A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

32
Date
Type
21/12/2012
JUA
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
VNM 5/2012
Viet Nam
Arbitrary detention;
Cultural Rights;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> peaceful assembly
and <strong>of</strong> association;
Human rights
defenders;
Alleged trial and imprisonment <strong>of</strong> two songwriters. According to
information received, Mr. Vo Minh Tri and Mr. Tran Vu Anh Binh have
been sentenced to four (4) and six (6) years <strong>of</strong> imprisonment respectively on
<strong>the</strong> charge <strong>of</strong> ―conducting propaganda against <strong>the</strong> Socialist Republic <strong>of</strong> Viet
Nam‖, for posting <strong>the</strong> songs <strong>the</strong>y authored on <strong>the</strong> internet. There were also
allegedly accused <strong>of</strong> having links with an advocacy group for, among
o<strong>the</strong>rs, human rights and democratic reforms issues. Both singers write
about social and human rights issues.
28/02/2012
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
27/12/2012
UA
LKA 7/2012
Sri Lanka
Independence <strong>of</strong>
judges and lawyers;
Allegations <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> fair trial and due process guarantees in <strong>the</strong>
impeachment process <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Supreme Court, as well as
attacks against and intimidation <strong>of</strong> lawyers. According to <strong>the</strong> information
received, <strong>the</strong> impeachment process against <strong>the</strong> Chief Justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Supreme
Court, Ms. Shirani Bandaranayake, which started when <strong>the</strong> motion was filed
on 1 November 2012, does not respect <strong>the</strong> fundamental principles <strong>of</strong> fair
trial and due process guarantees. In addition, it is reported that on 17
December 2012, a group <strong>of</strong> four unidentified men armed with automatic
weapons attacked Mr. Gunaratne Waninnayaka, <strong>the</strong> president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyers' Association. On 20 December 2012,
<strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bar Association <strong>of</strong> Sri Lanka, Mr.
Wijedasa Rajapakse, was reportedly attacked with gun fire by unknown
persons. It is alleged that <strong>the</strong>se attacks are directly related to <strong>the</strong> support
voiced by <strong>the</strong> two lawyers and <strong>the</strong> Bar Association in favour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
independence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> judiciary, and that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Justice in particular.
The impeachment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Justice and <strong>the</strong> reported attacks against
prominent lawyers are allegedly taking place in a broader context <strong>of</strong> attacks
on, threats to and interference in <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> justice system in
Sri Lanka. An urgent appeal expressing serious concern about reported
attacks on, threats to and interference in <strong>the</strong> independence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> justice
system in Sri Lanka, including specific attacks against judges, was already
sent on 2 November 2012 (see A/<strong>HRC</strong>/22/67, case no LKA 5/2012).
07/01/2013