April, 20 2010, 12:58pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7413 5566,After hours: +44 7778 472 126,Email:,press@amnesty.org
Sri Lanka's New Parliament Must Drop Emergency Laws
Sri Lanka's first post-war parliament
must get rid of draconian emergency laws that have allowed for decades
of widespread human rights abuses, Amnesty International said today.
Ahead of the first sitting of Sri Lanka's first post-war parliament
on 22 April, Amnesty International is calling on Sri Lanka to lift the
State of Emergency that has been in force almost continuously since
1971, and to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other
associated emergency security laws and regulations, replacing them with
human rights-friendly laws.
LONDON
Sri Lanka's first post-war parliament
must get rid of draconian emergency laws that have allowed for decades
of widespread human rights abuses, Amnesty International said today.
Ahead of the first sitting of Sri Lanka's first post-war parliament
on 22 April, Amnesty International is calling on Sri Lanka to lift the
State of Emergency that has been in force almost continuously since
1971, and to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other
associated emergency security laws and regulations, replacing them with
human rights-friendly laws.
The emergency laws grant state authorities sweeping powers of
detention and permit the use of secret prisons, a practice that
encourages human rights abuses like enforced disappearances, torture
and death in custody, which could constitute crimes under international
law. In the last thirty years, thousands of Sri Lankans have spent
years in detention without trial.
Over the past year, the government has increasingly used these laws
to crack down on journalists, political opponents, and trade unionists.
"Sri Lanka must repeal these laws and end impunity for human rights
violations if it wants to move forward," said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty
International's Asia-Pacific Deputy Director. "The Prevention of
Terrorism Act, the Public Security Ordinance and other emergency
provisions in Sri Lanka enable security forces to systematically
violate human rights."
Since the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended
almost a year ago, Sri Lankan legislators have continued to extend the
State of Emergency on a monthly basis. Successive governments have
ignored calls for repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
"The war is over. Perpetuation of the emergency is now just being
used as a weapon against political opposition, and as a quick fix for
poor law enforcement practices and a dysfunctional justice system,"
said Madhu Malhotra.
Amnesty International is calling on the new parliament to press for
the release of people detained under Sri Lanka's emergency laws unless
they are charged with an internationally recognized criminal offence,
and are tried in regular civilian courts to international standards for
fair trial.
Background
The emergency laws reverse the burden of proof when it is alleged
that police obtained confessions under torture. The Public Security
Ordinance, Prevention of Terrorism Act and emergency regulations also
shield officials from prosecution for actions taken under these laws,
provided they acted "in good faith".
In July 2006 President Rajapaksa issued directives to the security
forces aimed at protecting the human rights of persons who had been
arrested or detained. Although the emergency regulations do not require
the government to publish places of detention, the President ordered
that a person under arrest be "afforded reasonable means of
communicating with a relative or friend to enable his whereabouts being
known to his family"; for the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission to be
informed of the arrest and the place of detention in each case within
48 hours, and for Commission members to visit those arrested.
These safeguards were never effectively implemented.
Beyond concerns about the nature of legislation and the government's
failure to rectify shortcomings, Amnesty International is concerned
that the security forces have used the general threat of their wide
ranging powers under the emergency laws to intimidate people. Because
they provide for vaguely and broadly defined offences such as
"terrorism," the emergency laws have also been used to restrict freedom
of expression and association, increase pressure on human rights
activists, journalists, trade unionists and others holding dissenting
views.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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Holiday Season Ultimatum From Amazon Workers: Bargain or We Strike!
"If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Dec 14, 2024
Workers at a Amazon warehouse and delivery center in New York announced approval of strike authorizations on Friday, giving the retail giant—who have refused to negotiate for months—until Sunday to come to the bargaining table or risk a major work stoppage at the height of the holiday shopping season.
The unions representing Amazon workers at two New York City facilities—the JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island and the DBK4 delivery center in Queens—cited the company's "illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract" to address low wages and dangerous working conditions as the reason for the strike authorization.
"We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
"Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a statement. "We've been clear: Amazon has until December 15 to come to the table and bargain for a contract. If these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight."
The workers are demanding:
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- Job security and protection from arbitrary firings.
- Dignity and respect for all employees.
In June, over 5,500 workers at JFK8—who first voted in favor of creating a union in 2022—joined the Teamsters and chartered the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)-IBT Local 1. Despite consolidating their organizing strength with the backing of the Teamsters, Amazon management has dragged their feet on bargaining a first contract, hardly surprising given the company's long-standing hostility to organized labor.
"Amazon's refusal to negotiate is a direct attack on our rights," said Connor Spence, president of ALU-IBT Local 1, on Friday. "If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Rank-and-file members said their demands are reasonable, especially as the company—owned by the world's second-richest man, Jeff Bezos—continues to rake in massive profits year after year as one of the world's largest companies.
"We aren't asking for much," said James Saccardo, a worker at JFK8. "We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
In Queens, where Amazon workers at DBK4—the corporation's largest delivery station in the city—voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike of their own.
"Driving for Amazon is tough," said Luc Rene, a driver who works out of DBK4. "What's even tougher is fighting a mega-corporation that constantly breaks the law and games the system. But we won't give up."
"Every horror story you read about Amazon is true, but worse," said Justine, a warehouse worker in New York in a video produced by More Perfect Union.
BREAKING: Amazon workers in NYC are going on strike right before Christmas — the company's busiest time.
The first unionized Amazon warehouse is going to shut down in a historic walkout.
Workers plan to hit the company where it hurts to win their first union contract. pic.twitter.com/CwnrRWg4be
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A strike at this time of year, the busiest for the retail giant, reports labor correspondent Jessica Burbank for Drop Site News, "would hit them where it hurts. The scale of the strike would be unprecedented, including the major hubs of New York and San Bernadino, California."
According to Burbank:
Amazon now has a workforce of over 700,000, making it the largest employer of warehouse workers in the nation. If a contract is won at these initial 20 bargaining units, it has the potential to impact working conditions for thousands of workers, and inspire union organizing efforts at Amazon facilities across the country.
For Amazon workers who voted to unionize their warehouses in March of 2022, this has been a long time coming. “Thousands of Amazon workers courageously cast their ballots to form a union at JFK8 in Staten Island,” Smalls said in a text. “We shocked the world, we had won against a corporate giant and hoped that step would propel us forward to help create a better workplace.” For years, Amazon stalled on recognizing the union, and has not yet met union representatives at the negotiating table.
Smalls said, “I’m excited to see workers take control, take the next step and move even further down the path to victory when they exercise their right to strike.” He continued, “We celebrated as we inspired thousands of others to hope for the same.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday issued his support for the union workers.
"Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers deserve decent wages, benefits and working conditions—and the right to form a union," said Sanders. "I strongly support the thousands of Amazon workers who will go on strike tomorrow if Amazon doesn't end its illegal union busting."
The workers at JFK8 said people could support the union's effort in various ways "at this critical time," including:
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- Show Up on the Picket Line: Join workers at JFK8 to demonstrate solidarity and hold Amazon accountable for their illegal refusal to negotiate a union contract.
- Spread the Word: Use social media and local networks to raise awareness about the workers’ struggle and the importance of their fight for justice at Amazon.
- Contact Elected Officials: Urge representatives to publicly support JFK8 workers and pressure Amazon to negotiate in good faith.
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For his part, former labor secretary and economist Robert Reich said he had no sympathy for the retail giant's refusal to bargain in good faith with the workers who make its business model possible.
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