Brief 1:
Op 18 november kregen de leiders van de boerendorpen El Porvenir en Matarratón in Colombia WhatsApp-berichten van hetzelfde nummer. Er zat een video bij waarin iemand werd vermoord en in stukken gesneden. De dorpsbewoners zijn het slachtoffer van landroof en gedwongen verhuizing. Ze worden door gewapende groepen bedreigd omdat ze hun landrechten opeisen. Amnesty roept het Openbaar Ministerie op een grondig onderzoek uit te voeren en de daders te berechten..
Brief 2 :
In Bangladesh zitten 59 Bawm-mensen, waaronder drie kinderen, nog steeds vast zonder proces. Volgens de autoriteiten zijn het ‘terroristen’. Ze zouden een gewapende oppositiegroep steunen die in 2024 banken heeft beroofd. Van de 142 mensen die toen zijn opgepakt, zijn er drie in de gevangenis overleden door slechte medische zorg, 80 mensen zijn vrij op borgtocht. Amnesty roept de autoriteiten in Bangladesh op deze mensen aan te klagen of vrij te laten.
Brief 3:
De Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan kreeg op 19 september 2025 opnieuw vier jaar gevangenisstraf voor “ruzie zoeken en problemen veroorzaken”. Toen ze in beroep ging, mocht ze haar familie en advocaat niet zien. Een tijdje wist niemand waar ze was. In november hoorde haar familie dat ze in de Shanghai vrouwengevangenis zit. Ze mogen haar nog steeds niet bezoeken en maken zich zorgen om haar gezondheid. Amnesty roept de Chinese autoriteiten op Zhang Zhan onmiddellijk vrij te laten en bezoek toe te staan.
Brief 1:
To: Attorney General, Luz Adriana Camargo Garzón
Avenida Calle 24 No. 52 – 01
Bogotá DC
Colombia
Arnhem, January 2026
Dear Mrs. Attorney General,
I am deeply concerned about the serious risks faced by the peasant communities of El Porvenir and Matarratón in Puerto Gaitán, Meta, and especially the presidents of their communal action boards. On 18 November, both leaders received WhatsApp messages from the same number requesting meetings and information about community members, accompanied by a video showing the murder and dismemberment of a person. The sender’s profile photo depicted a member of a Colombian non-State armed group.
These communities are beneficiaries of Constitutional Court ruling SU-456 of 2016, which recognized their land rights after years of dispossession. Nearly a decade later, this ruling remains unimplemented, and the communities continue to face threats and attacks.
I urge you to conduct a robust and effective investigation to identify those responsible for these and previous threats and attacks, and ensure they are brought to justice in fair trials. This is essential to protect land and territorial rights defenders in the Meta River region.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 2:
To: Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Old Sangsad Bhaban Tejgaon
Dhaka-1215
Bangladesh
Arnhem, January 2026
Dear Excellency,
Since April 2024, 142 Indigenous Bawm people, including three children, were arrested in the Chittagong Hill Tracts as part of an ongoing military operation. Eighteen months later, 59 remain jailed without trial. Three have died in custody amid poor healthcare.
Authorities accuse them of links to an armed group without evidence of individual responsibility, raising concerns of racial discrimination. Most of the 11,000 Bawm people live in fear of arrest, lack of education and employment.
I urge you to charge the detainees with a recognizable offence or release them, ensure legal aid, healthcare, and family visits, and end the crackdown on the Bawm community. In addition, I call on you to fully implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 3
To: Warden Chen Jianhua
Shanghai Women’s Prison
No. 1601 Zhangjing Road, Sijing Town
Songjiang District
Shanghai 201601
People’s Republic of China
Arnhem, January 2026
Dear Warden Chen,
I am deeply concerned about journalist and human rights defender Zhang Zhan (张展). On 19 December 2025, she was sentenced to four more years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, the same baseless charge for which she was previously imprisoned.
Since her appeal in September, her family and lawyer have been denied visits. For days, her whereabouts were unknown until 18 November, when it was confirmed she is held at Shanghai Women’s Prison. They still cannot visit her. Zhang’s health is a serious concern and her current condition is unknown.
I urge you to release Zhang Zhan immediately and quash her convictions. Pending release, allow regular, unrestricted visits by family and lawyers, ensure adequate medical care, and protect her from torture or ill-treatment.
Yours sincerely,
