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Alyaksei Bondar

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:38:34 +0000

Blog written for Amnesty International by Belarusian youth activist Alyaksei Bondar, who was sentenced to two years of 'restricted freedom' on 22 April 2008.

I’ve been in Moscow for more than a year, having come here to escape persecution. Since I am on a wanted list, I have to live and work here illegally. It is not very pleasant to live knowing that any day my life can change dramatically and I will find myself behind the bars for a “crime” such as the peaceful expression of my opinion.

Moscow is a very interesting city but at the same time it is complicated and difficult to live in; it has a heavy feel. Crowds of people everywhere, as well as constant traffic jams, create tension. In general, it is difficult to understand Russia.

The majority of my friends remain in Belarus; therefore I am spending a lot of time communicating through the internet but I don’t have enough real communication.

I would very much like to study something in the field of politics or economics. However, everything is very uncertain here and I have to evaluate my opportunities and risks. On the other hand, I don’t want to waste time.

However, not everything is so bad. I have met my other half here :-) We love to go for a walk in the old town of Moscow, to visit theatres and spend time outside the city.

On the whole, I look at life, as before, optimistically, with humour. Freedom is inside us; no authority can break a man as long as Freedom lives inside him. For every new day of Freedom, I thank God and the people who supported and support me in life.

READ MORE

Belarus activists tell of life in exile (News, 27 November 2009)

Read Mikhail Kryvau's blog

Read Tatyana Tishkevich's blog

Read Ales Charnyshou's blog

Belarusian activists speak out (Livewire Blog - Discussion)

Call on Belarusian President to free youth activists

Belarus activists tell of life in exile

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:55:25 +0000

Tatyana Tishkevich, Ales Charnyshou, Mikhail Kryvau and Alyaksei Bondar © Private

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Audio: Activist Ales Straltsou describes living under 'restricted freedom'

Belarusian youth activists sentenced to 'restricted freedom' for attending a peaceful protest have told Amnesty International how they were targeted by the authorities, with police seeking to control almost every aspect of their daily lives.

Seven activists were effectively placed under house arrest when they received sentences of up to two years for taking part in a peaceful rally supporting small businesses in Minsk in January 2008.

Five of the activists - Tatyana Tishkevich, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhail Kryvau, Ales Straltsou and Ales Charnyshou - have spoken to Amnesty International, describing how they were forbidden from socialising, visiting family and taking part in cultural or leisure activities.

The terms of 'restricted freedom' were so severe that three of the activists escaped Belarus, fleeing to Russia, Poland and Ireland respectively.

"I would have to stay in my apartment at all times, except the eight hours when I was at work," Mikhail Kryvau wrote in a blog for Amnesty International. "If the police called my home landline and I was one minute late, I'd get an official warning. If I got three such warnings, I'd be [sent to jail]."

The activists were arrested after protesting against a presidential decree on tax and employment regulations for small businesses. In his blog, Mikhail Kryvau tells how he was beaten before being sentenced to 15 days' detention.

"We were lying on the floor with our faces down as the police were fiercely hitting us with their iron-covered boots and gloves. We asked the officers to stop but they wouldn’t. It was a shattering experience," he describes.

Tatyana Tishkevich fled to Poland after being expelled from university for her political activities.

"[Leaving Belarus] was a difficult choice," she says. "For a long time I suffered from depression, knowing I wouldn’t be seeing my family and friends. One of the teachers [in Poland] asked me how things were in Belarus … to which I could say nothing. And I couldn’t hold back my tears."

Alyaksei Bondar fled to Moscow more than a year ago to escape persecution. He told Amnesty International: "Since I am on a wanted list, I have to live and work illegally.

"It is not very pleasant to live, knowing that any day my life can change dramatically and I will find myself behind bars for a 'crime' such as the peaceful expression of my opinion."

If the activists return to Belarus, they will face up to three years in prison for evading their sentence. Ales Charnyshou remained in the country and endured the restrictions set by police.

