9 February 2001, in accordance with the law, the documents required to register the organization. It was reported that the Ministry of Justice refused registration of the organization, claiming that it had not meet the necessary requirements to become a public association. The main basis for the refusal was reportedly the organization's statute, which declared its aims to render legal assistance and associated consultations to others in the area of human rights and basic freedoms. According to the decision, the aims were reportedly contrary to the official definition of the term "legal assistance" and contrary to article 22 of the Law on Public Associations, which reportedly states that public associations can only represent and defend the rights and legal interests of their members and not third parties.
31. It has been reported that human rights organizations, like all other associations, are subject to a system of official warnings, which may result in their official closure by the Ministry of Justice. Fears have been expressed that official warnings may permit the Belarusian authorities to interfere in the internal affairs of the organizations. In this connection, three members of the human rights organization Spring-96, the chairperson, Ales Byalytski, as well as
Palina Stepanenka and Valyantsin Stefanovich, reportedly received and official warning on 18 August 2001 from the Ministry of Justice. According to the information received, the first warning received from the Ministry of Justice had complained that the letterhead used on Spring-96's office paper had reportedly violated official regulations. It was further reported that, in October and December 2000, the organization received a second and third official warning for the alleged incorrect use of the organization's name on its monthly human rights publication, Right to Freedom. Sergei Obodovsky, the chairperson and founder of the Mogilov Human Rights Centre, reportedly received a warning on 29 September 2000 from the local justice authorities stating that that organization had violated the 1994 Law on Public Associations by defending the rights of people who were not members of the organization. Mr. Obodovsky had appealed against the action taken against the organization to a higher judicial instance.
32. Furthermore, it has been brought to the attention of the Special Representative that
on 14 March 2001, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka issued a decree entitled "Several measures on improving distribution and use of foreign humanitarian aid", which reportedly prohibits the use of foreign funding for pro-democracy purposes. NGOs may be at risk of incurring fines and closure if they violate the legislation. On 11 May 2001, another presidential decree, entitled
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"On certain measures to improve procedures for holding meetings, rallies, street processions, demonstrations and other mass actions and pickets", was introduced which imposes new restrictions on the right of freedom of assembly. It has been reported that, under the decree, the body organizing a sanctioned event may be held entirely responsible for the action and may be fined or de-registered if public order is deemed to have been violated.
33. On 27 September 2001 the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, transmitted an allegation regarding the following cases.
34. Oleg Volchek, a lawyer, chairperson of Legal Assistance to the Population, and chairperson of the non-governmental committee which has demanded an independent investigation into the possible disappearances of Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky and Dmitry Zavadsky, was reportedly arrested on 21 July 1999, in Minsk, after a pro-democracy demonstration with other companions. He was then taken to the Moskovsky District Department of Internal Affairs, where it is alleged that he was repeatedly punched and kicked on the body and head by three police officers who refused him access to a doctor. Mr. Volchek and his companions were not reportedly released until 22 July 1999. Apparently, as a result of his complaint, Mr. Volchek was charged with malicious hooliganism under article 201 (2) of the Belarusian Criminal Code and risked a sentence of several years' imprisonment. The charges against him were reportedly dropped in November 1999 owing to lack of evidence. Another allegation was transmitted on this case on 30 September 2001 by the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression.
35. Valery Schukin, a human rights defender, independent journalist and member of the dissolved parliament, was reportedly sentenced by Minsk City Court on 17 April 2001 to three months' imprisonment. According to the information received, Mr. Schukin was convicted for his alleged role in organizing the October 1999 pro-democracy freedom march, and for alleged hooliganism relating to an incident which reportedly occurred on 16 January 2001 when police officers refused him entry to a press conference given by the Minister of the Interior, Vladimir Naumov, in Minsk. It was further reported that a struggle had ensued between
Mr. Schukin and guards policing access to the conference, who had reportedly violently forced him to the ground.
36. Vladimir Yuhko, a member of the Belarusian Conservative Christian Party, was reportedly ill-treated by police officers on 18 May 2001 and suffered a broken arm while protesting outside the Palace of the Republic building in Minsk. According to the information received, police officers detained approximately 30 protestors who were reportedly carrying posters of the men
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who had apparently disappeared and distributing leaflets contesting the proposed union of Belarus with Russia. It was reported that plain clothes police officers are alleged to have used force to disperse the peaceful protestors and ill-treated a number of them.
Observations
37. The Special Representative regrets that at the time of the finalization of this report the Government had not transmitted any reply to her communications.
BHUTAN
38. In a communication dated 25 July 2001, the Special Representative requested the Government to extend an invitation to her to carry out an official visit to Bhutan. No reply has been received so far.
