06/05/2008
Amnesty Demands Release of Gay Activists Arrested in Uganda
Three gay activists were arrested at a global HIV/AIDS meeting at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Uganda on Tuesday. They were part of a larger group but happened to make their way past security and into the meeting:
"A woman and two men beat the security detail and sneaked with placards and a 67-page document soliciting for funding of their activities in Uganda. The activists, now detained at Jinja Road Police Station, were identified as Pepe Juliana Onzema, a freelance journalist, Usaam Mukwaaya and Valantini Katende. Police spokesperson Simeo Nsubuga described them as intruders. 'We are looking at a case of criminal trespass against them. They are not delegates and were not invited. They did not have accreditation cards.' The suspects, he said, had placards calling on the participants to consider gays in the planning and prevention of HIV/AIDS. 'Gay Ugandans also need HIV prevention', read one placard. Another said: 'Since 1983 up to 2008 zero shillings to HIV prevention for gay Ugandans'."
Amnesty International has condemned the arrests and demanded that the activists be released:
"Amnesty said it was concerned for the safety of those arrested because of a 'history of harassment and degrading treatment' of gays by the police. The three got past security outside the conference and started distributing leaflets to delegates. A police spokesman said they could face charges of criminal trespass. But Amnesty UK director Kate Allen called for their immediate release. 'We consider these three to be prisoners of conscience, detained for their peaceful activism,' she said."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:15 AM EST by Andy in Africa, AIDS/HIV, News, Uganda | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Andy, do you know where we can email or call to protest? Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Posted by: Andrew | Jun 5, 2008 10:22:10 AM
OT, but
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bill Vandewater, Mark Wahlberg, Chad Allen, Pete Wentz.
...and Many M-o-o-o-r-r-r-e!!
Posted by: MikeinSanJose | Jun 5, 2008 10:36:16 AM
Another job for that great mercenary RAMBO team of JOHNNY LANE, CHURCHILL-Y, MATT & OSCAR. Go in there, boys! Teach those bigoted Africans a lesson they won't forget...one worse than colonialism.
'Course we have to hope the Africans don't ask if you guys have any bigotries too.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 5, 2008 11:44:50 AM
Another story out of Africa: it's been reported that American & British diplomats have been beaten in Zimbabwe by police loyal to Nutty & Senile Mugabe. If George the Idiot decided to send American Troops in the protect Americans...well, it would be the first (and only) thing he's done in 8 years that I would support and cheer him on.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jun 5, 2008 1:37:31 PM
Like I mentioned somewhere else earlier, these imbeciles are in talks over a possible UNITED STATES OF EAST AFRICA. I doubt that they even realize that basic human rights requirements need to be met in order for such a union to even see daylight!
My people sometimes just make me feel hopeless!!
Is that true, D? Jeez, that Mugabe case doesn't cease to amaze!!!
Posted by: Shabaka | Jun 5, 2008 3:55:24 PM
Andrew
http://www.amnesty.org/en/contact
The link goes straight to Amnesty's contact page which has telephone numbers and e-mail contact. Contact them directly for the info you seek. Also donate, they are a great cause
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jun 5, 2008 6:49:23 PM
That's some brave mutha fukkas being gay activists there.
Posted by: dezboy | Jun 5, 2008 7:46:41 PM
If resolved here, it will just pop up it's ugly head in another place on the globe. This is a universal issue.
Posted by: StarLink | Jun 8, 2008 2:46:06 PM