The Philippines: Cop, 8 others arrested and charged for Palawan lawyer’s slay

26/11/20

A police officer and eight other suspects were arrested and are now facing murder charges for the killing of Palawan lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit last Nov. 17.

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine National Police said among those indicted was Police Senior Master Sergeant Ariel Pareja.

Pareja is now under restrictive custody of the Palawan Police Provincial Office.

Also named respondents in the complaint filed on Wednesday before the Palawan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office were Jazer del Rosario, Marcelino Quioyo, and six other John Does.

Mimaropa PNP Regional Director Brig. Gen. Pascual Muñoz said Pareja has been moonlighting as a bodyguard for Quioyo who was involved in a court case over a land dispute where Magcamit was representing the other party.

[…]

Cop, 8 others arrested and charged for Palawan lawyer’s slay

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/11/26/2059458/palawan-lawyer-slay-suspect-charged

One suspect in Magcamit murder case arrested

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/26/2059587/ibp-welcomes-arrest-suspect-palawan-lawyer-killing

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/11/27/2059693/isko-orders-installation-cctvs-courts

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/26/20/missing-up-law-prof-last-seen-sunday-morning-nbi

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/11/24/2059173/dot-coordinates-pnp-cidg-finding-missing-law-prof

list-of-lawyers-killed-under-duterte-presidency-3Download

Prof. Oliva has been missing since Saturday, Nov. 21. Any leads will be appreciated. https://t.co/sYghPS68nG

— National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (@nuplphilippines) November 26, 2020

Turkey: Turkey’s bar associations sceptical of judicial reform

24/11/20

Chairmen of three major bar associations in Turkey, the Ankara, Istanbul and Diyarbakır bars, called for judicial independence and said the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) must be restructured, in interviews with news website Bianet on Tuesday.

What needs reforming is not the law, but the mentality in law enforcement, Ankara Bar Association Chairman Erinç Sağkan said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a Judicial Reform Strategy Document in May last year, and parliament has passed three sets of bills since.

“But we have seen that judicial reform isn’t possible via legal amendments,” Sağkan said. “The necessary reform in mentality will come with making the judiciary independent.”

Sağkan criticised education quality in Turkey’s 120 law faculties, and proposed changes to the selection process for judges and prosecutors.

Among his suggestions were prioritising competence over references, and taping all interviews where a bar representative should be present.

Lawyers must be able to remain independent, and not face prosecution for taking on any client or be associated with any possible crime they may have committed, Sağkan said.

“Without such amendments, reiterating universal judicial principles like arrests being the last resort will not serve as judicial reform,” he added, criticising both Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül’s recent comments and what he called the politicisation of bar associations with the multiple bar law that Turkey passed this summer.

[…]

https://ahvalnews.com/turkey-justice/turkeys-bar-associations-sceptical-judicial-reform

https://bianet.org/english/law/234927-judicial-independence-is-a-prerequisite-for-judicial-reform

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/07/reform-bar-associations-turkey-questions-and-answers

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-lawyers-idUSKCN24C08L

Turkey conducts raids towards group linked to Kurdish militants, 24 legal professionals amongst individuals detained 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Bars_Association#:~:text=The%20Turkish%20Bars%20Association%20(correctly,it%20is%20headquartered%20in%20Ankara.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201126-hundreds-face-life-in-prison-in-trial-over-turkey-s-2016-coup

Front Page

The witch-hunt against lawyers and judges in Turkey

We are now live discussing the state of torture in #Turkey today!

For those who were not able to register, you can watch it live on YouTube:https://t.co/2bawWr62Ma#TurkeyTribunal #SpeakUpForHumanRights

— Turkey Tribunal (@turkey_tribunal) November 25, 2020

We are now live with @turkey_tribunal discussing the state of torture in #Turkey today!

