The Indonesian authorities must immediately release seven peaceful activists who raised a flag banned by the government of Indonesia, Amnesty International said today. The activists, belonging to the separatist Republic of South Maluku (RMS) movement, were conducting a peaceful hoisting of the ‘Benang Raja‘ flag when they were arrested by Indonesian police on 25 April, …
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Delay in Assange proceedings important for ensuring access to justice amid COVID-19 crisis
Responding to a decision postpone Julian Assange’s extradition hearing today, Amnesty’s, Massimo Moratti Deputy Director of the Europe Office, said: “The decision to postpone Julian Assange’s extradition hearings is the right one. There is immense pressure on judicial systems everywhere due to the COVID-19 crisis, and it is imperative that courts still provide people with a fair …
COVID-19 contact tracing app needs robust rights protection guarantees
Amnesty International Australia is calling on the Australian Government to ensure seven key principles are followed to safeguard the right to privacy for users of its new contact tracing app. While many of the steps taken by Australia’s Governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been welcome, the launch today of an app to …
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Home Affairs must provide answers on removal of detainee to MITA
Responding to reports that APOD (alternative places of detention) detainee Farhad Bandesh was removed from the Mantra hotel to the MITA detention facility late last night, abruptly and without personal belongings, Amnesty International Australia Refugee Coordinator Dr Graham Thom said: “The Department of Home Affairs must provide an explanation for why Farhad was moved so …
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Thailand: Authorities using repressive laws to intensify crackdown on online critics
The Thai authorities are prosecuting social media users who criticize the government and monarchy in a systematic campaign to crush dissent which is being exacerbated by new COVID-19 restrictions, Amnesty International said in a new report released today. ‘They are always watching’ shows how General Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s administration has increased the use of vague or overly …
Viet Nam: Facebook must cease complicity with government censorship
Facebook must immediately reverse its decision to censor posts deemed critical of the government in Viet Nam, said Amnesty International today. On 21 April, Reuters reported that Facebook has begun to significantly step up its censorship of “anti-state” posts in the country. This follows pressure from the authorities, including what the company suspects were deliberate restrictions placed …
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Trump’s proposal to “halt immigration” is fuelled by bigotry and xenophobia
Responding to plans announced by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to sign an executive order “to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States”, Joanne Lin, the national advocacy director of Amnesty International USA, said: “While the scope of Trump’s new proposed policy is unclear, the message it sends is: the President is manipulating a pandemic to …
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Government of India must immediately stop intimidation of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir
Responding to news that the Jammu and Kashmir police have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against photojournalist Masrat Zehra and also initiated investigation against journalist Peerzada Ashiq for allegedly spreading ‘misinformation’, Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India said: “The two new First Information Reports (FIR) against journalists in Kashmir that initiate investigations against …
Death penalty 2019: Saudi Arabia executed record number of people last year amid decline in global executions
Saudi Arabia executed a record number of people in 2019, despite an overall decline in executions worldwide, Amnesty International said in its 2019 global review of the death penalty published today. The Saudi authorities put 184 people to death last year, the highest number Amnesty has ever recorded in a single year in the country. …
Clear guidelines needed for public to trust Covid-19 enforcement
Amnesty International Australia and the Grata Fund call on State and Territory governments and all relevant bodies to publicly release guidelines used by police to enforce COVID-19 social distancing regulations. A growing list of organisations are now calling for improved police accountability to maintain public trust as COVID-19 health regulations are enforced. To monitor this, …
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