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Amnesty International has urged Mozambique’s police not to use live ammunition to disperse violent demonstrations in the capital Maputo unless lives are at risk.

According to media reports up to six people, including two children, were killed on Wednesday during clashes between police and demonstrators protesting the rising price of commodities in the country. The protests are continuing across the city.

“While we recognize that the police are trying to contain a violent protest, live ammunition – which amounts to lethal force – should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life,” said Muluka-Anne Miti, Amnesty International’s Mozambique researcher.

Amnesty International calls on the Mozambique police authorities to ensure that police have non-lethal means of force at their disposal to control the situation and disperse the demonstrators.

A text message has been circulating in Maputo encouraging demonstrators to continue their protests till Friday, according to information obtained by Amnesty International.

According to a recent Amnesty International report at least 46 people were unlawfully killed by the police in Mozambique between January 2006 and the end of 2009.

“The government must conduct an impartial and independent investigation in the circumstances surrounding today’s deaths and if people were killed unlawfully prosecute those responsible,” said Muluka-Anne Miti.

Despite repeated requests, the authorities have provided Amnesty International with very little information into investigations into police killings in Mozambique, including during visits to the country.

In some cases, Amnesty International was told that investigations were not carried out because the killing was presumed to be lawful.

International standards require an effective investigation be carried out into all cases of death or serious injury as a result of use of force or firearms by the police.

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Amnesty International has welcomed the release of a Mexican indigenous human rights activist who was imprisoned for over two years on a fabricated murder charge.

Raúl Hernández was acquitted by a judge in Guerrero State on Friday 27 August and immediately released.

“The release of Raúl Hernández is a very welcome step. The Mexican authorities must now investigate his unfounded prosecution and compensate him fully for his unfair imprisonment,” said Rupert Knox of Amnesty International.

“The prolonged detention and prosecution of Raúl Hernández is part of a systematic campaign by the Mexican authorities against members of the Me’phaa Indigenous People’s Organization (Organización del Pueblo Indígena Me’phaa, OPIM) for standing up in defence of their people’s human rights.”

Speaking after his release to Alberto Herrera, Executive Director of Amnesty International Mexico, Raúl Hernández said: “I want to thank Amnesty International and the people of many countries who worked for my freedom.”

Amnesty International has been campaigning for Raúl Hernández’s release since November 2008 when he was adopted as a prisoner of conscience.

It believes that the case against him was a reprisal by local authorities for his legitimate activities promoting indigenous rights with the Me’phaa Indigenous People’s Organization (Organización del Pueblo Indígena Me’phaa, OPIM).

On 17 April 2008, Raúl Hernández was one of five OPIM members wrongfully arrested and charged for the murder of Alejandro Feliciano Garcia on 1 January in the village of El Camalote, Guerrero State.

The other four; Manuel Cruz, Orlando Manzanarez, Natalio Ortega, Romualdo Santiago were later released after a federal judicial review.

The federal review judge refused to release Raúl Hernández arguing that two witnesses had testified to his presence during the time of the murder.

The judge ignored other eyewitness testimonies saying that Raúl Hernández was not present.

The case was returned to the state courts where Raúl Hernández’s defence lawyers’ secured further evidential hearings, one of which confirmed that the prosecution’s eyewitnesses had provided unreliable testimony.

“The case of Raúl Hernández illustrates the vulnerability of human rights activists in Mexico. Not only are they victims of unlawful detentions and imprisonment on unfounded charges, but they also face harassment, intimidation, threats and even killings,” said Rupert Knox

The southern state of Guerrero is home to about 116,000 Me’ phaa Indigenous People. It has one of the highest levels of marginalisation and some of the lowest indicators of human development in Mexico, according to local human rights organization Tlachinollan Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña.

OPIM was founded in 2002 to defend and promote the rights of the Me’ phaa Indigenous People.

Amnesty International has documented a pattern of harassment and intimidation against members of Indigenous rights organizations in Guerrero state, such as the OPIM over a number of years.

Raúl Hernández was wrongfully arrested and charged with murder in January 2008

Footage of Raúl Hernández and his struggle since being imprisoned

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Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have urged the Cambodian government to immediately release a human rights worker who was sentenced to two years in prison for giving out anti-government leaflets.

Leang Sokchouen, who works for the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), was convicted on charges of “disinformation” on Monday after a trial marked by numerous procedural flaws.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) have called or Sokchoeun’s release in a joint statement.

“This conviction once again highlights the lack of independence and impartiality of the courts, which are all too often used as a tool against the less powerful, rather than to uphold their rights,” said Donna Guest, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific deputy director.

Cambodian police arrested Sokchouen on 29 May on charges of involvement in the production and distribution of anti-government leaflets in Takeo province in January.

He was held incommunicado for over 33 hours, despite numerous requests by his family and lawyer to visit him. Sokchouen was given a US$500 fine, plus a two-year prison sentence.

“Unfounded charges of disinformation or defamation are well-worn tactics used by the Cambodian government to create a climate of fear,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President, added: “We reiterate our call to the Cambodian authorities to abolish the crimes of defamation and disinformation in Cambodian criminal law and ensure that the Criminal Code is not used to abusively restrict the right to freedom of expression.”

Eric Sottas, Secretary General of OMCT, urged the Cambodian authorities to free the activist.

“Leang Sokchouen should be immediately and unconditionally released as his detention is arbitrary and due process was blatantly violated throughout investigation and trial,” he said.

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Amnesty International has urged the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reject a draft law, set to be debated on Wednesday, prohibiting the wearing in public of clothes which prevent identification.

“If adopted, such a law would violate the human rights of women who choose to wear a full-face veil as an expression of their religious, cultural political or personal identity or beliefs. It would violate their right to freedom of expression and religion,” said Marek Marczynski, Amnesty International’s researcher on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“At the same time, a general ban on wearing full-face veils in public could result in some women being confined to their homes and unable to participate in public life.”

The draft law envisages imposing penalties such as a fine of 100 KM (50 euro) or imprisonment between one and seven days.

The advocates of the law have been arguing that its adoption is needed in order to address security concerns, however they have failed to identify them.

However, Amnesty International said it believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina already has a legal framework which is able to address this issue.

Under international human rights law the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and to manifest religious belief can only be restricted when necessary and proportionate.

This may include certain clearly defined restrictions on the wearing of full-face veils if that is shown to be necessary for a legitimate purpose such as protecting public safety.

“Any such measures must be the least restrictive to achieve that purpose. For example, a requirement to show one’s face in demonstrably high-risk locations or to lift a veil when requested by a police officer for a necessary identity check,” said Marek Marczynski.

The draft law was proposed by the Serbian Alliance of Independent Social Democrats. It comes before the parliamentary elections scheduled for 3 October.

Amnesty International said it is also concerned that the law may have a negative impact on inter-ethnic relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as it may be perceived by some Muslim citizens of the country as an attack on their identity.

“The authorities and politicians representing all nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina must work together to resolve all political issues in ways which are consistent with human rights standards,” said Marek Marczynski.

It has also been asserted that some women may be wearing a full-face veil under pressure from their families or communities.

States are obliged under international law to protect women against pressure or coercion in their homes or communities to wear full-face veils.

However, they should do this by taking steps to combat gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and, where appropriate, by intervening in individual cases through criminal or family law.

“Imposing bans on what people choose to wear is neither going to address the stated security concerns, nor will it help to combat gender discrimination in the country,” said Marek Marczynski

Amnesty International has also opposed similar legislation in France, Belgium and other European countries.

The new law would would violate women's rights to freedom of expression and religion