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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

NEWS SERVICE 166/94

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TO: PRESS OFFICERSAI INDEX: NWS 11/166/94

FROM: IS PRESS OFFICEDISTR: SC/PO

DATE: 28 JULY 1994 NO OF WORDS:884

NEWS SERVICE ITEMS: EXTERNAL - MALAWI (This item will be distributed to media in Malawi. Other sections can use it FOR RESPONSE ONLY), HAITI (This item is being sent to international media by the IS)

PLEASE NOTE EDAI: The enclosed item on Haiti is for urgent translation, please would you send us a copy of the Spanish translation before you distribute it to your sections. Thanks

PLEASE NOTE: CORRECTION See News Service 163/94 USA item, The first line of the first paragraph has been altered it should now read "The claim by Arkansas State Correction Department that multiple executions are more cost effective and less stressful than individual executions was condemned by Amnesty International today as ..."

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASES

** Colombia - 5 August ** - SEE ITEM SENT OUT IN NEWS SERVICE 157/94. Please note that there may be some changes to this item, I will let you know what these are as soon as possible.

Kosovo - 20 September - SEE NEWS SERVICE 137/94

Algeria - first week of October - SEE NEWS SERVICE 137/94

France - ** 12 October** - SEE NEWS SERVICE 137/94

TARGETED AND LIMITED NEWS RELEASES

** Bhutan/Nepal - 25 August ** - Document and news service item on the forcible exile of Nepalese speaking Bhutanese people.

Brazil - 14 September - SEE NEWS SERVICE 137/94

Indonesia - 28 September - LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN

News Service 166/94

AI INDEX: AFR 36/WU 05/94

1 AUGUST 1994

MALAWI: HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM

Tomorrow, human rights activists are launching a human rights training program for Malawi with a symposium on "Malawi: Human Rights - The Way Forward".

The symposium, which is being organised by the Malawian Public Affairs Committee with the support and funding of Amnesty International, is in the Kalikuti Hotel, Lilongwe, on 2 and 3 August.

Former prisoner of conscience Vera Chirwa will be among the participants, who will also include Malawian religious leaders, human rights groups and lawyers.

The symposium will be the first step towards convening a national training workshop for human rights educators. It will build on the increased interest in such issues in Malawi since a referendum ended the one-party system in 1993.

Speakers from South Africa and Kenya will contribute their experience of working on human rights in Africa, and workshops will address the specific challenges facing Malawian human rights workers. A special session with representatives of the police, army and prison services will be the focus of the opening morning.

A press briefing is scheduled to be held at the Kalikuti Hotel, Lilongwe, on 2 August at 12.30 pm, with Bishop Ziyaye, a Roman Catholic Bishop and the newly elected Chairman of the Malawian Public Affairs Committee, and Joseph Gitari of Amnesty International.

ENDS\

News Service 166/94

AI INDEX: AMR 36/WU 05/94

28 JULY 1994

HUMAN RIGHTS MUST BE RESPECTED IN ANY POSSIBLE INTERVENTION IN HAITI

Amnesty International today called on the United Nations Security Council to make sure that any UN-authorized force in Haiti must respect human rights.

The human rights organization made this call during the Security Council's discussions about a United States-sponsored resolution asking for UN approval that would allow for a possible military intervention in Haiti.

"If the UN Security Council gives the go-ahead for a multinational military intervention, they should share the responsibility for any human rights violations committed by troops that occur as a result of such an operation," Amnesty International said.

"Any countries sending military troops as part of an intervention, if one is authorized, will also bear responsibility for arbitrary killings, unnecessary loss of lives or other human rights abused during operations," Amnesty International said.

"Episodes similar to those documented in Somalia should not happen again," the human rights organization said.

Amnesty International does not favour or oppose military intervention but the organization calls on the world body to make sure that all personnel of any military forces acting with UN authorization adhere to the highest international humanitarian and human rights standards at all times. The human rights organization will continue to monitor the conduct of all sides in the event of such an intervention into Haiti.

"The minimum human rights standards that should be respected in the event of such military action should be spelled out in a paragraph included in any eventual resolution that is passed by the Security Council," Amnesty International said.

In the event of authorizing an armed intervention, the UN should ensure the highest degree of transparency and access for human rights observers. Although reporting on human rights violations in a situation of armed conflict can be difficult, such monitoring must be established so that information about human rights violations is quickly investigated and the findings published.

Whether the UN sanctions an intervention into Haiti or not, those responsible for abusing human rights in Haiti should be brought to justice, whether they are Haitian military leaders or United States troops or other members of an intervening force.

The international community also bears a responsibility to try the perpetrators of human rights violations in Haiti fairly under international law, wherever they flee. Amnesty International calls on every country to commit themselves publicly to see that justice is done.

"We are deeply concerned about human rights violations by the Haitian military occurring now, and abuses that may be committed by troops in the event of armed intervention, as well as possible reprisals by the civilian population," Amnesty International said. "In all circumstances human rights and humanitarian law must be respected by everyone."

ENDS\