Responding to reports of protests on Manus Island, where Papua New Guinea (PNG) immigration officials, implementing a policy set by the government of Australia, are attempting to force refugees and asylum seekers out of an immigration detention centre, Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Campaigns Director for Southeast Asia & Pacific, said: “Until there is a …
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Leaked transcripts of Trump call shows Australia’s disregard for those on Nauru and Manus
In response to the leaked transcripts of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s call with US President Trump in January 2017, Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Coordinator Graham Thom said: “The conversation makes it clear that Prime Minister Turnbull is rolling the dice with people’s lives and mental health. “Even more shameful is Turnbull’s admission that the US …
Indonesia: Government should immediately establish moratorium after maladministration surrounding execution
The undersigned organisations urge the government of Indonesia to establish an official moratorium on all executions and review all death penalty cases with a view to the commutation of their sentences as immediate first steps towards abolition of the death penalty. The call follows the publication of the findings by the Ombudsman of Indonesia, confirming …
Syria: Extrajudicial execution of Bassel Khartabil a grim reminder of Syrian prison horrors
Responding to news of the execution of Syrian-Palestinian human rights activist Bassel Khartabil overnight, Anna Neistat, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research said: “We are deeply saddened and outraged at this awful news. Bassel Khartabil will always be remembered as a symbol of courage, who peacefully fought for freedom to the very end. Our thoughts …
Thailand: Drop sedition charges against prominent journalist for Facebook posts
Responding to the Thai authorities summoning of prominent journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk to answer accusations of sedition for some of his Facebook posts, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, James Gomez, said: “The authorities must immediately stop using the criminal justice system to harass Pravit Rojanaphruk. It is outrageous to think that he …
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Maldives: Halt executions now
First executions in more than 60 years Government seeks to divert attention from political crisis Executions would violate Maldives commitments under international law Authorities in the Maldives must halt the first executions in more than 60 years as the government seeks to divert attention from a worsening political crisis, Amnesty International said today. The Minister …
Iran vilifies human rights defenders as ‘enemies of the state’
Iran’s judicial and security bodies have waged a vicious crackdown against human rights defenders since Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, demonising and imprisoning activists who dare to stand up for people’s rights, Amnesty International said in a new report. Caught in a web of repression: Iran’s human rights defenders under attack details how scores …
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Venezuela: Acts of violence highlight government’s disregard for human rights
The dramatic increase in illegal use of force, scores of arbitrary detentions and the killing of at least 10 people, among other worrying attacks against the people of Venezuela recorded this weekend, confirm a consistent pattern of deteriorating human rights in the country, said Amnesty International. “President Maduro and his government appear to be living …
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Child labour must not be the price for UK’s shift to electric vehicles, Australia’s supermarket supplies
Responding to the UK government’s commitment to ban all new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040, Mark Dummett, Business and Human Rights Researcher at Amnesty International, said: “This is good news for the environment and for air quality, but drivers should be aware that while electric cars may be green, they’re not always …
Myanmar: Release journalists facing prison over charges linked to reporting from Shan State
The Myanmar authorities must immediately and unconditionally release three journalists who were arrested in conflict-ridden northern Shan State last month, Amnesty International said ahead of their trial today. Aye Nai and Pyae Phone Aung, both reporters for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Thein Zaw (aka Lawi Weng), a reporter for the Irrawaddy newspaper, were arrested on …