Our featured image shows our beloved Miriam (1947-2012), a great human rights defender.

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARITY CORNER

This week we turn our attention to Innovation Africa, a nonprofit that uses Israeli technology to help Africans. The mission statement: “We are a nonprofit on a mission to bring innovative Israeli solar and water technologies to remote African villages. With the help of people like you, we have provided one million people across Africa with access to vaccines, light and water.” Worthy of your support.

 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming. They are the best conservationists--help that fact go viral.

A major calamity for indigenous people is enforced contact which can be deadly. Please act for people on the Peruvian contact border.

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Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places. We invite you to join Freedom United        and lend your voice to the call to suspend loans tainted with Uzbek forced labor

URGENT ACTION CASES

INDIA

Urgent Action Victory! – Dalit Rights Activist Released

Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, a prominent Dalit rights activist, has been released from Saharanpur District Prison on 14 September. He was being held in administrative detention without charge or trial under the draconian National Security Act.

Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ was released from Saharanpur District Prison in Uttar Pradesh on 14 September 2018, where he was being held in administrative detention since November 2017.

Chandrashekhar Azad has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for almost 11 months. The NSA permits administrative detention for up to 12 months on loosely defined grounds of national security and maintenance of public order. It is a repressive law that has been used to target human rights defenders in India.

Speaking to the media upon his release, Chandrashekhar Azad said, “The government was scared that they would be rebuked by the Supreme Court for arresting me so they have decided to release me early. I’m very sure that they will re-arrest me again within 10 days”. However, the Uttar Pradesh police have told the media that they decided to release him early because of a request from his mother.

Chandrasekhar Azad was first arrested on 8 June 2017, for his alleged involvement in inter-caste clashes in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh in April and May 2017. He was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court on 2 November 2017. The court was reported to have observed that the charges against him were politically motivated. However, before he could even leave jail, Chandrashekar Azad was arrested again under the National Security Act.

Many thanks to everyone who took action. No more action is required from the UA Network.

COLOMBIA

Urgent Action Update: Two Relatives of Environmental Members Killed

On 22 September, two relatives of members of the Rios Vivos Movement were killed in Antioquia, Colombia. These killings come after several others of environmental human rights defenders, members of the same movement, affected by the environmental and human rights impact of the Hidrohituango dam construction.

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CHILE

Urgent Action Update: Lawyer at Risk for Defending Indigenous People

Lawyer Karina Riquelme was again intimidated by Chilean police intelligence agents several times because of her work as a defender of Mapuche Indigenous people rights. She fears for her personal security and feels intimidated.

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ERITREA

Urgent Action: Ex-Minister Arbitrarily Held After Book Release

Former Eritrean Minister of Finance, Berhane Abrehe, was taken to an undisclosed location by security agents on 17 September. His arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention come just days after he published a book encouraging Eritreans to peacefully protest against government policies.

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NICARAGUA

Urgent Action: Wave of Detentions of Students and Activists

Detention of student leaders and other social activists have increased in Nicaragua as the government persists in its strategy of persecution and criminalization as a punishment against those taking part in nationwide protests.

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