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CHINA: Urgent Action Health Fears For Detained Tibetan Monk, Further information on UA originally issued January 22nd 2014 3 Support Atrocities Prevention and Response in Central African Republic: Write a letter to the editor 4 Egypt: Release women protesters facing trumpedup charges 6 Write on behalf of new Prisoner of Conscience, Tajul Muluk 7 Lithuanian Courts ruling on CIA rendition case, a breakthrough for justice AIUSA-Group 48 http://aipdx.org 503-227-1878 Next Meeting: Friday February 14th First Unitarian Church 1011 SW 12th Ave 7:00pm informal gathering 7:30pm meeting starts
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Amnesty International USA Group 48
Sochi Olympics countdown sees Russia jailing second prisoner of conscience this week

2.14
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In a brief and blatantly unfair closed

It took a judge only a few minutes, behind a closed door, to decide that trial at which no lawyer was presyet another environmental activist ent, Russian authorities this morning should be behind bars when the Games sentenced environmental activist Igor begin. This happened precisely on the Kharchenko to five days in detention for day when the Olympic torch arrived purportedly resisting legitimate police in Sochi. Sportsmanship and fair play are hallmarks of the Olympic spirit, but orders, Amnesty International said as it named him the countrys second new the Russian authorities seem to have thrown out the rule book in favour of prisoner of conscience since Monday. silencing critical voices ahead of the Kharchenko, of the Russian NGO EnGames, said Sergei Nikitin, Amnesty vironmental Watch for North Caucasus Internationals Moscow Office Director. (Ecologicheskaya Vakhta po Severnomu This foul play must come to an end. Kavkazu), was arrested on Monday The Russian authorities must halt their night and then again on Tuesday after harassment of civil society activists, his car was vandalized by masked assail- protect the right to peaceful freedom of ants in Krasnodar, the capital city of the expression, and release the Sochi prisRussian region hosting the Sochi Winter oners of conscience: Igor Kharchenko Olympics. Amnesty International has and his fellow environmentalist Yevgreviewed video footage of his arrest, eny Vitishko, who is currently serving which contradicts the polices allega15 days in administrative detention on trumped-up charges. tions that he resisted orders.

February 5, 2014

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CHINA: Urgent Action - Health Fears For Detained Tibetan Monk Further information on UA originally issued January 22nd 2014
M Karma Tsewang
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Karma Tsewangs lawyer Tang Tianhao said he is being held on suspicion of endangering state security, but what this relates to has not been confirmed. This provision in Chinese Law is frequently used by the authorities to imprison peaceful critics of the government and curtail freedom of expression. Karma Tsewangs detention comes at a time when Tibetan monks continue to be the target of a crackdown by the Chinese authorities, following the mass protests in 2008. Please write immediately in English, Chinese or your own language: Urging the authorities to ensure Karma Tsewang has regular access to his family, lawyers of his choosing, and any medical treatment he may require; Calling on the authorities to ensure Karma Tsewang is not tortured or ill-treated. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE MARCH 5th, 2014 TO: Director of Tibet Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau Li Zhao Tingzhang Xizang Zizhiqu Gonganting 26 Linkuodonglu Lasashi 850000 Xizang Zizhiqu Peoples Republic of China
Central African Republic Twitter Action Update by Terrie Rodello
Thanks to all out there who participated in the Amnesty International twitter action for the Central African Republic. The African Union meeting and donor summit have ended now and the need is still greater than resources but the gap is getting smaller!! Thanks for your help! Heres a story detailing the result: http://allafrica.com/stories/201402010173.html