"I was forced to be at home every day after 8pm and on all weekends and public holidays; the officers had the right to check my presence at home or work at any time," he says. "For the slightest infringement, such as meeting with friends over a beer, a formal warning was issued."

Ales Straltsou, who also stayed in Belarus until he was amnestied in November 2009, told Amnesty International: "It's like prison, it's the same feeling. You cannot go out at all. Instead of sitting in a cell, you sit in your flat."

Thousands of people took to the streets in Minsk on 10 January 2008 to protest against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's constraints on entrepreneurial activities.

Initially, 14 people were convicted for "taking part in or organizing actions that gravely disturb public order". Seven were subsequently pardoned under amnesties but the sentences for the remaining seven remain in force.

Although a 'restricted freedom' sentence is imposed by a judge, specific terms can be set by the police officer in charge of the case. This often results in details being changed arbitrarily, making it difficult for the convicted person to comply.

In June 2009, one of the seven activists, Maxim Dashuk - who was 16 years old when he was convicted - had his sentence increased by 15 months after a police officer was unable to find him at home on several occasions.

The following month, fellow activist Artsyom Dubski was sentenced to one year in prison after the police officer in charge of his case told the prosecutor he had violated the conditions of his sentence.

"'Restricted freedom' is a form of imprisonment and the convictions against these seven activists violate their rights to freedom of assembly and expression," says Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Director Nicola Duckworth.

"The Belarusian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Artsyom Dubski, lift all the restrictions placed on the other six activists, and the three who have fled must be allowed to return without risk of any further charges being brought against them."

READ MORE

Read Mikhail Kryvau's blog

Read Tatyana Tishkevich's blog

Read Ales Charnyshou's blog

Read Alyaksei Bondar's blog

Belarusian activists speak out (Livewire Blog - Discussion)

Call on Belarusian President to free youth activists

Witness protection needed to ensure justice for Philippines massacre victims

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:35:24 +0000

The Philippine government must urgently ensure that witnesses are protected following the massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province and safeguard vital forensic evidence to ensure those responsible are brought to justice, said Amnesty International.

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, a member of the powerful Ampatuan family that has dominated local politics in Maguindanao province in the country's restive Mindanao region, is now under arrest and could face multiple murder charges. He has denied involvement.

"One of the major stumbling blocks to justice for human rights violations in the Philippines has been the intimidation of witnesses, at times accompanied by bribes or other inducements," said Donna Guest, deputy director of Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific programme.

"Given the Ampatuan family's history of using private militias to maintain their dominance in Maguindanao, there is every reason to fear for the safety of witnesses and the protection of evidence."

Amnesty International pointed out that the inability of Philippines investigators to gather and process forensic and circumstantial evidence in prosecutions has led to an overreliance on eyewitness testimony.

Media footage from the scene of the massacre shows little evidence of proper collection of forensic evidence.

"The Philippine government has responded with encouraging speed and seriousness to this incident so far but they must demonstrate that they will put in place proper mechanisms to ensure there is transparent, credible accountability," Guest said.

"This case, which has shocked the country and the world, cannot end in impunity as the vast majority of cases of political killings have in the past."

Amnesty International called on the government of the Philippines to invite assistance from the international community in conducting the technical aspects of this investigation.

The European Union and the Philippine government have recently signed an agreement to improve the quality of investigations and prosecutions of extrajudicial executions in the Philippines.

Most witnesses are reported to lack confidence in the current witness protection program, and fear that, given prolonged delays in criminal proceedings, it will not be able to offer protection to them or their families which may be needed to extend over a number of years.

In conjunction with lack of confidence in the impartiality of the police, fear of reprisals and a lack of an effective witness protection program, most investigations remain ineffective and fail to lead to the identification, arrest, trial and conviction of the perpetrators.