BOLIVIA Communication sent
39. On 6 March 2001, the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, sent an urgent appeal concerning Mr. Waldo Albarracin Sanchez, President of the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights in Bolivia (APDHB). According to the information received, Mr. Waldo Albarracin Sanchez received threatening phone calls on his cell phone on two occasions, on 22 and 28 February 2001. In the second phone call, threats were reportedly extended to Mr. Waldo Albarracin Sanchez's family. According to the source, the APDHB reported the facts to the Commission for Human Rights of the Bolivian Parliament, the National Ombudsman Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Minister of Interior.
Observations
40. No reply has been received so far.
BRAZIL
Communications sent
41. On 24 April 2001, the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, sent an urgent appeal regarding Romoaldo Vandresen, the son of Mr. Dionisio Vandresen, coordinator of the Pastoral
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Commission on Land in Parana. According to the information received, he was followed on 10 April 2001 in Parana by a vehicle driven by two unknown men, who allegedly forced him to stop, then threatened him with a gun and searched his car. The two gunmen reportedly told Romoaldo Vandresen to tell his father that they were going to kill both of them. It is alleged that the emblem of the civil police was on the guns that were used in the incident. According to the source, these acts were connected with the active role played by the victims in denouncing the repression of rural farmers without land in Parana.
42. On 30 October 2001, the Special Representative, together with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, sent an urgent appeal regarding death threats against Friar Wilson Zanatta, a member of the Pastoral Land Commission in Tupancireta, in the State of Rio Grando do Sul. According to the information received, on 20 October 2001, Friar Wilson Zanatta was stopped on the road while he was on his way to assist landless rural labourers in Estancia Grande Estate. A man driving a Chevrolet pickup truck struck the vehicle driven by Friar Wilson Zanatta. He asked Mr. Zanatta where he was going and it is reported that when Mr. Zanatta answered that he was going to the encampment of the landless labourers, the man ordered him to turn around and threatened to kill him if he did not execute his orders.
Mr. Zanatta reportedly filed an incident report with the local police. Because of the climate of fear and tension in Tupancireta, the community of friars to which Zanatta belongs decided to transfer him out of the region.
Observations
43. The Special Representative has not yet received a response from the Government.
CAMEROON Communication envoyee
44. Le 4 mai 2001, la Representante speciale, conjointement avec le Rapporteur special sur le droit a la liberte d'opinion et d'expression, le President-Rapporteur du Groupe de travail sur la detention arbitraire et le Rapporteur special sur la torture, a adresse au Gouvernement un appel urgent concernant le professeur Sindjoun Pokam, Djeukam Tchameni, Djimo Leandre,
Peter William Mandio, journaliste, directeur de publication du journal Le Front independant, et Olivier Sande. Ces cinq personnes auraient ete arretees sans mandat d'arret le 26 avril 2001 et detenues au commissariat central de Douala. Bien que la raison de leur detention ne soit pas connue, des craintes ont ete exprimees quant au fait que les personnes mentionnees ci-dessus aient ete arretees en raison de leurs activites en faveur des droits de l'homme et dans le but de les empecher d'exercer leur droit a la liberte d'opinion et d'expression. En effet, le professeur
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Sindjoun Pokam, Djeukam Tchameni, Djimo Leandre et Peter William Mandio sont membres du Collectif national contre l'impunite, une organisation qui lutte pour que les personnes coupables de violations des droits de l'homme soient presentees devant la justice. Us auraient ete arretes alors qu'ils se rendaient a une reunion du Collectif.
Observations
45. La Representante speciale regrette qu'aucune reponse du Gouvemement ne lui soit parvenue.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Communication envoyee
46. Le 7 mars 2001, la Representante speciale, conjointement avec le Rapporteur special sur la torture et le Rapporteur special sur le droit a la liberte d'opinion et d'expression, a adresse au Gouvemement un appel urgent concernant la situation de M. Aboukary Tembeley, President du Mouvement des droits de l'homme et directeur de publication du Journal des droits de I'homme. Selon les informations recues, il aurait ete arrete le 14 fevrier 2001 a la suite de la publication des resultats d'un sondage qu'il aurait effectue sur la demission du President Patasse. Selon les informations recues, il aurait ete interroge par la Direction generate de la Gendarmerie nationale pendant quatre heures. Transfere devant le parquet de Bangui le 16 fevrier 2001, M. Tembeley aurait ete inculpe en vertu de Г article 77 du Code penal pour "diffusion de propagande de nature a nuire aux interets vitaux de l'Etat et de la Nation" et pour "incitation a la haine et a la revoke contre les institutions democratiquement elues". Selon les informations recues, le tribunal de Bangui aurait declare M. Tembeley coupable "d'actes de manoeuvre de nature a compromettre la securite publique ou a occasionner des troubles politiques graves". Il aurait ete condamne a deux mois de prison et a une amende de 150 000 francs CFA.