For those who were not able to register, you can watch it live on YouTube: #TurkeyTribunal #SpeakUpForHumanRightshttps://t.co/GfIDPLLZTZ

— International Observatory of Human Rights (@observatoryihr) November 25, 2020

Belçika merkezli #TurkeyTribunal’den #Türkiye’de işkence konulu webinar

Programa kayıt olmak için şu link’e tıklayabilirsiniz: https://t.co/kHW2um584A (Turkce tercume)
YouTube’dan canlı takip etmek için şu link’e tıklayabilirsiniz: https://t.co/LBwEd5as4thttps://t.co/iuJPFaVcyM

— Turkey Tribunal (@turkey_tribunal) November 25, 2020

Number of sick inmates considerably higher than revealed by Ministry of Justice: İHD #Turkey #StandUp4HumanRights https://t.co/BY7xNCR79q

— SCF (@StockholmCF) November 25, 2020

The Philippines: In alarming rise of PH lawyer killings, what is being done?

25/11/20

The government ‘is very much concerned,’ says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, but is there a special inquiry that is looking at patterns?

Dearth of eyewitnesses. Professional killers. Little evidence.

These are some of the reasons offered by the government in explaining its difficulty in solving killings of Filipino lawyers, which has reached an alarming rate since 2016 when President Rodrigo Duterte took office.

“Many of these killings had been carefully planned and were probably carried out by professional killers, that’s why it has been more difficult to crack these cases compared to ordinary crimes that happen on the streets,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday, November 25.

Two days earlier on Monday, November 23, lawyer Joey Luis Wee was killed as he was walking up the stairs to his office in Cebu City. Wee is now the 53rd lawyer killed since July 2016, which includes 8 judges and 10 prosecutors.

“The government is very much concerned about the increasing number of crimes committed against lawyers, prosecutors, and judges,” said Guevarra, adding that more National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) field operatives have been deployed to Cebu City and Palawan to hunt for the killers.

A week ago on November 17, 35-year-old lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit was shot on his way to a hearing in Narra, Palawan, marking him as the 52nd death in the legal profession in that timeframe.

For University of the Philippines (UP) constitutional law professor John Molo, there has to be “an independent inquiry on the pattern and rate of these killings.”

[…]

https://www.rappler.com/nation/what-is-being-done-rise-of-lawyer-killings-philippines

https://manilastandard.net/news/national/340486/nbi-told-to-hunt-2-lawyers-killers.html

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/765559/guevarra-nbi-on-the-hunt-for-killers-of-lawyers-in-palawan-cebu/story/

https://journal.com.ph/news/nation/killings-of-lawyers-judges-decried-crackdown-urged/

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/11/26/2059458/palawan-lawyer-slay-suspect-charged

NBI told to hunt 2 lawyers’ killers

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2020/11/26/2059574/editorial-another-crime-solve

http://tempo.com.ph/2020/11/24/lawyer-shot-dead-in-cebu-city/

NBI joins cops to hasten probe of Cebu lawyer’s slay

NBI probes lawyer’s slay in Cebu

list-of-lawyers-killed-under-duterte-presidency-2Download

Egypt: Egypt urged to release two women whose pretrial detention has expired

24/11/20

The pretrial detentions of Egyptian lawyer and human rights defender Hoda Abdelmonem and political prisoner Aisha al-Shater have expired, Amnesty International has said, calling for their immediate release.

Abdelmonem and Shater had been arrested on 1 November 2018 and went missing until they appeared at the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Cairo a few weeks later on 21 November. 

On Saturday, the two women completed two years in provisional detention, and therefore must be released, says Amnesty. 

“Their detention has bypassed the absolute legal limit set forth by article 143 of the code of criminal procedures,” said Hussein Bayoumi, Egypt researcher at Amnesty International. 

“That being said, their detention has always been unlawful,” he told MEE.

According to article 143, the maximum two-year limit is only applicable if the detainee was facing charges that could see them sentenced to death or life in prison. But if the detainees were facing charges in a felony punishable by less than life in prison, the maximum limit was 18 months, Bayoumi explained.