Action

There are growing concerns for the health of prominent

Tibetan monk, Karma Tsewang, who has not been allowed access to his family or lawyer since he was seized by public security officers on December 6th in Chengdu, south-west China. His 16 supporters, who were detained for protesting against his detention, have since been released, but Karma Tsewang remains behind bars. Karma Tsewang has been detained at the Changdu (Chomdo) County Detention Centre, Tibet Autonomous Region, since December 6th, after he was seized in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, while traveling on business. His family have attempted to visit him several times, but have not been allowed. He suffers from hepatitis, and although his family were able to give some medication to officers at the detention centre, it is not known whether these were given to him and whether he is getting all the treatment he requires. Karma Tsewang is the highly-regarded abbot (Khenpo) at the Gongya Monastery in Nangqian (Nangchen) county, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Qinghai Province. On December 10th, after his detention, over 600 people including monks from Gongya Monastery staged a demonstration in Nangqian, calling for his release. Officials at Nangqian county threatened the monks who took part in the demonstration, warning them that Karma Tsewang would face even more severe punishment if they did not stop their protests. Despite stopping the demonstration, on December 20th and 21st, 16 monks were detained. They have since been released without charge.

Appeals To

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Salutation: Dear Director Director of Qinghai Province Public Security Bureau Liu Zhiqiang Tingzhang Qinghaisheng Gonganting No. 50 Bayilu, Chengdongqu Xiningshi 810007 Qinghaisheng Peoples Republic of China Fax: +86 971 8293290 Email: ghosthotcat@qhga.gov.cn Salutation: Dear Director Premier Li Keqiang Guojia Zongli The State Council General Office 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu Beijingshi 100017 Peoples Republic of China Fax: +86 10 65961109 Email: kf@people.cn
Copies To

Additional Information

Karma Tsewang, 38, is a prominent Tibetan monk at the Gongya Monastery in Nangqian county, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Gongya Monastery is an important monastery in Nangqian with 300 monks, 200 nuns and 100 young monks. The monastery holds the annual Grand Prayer for World Peace Puja which attracts tens of thousands of Tibetan Buddhist followers each year. Since the Tibetan mass protests of 2008 against Chinese rule, the Chinese government has stepped up repression in Tibetan areas and imposed intrusive military and security controls on the local people. The authorities also continue to subject Tibetans to humiliating patriotic education, which forces them to denounce the Dalai Lama and express support for the Chinese Communist Party. Tibetan monks have been a primary target of the crackdown. According to the International Campaign for Tibet, as of December 19th, 2013, 125 Tibetans have selfimmolated since February 27th, 2009 in protest against this crackdown.

Support Atrocities Prevention and Response in Central African Republic: Write a letter to the editor
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just a few days in the capital.During its investigations of the violent events in December, Amnesty International researchers reported that crimes against humanity and war crimes had occurred. But there is hope. Central Africans are a resilient people, with no history of ethnic or sectarian violence. Amnesty International along with other organizations are working with the Obama administration and policymakers to promote responses that will peacefully prevent more deadly conflict in addition to documenting and investigating the crimes that have already occurred.

The ongoing crisis in Central African Republic highlights

the importance of atrocities prevention and effective crisis response.

Action Request

The conflict started with a coup in March 2013. In September, France warned about the threat of mass atrocities and a humanitarian disaster. In November, the United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, Sample letter International Community Must Help End and Prevent Furstated that the seeds of genocide were being sown. And in ther Atrocities in the Central African Republic December, more than 1,000 innocent civilians were killed in

Help support atrocities prevention work in CAR and worldwide by writing a letter to the editor to your local newspapers or news outlets this month. The following sample letter contains the information for your letters.

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The past couple of months have seen the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) highlighted in newspapers around the world as horrific acts s of violence and reprisal killings have been occurring on a mass scale. The crisis has brought important discussions about conflict prevention back into light, and can serve as an opportunity to examine how the international community responds to warning signs of potential mass atrocities and how we, as the international community, respond to those that have already occurred.

few days in the capital, Bangui. Amnesty International researchers, in Bangui at the time, reported that crimes against humanity and war crimes had occurred.

