Legislative Update

Amnesty International
This has already been a very exciting year for policy and hu-
man rights, and another big step has just been taken. There has been
a lot of talk about accountability and transparency into the viola-
tions that occurred during the last 8 years. Many good points have
been made about finding out how it got so bad so quickly, and what
needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.
During the last week of February, Senator Leahy, the chairman
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, scheduled a committee hearing
on for the 4th of March titled “Getting to the Truth Through a Non-
partisan Commission of Inquiry”. The intent is an ambitious
invistigation to really learn what went wrong. One of the most strik-
ing parts of the announcement of the hearing was the following
section:
”While many are focused on whether crimes were committed,
it is just as important to learn if significant mistakes were made, re-
gardless of whether they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt
to a unanimous jury to be crimi-
nal conduct. We compound the
serious mistakes already made if
we limit our inquiry to criminal
investigations and trials. More-
over, it is easier for prosecutors to
net those far down the ladder
than those at the top who set the
tone and the policies. We do not
yet know the full extent of our
government’s actions in these
areas, and we must be sure that
an independent review goes be-
yond the question of whether
crimes were committed, to the
equally important assessment of whether mistakes were made so
we may endeavor not to repeat them.”
Personally, I am very excited and even surprised that action of
this degree has happened so quickly. It is important that we make
sure our voices are still heard, and that our Senators know that we
expect them to speak out. We expect them to act to support the cre-
ation of this commission and speak out about the need for account-
ability for the abuses of detainees in custody of the USA.
Group 48 Newsletter
March 2009
www.aipdx.org 503-227-1878
Next Meeting: Friday, March 13, 2009
First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave
This month's meeting will feature a panel from the
Democratic Republic of Congo starting at 7:30pm.
Room setup begins at 7:00pm. Volunteer help is
welcome.
“Conflict in Congo” speaker event
Amnesty International USA Group 48 and the Congolese Com-
munity of Oregon (CCO) will present a panel discussion about the
conflict in the Congo on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 7:30 PM at the
First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, OR.
Led by Portland area residents from the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), the panel will highlight the human rights abuses
from the ongoing conflict in the DRC, such as displacements of
thousands, violence against women and children, and the role of
natural resources in the conflict.
The program, co-sponsored by the First Unitarian Church, is
free and open to the public. For more information, call Amnesty In-
ternational USA Group 48: 503-227-1878 or the Congolese Commu-
nity of Oregon: 503-954-1656.
See full details on page three of this newsletter.
Additional event details are at:
http://aipdx.org/2009/03/01/conflict-in-congo
AI Group 48 Contact Info

AIUSA has set up a nice web page that can help you make the call Phone Guy
Legislative Coordinator
Marty Fromer
to the DC Senate offices, and provides a summary of talking points 503-227-1878
Dan Johnson,
503-310-4540
to make your call nice and easy. You can find this at the address martyfromer@gmail.com
subtlet@hotmail.com
below: Concert & Event Tabling
http://www.amnestyusa.org/stoptorture/ China RAN
Will Ware
Joanne Lau,
accountability.php?sid=91231479&st=OR 503-227-5225
971-221-5450
ww_ware at yahoo.com
jlau@easystreet.net
If you would prefer to call their local offices, that would be great Treasurer Philippine/Indonesia RAN
as well. It’s important that they know that their constituants are Janan Stoll, Max White,
thinking about these issues. 503-282-8834 503-292-8168
JJJN4NOW@aol.com maxw33@attbi.com

Senator Wyden (Portland): (503) 326-7525 Central Africa RAN Central American RAN
Senator Merkley (Portland): (503) 326-3386 Christine Glenn, Terrie Rodello Marylou Noble
503-452-8087 503-245-6923
christineglenn@comcast.net marylou_noble@yahoo.com
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.
OR State Death Penalty Coordinator Newsletter Editor
Terrie Rodello, Dan Webb
Dan Johnson 503-246-6836 (503) 253-3491
subtlet@hotmail.com trodello@igc.org danielw2@earthlink.net
 China Regional Action Network

