Amnesty International July 1978 Volume VIII Number 7 newsletter

REHABILITATION OF RIGHTISTS AI Publishes Report on ANNOUNCED IN CHINA The authorities of the People's Republic Northern Ireland of China have decided to rehabilitate several On 13 June, Al published the report of its mission to Northern Ireland late thousand people who had been classified as last year to investigate in detail allegations of police ill-treatment of persons "rightists" since 1957, according to recent detained on suspicion of involvement in or knowledge of terrorist offences. news agency reports from Peking. The A 1 mission, consisting of a Dutch lawyer, two doctors from Denmark The decision, which was adopted by the and a member of the organization's research staff, spent ten days in Northern Chinese People's Political Consultative Ireland in November-December 1977. The delegates met government, police Conference—a national united front institut- ion -was endorsed in April by the Central and judicial officials. They examined allegations of ill-treatment of 78 persons, Committee of the Chinese Communist detained for up to seven days under emergency legislation, most of them during Party. It implies that the accusations made 1977. The delegates obtained direct testimony from 52 persons. They obtained against people classified as "rightists" in medical reports relating to 13 of these cases, and five of the 52 individuals were the past, or the verdicts passed against them, examined in detail by the medical members of the delegation. The delegates will be reviewed. The Japanese news agency also examined medical reports relating to the cases of a further 26 persons. Kyodo reports that the measure will affect Most of the allegations studied by Al's 100,000 people who were labelled as delegates were of beatings to the body and "rightists" after the brief liberalization extremities, beatings to the head, psycho- movement of the "Hundred Flowers" in logically and/or physically exhausting pro- Human Rights 1957. The people thus labelled were either cedures (such as prolonged and oppressive dismissed from office or imprisoned or questioning, being made to do physical Violations in punished in other ways. exercises or wall-standing for prolonged Al welcomed this decision in a letter to periods), threats and humiliation. Vice-Premier DENG Xiaoping in May, On the basis of the information available Guinea requesting details on its implementation and to it, AI concluded that maltreatment of sus- On 21 June, Al released an 11-page raising individual cases of prisoners known pected terrorists by the Royal Ulster Briefing on Guinea which describes in to Al . This concerned in particular WANG Constabulary (RUC) had taken place with detail the longstanding pattern of human Mingdao and LIN Xiling, arrested after sufficient frequency to warrant the estab- rights violations in the country. Expressing the "Hundred Flowers" movement and said . lishment of a public inquiry to investigate concern at the widespread use of detention to be still imprisoned in the mid-1970s. Lin it. The evidence presented to the mission without trial in Guinea, Al urged President Xiling was a 20-year-old student at China did not suggest that uniformed members of Ahmed Sékou TOURE to take immediate People's University when she was labelled a the RUC were involved in the alleged mal- and effective action to improve the human "rightist" in 1957; she is reported to have treatment. rights situation. been subsequently sentenced to 20 years' In particular, the report expresses concern AI estimates that there are between 2,000 imprisonment with deprivation of civil rights about changes in the rules relating to the and 4,000 political prisoners in Guinea, a for life. Wang Mingdao was a Protestant admissibility of statements in trials of persons country whose population is only some five pastor from Peking who was arrested for the charged with terrorist offences, which allow million. Most of the prisoners are held in second time in 1957 and sentenced to 15 for confessions to be ruled admissible evid- two main prison camps, Camp Boiro in the years' imprisonment; his sentence was later ence where, under normal law, they would capital, Conakry, and the Kémé Boureima extended to life imprisonment. have been excluded. The report notes that Camp at Kindia. Conditions of imprisonment a large proportion of persons convicted of are reported to be particularly harsh. MASS ARRESTS IN PERU terrorist offences in the special (Diplock) Political prisoners are completely isolated Constitutional guarantees were suspended non-jury courts are convicted solely on the from the outside world and are not allowed and a state of emergency decreed in Peru basis of self-incriminating statements. The to receive visits or even letters from their on 20 May in response to widespread evidence also indicates that the machinery families. Many prisoners have been detained disturbances. The unrest followed austerity for investigating complaints against the without trial for seven years; others were measures which doubled public transport police of assault during interview is not sentenced to life imprisonment after fares and raised basic food prices by an adequate. arbitrary legal proceedings at which they estimated 80%. The report also condemns in general the were not allowed to be present. These measures were introduced after use of political murder and maiming by AI also found that the death rate among government negotiators met a team from the paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. political prisoners is particularly high and International Monetary Fund in Lima to On the basis of its conclusions A/ reports that more than 250 deaths occurred discuss credits to ameliorate Peru's severe recommended to the United Kingdom in one particular section of Camp Boiro financial crisis. Opposition spokesmen have government that a public and impartial alone between March and September 1974. protested that the conditions imposed by inquiry be established to investigate the Many prisoners are said to have been starved international financial bodies would seriously allegations of maltreatment. It also suggested to death. In some cases it is not known jeopardize the elections, scheduled for 18 that the terms of reference of this inquiry whether individual prisoners are now alive June, and would lead directly to violations of should include consideration of the rules or dead. human rights. Continued on page 2, column I. Continued on page 2, column 2. Continued on page 2, column 2. 