The U.S. should continue to support international efforts to restore security in the CAR, end the atrocities and help the hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been affected by this conflict recover and rebuild their lives in peace. With the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide approaching this April, now is the time for the U.S. to reaffirm its commitment The CAR conflict started with a coup in March 2013. In Septo never again and to take concrete steps toward proactive tember, France warned about the threat of mass atrocities and crisis prevention and response. a humanitarian disaster. In November, the United Nations Name, City Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, stated that the seeds of genocide were being sown. And in December, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in just a

Egypt: Release women protesters facing trumped-up charges

February 7, 2014
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The detention of the three women at Mansoura University is just another example of the mounting crackdown on protesters and free expression in Egypt. They are facing fabricated and illegitimate charges simply for exercising their rights. The authorities have displayed a brazen disregard for the right to peaceful assembly in recent months and have sought to clamp down on any form of dissent with a restrictive new protest law, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. Amnesty International considers the women prisoners of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly. They have denied any involvement in the violence and this has been corroborated by the university security. It is baffling that they now may face life in prison. Abrar Al-Anany 18 and Menatalla Moustafa 18, both students at Mansoura University and Yousra Elkhateeb, 21, a recent graduate, were arrested on November 12th, 2013 after clashes erupted on the university campus between supporters and opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood. They have been held at Mansouras Public Prison ever since, where they are each allowed only a weekly five-minute visit with their families. The clashes, which broke out during a protest held by student supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, lasted more than five

The Egyptian authorities must immediately and uncondi-

tionally release three women arrested last November at a protest at Mansoura University, said Amnesty International.

The organization said authorities should drop all the charges against the women, who are due to go on trial on Saturday, February 8th. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.

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hours and left at least 70 people injured. After university security tried and failed to take control of the situation the university president called state security forces to intervene. They then entered the university campus with armored vehicles and shot tear gas to disperse the students. At least 23 students were arrested, including the three women. Students who have been involved in violent acts should be dealt in accordance with the law and in line with Egypts human rights obligations. Students under the age of 18 must be treated according to juvenile justice rules, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. The Ministry of Interior did not allow the two students to have their books to study inside the prison and they were prevented from taking the end-of-semester exams. The women are charged with belonging to a banned organization using terrorist methods a charge regularly used by the authorities against those perceived to support the Muslim Brotherhood. They are also charged with protesting without permission under Egypts restrictive new protest law as well as charges of thuggery, attacking security forces and destroying public property. According to witnesses and the womens lawyers, they were not involved in the clashes. The women had peacefully taken part in protests earlier but sought safety in a room at the universitys faculty of pharmacy when violence broke out. Amnesty International has seen a copy of a letter from the security department at Mansoura University to the public prosecutor stating that the women did not take part in the violence and asking for their release. The authorities seem determined to punish anyone who expresses dissent, irrespective of facts, said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. The Egyptian authorities must stop treating peaceful protesters like criminals. The relentless crackdown on demonstrations, freedom of expression and independent reporting must end.BackgroundSince the beginning of the academic year in September 2013, several protests have been held on university grounds by the Students against the Coup, an anti-gov-

ernment activist group. University campuses and even dorms have become frequent sites of clashes. The clashes at Mansoura University on November 12th, 2013 lasted more than five hours and left at least 70 people injured. The security forces fired tear gas from outside the university to disperse students inside. Later they entered the university grounds after the universitys president had asked for them to intervene to end the violence. Universities across Egypt have been affected by protests and clashes including the largest two universities in Greater Cairo Cairo University and Ain Shams. - Al-Azhar University remains a centre of student unrest. At least five al-Azhar University students have been killed in confrontations with security forces, and over 200 arrested. Security forces have used excessive force including lethal force to disperse the protests, and in some cases fired into or entered university grounds. Hundreds of students have been rounded-up by security forces during protests and clashes throughout Egypt. Over 500 students have been arrested in various protests since July 3rd 2013. Courts have issued convictions in three cases against alAzhar University students, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from a year and a half to 17 years. A new protest law restricting the right to public assembly signed by interim President Adly Mansour on November 24th, 2013, fails to meet international standards. It gives the Interior Ministry wide discretionary powers over protests including the use of firearms against peaceful protesters. Protesters convicted of breaking the law can face up to five years in prison and fines of LE100,000 (USD$14,513). Postage Rates
Within the United States $0.34 - Postcards $0.49 - Letters and Cards up to 1 oz. To all international destinations $1.15 - Postcards $1.15 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2014 Pg 6