Urgent Action 42/09

have had confessions accepted despite saying in court that these
Imminent Execution: DuYimin were extracted under torture; have had to prove themselves inno-
cent, rather than be proved guilty; and have had limited access to
2/13/09 Businesswoman Du Yimin was sentenced to death in legal counsel.
March 2008. Her appeal was rejected on 13 January, and her sen- RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as
tence will now be reviewed by the Supreme People’s Court. If it quickly as possible:
upholds her sentence, she could be executed within days. - urging the authorities not to execute Du Yinmin;
She was convicted of “fraudulent raising of public funds.” Ac- - urging the National People’s Congress to introduce a legal
cording to the verdict, she had ille- procedure for clemency;
gally raised approximately 700 mil- - calling on the authorities to ensure that Du Yimin has access
lion Yuan (US$102 million) from to her family
hundreds of people investing in - urging the National People’s Congress to eliminate the death
her beauty parlors. penalty for all non-violent crimes;
According to the Chinese press, - urging the authorities to establish an immediate moratorium
she had obtained the money be- on executions with a view to abolishing the death
tween 2003 and 2006 by offering penalty, as provided by UN General Assembly resolution 62/
investors monthly returns of up to 149, of 18 December 2007.
10%.
According to her lawyer, Du
Yimin should have been convicted APPEALS TO:
of the lesser offense of “illegally
collecting public deposits,” which President of the Supreme People’s Court
carries a maximum sentence of 10
years’ imprisonment and a fine of WANG Shengjun Yuanzhang, Zuigao Renmin
500,000 Yuan (US$73,000). Du Fayuan
Yimin argued that she had had no intention of keeping the money, 27 Dongjiaomin Xiang, Beijingshi 100745
but had rather put it into her companies, and obtained it without PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
using fraudulent means. Fax: 011 86 10 65292345
Du Yimin’s death sentence has caused a debate about consis- Salutation: Dear President
tency in application of the death penalty. The day before she was
sentenced to death, an official who used 15.8 billion Yuan of public Chairman of the Standing Committee of the
funds to cover his personal spending was sentenced to fixed term National People’s Congress
imprisonment.
WU Bangguo Weiyuanzhang
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Quanguo Renda Changwu Weiyuanhui Bangongting
23 Xijiaominhang, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100805
The death penalty is applicable for 68 offenses in China, includ- PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
ing non-violent ones. China executes more people every year than Fax: 011 86 10 63097934
any other country in the world. There is likely to have been a sig- Email: rd@peopledaily.com.cn
nificant drop in executions during 2007, after the Supreme People’s Salutation: Dear Chairman
Court resumed authority to review all death sentences. That year,
Amnesty International recorded 470 executions, but this is an ab- Minister of Justice
solute minimum, based on publicly available reports. A USbased
NGO that is focused on advancing human rights in China, the Wu Aiying Buzhang
Dui Hua Foundation, estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 people Sifabu
were executed that year, based on figures obtained from local offi- 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
cials. The official statistics on death sentences and executions are Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020
classified as state secrets. PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
China provides no clemency procedures for condemned pris- Fax: 011 86 10 65292345
oners after they have exhausted their appeals through the courts. Email: pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
A joint directive issued by Supreme People’s Court, Supreme Salutation: Dear Minister
People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of
Justice in March 2007 urged judicial departments to ensure that COPIES TO:
prisoners under sentence of death were able to meet their families
after their sentences were confirmed. Despite this, Amnesty Inter- Ambassador Wen Zhong Zhou
national has received several reports of families being given so little Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
warning of executions that they have had no chance of a final meet- 2300 Connecticut Ave. NW
ing. Washington DC 20008
No one who is sentenced to death in China receives a fair trial Fax: 1 202 328-2582
in accordance with international human rights standards. Many Email: Chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn (page two)
 Central Africa Regional Action Network
Join Amnesty International USA Group 48 and the Congolese Community of Oregon
to Raise Awareness about the Conflict in the Congo
February 27, 2009 Amnesty International USA Group 48 and the
Congolese Community of Oregon (CCO) present a panel discussion
about the conflict in the Congo on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 7:30 PM
at the First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, OR.
Led by Portland area residents from the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), the panel will highlight the human rights abuses