2 AI PublishesReport on Northern Ireland testify in private before the committee. Jujuy. Most were subsequently granted Continued from page 1, column 1. AI said that "on the basis of the findings asylum in other countries relating to interrogation and detention, of this investigation" the committee should An AI mission to Peru between 6 and admissibility of statements, and the "review the rules relating to interrogation 14 April had met government officials, indivi- effectiveness of machinery for investigating and detention, admissibility of statements duals and organizations to discuss human complaints against the police of assault dur- in the courts and the effectiveness of exist- rights issues of concern in Peru, especially the ing interview. It further suggested that the ing machinery for investigating complaints periodic and indiscriminate mass arrests of inquiry should have access to all relevant against the police of assault during inter- trade unionists and political activists. data on individual cases of alleged maltreat- rogation". The full report of the committee Attention was drawn to at least 1,800 ment. Finally, Al recommended that, pending should be made public, AI said. arrests which followed demonstrations and a the establishment and reporting of such Report of an Amnesty International general strike in July 1977 in protest at an inquiry, immediate steps be taken to Mission to Northern Ireland (28 November- transport and other price increases. According ensure that suspects being interviewed by 6 December 1977) is available from Al's to military court officials these arrests led the RUC on suspicion of terrorism are pro- national sections or from the International to less than five convictions although many tected against possible maltreatment. Secretariat. detainees were held for six months or more. Measures to this end should include early Human Rights Violations in Guinea The mission was led by Senator Hans RAU, access to lawyers. Continued from page 1, column 2. a specialist in Latin American law who is a The report was sent to the British The briefing paper says that torture has former Finance Minister and Deputy Mayor government on 2 May. become "an essential part of the machinery of Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany. • On 8 June the British government issued of repression" since Guinea's independence He was accompanied by a researcher from a public statement in response to Al's in 1958. It is used both as a means of general Al's International Secretariat. request for an impartial and public inquiry intimidation and in order to extract "con- Despite prior arrangements, no member into the allegations of maltreatment. In this fessions" from real or suspected opponents of the Peruvian cabinet met the delegates statement the government announced that, of the government and those who have been and a meeting with the Minister of the having examined Al's report, it had decided made "scapegoats" for the country's political Interior, which was scheduled for the last to establish an independent committee of and economic problems. Methods of torture day of the mission, was cancelled. inquiry into police practice and procedure include the use of electric shocks, severe The mission did, however, hold extensive in Northern Ireland relating to the inter- beatings, burning with cigarettes, and partial talks with officials of the military courts on rogation of persons suspected of scheduled suffocation. political prisoners and due process of law. (terrorist) offences. The committee of Al said that its briefing was being publish- The mission observed a session of the inquiry would also be mandated to consider ed at a time when there was some improve- court and examined trial documentation on the effectiveness of the machinery for deal- ment in human rights in Guinea. Recent cases of interest to Al . ing with complaints against the police. The reports suggested that a number of long-term They visited Lurigancho Prison, where committee would not, however, review the political prisoners, including Roman Catholic 10 political prisoners were held at the time, rules regarding the admissibility of confes- Archbishop Raymond-Marie TCHIDIMBO and talked with the prison authorities. sions in the special non-jury courts. (June Newsletter), were being released at a The delegates were informed, however, that The government also said that individual time when Guinea is increasingly sensitive to a direct order from the Ministry of the allegations of maltreatment would not be international criticism on human rights Interior forbade any contact between the investigated by a public inquiry. Instead, issues. However, it was clear that most of mission and the political prisoners. the government invited Al to give to the Guinea's political prisoners had not been The mission will prepare a report of its Northern Ireland Director of Public Pro- freed -even Archbishop Tchidimbo's release findings which will then be submitted to secutions (DPP) the names of the 78 has not been confirmed-and there were fev, Al's International Executive Committee. persons whose allegations of maltreatment signs that the government was yet ready to were described in Al's report. The DPP undertake the sort of fundamental reforms would then examine the complaints with a necessary to protect human rights. TRIAL OF HELSINKI MONITOR view to prosecuting identified police Amnesty International Briefing on Guinea: IN THE USSR 11 pages, is published in English by Amnesty officers if the evidence justified it. The International Publications, 10 Southampton Yury ORLOV, chairman of the unofficial government stated that the DPP would Street, London WC2E 7HF, England. Price: 40 Helsinki monitoring group established in additionally report on his "general findings pence (US $1.00) plus postage. A French version Moscow in mid-1976, was tried in Moscow and conclusions" of his examination of is available from Al's francophone national from 15 to 18 May on charges of "anti- sections (France, Belgium, Switzerland, these cases, for the information of the Luxembourg and Canada). Soviet agitation and propaganda". He was government and of the committee of inquiry. convicted and sentenced to the maximum In a public statement on13 June, Al MassArrests in Peru term applicable, 7 years' strict regime regretted that the terms of reference of the Continued from page 1, column 3, imprisonment and 5 years in exile. government's committee of inquiry would During the course of initial, nationwide The trial was marked by numerous pro- exclude examination of individual com- disturbances and a general strike on 22 and cedural and substantive irregularities. Friends plaints of maltreatment. 23 May, at least 38 people were shot dead of Mr Orlov were refused permission to Al repeated its demand that a committee by security forces. Over 3,000 persons, attend the trial, which was officially of inquiry be established which would have mostly trade unionists, were detained. described as "open", and only his wife and direct access to all relevant data regarding On 25 May, 67 political and trade union two sons were admitted to the courtroom. individual allegations of maltreatment, and leaders were flown to the El Sepa penal Mrs Orlov reported that she was not allowed that this should not be confined to the 78 colony in the Amazon jungle where they to take notes during the trial and that she cases in Al's report. In particular, Al said, remain in total isolation. An official com- was subjected to a full body search on her the committee should have direct access to muniqué, issued by the Ministry of the way in and out of the courtroom. Early in police doctors' reports and to the com- Interior on 25 May, ordered the immediate the trial Mr Orlov submitted a list of wit- plaints files of the DPP, and should not be expulsion of 17 political leaders, trade nesses whom he wanted called, but although made to rely on a report of the general unionists and journalists. Four of those some were waiting outside the courtroom findings and conclusions of the DPP. named remain in hiding. The 13 others were the court rejected his request. Mr Orlov was Al further proposed that provision should flown to Argentina where they were con- not allowed to be defended by a lawyer of be made for members of the public to fined to military barracks in the town of Continued on page 4, column I. 3