Write on behalf of new Prisoner of Conscience, Tajul Muluk

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from returning to the village by the attackers, who reportedly threatened to kill them if they returned, and by the police. On January 1st, 2012 a religious decree (fatwa) was issued by the Sampang branch of the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) about what was described as Tajul Muluks deviant teachings and on March 16th, the East Java regional police charged Tajul Muluk with blasphemy under Article 156(a) of the Indonesian Criminal Code. Human rights groups and legal experts raised a number of concerns about his arrest and trial. According to them, the Indonesian authorities had failed to issue a warning to Tajul Muluk, as required by law, before arresting and prosecuting him and that police had taken statements from witnesses, who did not understand Indonesian, without an interpreter. Further, several expert witnesses reportedly did not testify during his trial for fear of harassment from anti-Shia groups and some defense witnesses were denied from testifying by the judges. On July 12th, 2012 he was sentenced to two years imprisonment for blasphemy by the Sampang District Court. According to the court he had deliberately in public expressed a feeling or taken an action which can be characterized as an act of hostility, abuse or defamation of a religion embraced in Indonesia.

Conscience Tajul Muluk. His case represents an increasingly dire human rights issue in Indonesia. Sunni are the majority Muslim group in the country, and the most fundamentalist Sunni leaders are stepping up violent attacks on Shia villages, schools and places of worship. Last year members of Group 48 write and petitioned on behalf of families displaced by this sectarian violence. Amnesty has identified a case of one POC, Tajul Muluk, whose situation represents this important human rights problem. Below is: 1. A narrative about the case, 2. What we are asking from authorities, and 3. Contact information for the two primary targets for actions on his behalf, the President of Indonesia and his Advisor on Law and Human Rights. Note: There is a Twitter address and hashtag for the President. -Max White Tajul Muluk, a Shia Muslim religious leader from East Java is currently serving a four year prison sentence for blasphemy under Article 156(a) of the Indonesian Criminal Code. He is a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Tajul Muluk set up religious boarding school in Nangkrenang village, Sampang, Madura island, East Java in 2003 and was the principal of the school. On December 29th, 2011, Tajul Muluk was forcibly evicted with over 300 other Shia villagers, when an anti-Shia mob of some 500 people attacked and burned houses, a boarding school and a Shia place of worship in Nangkrenang village. Afterwards, Tajul Muluk and about 20 other villagers, including his family, were prevented
Narrative

Amnesty has asked for us to work on the case of a Prisoner of

His sentence was increased on appeal to four years on September 10th, 2012 by the Surabaya High Court. The reason given for the sentence increase was so that it would be a deterrent effect and because Tajul Muluk had caused disharmony among Muslims. In January 2013 his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court. Please write asking authorities to: Release Tajul Muluk immediately and unconditionally as well as those deprived of liberty solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of religion or belief in Indonesia; Ensure that Shi'a followers and all religious minorities in Indonesia are protected and allowed to practice their faith free from fear, intimidation and attack; Repeal Law Number 1/PNPS/1965 concerning the prevention of religious abuse and/or defamation and Article 156(a) of the Criminal Code created by the Presidential Decision.
Action

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President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Address : Istana Merdeka, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia Fax numbers: +62 21 345 2685/ +62 21 52 68726 / +62 21 380 5511 Twitter : @SBYudhoyono (Hashtag: #aipoc) Presidential Advisor (Law and Human Rights) Albert Hasibuan Presidential Advisory Council Secretariat, Jl. Veteran III, Jakarta Pusat 10110, Indonesia
January 29, 2014
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Appeals To

