Newsletter

Amnesty International USA Group 48

11.14
Mike Munchel Stock.Xchng

1 APEC leaders should urge

China to release
supporters of Hong Kong
protests

2 Hong Kong Protests: How

Young Activists Led the Way
3 Islamic Republic of Iran
hanged 26 years old woman
for defending herself against
an alleged rapist
4 Central African Republic:
UN credibility at stake amid
rising attacks against
civilians
6 Eastern Ukraine: Both sides
responsible for indiscriminate attacks
AIUSA-Group 48
http://aipdx.org
503-227-1878
Next Meeting:
Friday November 14th
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave
7:00pm informal gathering
7:30pm meeting starts

NewsLetter Designed
By Michelle Whitlock
MichelleWhitlock.com

APEC leaders should urge China to release

supporters of Hong Kong protests
November 6th, 2014

World leaders gathering in Beijing

next Monday for the Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation [APEC] summit, should urge China to release
scores of mainland activists detained
for peacefully supporting Hong Kongs
pro-democracy protests, said Amnesty
International.

protesters. Political convenience should

not trump principled action, said Roseann Rife, East Asia Research Director at
Amnesty International.

The leaders should take this opportunity to speak out and urge President
Xi to ensure all those detained solely
for exercising their right to freedom
At least 76 people in mainland China
of expression and peaceful assembly
remain in detention for supporting calls are immediately and unconditionally
for genuine universal suffrage in Hong
released.
Kong, according to the latest information Amnesty International has been
The past month has seen Chinese police
able to verify.
detain people in connection with the
pro-democracy protests, especially in
APEC leaders must end their recent
Beijing, Jiangsu, and the southern cities
silence on the crackdown against
of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are
mainland Chinese activists expressing
support for Hong Kong pro-democracy close to Hong Kong.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 2

Individuals have been held for posting pictures online with

makes a mockery of Xis recent claims that the rule of law and
human rights will be fully respected in China by 2020, said
messages of support, shaving their heads in solidarity, or for
Roseann
Rife.
planning to travel to Hong Kong to participate in the protests.
Scores of others have been called in for questioning by the
The attack against freedom of expression, peaceful assembly
authorities, known as being invited for tea.
and association in the past year has seen individuals associChinese state censors have attempted to ban photos and block ated with the activists network New Citizens Movement
sentenced to between two and six and a half years imprisonany positive mentions online of the pro-democracy protests,
ment.
while only allowing TV and newspapers to run governmentapproved news and commentary. The BBC website and the
More than 60 activists were arbitrarily detained or put under
photo-sharing platform Instagram have been banned since
house arrest in the run-up to the 25th anniversary in June of
the violent crackdown in 1989 of pro-democracy protests in
last month.
and around Tiananmen Square.
Ahead of APEC, the authorities have also prevented several
Meanwhile, student leaders in Hong Kong have said they
mainland activists from travelling to Beijing. Activists in the
capital have also been forced to leave the city ahead of APEC, plan to travel to Beijing during the APEC summit in an effort
to meet with senior Chinese officials to stress their calls for
including prominent activists Hu Shigen and Xiang Li.
electoral reform. Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters continue to occupy parts of downtown Hong Kong as part of the
The latest wave of detentions is part of a concerted attack
demonstrations which began on 26 September.
on fundamental freedoms since President Xi took office. It

Hong Kong Protests: How Young Activists Led the Way

by Ben Beaumont (Amnesty International's LIVEWIRE blog)
Arturo Avila Stock.Xchng

Last month Yvonne Leung Lai Kwong, a 21-year-old un-

dergraduate and student union president, found herself at

the forefront of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong
Kong. She gives her insight into the largely youthful protests,
which at their peak saw up to 100,000 people take to the
streets.