and no court may challenge a detention Prisoners of the Month Campaignorder. Detention orders are reviewed every six months by a government-appointed Participants in the campaign are reminded that appeals must only he sent to the officials tribunal, but its confidential recommendat- named at the end of each case. In no circumstances should communications be sent to ions to the government are not binding. the prisoner. It is important for the prisoner that messages to the authorities are worded As far as is known, detainees rarely carefully and courteously and that they are never sectarian. receive family visits, they are denied correspondence and writing materials, and have access to only a few books. Detainees'

— Morocco whereabouts are not made public. Those Dr Nicolae IGHISAN— Romania El Houcine El MANOUZI El Houcine El MANOUZI, aged 35, was born detained since Kenya became independent Dr Nicolae IGHISAN, a 66-year-old doctor have been held for periods ranging between of medicine, is serving a long prison sentence in Tafraout in Southern Morocco. In 1963, on completion of his studies in Casablanca, two and nine years. Other detainees include for exercising his right to freedom of parliamentarians, but Professor Ngugi is the expression and for seeking to emigrate from he went to work in Belgium as an airline mechanic. During his stay there, he helped first academic to be detained in Kenya. Romania. Ngugi wa Thiong'o was born in 1938. He Dr Ighisan has been imprisoned for to establish a commission for literacy and orientation for immigrant workers and was studied at Leeds University in England and political reasons on several occasions. He tapght at Makerere University in Uganda and was first sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment also active in the Moroccan Workers Union in Belgium. Northwestern University in Illinois, United in 1941 for opposing the war-time Fascist States of America. At the time of his arrest regime of General Antonescu. He was then He later worked in Libya for three years, returning to Morocco in 1969. He left the he was Professor of Literature and Chairman a member of the Peasant Party which did of the Literature Department at Nairobi not advocate violence. He was released in country again for Belgium in 1970, following widespread arrests of persons suspected of University in Kenya. His novels are widely 1944 at the end of Antonescu's rule. read in Africa and-are on most school and In 1953, he was again arrested after pro- being critical of or opposed to the govern- ment. In 1971, he was sentenced to death university literature examihation syllabuses. ducing leaflets alleging restrictions of Professor Ngugi was presumably detained political freedoms by the Romanian in absentia at a major political trial in because of the opinions expressed in fictional Communist Party since it had come to power Marrakesh, after charges of plotting against the internal security of the state. form in his most recent book Petals of Blood, in 1948. He was charged with being a a novel published in 1977 (and launched by member of the Fascist Iron Guard of A year later, on a visit to Tunis, he was the Kenyan Minister of Economic Affairs), General Antonescu (which, in fact, had been allegedly kidnapped and taken to Morocco and a Kikuyu-language play, which recently disbanded in 1944) and was sentenced to where his fate was unknown until July 1975, had its performance license suddenly with- 15 years' imprisonment. After serving 11 when it was disclosed that he had escaped drawn. His marxist-oriented views on years he was released under a general from detention. He was recaptured one inequality and corruption in Kenya may amnesty which applied to 12,000 political week later. have led to his arrest. Professor Ngugi has a prisoners in Romania. On his release in In recent months it has been reported wife and three children. The youngest was 1964, he suffered from ill health including a that El Houcine El Manouzi is being held in a villa at Dar El Mokri, near Rabat, one born after his arrest. serious liver complaint. Please send courteously worded letters In the late 1960s, Dr Ighisan and his of many unofficial places of detention where prisoners are held incommunicado and may appealing for the immediate release of friend Lae Iorgulescu, also a former mem- Ngugi wa Thiong'o, to.. President Mzee ber of the Peasant Party, applied for be tortured. Al is deeply concerned that El Houcine Jomo Kenyatta, State House, PO Box 30501, permission to leave Romania. On their Nairobi, Kenya. applications they stated professional dis- El Manouzi was sentenced to death in crimination and harassment by the state absentia, apparently because of his political security police as their reasons for wishing beliefs, and that, since his alleged abduction, to leave Romania. he has had no access to a lawyer or to his Permission was denied and in mid- family. 1970 Dr Ighisan was arrested again. He was Please send courteously worded letters NEWS charged with "anti-state propaganda" and appealing for the immediate release of El OF "illegal possession of foreign currency". Houcine El Manouzi to: Sa Majesté le Roi PAST CAMPAIGNS The latter charge related to 25 US dollars Hassan H, Rabat, Morocco, and to: Maitre and three gold coins found when the security Maati Bouabid, Ministre de la Justice, Rabat, Former Iranian prisoner of Morocco. police searched his apartment. The charge of conscience, Aziz YOUSEFI, "anti-state propaganda" related to Dr (February 1975 Prisoners of Ighisan's continued attempts to criticize his treatment by the Romanian security police. the month Campaign) who — Kenya His trial lasted less than two hours and NGUGI wa Thiong'o was released from prison in was held in camera. He was sentenced to 15 NGUGI wa Thiong'o, the internationally March 1977 after serving years' strict imprisonment and is believed known novelist and professor of literature, 19 years of a sentence of life to be in prison either at Aiud or at Cherla. was arrested at his home in Limuru, Kenya, imprisonment, died of a During 1977, Dr Ighisan was, according to on 31 December 1977. His house was search- heart attack in Teheran on official information, transported to the ed and books were seized. After he had been 6 June. prison hospital and temporarily exempt held incommunicado for nearly two weeks, He had been trying for from prison labour because of the serious- the Kenyan government announced on 12 some time to obtain a pass- ness of his liver complaint. January that he had been detained six days earlier under Kenya's Preservation of Public port in order to travel to Please write courteously worded letters Europe for medical appealing for the release of Dr Nicolae Security Act. Ighisan to: His Excellency Nicolae Under this act, detained persons may be treatment. Ceausescu, Presedintele Republicii Socialistei held indefinitely without trial. They have no Romania, Palatul Republicii, Bucuresti, opportunity to present a legal defence in Romania. court against any charge made against them, 4 Trial of Helsinki Monitor in the USSR sentenced by summary military courts to Continued from page 2, column 3. and ankles tied together and beating of imprisonment for up to one year and fined. his own choice. When he tried to cross- sensitive parts of the body with wooden On 13 May, three were flogged in prison examine prosecution witnesses he was sticks or iron bars. aftei sentencing. repeatedly interrupted both by the judge and Among those arrested was the Secretary According to an official announcement, a by members of the audience. General of the General Union of Tunisian sentence of flogging imposed on a fourth The charge "anti-Soviet agitation and Workers (UGTT), Habib ACHOUR, who journalist, Masudullah KHAN, a senior sub- propaganda" is used only to restrict exer- has since been charged with attempting to editor of the cise of freedom of expression, and is cont- Pakistan Times who is crippled undermine the security of the state and is in one leg, was withdrawn at the last minute rary to internationally-agreed human rights held at the civil prison of Tunis. Other because of his physical disability. To mark norms. In the Orlov trial, as in other cases detained trade unionists have been charged this year's 30th anniversary of the United known to with participation in or incitement to Al involving charges of "anti- Nations Universal Declaration of Human Soviet agitation and propaganda", the strike. Rights, offence as defined in law was not proved. Al launched an appeal on 19 May Ars petition requested that those for the release of Mr Khan, who was also Contrary to the law's requirements, the court arrested be accorded their full legal rights sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment and a found Mr Orlov guilty of "anti -Soviet and further requested that all prisoners of agitation and propaganda" without establish- fine, and all the other imprisoned journalists. conscience in Tunisia, some of whom have ing either that he had acted with intent to Most of the journalists were arrested for been held since 1968, be granted an undermine the Soviet political system or attempting to stage hunger strikes in pro- amnesty. that he had deliberately disseminated fabrica- test against the government closure of the tions slandering the Soviet system. To have Urdu-language daily newspaper Musawat (Equality). proved these aspects of the charge the court Musawat , the official organ of ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS the Pakistan People's Party, opposes the would have had to take testimony from DETAINED IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC government and has criticized the trial of witnesses on the defendant's behalf and AI former prime minister Zulfikar Ali BHUTTO, has received reliable reports from the examine in detail Mr Orlov's defence that Dominican Republic that officials of the convicted in March by the Lahore High the work of the Helsinki monitoring group electoral commissions supervising the Court of participation in the murder of a consisted only of efforts to collect and Presidential election were arrested on 19 publicize facts regarding the Soviet govern- political opponent. The newspaper's Lahore edition was closed down by the May. Political activists were also arrested. ment's compliance and non-compliance with government in March and its presses con- The arrests, which totalled more than 300, obligations which it had assumed by signing fiscated, following the arrest and conviction took place in the capital Santo Domingo the Final Act of the Conference on of its editors and printer on charges of and in various provinces and occurred in Security and Cooperation in Europe. Report- printing objectionable material. the middle of a controversial election for the edly the indictment against Mr Orlov An agreement between the government presidency of the republic. The opposition specified that some of the materials circulat- and journalists' representatives on 29 May candidate, Antonio GUZMAN, held a clear ed by the Helsinki monitoring group con- resulted in a government announcement lead over the incumbent, President Joaquin stituted "anti-Soviet agitation and pro- that the journalists would be released and BALANGUER. On 17 May the military paganda". In the absence of the text of the intervened to stop the vote counting but Musawat's Lahore edition allowed to resume indictment and of any detailed transcript of it was subsequently resumed and the results printing. They have all now been released. the trial Al confirmed a clear majority for Antonio is unable to examine in detail In its recently published report on the character of the prosecution's case on Pakistan (June Guzman. these points. However, Newsletter), Al expressed it as Al said in its latest great concern at the practice of trying civil- Al said, on 23 May, that the arrests con- annual report, the documents issued by the stituted a serious breach of human rights and ians, and political detainees in particular, Helsinki monitoring group in Moscow and called on the Dominican authorities to free before military courts which do not allow in other parts of the USSR have served as an for appeal to a higher court. the detainees. authoritative source of information on Al also recom- subjects of concern to mended that the government immediately Al . The quality of abolish the punishment of flogging and its information supplied by the Helsinki moni- infliction on political prisoners convicted of toring group and the group's stated intent- TANZANIA: ABDULRAHMAN BABU carrying out normal political activity, as in ions make it clearly inappropriate for the FREED the journalists' case. groups' documents to serve as grounds for On 26 April, Abdulrahman BABU (October a conviction for "anti-Soviet agitation and 1977 Prisoners of the Month Campaign) propaganda''. APPEAL FOR DETAINED TRADE and all 12 other Zanzibaris detained on the In a statement the day after Mr Orlov's UNIONISTS IN TUNISIA Tanzanian mainland since 1972 in connect- conviction Al condemned the verdict and On 1 June, Tunisia's Victory Day, AI adopt- ion with the assassination of Sheikh Abeid the sentence. Al stated that in the period ion groups sent petitions to President KARUME, were freed on President covered by the Helsinki groups' reporting at Habib BOURGUIBA expressing grave con- NYERERE's orders. An official statement least 160 Soviet citizens were sentenced to cern at the situation of trade unionists and said that they had been pardoned to mark terms of imprisonment, exile or banishment others detained after a one-day general the 14th anniversary of the union between for exercise of their human rights and at strike on 26 January. Following this strike, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. several hundred people were arrested and least another 50 to 60 persons were con- After his release, Mr Babu strongly fmed to psychiatric hospitals for political over a hundred were killed in clashes with denied any involvement in the assassination reasons. police and military forces. which, he said, was carried out for personal Since the arrests, detainees have allegedly reasons of revenge by the assassins, who been held incommunicado for prolonged were killed immediately after the event. periods in overcrowded and unsanitary MASS ARRESTS OF JOURNALISTS He looked forward to the early release of conditions. AI has received reports that a those prisoners serving sentences in Zanzibar IN PAKISTAN number of detainees were subjected to In May over 140 journalists and other news- for their alleged involvement in the same maltreatment and torture during their incident. paper workers were arrested under martial incarceration. Methods of torture reportedly law in Pakistan for criticizing government In a letter thanking Al members for include the so-called "swing" whereby the campaigning on his behalf, Mr Babu wrote: policies. The majority were swiftly tried and prisoner hangs upside down with his wrists Continued on page 5, column 1.

II& 5

Tanzania: Abdulrahman Babu Freed SWAPO DETAINEES IN TANZANIA FREED Under the new provisions, Judge Steyn Continued from page 4, column 3. On 25 May, President NYERERE of may order the arrest and detention without "Had it not been for their selfless work we Tanzania ordered the release of 20 members trial of any person. The Administrator- would probably still be languishing in of various southern African national liberat- General has sole discretion to decide where prisons... Your work has inspired me to ion movements who had been detained in a detainee is held and under what conditions, resolve to devote a good deal of my future Tanzania at the request of their respective though each detainee should be visited by a activities towards fighting for the cause of movements. magistrate once every two weeks. A review human rights-. They included Andreas SHIPANGA, committee set up to examine the grounds He said that he had appealed to President former South West African People's Organ- for detention will meet in camera before KENYATTA to release all political prisoners ization (SWAPO) information secretary, making recommendations to Judge Steyn. in Kenya. Solomon MIFIMA, former SWAPO labour He is in no way bound to follow such On 1 May, Vice-President Aboud secretary, Andreas NUUKWAWO, a SWAPO recommendations. JUMBE, Chairman of the Zanzibar Revolut- Youth League activist who had earlier been Al cabled Administrator-General Steyn ionary Council, announced the release of 10 detained and flogged in Namibia, and eight on 28 April, expressing concern about the Zanzibar treason trial prisoners to mark other prominent SWAPO members who had introduction of these powers and calling on Labour Day. All had been serving sentences been detained in Zambia in April 1976 and him to publish immediately a full list of of up to 15 years' imprisonment. Fourteen transferred to detention in Tanzania three those detained and to permit access to others, serving terms of 30 years or life months later. Others released were members families and lawyers. Al added that those imprisonment, had their sentences reduced of the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania detained under either the new regulations to 10 years. (PAC), African National Congress (ANC), or section 6 of the Terrorism Act should be Following the release of Mr Babu and the SWAPO and the Zimbabwe African National charged or released immediately if South Zanzibar prisoners, Al cabled President Union (ZANU), who had been held for Africa's commitment to reconciliation in Nyerere and Vice-President Jumbe welcoming periods of between two and seven years. Namibia was to be taken seriously by the these humanitarian decisions. They were all allowed to proceed to count- international community. ries of their choice. Three others remain in On 3 May, Judge Steyn informed Al detention. that his assumption of emergency powers After the detainees were released, .41 was necessitated by a "grave threat to the FURTHER NUMBERS OF cabled President Nyerere welcoming these peaceful political process" which could not SAMIZDAT JOURNAL PUBLISHED and other recent human rights improvements be countered by "normal legal procedures". On 23 May, Al published, in English, seven in Tanzania. He claimed that reconciliation and peaceful issues of A Chronicle of Current Events, the AI also cabled Pritne Minister VORSTER attainment of independence in Namibia samizdat journal of the human rights move- of South Africa, reminding him of his was impossible under "continued hammer ment in the Soviet Union. undertaking, made after talks in Vienna blows of terror" and added that "mis- The seven issues are published in three with United States Vice-President MONDALE guided persons wielding the hammer must separate volumes: issues 34-36 cover the in May 1977, that South Africa would consequently be restrained in the public period from 10 December 1974 to 31 May seriously consider releasing Namibian interest". 1975; issues 37-39 cover 31 May 1975 to 12 political prisoners if SWAPO detainees in AI reiterated its strong objections to the March 1976; and issue 46 covers 25 May 1977 Tanzania were freed. AI called on Mr Vorster measures introduced and commented that, to 15 August 1977. The three volumes total to release all Namibian political prisoners at with so many South African security laws over 500 pages and are supplied with a Robben Island maximum security prison in still applicable in Namibia, it was difficult comprehensive name index and illustrations. South Africa, and in Namibia itself. to see how "normal legal procedures"could be inadequate. Al said that it would publish issues 40-45 Al said that the new emergency powers and issue 47 (the latest to arrive outside the APPEAL FOR AN AMNESTY USSR) before the end of the year, thus would be seen internationally as an attempt IN ISRAEL by Judge Steyn's administration to under- bringing up to date its schedule for In May, AI groups took part in an amnesty publishing the Chronicle in English. mine and discredit SWAPO by holding appeal for all administrative detainees in -The Chronicle reached its 10th annivers- SWAPO leaders entirely responsible for Israel and the Occupied Territories. The ary on 30 April this year. When its first recent political violence in Namibia while, appeal, which coincided with the 30th at the same time, denying them an oppor- issue appeared in April 1968, after the trial anniversaries of both the state of Israel and of four "dissenters" including Alexander tunity to refute such allegations. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, GINZBURG, its anonymous editors stated drew attention to the fact that, in accordance that their intention was to publicize cases of ARRESTS IN GHANA with article 111 of the Defence (Emergency) violations of Soviet citizens' fundamental On 13 April,.4/ expressed concern at Regulations of 1945, any person may be human rights. Since then, every issue has reports that up to 50 arrests had taken place arrested and detained for what could be an carried on its title page the text of article in Ghana following the referendum on the indefinite period without being charged or 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human country's future form of government. brought before a court of law. Rights, which proclaims that "everyone has After the 30 March referendum, the the right to freedom of opinion and expres- government claimed victory for the support- sion". In the past decade dozens of Soviet WAVE OF ARRESTS IN NAMIBIA ers of the proposed "Union Government": citizens have themselves been imprisoned New emergency regulations were introduced continued military participation in a non- for helping to produce or distribute the in Namibia on 18 April by South Africa's party government when the present military Chronicle or for possessing it. Administrator-General, Judge Marthinus regime, which seized power in the January Issues 34-36 (price £4.95; US $10), 37-39 STEYN. Within days, South African security 1972 coup, stands down in July 1979. (i4.95; $10) and (L1.65; $3.45) in English may police detained at least 11 supporters of the The temporary disappearance of the now be obtained from the distributor, Routledge Journals, Bmadway House, Newton Road, South West Africa People's Organization electoral commissioner, Justice Isaac Henley on Thames, Oxon RG9 lEN, England, (SWAPO), the main nationalist movement in ABBAN, during the voting, and the alleged or Routledge Journals, 9 Park Street, Boston, Namibia, under the new powers. Those intimidation of opponents to the proposed Mass 02108, USA. arrested included prominent members of "Union Government" has led to speculation Subsequent issues in English will also be about the validity of the result. available on subscription from the distributor, the organization, Skinny HILUNDWA, Routledge Journals, as they are published* Festus NAHOLO and Jason ANGULA. Continued on page 6, column 1. 