“We call on Egyptian authorities to release Hoda and Aisha, as their detention was arbitrary in the first place,” he said.

[…]

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-women-political-prisoners-pretrial-detention-expired

Lesotho: Three lawyers face jail for contempt

24/11/20

THREE lawyers who are representing soldiers accused of murder are facing a seven-day jail sentence for contempt of court.
High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe has issued an ultimatum for the lawyers, saying they should give reasons within two days, why they should not be locked up.

Justice Hungwe issued the ultimatum after the lawyers failed to appear before him on Monday in a case in which their clients are facing murder charges.
If convicted, the soldiers could be sentenced to death.
An irate Justice Hungwe said he would issue a warrant of arrest for the three lawyers if they failed within 48 hours to give cogent reasons why they failed to appear in court.

The three lawyers are Advocates Karabo Mohau Karabo, Napo Mafaesa and Lintle Tuke.
Meanwhile, Justice Onkemetse Tshosa, who was also roped in to deal with the high-profile cases, expressed concern over the delays which he blamed on the defence lawyers.

[…]

https://menafn.com/1101179431/Lesotho-Three-lawyers-face-jail-for-contempt

Sri Lanka: Seven Months On the Bar is Silent About Hejaaz

24/11/20

Seven months have passed since the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer, Hejaaz Hizbullah. When he was taken into custody on 14 April, his friends and family, and some within his fraternity, decried the obvious injustice. They were quickly told to quieten down and ‘let the justice system do its work’. They were told not to interfere with the investigation. They were told to be patient, as the truth would eventually emerge, and perhaps set Hejaaz free.

Seven months have passed. The investigations continue with no indictment in sight. If law enforcement authorities and prosecutors actually had a case against Hejaaz, wouldn’t they have framed charges by now? Should we let the authorities investigate in perpetuity?

Seven months have passed, and the media circus has dissipated, making clowns out of all those who prejudged Hejaaz’s guilt. The media callously aired so-called ‘damning’ evidence, and set out to make a monster out of Hejaaz. They have only made him a martyr, as none of the evidence appears to be credible.

Seven months have passed. Hejaaz is yet to be produced before a judge. A Magistrate has repeatedly expressed concerns over the handling of the investigations. But he has no power under our draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act to insist that Hejaaz be produced in court. So Hejaaz’s virtually incommunicado detention continues without any judicial supervision.

Hejaaz’s case is no outlier. It reflects both the danger faced by lawyers who dare do the work of justice, and the indifference of many others who care not to question injustice. So it is not just Hejaaz who is on trial right now. The bell tolls for the entire profession. Those who walk in Hejaaz’s footsteps will feel the deterring weight of the sheer absurdity of his predicament; they will be tempted to abandon their path because they know they could be next. If the injustice against Hejaaz is left unaddressed, it sets a new precedent for all lawyers: they now confront the risk of being punished for doing their job, and face the danger of being abandoned by their colleagues.

[…]

Seven Months On the Bar is Silent About Hejaaz

http://www.ft.lk/columns/Justice-for-Hejaaz-The-bell-tolls-but-the-Bar-is-silent/4-709300

https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Hejaaz

Earlier this month, BHRC called on #SriLanka to release human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and to ensure that lawyers are able to carry out their duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation or harassment.https://t.co/5nFBvASYmC

— Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (@BarHumanRights) November 24, 2020

Seven Months On the Bar is Silent About Hejaaz@groundviews @GehanDG https://t.co/D9JQqVBZZF

— Justice For Hejaaz (@Justice4Hejaaz) November 24, 2020

LAWASIA, the law association for Asia & the Pacific has made this statement, expressing grave concern over "the arbitrary and unlawful arrest, and prolonged detention of prominent human rights lawyer, Hejaaz Hizbullah".

