From the Director
Human Rights First honored human rights defenders from Russia and Sudan at its annual human rights awards dinner in New York on October 21. The dinner is an opportunity to recognize the courageous work of leading human rights defenders, but just as importantly, it enables Human Rights First to bring the concerns of these human rights leaders directly to policy makers at the United Nations and in the U.S. government.
Ludmilla Alexeeva, Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group and a renowned Soviet era dissident, made clear in her remarks and meetings that human rights defenders in Russia today face new restrictions and new threats to basic freedoms. She urged the international community to support vulnerable Russian human rights defenders like Stanislav Dmitrievsky, who is on trial in Nizhny Novgorod for exposing human rights violations in Chechnya.
Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Chair of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) brought his firsthand experience of the continuing human rights crisis in Darfur to the attention of high level U.N. officials, including High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Lakhdar Brahimi. Human Rights First is now following up to ensure that Dr. Mudawi’s call for a new international political initiative to resolve the Darfur conflict results in action from the U.N. and the U.S. government.
Our distinguished visitors reminded us once again how vital the work of human rights defenders is in so many countries, and how much they need your support. Thank you for your continuing participation and interest in the Defender Alert Network.
With best wishes,
Neil Hicks
Director of International Programs
Spotlight on…
 New Report on Human Rights Defenders in Uzbekistan
In its new report Karimov’s War: Human Rights Defenders and Counterterrorism in Uzbekistan, Human Rights First describes how over the last decade President Karimov has misused concerns over security to undermine respect for basic rights and freedoms. The May 13 massacre in Andizhan was part of a much broader pattern of oppression in the name of counterterrorism that has characterized President Karimov’s long rule. Those who have tried to report on this oppression – including journalists, lawyers, monitors, and activists – have themselves been jailed, tortured, and accused of supporting terrorists.
In its report, Human Rights First calls on the international community to send a more unified message to Uzbekistan seeking an international, independent investigation into the violence in Andizhan and making all agreements with Uzbekistan contingent on verifiable improvement of its human rights practices.
Read the Report
 US Congress Urges Action on Munir InvestigationThe trial of a man accused of killing Indonesian human rights defender Munir continues in Jakarta. But prosecutors and police have still not extended the reach of the investigation to the intelligence officials alleged to have been in regular contact with the defendant. Part of the problem is the government’s failure to release an official fact-finding team’s report on the murder.
In October many of you contacted your Members of Congress to ask them to sign on to a letter urging the Indonesian president to release the report. As a result of efforts by activists like you, almost 70 representatives signed the letter, which was then sent to President Yudhoyono. At a press conference in Jakarta, Munir’s wife Suciwati said, “The letter from the U.S. Congress is part of the international support pouring in, providing sympathy and urging the Indonesian government to solve the case of Munir’s murder.”Read the Letter from Congress to President Yudhoyono
White Paper on Munir Murder Investigation and Trial (09/06/05) (PDF-206KB)
 Government Repression in Cuba IncreasingSince a further government crackdown in July 2005, repression and acts of intimidation against human rights activists and their families have been increasing in Cuba. A succession of hostile and often violent acts against peaceful government critics – including human rights defenders, independent journalists and democracy advocates – has been carried out by government-instigated civilian mobs.
Among those under attack are members of the Ladies in White, relatives of unjustly imprisoned activists who campaign peacefully for humane prison conditions, basic rights, and the release of their family members. The Ladies in White were recently awarded the prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights by the European Parliament.
HRF views pressure from Europe as helpful in promoting human rights in Cuba. Following the July crackdown, HRF sent a letter to the European Union urging unequivocal support for wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders in Cuba. We welcome the response of the EU. HRF also recently took part in a joint conference of European and U.S.-based NGOs and government officials to advance trans-Atlantic cooperation in human rights promotion on the island.
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Case Updates
CUBA:
René Gómez Manzano, Oscar Mario González, and Julio César López, remain in detention in Cuba, along with the 13 other peaceful human rights and democracy activists who were arrested in a renewed wave of government repression in July 2005. Despite almost 4 months in detention, none of the activists have been charged with any crime, although all three have been threatened with prosecution under Law 88.