Ales Charnyshou

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:52:07 +0000

Blog written for Amnesty International by Belarusian youth activist Ales Charnyshou, who was sentenced to two years of 'restricted freedom' on 22 April 2008.

On April 23, 2008 I was sentenced to two years of 'restricted freedom' for participating in a rally in support of entrepreneurs.

The action was intended to draw public attention - and the attention of the national authorities - to the contents of a decree issued by the President of Belarus that significantly worsened the situation for small businesses.

I am not a businessman. But as a person with an active, open attitude, I found it necessary to participate in this action. All the more so because I link my future to business activities and the error of the decree was obvious to me.

During the rally, about 1,500-2,000 people marched with banners from the central square of Minsk to the House of Government.

Unfortunately, my participation in this event turned into 15 days of detention and criminal punishment under the so-called "trial of 14", resulting in a sentence of 'restricted freedom'.

Since the commencement of criminal proceedings against me, my life has changed dramatically.

After sentencing, I was obliged to have a permanent place of work (without the right to quit), to regularly register at the police station and to be at home every day after 8pm and all weekends and public holidays.

This was all under the control of the police, whose officers had the right to check my presence at home or work at any time.

According to the sentence, I had no right to travel, not only abroad, but also outside the city. I was not allowed to attend any concerts or football matches or other social events.

The slightest infringement, including meeting with friends over a pint of beer (which, incidentally, I love very much ☺) carries a formal warning. After the third such warning, law enforcement agencies are entitled to change the punishment following another trial.

Fortunately I have not reached that stage. I must admit that the police officers, while carrying out their duties, treated me rather humanely. I would like to believe that they understood the uncertainty of my situation.

On June 15, 2009 the terms of my punishment was changed (reduced). It is now "corrective" work, which means the continuation of work at my normal job, while paying 15% of my earnings to the state. As before, my rights are restricted (for example, I have no right to travel abroad).

I have been following Amnesty International's activities and I am grateful to them for paying so much attention to our trial, and for issuing the statement in May 2009 in which we were named as “prisoners of conscience.”

I hope that an amnesty will be applied to me and others involved in the "trial of 14". At the moment, despite everything that has happened, I am optimistic about the future and that is what I am wishing you.

READ MORE

Belarus activists tell of life in exile (News, 27 November 2009)

Read Mikhail Kryvau's blog

Read Tatyana Tishkevich's blog

Read Alyaksei Bondar's blog

Belarusian activists speak out (Livewire Blog - Discussion)

Call on Belarusian President to free youth activists

Stock pile of tear gas grenades in Honduras triggers fears of human rights abuses

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:49:23 +0000

Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.

An Amnesty International delegation in Honduras to monitor the human rights situation around the presidential elections on 29 November received information of the recent official purchase of 10,000 tear gas grenades; 5,000 projectiles for tear gas grenades and a water spray tank, as well as the deployment of several thousand reservists.

"Since taking power, the de facto authorities have allowed the security forces to use tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to punish demonstrators in Honduras, causing several deaths and serious injuries, and nobody has been held responsible," said Javier Zuniga, Head of Amnesty International's delegation in Honduras.

"The past misuse of tear gas and other crowd control equipment, together with the lack of guarantees that the purchased equipment will not be used to attack demonstrators and the absence of investigations on past abuses paints an extremely worrying picture of what might happen over the next few days," said Javier Zuniga.

It is not clear how this new equipment will be used or whether the security forces have received appropriate training or put the procedures in place to ensure that security operations in the context of possible demonstrations do not abuse human rights.

In July, Amnesty International visited a detention centre in Tegucigalpa and spoke to a number of demonstrators who were arbitrarily arrested and had been beaten and ill-treated.

Amnesty International also denounced the fact that human rights activists and journalists critical of the de facto authorities have been receiving increased threats and intimidation.

In a facsimile signed by the First Battalion of Communications, the Honduran Armed Forces requested a local mayor to provide a list of names and phone numbers of activist members of the Resistencia, a movement opposed to the de facto authorities.

