j. February 1976 Vol VI No 2 newsletter Prisoners of Conscience Released inNepal Amnesty Seven AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL adoption and investigation cases, including a member of Ars Nepal Section, were among 27 political prisoners included in PRISONER RELEASES AND CASES an amnesty declared by King BIRENDRA BIR BIK RAM SHAM DEV of Nepal DURING 1975 on 29 December. The amnesty, to mark the king's 31st birthday, covered a The International Secretariat learned of the release of 1,688 Al-adopted total of 250 prisoners. prisoners during the calendar year According to information reaching Al in January, a substantial number of the 200 1975. This was an increase of 285 over political prisoners in Nepal are being released in stages. The releases follow the formation on the 1,403 prisoners released in 1974. 1 December of a new cabinet headed by Prime Minister TULSI GIRI. Some 2,015 new cases were taken Among those released was RAM RAJA Vidyarti Sangh, he was re-arrested on 3 up during 1975, a decrease of 443 from PRASAD SINGH, a Supreme Court lawyer, August 1972 and had been held since that the number of new cases taken up the who had been elected to Parliament in the time under the Security Act. He was on previous year. summer of 1971, but who was subsequently the AI Prisoners of the Month Campaign in These figures include the 123 re- arrested on 14 October 1971 and held July 1969 and March'1973. leases Al learned of in December and without trial under the Security Act. Al Secretary General MARTIN ENNALS the 145 new cases taken up in the final Another Al-adopted prisoner who was wrote to King Birendra on 31 December month of the year. released with him was SHER BAHADUR 1975 congratulating the government warmly DEUPA, president of the Nepal Vidyarti on the release of the political prisoners. Sangh (Nepali Students' Organization), who Prime Minister Tulsi Giri, when meeting the Peru Detains Lawyers is a member of the Al Nepalese Section and Al Asian Field Secretary RICHARD REOCH Al's Secretary General cabled President who had been imprisoned without trial since shortly before the official amnesty FRANCISCO MORALES BERMUDEZ of June 1974. announcement, reportedly stated that all the Peru on 21 January expressing concern at Fifteen political prisoners were released estimated 200 political prisoners detained the long detention incommunicado of four earlier in December 1975, among them under the Security Act were to be released well-known Peruvian lawyers. AI had KRISHNA PRASAD BHATTARAI, speaker in the following three months, except for previously cabled the Peruvian authorities on of Nepal's first parliament and former those who were thought to have committed 13 December 1975, but had received no Secretary General of the Nepali Congress acts of violence. reply. Party. He was first imprisoned in 1960 and The International Secretariat has The four lawyers, Dr GENARO adopted by Al in 1968. He was released in requested full details from the Nepalese LEDESMA IZQUIETA, Dr RICARDO 1970 after 10 years' imprisonment. government regarding the release of DIAZ CHAVEZ, JOSE ONA MEONO and After addressing a meeting of the Nepal political prisoners.• ARTURO SALAS RODRIGUEZ, are legal advisors to trade unions currently engaged in serious disputes with the government. for the time being because of the sentence They were taken from their offices on 4 US CLEMENCY passed in connection with the alleged assault December 1975 by members of the Peruvian FOR SOSTRE on the guards. The clemency decision made Investigative Police (PIP). Governor HUGH CAREY of New York State him eligible for parole on the second Al has been informed that a plea of granted executive clemency to the American conviction when the New York Parole Board habeas corpus entered on behalf of the four prisoner of conscience MARTIN SOSTRE on met in January.. was declared inadmissable by the courts 24 December 1975. Martin Sostre was after the Minister of the Interior, General convicted in 1968 on a charge of selling CESAR CAMPOS QUESADA, denied they heroin and sentenced to 30 to 41 years' SOVIET UNION had been detained or that their whereabouts imprisonment. were known by the police. He has always protested his innocence. A/ FREES PLYUSHCH Their detention was only confirmed when took up his case after learning that the key LEONID PLYUSFICH, one of Amnesty a letter, signed by each of them and witness against him had retracted his International's adopted prisoners of describing their situation in detail, was testimony. Before his arrest Martin Sostre conscience in the Soviet Union, was released smuggled from the jungle penal colony El ran the Afro-Asian Bookshop in Buffalo, from the Dnepropetrovsk special psychiatric Sepa and sent to the Peruvian press. They New York, and was known as a black hospital on 8 January at the climax of an reported that they were moved between activist. During his years in prison he intensive international campaign for his three PIP detention centers in Lima in four continued to fight for prisoners' rights. In freedom. He was allowed to leave the USSR days and then, on 9 December 1975, particular he objected to rectal searches, an immediately with his wife, TATYANA transferred in great secrecy by air to the established part of prison routine, which ZHITNIKOVA, and their two sons. remote El Sepa in the Amazon region of resulted in a further conviction for On their arrival outside of the USSR, Mrs Peru. El Sepa is a maximum security assaulting guards at Clinton prison. Plyushch, on behalf of her husband, thanked