Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Human Rights Update

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012
The blog has been silent for a few weeks because of vacation in Canada and the USA. The human rights violators never take vacation, alas.

EMBASSY FINDER
Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.


GOOD NEWS

USA 

Celia Ismalej and her 18-month-old son have been released from detention after being granted asylum protection in the USA.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are usually pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.
Khanty-profile_cropped
This week we focus on the Khanty people of Russia. They are semi-nomadic, as are most herding peoples. In their homeland, the Siberian taiga, temperatures can reach as low as -50 degrees Celsius, and little grows. Traditionally, the Khanty have moved around with their reindeer, sometimes staying in ‘chum’ (reindeer-skin teepees), and sometimes in log houses in which a fire is kept burning at all times. They need your help badly. The Khanty were persecuted under the Soviet regime in the 1930s – their children taken and put in boarding schools and their shamans killed – but today it is oil companies which threaten them. Oil exploitation on Khanty land is polluting their forests and sacred lakes, killing the reindeer and scaring off other game. Please take action in accordance with the suggestions of Survival International at the bottom of the page. There is no pre-written letter this week.

UZBEKISTAN 

The horror of the regime is indescribable. Please read the link and sign the petition of Amnesty International.

 

RUSSIA 

On 15 April 2015, the Kirsanovskii District Court in Tambov Region rejected Yevgeniy Vitishko’s request for parole. His defence team is going to appeal the decision.  Please join the protest.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Four human right activists were arrested in Goma on 7 April, when they were encouraging bystanders to take part in a symbolic action to demand the release of their colleagues held in secret detention in Kinshasa. Please act.
 

CAMEROON 

Foudama Ousmane has been detained for more than six months without charge. He has lost sight in both eyes and contracted pulmonary tuberculosis while in custody. He is not receiving the health care that he needs. Please write on his behalf.
 

SWAZILAND

Attacks on trade unionists intensify.  Please act. Erase my details and insert your own. 

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