Take Action >>
Read Human Rights First’s statement before the IV Summit of the Americas on the situation of human rights defenders in the Western Hemisphere.
INDONESIA:
After human rights conditions on US military aid to Indonesia were removed from the House Foreign Operations Appropriations bill over the summer, it looked like an uphill battle to restore the language in the final law. But on November 1 human rights conditions were restored after pressure from human rights groups, religious organizations, and activists like you.
IRAN:
Roya Toloui, the prominent Kurdish Iranian activist was released from prison in Sanandaj in October. She was forced to pay almost $80,000 bail, and she may be charged and convicted at any time. She sent a message to Human Rights First thanking participants in the Defender Alert Network for your support.
After being transferred to Milad Hospital on July 17 to receive urgent medical treatment following an international outcry from supporters like you, Akbar Ganji was returned to Evin Prison on September 3. Since his return to prison, Mr. Ganji has been held incommunicado and credible reports of serious ill-treatment and torture have emerged. Take Action >>
RUSSIA:
On November 15 Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained British lawyer Bill Bowring at a Moscow airport preventing him from traveling to the city of Nizhny Novgorod to observe open hearings in the ongoing trials involving human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky and the Russian Chechen Friendship Society. He was turned away despite a valid passport and visa for entry to the Russian Federation. Human Rights First condemns the detention and expulsion of Mr. Bowring by the Russian Federation. Read Media Alert
SYRIA:
Aktham Naisse was presented the 2005 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders at a reception in Geneva on October 12. Neil Hicks was in attendance to witness Mr. Naisse receive the award from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. Hundreds of you sent letters on his behalf earlier this year, as he faced baseless charges before the Supreme State Security Court that related to his legitimate activities as a human rights defender. Mr. Naisse was acquitted of all charges in June of this year.
Earlier this month the Syrian government released 190 political prisoners, among them Mohammed Raadoun, president of the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria. Mr. Raadoun spent over 5 months in jail. Thank you to all the members of the Defender Alert Network who urged for his release.
TUNISIA:
The World Summit on Information Society opens in Tunis on November 16. The summit has already drawn attention to the harassment and persecution of human rights defenders in Tunisia, exemplified by the continuing imprisonment of human rights lawyer Mohamed Abbou, and to Tunisia’s harsh restrictions on basic freedoms of expression and assembly. Even before the summit had opened, police banned Tunisian and international human rights organizations from holding a pre-summit meeting in Tunis on November 14. Take Action >>
UZBEKISTAN:
Though a doctor deemed Elena Urlaeva mentally fit, the Uzbek government ordered a re-assessment, resulting in a decision to hold her in the psychiatric facility indefinitely. Ms. Urlaeva was then forcibly administered psychiatric drugs. She was finally released from custody after the European Union issued a statement calling for her release. We appreciate the efforts of all the activists who urged for her release.
Human Rights First welcomes her release, but is concerned for the dozens of other human rights defenders who remain in detention and are subject to torture or other forms of mistreatment in Uzbekistan. Take Action >>
UNITED NATIONS:
In response to our concerns about the broad wording of UN Security Council Resolution 1624 the U.K. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Kim Howells, wrote to Human Rights First acknowledging our “concerns about the potential for misuse of UNSCR 1624,” but assuring us that the British Government has “made it clear that Governments should not use the fight against terrorism to justify clampdowns or harassment of opposition voices.” Human Rights First will continue to call attention to cases where governments are misusing legitimate concerns about the threat of terrorism to mask repression of legitimate, non-violent dissent.
ZIMBABWE:
There has been no progress in the investigation of the attack against five pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe. In fact, the situation for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe has deteriorated further. On November 8, Ms. Netsai Mushonga, Coordinator of the Women’s Coalition, was arrested and detained overnight for convening a training on the use of non-violent means for dispute resolution. She was released from custody but faces prosecution under the Protection of Security Act, a commonly used tool to deny the internationally-protected right to assemble. On the same day, more than 100 trade unionists were arrested during a protest in Harare, while dozens more were arrested around Zimbabwe. Take Action >>
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