institution only accessible by military The clemency granted by Governor Carey Al , among other organizations which had aircraft. Reliable sources affirm that no means that Martin Sostre is paroled on the worked for Mr Plyushch's release. She said formal accusation has been made against 1968 heroin charge, but he remains in prison continued on page 2 col I the four men. • 2 Continued rom a e 1 column 2 an audience with President MARIEN AMNESTY IN MALAGASY REPUBLIC SOVIET UNION FREES PLYUSHCH NGOUABI. The Malagasy Republic announced an that she felt the welcome they were given In July 1975, President Ngouabi declared amnesty on 30 December 1975 for all an amnesty lifting the restrictions still showed the general concern for "all those political infractions and crimes committed imposed on former political prisoners who, detained in prison for their opinions" in the before 1 January 1975. This followed a since a previous general amnesty in November Soviet Union. referendum on 21 December 1975 which 1973, had been under house arrest or Leonid Plyushch, a mathematician, was gave a massive public endorsement to the working with "production brigades" arrested in 1972 on charges of "anti-Soviet socialist program of President DIDIER (September 1975 Newsletter). agitation and propaganda" and officially RATSIRAKA. On the final stage of his mission, Mr AI investigation cases judged to be suffering from "creeping A small number of Ehrenstrale visited , a country which schizophrenia". He had been detained in the benefited from the amnesty. Most of them was the object of a major Al campaign in psychiatric hospital since 1973. were originally arrested during April 1973 January 1975 (February 1975 Newsletter). Mr and Mrs Plyushch have confirmed that but had subsequently been released on Mr Ehrenstrale met the Chadian Minister of he was treated with powerful neuroleptic provisional liberty. The amnesty appears to the Interior, Colonel MAMARI DJIME drugs during his detention. Since he left the be intended to ease political tensions in NGAKINAR, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, USSR, Leonid Plyushch has been in the care Madagascar which reached a crisis point in Commandant KAMOUNGOUE WADAL, of several psychiatrists and each has early 1975 following a mutiny in late 1974 and several other high-ranking government expressed the view that he is not mentally by an elite police unit. • officials. Colonel Ngakinar is also Vice President of the Superior Military Council Al MEMBER IN SOUTH KOREA FREED The Plyushch family tr,avelled from the which has ruled Chad since the overthrow AI learned of the release from prison on 18 USSR to Vienna where they arrived on 10 of the repressive regime of President December 1975 of HAHN SEUNG-HUN, a January. The Austrian Amnesty NGARTA TOMBALBAYE in April 1975. leading lawyer and a board International national section and the Mr Ehrenstrale is preparing a report on his member of the Korea Amnesty International International Executive Committee member, mission for Al's International Executive Dr IRMGARD HUTTER, made the committee. Committee. In general, he said he found a Hahn Seung-Hun was sentenced on 11 arrangements for their two-day stay in Al in all the Vienna. Among those who met Tatyana positive attitude towards September 1975 to 18 months' Zhitnikova was P. JAKOB FORG of the countries he visited, especially in Chad, imprisonment, with 18 months' suspension where the human rights situation has Austrian Amnesty International group 8 of civil rights to follow, after he had been improved dramatically since the coup of (Linz), one of the Al groups which had found guilty of violating the Anti- April 1975... adopted Leonid Plyushch. Communist Law. This was in connection with When the Plyushch family arrived in Al URGES TAIWAN GOVERNMENT TO with a collection of his essays first published Paris on 11 January, they were met by RELEASE ELECTION CANDIDATE in 1972. He filed an appeal against his sentence which has now been suspended for representatives of the French Al national Al Secretary General MARTIN ENNALS three years by the Seoul High Court. section and of other organizations which cabled Premier CHIANG CHING-KUO on 18 Hahn Seung-Hun was an ATadopted had worked on his behalf, including the December 1975 urging the Government of the prisoner. When the court passed its verdict International Committee of Mathematicians Republic of to make formal charges in September 1975, the AI Executive in Defence of Leonid Plyushch.• against PAI YA-TSAN and others detained Council was meeting in St Gallen, since October 1975 and "to bring them to Switzerland and a cable was sent in the Al DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL open trial with full rights of defence or to name of the Council chairman to President release them". VISITS , CONGO, CHAD PARK CHUNG-HEE of South Korea Al Deputy Secretary General HANS Pai Ya-tsan, a native of Taiwan who is in strongly protesting against the sentence.