from this conflict, such as displacements of thousands, violence
against women and, children recruited for the conflict, and the role
of natural resources in this conflict.
This presentation launches a campaign of the Congolese Com-
munity Organization of Oregon (CCO) and Group 48 to raise aware-
ness of the human suffering in the Congo and to educate members
of Portland community about how they can help bring peace to the
region.
The program is co-sponsored by the First Unitarian Church and
is free and open to the public. For information, call 503-227-1878 or
503-954-1656.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Vincent Chirimwami, a native Congolese, is the secretary and
spokesperson for the Congolese Community of Oregon. A student
at Portland State University, Mr. Chirimwami will address the role
of natural resources and economics in the conflict.
Jeremy Ruvunangiza, a native Congolese and a student at the
College of Legal Arts, will discuss the effect of the conflict on indi-
viduals and families.
Masikini Maguy Kavira, a native Congolese, is a health and hu-
man rights professional and co-founder of Amani, a Portland-based
NGO devoted to the promotion of peace and global citizenship
internationally. A former medical doctor in the Democratic Repub-
lic of Congo, who recently returned from the region, she will dis-
cuss the effect of the conflict on civilians, especially women and
children.
WHY: The human toll of the ten-year conflict in the Congo has
been the loss of more than 5 millions innocent lives, more than
250,000 women raped with some brutally killed after, 1.2 millions
children dead, and about 2 million people displaced from their
homes.
Early in 2009, there was a dramatic turn of events in the con-
flict in eastern DRC. The DRC government reached agreements
with its often-hostile neighbors, Uganda and Rwanda, to conduct
joint military operations to pursue mutual enemies on Congolese
soil. Hundreds of civilians were killed, and thousands displaced.
The situation in the eastern DRC is very dangerous. Systematic
abduction of women and children and attacks on civilians and
peacekeepers remain widespread. Such attacks are war crimes and
can constitute crimes against humanity. They are punishable un-
der international law.
The decade-long ongoing war in the Congo has been misinter-
preted as a civil war, ethnic conflict, or a tribal war. The Portland
public needs to recognize that this war is about Congo’s natural re-
sources and minerals.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS:
Organized in 1973, Group 48 is a local chapter of Amnesty In-
ternational USA, an international human rights organization head-
quartered in London, UK. Its work began with a focus on civil and
political violations of the rights of individuals and expanded to gen-
erate awareness for human rights abuses in regions of the world.
Its current focuses are the death penalty in Oregon, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region in Africa, China,
Central America, Indonesia, East Timor, and Darfur. Individual
cases include Shi-Tao of China and Guantanamo detainees. Phone:
503-227-1878. Website: www.aipdx.org.
Congolese Community of Oregon (CCO) is a non profit organi-
zation of former Congolese natives in the Portland area organized
to raise awareness of the suffering of the people of the Congo and
to help bring peace and stability to the region. Phone: 503-954-1656
Email Address: vince737@hotmail.com. Website:
www.voicesforcongo.org.
Amnesty International Condemns Sudan,
Demands that Aid Agencies Be Allowed to
Continue Life-Saving Work in Darfur
(New York 3/5/09) — Amnesty International today condemned
Sudan’s decision to expel humanitarian aid agencies in response
to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Presi-
dent Omar al Bashir and warned that 2.2 million people face star-
vation and disease, if aid is halted.
“The population of Darfur is now being punished by its own
government in response to the arrest warrant”, said Tawanda
Hondora, deputy director, Amnesty International’s Africa Program.
The Sudanese government is
effectively holding the entire
civilian population of Darfur
hostage; an aggressive act
that must be condemned in
the strongest possible terms
by the African Union, the
League of Arab States, and
the international community
as a whole.
Sudan expelled more
than 10 aid agencies, includ-
ing Oxfam, Care, Save the
Children and Medecins Sans
Frontieres, soon after the ICC
announced the arrest war-
rant against President Bashir
for atrocities committed over the last six years. More than 2.2 mil-
lion people depend on aid to survive.
Amnesty International demanded that Sudan reverse its deci-
sion and allow the aid organizations to continue their life-saving
work.
“The alternative is simply unthinkable”, said Hondora.
The African Union today held an emergency meeting to discuss
the arrest warrant. The League of Arab States convened yesterday
and expressed its solidarity with President al Bashir. Amnesty In-
ternational urged the Peace and Security Council of the AU to hold
a special hearing on access, to support the return of humanitarian
agencies to Darfur.denied.
Please visit www.amnestyusa.org for more information.
(page three)
 Central America Regional Action Network

PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 41/010/2009 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as
25 February 2009 quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
Further Information on UA 41/09 (AMR 41/007/2009, - calling on the authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of
16 February 2009) Fear for safety witnesses to the abduction, Guadalupe Castro Morales, other rela-
tives of Manuel Ponce Rosas and Raúl Lucas Lucía and other mem-
MEXICO Manuel Ponce Rosas (m) Raúl Lucas Lucía (m) bers of the Organization for the Future of Mixtec Indigenous
Peoples s as well as human rights organizations supporting the
Guadalupe Castro Morales, other relatives and other members of families;
the Organization for the Future of Mixtec Indigenous Peoples - calling on the authorities to initiate an immediate, thorough
and impartial investigation into the killing of Manuel Ponce Rosas
Manuel Ponce Rosas and Raúl Lucas Lucía were found dead late and Raúl Lucas Lucía and to ensure all the evidence is collected and
at night on 20 February in Tecoanapa municipality, Guerrero State. properly preserved in accordance with international standards;
Their families,members of the Organization for the Future of Mixtec - calling on the CEDH to monitor the investigation
Indigenous Peoples (Organizacion para el Futuro de los Pueblos - calling for a full and thorough inquiry on why police and pros-
Mixtecos, OFPM) and other human rights activists supporting the ecutors refused to initiate an immediate investigation into the men’s
families may be at risk of reprisals. abduction and apparent enforced disappearance despite the com-
The bodies of the two men were unearthed in Las Cazuelas, plaint filed by witnesses.
thirty minutes drive away from where they were abducted by
armed men on 13 February. Both of the bodies have been identified APPEALS TO:
by their families who report that the bodies show clear signs of tor-
ture. Raúl Lucas was found with a bullet in his head and severe Governor of Guerrero
bruises and blows to his nose, cheeks and mouth and severe burns
on his neck and chest Lic. Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo
area. Manuel Ponce’s Gobernador del Estado de Guerrero
body showed signs of Palacio de Gobierno, Edificio Centro, piso 2, Ciudad de los
severe bruises on his Servicios, CP 39075, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, MEXICO
face and head, his teeth Email: gobernador@guerrero.gob.mx
were shattered. Both
bodies were discovered Fax: +52 747 471 9956
buried in plastic bags. Salutation: Señor Gobernador/Dear Governor
Manuel Ponce
Rosas and Raúl Lucas’ Attorney General of the Republic
families have received
a series of threats since Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza
the two men’s abduc- Procuraduría General de la República,
tion. On 13 February, Av. Paseo de la Reforma Nº 211-213, Piso 16
Guadalupe Castro Morales, Raúl Lucas’ wife, received a phone call Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc,
saying “Don’t make trouble, stay quiet” (“No empieces a chingar, México D.F., C.P. 06500, MÉXICO
quedate calladita”). On 18 February Raúl Lucas’ sister received a
phone call telling her to tell Guadalupe Castro to stop making such Fax: +52 55 5346 0908 (if they answer say:
a fuss or they would kidnap her daughter (“dile a Guadalupe que “me da tono de fax, por favor”)
deje de estar haciendo tanta mamada porque si sigue así vamos a Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Señor Procurador
levantar a su hija”).
Amnesty International believes that the relatives of the two Attorney General of Guerrero
deceased men and local human rights organizations supporting
them may be at risk of reprisals and further threats. This is due to Lic. Eduardo Murueta Urrutia
their belief that the two men may have been abducted by police, and Procurador del Estado de Guerrero
