myint from the labor rights advocacy group Action Labor Rights, were sued by Dagon police under Section 19 of the Unlawful Assembly Act.
Several labor supporters had to help pay the court fines to avoid prison sentences for the five union representatives.
“We just went there to request government help with our labor rights violation case. But we were sentenced although we did nothing wrong. This is unfair,” activist Ma Moe Sandra Myint told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
The case undermined trust in government as no action was taken against employers who repeatedly violated labor rights and contracts, said Ma Moe Sandra Myint.
The labor disputes began in August 2019 because staff said their salaries were cut. Around 1,500 factory workers reportedly went on strike in September.
Media reports said strikers stopped 10 Chinese technicians and two interpreters from reaching the factory in mid-September as the management called for talks.
Strikers released the factory’s technicians and interpreters after the township offered to hold negotiations.
The factory announced its closure on Nov. 7, saying that operations had been disrupted by the strike. The management said it would compensate workers for the closure. The announcement led to the November protest.
The Natural Garment management was unavailable for comment. The clothing factory closed last year only to re-open with many of its former staff. Union leaders were excluded, said Ma Moe Sandra Myint.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Labour rights, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Myanmar
- Initial Date
- Mar 4, 2020
- Event Description
Two journalists who were abducted and released by Border Guard Force (BGF) troops in Myawaddy Township, Karen State said they were tortured by the soldiers during interrogation.
Naw Betty Han, a reporter for Frontier Myanmar, and Mar Naw, a photojournalist for Myanmar Times, were detained in the jungle for one day and released Thursday evening. the two were covering land and development issues in Karen State.
According to Naw Betty Han, the two were walking near a bridge at Border Gate 1 in Myawaddy and taking a picture of heavy machines building a new casino when the guards of the building compound, wearing black suits and armbands with Chinese letters, detained them.
“They told us to delete the photos and later said we needed to meet a major and called a car,” she said.
The guards forced the two journalists to cover their faces with black masks and drove them to a rubber plantation. There, armed men wearing fatigues with BGF logos on their armbands sat the reporters on the ground and interrogated them.
Mar Naw said the men hit him several times and kicked his face until his nose bled while others tried to cut his long hair and another held a bayonet near the journalist’s neck.
“I apologized to them several times and asked them not to hit me but they didn’t stop. One guy held a bayonet to my neck,” said Mar Naw.
“They hit and kicked Ko Mar Naw but they didn’t hit me. But they aimed their guns at me and cocked the guns,” Naw Betty Han explained to reporters in Myawaddy after she was released on Thursday.
“The guard in plain clothes who stopped us at the construction site is the one who put us in this situation,” Mar Naw added. “We deleted the photos as [the guards] requested but they called the armed group and threatened us like this.”
After the initial interrogation, the two journalists were handcuffed and put into another car, again with black masks covering their eyes. The armed men took them and locked them in a small prison enclosure in the jungle.
Naw Betty Han said she told the men that they were journalists and called out the names of BGF majors and officials who she had previously interviewed.
“They slapped me in my face for calling out their major’s name. They said we took photos of their army outpost. We explained ourselves but they didn’t listen,” she recalled. “We were later put in a different enclosure at about 2 a.m. The next afternoon, they told us to get into the car, put the masks on and we were sent back to an office where we met with the BGF officers and were released.”
Colonel Saw Chit Thu, head of the ethnic Karen BGF, told The Irrawaddy that they are taking action against those who were involved in the incident.
“We gave no instructions to arrest or interrogate any reporters. We arrested the person who was involved in this incident, who went beyond official orders, and they will be punished. I also instructed the troops not to do this in the future,” said Col. Saw Chit Thu.
The Karen State-based BGF, formed in 2010, is a splinter group of the defunct Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and is backed by the military. The group operates businesses in the area, including casinos, and is involved in building the Chinese-backed Shwe Kokko real estate development project. Naw Betty Han has written extensively about them.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Sexual Violence, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Armed forces/ Military
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Initial Date
- Feb 22, 2020
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Kazakh authorities to stop harassing Inga Imanbay, an opposition journalist who has been assaulted while trying to film her husband’s arrest, forced to resign as a newspaper editor, and named during a colleague’s illegal interrogation. Those who attacked her must be brought to justice, RSF said.
The police have done nothing in response to the complaint Imanbay filed on 1 March about the attack, although the deadline for them to take action has expired. Imanbay, who is several months pregnant, was attacked during the arrest of her husband, Zhanbolat Mamay, a former journalist who is one of a new opposition party’s founders.
When Imanbay tried to use her phone to film the men – plainclothes policemen, according to Imanbay – who came to take her husband to a police station to prevent him attending a demonstration, the phone was snatched out of her hands, although she had shown her press card, and her head was slammed against a metal fence.
As a result, she had to seek emergency medical attention at a hospital for a slight concussion.
Imanbay had been appointed editor of the independent daily Zhas Alash in early January but was sidelined from this position and, as a result, forced to resign on 20 February, shortly before demonstrations in support of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK), the new party of which her husband had assumed the leadership.
Imanbay said she was sidelined under pressure from the authorities because of her articles about former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his family, and because of her husband’s new role.
“Inga Imanbay is being subjected to full-blown harassment,” said Jeanne Cavelier, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. “We call on the Kazakh authorities to respect their international obligations by conducting a transparent and effective investigation into the attack against her and by bringing those responsible to trial.
