Tunisia: arrest of Khemais Ksila Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:hr-actions-errors@lists.best.com Fri Oct 3 03:06:07 1997 The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ URGENT ACTION - OBSERVATORY TUN 001 / 9709 / OBS 014 Arbitrary Arrest /Harassment Tunisia 26 September 1997 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint FIDH and OMCT programme, requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Tunisia: Description of events: The Observatory for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights has just been informed of the arrest of Mr Khemais KSILA, Vice President of the Tunisian League for Human Rights - affiliate of FIDH. Khemais KSILA was arrested on the 29th of September 1997, at his home by the security services and taken to an unknown location. Khemais KSILA had announced the same morning his decision to begin a hunger strike to protest the harassment, discrimination and threats that he has been subjected to for the last 18 months - a result of his activity in defence of human rights. These acts of harassment have included, amongst others: - The looting and smashing up of his car during the night of 4th and 5th December 1995. - His dismissal from the National Train Society on the 6th of February in 1996. - The confiscation of his passport on 18th August 1996, when he was supposed to be part of a delegation from the Tunisian League for Human Rights to the United States. The confiscation was maintained despite an invitation from the European Parliament on the 11th of June, to participate at a meeting on the human rights situation in Tunisia. - A persistent and constant surveillance his movements and it is strong belief that his telephone has been monitored. The Observatory has serious grounds for its belief that all these acts have been motivated by the work Khemais KSILA does to defend human rights in Tunisia - work conforming to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international Conventions ratified by Tunisia. Given the current situation prevailing in Tunisia and the circumstances of his arrest and incommunicado detention, the Observatory must express its grave concerns for the physical and psychological integrity of Khemais KSILA. The Observatory has equally serious health concerns. Khemais KSILA is a diabetic and he has not had his medicine since his arrest. Additionally he had made it very clear to his wife of his determination to carry out his hunger strike whatever happened to him. Action Requested : Please write to the Tunisian authorities urging them to: i guarantee respect for the physical and psychological integrity of Khemais KSILA ii given that the arrest was simply designed to cut short his human rights activities immediately secure his release; iii More generally, conform to the dispositions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other International Conventions ratified by Tunisia which guarantee the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders Addresses : Monsieur Zine El Abidine BEN ALI, President de la Republique de Tunisie. Fax : + 216 1 742 513/ 216 1 744 721 / 216 1 731 009 M. Mohamed Ben Rejeb, Ministre de l'Interieur, Ministere de l'Interieur, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Tunis, Tunisie. Fax.:(+216 1) 340 888 M. Abdallah Kallel, Ministre de la Justice, Ministere de la Justice, Boulevard Bab Benet, Tunis, Tunisie. Fax.:(+216 1) 568 106 ou 567 070 M. Abderrahim Zouari, Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres, Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Place du Gouvernement, La Kasba, Tunis, Tunisie. Fax.: (+216 1) 567 050 The Embassy of Tunisia in your respective countries Geneva - Paris, 30 September 1997 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager Case Postale 119 37-39 Rue de Vermont CH1211 Geneva 20 CIC OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture OMCT@IPROLINK.CH http://www.omct.org/ OMCT - The World Organisation Against Torture is the Worlds largest network of human rights organisations fighting against all forms of torture, cruel inhuman or degrading treatment, forced disappearances summary execution or other more subtle forms of violent repression. OMCT has consultative status with the UN, The ILO and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytaf-10.08.97-22:44:03-6449