sassa Posted April 16 Report Posted April 16 AMNESTY INTERNATIONALPRESS RELEASEAI Index: AMR 51/056/2003 (Public)News Service No: 092 15 April 2003USA: Call for Inquiry into possible excessive force against anti-war protestersFollowing the anti-war demonstration at Port of Oakland, California, on 7 April, where at least 21 people were injured, Amnesty International called today on the Chief of Police to conduct a full inquiry into allegations of excessive force by police.Police reportedly fired non-lethal weapons, including bean bags, wooden bullets and sting ball grenades at demonstrators, causing injuries to at least twelve protesters, and nine by-standers who were not involved in the demonstration. Those injured were reportedly hit in the back, arms, necks and faces.In a letter to the Chief of Police of Oakland Police Department, Amnesty International acknowledged the challenges presented to police officers when policing large demonstrations. "However, we are concerned at reports that police opened fire within 30 seconds of ordering demonstrators to disperse, and that they fired projectiles directly at demonstrators at close range, including wooden bullets.""Evidence has shown that the weapons used can cause serious internal injuries, break bones, inflict blindness, and are potentially lethal. A full inquiry is needed to confirm whether any of these weapons were misused by the Oakland police on 7 April. Steps should also be taken to ensure that police do not subject further protesters to such treatment." "If the allegations are true, the police actions in this case would clearly be incompatible with international standards requiring that law enforcement officials should use force only as a last resort, in proportion to the threat posed, and in a way to minimize damage or injury," Amnesty International said."These reports are particularly disturbing, given the potentially harmful effects of such weapons on small children or the elderly, or people suffering from weak hearts or other conditions." In its letter, Amnesty International asked to see Oakland Police Department's guidelines for use of non-lethal weapons and to receive information on police training in place for use of these weapons. "This is not the first time we have had to raise concerns with US law enforcement agencies about the use of non-lethal weapons. All law enforcement agencies across the USA must introduce strict guidelines and limitations on use of these weapons with clear monitoring procedures," concluded Amnesty International.BackgroundWeapons used on 7 April include:Bean Bags: Evidence has shown that bean bags can cause serious internal injuries as they can penetrate deep into the body. If fired from too close they can cause broken bones and are particularly dangerous if aimed at sensitive areas, as they make it difficult to quantify the level of pain inflicted to some parts of the body. Although originally considered to be a suitable "less-than-lethal" force option against potentially dangerous suspects, police departments in some US states are abandoning the use of bean bags after finding that they can be dangerously inaccurate and deadlier than manufacturers claim . Sting ball grenades: According to some experts, these weapons are completely indiscriminate and inaccurate. They should not be fired at close range because they are potentially lethal. The small pellets released when the grenades explode may penetrate the skin and pose serious eye injury risk, including blindness. Wooden bullets: These were deemed to be unacceptable by the British government in the 1970s in relation to use by British soldiers in Northern Ireland as they can cause serious head injuries as well as the possibility of inflicting blindness and may penetrate the skin. ****************************************For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.orgFor latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org Quote
sassa Posted April 16 Author Report Posted April 16 Indigenous Peoples Declaration Against United States Invasion of IraqAgencia Latinoamericana de Información To join our voices to the millions of peoples around the world, including the voices of the peoples in United States, the voice of our sister Rigoberta Menchù Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner and other indigenous organizations to condemn the genocidal American invasion against the Iraqi people. This genocide is a crime against humanity and violates international law as well as human and legal rights. This is a criminal invasion and it is killing innocent children, women and the elderly. It lacks any kind of legitimacy and cannot be justified as it violates all declarations to live in peace. It violates the self determination and sovereignty of peoples and the consensus reached by most states represented in the United Nations. The representatives of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas strongly request that all those responsible for these criminal acts be brought to the International War Crimes Court and be condemned internationally. We urge the United Nations to call for an emergency meeting of the Security Council to condemn the United States government, and its allies decision to go to war and we call for an immediate cease fire, while re-establishing diplomacy to end this conflict. Furthermore, we reject any new government imposed by the United States as it will only justify its presence in Iraq to protect its own geo-political and geo- economic interests. We encourage all the peoples of the world to maintain their unity and to strengthen their mobilization against this injustice, to show their love for peace, fraternity and intercultural dialogue. We all shall reject the unilateral use of weapons to impose colonialist agendas and try to eliminate the cultural diversity of the world. As indigenous peoples, we do not condone war, violence, or any other conflict that destroys our Mother Earth. On the contrary, we promote dialogue as our principle and we do not reject peace. As indigenous peoples, we have suffered genocide throughout our history and for that reason we want to congratulate all those states that chose the option of peace and respect for human life. Therefore, we request all those states to make their best efforts to re-establish the multilateral order as a legal instrument against this neo-imperialist disorder. Ottawa, March 25th 2003 Firmas: Asociación de Radios Comunitarias. ARCG. Guatemala Asamblea Anacional IndÃgena Plural por la Autonomia. ANIPA. México Abya Yala Nexus USA Bachillerato Integral Comunitario Ayujk Polivalente. BICAP. Bolivia Consejo IndÃgena de Centro América . CICA. Guatemala Central Independiente de Obreros AgrÃcolas y Campesinos.CIOAC. México Coalición Obrero Campesina y Estudiantil del Istmo, COCEI. Comisión de Juristas IndÃgenas de Argentina. Argentina Coordinadora Mapuche de Neuquen. Argentina Conferencia Permanente de Pueblos IndÃgenas COPPIP. Peru Comision Juridica para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos. CAPAJ.Peru CONAIE, Departamento de Comunicacion. Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indigenas . Panamá Brazil Fundación Rigoberta Menchu. Guatemala Foro Permanente sobre Pueblos IndÃgenas. ONU Instituto Indigena de Propiedad Intelectual, INBRAPI. Brazil InforCauca . Colombia Information Network of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. INIPA. Canada Liga Maya Internacional . Guatemala Universidade Federal de Mato Groso. Brasil Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres IndÃgenas de México, CNMI. México Movimiento Chirapaq. Peru Mujeres Mayas de Jovel. México Maya-Ixil, Proyecto Enlace Quiché . Guatemala Oficina para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos IndÃgenas. Guatemala Quechua Network. USA Promama de Derechos IndÃgenas, Instituto de Estudios IndÃgenas. Chile Prensa IndÃgena Internacional. Canada Resurgimiento Ancestral IndÃgena Salvadoreño. El Salvador Red Nacional de Trabajadoras de la Información y Comunicación-REDADA.Bolivia RED Kechwa. USA SAPINCHIKMANTA Radio Programa en Quecha y Castellano. Ayacucho Servicios para el Desarrollo, Pueblo Nahñu - Mexico Unión Nacional de Mujeres Kunas. Panama Quote
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