I fell into this role quite unexpectedly. I first ran for students
union president eight months ago with the intention of bringing students together and contributing where I was needed.
I never expected events to unfold as they have.There are people who say the scale of the demonstrations is a result of students playing a key role, and its true that some people came
out in solidarity after the police used tear gas and pepper
spray. Its hard to say for sure what the turnout would have
been had that not happened. However, I do believe people
are staying on now because they have been moved by young
peoples strong conviction in pursuing genuine democracy. I
have also been very touched by the protestors who remained
on the streets despite the use of tear gas.
The politest demonstrators

These three weeks spent on the streets with my fellow demonstrators have been an intense experience. Many of us have
become close friends who truly care for each others safety.
Ive also witnessed great self-discipline from students and
young
people. They have led the recycling of materials and
I wouldnt say I am an organizer of the demonstrations
there is no one organizer here. But young people and students resources at protest sites, and some have also volunteered to
clean up the streets.
have definitely been the primary initiators.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 3

No one is directing these activities, but there are volunteers

The people on the streets see themselves as bargaining chips
who can help us negotiate with the government.
who spontaneously take up duties. For example, my hall
mates from university turn up every morning and schedule
What young people want
shifts for themselves. Ive also seen youngsters on bicycles
We are fighting for genuine democracy, but the increase in indelivering food to those who havent eaten. These acts of civic equality is another reason why young people have turned out
consciousness are reasons why we have been dubbed the
in such large numbers. We feel that social mobility is declinpolitest demonstrators. I believe there are many strong bonds ing and the social ladder is very difficult for us to climb.
that have been forged here that will last for a long time.
My parents worry greatly about my safety, but they also
Im aware that our critics say the demonstrations have caused understand and share my political beliefs. They call me every
day to make sure Im safe and have also tried to persuade me
economic losses and bring inconvenience to peoples lives.
We recognize some of that and have frequently apologized to to retreat. I have skipped classes for three weeks and, like evthose who have been affected, such as workers who have had eryone else, I am very keen to see a resolution. The upcoming
to leave home early because of the traffic disruption. We have dialogue with the government is definitely a positive development, but Im not in a position to forecast what will come
also at times tried to negotiate with demonstrators occupyout of it. Unless theres some real progress towards genuine
ing roads so vehicles can go through, but we also respect the
universal
suffrage, we will not budge.
demonstrators choices if they insist on staying on the roads.

Islamic Republic of Iran hanged 26 years old woman for defending herself
against an alleged rapist
by Ida Roshani, Group 48 member

Reyhaneh Jabari Malayeri was a 26 years old woman con-

macy, purchased an item (while Rayhaneh waited in the car),

got into the car again and drove to his office. After arriving
at their destination, Rayhaneh realized that the place did not
look like a work place at all as it was a rundown house. Inside
the house, Rayhaneh saw two drinks on the table, Morteza
went inside and quickly locked the door from inside, put his
arms around Rayhanehs waist and told her that she had no
way of escaping. A struggle soon ensued. Rayhaneh trying to
defend herself stabbed Morteza in the shoulder and escaped.
Morteza died from bleeding.

On July 2007, Rayhaneh a 19 years old interior designer, was

speaking on the phone about her work in a coffee shop, a
conversation which was coincidentally overheard by Morteza
who approached her for professional advice about renovating
his office. They then set a date to meet at his office in order to
see and discuss Mortezas renovation project.

Lab analysis showed the drinks Morteza intended to serve to

Rayhaneh contained sedatives. Regardless, Rayhaneh was arrested. An interrogator went to the apartment and made a report. At that time Reyhaneh clearly stated to the investigator
that she was innocent, that she had met Morteza for business
meeting, and that said she killed him only in self defense to
stop him from rape. The evening I was there, I knew that he
wanted to rape me, so because of self defense I stabbed him
and escaped, she said.

On the day of the meeting, Morteza picked up Rayhaneh in

his car. On the way to his office, Morteza stopped at a phar-

After her arrest she was told by the authorities that the murder had been set up [by them] and was politically motivated.

Angela Costales Stock.Xchng

victed of murdering Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi, in Iran. She

was in prison from 2007 until her execution by hanging in
October 2014 for killing her alleged assailant.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 4

Nevertheless, Rayhaneh was tortured until she confessed to

the murder, after she was given the death penalty punishment which was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Islamic
Republic of Iran.
FACTS

Morteza Sarbandi was a stranger to Reyhaneh. He overheard her speaking on the phone and learned she was an
interior designer. He solicited her to help with renovations to
his home.
The day she went to inspect Sarbandis home, he bought
condoms and put sedative drugs in her drink.
He attempted to rape her, she stabbed him and escaped.
There was another man connected to Sarbandi that was
present in the building while the incident took place but he
had never been found by the police for testifying in the court.

QUESTION

What motive does a healthy, sane 19-year-old interior designer have to kill a man that was a complete stranger to her?
Why was she not given a proper trial?
Is the fact that Morteza Sarbandi used to be part of Irans
intelligence ministry have anything to do with the rush to
execute her?
According to the United Nations, Iran has executed at least
170 people this year. Last year, it executed more people than
any other country with the exception of China, the worlds
most populous nation.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in July, said
the death penalty has no place in the 21st century and urged
all countries to work toward its abolition.

Central African Republic: UN credibility at stake amid rising attacks against

civilians
November 5th, 2014

patrizio martorana Stock.Xchng

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Re-

public must take bold measures to protect civilians amid an

escalating wave of sectarian attacks in the central regions of
the country, said Amnesty International after visiting some of
the most affected areas.

Despite the deployment of a new UN peacekeeping mission

on September 15th, dozens of civilians, including several
children, have been killed and thousands more displaced in
recent weeks.
While the capital city, Bangui, has been rocked by renewed
violence since early October, populations living in the central
regions of the Central African Republic (CAR) have been
particularly hit by a surge in conflict between different armed
groups.

If the UN peacekeeping mission is to have any credibility, it

must take stronger steps to effectively protect civilians from
the raft of abuses they are facing, said Stephen Cockburn,
Amnesty Internationals Deputy Regional Director for West
and Central Africa.
With Seleka, anti-balaka, and armed Peulh fighters carrying out attacks in the central regions of the Central African
Republic, the situation is extremely volatile and dangerous.
Unless urgent steps are taken, it could degenerate into the
kind of untrammelled sectarian violence we saw earlier this
year in the west.
In a visit to the central regions of CAR Amnesty International
documented recent attacks on civilians in the towns of Dekoa
and Bambari, and in several villages near Bambari, including
Yamal, Batobadja, Matchika, Tchimanguer, Gbakomalkpa
and Baguela. The mostly Muslim Seleka forces, now split into
at least two armed groups, have been clashing with mainly
Christian and animist anti-balaka militia in the region over
the past months.
All sides, Seleka, anti-balaka and armed Peulhs (members
of the Peulh ethnic group, many of which belong to a Seleka
spin-off group), are systematically targeting civilians that they
believe support the other sides fighters.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 5

On October 10th, a Seleka attack in and near the town of

Dekoa, 260 km north of Bangui, killed 14 civilians. Among
those killed in the days violence were three women and
four children. Nine of the victims were killed in the Catholic
Church compound, including five who were directly targeted
as they tried to hide in the living room of the compounds
main residential building.
Five other victims were killed later in the day by Seleka forces
that were fleeing into the bush. Two other civilians whom
Seleka fighters took hostage to use as guides have not been
heard from since.

All of the Muslim men whom they caught were killed. They
undressed their bodies to humiliate them, and cut them into
pieces, chopping off their hands and feet, Saidu told Amnesty
International.
Muslims in Bambari emphasized that because of the attacks,
they could no longer travel outside of the town. PK 5 [five
kilometres from the town centre] is about the limit for us,
one explained. Were like prisoners here.

