Yemeni Journalist Abducted after Criticising Government

MDE 31/011/2009

A male Yemeni journalist, Muhammad al-Maqalih, has been abducted in the capital, Sana’a. Government forces have mounted a series of attacks in Sa’da province, northern Yemen, since mid-August, including bombing raids against villages and towns. Muhammad al-Maqalih published criticism of the army’s killing of civilians on the Yemeni Socialist Party’s website

Muhammad al-Maqalih’s whereabouts are unknown, and his life is at risk. In Yemen, critics of the state are often at risk of arrest, detention, abduction and beatings.

Read more here.

Please send appeals as soon as possible, and before 12 November. Remember to send faxes when you can!

President ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Saleh
Office of the President of the Republic of Yemen
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
Fax: +967 1 274147 (I faxed this number, it went through fine.)
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Major General Ghaleb al-Qamash
Chairman of the Central Organ for Political Security
Central Organ for Political Security
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
Fax: +967 1 443040 (Also works.)
(Salutation: Dear Sir)

Send copies to:

Minister of Human Rights
Houda ‘Ali ‘Abdullatif al-Baan
Ministry for Human Rights
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
Fax: +967 1 444833
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

My letter below:

President ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Saleh
Office of the President of the Republic of Yemen
Sana’a
Republic of Yemen
+967 1 274147

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University ACT 0200
AUSTRALIA 14/10/2009

RE: Detainment of Muhammad al-Maqalih
Your Excellency,
My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

I am writing to call on the Yemeni authorities to clarify publicly Muhammad al-Maqalih’s whereabouts and to release him immediately and unconditionally if he is being held solely for his criticism of the government.

I would like to point out that if Muhammad al-Maqalih is being held solely for criticising the Yemeni government, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience.

If, however, Muhammad al-Maqalih is held on suspicion of a recognizably criminal offence, I would urge the Yemeni authorities to ensure that he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and also to allow him prompt and regular access to a lawyer of his choosing, to his family and to any medical treatment that he may require.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik

Two Uighur men at risk of torture in China - ASA 17/053/2009

ASA 17/053/2009

Two Uighur men are at risk of torture and other ill treatment while in detention in China. Haji Memet and Abdusalam Nasir were detained on 23 September, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China. Their detention relates to the death in custody of Shohret Tursun. The police told his family that he had suffered a heart attack, but when his family received his body his chest was covered in bruises and his legs, stomach and back were scarred and cut. They believe he was tortured.

Haji Memet is related to Shohret Tursun, and Abdusalam Nasir participated in the burial rites. The two men are accused or leaking "state secrets". Read more here.

Please send appeals immediately, and before October 16 (which is soon!), to:

Chairman of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regional People's Government
Nur BEKRI Zhuxi
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu,2 Zhongshanlu, Wulumuqishi, 830041
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
Email: master@xinjiang.gov.cn(Does not appear to work, use regular mail.)
(Salutation: Dear Chairman)

Chairman of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People's Republic of China
YANG Jing Zhuren
Guojia Minzu Shiwu Weiyuanhui
252 Taipingqiaodajie, Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100800
People's Republic of China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

Director of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regional Department of Public Security
LIU Yaohua Tingzhang
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Gong'anting
58 Huanghelu
Wulumuqishi 830001
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
(Salutation: Dear Director)

Send copies to the Chinese diplomatic representative closest to you.

My letter below:

Chairman of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regional People's Government
Nur BEKRI Zhuxi
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu, 2 Zhongshanlu, Wulumuqishi, 830041
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
master@xinjiang.gov.cn

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University ACT 0200
AUSTRALIA 11/09/2009
ole.koksvik at anu.edu.au

RE: Haji Memet and Abdusalam Nasir

Dear Director
My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

It has come to my attention that Haji Memet and Abdusalam Nasir were detained on the 23 of September, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China, on suspicion of leaking “state secrets”. It is my understanding that the "secrets" in question relate to Shohret Tursun, who is related to Haji Memet , and who, after being detained on 6 July in Urumqi, died in custody. It is further my understanding that when his family received his body from the police in Langan village in Huocheng county, the body showed signs of having been subjected to torture.

I demand that Haji Memet and Abdusalam Nasir be immediately and unconditionally released, unless they are charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offence. Working toward securing the human rights of others is not a crime, nor is disseminating information about human rights violations.

I demand that they are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated while they remain in custody.

I call on you to ensure that they have access to their family and legal counsel of their choice, and I urge you to ensure an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations that Shohret Tursun’s death in custody was as a result of torture is carried out forthwith, with a view of bringing those guilty to justice.


Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Your sincerely,

Ole Koksvik

Myanmarese Human Rights Activist at Risk of Torture - ASA 16/005/2009

Kyaw Zaw Lwin, a Myanmarese human rights activist was arrested on 3 September after flying to Yangon, Myanmar. He may be in police custody in Myanmar and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Torture is common in pre-trial detention in Myanmar, where there are more than 2,200 political prisoners.

Read on here: ASA 16/005/2009

Please send appeals as soon as possible, and before 23 October, to:

Minister for Home Affairs
Maung Oo
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Naypyitaw,
Union of Myanmar
(Salutation: Dear Minister)
Fax: +95 67 412 439 (Read this note on sending faxes.)

Minister of Information
Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan
Ministry of Information
Bldg. (7), Naypyitaw,
Union of Myanmar
(Salutation: Dear Minister)

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nyan Win
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Naypyitaw,
Union of Myanmar
(Salutation: Dear Minister)

Please send copies to Myanmar's local diplomatic representative.