6 Arrests in Ghana Continued from page 5, column 3. Among those reportedly arrested on or about 5 April were members and leaders of three movements, opposed to "Union Government," which were banned on 4 April: The People's Movement' for Freedom DEATH PENALTY ACTION and Justice, The Front for the Prevention of Dictatorship, and the Third Force. People On 24-25 June, representatives from several Al national sections met with arrested include William Ofori ATTA, members of the International Secretariat in London to elaborate proposals Minister of Education in Ghana's last civilian for Al's program for achieving the abolition of the death penalty. government; Victor OWUSU, Minister of The meeting received papers and Foreign Affairs in the same government; reports from the Dutch, German, Komla GBEDEMAH, Minister of Finance Swedish, French, U.S. arrd Sri in the government of Dr Kwame NKRUMAH, Lankan sections and considered the LETTER FROM DEATH ROW and his wife; J.E. JANTUAH, Minister of recommendations from the 1977 Al has received a letter from Johnny Agriculture under Dr Nkrumah; and Dr HARRIS, who is under sentence of death John BILSON, leader of the Third Force. Stockholm conference (January for murder in Alabama, United States of On 14 April the Ghanaian government Newsletter). There was considerable America. Mr Harris was the subject of two admitted having ordered the arrest of 17 discussion of techniques (including Urgent Actions in January and February. leading civilian politicians, including those possibilities for action in individual (April Newsletter).Legal procedures con- named by AI. Total numbers of arrested cases), priorities, membership tinue to be employed by his lawyers in an persons are unknown, but AI has received education, future publications and effort to have the death sentence rescinded. a list of 20 names and unconfirmed reports possible target countries. Johnny Harris writes: ". ..These past speak of 50 arrests in the city of Kumasi. Also discussed was the 6th United couple of months have beeti filled with ten- Subsequent reports have indicated that as Nations Congress on the Prevention sion and hope for me and it is a great feeling many as 300 people may have been arrested. of Crime and the Treatment of to know that so many people care and are AI said that the arrests constituted an Offenders, to be held in Australia in giving their total and unselfish support..." important breach of human rights and called "I would be very grateful if you could on the Ghanaian authorities to release several 1980 , where capital punishment will inform your members of my gratitude for hundred people reportedly detained without be a specific item on the agenda. their support and my prayers that they will trial under the Preventive Custody decree, The proposals from the meeting continue to give it. There are so many introduced by the military government. AI will be considered byAl's Inter- doing so much for me that I will never be also urged the release of three AI adoptees national Executive Committee in able to repay them..." jailed for sedition in November 1975 after August. Brian WROBEL, the organizer of the producing a pamphlet critical of the govern- Stockholm Conference on the Abolition of ment's economic policies. the Death Penalty, visited Mr Harris in EIGHT SENTENCED TO Alabama in March. Mr Wrobel was also DEATH IN LAOS given an opportunity to explain On 4 May Al's Al cabled President position on the death penalty to the legal URUGUAYAN GOVERNMENT URGED SOUPHANOUVONG of the People's advisor of Alabama governor George Wallace. TO PUBLICIZE NAMES OF IMPRISONED Democratic Republic of Laos, urging him AI remains concerned for all persons on FORMER REFUGEES to commute on humanitarian grounds the Death Row in the USA. On 18 AprilAI cabled President Aparicio death sentences passed on eight Laotians. MENDEZ of Uruguay welcoming the release on The eight were among 49 people accused 10 April of Ana Ines QUADROS Herrera, daught- of being involved in an attempt to overthrow er of a former Uruguayan ambassador to the DEATH SENTENCE IN ALGERIA the government and tried in April by a United Kingdom. She was a refugee in Argentina On 12 May, AI wrote to Algerian President until her arrest. AI requested that eight other people's court in the capital, Vientiane. The Houari BOUMEDIENNE and to Minister of former refugees in a similar situation have their official newspaper Sieng Prasasoneannounc- Justice Abdul Malik BEN HABILIS express- cases reviewed. ed on 2 May that the 49 had been arrested ing concern at the death sentence passed on At the same time, Al urged the Uruguayan in November 1977 and convicted of being government to make public the names and legal Juan Antonio Alfonso GONZALEZ by the position of 48 other former refugees in "traitors" and "intending to destroy the State Security Court on 7 May. Gonzalez Argentina whose arrest in Uruguay was announced people's administration". had been found guilty of the attempted by the armed forces in October 1976, but whose Five of the eight sentenced to death were names have never been released by the authorities. assassination of Antonio CUBILLO, leader tried in absentia.The three others who were of MPAIAC (Movement for the Autonomy In view of the numerous abductions, disappear- present at the trial, included Khambou ances, and assassinations of Uruguayan refugees and Independence of the Canary Archipelago) SIHALATH, identified as the alleged leader in Argentina, the refusal to name such former In the letter Al stated that it "in no way refugees causes "unspeakable anguish and un- of the coup attempt. certainty" to their families and is a "flagrant condones acts of violence.. . but respectfully The other 41 were sentenced to terms requests that the sentence of death imposed breach of the rule of law", AI said. ranging from five years to life imprisonment. Among such prisoners is Margarita on Mr Gonzalez be commuted on humanit- MICHELINI, daughter of the former Uruguayan arian grounds". senator, Zelmar Michelini, who was himself a victim of political assassination in May 1976, EXECUTIONS IN SYRIA while in exile in Argentina. Al has written to Syrian Minister of Justice Adib NAHAWI expressing concern at the The prisoners were all announced to have been ,4MA'ES FY INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER arrested on Uruguayan territory but according reported executions by public hanging in is published monthly by: AMNESTY INTER- to Sellor Enrique RODRIGUEZ Larreta, a the capital, Damascus, on 23 May of two NATIONAL Uruguayan journalist who was released in PUBLICATIONS. 10 Southampton December 1976 after 5 months imprisonment, convicted murderers, Rashid WAKKAS and Street, London WC21= 7111', England. Printed in Great Britain by 11111 and Garwood the prisoners were all abducted in mid-1976 by Faisal JARAMANY. Ltd., Fourth Al has asked to be Way, Wembley. Middlesex. Available on joint Argentinian and Uruguayan security forces informed of the trial procedure. subscrip. in Buenos Aires and taken back by plane to tion at £6 (US $1 5 per calendar year. Uruguay where an arrest was staged* 7

