We have good news from Chile and Paraguay this month, but human rights violations in Colombia  continue to deteriorate with new killings of HR defenders and more forced displacements as armed groups roam the countryside. There are petitions on Argentina and Brazil for you to sign as well as 3 urgent actions (Chile, Paraguay and Colombia)

ARGENTINA

Hundreds of thousands of Argentinians have taken to the streets in support of the bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies in June to decriminalise abortion.  The bill is very close to having enough support in the Senate to be passed. Amnesty has organised a petition that will be delivered before the Senate vote.  Sadly since the newsletter was published the vote narrowly failed.

CHILE

Good news! Mapuche Indigenous spiritual leader Machi Celestino Córdovahas ended his hunger strike after the Chilean authorities granted him access to his ceremonial altar to carry out a renewal ceremony, essential to guaranteeing the Mapuches’ psychic and physical well-being.  Thank you to all those who wrote to the Chilean authorities.  No further action is required.

Amnesty has issued an Urgent Action about Chilean lawyer Karina Riquelme, who was followed and surveilled by police intelligence agents because of her work as a defender of Mapuche Indigenous rights.  You can still take action here. [Read more…]

We report on the change of government in Colombia and continued displacement of, and violence against, indigenous communities there. There is little sign of progress in investigating the murder of Marielle Franco in Brazil and more killings by security forces have occurred in a poor neighbourhood of Rio. An important step has been taken to decriminalise abortion in Argentina. In Chile, Amnesty have delivered a petition calling on the protection of Rodrigo Mundaca and his colleagues. The region’s Human Rights Court has questioned the pardon granted to former President Fujimori in Peru. Graham has visited the Paraguayan Embassy to discuss threats faced by Human Rights Defenders in Paraguay.

COLOMBIA

The conservative candidate, Ivan Duque, won the second round of the presidential elections and he will take office 7 August. He has opposed some of the political settlements with the FARC in the Peace Accord, but has also said that he would not ‘tear up the agreement’. He also wants to ensure that all former FARC rebels are brought to justice for violent crimes, which coincides with Amnesty International’s position.

More than 200 indigenous Nasa Embera Chamí from La Delfina reservation in Buenaventura have been displaced, following an armed attack on a member of their community on 8 June. They are in need of decisive security measures to protect them and access to humanitarian aid such as food, health services and shelter. To take action, you can download the Urgent Action here.

We would like to share with you the documentary “They’re killing us” by Tom Laffay, Emily Wright and Daniel Bustos Echeverry.  This documentary portrays the situation of social leaders and Human Rights Defenders in Northern Cauca. Although it is not endorsed by AI, you can use it for your work on behalf of Human Rights Defenders in Colombia.

Following the abduction of five people living in the Naya River area, Amnesty International calls on the authorities to ‘take immediate, effective and decisive action to guarantee the protection, safety and physical integrity of the Afro-descendant communities and Indigenous Peoples in the Naya area in the face of the alarming seizure of land by several armed groups. This action must be taken in consultation with the threatened communities.’

ABColombia reports that the Zenú Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Córdoba won an important court case against the ferronickel mining company Cerro Matoso S.A (owned by South32, listed on the London Stock Exchange) for the violation of their fundamental rights. The Constitutional Court found the company to be responsible for the pollution of air, water and soil, leading to numerous health complications for the communities. [Read more…]

Welcome to the latest newsletter. The next meeting  is on Thursday 14th June 2018, 7.30pm  at Moordown Community Centre. On the agenda  –  Review of campaigns and letter writing; GDPR latest, forthcoming events

Northern Ireland – Abortion is not a Crime The highest court in the land has ruled Northern Ireland’s abortion laws are in breach of the UK’s own human rights obligations. Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK where women can face up to life in prison for having an abortion. Theresa May can no longer do nothing whilst countless women continue to suffer on her watch. Act now – call for Northern Irish women to have access to free, safe and legal abortions. Send an email to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.  https://www.amnesty.org.uk/

Upcoming Events… Alexander Dakers is a long time Amnesty International supporter; his exhibitions have always encouraged donations to Amnesty.  He was one of the exhibitors at our own Art Exhibition in 2014.  He has a new exhibition running from 18th June up until 25th of June at Bournemouth International Centre, free entrance each day 11:00AM – 17:00pm Doctors on the Frontline – how do we make a difference? The New Forest AI group are hosting a talk by by Liz Harding, Humanitarian Advisor to Medecins Sans Frontieres – Doctors without Borders. This international charity has been providing medical help in war zones since 1971. It’s on Saturday 30th June, 2pm (light lunch from 1pm) and admission free (donations invited). Its at the Lymington Centre, New Street, Lymington SO41 9BQ (no parking there but plenty of public car parks in vicinity). Bourne Free is on Saturday July 14th, Bournemouth Gardens, and we hope to have a presence again this year.  More on this next month, but if you are free that day and want to help, please reply to this newsletter.

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We report on the further deterioration in the livelihood of Venezuelans and continued violence in Colombia, where we ask you to respond to 2 urgent actions. If you haven’t done so yet, please sign the petition on environmental defenders in Peru and Paraguay. There is also a new petition asking for justice for 10 Brazilian field workers murdered by the police last year. Graham and Richard report on visits to the FCO and Colombian embassy. And we have good news from Venezuela.

PERU AND PARAGUAY

Last month, we sent you a link to a new Amnesty report A Recipe for Criminalization: Defenders of the Environment, Territory and Land in Peru and Paraguay and encouraged you to share it on social media.  Please also sign the petition here

On 11 May Graham called on the FCO desk officers for Peru and Paraguay and handed over a request that the British Embassies in those two countries urge their host governments to adopt a policy of protection towards land and environmental defenders and implement the recommendations in the report.

Separately, Amnesty has called on the Peruvian authorities to stop misusing the criminal justice system to harass human rights defenders, following the decision of a regional High Court of Justice to overturn a judgement of acquittal and initiate new proceedings against three environmental defenders from the southern province of Espinar.  Oscar Mollohuanca Cruz, Herbert Huamán and Sergio Huamaní are accused of endangering public safety, obstructing public services and causing civil unrest.  The charges are based solely on their role as community leaders, thus automatically considering them the organizers of the protests and responsible for all criminal activity or damage caused. The three defenders were acquitted last year due to lack of evidence but the Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed the decision.  More information here: [Read more…]