Front Line News Archive

Front Line is extremely concerned following reports that human rights defender and community leader, Vicente Zhunio Samaniego, from Ecuador, has been located, after 16 hours of incommunicado detention, in a hospital with gunshot wounds to the head.

Background - On 7 January 2009 Front Line expressed it's deep concern following reports of the arbitrary detention of *Mr Vicente Zhunio Samaniego*, on 5 January 2009. Vicente Zhunio Samaniego is a community leader and President of the /Asociación Campesina de Limón Indanza /(Peasants' Association of Limَon Indanza), which is a member of the /Coordinadora Nacional por la Defensa/ /de la Vida y la Soberanía /(National Co-ordinating Committee for the Defence of Life and Sovereignty – NCCDLS). The NCCDLS is a committee of organisations and members defending environmental rights which are being threatened as a result of the government's plans to develop large-scale mining in rural areas. The NCCDLS was set up with the aim of bringing together peasant and indigenous communities to facilitate collective action to defend the environment.  

On Wednesday, 31 December 2008 in the Petroleum Cultural Club, Front Line launched "Iraq - The Untold Story," a collection of personal testimonies by 13 Iraqi human rights defenders. The report was launched in co-operation with the Iraqi Journalist Rights Defense Association (IJRDA). The lunch was attended by many human rights defenders, journalists and some Iraqi officials.  

The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) and Front Line presented a joint letter in Geneva on 15th December calling for the release of 14 imprisoned human rights defenders and 4 imprisoned family members. Abdujalil Boymatov, Deputy Chair of the HRSU presented the letter to the office of Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and also met with representatives of six of the other special procedures. The visit coincided with the Human Rights Council discussing the Universal Periodic Review of Uzbekistan.

Read the joint letter to Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

On Monday 8 December Front Line and The Body Shop launched their joint campaign, Defending Life with Life. The campaign will run from 8 December to 23 December in all branches of The Body Shop in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and seven key branches of The Body Shop in the UK  

President of Turkmenistan Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov signed a pardon in the light of the forthcoming "Neutrality Day". Three hundred and ninety prisoners, human rights defender Valery Pal among them, are to be released from jail.  

Front Line is deeply concerned at the adbuction Pascal Gonzo and Broderick Takawira, staff members of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), on 8 December 2008. They were taken away from ZPP offices by six men driving unmarked cars.  

Front Line is concerned following reports received of a travel ban imposed on human rights defender, Abdulghani Al-Khanjar who was refused entry to Qatar at Doha Airport on 2 December 2008.  

Mutabar Tadjibeva, released from prison on the 2nd of June and for the first time allowed to travel abroad, will receive the 2008 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on Thursday 20th November, 18h00, during an international ceremony in Geneva at the prestigious Musée Ariana. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present the award and opera star Barbara Hendricks will perform. This year’s event is covered by Swiss Television for the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) which will broadcast a news flash on Euronews.