amnesty international campaign for the abolition of torture July 1978 Volume V. Number 7 MONTHLY BULLETIN Psychiatric Abuse in Romania AI has evidence of 30 cases of people confined in psychiatric hospitals for Al estimates that over 1,500 people have political reasons in Romania. The two laws used to confine them allow very disappeared following detention in Chile broad interpretation. Article 114 of the penal code allows the courts to order since the coup of September 1973. The compulsory confinement to a psychiatric hospital for "mentally ill perpetrat- government has never given an adequate ors of crimes who are a danger to society". Decree 12/1965, entitled "On explanation of their fate or whereabouts. Medical Treatment of Dangerous Mentally Ill Persons", states that persons In June 1977, 26 people, all relatives of who commit offences that disrupt "normal working conditions" can be disappeared prisoners, staged a hunger strike interned for psychiatric treatment without trial. in the offices of the Economic Commission for Latin America in Santiago. After the The history of Decree 12/1965 and its after writing to President Nicolae intervention of UN Secretary General Kurt use show an evolution of the political CEAUSESCU concerning the alleged per- WALDHEIM, the Chilean government gave abuse of psychiatry in Romania. The secution of his fellow believers. Dr Cahn assurances that a reply would be given on decree was issued in 1965, apparently to those cases. In September 1977, a reply deal with critics of the government's 1962 APOSTELESCU, a professor of mathe- was given to Secretary General Waldheim, decision to seek greater national industrial matics, is similarly confined after having who stated that it was inadequate, as it autonomy. This policy required the move- publicly charged that the authorities dis- ment of workers from rural to industrial criminate against piofessionals and intel- merely repeated what was already known about the disappeared prisoners. areas: "forced industrialization" in the view lectuals who are not members of the of the policy's critics. Some critics were Communist Party. Since that hunger strike, families of the particularly concerned that former political A number of medical doctors and other disappeared have been subject to harassment. prisoners, who had been released between medical personnel are said to take part Three women relatives of disappeared 1962 and 1964, were being arbitrarily regularly in administering drug treatment prisoners were expelled from Chile in forced to move to remote industrial centers. to dissidents. Powerful sedative drugs— November 1977 because they had made a Allegations of abuse of Decree 12/1965 plegomazin, amital, mezoptil, and trip to the United States and Europe to have been made since 1966; Al has recently haloperidol—are reportedly used in large publicize the situation. received information and cases dating back quantities, often as a matter of routine, On 19 April, an amnesty was declared in to 1969. Since 1973, Romanian dissenters against prisoners of conscience and other Chile, which, while making the release of many political prisoners possible, also amnes- have publicly alleged that forced psychiatric inmates. Former prisoners of conscience from mental institutions allege that punish- tied officials who had committed a wide treatment has been used to punish political and religious dissenters. This seems to ments also include beatings and low food variety of crimes since the coup. Some security agents who had kidnapped people indicate a more general application of this rations. Some inmates who attempt to under the state of siege were thus amnestied method of detention. escape or smuggle letters out of the hospitals and, as a result, some courts have closed the The recent history of ALadopted prison- are allegedly injected with a mixture of investigation of cases concerning disappear- ers of conscience in Romania shows that iodine and milk. This is said to cause intense ances where the kidnappings were apparently psychiatric internment, under both the pain, high fever, low blood pressure and carried out by government security forces. penal code and Decree 12/1965, is used feelings of anxiety. To Ars knowledge, at least 12 psychiat- Since 22 May, many more people have against a wide range of ethnic and religious joined the hunger strike. Two weeks after it groups. ric hospitals (both civil and prison) keep began, there were more than 200 people Erhard MAYER-BUCHLER, a young political and religious dissenters imprisoned. reported to be on hunger strike in Chile, dentist, is a member of the 400,000-strong Civil hospitals where such persons are kept include Poiana Mare, Dr Petru Groza and including all the remaining political prison- German minority. In the early 1970s, he ers in the Santiago Penitentiary. Hunger first applied for permission to emigrate to Balaceanca; in addition, the prison hospitals strikes by relatives of the disappeared prison- the Federal Republic of Germany, where of Jilava and Sighetu Marmatiei are used he has relatives. Arrested for the third time for these purposes. ers had also begun in the United Kingdom, in October 1976, he was tried and confmed the United States, Canada, France, Holland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Costa Rica, Mexico, indefmitely to the Dr Petru Groza Psychiat- HUNGER STRIKE ric Hospital under article 114 of the penal Spain, Colombia, and other countries. BY RELATWES OF code. • As a result of international pressure, the Janos TOROK, one of the 2.5 million DISAPPEARED PERSONS IN CHILE Chilean government has apparently given an Hungarian minority, was arrested in March assurance to the hunger strikers of its wish to 1975 when he attempted to address his On 22 May, 70 relatives of disappeared clarify the situation of all the disappeared fellow factory workers on the failure of prisoners declared an indefinite hunger strike prisoners, and to provide a legal solution to the electoral system to secure the rights of in Santiago, Chile. They are asking the the problems caused by their disappearance. workers and those of national minorities authorities to comply with promises to reply On 9 June, the hunger strikers decided to (May CAT Bulletin). Mr Torok is confined to inquiries about the fate and whereabouts suspend the hunger strike for a month, so under Decree 12/1965, also at the Dr of their missing relatives. The hunger strikers that the government could give a reply con- Petru Groza hospital. occupied four buildings in Santiago: the cerning the fate and whereabouts of the Dumitru BLIDARU, a member of the headquarters of UNICEF and the churches disappeared prisoners. If no reply is given, country's neo-Protestant religious commun- of La Estampa, Jesus Obrero and San