Fax : +62 21 381 2063 Salutation: : Dear Albert Hasibuan Embassy of Indonesia 2020 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington , D.C. 20036 Phone (202) 775-5200 Fax. (202) 775-5365 Note: There is currently no Indonesian Ambassador to the United States.
Copies to, or Calls

Lithuanian Courts ruling on CIA rendition case, a breakthrough for justice

The Vilnius Regional Court ruled that Mustafa al-Hawsawis claims involved violations under the Lithuanian Constitution and international agreements and that he had a right to a full investigation. The court added that the Prosecutor Generals prior refusal to investigate had been groundless. Mustafa al-Hawawsi was apprehended by Pakistani agents in 2003 and handed over to US custody. He has alleged that he was illegally transferred to Lithuania and subjected to torture AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
Group Coordinator Joanne Lau jlau@easystreet.net Treasurer Tena Hoke tena.hoke@gmail.com Newsletter Editor Dan Webb write_to_dan@yahoo.com Concert Tabling Will Ware ww_ware@yahoo.com Legislative Coordinator Dan Johnson daniel.p.johnson@gmail.com Indonesia Max White maxw33@comcast.net Central America Marylou Noble marylou_noble@ yahoo.com Darfur (Sudan) Marty Fromer martyfromer@gmail.com North Korea Erica Swiberg eswiberg@gmail.com

A decision by a court in Lithuania ruling that a Saudi Arabian national has a right to an investigation into his alleged torture in a secret CIA detention centre in the country is a breakthrough for justice, said Amnesty International. The courts decision in the case of Mustafa al-Hawsawi is a real victory in the pursuit of accountability for Lithuanias alleged complicity in the CIA rendition and secret detention programs, said Julia Hall, Amnesty Internationals expert on counter-terrorism and human rights. The Lithuanian court has set an example for all of Europe and the USA by upholding the rule of law and recognizing that victims of torture and enforced disappearance at the hands of the CIA and European agents have an absolute right to a thorough investigation. The Lithuanian government and Prosecutor General must now open a full and effective investigation into Mustafa alHawsawis claims and ensure that any other individuals who have alleged that they were held in secret CIA detention there are afforded the same right.

Prisoners Cases Jane Kristof Central Africa / OR State kristofj@pdx.edu Cornelia Cerf Death Penalty Abolition Ron Noble Terrie Rodello ronald0216@yahoo.com tarodello@igc.org

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and enforced disappearance in a secret CIA facility in the village of Antaviliai, sometime between September 2004 and September 2006. In October 2013, the Lithuanian Prosecutor General refused to open an investigation into Mustafa al-Hawsawis case. A lower court upheld the Prosecutor Generals decision, but the regional court today repealed that decision, paving the way for a new investigation. Another man, Abu Zubaydah, had also claimed he was held in secret CIA detention in Lithuania, but the Prosecutor General had also refused to initiate an investigation. His case is pending at the European Court of Human Rights. Any new investigation into secret CIA detention centres in Lithuania should include Abu Zubaydah.

since being apprehended in Pakistan in March 2002 and handed over to the USA soon thereafter. Mustafa al-Hawsawi currently faces capital charges in a trial by military commission At Guantnamo Bay for his alleged role as a financier of the September 11th 2001 attacks in the US. The US military commission system does not meet international fair trial standards. The operational details of the CIA secret detention program, including where detainees were held, remain classified Top Secret by the US authorities. A 6,000 page report on the program produced by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence also currently remains classified.

There has been no accountability in the USA for the human rights violations, including the crimes under international Abu Zubaydah was another of the men transferred from selaw of torture and enforced disappearance, committed in cret CIA custody to Guantnamo in early September 2006. He the CIA secret detention program operated during the remains there, without charge or trial, nearly a dozen years administration of President George W. Bush.

Postage

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2014