"Today, there's an environment of fear and intimidation in Honduras," said Javier Zuniga. "We have seen an increased level of harassment against those who are seen as opposed to the de facto authorities and officials responsible for the protection of human rights are not doing anything to investigate the incidents or stop them."

The Amnesty International delegation will be in Honduras until 4 December. They are meeting with victims of human rights violations, representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, teachers and doctors. Meetings have also being requested with prosecutors, the Army and the Police.

Mikhail Kryvau

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:24:41 +0000

Blog written for Amnesty International by Belarusian youth activist Mikhail Kryvau, who was sentenced to two years of 'restricted freedom' on 22 April 2008.

In October 2007, I got involved in a group of youth activists called the United Civil Party of Belarus (UCPB). We decided to start the Young Democrats - the UCPB youth wing - and activities involved organizing political discussions and student education seminars, as well as writing and distributing materials. One of our major activities became participation in protest actions held by the democratic opposition.

On the 10th of January 2008, I took part in a major action of protest. The participants of the demonstration – small entrepreneurs and opposition activists – were protesting against one of President Lukashenka's rulings.

It grew into a mass demonstration and the protesters stopped the traffic in the city centre. However, it remained a peaceful and non-violent protest.

When it was almost over and I was going back home, I was brutally attacked by the officers from the special police force - the so-called "Police Squads of Special Function".

They hit me and bent my arms behind my back. Then the officers threw six or seven more people into the police van.

All of us were lying on the floor with our faces down. They were fiercely hitting us with their iron-covered boots and gloves. I noticed some blood on the girl's coat next to me. We asked the officers to stop but they wouldn't. It was a shattering experience. I felt like what was happening was unreal and I was just having a very bad dream.

When I was taken to the police department, I felt very bad. I asked for a doctor but the police ignored my requests. I spent the night in a prison cell.

The next morning we were taken to the Minsk Central District Court. In the evening, I was eventually brought before a judge. As a result of the 15-minute "trial", I was given 15 days of administrative detention.

Following that, on 4 March 2008, I was called to the police department again. This time, they handed me an Official Note declaring me accused of "organizing and active participating" in the January 10th demonstration.

On 16 April 2008, the trial proceedings began in Minsk. A number of opposition activists – 14 people in total - were accused of "organizing and active participating in an unauthorized action of protest".

On 22 April, the judge found us guilty. Most of us were sentenced to two years of restricted freedom, which is a form of home arrest.

Our lawyers had the verdicts appealed. However, the sentences were reaffirmed.

In July 2008, my sentence officially came into force. I would have to stay in the confines of my apartment at all times, except when I was at work (eight hours) and the time designated for my day-to-day activities, such as going to the grocery store, barber's etc. (two hours).

If the police phoned me on my home landline and I was one minute late, I would get my first official warning. If I got three such warnings, my sentence would automatically change from restraint of liberty to deprivation of liberty - i.e. jail.

Every two weeks I would have to go and register at the police department. The police would have the right to enter my apartment at any time of day. I would not be permitted to leave Minsk. I would not be permitted to attend public events such as any kinds of demonstrations, conventions or picketing. I would not be permitted to visit other people's apartments.

Because of the harsh restrictions imposed on my freedom and the threat of further confinement, I made a difficult decision to flee Belarus. I sought the status of a political refugee, which was granted to me by the Irish government in May 2009.

Since I left Belarus, the police have visited my apartment twice. Both times there was a group of 4-6 police officers. They searched my apartment and asked my relatives and neighbours where I was. When they showed up the second time, they searched my apartment again and told my parents that they had launched a criminal investigation with regard to my evasion from serving my sentence.