Juan or if the reply given is unsatisfactory, then ity, was confined to a psychiatric hospital Bosco. the hunger strike will be resumed on 9 July. 8 CAT Bulletin 2 JOURNALISTS BEATEN AND Al received reliable information on the ARRESTED IN BANGLADESH deaths of Dardo CABO and Rufino URIZ, ASSESSMENT OF A procession of Bangladesh journalists who had been removed from La Plata Prison URGENT ACTIONS was reportedly attacked by police on 16 on 4 January 1977 and were found dead a One of the primary tasks May during a reportedly peaceful demon- under- few days later. Georgiadis and other prisoners taken by Al's Campaign for the stration in Dacca for the restoration of press had denounced the killings and were report- freedoms. Abolition of Torture is to ensure edly threatened with death by prison rapid international intervention in According to Bangladesh newspapers, 22 officials. A month later Angel Georgiadis journalists were injured and 23 arrested, was dead. cases of individuals known by including some of the injured. Four. were name who are under threat of taken to Dacca Medical College Hospital for torture, death or other serious treatment. Sanjay BARUA, an executive THUMBSCREW EXPORTS violations of fundamental human committee member of the Dacca Union of IN DECLINE rights. Although it is difficult to Journalists, is reported to have suffered In May a United States Congressional obtain detailed information about Committee attached an amendment to a US fractures to the right leg due to police beat- the results of intervention in every ing. Some journalists were said to have been foreign assistance bill to forbid the export case, a study of information avail- beaten after detention. of thumbscrews, leg irons, shackles, electric able on cases taken up during 1976 On 30 May, Al wrote to Shamshul Huda shock batons (September 1974 CAT CHOWDHURY, Presidential Adviser in Bulletin), dart guns, psychological stress showed improvements in the charge of Information and Broadcasting, to analysis instruments and other so-called majority of cases. inquire about the arrests and ill-treatment "crime-control equipment" to the security A new evaluation has now been of the journalists and to seek assurance that forces of "governments engaged in gross carried out on the basis of further no arrests of a similar nature would take violations of human rights". information available on all cases place in the future. Congressman Donald FRASER, who taken up during 1977. Such infor- introduced the amendment, said: "I find There have been unconfirmed reports mation was available on 73% of the that all the arrested journalists have been it incredible that these torture instruments cases, showing positive develop- from the Dark Ages are still being manu- released in response to protests by local ments in more than half of them: colleagues. factured—let alone exported abroad". No list of importers was provided, but one torture had stopped, the prisoner wonders who else, by definition, but a had been released or officially NEW EVIDENCE ON DEATH IN recognized as being in detention, ARGENTINIAN PRISON "government engaged in gross violations of human rights" could possibly be among the visits by family or lawyers had On 26 January 1977, Angel A lberto customers. GEORGIADIS OTERO was removed in an been permitted or medical treat- ambulance from La Plata Prison, Province of ment had been provided. Buenos Aires, and was never seen alive The assessment covered the 215 again. Al has recently received the testimony urgent actions issued during 1977, of his wife, Marfa Teresa PIINIERO DE which concerned the cases of GEORGIADIS, who is now in exile, reveal- appeals nearly 400 people. The majority ing mew evidence contradicting official of the 215 actions concerned reports of "suicide". Emmanuel DJOUMBI—Cameroun individuals believed to be in On 4 February 1977, Mrs Georgiadis Emmanuel DJOUMBI was arrested in July danger of torture or who had dis- received an official telegram from Buenos 1976 while working as a doctor at appeared after arrest. Other actions Aires Province Police Department: "Your Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroun, concerned prisoners in very bad husband Angel Alberto Georgiadis Otero was and has been detained without charge or removed from Unit 9 by military personnel health, under sentence of death trial since then at Tcholliré camp in Northern or in other imminent danger where on 1 February 1977 for interrogation under Cameroun. He is believed to have been military jurisdiction, Operations Area 113, arrested because of his association with the fundamental human rights are at risk. and inflicted on himself injuries which banned opposition UPC (Union des Populat- caused his death". ions du Cameroun) and for complicity in During 1977, Al launched The official death certificate states that the distribution of anti-government leaflets urgent actions on behalf of death was due to "acute anaemia and in 1976. individuals in Argentina, Bahrain, external haemorrhage". In a copy of the Conditions at Tcholliré are reportedly Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bolivia, burial certificate filed at a police station, extremely harsh. According to the latest Brazil, Cameroun, Chile, China, however, the reason stated was "acute information available, Dr Djoumbi has been Colombia, Congo-Brazzaville, anaemia and internal haemorrhage". tortured during interrogation there. He is Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, Although an autopsy would have revealed known to suffer from a serious liver infection Ethiopia, GDR, Guatemala, Haiti, the real cause of death, the authorities which has been aggravated by his long refused to permit such an autopsy. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Republic of Korea, period of detention and the severe conditions Libya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Mrs Georgiadis had tried to locate her prevailing at Tcholliré. husband before his death but had been Please write courteously worded appeals Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, warned by a judge that she should leave to the Cameroun government, requesting Philippines, Romania, South everything "in the hands of the law". Other- that Dr Djoumbi be released or transferred Africa, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, wise, she was told, she too might disappear. to a hospital where he can be given adequate Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, After her husband's death, she tried medical attention, to: H.E. Charles DOUMBA, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, USSR. unsuccessfully to obtain an autopsy, an Minister of Justice, Yaoundé, United Prisoner Releases and Cases investigation, or permission to identify the Republic of Cameroun, and to: H.E. Victor body. All requests were denied and finally, AYISSI MVODO, Minister of Territorial The International Secretariat learned in fearing for her own life, she left the country. Administration, Yaoundé, United Republic May of the release of 220 prisoners Angel Georgiadis' death was not the first of Cameroun. Letters should preferably be under adoption or investigation and among the La Plata prisoners. In early 1977, written in French, otherwise in English. took up 323 new cases.