Amnesty International USA Group 48

Newsletter
6.14
2 Indonesian election and
Human Rights
3 Former Guatemalan police
chief found guilty for
killings
4 Urgent Action: ISRAEL
AND OCCUPIED
PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES - Human
Rights Defender Detained
For Protest
6 China: Persecution of
Tiananmen activists exposes
President Xis reform lies
7 Tailand: Deepening
repression as high-profle
activist arrested, others
summoned by military
courts
Northern Ireland: Those who condoned or authorized
use of torture must be held accountable
by John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director
at Amnesty International, May 6th, 2014
Allegations aired last night in a docu-
mentary by Irish state broadcaster RT
that the UK Government sanctioned
the use of torture in Northern Ireland
in the 1970s, and failed to disclose rel-
evant evidence to the European Court
of Human Rights, underline the failure
to deliver a comprehensive mechanism
to deal with the past, said Amnesty
International.
In 1971, Ireland took the frst inter-state
case to come before the European Court
on Human Rights, alleging Britain had
breached the European Convention on
Human Rights. Te use of torture dur-
ing internment was central to that case
which became known as the hooded
men case.
Te documentary, Te Torture Files,
was based on investigations carried
out by the human rights NGO, the Pat
Finucane Centre, and RT. It further
alleges that the UK Government did
not disclose relevant evidence to the
European Court of Human Rights in its
defence of the case.
Not a week goes by without another
drip-fed revelation about Northern
Irelands troubled past. Te fact that it
took investigations by a dedicated NGO
and journalists to unearth this weeks
sorry tale about the state failing to
admit to sanctioning torture is a further
reminder of the ongoing failure to deal
efectively with the past, said John
Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia
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AIUSA-Group 48
http://aipdx.org
503-227-1878
Next Meeting:
Friday June 13th
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave
7:00pm informal gathering
7:30pm meeting starts
NewsLetter Designed
By Michelle Whitlock
MichelleWhitlock.com

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 2

Programme Director at Amnesty International.
Te new allegations about the hooded men and other shock-
ing cases underline the need for all parties to come clean
about their role in this sordid history. All those responsible
for carrying out or condoning acts of torture a crime under
international law must be held to account.
Amnesty Internationals own research on torture in detention
in Northern Ireland in the 1970s notably in two reports on
internment issued in 1971 and 1978 was an important fac-
tor in these cases being brought before the European Court in
the frst place.
Te organization has called for a comprehensive mechanism
to be set up to review the confict, establish the truth about
outstanding human rights violations and determine responsi-
bility.
Any such mechanism must also examine abuses sufered by
those seriously injured, and victims of torture and other ill-
treatment, who have too ofen been excluded from existing
processes.
Indonesian election and Human Rights
by Max White
Widespread allegations that presidential candidate Prabowo
Subianto is responsible for the enforced disappearances of
activists in 1997-1998 must be investigated.
Te President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must instruct the
Attorney General to review all information it has received
in relation to this case from the Indonesian Human Rights
Commission (Komnas HAM), and ensure complete investiga-
tions.
Specifcally, Amnesty International calls on the President to
immediately implement Parliaments 2009 recommendations
and create an ad hoc human rights court to try those respon-
sible for enforced disappearances in 1997-1998.
An election for Indonesia s President is approaching (Au-
gust) and a lot hangs in the balance regarding human rights
there. Indonesian human rights NGOs have challenged can-
didates to publicly endorse improved human rights. Amnesty
has joined that efort and issued a call for candidates to sup-
port progress on human rights. Below is a press release issued
April 29th, and an embedded link to Amnestys full statement.
I am following developments in the campaign. One rather
personal reason is unpleasant memories from my time in oc-
cupied East Timor , where one of the most notorious Indone-
sian Generals, Prabowo Subianto, directed many massacres.
Ex-General Prabowo is one of two leading candidates for
President. One hint at his history is that, alone among Indo-
nesian ofcials, he is not allowed to enter the United States.
He was refused a visa some years ago. According to a State
Department ofcer I know, the refusal of a visa was mostly
because of Prabowos directing the disappearances of human
rights defenders before the fall of Suharto in 1998. Tose dis-
appearances are still a live issue for Indonesians. Prabowo was
It would be inappropriate for Amnesty to comment on par-
ticular candidates, and the recommendations in the report
cited below does not do so. However, in response to a Re-
uters journalist who contacted me, the Indonesian researcher
agreed to the following statement:
Group Coordinator
Joanne Lau
jlau@aipdx.org
Treasurer
Tena Hoke
tena.hoke@gmail.com
Newsletter Editor
Dan Webb
write_to_dan@yahoo.com
Darfur (Sudan)
Marty Fromer
martyfromer@gmail.com
Indonesia
Max White
maxw33@comcast.net
Prisoners Cases
Jane Kristof
kristofj@pdx.edu
Megan Harrington
megan.harrington
@gmail.com
Concert Tabling
Will Ware
ww_ware@yahoo.com
Central Africa/
OR State Death
Penalty Abolition
Terrie Rodello
tarodello@igc.org
AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
Anita Berghoef Stock.Xchng
AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 3
Former Guatemalan police chief found guilty for killings
by Sebastian Elgueta, Researcher for Guatemala Amnesty International, June 6th, 2014
In the same trial he was acquitted of the killing of three es-
caped inmates from Guatemalas Infernito (Little Hell) prison
who were allegedly recaptured by the authorities and mur-
dered outside the prison in 2005. Te court ruled that there
was reasonable doubt that he was involved.
Cases against other important former ofcials linked to the
crime are still pending. Te former Interior Minister Carlos
Vielman, who was Erwin Sperisens boss at the time of the
murders, fed to Spain. He is currently awaiting trial. Former
deputy director of police investigations Javier Figueroa, alleg-
edly linked to the murders, fed to Austria and was acquitted
of the killings by a court in Vienna in October 2013.
Last year three former ofcials were convicted for their roles
in the two incidents. Tey were convicted by courts in Guate-
mala but in February 2014 those convictions were overturned
and retrials were ordered. Teir cases are still being processed.
Allegations of involvement in human rights violations such
as extrajudicial executions should be thoroughly investigated
with those deemed responsible held to account, said Sebas-
tian Elgueta.
The conviction of Guatemalas former National Director
of Police for a number of murders is a very signifcant step
forward in the fght against impunity that has plagued Guate-
mala in the past, said Amnesty International today.
Erwin Sperisen was found guilty of the murders of seven men
by a Swiss court today, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Te decision can be appealed.
Te court found that he had been involved in the murder of
seven inmates who were killed during a police raid on the El
Pavn prison in 2006. In six cases he was indirectly involved,
and in one he was found to have directly committed the mur-
der, according to the court.
Todays result is a positive step in the fght against a culture of
impunity in Guatemala. Tis verdict strengthens the rule of
law and is a wake-up call for all those attempting to hide their
crimes behind positions of authority, said Sebastian Elgueta,
Researcher for Guatemala, Amnesty International.
Erwin Sperisen held the position of head of police in Gua-
temala from 2004 to 2007 when he fed the country and
travelled to Switzerland relying on his dual Swiss-Guatemalan
citizenship. He could not be extradited to Guatemala given
his citizenship status, but Swiss law allows for prosecutions of
crimes committed by its nationals in other countries - a form
of extraterritorial jurisdiction.
A warrant was issued for his arrest by the Guatemalan au-
thorities in 2010 and he was arrested by Swiss authorities in
August 2012. His trial began on May 15th in Geneva.
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On May 23rd, Am-
nesty International
Group 48 joined with
other local groups
in a rally at Director
Park in downtown
Portland, as part of
an international Day
of Action on Guantanamo, calling on President Obama
to make good on his commitment, made one year ago,
to close the detention facility this year. The chief orga-
nizer for the rally was Megan Harrington, with support
by long-time Group 48 members, including Terrie Rodel-
lo, Karen Kennedy, Jane Kristof, and Joanne Lau.
Guantanamo Day of Action

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 4

Background
Extrajudicial executions have been a widespread and serious
human rights concern in Guatemala. A UN-sponsored in-
vestigation found that extrajudicial executions were routinely
carried out by government forces during the internal armed
confict (1960-1996), and estimated that some 200,000 people
had been killed, including some 40,000 victims who were
forcibly disappeared.