Other attacks have involved ethnic Peulhs, a large pastoral

nomadic group. Six members of a single Peulh family were
killed in an anti-balaka attack on a Peulh encampment near
However, French military forces arrived at the church comBambari in late September. Among the victims were two
pound not long after the attack began. They engaged Seleka
children and a woman. One of the survivorswho was
forces in prolonged combat killing at least six Seleka fighters, related to the people who were killeddescribed what hapincluding the colonel who led the attack. A smaller number pened: "The anti-balaka first invaded a compound of three
of UN peacekeepers also helped stop the killings. French
huts on the edge of the encampment belonging to Bodo. We
forces aided by UN peacekeepers prevented a large-scale mas- were all on high alert already, and when we heard his family
sacre in Dekoa, said Stephen Cockburn.
being attacked the rest of us managed to flee. The next day we
returned to the encampment and found all the bodies. Some
In and around the town of Bambari, 380 km northeast of Ban- people had been nearly decapitated; one persons feet had
gui, numerous attacks have taken place in recent weeks, and
been cut off. We buried them in a common grave.
the pace of attacks appears to be increasing.
Armed Peulh raiders have recently been responsible for a
On September 29th, anti-balaka fighters killed a Muslim civil- string of attacks on villages near Bambari, including Yamal,
ian, Abdou Salam Zaiko, after his car broke down. At least
Batobadja, Matchika, Tchimanguer, Gbakomalkpa and
two additional Muslim passengers were also reportedly killed Baguela. The number of people killed in these attacks is still
during the attack. Tensions rose dramatically when Zaikos
badly mutilated body was brought back to Bambari, his home
AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
town.
Later, on October 1st, in an apparent revenge attack, a mixed
group of Seleka and armed youths attacked a camp for displaced persons in Bambari, killing five civilians and injuring
several others.

The killing of Zaiko and some of his cars passengers was one
of a string of incidents in which Muslims from Bambari have
been targeted by anti-balaka militia.
On October 8th, seven Muslim passengers in a car owned by
a civilian, Saidu Daouda, were killed by anti-balaka fighters
after the vehicle was ambushed on the road. All of the Christians in the car, as well as one Muslim woman, were allowed
to escape.
They captured a bunch of people, both Christians and Muslims, and they let all of the Christians go, including the driver.

Group Coordinator
Joanne Lau
jlau@aipdx.org

Prisoners Cases
Jane Kristof
kristofj@pdx.edu

Treasurer
Tena Hoke
tena.hoke@gmail.com

Megan Harrington
megan.harrington
@gmail.com

Newsletter Editor
Dan Webb
write_to_dan@yahoo.com

Concert Tabling
Will Ware
ww_ware@yahoo.com

Darfur (Sudan)
Marty Fromer
martyfromer@gmail.com

Central Africa/
OR State Death
Penalty Abolition
Terrie Rodello
tarodello@igc.org

Indonesia
Max White
maxw33@comcast.net

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 6

unclear, as some bodies are reported to be lying exposed in

remote areas that are unsafe to access.
The recent violence has sparked a fresh wave of displacement
in the area. Thousands have fled, many taking shelter at the
church of Notre Dame des Victoires, on the western edge of
Bambari. Others have walked as far as Grimari, 80 km east of
Bambari.

Both Bambari and Dekoa are now ghost towns, full of empty
houses, closed shops and abandoned buildings. International
forces present in the country must step up their efforts to
protect civilians and ensure they can return home and live in
safety, said Stephen Cockburn.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA),
deployed on 15 September 2014, has not yet been able to
stop or prevent most of these abuses. International forces are
On October 26th, an Amnesty International researcher encountered several weary groups of civilians fleeing the villages stretched thinin part because MINUSCA is still several
of Yamal and Malpu, fearful of further violence, and headed thousand troops short of its mandated numbersand have
not been able to prevent escalating violence in the countrys
for Grimari.
central region.

