A local source has confirmed that Dominique Makeli was released on 13 October following an acquittal by a gacaca community court in the Nyarugenge, a district in the province of Kigali.

Dominique Makeli, a former journalist for Radio Rwanda, has been detained for just over 14 years. The authorities alleged that he incited the Rwandan population to genocide in a programme for Radio Rwanda in 1994. [ Lire la suite » ]

Mehmet Desde was released on 6 October, after serving his 17-month sentence. Please stop all work on Mehmet Desde.

 
The school buildings were completed in time for the start of the new school year in September, and at the end of the month the army ordered a moratorium on demolitions in Area C. Soldiers in Area C have generally complied with the moratorium.

On 5 September a military tribunal sitting in Uvira sentenced three soldiers to death for the rape of Bitondo Nyumba, and ordered them to pay $20,000 in compensation. The three men are still serving with their unit in another part of the country. Local NGOs will continue to press for their arrest. Though AI welcomes the news that the perpetrators in this case are to be brought to justice, we remain opposed to the use of the death sentence in any circumstances. [ Lire la suite » ]

Mehmet Desde has been moved to another prison, where he has adequate time to associate with other prisoners. Please suspend appeals directed to previous prison governor.

The fate of the school is now being fought in court. The court hearing is expected in March (exact date to be confirmed nearer the time). The school remains at risk and sustained campaigning action is important. [ Lire la suite » ]

Over the years, Amnesty has carried out an end-of-year action on behalf of individuals in danger called Operation Courage. This action is now renamed Operation Isavelives.be (only in French).

You can support Magdalena García Durán by sending them a short message on a postcard.

Please follow the following guidelines:

Address :

    Magdalena García Durán - c/o : Bufete Jurídico Tierra y Libertad, Antonio Caso No. 73, Despacho 22,
    Col. San Rafael, México D.F., [ Lire la suite » ]

Prisoner of conscience Magdalena Garcia Durán has won a third federal injunction (amparo) against her detention. However, Amnesty International is concerned that rather than ordering her immediate release, the authorities will seek to avoid releasing her as they have done on previous occasions in order to continue her unfair and unfounded prosecution. [ Lire la suite » ]

On 5 July 2007, the presiding Judge declared the motion filed by Magdalena García’s defence lawyer as inadmissible. The motion requested that the charges against her be dropped due to the lack of evidence (Incidente de libertad por desvanecimiento de datos). [ Lire la suite » ]