News: ACLU of Northern California
Leave the first comment ▶Suriname amnesty law threatens President’s trial for human rights violations
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Suriname amnesty law threatens President's trial
23 March 2012
Suriname’s parliament must reject a proposed amnesty law that would allow the country’s president to escape investigation for past gross human rights violations, Amnesty International said today.
The long-delayed trial of President Dési Bouterse, who is accused of abducting and killing opponents in December 1982 while he was military leader, could be scrapped if the amnesty law is passed. The proposal will be debated in parliament today.
Bouterse was elected president in 2010 but is accused of human rights violations committed during his two previous stints in power, between 1980 and 1991.
The law proposed by Bouterse’s coalition government provides impunity for offences committed “in the context of defence of the state” during the period of Bouterse’s former rule.
“This is a flagrant attempt by President Bouterse to evade investigation for human rights abuses committed during his rule and deny justice to his victims and their families,” said Javier Zuñiga, Special Advisor at Amnesty International.
“This proposed law contravenes international law, which states that amnesties can not be applied to those responsible for gross human rights violations including extrajudicial executions.”
Members of Bouterse’s Mega Combination coalition party introduced the legislation on Monday and said it would pass through parliament by the end of the week.
Amnesty International says it must be scrapped, or amended so that crimes under international law and human rights violations are not included.
“Crimes under international law must not be subjected to amnesties. And pre-trial amnesty laws for human rights violations amount to unacceptable self-amnesties,” said Javier Zuñiga.
“Suriname is obliged to investigate such crimes and prosecute those suspected of criminal responsibility.”
Legal proceedings against Bouterse and 24 of his associates began in November 2007 but have faced repeated delays.
The defendants are accused of the extrajudicial executions of 15 opponents of the military regime in December 1982. Reports received by Amnesty International at the time indicated that the victims were shot after being tortured.
Bouterse has denied charges that he presided over the killings but his account was contradicted by the sole survivor of the incident, trade unionist Fred Derby, who died in May 2001.
Bouterse first came to power in 1980 when he led a coup. He allowed the return of civilian rule in 1987 but launched a second coup in 1990 – taking power for a further year.
A Dutch court convicted him in 1999 of trafficking cocaine from Suriname to the Netherlands, but he has avoided a prison sentence because he can not be extradited under Surinamese law.
Suriname’s parliament must reject a proposed amnesty law that would allow the country’s president to escape investigation for past gross human rights violations.
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2° 27′ 47.1852″ N, 54° 8′ 26.25″ W
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Federal Appeals Court Heard Arguments in Medical Marijuana Case with National Impact
SAN FRANCISCO-In a case that will likely decide the fate of most of the nation’s medical marijuana laws, today the American Civil Liberties Union is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients.
News: ACLU of Northern California
Mental health bill heads in wrong direction
The proposed WA Mental Health Act aims to deliver “best possible treatment and care”, but the Bill does not reflect these noble words, says CLA lead author Rhys Jones. Rather than enhancing people’s rights, the draft Bill actually increases the the ability for the State to treat people against their will, making life easier for the health bureaucracy rather than better for the mentally ill.
Civil Liberties Australia – promoting people’s rights, and civil liberties
International Travel Tips For Family Holidays
Taking an overseas trip with your family can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of your life. You will create wonderful memories that you will be able to look back fondly on. If you are planning on going out of the country with your family you will have to make sure everyone possesses a valid United States passport. No one will be allowed to leave the country without a passport. If your trip is rapidly approaching and you do not have time to wait the normal processing time, you can get expedited U.S. passport services from an online agency.
Passport Requirements
Passports are documents allow for an individual to cross international borders, whether by land, air, or sea. Without these documents entry into a foreign country may be denied as well as re-entry back into the country of origin. For this reason it’s imperative that all members of your family have their passports including infants and children. Children used to be able to travel on their parents passports, however due to stricter laws to prevent child trafficking even infants need U.S. passports.
International Travel
Passports are a traveler’s most essential document. They allow for their holders to go freely from country to country. If you do not have a valid United States passport you will be denied entry into another country. Also, if you lose your passport while overseas, you will not be allowed back into the United States until you obtain a replacement passport. In years past, children used to be allowed to travel with their parents without needing their own passports. This has changed, however, and now even babies are required to have their own individual passports.
Sleeping Arrangements
If you are going to be traveling internationally you should go online to compare and contrast airlines. You may be able to get a very good deal on airfare for your entire family if you plan in advance and check the internet every day for deals. There are even websites that you can visit that will compare all of the different travel agencies for you. That way, you can make sure you are getting the best price for your airfare. This is generally the most expensive part about taking a trip abroad with your family.