Eastern Ukraine: Both sides responsible for indiscriminate attacks

November 6th, 2014

Karol Wiszniewski Stock.Xchng

The killing of a schoolboy and an 18-year-old during shelling

in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Wednesday highlights a larger pattern of indiscriminate attacks which could
amount to war crimes, Amnesty International said today.

Both Ukrainian government and separatist forces must immediately stop carrying out indiscriminate attacks in violation
of the laws of war, said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central
Asia director of Amnesty International.
These continuing civilian deaths a predictable result of such
attacks are inexcusable and those responsible on both sides
must be held accountable.
During a research mission in late September and early October, Amnesty International documented more than 20 recent
civilian deaths due to shelling and rocket fire in the eastern
Ukrainian towns of Donetsk, Avdiivka, and Debaltseve. Most
of the deaths, which took place in residential neighbourhoods,
appeared to be the result of indiscriminate attacks, with the
attacking forces using weapons that could not be targeted
with sufficient accuracy to distinguish between civilian and
military objects.

The large majority of the deaths were in separatist-held

territory in Donetsk, and were likely caused by Ukrainian
government forces, but separatist forces appeared responsible
for several deaths in Avdiivka and Debaltseve, areas under
government control.
The organizations research strongly suggests that separatist forces fired from these neighbourhoods, and Ukrainian
government forces fired into them. In at least one instance,
government forces placed an artillery position in a residential
area.
Both sides in this conflict have been responsible for a pattern
of indiscriminate attacks on populated areas. They have killed
and injured civilians, and destroyed civilian homes, and there
would appear to be little impetus on both sides to end these
violations, said John Dalhuisen.
International humanitarian law the laws of war prohibits
attacks that target civilians and civilian structures, as well as
attacks in civilian areas that cannot be directed at a specific
military objective. Both sides in the conflict have violated the
prohibition by relying on unguided mortars and rockets that
cannot be aimed with any precision in highly populated civilian areas.
In addition, by basing troops, weaponry and other military targets in residential areas, Ukrainian government and
separatist forces have failed to take all feasible precautions to
protect civilians, endangering civilians in violation of the laws
of war.

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014 Pg 7

Background

Despite a declared cease-fire, all of the cities that Amnesty

International visited are being contested by Ukrainian and
separatist forces. In Donetsk, the largest city controlled by the
separatists in eastern Ukraine, fighting continues over and
within the international airport on the northern edge of the
city, which both sides have claimed to have taken in the past.
With the biggest runway in the region, the airport is strategically important.

couple Liubov Belykh, age 22, and Aleksandr Taran, age 25

were also severely injured. Pugacheva Street is also located in
the Kuybishevskyi district, close to Donetsk airport.

Amnesty International witnessed the use of civilian areas in

Donetsk as a firing position for separatist attacks against the
pro-Kyiv forces based at Donetsk airport, pointing to shared
separatist responsibility for the civilian deaths and injuries
in Donetsk. In the Kuybishevskiy district on September 27th,
2014, Amnesty International researchers saw an artillery piece
Avdiivka, 10 km from Donetsk, is held by the pro-Kyiv forces, that was placed on the side of a residential street less than five
who are using it as a supply route to the Donetsk airport.
meters away from a house. The same type of artillery piece
Debaltseve, another stronghold of the pro-Kyiv forces, is a re- was later recorded on tape by separatist forces in a video
gional transport hub, strategically situated at the crossroads of where it is seen being fired, repeatedly, in the direction of the
the main highways and railways between Ukraine and Russia. airport. In the video, the piece is placed on a narrow road
which has residential houses on both sides a different spot
Below are summaries of some of the cases of civilian deaths
than where Amnesty International researchers saw it. At one
that Amnesty International documented in the three towns.
point at least 13 discarded artillery shells can be seen next to
it.
On September 15th, 2014, at 5:45 pm, the area around a
popular car repair shop on Kuybisheva Street was hit by
Amnesty International also saw a bridge on Kievskiy Prosseveral mortar shells. It was the first attack of the day. Dmitriy pect, which leads to Donetsk airport, being used as a military
Sitnikov, age 19, and two men known locally as Fil, age 31,
location by the separatist forces on September 30th, 2014. The
and Sergey, age 24, were sitting in front of the shop when the team saw at least one artillery piece under the bridge and
attack took place: all of them were hit and died instantly.
heard repeated fire from it. Less than a kilometer away there
On September 18th, 2014, at about 9:45 pm, the house at 22
Rustaveli Street was hit by a shell or rocket, killing Vladimir
Likov, age 64. Rustaveli Street is located in a residential area
in the Kuybishevskiy District, close to Donetsk airport. Likov
was killed while sitting in his kitchen watching TV.