Notes denial of access to lawyers, lack of due process etc. pic.twitter.com/qHNmRrDXNx

— Viran Corea (@ViranCorea) November 17, 2020

Read our latest statement of concern on the arrest and prolonged detention of Hejaaz Hizbullah: https://t.co/1p8jKBFfk5 #statement #SriLanka #RuleOfLaw #AsiaPacific #legalprofession #Lawyers pic.twitter.com/iBWcYn7tkh

— LAWASIA (@LAWASIA_alerts) November 17, 2020

Turkey: Former Judge Stuart Russell calls upon YOU to “Speak Up For Human Rights!”

24/11/20

Stuart Russell speaks up for #humanrights | #SpeakUpForHumanRights#HumanRights abuses are happening every day in #Turkey. Here are a few of those who speak up against these violations: Stuart Russell, as a former judge and active human rights activist, defends the rights of lawyers around the world. He encourages everyone to #SpeakUpForHumanRights. If you are victim of or witness to torture, enforced disappearance, abduction in Turkey, share your story with us. Speak up! Make your voice heard! So we can raise awareness about these abuses, help end them. Send your story to speakup@turkeytribunal.com by email. https://turkeytribunal.com/meltem-oktay-speaks-up-for-humanrights-speakupforhumanrights-insanhaklariadinasesver/

Turkiye’de hergun insan haklari ihlalleri yasaniyor. Iste bu ihlallere karsi ses verenlerden bazilari: Eski bir hakim ve aktif bir insan haklari savunucusu olarak, Stuart Russell dunyanin farkli yerlerindeki avukatlarin haklarini savunuyor. O da #InsanHaklariAdinaSesVer cagrimiza destek verenlerden. Eğer sen de Türkiye’de işkence, kötü muamele, zorla kaybetme ya da alıkoyma mağduru yahut benzer bir insan hakları ihlali tanığı veya mağduru isen, hikayeni bizimle paylaş… Ses ver! Sesini duyur! Ve boylelikle bizler de bu hukuksuzluklar ve ihlaller hakkinda farkindalik olusturalim. speakup@turkyetribunal.com adresine hikayeni ulastir. Turkiye Tribunal Mahkemesi yapacagi yargilama ve alacagi kararla yasadigin magduriyetlerin duyurulmasina ve durdurulmasina katki saglayacaktir. Devami yakinda… https://turkeytribunal.com/tr/ses-verenler/

Former Judge Stuart Russell calls upon YOU to “Speak Up For Human Rights!”

Russell is the co-chair of IAPL Monitoring Committee on attacks on lawyers. He talks about the pressure on the judiciary, and the arbitrariness in the mass arrest of lawyers in #Turkey.

Turkey Tribunal 

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8Y2WOqR9sA

Turkey Tribunal Facebook, 24/11/20

Former Judge Stuart Russell calls upon YOU to #SpeakUpForHumanRights!

Russell is the co-chair of IAPL Monitoring Committee on attacks on #lawyers. He talks about the pressure on the judiciary, and the arbitrariness in the mass arrest of lawyers in #Turkey.#TurkeyTribunal 🇹🇷⚖️ pic.twitter.com/5bG1T8thnR

— Turkey Tribunal (@turkey_tribunal) November 24, 2020

Co-chair of @IAPL14, @StuartR92034479 is explaining the situation in Turkey in terms of human rights. https://t.co/aS38sJ8apu

— The Arrested Lawyers (@ArrestedLawyers) November 24, 2020

To watch the full interview:

YouTube: https://t.co/HoAY5RJJvV

Facebook: https://t.co/6jeBqaboqw#TurkeyTribunal 🇹🇷⚖️#SpeakUpForHumanRights#InsanHaklariAdinaSesVer

— Turkey Tribunal (@turkey_tribunal) November 24, 2020

The State of Torture in Turkey Today

The Philippines: [OPINION] The silent epidemic stalking Filipino lawyers

24/11/20

‘No judge or lawyer should ever fear doing what they were sworn to do…. It is now a challenge to the leadership of the Bar to create those conditions’

Judge Jeaneth Gaminde San Joaquin was ambushed just this October. 22 days after, Judge Teresa Abadilla was shot and killed inside her own chambers. A week after that, 35-year-old lawyer Eric Magcamit was assassinated while on his way to a hearing in Narra, Palawan. And as I write this, a retired Court of Appeals justice based in Pampanga remains missing.  

