Sep 9, 1987
The ICJ has sent today the a message to the Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau.
It says: “The International Commission of Jurists, which works to promote the Rule of Law and legal protection of human rights in all parts of the world, has been following with concern recent events in Fiji.
“It strongly supports your Excellency’s efforts to return Fiji to parliamentary democracy by lawful means.
“It is glad to note that the independence of the judiciary is being maintained, and supports the stand taken by the Fiji’s judges concerning the military coup and the abuse of Public Emergency Regulations by police and security forces.
“It welcomes and supports the action taken by the Fiji Law Society to uphold the Rule. It shares its concern about the abuses of emergency regulations and violations of individual freedoms, and has been relieved to learn that there has recently been a marked reduction in such violations.”
May 1, 1974
This study of violations of human rights and the rule of law in Uganda has been compiled by the ICJ in response to a number of requests coming from both Ugandans and non-Ugandans, in 1971-1974.
The study deals with the events since the military coup on January 25, 1971, when General Idi Amin Dada came to power. It is divided into three parts. Part I deals with the expulsion of the Asians from Uganda; Part II deals with the political and legal structure within which the violations of human rights have occurred; Part III presents a chronological account of the reign of terror that has taken place in Uganda since January 1971.
The supplement is an open letter to General Idi Amin from Wanume Kibedi and an addendum to the open letter.
Uganda-violations of human rights-thematic report-1974-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Nov 20, 1961
The following cable was sent today by the ICJ to the Prime Minister of Italy.
“The International Commission of Jurists expresses its profoundest regret at the brutal and unprovoked massacre of Italian airmen at the hands of mutinous Congolese troops as a result of cruel and wanton lawlessness.
Sep 18, 1961
The ICJ learnt with profound concern the sentences of death passed by the Turkish High Court of Yassiada on September 15th, 1961, upon certain accused who had appeared before the Court. Three Ministers were eventually executed.
The Commission had appointed Observers to the trials, namely Mr. Vivian Bose, a former judge of the High Court of India and now President of the Commission; Me Raymond Nicolet, an eminent Swiss lawyer of Geneva; and M. René Degouy, Président de Chambre à la Cour d’Appel de Paris.
The Commission had some expectation that the accused after sentence would receive leniency.
Immediately upon learning of the sentences the Secretary-General of the Commission, Sir Leslie Munro, forwarded on September 16th, 1961, the following telegram to the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Turkey:
“ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS AND WITH ALL POSSIBLE STRENGTH I URGE UPON YOUR GOVERNMENT THAT CLEMENCY BE EXTENDED TO THOSE SENTENCED TO DEATH AT YASSIADA PARTICULARLY BECAUSE CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS AT THE TRIALS WERE IN CONFLICT ON THE VALIDITY OF THE CHARGES STOP WITH THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST RESPECT – SIR LESLIE MUNRO SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS GENEVA”
Finally the Commission profoundly regrets that sentences of death were nevertheless executed against three former Ministers of the Turkish Government, namely, Mr. Adnan Menderes, former Prime Minister of Turkey; Mr. Fatin Rustu Zorlu, former Foreign Minister and Mr. Hasan Polatkan, former Finance Minister.
The extreme penalty has been exacted for what appear to have been political offences.
Mar 8, 1961
The trial of Professor Enrique Tierno Galvan, a prominent Catholic leader of the Spanish academic community, and 9 other co-accused commences on March 9 before the Special Court of Illegal Propaganda in Madrid.
