News Clips – May 23, 2010

Protests continue in Thailand as Asian Centre for Human Rights decries international community’s silence and the EU Parliament and Human Rights Watch express concern over violence, emergency provisions, and censorship.  The BBC has provided a detailed overview of the situation. Human Rights Watch urges new British government to reform counterterrorism strategies and investigate British agents’ complicity in torture and rendition. [HRW] Related cases decided by the

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UN Announces Legal Aid Fund for Iraqi Detainees

The United Nations announced today that, since late last year, 20 legal defense centers have been providing free legal assistance to Iraqi detainees to help them defend themselves in criminal proceedings.  The Programme for the Protection of Detainees and Torture Victims, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is operating in

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Political Violence in Nicaragua Worries IACHR

In a press release issued today, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed its concern over acts of violence committed in Nicaragua last week.  The Commission reports: During the incidents serious disturbances took place, dozens of individuals were detained, property was burned, and shots were fired. The Commission learned that these acts were undertaken to prevent the functioning of the

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Argentine Officer Sentenced to 15 Years for Dirty War Abuses

Former army intelligence officer Horacio Barcos was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by the Tribunal Oral Federal in Santa Fe, Argentina on Monday in the culmination of his prosecution for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Dirty War, presided over by Jorge Rafael Videla‘s military dictatorship.  Barcos was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the crimes of illegal

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Judge Orders Release of Guantanamo Detainee Mohamedou Slahi

Today, the ACLU made available on its website D.C. District Court Judge James Robertson’s order granting Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s petition for writ of habeas corpus (here).  The decision, handed down on March 22, was under seal pending release of an unclassified version.  Judge Robertson’s decision comes over eight years after Slahi’s initial detention in Senegal in November

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Spain's Baltasar Garzón Faces Prosecution for Investigation of Franco-Era Crimes

Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón will be tried in connection with his judicial investigation into the enforced disappearances of thousands of individuals and other atrocities committed during Spain’s civil war (1936-1939) and the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco (1939-1975).  Charges against the judge were brought by private actors, two right-wing interest groups, one of which was the State political party (Falange

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1983 Beirut Bombing Victims Awarded $1 Billion in Punitive Damages

On March 31, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colombia issued its final judgment in Valore v. Islamic Republic of Iran, awarding the survivors and victims’ estates over $1 billion in damages.  The plaintiffs alleged tort liability under the amended the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and District of Colombia law for the deaths, injuries, and pain and suffering caused

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D.C. District Court Dismisses as Moot 105 Habeas Petitions of Transferred Guantanamo Detainees

On April 1st, in its consideration of 105 habeas petitions presented by non-U.S. citizens formerly held at Guantanamo, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colombia held that such petitions become moot when the individuals have been transferred to foreign countries. The petitioners had filed their habeas petitions while still detained at Guantanamo and, following their release or transfer

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