• EHRENSTRALE visited three African his mid-30s, was a candidate to the Legislative Yuan elections which were held states between 4 and 16 January and CZECHOSLOVAKIA RATIFIES attended an international conference for on 20 December 1975. He was arrested on COVENANT Namibia. The conference was sponsored by 23 October 1975, along with other people Al's Secretary General sent a letter on 31 the United Nations Commission for Namibia, involved in the publication of a leaflet for his whose head is the former Chairman of Al's electoral campaign. December 1975 to President GUSTAV HUSAK of Czechoslovakia expressing International Executive Committee, Nobel The leaflet, a campaign statement, satisfaction that Czechoslovakia had ratified laureate SEAN MACBRIDE. contained 29 questions to Premier Chiang the International Covenant on Civil and The conference, involving specialist UN Ching-kuo which included Pai Ya-tsan's suggestions that the government should Political Rights on 23 December 1975 and agencies, representatives of a number of that, as Czechoslovakia is the 35th country African states, non-governmental consider opening diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and "negotiate with the to do so, the covenant will come into force organizations, academicians and jurists, was in three months' time.. held in the Senegalese capital of from Chinese communists concerning trade and relaxation of economic tension". 5 to 8 January. Mr Ehrenstrale, attending CLAIMS OF POLICE ABDUCTION IN as an observer, presented an Al conference According to reports reaching Al, a few RHODESIA document outlining the situation of days after the publication of the leaflet Pai Dr EDSON SITHOLE, a former AI-adopted sentenced Namibian political prisoners who Ya-tsan, fearing for his safety, tried to seek are forced to serve their prison terms refuge in the United States embassy in prisoner who disappeared in Rhodesia on 15 October 1975 (November 1975 Newsletter), thousands of kilometers away on Robben Taipei, but found it closed. His detention Island in . and of persons was made public only 10 days after his was abducted by members of Rhodesia's Special Branch, according to a report detained in Namibia itself under the arrest. prepared by an investigator working for Dr provisions of the South African Terrorism No official charges have been made Act. against him but an official spokesman Sithole's father. The detective, JOHN TAYLOR, was During the Dakar conference Mr said, at the beginning of November, that he reported on 1 7 January to have obtained Ehrenstrale met officials of the Senegalese was being held for "investigation of his signed affidavits from a number of witnesses government for informal discussions on apparent attempt to stir up seditious feeling" who claim to have seen Dr Sithole in the human rights problems. He then flew to through his circulation of views contrary to Brazzaville, capital of Congo, where he had "basic national policy". custody of two Special Branch members 3 of those organizations and individuals who oppose their policies. Prisoners of the Month Campaign Section 6 of the Terrorism Act empowers Participants in the Campaign are reminded that appeals must only be sent to the officials named the security police to detain any person without charge and hold them at the end of each case. In no circumstances should communications be sent to the prisoner. incommunicado for an indefinite length of time. A number of detainees arrested in Sri KUSNAPSIAH, Indonesia pressing for Sri Kusnapsiah's release on September 1974 are known to have been SRI KUSNAPSIAH has been in prison in account of her age and the long detention held for more than a year before being Indonesia for more than 10 years. She was already served, to: President Suharto, released uncharged. Nine others who have arrested towards the end of 1965 at a time Istana Negara, Jalan Veteran, Jakarta, been charged under the act are currently when hundreds of thousands of people were Indonesia; and to: Admiral Sudomo, Kepala on trial in Pretoria. detained for allegedly taking part in an Staf KOPKAMTIB, KOPKAMTIB, Jalan In September 1975, five months after attempted coup against the army leadership. Merdeka Barat, Jakarta, Indonesia. She has not been tried and there is no formal his release from detention, Steven Carolus was arbitrarily banned for 3 years under the charge against her. Gunar RODE, Soviet Union Suppression of Communism Act. Under the Sri Kusnapsiah is now about 67 years old. GUNAR RODE was born in 1934 and is a terms of this banning order he is subject to During her earlier years she was active in the Latvian citizen of the Soviet Union. In 1962, restrictions which make it impossible to lead independence movement against the Dutch. when he was a student of biology at Riga a normal life. Among other things, he may In the 1950s she became involved in the University in the Latvian Soviet Socialist leftwing women's organization GERWANI Republic, he was arrested and charged with not attend gatherings of more than three people, enter any educational institution, and for several years she was a member of its "treason", "anti-Soviet agitation and Jakarta provincial committee. Sri propaganda" and participation in an "anti- travel freely, or be quoted in the press. Kusnapsiah's husband was also a political Soviet organization". Specifically he was Many banned people are unable to obtain activist and worked for many years in the accused of belonging to a quasi-Marxist employment because of these restrictions. trade union movement. He too was arrested group which advocated autonomy for Latvia. Banning orders are administratively imposed in late 1965 and as far as is known has been He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and may be renewed upon expiry. However, detained ever since. They have several adult in a corrective tabour colony. any contravention of the terms of a banning children. Although Gunar Rode served part of his order is a crime punishable in a court of The Indonesian Communist Party and sentence in a colony in Mordovia, he has law. other leftwing organizations, such as been sent to Vladimir