In Australia:
Embassy of Myanmar
22 Arkana Street, Australia.
Yarralumla
A.C.T 2600
Fax: (02) 6273 3181

My letter below.

Minister for Home Affairs
Maung Oo
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Naypyitaw, Union of Myanmar
Fax: +95 67 412 439

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University ACT 0200
AUSTRALIA 18/09/2009

RE: Arrest of Kyaw Zaw Lwin on the 3rd of September in Yangon

Dear Minister,

My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

I am writing to request that the Myanmarese authorities immediately and unconditionally release Kyaw Zaw Lwin (who also known as Nyi Nyi Aung) unless he is charged with a recognisable criminal offence.

I would also urge the authorities to guarantee that Kyaw Zaw Lwin is not tortured or ill-treated while he remains in custody and that he has access to his family, legal counsel, and proper medical care.

Finally, I would like to urge the authorities to provide information on his whereabouts, and the reasons and legal basis for his continued detention.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik

Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisheng in Danger of Torture - ASA 17/052/2009

All the details here: ASA 17/052/2009

Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been missing since February, was seen late June or early July, looking thin and weak. In 2007, after publishing an open letter to the US congress, agents came to his home, stripped him and beat him unconscious, took him into illegal detention, during which he was beaten and received repeated electric shocks to his genitals. Lit cigarettes were held close to his eyes for several hours, leaving him partly blind for days afterwards.

He is in grave danger of torture.

Please write immediately, and before October 27, to:

Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Salutation: Your Excellency

and

Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau
MA Zhenchuan Juzhang
Beijingshi Gong'anju
9 Dongdajie, Qianmen
Dongchengqu
Beijingshi 100740
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65242927
Salutation: Dear Director

Both these fax number work.

Send copies to:
Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Public Security
WANG Rui Tingzhang
Shaanxisheng Gong'anting
Xinchengdayuan Donglou
Xi'anshi 710006
Shaanxisheng
People's Republic of China
Email: info@shxga.gov.cn (this address has not worked for me)

Also send a copy to the Chinese foreign mission closest to you (follow the link and look for your country).

My letter is below:

Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65961109

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University ACT 0200
AUSTRALIA 21/09/2009

RE: GAO ZHISHENG
Your Excellency,

My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

It has come to my attention that Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been observed looking thin and weak, being accompanied by several officials. I am gravely concerned for his safety. I know that he has been subjected to prolonged illegal detention and torture at the hands of the government of the People’s Republic of China before, and I fear that this is happening again.

I call on you to ensure that Gao Zhisheng is released immediately and unconditionally.

I urge you to ensure that Gao Zhisheng has access to proper medical treatment while he remains in custody, and to guarantee that he is not tortured or ill-treated while he remains in custody.

I furthermore urge you to immediately provide information on his whereabouts, and the reasons and legal basis for his continued detention.



Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik

On Faxing

I want to encourage all readers to use fax as much as possible when writing letters on behalf of Amnesty International. It is harder to dismiss a piece of paper than it is to dismiss an email; thus letters and faxes are better than emails, I think. But it is also important that the action reach quickly, and so faxes are the better choice of those two.

You may not be aware that you can fax without having a fax machine. There are many providers that let you send an email, with what you want faxed in an attachment, and they will send the fax for you. We use Ozefax, and this has proved a reliable and cheap service so far.

So, please consider sending faxes!

Doctors at risk in Sri Lanka

ASA 37/018/2009

(I could not find the document on the AI servers yet, but this is the right UA, it has the same text as the word file I was sent.)

There is fear for the well being of five doctors who spoke out against the Sri Lankan government's methods of warfare during the recent war with the LTTE. They are now being held, and recently a press conference was held in which they recanted their previous accusations. Sri Lanka has a history of torture and ill treatment of prisoners.

AI writes:

Before their capture the doctors had provided eyewitness reports to the media and the international community from hospitals and makeshift medical centres in the conflict zone. Contrary to information from the government, their reports detailed the suffering of ordinary civilians, many of whom died from war-related injuries. Their reports also highlighted shelling of areas with large concentrations of non-combatants.

Please send appeals, before 23/09/09, to:
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 23 September 2009:

• His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2446657 (Salutation: Your Excellency)
• Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, 15/5, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 245 1529 (Salutation: Dear Minister). NB: I was unsuccessful in getting a fax through to this number.

Send copies to your local Sri Lankan diplomatic mission. In Australia:

• His Excellency Mr Senaka C.B. WALGAMPAYA PC, High Commissioner, High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 35 Empire Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603, Fax: (02) 6239 6166, Email : admin@slhcaust.org (Salutation: Your Excellency)

My letter is below.

His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2446657

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia, Tuesday, 18 August 2009


Your Excellency,

My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident and a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

I write to express my grave concern for doctors Veerakkathipillai Shanmugarajah, Thurairaja Varatharaja, Thangamuttu Sathyamoorthy, Kathirvel Ilancheliyan Vallavan and S. Sivapalanm, who have not been charged since their detention on 15 May 2009.

I call on you to release the doctors immediately, unless they are charged with recognisably criminal offences.

I futhermore call on the Sri Lankan government to repeal or revise emergency regulations and other special security legislation so as to bring them into line with international human rights law and standards.

I also note that I regard with suspicion the retractions of earlier statements which were given by the doctors on the press conference on July the 8th. I call on you to do ensure that the doctors are treated well while in custody, and to ensure, in particular, that they are not subjected to torture or other ill treatment.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

This letter has been made public here: http://aiua-sent.blogspot.com/

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik