Kenyan activists receiving death threats
31 January 2008, 11:07AM
© AP
A group Kenyan human rights defenders and activists - some of whom are prominent members of human rights organisations - have received serious death threats, and are in need of protection.
The activists, which includes six men and three women, have received a number of anonymous threats in the form of SMS messages, phone calls and emails. They are now taking precautions for their safety, such as moving house and not making any public statements.
The threats include accusations that they are"traitors" to their ethnicity. All but one of the activists are of Kikuyu ethnicity.
They have all spoken out about either what they believe to have been irregularities in Kenya's recent elections or about human rights abuses being committed by police and armed gangs - including Kikuyu gangs - throughout the country.
Four of the human rights defenders are also named in an anonymously authored leaflet that has been circulated within the Kikuyu community. The leaflet lists more than 25 people by name, calling them "traitors [who] live among us in peace", and issues a veiled threat that they should be killed.
We call on the Kenyan government to ensure the safety and protection of all human rights defenders in Kenya, to investigate the threats and bring those found responsible to justice.
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Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
rukiya
8 February 2008, 02:50PM
pls be kind to human being and just give up this non sence political drama, so the people will not become enemy to each other. we should remember that kenya has been living in peace since their independence, than what happen now. it is very shamefull now when same people fight each other, to the leaders who does not care for its citizen.
Colleen Bartolomei
7 February 2008, 08:49PM
Most Kenyans want peace and stability - they have the right to expect this.
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