Although most state violence during the internal confict was
directed at those perceived to be supporting armed opposi-
tion groups, investigations have also documented extraju-
dicial executions of those perceived by police ofcers to be
involved in crime. In 1999 the Inter-American Court of Hu-
man Rights found the state of Guatemala responsible for the
extrajudicial execution in 1990 of fve children living rough
on the streets and noted that there was a common pattern of
illegal acts perpetrated by the State against street children.
In 2007 the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial execu-
tions issued a damming report on Guatemala, including a
conclusion that allegations that members of the police were
involved in extrajudicial executions were highly credible.
Urgent Action: ISRAEL AND OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Human
Rights Defender Detained For Protest
Murwad Shtewi, m
military court for his release. Te Israel Security Agency
(ISA) only interrogated him briefy immediately before he
was presented to a military court at Ofer camp near Ramallah
on May 2nd, where he was charged with organizing a demon-
stration without a permit, causing a public disturbance, and
throwing rocks during a demonstration.
Te court ordered Murad Shtewis detention to continue until
the end of the proceedings on these charges. A petition by his
lawyer against the remand order was heard by the military
court of appeals on May 18th and rejected on May 22nd. Te
charges are based on statements given by two men from Kufr
Qadum, who had been detained by the Israeli authorities for
several weeks, during a long interrogation in circumstances
that amounted to duress.
In Amnesty Internationals assessment , the charges of rock-
throwing and of causing a public disturbance are unfounded.
Murad Shtewi has been persecuted for expressing his non-
violent opinions and for his role in the peaceful protests in
Kufr Qadum against Israels illegal settlements. His arrest and
detention are a measure to punish him and stop him and
other village activists from exercising their rights to freedom
of expression and to peaceful assembly.
Action
Please write immediately in Hebrew, English or your own
language:
Calling on the authorities to release Murad Shtewi imme-
Palestinian human rights defender Murad Shtewi has been
detained by Israeli forces since 29 April for his role in weekly
peaceful demonstrations in his village. He is a prisoner of
conscience. May 22nd a court rejected a petition for his
release.
Murad Shtewi is a leading activist in the weekly demonstra-
tion held by residents of the village of Kufr Qadum in the
occupied West Bank to demand that their main road be
reopened. It was closed by the Israeli military authorities in
2002 to prevent Palestinians from travelling on roads desig-
nated for use only by Israeli settlers. He was arrested at his
home at around 3am on April 29th and taken to Huwara
military camp near the city of Nablus.
Murad Shtewi was held in the military camp and was not
questioned until, afer three days, his lawyer petitioned a
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 5

diately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience,
detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to free-
dom of expression;
Calling on them to ensure the right to freedom of expres-
sion and peaceful assembly of people in Kufr Qadum;
Urging them to take efective measures to prevent the use
of unnecessary and excessive force by Israeli forces against
peaceful demonstrators.
Appeals To
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE JULY 4th 2014 TO:
Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
Ofce of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan St.
PO Box 187
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91950, Israel
Email: b.netanyahu@pmo.gov.il
pm_eng@pmo.gov.il
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Military Judge Advocate General
Brigadier General Danny Efroni
6 David Elazar Street
Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel
Fax: +972 3 569 4526
Email: avimn@idf.gov.il
Salutation: Dear Judge Advocate General
Copies To
Minister of Defence
Moshe Yaalon
Ministry of Defence
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya
Tel Aviv 61909, Israel
Fax: +972 3 691 6940
+972 3 696 2757
Additional Information
Kufr Qadum is a village west of the city of Nablus in the
occupied West Bank with a population of around 3,500. Te
majority of the villages lands have been expropriated by the
Israeli authorities for the purposes of building and servicing
the illegal settlement block of Kedumim. In 2002 during the
second Intifada (Palestinian uprising), the Israeli authorities
closed of the main road connecting the village to the city of
Nablus. Te road is still closed, preventing residents of Kufr
Qadum and other Palestinians in surrounding areas from us-
ing roads designated for use by Israeli settlers only. Villagers
in Kufr Qadum have been holding weekly peaceful demon-
strations since 2011 to demand the reopening of the road and
to express their opposition to the Israeli military occupation
and the expansion of illegal settlements.
