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HRF’s Brian Dooley refused entry into Bahrain

January 20, 2012

In the series ‘crime (non coöperation) shouldn’t pay’ I am bringing to your attention the behavior of Bahrain. It has denied Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley’s request to visit the kingdom next week. The Government of Bahrain suggested such visits should be delayed until March. The latest denial comes less than two weeks after Bahrain refused to admit Rick Sollom of the U.S.-based nonprofit organization Physicians for Human Rights. This is rather shocking given that only last November the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry had been allowed a surprisingly frank public report. It turns out to be lip service. Brian Dooley himself, the head of the  Human Rights Defenders Program of HRF had the following to say about the refusal on 17 January 2012:

‘With delicious irony, the Government of Bahrain sent out a press release last week declaring that it “welcomes visits by all human rights organizations,” and that its “open-door policy remains in place” on the same day it sent me a letter saying it wouldn’t let me into the country.

I had been planning to go to Bahrain on January 19 to meet human rights activists and Bahraini government officials, as I have on three previous visits in the last nine months. I told the Bahraini government on December 20 I’d be coming, but it wasn’t until January 11 that it responded, saying my trip must wait until March, when a committee set up to implement reforms will have done its work. I said I’d be happy to go now and in March. No good.

Last week, Rick Sollom from Physicians for Human Rights was turned away when he landed in Bahrain. Authorities told him that “all government officials are under tremendous work pressure” and that he should come back after the end of February when a trip would be “more beneficial.”

These are stiff reminders that the Bahraini government should be judged on its actions, not its words. Denying (rather, “delaying”) access to human rights organizations is a hallmark of repressive regimes. Bahrain already ticked many of those boxes in 2011. Mass arrests? Check. Torture? Check? Deaths in custody? Check. Shootings of civilians? Unfair trials? Attacks on places of worship? Targeting of peaceful dissidents? Check check check check.…………………

By shutting out those who report on human rights, the regime confirms that its alleged commitment to reform and transparency doesn’t go any deeper than words.”

FOR THE FULL TEXT OF THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS GO TO: humanrightsfirst.org

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Human Rights First showcases HRDs that passed away this year

December 22, 2011

In an excellent end of year initiative HRF  looks back and honors some of the inspiring human rights activists who passed away in 2011 in the hope that their legacy and contributions will inspire new generations of human rights defenders. Nice pictures such as these one:

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Upcoming Human Rights Day event: web discussion on HRDs in USA

December 6, 2011

Note in your diary that you can join:

  • US Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Baer,
  • Doug Rutzen of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, and
  • Brian Dooley of Human Rights First

for a discussion about supporting human rights defenders and civil society. The event will be live-streamed on 15 December 2011 at 8:00AM (EST) and available through the CO.NX Portal: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/hr

from: Upcoming Human Rights Day Events « humanrights.gov.

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Indonesia and HRDs: some progress but still problems concludes Human Rights First

December 6, 2011

Human Rights First recently returned from an assessment trip to Jakarta where they met with activists to learn from them whether the Indonesian government has prioritized human rights through its treatment of human rights defenders. They had the following to say, which will be included in an alternative report to the Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia slated for next summer before the UN Human Rights Council:

  • Impunity for past human rights abusers, particularly those involved at the highest levels in the 2004 assassination of leading human rights defender Munir, continues to be a central concern for human rights defenders and adds to an environment where defenders feel unprotected in their work.
  • Human rights defenders acknowledge that outright violence against them has declined in recent years, but attacks and other forms of intimidation and harassment continue especially  in conflict areas such as Papua and West Papua. Tactics used include surveillance and threats of violence and arrest that increase around the release of reports, trainings and before and after visits by international human rights groups.
  • Human rights defenders in conflict areas are also subject to excessive use of force by police when exercising their freedoms of assembly and expression. Most recently, in October 2011 police, backed by a military detachment, fired assault rifles over a demonstration in Jayapura, Papua, killing at least three. Over 300 protesters were arrested and witnesses report the use of torture.
  • The work of human rights defenders, particularly those working on exposing corruption and past human rights abuses, has been impeded by criminal and civil defamation cases brought against them.

President Yudhoyono should make clear that past and future attacks against human rights defenders will not go unpunished and publicly support a renewed independent investigation into Munir’s death that would lead to recommendations for prosecution and a case review of past criminal proceedings. The Government should repeal or amend legislation that criminalizes the work of human rights defenders, including journalists.

for more info see: Indonesia on the Right Path, But Still Has a Long Way To Go | Human Rights First.

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Human Rights First to podcast human rights stories on iTunes

July 19, 2011

Human rights and new media being one on my main interest, readers will not be surprised that I am happy to promote the launch of ‘FirstCast‘, by HRF (Human Rights First). It is an audio podcast on iTunes which plans to bring compelling human rights stories from around the world as. This week’s FirstCast features Shehrbano Taseer, the daughter of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer who was assassinated by his bodyguard for publicly condemning the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Shehrbano is continuing her father’s work and has become an international voice for the victims of extremism and religious intolerance.

Subscribing is easy: from FirstCast page, launch iTunes on your desktop by clicking “View in iTunes.” Once the iTunes app opens, you’ll see our page with all of our podcasts. Under the Human Rights First logo, click “Subscribe Free.” And voila! You’re all set. You can also listen to past shows about the ongoing crackdown in Bahrain, LGBTI rights in Uganda, and the return of the torture debate post-Bin Laden.

If there are any question please address them to Sharon Kelly McBride, HRF’s Communications Director

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US Assistant Secretary Posner’s Testimony on Syria

July 13, 2011

 

On July 12 Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Mike Posner, gave a elaborate statement before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the House of Representatives. Of course, we are biased because Mike was for many years the founder-leader of the NGO Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, now called Human Rights First. It is clear that he has not lost his sharpness in this overview of the Syrian situation..

 

 

 

Assistant Secretary Posner’s Testimony on Syria « humanrights.gov.

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Crime pays series: Thai Human Rights Defender still missing after 7 years

April 6, 2011

 

Seven years after Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaijipit went missing, there is still no prospect of justice. Somchai disappeared on 12 March 2004, one day after he had publicly accused the police of torturing his clients, who were in detention. Since then, nothing has been heard of him. Despite pressure from his family and on the national and international level, those responsible have not yet been held accountable. Shortly after the disappearance of Somchai, five police officers were arrested and prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the disappearance. Although there were severe suspicions against all five suspects, the lower court convicted only one officer to a three year prison sentence in January 2006, but acquitted the other four. National and international human rights organizations (such as Human Rights First, Lawyers for Lawyers) observed the trial and believed that this verdict was the result of a failure of the judicial apparatus. The  Appeals Court on 11 March 2011  acquitted all of the five suspects. Furthermore, the court ruled that Somchai’s wife and children are not eligible to exercise his rights as a damaged party, thereby shutting the door for Somchai’s family to uncover the truth and to seek justice in court.

 

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