Posted on Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Washington, D.C. Amnesty International calls on the Malaysian authorities to ensure that two Georgian women accused of drug trafficking receive fair trials that meet international standards.
Darejan Kokhtashvili and Babutsa Gordadze, who were detained on October 26 in Penang and Sabah respectively, face the death penalty under Malaysian law.
“The Malaysian authorities must ensure legal representation for the two Georgian women who face the death penalty,” said Lance Lattig, Malaysia researcher at Amnesty International. “These women must have an interpreter to translate the proceedings into a language they can understand.”
Babutsa Gordadze, 26, whose pre-trial hearing was held on November 4, was not provided either a lawyer or translator, according to news reports. The preliminary hearing for Darejan Kokhtashvili, 32, is to be held on November 8. Both trials are expected to begin next week.
Gordadze has been charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which imposes mandatory death by hanging. Moreover, this provision flouts international human rights standards by presuming the defendant to be guilty unless she can prove her innocence.
Both defendants are mothers of young children.
“These women deserve a fair trial," said Lattig. "Regardless of the trial’s outcome, they must be spared from the death sentence.”
Background
Sixteen countries in Asia apply the death penalty for drug-related offences. Since many countries in the region do not release information on the death penalty, it is impossible to calculate exactly how many drug-related death sentences are imposed.
However, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, reports indicate that a high proportion of death sentences are imposed upon those convicted of drug offences.
Despite these executions in Asia, there is no clear evidence of a decline in drug-trafficking that could be attributed to the threat or use of the death penalty. There is no credible evidence that the death penalty deters serious crime in general more effectively than other punishments.
(Issued on:Friday,November 5,2010)
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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Journalists For International Peace extends heartily felicitations to the Hindu Community , all over the world, on the eve of' "The fesitival of Lights"- Devali The myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities.
While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman.
The celebration of Deepavali as the "victory of good over evil", refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light.
While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).JIP hope that such festivals may promote interfaith harmony peace, Love and Tranquality among the various Parts of the world and segments of the society..
Iftikhar Chaudri
President
Journalists for International Peace
Islamabad , Pakistan
Washington, D.C: Amnesty International has urged the Ukraine authorities to stop the harassment of a trade union activist who remains in hiding after a court ordered him to undergo a forced psychiatric examination last week.
"There is a very real concern that Andrei Bondarenko will be subjected to a forced psychiatric examination because of his legitimate trade union and human rights activities," said Heather McGill Amnesty International's expert on Ukraine.
A court in Vinnytsya, south west Ukraine on October 29 granted the order for an examination after prosecutors argued that Andrei Bondarenko has an "excessive awareness of his own and others' rights and [an] his uncontrollable readiness to defend these rights in unrealistic ways."
Andrei Bondarenko has no record of mental illness and has already undergone three psychiatric examinations to prove his sanity. The most recent examination took place in October.
The court ruling against Andrei Bondarenko comes in the wake of a number of recent cases in which activists have been assaulted and harassed in the last few months.
"Any examination should be conducted outside of the Vinnytsya region by an officially recognized psychiatrist to ensure impartiality," said McGill. "Andrei Bondarenko should not be subjected to any treatment until he has exhausted all legal channels."
Andrei Bondarenko has campaigned for the rights of employees in Vinnytsya region since 2006. His work has often exposed the unlawful and irresponsible behavior of local officials. In August 2010 he founded an NGO called Movement for a Corruption Free Vinnytsya Region Prosecutor’s Office.
Andrei Bondarenko also appears to have angered the authorities with his work in defense of the rights of sugar factory workers. These seasonal workers are employed for only a few months a year after the sugar beet harvest and are frequently not paid. Many of these factories are officially owned by shadow companies, although in fact the real owners are influential local people many of them high up in the local administration.
Andrei Bondarenko started a campaign of taking the shadow companies to court to demand payment of wages. According to one prosecutor's statement, he started 80 such cases in 2008 alone.
The trade unionist was not present at his trial on Friday and was represented by two civil defenders and a lawyer, who was ordered out of the court by a panel of judges.
The recent harassment of other activists points to a worsening climate for human rights in the Ukraine.
On October 15, police in Vinnytsya searched the house and office of Dmytro Groysman, the chair of Vinnytsya Human Rights Group, which supports asylum-seekers and campaigns against torture.
Police questioned staff about their work, and confiscated over 300 items, including UNHCR files, computer discs, memory sticks and a laptop.
Andrei Fedosov, the chair of a mental disability rights organization, Uzer, was assaulted by unknown men in May, after receiving threatening phone calls in April. Police took no action. In July he was detained for a day in relation to a crime allegedly committed 10 years ago when he was 15 years old.
"All these activists appear to have been targeted because of their legitimate work," said McGill. "The Ukrainian authorities must ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their activities unhindered and protect them against any violence, threats and retaliation."
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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