NEAR Newsletter December 2002
Welcome to the NEAR Newsletter. In this edition you will find our most recent Action Alerts and also an ‘Academic Freedom in the Media’ section, listing news by country (December 2002). Any comments and suggestions about the content and layout of the newsletter will be gratefully received at roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org.
NEAR Action Alerts *Taken from the NEAR website
Laos: Imprisoned for Political Dissent
Amnesty International issued an alert on 2 December 2002 stating that more than three years after their arrest, AI continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of five leading members of the underground Lao Students Movement for Democracy: Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, a father of seven, Khamphouvieng Sisaath, Seng-Aloung Phengphanh, Bouavanh Chanhmanivong and Keochay.
Egypt: Dr. Ibrahim Latest Update
Amnesty International has issued this statement on 2 December 2002. On 3 December 2002 the Court of Cassation is due to pronounce its decision regarding the final appeal in the case of Saad Eddin Ibrahim and other human rights defenders. "The charges on which Saad Eddin Ibrahim and Nadia 'Abd al-Nur were convicted and imprisoned in a retrial in July 2002 are a pretext to punish them for criticizing government policies.
Sudan: Three Brothers Detained Without Charge
Amnesty International (UK) has issues the following alert on 3 December 2002. Al-Shafi' al-Tayeb Yusuf (m),Hashem al-Tayeb Yusuf (m) and Khidder al-Tayeb Yusuf (m), three brothers, were arrested at around 2am on 29 November by members of the security forces who searched their family home in the Kalakla suburb of Khartoum looking for their brother Lenin al-Tayeb Yusuf.
Indonesia: Trial of Writer and Academic Lesley McCulloch Postponed
Writers in Prison, International Pen has issued an alert update on 4 December 2002 stating that the trial of British academic Lesley McCulloch and of her American colleague, health worker Joy Lee Sadler in Aceh, Indonesia has reportedly been postponed until 19 December 2002. Their trial began on 25 November 2002 but was adjourned until after the holiday of Idul Fitr.
Egypt: "Politically Motivated" Verdict Overturned in Egypt
On 3 December 2002 Human Rights Watch issued an update on the case of Egyptian-American civil rights activist Dr. Ibrahim, who was convicted to seven years in prison on charges of defaming the country, which has been quashed today by Egypt's highest appeal court. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Human Rights Watch welcomed today's Court of Cassation decision to quash the guilty verdict handed down last July against university professor and democracy activist Saadeddin Ibrahim and 27 co-defendants.
Libya: Professionals and Students Risk Unfair Trial and Possible Death Sentences
Amnesty Amnesty International has issued on 13 December 2002 the following news alert. On the eve of the resumption of proceedings in the appeal trial of scores of professionals and students charged in connection with the banned Libyan Islamic Group, al-Jama'a al-Islamiya al-Libiya, Amnesty International today urged the authorities to ensure a fair trial and to quash the two death sentences handed down in the original trial.
China: Psychology Student Arrested
The American Association has issued an action alert the 16 December 2002, stating that .Amnesty International has recently reported that a university student from Beijing, Liu Di, was detained by the government on 7 November 2002. She has reportedly been detained for posting opinion pieces critical of the Chinese government on an Internet site.
Nepal: Former Teacher and Human Rights Activist Shrestha Released
Amnesty International has issued the following alert-update on 17 December 2002. Former secondary school teacher and human rights activist Bishnu Pukar Shrestha was released on 16 December 2002. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Bishnu Pukar Shrestha was arrested by plainclothes security personnel at his rented apartment in Kathmandu on 29 July.
Burundi: Student and Professor held in Detention: Fear of Torture
Amnesty International has issued the following Action Alert the 19 December 2002. Amnesty International remains concerned for the safety and well-being of the men named above (and Leonidas Ntakaye (m), Zenon Nimbona (m), Christophe Hicintuka (m), Jules Gatonga (m), Bernard Rutegaka (m)) who are being held on suspicion of involvement in an alleged plot to destabilize Burundi's Transitional Government and to assassinate President Pierre Buyoya and Jean Minani, President of the Transitional National Assembly.
Sudan: Three Brothers Remain Under Threat
Amnesty International rleased, the 20 December 2002, the following Action Alert. Khidder al-Tayeb Yusuf was released on 16 December without charge. Members of the Sudanese security services reportedly tortured him in pre-trial detention. His brothers, al-Shafi' and Hashem al-Tayeb Yusuf remain in incommunicado detention.
Vietnam: Crackdown on Dissidents Continues
Amnesty International expressed profound shock at the 12 year prison sentence given the 21 December 2002 to Nguyen Khac Toan at the end of a trial which lasted less than one day. Nguyen Khac Toan, a 47 year old former soldier from Ha Noi, briefly a teacher of mathematics and in recent years a businessman, became interested in human rights issues around 2000.
** Please continue to send us any relevant cases involving threats to academic freedom and education rights, for potential alerts.
The Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) is a membership-based, non-governmental organisation which facilitates international collaboration between organisations active in issues of academic freedom and educational rights, and committed to promoting an understanding of, and respect for, the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information about NEAR, please visit our website at www.nearinternational.org
For further information please contact:-
Roisin Joyce
Deputy Director
roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org