prison three times Steven Carolus is married with one child. GERWANI and the trade unions, were as a punishment, each time apparently for 3 He lives in Athlone, Cape Province. banned shortly after the abortive coup of years. At present he is in Vladimir prison Please send courteously worded letters of October 1965. Many people whom the and is reportedly ill with a stomach ailment. appeal, asking for the lifting of the banning Indonesian government claimed to be Please send politely worded cards order, to: Hon J.T. Kruger, Minister of Justice, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South members of such organizations, or in some appealing for his release to: SSSR, Moskva, ul way connected with them, were liable to Pushkinskaya 15a, Prokuratora SSSR, Africa. summary arrest without recourse to normal Generalnomu Prokuroru R.A. Rudenko News of Past Campaigns legal safeguards. Sri Kusnapsiah was not (Procurator General of the USSR). Rhodesian Detainee Freed involved personally in the attempted coup Reverend CANAAN BANANA, the former but was arrested during the army's purge Steven CAROLUS, South Africa vice president of the African National Council against the Indonesian Communist Party STEVEN CAROLUS, aged 36, was detained (ANC) who was on the Al Prisoner of the and other leftwing groups. under Section 6 of the South African Month Campaign in November 1975, was Shortly after her arrest, Sri Kusnapsiah Terrorism Act on 7 November 1974. He was released from detention in Rhodesia on 15 was taken to Bukit Duni prison in Jakarta. held for more than five months but was January. Under the terms of his release, he is In April 1971 she was transferred to a long- neither charged nor brought to trial. He was restricted to a 20 kilometer radius of his term detention camp for women at released from detention at the end of April home in Bulawayo. Plantungan in central Java. Most of the 1975. Reverend Banana became vice president women there have to work for their living, Many members of the "black of the ANC at the time of its formation in many of them in the fields. In view of consciousness" movement, with which 1971. However, he left Rhodesia in 1973 to Sri Kusnapsiah's age this is naturally a great Steven Carolus was associated, have been take up a theological scholarship in the hardship and it is probable that her health is similarly detained since September 1974 in United States. He was detained in May 1975 no longer very good. what is regarded as an attempt by the South when he returned to Rhodesia after Please send courteously worded appeals African government to disrupt the activities completing his studies. shortly after his disappearance. The affidavits, association consisting largely of Chinese 800 people who have so far been tried in Mr Taylor said, will be the basis of an citizens. He was a minister in the last cabinet connection with the 1965 events. Tens of application for a writ of habeas corpus of the late President SUKARNO before that thousands of political prisoners have been in which is to be brought in the high court by administration was dissolved in early 1966. prison for 10 years without a real possibility the Sithole family. In October 1965 an abortive coup was of a fair trial. • The Rhodesian authorities continue to staged against the army leadership in deny any involvement in Dr Sithole's Indonesia. Hundreds of thousands of people NEW Al SECTION IN abduction.. were arrested and detained without trial, Al's International Executive Committee has for alleged involvement in the attempted ADOPTED PRISONER TO STAND formally recognized a new national section in coup. Oei Tju Tat was arrested in March Pakistan. This follows a visit in March 1975 TRIAL IN INDONESIA 1966 on suspicion of alleged involvement to Pakistan by Reports reaching Al Secretary General who Al in January say that in the abortive coup, though the real reason received assurances from Prime Minister OEI TJU TAT, an A/-adopted prisoner in for his arrest was his personal association ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO that the Indonesia, is due to stand trial in the with the government and policies of government would have no objection to Central Jakarta Court. Oei Tju Tat was President Sukarno. the formation of an section in the vice chairman of BAPERKI, a cultural Al Oei Tju Tat will be one of only some country. • 4 EXECUTES NINE STUDENT RELEASED IN MALAYSIA Nine persons were executed ill Iran on 2.4 PRISONERS FREED IN MOROCCO Student leader if 1 II I (11IN \vas released Morocco announced the release of a number January for alleged acts of sabotage and from detention ni West Malaysia on 12 of political prisoners on 13 December 1975, terrorism despite an A/ appeal to the SIIAI I Deceinher 1975. She was an Aiadopted the Islamic festival of A/ for clemency. .Another condemned person's kehir. This prisoner and had spent exactly- one year ill follow-ed ;I decision hy King I IASSAN II to death sentence was commuted to lite detention without trial. Iler release Wl1S commute parts of their sentences. Fifty-five imprisonment. mdci a restrictioll order which limits her prisoners, both criminal and political, Secretary- General MARTIN ENNA! S freedom of employ ment and association. receiyed reductions in their prison terms. cabled the Shah on 22 January and visited Juliet ('hin, aged 24, is a Malaysian I he prisoners included three former cabinet the Iranian embassy in London to ask that cni/en. She was a student of architecture at ministers serving prison sentences for an A/ observer he allowed to attend the the linikerstty of Singapore where She Was corrupt ion. appeal hearing against the sentences. seeretary general of the students Linton. A/ has received a IlS1 of 14 political The defendants had been condemned to together w it h a numher of ot her st udent s. prisoners who were liberated as a result of death by a military tribunal after a trial that she sy:is deported from Singapore on 11 this amnesty'. They include 11 persons not only was held in camera but which 1)ecembor 1974 for allegedly violating was a ,irrested between Di.:.ceIllher 1909 and March kept secret until the official announcement written undertaking not to heoune 1070, who were sentenced in September of the sentenees on 31 Occember.• invidved in politics while study* in 1971 hy the eriminal tribunal at Marrakesh. DETAINEES RELEASED IN SINGAPORE Singapore. this trial was attended by A/ observers On arrival in West Malaysia she was Eight political prisoners were released from August 1975 .Vewsletter) who reported that arrested undei Malay sia's Internal Security detention in Singapore on 12 Decemher torture had been used on the accused and Act.. 1975 after being held w idiom trial for 18 that the defence lawyers were hindered in their efforts to aid neir clients. The months. One of the eight Was I I. RM All who is Well-known in Singapore is one of iemaining three prisoners freed in the I )ecember amnesty had been arrested in the few lawyers willing to defend GREEK PRISONER THANKS Al prisoners. VASI IOS 001.515. a Jehovah's Witness 0 73 and sentenced by the criminal Another detainee was CI IAN St 'N CHO\ immisoned in (ircece because of his refusal tribunal at Agadir in September 1975. .1-here were a number of A/ adoptees a joll[nalist ()I the Sin (711CW .117 IR )11 to perform military' service, has written to Chinese-language newspaper who had A/ to say that as a result of his among those released. including AIMED 01 WI. L.O1 N. a leading militant of the previously spent one Veal.in detentkm in I Ile greet ings card list in 1975 he has receiyed 1903. l'he remnant* released prisoners ahoin 500 lett ers and cards from all ovea the opposition I iii iii SiNialiste des Forces I SI- h, included all 1 S-\/c;ir-old woman Wolld. I le w ites- Who was sentenced to a construction worker. a former civil servant, "Nly dear friends, reminding you again 10 year prison term at the 1971 a student and a shop assistant. that I cannot manage to thank peisonally all Marrakesh tt ial. The eight were detained under the those who wrote to me, I would ask vou llis release was marred by the murder, on Internal Security .Act daring a large- vely earnestly to undertake this obligation IS December 1975 of his brother, OMAR scale security operation in June 1974, and tot me and thank the various local groups IJI- NJ VI 101"N, who was stabbed 'and beaten had subsequently been taken up by A/ in the diffeient countries on my behalf, to death outside his home in Casablanca. groups. The Singapore government alleged telling them of my houndless affection and Omar Benjelloun had a long record of that they were members of the Malayan ilir great respect for the members of your opposit ion to the government of King National 1 iherat ion Front. an arm of the distinguished organitation all over the I lassan and edited the ['SEP newspaper, A/ illegal underground Malayan ConmunUst would.-• .11onharrir Party (MCP). Ile was arrested on political grounds in More than tw cuts nen and women were March 1973 and was tried at Kenitra released front detention in Singapore during IEC CHANGES COUNCIL DATE helween July and August 1973. Although 1975. but ..1 ( estimates that at least 40 Ars ne\i International C.itincil meeting acquitted. he was not released, and was political prisoners reniani ill Various will be held in St rashourg, France. 24-26 adopted by ..1/, lie was eventually released detention centers and liolding centers. lheir Septemher, a week later than originally into provisional liberty in August 1974, The periods of detention range front 13 years scheduled, the International Executive Moroccan authorities have arrested severai without trial to less than one year. • Committee decided at its meeting in London people in connection with the murder of 16-18 January. Omar Benjelloun.. EXECUTIONS IN SUDAN Hie !LC made the change to allow the Six people, including a paratroop colonel. council meeting to he held in the CHANGES OF ADDRESS were executed by a firing squad in Khartoum headquarters of the Council of Europe which Nepal Section on 23 January for leading an abortive coup lias better facilities. Mail for the Nepal Section of Amnesty against President J.AAE1R AL-NEMERY on l'he IEC also decided to raise the International should now he addressed to 4 September 1975 (October 1975 individual memhership lee frknn 113 to f5 Veerendra Keshari, 1/227 Kalikasthan, Newsletter). according to an announcement and restructure the International Secretariat Kathmandu, Nepal:1 elephone 12651. front the Sudanese Army 's General to meet the prohlem created by the ktrth- Amnesty International of the USA 1 leadq uart ers. coming departure of the Deputy Secretary l'he address of the lInited States' section is The alleged leader of the coup, (;eneral and the I lead of Research. now: 2112 Broadway, New York, New York Lieutenant Colonel IIASSAN III 1SSEIN New procedures for the Borderline OSMAN, was among those shot.1 he death 10023, Committee and plans l'of the promotion,/ sentence passed on another alleged fundraising campaign were discussed and conspirator was commuted to life final approval was given to the Pacific AMNI• STY INTIRNATIONAL NFWSLI' ITTR imprisonment. Regional Conference. There was also piihtished monthly hy: AMNESTY In all. more than ISO persons were discussion on the relationship between INTL RNATIONA I, PURI !CATIONS, 53 reported to have been arrested in September Theobald's Road, London WC! X 8SP, England. human rights and international trade and aid, Printed hy Ilill and (arwood Ltd, Fourth Way, 1975 following the coup attempt. The and on the relationship hetween economic Wein hly, Middlesex, England. Available on majority have not yet been brought to trial.. suhscriplion at £6 OS S15) per calendar and social rights and civil and political rights.. ear. amnesty international campaign for the abolition of torture

February 1976 Vol III No 2 MONTHLY BULLETIN Documents Describe TORTURE IN URUGUAY: Indonesian Torture Strong and reliable allegations of past and current torture in Indonesia are contained in REPORTS ALLEGE DEATHS a report published in The Sunday Times of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL issued a public statement on 13 January London on 11 January. In the report criticizing the continuing arrests and torture of political detainees in Uruguay TJIOU, a girl of Chinese origin described which resulted in at least one death during the preceding month. A few days her experiences in various camps tor after the statement, Al received a report claiming that a transport worker had political prisoners. She left Indonesia in died under torture. 1975. During raids and mass arrests carried out where torture is common practice. Tjiou was arrested in 1968, because she by the police and military at the end of ALBERTO ALTESOR, aged 60, a former had belonged to a communist youth October and the beginning of November parliamentarian and Communist Party organization before the abortive coup in 1975, 600 to 700 people were detained. leader, who was recovering from a heart 1965, and was taken to the local military The raids were aimed mainly at members of operation, was detained on 21 October 1975 post. the banned Communist Party who are liable and has disappeared without a trace. Fears "I rememberthe day I entered that to long sentences under recent legislation have been expressed for his life. His three place: all I saw was people covered with which has been applied retroactively. sons were detained previously and two have blood sitting close to each other. They Reports received by Al indicate that, been tortured. had all been tortured .. . one, a woman, following the arrests, torture occurred on a On 11 January 1976 General LIBER had both eyes bleeding. There were massive scale and that several detainees have SEREGNI, a presidential candidate for the screams all over the place, people been transferred to the military hospital in a progressive Frente Amplio (Broad Front) in pleading for mercy." critical condition. the 1971 elections, was re-arrested following Stripped naked, she was beaten with a Those in hospital include JOSE LUIS four bomb explosions in the exclusive stick by an army intelligence officer: MASSERA, a former parliamentarian (prior seaside resort of Punta del Este. It is alleged "He started to burn off my hair. . .. you to the dissolution of Congress in June 1973) that the bombs were planted by the cannot realize the pain to me of my hair and a communist leader, who has a fractured authorities as a provocation. General Seregni burning. Then they put me on the table pelvis, RAUL TOST, whose injuries include was previously arrested on 9 July 1973 and opened my legs. They took astick fractured ribs and a collapsed thorax, and following mass demonstrations against the and thrust it up my vagina. They burnt HUMBERTO RODRIGUEZ, secretary military takeover. He was held my pubic hair. I could not believe I was of Union Portuaria,the dock workers' union. incommunicado and in poor conditions until still alive." ARGENTA ESTABLE, aged 64, he was released conditionally on 2 She mentioned how others suffered reportedly died in the military hospital on November 1974. Continued on page 2, column 3 17 December 1975 as the result of the Repeated and consistent appeals by Al treatment he received at the second and other international bodies to the Allegation of Internment in Mental department of the National Directorate of government of Uruguay have so far not met Hospital in Yugoslavia Information and Intelligence and at the with any response. Al is therefore planning Further investigation into the internment in Third Infantry barracks. He was accused of Yugoslavia of RADOVAN BLAGOJEVIC, a an intensive international campaign during 35-year-old lawyer from Belgrade, in a contributing to the Communist Party before February and March to halt torture in mental hospital allegedly for political reasons it was banned in December 1973. His wife Uruguay. A full report will appear in the (January 1976 CAT Bulletin), has not yet is still in detention. next CAT Bulletin.