Observations
47. La Representante speciale regrette qu'aucune reponse du Gouvemement ne lui soit parvenue.
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CHAD
Communication envoyee
48. Le 5 juillet 2001, la Representante speciale a adresse au Gouvernement un appel urgent concemant Mme Jacqueline Moudeina, responsable juridique de Г Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la defense des droits de rhomme (ATPDH) et avocate des victimes tchadiennes dans les poursuites judiciaires engagees a l'encontre de l'ancien chef d'Etat, Hissein Habre. D'apres les informations recues, elle aurait ete attaquee le 11 juin 2001 par des membres de la police antiemeutes alors qu'elle participant devant l'ambassade de France a N'Djamena a un rassemblement d'une centaine de femmes qui souhaitaient soumettre une motion a
Г Ambassadeur de France pour protester contre la politique de la France au Tchad. D'apres les informations recues, pendant la dispersion du rassemblement, des elements des forces de securite auraient demande ou se trouvait Mme Moudeina et auraient lance une grenade dans sa direction, la blessant a la jambe droite. M. Mahamat Wakaye, ancien haut responsable de la DDS, la police politique de Hissein Habre, aurait dirige la police antiemeutes au moment des faits. Il semblerait que cette action s'inscrive en represailles des activites de Mme Moudeina. Cette crainte se serait confirmee suite au harcelement dont aurait ete victime Mme Moudeina dans l'enceinte de la clinique Providence ou elle a ete emmenee pour etre soignee. Cet appel urgent concernait egalement M. Samuel Togoto, commissaire de police et ancien Vice-President de Г Association des victimes de crimes et repressions politiques au Tchad (AVCRP) et ancien detenu de la DDS, qui serait victime de harcelement administratif. Il lui serait reproche d'avoir voyage hors du pays sans autorisation prealable du Ministre de l'interieur et d'avoir fait des declarations contraires a son statut de policier au Tchad et a Dakar, ou il se serait rendu pour temoigner en tant que victime dans Г affaire de l'ancien chef d'Etat, Hissein Habre. D'apres les informations recues, son interrogatoire aurait ete mene par l'inspecteur Brahim Djidda, ex-directeur general de la Surete poursuivi aujourd'hui par les victimes pour torture. M. Togoto encourrait une suspension de salaire pendant plusieurs mois, voire une radiation pure et simple. Enfin, cet appel urgent mentionnait egalement le cas de M. Daniel Bekoutou, journaliste tchadien, qui, des le commencement du proces d'Hissein Habre a Dakar, aurait recu des menaces de mort en raison de ses articles en faveur du jugement de l'ancien chef d'Etat. En consequence, il aurait du fuir le Senegal et s'exiler en Europe.
Observations
49. Aucune reponse du Gouvernement n'a ete recue jusqu'a ce jour.
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CHINA Communications sent
50. On 31 August 2001 the Special Representative transmitted an allegation jointly with the Special Rapporteur on torture on the following cases.
51. Wang Wanxing, a human rights activist, was reportedly forcibly removed from his home by public security officers and taken to Ankang Psychiatric Hospital in Beijing
on 23 November 1999. This followed Mr. Wanxing's request to the authorities to hold a press conference to discuss his confinement. He was allegedly first detained in Ankang Public Security Hospital on 3 June 1992 after trying to unfurl a banner in Tiananmen Square commemorating the events of 4 June 1989. On 19 August 1999, Wang Wanxing was reportedly released for a three-month trial period.
52. Li Lanying, Chen Shihuan, Liu Jinling and Chi Yunling, four Falun Gong practitioners from Zhaoyuan county in Shandong province, were reportedly detained in November 1999 for disclosing details of the death due to torture of Zhao Jinhua in October 1999. In December 1999, Li Lanying and Chen Shihuan were reportedly assigned to three years' "re-education through labour", to be served in a labour camp in Zibo county, Shandong province.
53. On 26 September 2001 the Special Representative transmitted an allegation jointly with the Special Rapporteur on torture regarding the following cases.
54. Mr. Lobsang Tenzin and Mr. Tenpa Wangdrak were reportedly caught, on 31 March 1991, while in Drapchi Prison, attempting to hand over a letter to the then United States Ambassador, James Lilley, who was visiting Drapchi Prison. According to the information received, the letter contained in detail treatment meted out to political prisoners and a list of prisoners who had reportedly been tortured. Mr. Lobsang Tenzin and Mr. Tenpa Wangdrak were reportedly beaten by officers of the Public Security Bureau (PSB), and moved to dark isolation cells.