READ MORE

Belarus activists tell of life in exile (News, 27 November 2009)

Read Tatyana Tishkevich's blog

Read Ales Charnyshou's blog

Read Alyaksei Bondar's blog

Belarusian activists speak out (Livewire Blog - Discussion)

Call on Belarusian President to free youth activists

Tatyana Tishkevich

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:22:19 +0000

Blog written for Amnesty International by Belarusian youth activist Tatyana Tishkevich, who was sentenced to two years of 'restricted freedom' on 22 April 2008.

I was in my second year of studying equestrian sports in the University of Sport and I was also working with horses.

I was also taking part in - and organising - various activism work, such as demonstrations, performances, human rights seminars, distributing material, training of activists and collecting signatures.

I was detained many times, although not once was I beaten by the police.

Then, I was expelled from university. It was through the internet I learned that I, along with 13 other young activists, had been accused of committing a criminal offence.

It was for participating in a peaceful entrepreneurs' protest march which went along the road and stopped the traffic. Prime Minister Sidorsky had refused to meet with business representatives to discuss their demands; so people were just waiting outside the parliament building.

I and the 13 others received a summons forbidding us to leave the city. After that, we were all sentenced. The majority, including me, were sentenced to ‘restricted freedom’ for two years. That meant complete control and prohibition of practically everything for me.

At the time, I was working as a secretary at the Belarusian Society for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments.

I had to constantly register at the police stations. The police could arrive at my home at any time with a search warrant and they placed restrictions on all aspects of my life. I couldn’t carry on with my equestrian training. If I violated any terms of the punishment, I could be put in prison for a few years.

So I left. I went to Poland. I had to leave via Russia and Ukraine so that they wouldn’t detain me at the border.

It was a difficult choice. For a long time I suffered from depression, knowing I wouldn’t be seeing my family and friends anytime soon.

It was very difficult for me. One of the teachers from my academy in Wrocław asked me how things were in Belarus … to which I could say nothing. And I couldn’t hold back my tears.

Here, I really miss my family and friends.

In Belarus, they have brought another criminal case against me for not serving my punishment for exercising freedom of thought and expression.

Now I am studying in the Sports Academy, specialising in sports management. I am still training although not regularly, unfortunately.

Studying in another language takes up a lot of time. Plus, I don’t have the means to maintain a horse. Sometimes, I earn a bit of money as a riding teacher or riding master. Sometimes I go snowboarding.

In principle, life is full of variety. I am keeping myself busy. But somehow, sadly…

READ MORE

Belarus activists tell of life in exile (News, 27 November 2009)

Read Mikhail Kryvau's blog

Read Ales Charnyshou's blog

Read Alyaksei Bondar's blog

Belarusian activists speak out (Livewire Blog - Discussion)

Call on Belarusian President to free youth activists

Tunisian journalist jailed after unfair trial

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:51:24 +0000

Amnesty International has condemned the conviction of a dissenting Tunisian journalist who has been jailed for six months on trumped up charges after an unfair trial.

Taoufik Ben Brik, a prominent government critic, was sentenced on Thursday on charges of committing violence, damaging property, harming public morality and defamation.

“This is a very disappointing outcome", said Malcolm Smart, Middle East and North Director at Amnesty International. "Taoufik Ben Brik should not have been prosecuted, let alone convicted and sentenced to a prison term.

"He has been convicted on politically-motivated charges for exercising his right to freedom of expression. He is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Taoufik Ben Brik's lawyers have been prevented from visiting him since his hearing on 19 November at the Tunis Court of First Instance.

His family were refused permission to visit him on Wednesday - the allotted visitation day - without explanation.

On Thursday, the court delivered its verdict in writing. Taoufik Ben Brik was not brought to the courthouse. He has 10 days to appeal his conviction.

Taoufik Ben Brik denies all the charges against him. He says they have been manufactured by the Tunisian authorities because of his criticism of the government.

During his trial, the court failed to allow his defence lawyers an opportunity to fully present their case or cross-examine prosecution witnesses.

