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Bangladesh: Threats, intimidation and attacks against human rights defender Mr FMA Razzakposted on: 2011/03/07

On 4 March 2011 human rights defender Mr FMA Razzak was threatened by a family member of a Major in the Bangladesh Army in the latest of a series of reported threats, intimidation and attacks against him.

Further Information

Mr FMA Razzak is the President of the Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC) and editor of the Gonomichhil fortnightly newspaper. The HRDC is based in Paikgachha upazilla (sub-district) under Khulna district.

Within his role as President of the HRDC, FMA Razzak works with victims of custodial torture, many of whom are facing fabricated charges brought by the law-enforcement officers who tortured them.

FMA Razzak and his family members have reportedly been subjected to threats, intimidation and attacks on several occasions by law-enforcement agencies, security forces and paramilitary forces, allegedly as a result of false accusations that were made against them by the family of a member of the Bangladesh Army.

On 4 March 2011 the father of the Major contacted FMA Razzak's brother and told him: “Call your father and brother (Razzak) here and ask them to withdraw the complaints that have been made against my son (the Major) by today.

2007 Gégé Katana winner of 2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Riskposted on: 2011/03/04

Gégé Katana is a leading human rights defender working in Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Gégé Katana is the president of Solidarite des Femmmes Activistes pour la Defense des Droits Humains, SOFAD (Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists) an organisation that works through a grassroots network of 625 women to research and campaign against sexual violence, and provide counselling and help to rape survivors. SOFAD also educates local communities on women and children’s rights, and lobbies the government to deliver justice and reform discriminatory laws.

Gégé Katana has worked with several non-governmental organisations including; IDEA/Afrique - Institut pour le developpement et l’education des adultes. She is a network member of the Global Fund for Women and Coordinator for the Synergie des Femmes Defenseurs des Droits de le l'Homme du Sud-Kivu en RDC.

Côte d Ivoire: Increased threats against human rights defendersposted on: 2011/02/23

Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN) and the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (CIDDH) express their concern at the constant increase of threats and instances of intimidation against human rights defenders which have occurred in the context of the political crises which have followed the presidential elections of 28 November 2010. During the last three weeks, at least twelve human rights defenders and journalists have been threatened, arrested or otherwise intimidated.

Further Information

On 17 February 2011, Mr Nahouala Soro, Deputy Secretary-General of the Mouvement Ivoirien des Droits Humains (MIDH) and responsible for the investigation unit within the same organisation, received two SMS threatening him with death.

The threats, which also targeted his family, were sent without hiding the sender's number. The first message read as follows: "you and traoré [Drissa Traoré, MIDH President] you are dead, we're following you".

Kenya: Harassment and threats against human rights defender Mr Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbukuposted on: 2011/01/21

Since November 2010, human rights defender Mr Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbuku has reportedly been subjected to a campaign of threats and harassment including detention, break-ins and public stigmatisation, most recently on 13 January 2011.

Further Information

Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbuku is the Programme Coordinator of the Muungano Family Empowerment Programme (MFEP), based in Bungoma. He has actively denounced the financial exploitation of youths by illegal coffee traders in Kenya and Uganda.

It is reported that the threats against Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbuku relate primarily to his advocacy on behalf of the victims of an alleged police attack on coffee traders on 24 October 2010 near the River Lwakhaka, in the district of Mount Elgon on the Kenyan-Ugandan border, in which a number of individuals, among them juveniles, were reportedly assaulted and some killed.

The instances of harassment against Wilberforce Wanyama Lumbuku started in November 2010 immediately after MFEP intervention in the above-mentioned case.

Colombia: Update – Threats against the family of detained human rights defender David Rabelo Crespo posted on: 2010/09/29

Front Line expresses its concern regarding recent threats against the family of Mr David Rabelo Crespo, a human rights defender who has been held in detention since his arrest on 14 September 2010.

Cambodia: Threats and fear of legal action against human rights defenders and labour activistsposted on: 2010/09/17

Human rights defenders and labour activists, Mr Ath Thorn, Ms Morm Nhim and Mr Tola Moeun, are believed to be among a group of 9 persons who are due to be served with warrants from the courts following strike actions taken by thousands of Cambodian garment workers who are calling for higher wages.

Honduras: Kidnapping, surveillance, threats, harassment and intimidation of members of LGBTI organisation, APUVIMEHposted on: 2010/09/02

Front Line expresses its deep concern regarding recent incidents of kidnapping, surveillance, threats, harassment and intimidation against members of the LGBTI organization Association for a Better Life (Asociación por una Vida Mejor- APUVIMEH).

India: Threats, attacks, defamation and harassment against human rights defender Mrs K. Saraswathyposted on: 2010/06/25

Human rights defender Mrs K. Saraswathy has been subjected to attacks, death threats, attempted murder and a campaign of public defamation as a result of her human rights activities in Tamil Nadu State, India.

Kenya: Repeated threats against human rights defender Mr Stephen Musau posted on: 2010/05/21

Human rights defender Mr Stephen Musau remains at risk following repeated anonymous threats and the arrest of his colleague Mr Keneth Kirimi. Stephen Musau is the Executive Coordinator of Release Political Prisoners (RPP), a human rights non-governmental organisation documenting, publicising and doing advocacy on issues related to political prisoners.

Ecuador: Threats and intimidation against human rights defender Ms Rosío Pérez and El Frente de Mujeres Defensoras de la Pachamamaposted on: 2010/05/05

On 27 April 2010, human rights defenders in El Frente de Mujeres Defensoras de la Pachamama (Women Defenders of Mother Earth) in the parish of Molleturo in Cuenca, Ecuador, including the organisation's president, Ms Rosío Pérez, were threatened and intimidated in apparent retaliation for complaints they had filed with the Ministry of the Environment and the Agencia Desconcentrada de Regulación y Control Minero - ADRCM (the Decentralised Agency for Regulation and Control of Mining) on behalf of residents of Piedra Azul regarding the possibility of illegal mining taking place and affecting water supplies in the area.