Salem-News.com Torture articles

Malaysian Airlines (MAS) Employees and Trade Union Rights at Risk by New Law Being Rushed Through

Employees may have to once again form new unions and go through the process of seeking MAB’s recognition.

(LONDON) - We, the undersigned 36 organisations, groups and trade unions are appalled with the Malaysian government’s current attempt to pass a law that will seriously undermine worker and trade union rights of employees in the Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS), the operator of Malaysia’s national carrier.

Not only will the consequence of the new law be loss of employment of all employees of MAS and its subsidiaries, but also the end of the existing trade unions and associations representing the employees of MAS.

People of the World, Surge Forward to Climate Justice

We vow to build a new system based on the rational, collective, and democratic management and use of resources in the interest of the people and the well-being of the planet.

(LONDON) - It has been a year since Typhoon Haiyan struck central Philippines: one of the strongest and deadliest tropical cyclones ever recorded, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and missing, millions homeless and livelihoods destroyed.

In commemoration of the first year of Typhoon Haiyan and to honor all the victims of the global climate crisis, we declare this day, November 8, as International Day for Climate-Affected Communities. The sufferings of the communities hit by Typhoon Haiyan are also true in countless other places around the world. Globally, the number of reported weather-related disasters has more than tripled since the 1960s.

Did Israel Offer ISIS $10 Million to Free Steven Sotloff?

Scarcely anyone ought reasonably indulge themselves in feelings of confidence about their own personal security.

(Ein el Helwe Palestinian camp) - Though details are not yet fully known to this observer, reliable sources who have contact with DAASH report that the Islamic State rejected frantic Mossad efforts to buy the release of American journalist Steven Joel Sotloff.

This much is credited with a fair amount of certainty. Steven Sotloff, born and raised in Florida, checked into Room 303 of the Hotel Istanbul in the small border town of Kilis in southern Turkey. Three days later while heading to the border to take the Kilis-Aleppos highway south into Syria, Mr. Sotloff and his "fixer" were abducted at a check point manned by unknown jihadists.

Bahrain: Immediately and Unconditionally Drop All Charges Against Maryam Al Khawaja

She is a legitimate and peaceful human rights defender who has not been allowed legal counsel since her apprehension.

(LONDON) - On 30 August 2014, human rights defender Ms Maryam Al-Khawaja was detained upon arrival at Bahrain International Airport. She was travelling to visit Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in detention, who has been on hunger strike since 24 August 2014.

Maryam Al-khawaja is a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain and is Co-Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights. She is the sister of human rights defender Ms Zainab Al-Khawaja and daughter of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.

John Yoo and The Senate Torture Report

John Choon Yoo, aka John Yoo, authored the Torture Memos used to justify torture of human beings by the Bush Administration.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - Professor John Yoo stepped away from his lectern at the UC Berkeley School of Law to send an e-mail to the San Francisco Chronicle criticizing the forthcoming Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) torture report saying that if "torture was used and it didn't work, she [Senator Dianne Feinstein] is flat wrong." Yoo claimed the report failed to maintain "bipartisanship" that "will undermine its conclusions."

I suspect that this is a preemptive attack by Yoo as the release of the Senate torture report will probably place Yoo on the hotseat again. The SSCI Torture report has been approved for public release. However, the SSCI and the CIA are fighting over the CIA's substantial redactions to the torture report summary.

Thailand: Continued intimidation of human rights defender Mr Surapan Rujichaiway

Two civil lawsuits against local villagers are being heard 19-22 August 2014.

(LONDON) - Surapan Rujichaiwat has been actively involved in opposing the opening of a gold mining project in Loei Province. He has regularly attended and given talks at environmental meetings. Surapan Rujichaiwat helped persuade many local villagers of the likely negative impact of the mining operation on their health and livelihood.

On 16 August 2014, the wife of Wang Saphung community leader Mr Surapan Rujichaiwat received a phone call during which an unidentified individual threatened him for his campaign work on behalf of the Wang Saphung community in relation to its dispute with the gold-mining company, Tung Kha Limited Company (TKLC).

Human Rights Worker`s Detention Extended for Sixth Time

Egyptian authorities are urged to end the needless detention of this peaceful man.

(LONDON) - On 5 August 2014, the Investigative Judge of the Criminal Division of South Giza court extended the detention of human rights defender Mr El Hussieny Hassan for the sixth time.

Police officers initially arrested El Hussieny Hassan on 21 February 2014 while he was monitoring demonstrations in the Haram district of Cairo. During interrogations, the human rights defender informed the police of his human rights work and presented documentation signed and stamped by the organisation.

Human Rights Defenders Beaten and Detained by Bangladesh Police

Police violently attacked human rights protesters participating in a hunger strike.

(LONDON) - At least 1,200 workers from five factories under the Tuba Group have been on a hunger strike at Hossain Market since 28 July 2014 demanding three months of unpaid wages and festival bonuses.

Early on 6 August 2014, the main gate of Hossain Market was locked by an unknown individual. It is believed that this was done to stop human rights defenders from providing medical supplies to the hunger strikers.

Sudan: Closure of Salmmah Women`s Resource Centre

Since 1997, the organisation has worked to promote women's rights and gender equality.

(LONDON) - I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human rights activist and freelance journalist.

I am informed by Frontline defenders that on 24 June 2014, the Ministry of Justice cancelled the registration license of human rights organisation the Salmmah Women's Resource Centre, and initiated the immediate liquidation of the organisation, leading to its closure on the same day.

It is reported that the decision is in response to the work of the organisation's director, human rights defender Ms Fahima Hashim.

Statement Demanding an Immediate Stop to War in Myanmar

Scores of organizations insist that negotiative efforts be sincere.

(U.K. ) - While there is a pretense that the Union Peacemaking Working Committee is conducting meetings on a ceasefire agreement to end the more than sixty-year long civil war between the Government, Military and ethnic armed groups - current clashes in Kachin regions, Ta-ang Palaung regions and Shan State are witness to the military’s serious offensive.

Civil society organizations, networks and people who desire genuine and just peace profoundly demand the respective Government, Hluttaw (parliaments) and the Myanmar military to contemplate the following points to prove their willingness for genuine peace.