murdered as a consequence of their work as human rights defend- Carretera Nacional México-Acapulco Km. 6+300, Tramo
ers. Chilpancingo-Petaquillos
Over the years, Amnesty International has documented a pat- Chilpancingo 39090, Guerrero, MÉXICO
tern of harassment and intimidation against members of Indig-
enous rights organizations in Guerrero state such as the Me’ phaa Fax: +52 747 472 2328
Indigenous People’s Organization (Organización del Pueblo Email: cprocurador@pgjgro.gob.mx
Indígena Me’ phaa, OPIM) and the Organization for the Future of Salutation: Dear Attorney / Señor Procurador
Mixtec Indigenous Peoples (Organizacion para el Futuro de los
Pueblos Mixtecos, OFPM). OPIM members have been attacked and
threatened on numerous occasions. Currently, five members of PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
OPIM are in detention and Amnesty International has adopted all Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if
of them as prisoners of conscience and believes that the charges sending appeals after 8 April 2009.
against them are politically motivated on account of their efforts to
campaign for improvements in the economic, social and cultural Marylou Noble , Central America Ran Coordinator
rights of their communities. (page four)
Ma Khin Khin Leh Released From Prison Up to 1,000 Amnesty International Activists to
Convene in Boston ForAnnual National
We are happy to share the news that Ma Khin Khin Leh was Conference, March 27-29
released from prison on Saturday, February 21. Her release follows
an announcement by the Myanmar government that it would re-
(New York) — Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) members,
lease 24 political prisoners. We celebrate their release, but remem-
staff and activists from across the coun-
ber that many more political prisoners remain jailed in Myanmar.
try will tackle some of the most
Ma Khin Khin Leh’s case was a focus of our Global Write-a-thon
pressing human rights issues
last December. Over 7,000 of you wrote letters to the Burmese gov-
facing the world today at the
ernment on her behalf. Your letters
organization’s 2009 Annual
truly make a difference for the lives
General Meeting (AGM) in Bos-
of individuals around the world.
ton, March 27-29.
A school teacher and young
The conference, “Seizing the
mother, Ma Khin Khin Leh, was serv-
Moment, Building the Move-
ing a life sentence simply because
ment”, will be held at the Boston
she and her husband tried to orga-
Park Plaza Hotel and Towers. The
nize a peaceful demonstration. Days
public is invited to attend. Regis-
before the demonstration was to take
tration is $100 for the weekend
place, authorities moved to prevent
and $25 for Saturday.
it. Security agents arrested Ma Khin
“The United States has entered
Khin Leh and the couple’s three-
a new era with a crippling financial
year-old daughter. Although her
crisis and a marred international
daughter was released after spending five days in detention, Ma
reputation as its backdrop”, said Larry Cox, executive director of
Khin Khin Leh was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1999 under
AIUSA. “Amnesty International members recognize the impor-
vaguely-worded security legislation.
tance of making human rights the centerpiece of reform and posi-
We thank all those who campaigned for Ma Khin Khin Leh’s re-
tive leadership. Our activists shine during times of adversity, and
lease, and remind you that we continue to call for the immediate
the 2009 annual conference stands to bring a bold, dynamic energy
and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other pris-
to our critical mission” said Cox.
oners of conscience in Myanmar.

Amnesty International USA

Group 48
Portland, Oregon USA

Conflict in Congo presentation at the March Meeting

see page five for complete details

Amnesty International Group 48 Newsletter March 2009