Keeping Yourself Safe
The next thing to consider when traveling abroad is where you are going to stay. There are many different options to think about. Obviously, hotels are very popular. However, they can be very expensive, especially if you have to get multiple rooms for your entire family. Hostels are a fantastic and economical solution for travelers on a budget. Also, small, family owned inns are a good idea. Often times, you can negotiate with these smaller hotels for a better rate. Again, planning ahead and checking for deals online is your best bet for finding cheap sleeping accommodations while traveling abroad.
Keeping Documents Safe
Unfortunately, pick-pocketing is very common in some parts of the world. This is especially true when a location is famous for having a lot of tourist visitors. To protect yourself from having your documents and money stolen you should make copies of all your important documents instead of carrying them on you. Also, do not leave your passport or wallet hanging out of your pocket because that will make you an easy target for thieves.
Leave the first comment ▶Supreme Court Strikes Down Another Attempt by Congress to Restrict Free Speech
NEW YORK–The U.S. Supreme Court today struck down Congress’s attempt to expand the definition of child pornography, saying that the law “prohibits speech despite its serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value,” a ruling the American Civil Liberties Union today hailed as a forceful defense of First Amendment principles.
News: ACLU of Northern California
Does Refusing a Search Give Police Probable Cause?
Here’s the latest clip from our new YouTube series, How to Deal with Cops. Hopefully you’ll find it interesting even if you think you already know the answer. Enjoy.
How to Flex Your Rights During Police Encounters
Leave the first comment ▶HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM October 2011
KALUNOS-LUNOS
Ito ang kalagayan ng mga Katutubo dito sa Pilipinas, ayon sa ulat ng United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Ayon sa ulat, di-matatawarang kahirapan at mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao ang dinaranas ng mga Indigenous Peoples (IPs) sa bansa.
Dahil nakatira sa mga pinakaliblib na lugar ng bansa, walang natatamasang batayang serbisyo ang mga IP. Ang kanilang mga problema at hinaing ay hindi napapaabot sa mga kinauukulan; kung umabot man, hanggang sa binging tenga lamang ito ng mga opisyal ng pamahalaan. Dagdag pa dito ang diskriminasyon at ang paglapastangan sa katutubong kultura.
Lubhang nakakabagabag ang ganitong kalagayan, lalo na kung iisiping 17-20 porsiyento ng populasyon ng bansa ay napapabilang sa tinatawag na Katutubong Pamayanan. Ibig sabihin, may tinatayang di-bababa ng 15 milyong Pilipino ang napagkakaitan ng tsansang makatamasa ng mga batayang karapatang pantao.
Ang Pilipinas ang isa sa mga bansang naunang magkaroon ng batas para sa mga IP. Pero 14 taon pagkalipas ng pagsasabatas
ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (RA 8371), halos walang substansyal na pagbabago sa kalagayan ng mga Katutubo. Kung tutuusin, mas nalugmok pa ang mga IPs sa kahirapan at kawalan ng kapangyarihan.
Hindi naman ito nakakapagtaka: ang mga lupaing ninuno ng mga Katutubo, na siyang pinagmumulan ng buhay at kabuhayan,
ay nilulusob ng mga mapanirang proyekto tulad ng malakihang pagmimina, at ang mga pagtutol ng mga pamayanan
ay sinasagot ng karahasan.
Sa harap ng mga ganitong pagmamalabis at pagyurak sa mga karapatang pantao ng ating mga Katutubo, hindi makitaan
ang pamahalaang Aquino ng mga kongkretong hakbang na nagpapakitang may simpatiya ito sa mga Katutubo. Nitong huling ulat ng pangulo sa bayan, wala itong sinabi tungkol sa mga plano ng gobyerno para sa kapakanan ng mga IPs. Kung ang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ang pagbabatayan, mukha ngang wala sa prayoridad ng pangulo ang pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng ating mga Katutubo.
Ito ngayon ang hamon sa mga Pamayanang Katutubo: ang maipagtanggol ang kanilang mga karapatan sa kaunlaran, sa sariling pagpapasya, sa nakagawiang kalinangan, sa harap ng isang pamahalaang indiperente habang tumitindi ang panggigipit
ng mga korporasyon na gustong pagsamantalahan ang likas-yaman ng mga katutubong lupain.
In this issue:
State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA) 2011
Ang IP Agenda sa Administrasyong PNoy
Alamin ang inyong mga karapatan
Not good enough IP WOMEN FLUNK PNOY
Mga reaksyon sa SONA ni PNoy
Judy A. Pasimio
Double jeopardy
Farah Sevilla
Kwentuhang pambata: Pambatang Palihan sa Pagsusulat
Emmanuel Drewery
Download the Human Rights Forum October 2011.
Philippine Human Rights Information Center
Leave the first comment ▶