I cannot claim to know Judge Tessa as well as others. But in our interactions in law school and in the Supreme Court (as law clerks), I can confirm the testimony of her close friends that Judge Tessa was a gentle, self-effacing soul whose death was a “loss to the judiciary” (as described by the Chief Justice). And while I don’t know Judge San Joaquin (who survived the slay try) or Atty. Magcamit, I am certain of these facts – they have families, they have loved ones, and they are human beings. As the IBP Palawan Chapter observed, “Atty. Eric is a brilliant and respected young lawyer. But more than that, he is a loving and affectionate husband and father; a kind, generous, and God-fearing human being.”

Around 53 lawyers have been killed since 2016. That’s like 10 per year, or almost 1 per month. The rate has reached a point where we’ve become used to the ritual of issuing statements “condemning” and “decrying” their deaths. But after 53 killed, one asks whether that is all we can do. One asks whether it is all they deserve. Lian Buan, a journalist who covers the judiciary, recently tweeted, “The legal profession is under attack. DO something.”

[…]

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-silent-epidemic-stalking-filipino-lawyers

https://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/news/national/340316/house-leader-nograles-denounces-killing-of-lawyer-and-judge.html

http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2020/1124_gordon2.asp

https://pressone.ph/cebu-lawyer-handling-big-cases-killed/

https://www.cnn.ph/regional/2020/11/24/Lawyer-Joey-Luis-Wee-Cebu-ambush.html

https://www.rappler.com/nation/lawyer-shot-dead-cebu-city-november-2020

Lawyer shot dead in brazen mid-day attack in Cebu City

list-of-lawyers-killed-under-duterte-presidency-1Download

Azerbaijan: UPR mid-term report

24/11/20

In preparation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Azerbaijan in 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales have written a mid-term report. In this report, we set out to what extent Azerbaijan has implemented the recommendations it accepted during the 2018 UPR process in relation to the role of lawyers.

During the UPR in 2018, Azerbaijan accepted four recommendations with respect to the effective protection of lawyers, including disciplinary measures taken against lawyers, and access to justice. Our report concludes that Azerbaijan has not adequately implemented the four recommendations with respect to lawyers.

The Azerbaijani authorities have failed to respect the rights of lawyers by not adequately enabling them to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani authorities have failed to take substantive steps to uphold the right to a fair trial and to guarantee that every citizen has effective access to justice and legal assistance of their choice.

We urge the authorities of Azerbaijan to:

• respect the rights of lawyers, guarantee that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference, and guarantee that lawyers are not being subjected to disbarment or other disciplinary measures on improper grounds, in line with Principles 16(a) and (c), 23 and 27 of the Basic Principles and Article 19 ICCPR. Azerbaijan should ensure that there are fair and transparent admission proceedings into the legal profession. Azerbaijan should implement recommendations 140.70 and 141.13 fully and without any delay;

[…]

UPR mid-term report

L4L and @TheLawSociety have written a mid-term report on #Azerbaijan. In the report, we set out to what extent Azerbaijan has implemented the recommendations it accepted during the 2018 UPR process in relation to the role of lawyers. https://t.co/Tng6SyjVuA

— Lawyers for Lawyers (@L4L_INT) November 24, 2020

Since 2018, crackdown on opposition & civil liberties continued in Azerbaijan, as did the revolving door of arrests & disbarment of independent defense lawyers. In June 2018 the Council of Europe appointed a rapporteur on political prisoners in Az #StopAliyev #RecognizeArtsakh https://t.co/lXJoP7o9Nb

