ACTION Amnesty International USA's URGENT ACTION APPEAL VA Office • POBox 1270 Nederland CO 80466 • 16 May 1997 Further information on UA 300/96 issued 23 December 1996 and re-issued 30 December, 31 December, 7 January 1997) Fear of Torture/Legal Concern and new concern: Fear of unfair trial On 14 May 1997, a military magistrate demanded between three and 15 years' imprisonment with hard labor for journalist Pierre Attallah. No date has been set for the trial but it is thought to be imminent. Pierre Attallah was arrested on 23 December 1996 and was released on bail on 6 January 1997. Amnesty Internationa! is concerned that Pierre Attallah is reportedly being charged with contacting Israeli agents in Lebanon, (a charge frequently used by the Lebanese authorities against people suspected of political opposition). This relates to a published interview he conducted with Etienne Saqr, former head of the Guardians of the Cedar, in 1993, in his professional capacity as a journalist (see previous update). The indictment reportedly states that Pierre Attallah "published Saqr's ideas (such as] his opposition to the Lebanese government, to the Syrian presence in Lebanon and to Hizbullah". If Pierre Attallah is convicted on this charge Amnesty International would consider him a prisoner of conscience. The organization is also concerned that Pierre Attallah will be tried before a military court which, by virtue of its procedures and lack of adequate judicial supervision as recently confirmed by the UN Human Rights Committee, does not guarantee that defendants receive fair trials. Magistrate Riyad Talee' also reportedly charged Pierre Attallah with "distributing leaflets that incite strife, disturb Lebanon's relations with a friendly country [reference to Syria] and slander the army." Pierre Attallah denied this charge. FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/cxpress/ airmail leners: -calling for the charges against Pierre Attallah that relate to his professional work as a journalist be dropped; -expressing concern that Pierre Attallah is being tried before a military court without adequate safeguards for fair trial; - requesting assurances that Pierre Attallah will receive a fair and prompt trial if he is charged with a recognizable criminal offence. APPEALS TO: President Elias Hirawi Office of the President Ba'abda Palace Ba'abda, Beirut Republic of Lebanon Council of Lebanese American Organizations 2077 National Press Bldg. Washington, DC 20045 This Urgent Action appeal originated from Amnesty International's research headquarters at the International Secretariat in Lendon, United Kingdom. Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of men and women detained anywhere because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions (political killings), "disappearances and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation. COUNCIL OF LEBANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS 2077 National Press Building Washington, DC 20045 Tel: (202) 686-4844 July 16, 1997 The Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, Chairman The House of Representatives 2170 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-6128 Dear Chairman Gilman: During my testimony at the Lebanon Hearing on June 25, 1997, I submitted to be included in the record three pictures of An-Nahar reporter Pierre Atallah showing how he was severely beaten by unknown individuals working for the Syrian-controlled authorities in Beirut. My remarks at the Hearing relied on initial sketchy reports which later, following news conferences held on 3 July simultaneously in Beirut and Paris, received extra bolstering details. The news conference in Beirut was held by An-Nahar editor and Mr. Atallah's boss, Mr. Gibran Tueini, and Atallah's attorney, Mr. Butros Harb. Representatives of Western embassies, including that of the United States, were present at the news conference. In Paris Mr. Atallah, currently in exile in France, personally testified in the news conference which was held at the headquarters of the French organization "Reporters Without Frontiers." Although what I said at the Hearing constituted groundbreaking news at the time, I wish here, in light of subsequent revelations, to supply additional information to what I said. The physical attack against Mr. Atallah's person occurred in the vicinity of his residence not far from the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Syrian-occupied Beirut. As Mr. Atallah was driving back home from a meeting with his lawyer, Mr. Harb, a car suddenly pulled up and blocked his way. Three men believed to be working for the Syrian-affiliated intelligence apparatus of the Beirut authorities descended from the car and began to hit Mr. clubs and butts of handguns. They did not stop until he lay flat on the ground bleeding profusely. Mr. Atallah's examining physician in Paris prescribed a sixweek period of rest and recuperation for the injured victim of this barbaric atrocity against a fellow human being whose only crime was the exercise of his right to free speech. I kindly request, Mr. Chairman, that this letter be appended to my testimony at the Hearing and included in the record for posterity. Yours sincerely, Daniel Nass of Daniel Nassif Washington Representative STATEMENT OF AMIN GEMAYEL FORMER PRESIDENT OF LEBANON BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL June 25, 1997 Good Morning Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to appear before your Committee today to convey to you my perspectives on the current situation in Lebanon, which I was proud to serve as president from 1982 to 1988. I come here today, Mr. Chairman, to deliver a message to the Congress and the American people on behalf of the people of Lebanon. This message is that, if we are left alone to govern ourselves, we have the ability and the will to build a harmonious, united society based on shared values and 6,000 years of history. We have the determination to create a modern country--at peace with itself and its neighbors--whose foundations are democracy, liberty and a belief in market economics. Lebanon is a country under occupation. In the South, the Israelis continue their zone of occupation. Most of the rest of the country is occupied by the Syrians and the central Government is controlled by them. As a result, our sovereignty is violated and our security is threatened by outsiders sponsoring, funding, arming, condoning and encouraging a proliferation of Lebanese-proxy and foreign-terrorist groups who further destabilize our country and the region. Continued Israeli occupation is not only offensive to national sovereignty and our people's security, it also serves as an excuse for others, especially Syria, who undermine Lebanese sovereignty. I personally believe peace between Lebanon and all its neighbors is in the interests of the Arabs and Israelis as well as the Lebanese. Our role should be viewed as a buffer to ease tensions not a fuse to ignite them. As president I took substantial risks for peace. Among my most important initiatives were The May 17, 1983 agreement between Israel and Lebanon; and, |