Murad Shtewi, a 39-year-old father of three, works at the
Ministry of Education ofce in the city of Qalqilya. He plays
a leading role in the weekly demonstration in Kufr Qadum.
Israeli forces frequently use unnecessary and excessive force,
in breach of international law and standards, against the
demonstrators, which has resulted in hundreds of injuries to
villagers, including children, many of them serious. Tese in-
clude injuries from Israeli forces fring lethal weapons, such as
rubber-coated metal bullets and live ammunition, as well as
other less lethal weapons such as tear gas, which Israeli forces
use in residential areas and sometimes to target demonstra-
tors as well as journalists. Murad Shtewi has been injured a
number of times by Israeli forces using excessive force. On
one occasion, on September 6th, 2013, a tear gas canister hit
him directly in the leg during a demonstration; he was treated
in hospital for a broken leg.
Te recent arrest and detention of Murad Shtewi are part of a
pattern of harassment by Israeli forces against him and other
human rights defenders involved in weekly demonstrations
in villages across the West Bank. Murad Shtewi was arrested
twice before during demonstrations and released without
charge. His frst arrest took place on March 16th, 2013 afer
Within the United States
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 6

an Israeli security forces dog attacked his nephew Ahmad
Shtewi during a demonstration. A video shows Murad asking
soldiers to help his nephew and order the dog to stop attack-
ing him. Israeli forces sprayed Muarad Shtewi in the face
with pepper spray and arrested him. He was released afer
paying bail of around US$1,500 and was not charged. He was
assaulted and arrested again on December 20th, 2013 during
the demonstration in the village, and released four days later
afer paying bail of around US$1,500; he was not questioned
during this detention and was not charged.
Another activist in Kufr Qadum, Saqer Obeid, told Amnesty
International that he and other village activists, including
Murad Shtewi, were facing a pattern of harassment. He said
that Murad Shtewi was pressured several times by members
of the ISA to stop the weekly peaceful demonstration in Kufr
Qadum. He added: What they need to understand is that the
demonstrations are an expression of what the whole people of
Kufr Qadum want, and not only Murad.
China: Persecution of Tiananmen activists exposes President Xis reform lies
by Salil Shetty, Secretary General Amnesty International, May 28th, 2014
Tose detained in recent weeks include human rights lawyer
Pu Zhiqiang and prominent journalist Gao Yu. Others includ-
ing Ding Zilin, spokesperson for the Tiananmen Mothers,
have been placed under house arrest.
For 25 years, relatives of the victims have fought for justice at
great personal cost. Most of the Tiananmen Mothers are now
elderly, and a number of the original members of the group
both mothers and fathers - have passed away.
Chinas leaders must stop playing politics with history and in-
stead deliver justice for the victims. Tese devastated families
deserve a full and open account from their government, said
Salil Shetty.
Its not too late for Xi to change tack and we urge him to
launch an open and independent investigation into the vio-
lent crackdown of 1989.
Pervasive repression
Twenty-fve years on from the bloodshed, the government
continues to use any means necessary to prevent Chinese
citizens from expressing opinions at odds with government
rhetoric. It jails activists on trumped-up charges, and uses
violence against those who seek to protect human rights
within the current legal system.
2014 has seen a wider clampdown against citizens calling for
reform most notably those associated with the New Citi-
zens Movement. Several leading activists associated with the
network whose calls for greater transparency and an end to
corruption echo many of the calls made by the pro-democra-
The widespread persecution of activists in the run-up to the
25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown
exposes the lie behind President Xi Jinpings claims to be
delivering greater openness and reform, said Amnesty Inter-
national.
Dozens of activists have been detained, placed under house
arrest or questioned by police in recent weeks for attempting
to commemorate the hundreds, if not thousands, of unarmed
protesters and civilians who were killed or injured in the
crackdown.