— Vasken.Sujuk (@VSujuk) November 24, 2020

DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER January 24, 2021: #Azerbaijan!
JOURNEE DE L'AVOCAT EN DANGER le 24 janvier, 2021: Azernaijan!https://t.co/LiO397psE2 @idhae4 @UIAdefense @LRWCanada @cla_lawyers @ProtectLawyers @CCBEinfo @ukinazerbaijan @ICJ_CIS @amnesty @hrw @IBAHRI @TheLawSociety pic.twitter.com/xJVpTvjIZZ

— Stuart Russell (@StuartR92034479) June 16, 2020

Cameroon: Douala Court frees two detained lawyers

23/11/20

Two lawyers who had earlier been detained at the Douala Central Prison have been freed.

The lawyers including Barrister Tamfu Ngarka Triestel Richard and Maitre Armel Tchuenmegne Kenmegne were however handed six months suspended sentences with a fine of one hundred thousand francs cfa each.

The judgment was pronounced Monday November 23rd 2020, by the presiding judge Adama Musa Epse Ndomche at Bonanjo court of First Instance in Doaula.

According to Barrister Ebah Ntoko Justice, “…a six months suspended sentence for three years means the two lawyers will go home but if they commit a similar offense and are sentenced within a period of three years,they will have to serve an additional six months sentence”.

The lawyer posited that Bar. Tamfu Richard and Maitre Tchuenmegne will be release from New Bell prison where they have been remanded in custody since Friday November 20th 2020 as soon as they pay their financial fines of 100.000f each.

Later this Monday evening, Tamfu and Armel regained their freedom after fulfilling necessary administrative procedures.

[…]

Douala Court frees two detained lawyers

Nearly one hundred lawyers in court to defend Tamfu and co

Cameroon: Detained Bar. Richard Tamfu, co appear in court today

https://axadletimes.com/ax-somali/cameroonian-lawyers-condemn-persecution-of-their-profession.html

Cameroon: Lawyers announce five-day nationwide strike as from Nov. 30

https://ng.opera.news/ng/en/society/f307d799b6a089c8a7295f209a84e6de

Barrister Tamfu Richard and Barrister Armel Tchumengne are about leaving the New Bell Prison in Douala where they spent four nights.

Developing! pic.twitter.com/3Xdkig3S4L

— Mimi Mefo Info (@MimiMefoInfo) November 23, 2020

#Cameroon #FreeLawyerTamfu
Lawyers appearing inDouala court this morning to represent detained rightslawyers #TamfuRichard & #ArmelTchuenmegne @idhae4 @AgborNkonghoF @L4L_INT @L4L_INT @actucameroun @MimiMefoInfo @ProtectLawyers @CCBEinfo @LawyersofAfrica @IBAHRI @TheLawSociety pic.twitter.com/xljJM8xWYN

— Stuart Russell (@StuartR92034479) November 23, 2020

Incident du TPI de Bonanjo : six mois de prison avec sursis pour Me Richard Tamfu et Armel Tchuemegne

(FRANCAIS)

Me RICHARD TAMFU ET ARMEL TCHUEMEGNE bientôt libres.

Cameroun l’impossible justice: Les avocats Richard Tamfu et Armel Tchuemegne écroués à la prison de New Bell

https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20201123-les-avocats-camerounais-d%C3%A9noncent-une-pers%C3%A9cution-de-leur-profession

https://www.africaradio.com/news/cameroun-deux-avocats-dont-un-opposant-condamnes-a-six-mois-de-prison-avec-sursis-pour-rebellion-176035

http://www.defendre.eu/observatoire-cameroun231120

CAMEROUN – 23 novembre 2020 @RichardTamfu et @ArmelTchuenmegne
Richard Tamfu et Armel Tchuenmegne libérés à l'audience mais condamnés à 6 mois de prison avec sursis…https://t.co/NlsK9SxO1G pic.twitter.com/XuiqIT97xK

— idhae (@idhae4) November 23, 2020

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-55040437 (PIDGIN)