The court also appeared to accept as evidence a statement the authorities allege was freely given by Taoufik Ben Brik in pre-trial detention - but which he says is false and bears a forgery of his signature.

Taoufik Ben Brik appears to have been convicted on account of his criticism of the government and opposition to the recent re-election of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The court hearing took place amid oppressive security conditions. Journalists were barred and only three members of Taoufik Ben Brik’s family were permitted to attend.

Taoufik Ben Brik, who suffers from diabetes and a rare hormonal disorder called Cushing's Syndrome, for which he needs regular medication, appeared physically weak and was unable to stand throughout the proceedings.

Amnesty International has called on the Tunisian authorities to ensure that Taoufik Ben Brik has full access to his lawyers and family, and has reiterated its call for his release.

"Today's verdict raises serious questions about the independence and integrity of the judicial process in Tunisia," said Malcolm Smart. "The President now needs to step in and order Taoufik Ben Brik's immediate and unconditional release. He has the power. He should use it."

Syrian activist held incommunicado at risk of torture

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:41:48 +0000

Amnesty International has expressed its concern for a Syrian political activist, held incommunicado since 15 November and believed to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

Yousef Dheeb al-Hmoud was arrested at his home in the city of Deir az-Zawr, eastern Syria. His family were unable to identify the security force that the arresting officers belonged to.

The authorities have not revealed where Yousef Dheeb al-Hmoud is being held, why he was arrested or whether he will be charged. He had previously been summoned for questioning by Syrian security forces on several occasions, most recently by Political Security earlier this month.

Yousef Dheeb al-Hmoud is a member of the Islamic Democratic Current, an Islamist political group which demands democratic reform in Syria and is opposed to the use of violence. It is part of the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC), an unauthorized umbrella body comprising opposition groups in Syria.

There are widespread reports of torture and other ill-treatment in Syria's detention and interrogation centres. People suspected of affiliation to unauthorized Islamist groups are at particular risk of arbitrary detention, torture or other ill-treatment. Syrian security forces personnel generally benefit from impunity for such violations.

Scores of people were arrested in August 2008, mostly in Deir az-Zawr, but also in the cities of Aleppo and Hama. One of those arrested, Mohammed Amin al-Shawa, died in custody in January 2009; according to Syrian human rights organizations, he died as a result of being tortured.

At least nine others are still detained incommunicado at an unknown location. According to Syrian human rights organizations, many appear to have been arrested because the authorities interpreted their appearance and lifestyle as indications of their affiliation to unauthorized Islamist groups.

Freedom of expression and association is strictly controlled in Syria, aided by “state of emergency” laws which have been in force since 1964. Only the Ba’ath Party and some parties linked to it are officially recognized as political parties in Syria and human rights organizations are not authorized to operate.

Peaceful critics of the Syrian authorities, members of human rights organizations and others suspected of being political opponents risk arrest, harassment and persecution.

Twelve individuals are serving two-and-a-half-year prison sentences for their involvement in the DDDNC. The 12 were convicted by the Damascus Criminal Court on 29 October 2008 of “weakening national sentiment” and “broadcasting false or exaggerated news which could affect the morale of the country”. They were all arrested between 9 December 2007 and 5 February 2008 and initially held incommunicado at the State Security Branch in Damascus, where at least eight of them were beaten.

They were punched in the face, kicked and slapped and forced to sign false “confessions”. Amnesty International said it considers them to be prisoners of conscience and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. Two of the 12, Dr Yasser al-‘Eiti and Ahmad To’meh, belong to the Islamic Democratic Current.

Amnesty International has called on the Syrian authorities to ensure that Yousef Dheeb al-Hmoud will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

The organization has urged the authorities to immediately allow him visits from his family, a lawyer of his choosing, and any appropriate medical treatment he may require.

It has also called on the Syrian authorities to release Yousef Dheeb al-Hmoud unless he is to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence and tried promptly in proceedings which meet fair trial standards.