• produced any clarification of the reasons for These recent violations that have occurred arid circumstances of his confinement. AI is continuing to study this case. in Uruguay have not been confined to members of the Communist Party. Prominent lawyers, doctors, teachers, Al SUBMISSION ON TORTURE TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION writers, architects and numerous workers are Al submitted a statement to the United protection of all persons under any form of among those arrested and tortured. Nations Commission on Human Rights on detention or imprisonment .. .". Al urged The arrests have taken the form of 19 January, proposing a number of steps the commission to study the possibility of abductions. They are often carried out this commission should take to ensure creating a convention on torture, which during the night, houses are ransacked and effective follow-up to the declaration on should declare torture a crime under many arrests have not been acknowledged. torture adopted unanimously by the UN international law, and contain mechanisms Relatives have been taken as hostages in General Assembly on 9 December 1975 for investigation and enforcement. cases where the wanted person was not (January CAT Bulletin). Al asked that all UN member states be found. Señora BACCHI, the 80-year-old In its resolution 3453 (XXX) which requested to incorporate the principles and mother of a trade union leader, was held accompanied the declaration, the General provisions of the declaration into their for 72 hours until her son was captured. Assembly asked the commission, at its 32nd national legislation. Al also proposed that The relatives of most of the people who session (2 February-5 March 1976) to an appropriate body should elaborate a code disappeared during the raids remain unable "study the question of torture and take any of ethics for lawyers, relevant to the to establish their whereabouts. After more necessary steps for: (a) ensuring the effective problem of torture. Similar codes for than two months they continue to be observance of the declaration ... ; (b) the medical and law enforcement personnel are held incommunicado in military barracks, formulation of a body of principles for the already being prepared by other UN bodies.• CAT Bulletin 2 Standards of hygiene are notoriously bad at Francisco Tellez was removed to a civilian Bordj Er-Roumi, and medical facilities are non- hospital where a doctor was able to give a detailed appeals existent. Nejib El-Euch is in evident need of report of his physical injuries. These include direct immediate hospitalization and constant medical lesions in the eye, genitals, abdomen and ribs care. There are now grave fears that, unless he which suggest beating with a belt or rope as well Nejib EL-EUCH, Tunisia receives such attention, his mental health will be as with fists. Severe bruising of varying intensity A student in his early twenties, NEJIB EL-EUCH permanently impaired. Moreover, it is likely that in the ribs, abdomen, baek, buttocks, testicles, was arrested in mid-November 1973 and was one his desperate condition is having a grave effect penis, thighs, legs and feet point to more than one session of heavy beating. One nail of the left foot of 202 young people tried before the State on his 24 cell-mates who , like Nejib EI-Euch, Security Court in August 1974 for "plotting are mostly in their early twenties. had been torn out. The loss of blood and bruising on legs and ankles show that Francisco Tellez was against the state", "slandering the Head of State", Send courteously worded letters, requesting "spreading false information" and forming an that Nejily EI-Euch receive adequate medical tied, and possibly suspended upside down. He Son Excellence Habib, illegal associatior. . and psychiatric care, to: needed treatment with a kidney machine for renal dialysis as a result of kidney failure. This was a major political trial, aimed at Bourguiba, Président de la République, Tunis, Son Excellence M. Tahar Bel has just learned that Francisco Tellez has youthful critics of the government's policies, Tunisia; and to: Al which resulted in sentences ranging from one to Khodja, Ministre de l'Interieur, Tunis, Tunisia. been released on bail, after payment of 10,000 10 years' imprisonment. An A/ observer was pesetas, and is now recovering at his home. Charges are still being held against him, although he does deported after attending the first day's trial Francisco TELLEZ LUNA, Spain not appear to be connected with violent activities. proceedings, during which allegations of torture FRANCISCO TELLEZ LUNA was one of four The three men who were arrested with him have, were made by the defendants. workers arrested on 11 December 1975, in Santa in the meantime, been released. Nejib el-Euch, who received a 5 year sentence Coloma de Gramanet in Spain, after civil guards In the light of the detailed, authenticated report at this trial, was reportedly tortured during pre- had dispersed a group of workers who had beeh received by Al, it is appropriate to request a full trial police detention and subsequently held in organizing a strike. The strike had been called to investigation into the circumstances surrounding solitary confinement at Tunis civilian prison. ask for an amnesty, better salaries and trade union the interrogation and injuries undergone by During this time his lawyers reported that he was freedom. He was arrested after his house had been Francisco Tellez, as well as to ensure that he is in a state of deep delirium for over a month and searched, although nothing was found. not returned to prison. was unable to get up. Ali four were taken to the Civil Guard barracks Please send courteously worded letters, Since his transfer to the Bordj Er-Roumi prison in Badalona, where they were interrogated and preferably in Spanish, to: His Royal Highness King in Bizerta in June 1975 his state of health has tortured. Francisco Tellez, the father of three JUAN CARLOS I, Palacio de la Zarzuela, Madrid, deteriorated seriously. A prison psychiatrist young children; was the mqst severely tortured. Spain, requesting his formal intervention to ensure examined him and judged