Today’s update of human rights events around the world.
COLOMBIA: Indigenous start search for murdered Awá
800 members of several of Colombia’s indigenous peoples started a search Monday to find the bodies of the eight indigenous Awá people who were killed by the FARC. Colombia Reports
U.S.: Coming Soon: Declassified Bush-Era Torture Memos
Over objections from the U.S. intelligence community, the White House is moving to declassify-and publicly release-three internal memos that will lay out, for the first time, details of the “enhanced” interrogation techniques approved by the Bush administration for use against “high value” Qaeda detainees. The memos, written by Justice Department lawyers in May 2005, provide the legal rationale for waterboarding, head slapping and other rough tactics used by the CIA. One senior Obama official, who like others interviewed for this story requested anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity, said the memos were “ugly” and could embarrass the CIA. Other officials predicted they would fuel demands for a “truth commission” on torture. Newsweek
GAZA: IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers, note says
“Rules of Engagement: Open fire also upon rescue,” was handwritten in Hebrew on a sheet of paper found in one of the Palestinian homes the Israel Defense Forces took over during Operation Cast Lead. A reservist officer who did not take part in the Gaza offensive believes that the note is part of orders a low-level commander wrote before giving his soldiers their daily briefing. Haaretz
U.S.: Court Orders FDA to Reconsider Decision on Morning-After Pill Restrictions
Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a ruling that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must reconsider its decision in the case of Tummino, et al. v. von Eschenbach in which plaintiffs challenged FDA policies regarding the Morning-After Pill, often referred to by its brand name, Plan B. Plaintiffs claimed that restrictions were based on anti-birth control politics and political pressure not science.The FDA must not only reconsider Plan B’s over-the-counter (OTC) status without any age or other restrictions, but must also make it available to women 17 and older without a prescription. Common Dreams
GAZA: ‘IDF used Gaza boy as human shield’
IDF soldiers used an 11-year-old Palestinian boy as a human shield during the Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza, a group of UN human rights experts said Monday. Jerusalem Post
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