Responding to today’s announcement of the passing of Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said:

“The world has lost a great leader. Kofi’s dedication and drive for a more peaceful and just world, his lifelong championing of human rights, and the dignity and grace with which he led will be sorely missed in a world which needs these characteristics more than ever.

“I had the enormous privilege to work with Kofi on tackling climate change, poverty, and gender equality. I saw first-hand his deep commitment to partnerships with civil society in all the global challenges which the UN addressed.

“My heart goes out to his family today. They will be joined by many others across the world in a profound sense of loss. We can seek comfort in knowing that Kofi’s legacy will inspire countless others to continue to fight for a more just world.”

Malaysia’s new government still has a long way to go to fulfil its agenda of human rights reform, despite some notable achievements during its first 100 days in power.  

While the Pakatan Harapan coalition has taken some positive steps, including the pardon and release of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the abolition this week of the Anti-Fake News Act, promises to repeal other repressive laws, including the Sedition Act, have seen little progress. Meanwhile, the situation on LGBTI rights and the treatment of migrant workers has regressed since Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s election win in May.

“After 100 days in power, Pakatan Harapan’s report card on fulfilling its human rights agenda is a decidedly mixed picture. Credit must be given for repeal of the Anti-Fake News Act, the promise to review the use of the death penalty and the release or acquittal of several government critics, but the lack of progress in other areas is highly disappointing,” said Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty International’s Malaysia Researcher.

Repressive laws remain

“A host of repressive laws remain on Malaysia’s statute books, including the notorious Sedition Act, which is still being used to silence peaceful critics, while the situation for LGBTI people and migrant workers in the country is deteriorating.”

The Sedition Act has been systematically used in Malaysia for decades to suppress freedom of expression and silence government critics. Despite promises that it would be revoked, so far, only vague commitments to review the Act have been undertaken. Since the new government came into office, activists Fadiah Nadwa and Asheeq Ali have been called for questioning under the Act.

Similarly, pre-election assurances that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) would be repealed have failed to materialize. The law, which allows for the arbitrary detention without trial of suspects for up to 28 days, remains firmly in place, with a government minister stating earlier this month that the Act was “good”.

Hostile climate for LGBTQI people

The climate for LGBTI people in Malaysia has become increasingly hostile in recent months following negative statements by government officials, including a series of discriminatory comments by the country’s Religious Affairs Minister. Last week, two women were sentenced to six strokes of the cane for same-sex relations. Meanwhile, migrant workers have been subjected to round-ups by the authorities, despite the fact that many may be victims of trafficking and exploitation.

Amnesty International is calling on the Malaysian government to make good on its promises to repeal the country’s repressive human rights legislation as well as ratifying international human rights conventions it is not currently party to – including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It must also fulfil its pledge to make Malaysia inclusive and free from discrimination.

“Pakatan Harapan came to office on a wave of goodwill amid hope that true progress on human rights was coming to the country,” said Rachel Chhoa-Howard.

“The danger now is that human rights will slowly recede as a priority the longer they are in power. It’s imperative that the government does not miss this golden opportunity to effect real change in Malaysia. Pressure to fully deliver on its human rights promises must be kept up.”

Background

Amnesty International has welcomed many of the changes introduced by the government since they assumed power on 10 May 2018, starting with the release of Anwar Ibrahim. In June, Pakatan Harapan announced it would consider the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, while in July the political activist Zunar was acquitted of nine sedition charges.

This week the government also repealed the Anti-Fake News Act, a law passed in March this year which Amnesty International condemned at the time as an “assault on freedom of expression” aimed at silencing government critics.

In May 2018, Malaysia experienced its first change in government since gaining independence in 1957. Ahead of elections, Amnesty International published a Human Rights Agenda outlining eight key human rights issues that the new government must prioritize.

These included the rights to freedom of expression and association, addressing torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, better protections for refugees and people seeking asylum, abolishing the death penalty, respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and ending the persecution of LGBTI people.

The Bangladeshi authorities must end the crackdown on protests that has swept up nearly 100 people, Amnesty International said today.

Two weeks after thousands of school students came out on to the streets of Dhaka, demanding safer roads after two students were killed by a speeding bus, a pall of fear has descended on civil society with protestors being subject to intense surveillance online and arbitrary arrests.

“The Bangladeshi authorities must end this crackdown and release all protestors who were peacefully exercising their human rights. The students were overwhelmingly peaceful, and only a tiny minority of people were involved in violence. Their actions must not become a pretext for an attack on civil society where dissent is punished and people live in fear that they will be arrested next,” said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International’s Deputy South Asia Director.