Te 25th Tiananmen anniversary was a critical test for Presi-
dent Xis claims to be delivering greater openness. But Xi has
opted for repression over reform, said Salil Shetty, Secretary
General of Amnesty International, who is in Hong Kong this
week to pay his respects to the victims of June 4th.
Te response by the Chinese authorities to the 25th anniver-
sary has been harsher than in previous years, as they persist
with trying to wipe the events of June 4th from memory.
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 7

cy protests in 1989 have received long prison sentences.
Tis blatant disregard for the rule of law shows the govern-
ment to be badly out of touch with the growing calls from
Chinese citizens to participate in political life, said Salil
Shetty.
If the leadership wants to demonstrate it is serious about
living up to its promises to deepen reform, it must loosen its
sufocating grip on freedom of speech and assembly.
Amnesty International reiterates its calls on the Chinese
government to:
Publicly acknowledge the human rights violations which
occurred in the Tiananmen crackdown of 1989;
Launch an open and independent inquiry and hold those
responsible for human rights violations accountable;
Provide compensation to victims of the 1989 crackdown
and their families;
Cease harassment and prosecution of those commemorat-
ing or speaking out about the 1989 Tiananmen protests and
those more generally exercising their right to freedom of
expression and assembly.
Thailand: Deepening repression as high-profle activist arrested, others sum-
moned by military courts
by Richard Bennett, Amnesty Internationals Asia Director, June 6th, 2014
In another worrying development, the military court in Chi-
ang Rai today summoned seven individuals who had taken
part in symbolic anti-coup protests. Te former Education
Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, arrested last week, was granted
bail by the Bangkok military court but is facing prosecution
for voicing peaceful opposition to the coup.
Te charges against these seven peaceful protesters, Chaturon
Chaiseng and anyone else detained solely on the basis of acts
of peaceful dissent must be dropped immediately. Instead
of intensifying repression, authorities should immediately
revoke the order they have issued under martial law that put
harsh restrictions on basic rights, said Richard Bennett.
Trying civilians in military courts makes a mockery of inter-
national human rights law. Military courts violate the right to
fair trial and allow for no appeal.
Since seizing power on May 22nd, the military regime has
adopted increasingly repressive measures to crack down on
and efectively silence politicians, academics and activists, in
violation of Tailands obligations under international human
rights law.
More than 300 individuals, have been ordered to report to the
military, and a large majority have been arbitrarily detained
for up to a week.
The arrest of a high-profle anti-coup protest leader and
military court summons of seven peaceful protesters are the
latest moves in a systematic and widening crackdown on key
human rights by Tailands military, Amnesty International
said.
Sombat Boonngamanong, a prominent social activist, was
arrested last night in Chonburi. He had publicly refused to
observe orders for him to report to the military, and from
hiding issued online calls for peaceful protests.
Sombat Boonngamanong should be released immediately,
unless he is charged with a recognizable criminal ofense
and remanded by an independent, civilian court. Tis is the
latest in a disturbing wave of arrests of people purely voicing
disquiet about the military regime. Te armys course of ac-
tion is looking increasingly like a purge, said Richard Bennett,
Amnesty Internationals Asia Director.
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Postage
AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014 Pg 8
AIUSA group 48 Newsletter June 2014
Critics of the lse majest law, or persons charged under it,
have been particularly targeted for arbitrary detention and
may face unfair trials in military courts and years of impris-
onment. Amnesty International is concerned that the military
regime may use this law even more extensively to penalize
peaceful dissent as repression intensifes.
Authorities have also dramatically expanded the scope for
prosecutions in military courts, including to allow for pros-
ecutions of some ofences allegedly committed prior to the
assumption of military rule.
Te militarys crackdown on peaceful dissent must end im-
mediately. Tere must be a halt to arbitrary and incommuni-
cado detention, and the threat of imprisonment for peaceful
dissent. Any other measures to silence political discussion
and debate, and to remove people from participation in pub-
lic life, must also end, said Richard Bennett.
Te military has also enforced widespread censorship of the
media, including television, print, as well as new and social
media. Soldiers are posted at all major news outlets and thou-
sands of radio stations and a number of television stations
have been forced of the air. Journalists have been among
those summoned and detained by the military.