him to be in need of According to reports Al has received, he was that a full investigation is made into the immediate and continuous medical care and beaten on the soles of his feet with hard rubber circumstances of Francisco Tellez' interrogation supervision. Since that time he has received no tubing. He was made to lie on a table and civil medical attention. He is reported to be in a guards sat on him while others beat him savagely and injuries, that those responsible for his maltreatment be brought to justice and that any state of permanent nervous breakdown and with a set-square, causing 15 to 20 bleeding charges against him be dropped. Please send copies almost constant delirium. He is allegedly under wounds in his chest and more on the soles of his of your letters to the Spanish Embassy in your pressure to beg for a formal pardon from feet. A lighted candle was held near his testicles country. President HABIB BOURGUIBA. for half an hour.

BRAZILIAN JOURNALISTS CONTEST FINDINGS OF OFFICIAL INQUIRY Continued from page 1, column 3 The Brazilian Union of Professional photograph taken after the discovery of the Documents Describe Indonesian Torture Journalists in Sao Paulo have sent a letter, body, he is dressed in prison overalls. A similar brutal treatment: a woman who had signed by 467 journalists, to the First body is not supposed to be touched in any boiling water poured over her head, another Military Court in SAo Paulo contesting way before an autopsy. whose nipples had been cut off, a village some of the findings of the official inquiry How could the prison authorities have headman who died as a result of electric into the death in custody of VLADIMIR known before Vladimir Herzog wrote his shock torture. HERZOG on 25 October 1975 (December testimony that it would not incriminate him Another recent confirmation of the 1975 CAT Bulletin). in any serious charges? In all their statements continuing use of torture, also reported in comes from a document The Commission of Inquiry ruled on 20 the authorities stressed that they were The Sunday Times, surprised that he had killed himself when he smuggled out of an East Java prison camp at December 1975 that Vladimir Herzog had the end of 1975. It recounts how naked definitely committed suicide in his cell at was to have been released that night. Why is political prisoners would be faced by a row the Destacamento de Operacoes de there a contradiction between the statement of interrogators, holding canes and clubs. Informagoes (Department of Intelligence of the rabbi who officiated at Vladimir "With the first question they are kicked Operations of the army) in SaO Paulo. In Herzog's burial in which he said that Herzog and beaten, and things rapidly get worse their letter, published on 13 January in the had not been treated as a suicide and that of ...electric shocks are administered to Jornal do Brasil, the journalists question another member of the Jewish congregation the person's ears, nose and genitals to several points in the report. First they who said that he had? extract confessions. To prevent screams categorically refute the testimony of one Finally, the authorities stated that 21 being heard, songs are played loudly journalist who claimed that Vladimir witnesses submitted evidence to the over a tape recorder." Herzog had been sacked from 0 Estado commission without any coercion. However, According to the document, one prisoner, de Silo Paulo in 1963 during a leftwing all the witnesses were held in detention in TIO HO YI, attacked his torturers and was purge. He left the paper of his own the Destacamento de Operaçoes de beaten ferociously, then dragged up and volition in 1965. Informagóes where Vladimir Herzog had down a ditch until he was caked with mud The letter also suggests that several been detained and this, in the opinion of the and blood. Subsequently his arm was important questions have to be answered journalists, constitutes a form of constraint. chained to his leg in such a way that he before the case can be closed satisfactorily. Another prisoner, JOSE MANOEL could neither stand up straight nor lie down, a form of torture called "crucifixion without Why, when the prison regulations stipulate FILHO, was found dead in his cell in the Destacamento de Operagóes de Informagóes nails". He went mad after he had been left that no possibly harmful objects may remain in this position for 11 months. on a prisoner and prison overalls are not in Sio Paulo on 17 January in similar Although it is generally difficult to obtain issued with a belt, was Vladimir Herzog circumstances to Vladimir Herzog. Two days accurate information about the practice of torture able to hang himself with such a belt? Why later President ERNESTO GEISEL in Indonesia, because of the widespread fears of is there a discrepancy in the description of dismissed General EDUARDO D'AVILA reprisals to prisoners, released prisoners and their MELLO from his position as commander of families-, and the strict control over the prison the clothes he was wearing in the doctor's population, Al has reason to believe that torture is autopsy report and those described in the the 2nd Army and replaced him with a more still being practised routinely in political cases. first medical report? In the autopsy the moderate commander, General Even prisoners who have been held for years corpse is described as being thessed in DILERMANDO GOMES MONTEIRO.. without trial are still liable to occasional renewed civilian clothes, yet in the official interrogation and torture by military security.•