Thus far, 97 students are known to have been arrested. At least 51 cases were filed between 29 July and 15 August 2018, charging 5,000 unnamed people for a range of offences under draconian laws inconsistent with international human rights law and standards, including an arbitrary ban on “unlawful assembly”.

Attacked with machetes, metal rods

By contrast, no action has been reported to investigate and prosecute police officers that used unnecessary and excessive force against the largely peaceful protestors, or members of the pro-government student outfit Bangladesh Chhatra League, who were allegedly using machetes, tree branches and metal rods to attack students and journalists, as reported by victims and eyewitnesses.

Students and other activists say that they are being subjected to intensive surveillance, online and offline, leaving them fearful of commenting on the protests on social media and even seeking medical help for injuries sustained during the protests.

Fear of arrest

One student at a private university in Dhaka, who was hit by rubber bullets fired by the police on 6 August 2018, told Amnesty International:

“Police are using CCTV footage to identify students and pick them up. Many students who suffered injuries after the police fired rubber bullets are not even going to the hospital to receive treatment out of fear of arrest. They are still living in a lot of fear and trauma. We do not know what may happen. Our movement was non-violent but we’ve been labeled as members of the [Jamaat-e-Islami] party.”

In a series of public statements, members of the Bangladeshi government have sought to cast the student protests as an attempt by the political opposition – the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami – to destabilize the government ahead of general elections later this year.

Section 57 flawed

The authorities have also arrested three other people under Section 57 of Bangladesh’s vague, overly broad and draconian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act. These include the photographer Shahidul Alam, who was arrested after giving an interview on Al-Jazeera English and currently languishes in jail; Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, an actress; and Faria Mahjabin, owner of a Dhaka café.

Section 57 has long been used as an instrument to criminalize people for freely expressing their views and opinions. The law stipulates prison sentences between seven and 14 years for anyone who “deliberately publishes or transmits” on a website or in electronic form, “any material which is fake and obscene”, “causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the State or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or organization.”

“The government has itself conceded that Section 57 of the ICT Act is flawed, and yet it persists with its use. Shahidul Alam, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, Faria Mahjabin and all of the students who were arrested solely for peacefully exercising their human rights are prisoners of conscience. They must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Omar Waraich.

Responding to reports that the Australian Government has failed to transfer a 12-year-old child, who has been on hunger strike on Nauru for more that a fortnight, to Australia for urgent medical treatment despite medical advice that he is at imminent risk of dying, Tim O’Connor, Campaigns Manager at Amnesty International said:

“It is absolutely disgraceful that the Australian Government has ignored expert medical advice to evacuate this vulnerable, and extremely unwell child.”

“The system is clearly broken if a 12-year-old child is hunger striking. This is a desperate situation and a decision cannot be delayed for another moment, he must be immediately brought to Australia to receive the urgent medical treatment he needs and that has been recommended by medical professionals.

“This is a young boy who has already been failed by the Australian government’s abusive policies, he came seeking Australia’s protection, he has been recognised as a refugee but has instead been warehoused on Nauru for five years.

“Five years is five years too long. How far is the Government willing to let this go? We cannot let another person die, let alone a child.

“The Australian Government has a duty of care – for as long as offshore processing exists – Australia is responsible. The immediate solution is to bring people here to Australia, or, failing that, to a safe third country, and offer them the protection they need and deserve.”

Amnesty International is today calling on our supporters to pick up the phone and call Prime Minister Turnbull to act immediately on this case and bring the boy to safety and urgent medical care in Australia.

Viet Nam’s authorities must immediately investigate allegations that a group of activists were attacked and severely beaten by police officers while attending a private performance of pre-Communist era songs in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday, said Amnesty International.

After breaking up the event – a performance of pre-1975 apolitical love songs by the musician Nguyen Tin held in a small coffee shop – police searched everyone for their ID cards, and proceeded to beat the concert-goers, focusing their attention on prominent rights activists Pham Doan Trang, Nguyen Tin and Nguyen Dai.

Indonesian police have shot dead more than 70 people in an escalating crackdown on what they have called ‘petty criminals’ in the lead-up to the country’s hosting of the 2018 Asian Games, which open tomorrow in Jakarta, said Amnesty International Indonesia.

Between January and August this year, at least 77 people have been gunned down across the country, including 31 in the Games host cities of greater Jakarta and South Sumatra. Many of these killings occurred during police operations explicitly devised to prepare the cities for hosting the multi-sport event, which takes place from 18 August to 2 September.

“In the months leading up to the Asian Games, the authorities promised to improve security for all. Instead, we have seen the police shooting and killing dozens of people across the country with almost zero accountability for the deaths.”

Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, Usman Hamid.

“In the months leading up to the Asian Games, the authorities promised to improve security for all. Instead, we have seen the police shooting and killing dozens of people across the country with almost zero accountability for the deaths,” said Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, Usman Hamid.

“These shocking figures reveal a clear pattern of unnecessary and excessive use of force by the police, and a constant veil of impunity that taints public security institutions. The hosting of an international sporting event must not come at the price of abandoning human rights. The killings must stop and all deaths must be promptly and effectively investigated.”

The killings peaked from 3-12 July, when 11 people in greater Jakarta and 3 people in South Sumatra were shot dead by the police as part of a ‘public safety’ operation to prepare the two cities for hosting the Games. In Jakarta, in addition to those killed, a further 41 people were shot in the legs, while more than 700 of 5,000 people arrested were charged with a criminal offence.

Shortly before the operation, known as “Cipta Kondisi” (Public Safety Operation), high ranking police officials publicly announced that their personnel would take “firm actions”, including shooting on-sight anyone who resisted arrest or attacked police officers. Despite criticism, the National Police chief reaffirmed the policy on 30 July, saying “if they fight the officers during the arrest then have no doubt, just shoot them.”

The police justified the killings in Jakarta amid growing public concern about increasing incidents of violent crimes being committed in the city, called begal. These refer to people carrying sharp weapons or guns who use motorbikes to rob and attack people. The overall number of people killed in Indonesia’s streets accused of having committed petty crimes this year represents a 64% increase on the same period for 2017.

“The police are clearly exercising a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ policy.”

“The police are clearly exercising a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ policy. The National Commission on Human Rights and National Police Commission must promptly launch a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the killings and bring everyone suspected of criminal responsibility before justice, including those in the chain of command,” said Usman Hamid.

Amnesty International is also calling on the Indonesian authorities, as well as national and international sports governing bodies, to take all appropriate measures to ensure that human rights violations do not take place as a consequence of hosting the Asian Games, and that staging this major sporting event does not contribute to exacerbating existing abuses.

Under international human rights law, Indonesia is legally obliged to respect and protect everyone’s right to life at all times, and has a duty to carry out prompt, thorough and effective investigations into suspected violations of the right to life.

International human rights law and standards provide that law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary, proportionate and to the extent required to carry out a legitimate law enforcement objective. Intentional use of lethal force, including firearms, may only be used as the absolute last resort and when strictly unavoidable to protect life or serious injury.

Background

For full details about the July “Cipta Kondisi” operation, please see Amnesty International’s public statement.

The announcement made at MDA’s ‘Regions of Welcome – Regional Settlement Conference’ in Toowoomba, flags the first major resettlement service provider in Australia to join Amnesty International’s ‘My New Neighbour’ campaign, which calls on the Australian Government to  expand and improve the current refugee community sponsorship program.

“Every day communities around Australia welcome new neighbours into their neighbourhoods. Sometimes those new neighbours are refugees and the role communities play in welcoming them so that they can rebuild their lives in safety is crucial,” said Shankar Kasynathan, Refugee Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia.

“In Queensland, MDA plays such an important role in welcoming and providing support to refugees. Amnesty International is so grateful that they have joined with us in their ongoing engagement, to raise awareness of our ‘My New Neighbour’ campaign which calls to expand and improve refugee community sponsorship.”

“In Queensland, MDA plays such an important role in welcoming and providing support to refugees. Amnesty International is so grateful that they have joined with us in their ongoing engagement, to raise awareness of our ‘My New Neighbour’ campaign which calls to expand and improve refugee community sponsorship.”

Through the support the organisations hope to celebrate the inspiring stories coming Queensland’s support for those who have recently arrived through the community sponsorship program. At the same time Amnesty’s campaign. At the same time Amnesty’s campaign highlights a number of the challenges that need to be addressed in the existing sponsorship model introduced in Australia.

Together, the My New Neighbour campaign will highlight the room for growth and the need to make the road to refuge in Australia, safer and easier for those in need of Australia’s help.

The community sponsorship model has worked successfully Canada for almost 40 years, welcoming over 280,000 refugees through the program, in addition to its humanitarian intake.

In contrast, in Australia, the community sponsorship program is capped at only 1,000 places this year and for every privately sponsored refugee, the government takes a space away from our annual humanitarian intake of 13,500.  

“We can see from Canada’s example that the kindness of neighbours can help people who have lost everything to start again. We hope ordinary people across Australia will see the success of this and say, ‘Let’s do our bit and help bring these vulnerable people to safety’,” said Shankar Kasynathan.