“Free media are essential for a democratic debate and for the credibility of the reformist discourse employed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has been president for nearly a year. Not to speak of the requirement on government to guarantee journalists’ safety.”
The police are also planning to open a criminal investigation into a Zhas Alash article about former President Nazarbayev for “inciting social hatred.” This is what they told the article’s author, Askhat Akhan, when they interrogated him on 29 February without his lawyer being present. They wanted to know if Imanbay had commissioned the article.
The police prevented several journalists from covering a day of protest in support of the new opposition party on 22 February. Kazakhstan is ranked 158th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to work
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- India
- Initial Date
- Feb 11, 2020
- Event Description
In yet another case of whistle-blowers being intimidated by mafia groups, Mahesh Vijayan, an RTI activist, who fights against illegal soil mining in the district, was attacked by a four member-gang on Tuesday night at his residence at Nattassery near here.
Mahesh was earlier attacked on the premises of the Kottayam municipal office on January 22, by some sand mining contractors, injuring him seriously. Later, Mahesh was threatened by another contractor over phone for moving against illegal sand mining in the district.
In a complaint filed at the Gandhi Nagar police station, Mahesh said the gangsters arrived at his house around 8 pm on Tuesday in a car, which was registered in the name of K S Ajayan, one of the accused who had attacked him at the Kottayam municipal office. “They asked me to come out of the house to discuss something. Sensing something was wrong I stayed on the veranda of my house. When they came to me and attacked me with hockey sticks and iron rods, I ran inside and closed the door. However, they tried to break open the door, but withdrew from the attempt when my mother and wife screamed for help,” Mahesh told TNIE.
Mahesh added that the miscreants came in a car bearing registration number KL-05-AU-6003 and he filed the complaint along with such details.
Gandhi Nagar station house officer Cletus K Joseph confirmed that police have prepared an FIR based on the complaint lodged by Mahesh and an investigation has been started. Mahesh said he was attacked for trying to prevent illegal sand mining.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Raid, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Family of HRD, RTI activist
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- China
- Initial Date
- Feb 2, 2020
- Event Description
Over the past month, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has marshalled the country’s public security apparatus to track down and detain known activists and ordinary citizens who have shared information about the coronavirus outbreak, provided on-the-ground updates from the epicenter, or reflected upon the epidemic’s implications for China’s governance model.
But parts of the regime have also gone on the offensive against its political enemies more broadly, raising new questions about where party leaders’ priorities lie during a public health crisis and how far they will go to maintain their hold on power.
Muzzling Sources of Independent Information
The disappearance of three Chinese citizen journalists who had been live-streaming updates from Wuhan has drawn international attention. The three men — businessman Fang Bin, lawyer Chen Qiushi, and former journalist Li Zehua — had separately recorded and disseminated video reports from inside the locked-down city, its hospitals, and its quarantine centers. Over the past month, all three have vanished into some form of custody, detained by police or possibly quarantined despite their reported good health.
While these cases are widely known, in part due to the men’s international contacts and the potency of their videos, there are many more like them. Media reports, updates from human rights groups, and posts on local government websites from the past month indicate that similar measures are being taken by authorities far from Wuhan. Tan Zuoren, an online activist and former political prisoner in Sichuan province, received multiple visits by police and had his account on the WeChat social media platform frozen.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- #COVID-19, Internet freedom, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to privacy
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Mar 12, 2020
- Event Description
Malaysiakini journalist Kow Gah Chie has been targeted in an online hate campaign after publishing a story on the country’s new environment minister and his defence for logging in Kelantan. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) to urge Facebook to take immediate action to end the harassment of Kow Gah Chie on its platform.
The attacks on the Malaysiakini journalist began on March 12, after publication of a video on KiniTV a day earlier of a doorstop interview with the incoming environment minister, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. In the video, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the deputy president of Islamist Party PAS, was asked by reporters to respond on the criticisms of logging activities in Kelantan, a state governed by PAS. He went on to say logging was legal because Kelantan had ISO certification and accused opposition politicians for the negative perception of logging in the region.
The online onslaught of hate against Kow accused Malaysiakini of fabricating the story and directed personal and racist posts at Kow calling her a pig, with threats of physical harm. By March 14, the posts were shared more than 2,900 times and garnered more than 2,200 comments.
Malaysiakini reported the posts to Facebook but said no action was taken. Malaysiakini said it had been trying to contact Facebook directly since March 13.
The NUJM said: “The NUJ calls on the government and respective authority to take swift action against those responsible for posting the threats and racist remarks against Kow. Sooner or later more and more such incidences will occur not only against journalists but also between races in Malaysia if it is not curbed immediately.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Feb 27, 2020
- Event Description
On 27th of February university student activists started a protest in front of the Ministry of Higher Education building in Ward place, Colombo. The students launched a continuous protest against the long-time closure of the University of Ruhuna. Colombo court had issued a court order to remove the protest hut made by the students, and to prevent students from protesting either on the road or on the pavement of the road. They were also prevented them from entering the government office premises. This literally meant according to the order they could no longer continue the protest. The students were told that they will be arrested and charged for contempt of court unless they obeyed. The order was issued against Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) convener Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, Convener of General Students Association of Ruhuna University Weranga Pushpika, Convener of General Students Association of Rajarata University Wasantha Mudalige, Co-conveners of General Students Association of Peradeniya University Mangala Maddumage, and Gihan Weerasekara and other protesters who participated in the protest with them.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of movement, Offline, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending