Web pages about "Kenya"

Killing of civilians now routine in Somalia

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:56:15 +0100

(Nairobi) Amnesty International today released a groundbreaking report revealing the dire human rights and humanitarian crisis facing the people of Somalia.

The report contains first-hand testimony from scores of traumatized survivors of the conflict, exposing the violations and abuses they have suffered at the hands of a complex mix of perpetrators. These perpetrators include Ethiopian and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops on the one hand, and armed groups on the other.

“The people of Somalia are being killed, raped, tortured; looting is widespread and entire neighbourhoods are being destroyed,” said Michelle Kagari, Africa Programme Deputy Director at Amnesty International, speaking from Nairobi.

Witnesses described to Amnesty International an increasing incidence of Ethiopian troops killing by what is locally termed “slaughtering” or “killing like goats” -- referring to killing by slitting the throat. The victims of these killings are often left lying in pools of blood in the streets until armed fighters, including snipers, move out of the area and relatives can collect their bodies.

In one case, a 15-year-old girl found her father with his throat cut upon returning home from school, after Ethiopian security forces swept through her neighbourhood.

Other cases in the report include:

• Haboon, a 56-year-old woman from Mogadishu, who said her neighbour’s 17-year-old daughter was raped by Ethiopian troops. When her 13 and 14-year-old sons tried to defend their sister, the soldiers beat them and took their eyes out with a bayonet. The mother fled. It is not known what happened to the boys. This girl is in a coma as a result of the injuries she sustained during the attack.

• Qorran, another 56-year-old woman from Mogadishu, described how after her family went to bed, she went out to collect charcoal. While she was out, a rocket propelled grenade was fired at her home, completely destroying it. She said, “When I came back, I couldn’t find my house.” Her husband and sons were all killed in the attack. She told Amnesty International, “If grief is going to kill anyone it’s going to kill me.”

• Guled, aged 32, who said that he saw his neighbours “slaughtered”. He said he saw many men whose throats were slit and whose bodies were left in the street. Some had their testicles cut off. He also saw women being raped. In one incident, his newly-wed neighbour whose husband was not home was raped by over twenty Ethiopian soldiers.

“The testimony we received strongly suggests that war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity have been committed by all parties to the conflict in Somalia – and no one is being held accountable,” said Kagari.

“The human rights and humanitarian situation in Somalia is growing worse by the day. This report represents the voices of ordinary Somalis, and their plea to the international community to take action to end the attacks against them, including those committed by internationally-supported TFG and Ethiopian forces.”

Security in many parts of Mogadishu is non-existent, and the entire population of Mogadishu bears the scars of having witnessed or experienced egregious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

“There is no safety for civilians, wherever they run. Those fleeing violence in Mogadishu are attacked on the road and those lucky enough to reach a camp or settlement face further violence and dire conditions.”

The Transitional Federal Government, as the recognized government of Somalia, bears the primary responsibility for protecting the human rights of the Somali people. However, the Ethiopian military, which is taking a leading role in backing the TFG, also bears responsibility.

“Attacks on civilians by all parties must stop immediately. Also, the international community must bear its own responsibility for not putting consistent pressure on the TFG or the Ethiopian government to stop their armed forces from committing egregious human rights violations.”

Amnesty International urged that the capacity of the UN Political Office for Somalia be strengthened, and that AMISOM – and any succeeding UN peacekeeping mission – be mandated to protect civilians and include a strong human rights component with the capacity to investigate human rights violations.

The organization also called for the UN arms embargo on Somalia to be strengthened, amongst other recommendations.

Notes to editors:
One million Somalis are internally displaced, hundreds of thousands are refugees, and some 6,000 civilians were killed in attacks last year. Journalists fear every day for their lives and are fleeing the country in greater numbers.

The African Union “peace support” force in Somalia (AMISOM) has neither the mandate nor the capacity to protect civilians.

There have been 13 failed peace conferences to resolve one of the world’s longest crises of state collapse.

The report can be downloaded here: "Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia"

Kenya: New government must ensure justice for victims of post-election violence

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:10:45 +0100

As the new Kenyan coalition government prepares to take office, Amnesty International today called on the new government to ensure that those responsible for the human rights abuses committed during the post-elections violence are brought to justice.

“This new chapter in Kenya’s political history must not be built on a foundation of impunity -- but rather justice for the Kenyan people who suffered during this traumatic period. There can be no impunity for human rights violations,” said Amnesty International.

The organization called on the new government to ensure that perpetrators of human rights abuses during the post-election violence -- including members of the security forces who may have used excessive force against demonstrators -- are promptly brought to justice in trials that comply with international standards.

Amnesty International also called on the new government to guarantee victims of human rights abuses will receive reparations and that the thousands of internally displaced persons receive restitution and are able to return to their homes in safety as soon as possible or are resettled elsewhere.

“Since the post-election violence, action by the Kenyan government to bring the perpetrators and organizers of violence to justice has been limited, at best,” said Amnesty International. “This must change now, if the new government is going set the stage for a just future for all Kenyans.”

On 4 March, parties to the Kenyan mediation reached an agreement on the establishment of a non-judicial commission of inquiry into the post-election violence and a truth justice and reconciliation commission (TJRC). According to the 4 March agreement, the TJRC “will inquire into human rights violations, including those committed by the state, groups or individuals ….between December 12, 1963 and February 28, 2008.”

“In order to avoid extensive delays in justice for victims, as well as the deterioration of vital evidence, the Kenyan government must establish the proposed Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence without further delay and ensure that it is independent and impartial,” said Amnesty International.

The organization called for the mandate of the proposed Commission of Inquiry to be defined in terms consistent with international human rights law and said that the Inquiry should investigate human rights abuses by both state and non-state actors, and include an investigation of the organized and/or spontaneous nature of the post-election violence, the involvement of different armed youths or groups, the role played by the politicians in the violence, and the role of the police and other security forces.

Amnesty International urged the new government to ensure that the proposed TJRC forms part of a broader, long-term, comprehensive action plan to uphold the rights of victims of past human rights abuses and obtain truth, justice and reparation. The organization recommended that national and international civil society organizations, victims, human rights defenders and persons belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups be fully involved in the discussions on the establishment, mandate and powers of the truth commission, as well as in the selection of its members.

Video: Amnesty International reaches out for Kenya

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:22:22 +0100

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Since the disputed elections of the 27 December 2007, Kenya has been torn apart by a stream of politically-motivated and ethnic attacks. At least 1,000 people have been killed, while more than 500,000 have been internally displaced, and 12,000 have fled seeking refuge in neighbouring Uganda. Only handful of those responsible have been arrested and charged.

To protest against these human rights abuses and ongoing impunity, Amnesty International organised an International Day of Action on 27 February 2007. Amnesty International members around the world reached out for the people of Kenya.

The Government of Kenya must end the impunity of those responsible for post-election violence, including the members of the police who used excessive force. Only this way can the cycle of impunity and violence be broken.

10,000 reach out for Kenya

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:49:48 +0000

Amnesty International delivered over 10,000 petitions to representatives of the Kenyan leaders President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga on Thursday.

People across the world signed up for the Reach Out for Kenya day of action on 27 February. The petitions called for an end to the post-election violence in Kenya and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice in fair trials.

"This was the last step in this International Day of Action. More than 10,000 petitions were collected, more than 6,000 people signed up on the Reach Out for Kenya Facebook group and there were public actions organised by Amnesty International sections in 12 countries," said Dave Copeman, Amnesty International's campaigner for Kenya, who handed over the petitions.

A total of 10,753 petitions were presented to the Kenyan authorities on Thursday 27 March, one month after the day of action.

"This was the evidence of worldwide concern at the terrible political and ethnic violence and the excessive use of force by the police, that followed the elections," said Dave Copeman.

"I also communicated that our concerns remain. While the violence has abated, many of its victims remain in displaced camps, still not safe to return home. Barely a handful of those responsible have been brought before a court and charged. This impunity must be stopped."

Amnesty International has called on the Kenyan government and all political parties to ensure that all allegations of human rights abuses and violations are investigated and that suspected perpetrators are held accountable through trials that comply with international standards.

"For now, the violence has ended. Now, our challenge will be to hold the political leaders of Kenya to their commitments that the impunity for this violence will also end," said Dave Copeman.

Amnesty International has launched a new online action for members of the Facebook Reach out for Kenya group. Images for Impunity! will encourage members to come up with original and artistic ways of illustrating the slogan: End Impunity in Kenya!

Video: Post-election violence in Kenya

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:29:49 +0000

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Post-election violence in Kenya has forced thousands to flee their homes. More than 1,000 people have been killed. Amnesty International met with some of those most affected by the violence.

Kenyan victims of political violence speak out

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:40:49 +0000

In early February, an Amnesty International delegation travelled to Kenya, investigating human rights violations that have occurred during the post-election violence. This violence has included:

Politically-motivated and ethnic killings by armed gangs in several parts of Kenya, targeting members of communities from which President Kibaki was perceived to have drawn his support, particularly members of the Kikuyu community;
Organized attacks targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are seeking refuge after fleeing their homes as a result of the violence;
Organized attacks against members of communities perceived to have supported opposition candidate Raila Odinga in the disputed December elections;
Excessive use of force and shooting to kill by members of Kenyan police and other security forces; and
A failure to protect and an inaction by Kenyan police during politically motivated killing, especially where police were from the same community as the attackers, or where the violence was condoned by local political leaders.

The delegation collected a number of stories from the victims. Each story is of the individual experiences of these survivors of violence, in their words and from their viewpoint.

These testimonies have been chosen because they are representative of the varying nature of the violence and are generally consistent with a number of individual testimonies that Amnesty International delegates documented in each location.

Amnesty International has called on the Kenyan government to establish an independent and impartial public inquiry into the violence. Those responsible for killings or other human rights abuses should be brought to justice in proceedings that comply with international fair trial standards. Victims and their families must benefit from the right to redress and reparation, including compensation.

Listen to the words of:

A young woman, shot during the fighting in Eldoret on 31 January, most likely by bullets fired by Kenyan police officer.

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An old man from outside the town of Naivasha, who was chased from his home in retaliation attacks on 27 January 2008.

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A young man who told Amnesty International of how he was shot by prison officers in Naivasha.

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A woman from the town of Eldoret, who was chased from her home by hundreds of Kalenjin youths on 30 December 2007.

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Kenya: Amnesty International calls on government and African Commission to act

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:21:37 +0000

As Kofi Annan announces the results of the political mediation in Kenya and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights begins an extraordinary session to discuss the human rights situation in the country, Amnesty International called on the Commission and Kenyan government to prioritize an investigation into the human rights violations and abuses perpetrated during the post-election period.

The African Commission will be meeting in an extraordinary session in Banjul, Gambia to discuss developments in Kenya, amongst other issues, between 15 and 24 February.

“A human rights agenda must be central to any resolution of the political crises – which means that those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice, and the victims receive reparations. Impunity for human rights violations will only store up problems for Kenya’s future, and we hope that the African Commission will play its role in ensuring that this does not happen” said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme, who has just returned from a fact-finding mission to Kenya.

Amnesty International called on the African Commission to:

Urge the Kenyan government to investigate all allegations of human rights violations and ensure that suspected perpetrators are held responsible through trials that comply with international standards.
Undertake an investigative mission to Kenya to assess the human rights situation. The Commission's Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa should be an integral part of the mission. The report of the mission with specific recommendations should be submitted to the African Union's Heads of States Assembly soon after the visit and subsequently be made public.
Call on the Kenyan government and opposition to ensure the full respect for human rights by their supporters.

Background information
Since 30 December, more than 1,000 people have been killed in politically motivated or ethnic attacks in Kenya. This number includes numerous people shot dead by the police, who were deployed to quell the violence or break up mass protests called by the opposition against the results of the presidential elections.

According to estimates, over 300,000 people have become internally displaced as a result of the violence and more than 10,000 others have fled to Uganda as refugees.

Call on Kenya's leaders to respect and protect human rights

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:35:37 +0000

Amnesty International urges Kenya's leaders to ensure the human rights of Kenyan people are protected.

An international day of public and online action this month will demonstrate solidarity with the people of Kenya and call on the Kenyan government to protect people from politically-motivated and ethnic violence.

On 27 February, people can show their outrage at the continuing human rights abuses in Kenya in a series of events organised by Amnesty International; including an online Facebook action and a series of street demonstrations.

The disputed election of 27 December 2007 sparked an outbreak of fighting and a series of grave human rights violations. At least 1,000 people have been killed so far, while more than 300,000 have been displaced.

Amnesty International's recent visit to Kenya found evidence of unlawful killings, the ethnically targeted forced relocation and burning of homes by armed militias, excessive use of force by security officials, sexual violence against women and girls, and violations of freedom of expression and assembly. Amnesty International has also documented death threats against human rights defenders and activists.

The death toll includes hundreds shot dead by police, who were deployed to quell the post-election violence and break up mass protests against the election called by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) opposition party.

Subsequent violence has seen increasingly organised attacks by ethnic militia and youth gangs against people of Kikuyu ethnicity, which has led to retaliatory attacks by Kikuyu militias and youth gangs.

There is particular concern at the ethnic dimension to the political violence and its possible long-term implications for Kenyan society.

Amnesty International calls on the Kenyan government to protect the people of Kenya, many of whom have endured unrelenting suffering in the last two months. Kenyan leaders must end the cycle of impunity that perpetuates the politically motivated violence in Kenya.

Join the protest:

Amnesty International organizing streets demonstrations in the on 27 February. If you turned up to show your support...

Please send your photos to cold27south@photos.flickr.com

Kenyan victims of political violence speak out (26 February)
Kenyan activists receive death threats (1 February)
Killings continue in Kenya (28 January)
Kenyan police fire at protesters (18 January)
Kenyan election sparks political killings (4 January)

Kenyan activists receive death threats

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:28:53 +0000

Amnesty International has called for the protection of several Kenyan human rights activists who have received death threats in the last two weeks.

All but one of the group are of Kikuyu ethnicity and it is believed fellow Kikuyus have sent the threats, which include accusations that the activists are "traitors" to their ethnicity.

The nine people - some of whom are prominent of local human rights organizations - have received a series of anonymous SMS messages, phone calls and emails. They are now taking precautions for their safety, by moving house and not making public statements.

The activists have all spoken out against what they believe to be irregularities in Kenya’s recent elections. They have also been openly critical of the human rights abuses being committed by police and armed gangs – including Kikuyu gangs – throughout the country.

Four of the activists are named in an anonymously-authored leaflet circulated within the Kikuyu community. It lists more than 25 people by name, calling them "traitors [who] live among us in peace", and issues a veiled threat that they should be killed.

Amnesty International calls on the Kenyan government to ensure the safety and protection of all human rights activists in Kenya. It must investigate the threats and bring those found responsible to justice.

NEWS FLASH - Kenya: Prominent human rights defenders threatened with death as “traitors” to their ethnicity

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:22:52 +0000

Amnesty International today issued an urgent action calling for the protection of several Kenyan human rights defenders and activists who have received serious death threats.

The group, which includes six men and three women -- some of whom are prominent members of human rights organizations -- have received a number of anonymous threats in the form of SMS messages, phone calls and emails. They are now taking precautions for their safety, such as moving house and not making any public statements.

The threats include accusations that they are ”traitors” to their ethnicity.

All but one of the activists are of Kikuyu ethnicity.

They have all spoken out about what they believe to have been irregularities in Kenya’s recent elections or about human rights abuses being committed by police and armed gangs – including Kikuyu gangs – throughout the country.

Four of the human rights defenders are also named in an anonymously authored leaflet that has been circulated within the Kikuyu community. The leaflet lists more than 25 people by name, calling them “traitors [who] live among us in peace”, and issues a veiled threat that they should be killed.

Amnesty International called on the Kenyan government to ensure the safety and protection of all human rights defenders in Kenya, investigate the threats being made against them and bring those found responsible to justice.

Web pages about "Kenya"

Killing of civilians now routine in Somalia

Kenya: New government must ensure justice for victims of post-election violence

Video: Amnesty International reaches out for Kenya

10,000 reach out for Kenya

Video: Post-election violence in Kenya

Kenyan victims of political violence speak out

Kenya: Amnesty International calls on government and African Commission to act

Call on Kenya's leaders to respect and protect human rights

Join the protest:

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Kenyan activists receive death threats

NEWS FLASH - Kenya: Prominent human rights defenders threatened with death as “traitors” to their ethnicity