Lebanon must investigate all civil war mass grave sites

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:09:48 +0000

The Lebanese authorities must step up their efforts to reveal the fate of thousands of people abducted between 1975 and 1990, during the country's civil war, Amnesty International said.

The organization's call followed the confirmation by DNA test results on Monday that remains recovered last week are those of British journalist Alec Collett, who was 64 when he was seized from a car in Beirut in 1985.

The remains were exhumed by a team of British experts working in co-operation with the Lebanese authorities in the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon. A second body of a younger person was found at the site but not identified.

"The UK government respects its citizens, which is why they sent experts all the way to Lebanon to look for this man," Sawsan Hirbawi, sister of Ahmed Hirbawi who was kidnapped in 1976, told Amnesty International.

"We have been calling on the Lebanese state for so many years to dig up mass graves and reveal the fate of my brother and many others, but our state has done absolutely nothing."

The discovery of Alec Collett's remains shows the inadequacy of steps taken by the Lebanese authorities to reveal the fate and whereabouts of Lebanese, Palestinian and other nationals, abducted by armed militias or subjected to enforced disappearance by Lebanese, Syrian and Israeli forces.

The apparent inability of the Lebanese authorities to identify the second body highlights their failure to establish a database of DNA samples from family members of those who went missing. Associations of families of civil war victims have been campaigning for such a database for more than a decade.

"Europeans are lucky to have governments who care about them and send people to look for them wherever they are," said Samira Zakharia, whose 29-year-old son, Iskandar Zakharia, was kidnapped the same year as Alec Collett.

"But our government does not care. I take 11 pills every day just to keep going in the hope that one day I will know what happened to my son."

Almost 20 years after the end of the civil war, the Lebanese state has generally failed to conduct exhumations at mass graves from the period, even where their presence has been officially acknowledged.

Three of the mass graves are in Beirut and mentioned in a three-page summary of the findings of the Official Commission of Investigation into the Fate of the Abducted and Disappeared Persons in 2000: the St Demetrious Cemetery in Achrafieh, the Martyrs' Cemetery in Horsh Beirut and the English Cemetery in Tahwita.

A preliminary ruling by Lebanese judicial authorities last month, said that the government should provide the full findings of the 2000 investigations. This could lead to exhumations at these sites in the future. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by two Lebanese non-governmental organizations.

As far as Amnesty International is aware, the only mass grave where the Lebanese authorities have completed exhumations and DNA tests was next to the Ministry of Defence in al-Yarze. The remains of 24 military personnel were discovered in November 2005, seven months after the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. President Michel Suleiman, then the army commander, formed a committee to conduct the DNA tests.

The body of Johnny Nassif, a Lebanese soldier who went missing on 13 October 1990, was the latest to be identified by these tests on 11 November. He was among 10 soldiers said to have been killed during or after clashes with Syrian forces. The remaining 14 bodies belonged to Lebanese soldiers killed in the early to mid 1980s.

The whereabouts of another 20 soldiers and two priests, Albert Sherfan and Suleiman Abu Khalil, who went missing on the same day as Johnny Nassif, remain unknown; their families believe they are being held in Syria.

Amnesty International said that the Lebanese authorities must proceed without delay to investigate all mass grave sites in the country, so that the ordeal of all families waiting for news about relatives missing since the civil war can finally learn the truth about their fate.

Before his death, Alec Collett had been commissioned by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to write about Palestinian refugee camps.

His remains are reported to have been found in the town of Aita al-Foukhar at a site formerly used as a base by Fatah - the Revolutionary Council, a Palestinian militia commonly known as the Abu Nidal Organization. They had claimed responsibility for his kidnapping in 1985 and killing in 1986.

The discovery of the two bodies at the base also raises the possibility that other missing persons could be buried there.

Amnesty International called on the Lebanese authorities to immediately protect the site and take action to check for other human remains.

The organization said that if further bodies are found, the authorities should take steps to identify them and hand them over to their families.