is a school and residential buildings, which were damaged in

the course of different attacks, leading to at least one civilian
casualty.

Local residents told Amnesty International that separatists

use mobile rocket launchers to fire from civilian areas; they
On September 28th, 2014, at around 11:30 am, a mortar killed shoot off the rockets and then quickly move the armament to
another location.
Natalia Lysenko, age 63, near the Trudovskaya mine, located
in the middle of a residential area in Donetsks Petrovskyi
An artillery shell or rocket that hit the Avdiivka Municipal
district. Because of the constant danger of shelling, around 60 Hospital at 7 pm on September 3rd2014 killed one woman
people live in an old bomb shelter next to the mine; Natalia
and seriously injured another. Located close to the edge of
Lysenko was one of them. She was hit while returning to the
Postage Rates
bomb shelter after checking on her house nearby. Her body
was heavily bloodied, said a local resident who introduced
himself as Andrey; he had helped load her on an ambulance.
Within the United States
$0.34 - Postcards
Natalia Lysenko died on the way to hospital.
On September 29th, 2014 the house at 16 Pugacheva Street
received a direct hit from a shell, killing three people: Byla
Taran, age 76; Svetlana Belykh, age 35; and Elena KiseliovaByila, age 52. The women, who were related, were hiding in
the house because of the continuing attacks during that day. A

$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 November 2014 Pg 8

town toward the Donetsk Airport, the hospital received heavy

damage, with a huge hole knocked into its third floor. Taisiya
Yurchenko, age 66, who was receiving treatment for a previous attack on the same day, was killed when she was hit by
shrapnel.

by pro-Kyiv forces, was hit by a rocket or an artillery shell

at about 8:30 pm on September 3rd, 2014. The attack started
quite suddenly, and Maksim Poznyakov, age 27, was hit by
shrapnel in front of his house. When the shelling started he
rushed his wife Svetlana Kulikova inside, but they did not
make it in time, and Svetlana Kulikova was hit by shrapnel in
her leg.

A junior nurse who introduced herself as Vera Ivanovna, age

65, was cleaning the floors in the corridor when the attack
started. She had just been called by the daughter of another
I heard Maksim yelling Run, run! and then it happened,
patient in a wheelchair, who needed help moving her mother.
said a neighbour who introduced himself as Vladimir NikoAs Vera Ivanovna got up, the shell or rocket hit the hospital
building, and she was hit by shrapnel in several places. In all, laevich, and who was hit by shrapnel in his arm.
her left thigh, right shin, stomach and left hand were injured, Zavodskoy Poselok, a suburb of Debaltseve, was hit by rocket
and the tip of her left thumb was blown off.
fire at about 5:15 pm on September 22nd, 2014. A woman
known to the locals as Anna Viktorovna, age 64, was hit as
I crawled to the door, Vera Ivanovna told Amnesty International. They took me to the operating room in the dark, and she was returning home, having gone out to draw some water
operated on me without lights. The doctors worked very fast, during a break in the shelling. Her body was completely
mangled when she was found at around 6 pm that day. The
and I was very lucky. I still have shrapnel in my abdomen.
alleyway where she was found is known locally as the path of
Leningradskaya Street, in central Debaltseve, which is held
death.

Postage

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter November 2014