Archive for April, 2009
Special meeting of Philadelphia Group 112
Posted April 15th, 2009 by April | Philly Center City
Members of Amnesty International Center City Group 112 will be meeting together with representatives from Darfur Alert Coalition to discuss the possibility of a joint fundraiser in June. The meeting will be next Monday, April 20, at 7:00 pm at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, on Rittenhouse Square near 19th Street, Philadelphia. Any Amnesty supporters who are interested in helping plan this joint fundraiser are encouraged to attend.
Letter of the Day – Darfur – Mohamed Al Mahjoub, human rights worker
Posted April 15th, 2009 by April | Take Action
Even though it’s not New Year’s Day, I have resolved to at least look at Amnesty International USA’s Urgent Action feed once a day. Letter-writing on behalf of prisoners of conscience and others is the heart of why I joined Amnesty. I may not have time to write a letter every day, but I will look at the actions and do the best I can.
Today I read the case of Mohamed Al Mahjoub (this link is to a PDF of the Urgent Action file). He is the director of a center in North Darfur that helps victims of torture. Instead of being allowed to peacefully work to help people there, Mohamed Al Mahjoub was himself arrested and detained on April 11. He has not been allowed access to a lawyer or any others.
Mohamed Al Mahjoub committed no known crime and it’s unclear why he was arrested. Amnesty theorizes that his detention is a part of a pattern of harassment of human rights defenders that has been going on ever since March 4, when the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of President al Bashir for war crimes.
Attached is a sample letter – please modify and personalize it if you have time, and see the Urgent Action for other addresses to send this appeal.
Mohamed Al Mahjoub sample letter
Amnesty International events for the week of April 12
Posted April 12th, 2009 by April | Amnesty News
There are a number of inspiring Amnesty International events in Pennsylvania and New York this week.
On Monday, members of the Villanova University Amnesty International group will be visiting Graterford State Prison in Collegeville, to speak to inmates and tour the prison. The group has been conducting several visits there.
On Tuesday, the Bethlehem Amnesty International group will be holding a fundraiser at the Friendly’s Restaurant at 3099 William Penn Highway, Easton. To help, just come to dinner at Friendly’s between 5:00 and 8:00 pm. If there are 100 or more customers during that time, the group will receive 10 percent.
Also on Tuesday at 6:00 pm, the Millersville Amnesty International group will host “Darfur: An Intimate Look” at Bolger Conference Center – Lehr Dining Room. They will be showing the film “The Devil Came On Horseback.” The film will be followed by speaker Gretchen Steidle Wallace, who is a producer of the film as well as co-author of the book of the same title along with her brother, Brian Steidle. Gretchen will speak about her recent work in Chad with the Darfuri refugees.
On Wednesday, two local Amnesty chapters will hold their regular meetings. At 7:30, the Chester County group will hold its monthly meeting at Chester County Books & Music, Paoli Pike and Route 202, West Chester. And the Haverford College Amnesty group will hold its weekly meeting at 9:00 in Ryan Gym.
Finally, this Friday, April 17 marks the 14th Annual Get On The Bus to New York City. Join more than 1,000 Amnesty student/youth activists as they converge on New York City to demand justice from rights repressive-governments in China, Burma, Guatemala and Sri Lanka . For more information and to register please visit: gotb.org
For more information about these and other events, please see our Google Calendar.
Tibetans at risk of execution
Posted April 12th, 2009 by April | Take Action
Here is a sample letter just issued from humanrightsletters.com regarding two Tibetans who could be executed at any time. [It is not on their website because it is such a short-term appeal.] Please send appeals promptly. To receive more ready-made letters like this, please join their mailing list.
Wu Aiying Buzhang
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Dear Minister
Please intercede on behalf Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyar. As you may know, these two Tibetans were sentenced to death on 8 April by the Municipal Intermediate People’s Court in Lhasa. I am concerned that they were not represented by lawyers of their own choosing. I also understand that they have not been allowed to see their families.
I appeal to you to commute the sentences of Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyar.
You could also (though less effective) email to: pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
And can send the same letter to:
Wang Shengjun Yuanzhang
Zuigao Renmin Fayuan
27 Dongjiaomin Xiang
Beijingshi 100745
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(“Dear President”)
Qiangba Puncog Zhuren
Xizang Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu
1 Kang’angdonglu
Lasashi 850000
Xizang Zizhiqu
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(“Dear Chairman”)
And could send copies to the ambassador in your country:
Wen Zhong Zhou
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Email: Chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn
HE Mrs Fu Ying
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
49-51 Portland Place
London W1B 4JL
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Lobsang Gyaltsen was found guilty of setting fire to a Lhasa shop in which the owner died on 8 March. Loyar and two others were found guilty of setting fire to a motorcycle dealership on 15 March, which left five people dead. Amnesty is concerned that the men may have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated in custody, and may not have received a fair trial.
This occurred during the unrest in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in March at the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising that was crushed in 1959. Lawyers from across China signed an open letter volunteering to defend Tibetans detained during the unrest, but authorities warned them not to take up such cases. Ultimately all death sentences are reviewed by China’s Supreme People’s Court, which has the power to approve, revise or remand death sentences. The two men could be executed within weeks. China executes more people each year than any other country in the world.
On 10 March, which marked the anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising in 1959, there was a wave of largely peaceful protests in the TAR and other Tibetan-populated areas of China. According to official reports, at least 81 people have received sentenced ranging from three-year prison terms to life imprisonment. Most of them have been sentenced for arson, looting, “picking quarrels and provoking troubles,” “assembling a crowd to storm state organs,” “disrupting public service,” and theft.
AIUSA Weekly Update for Pennsylvania, April 8
Posted April 8th, 2009 by Jen | Mid-Atlantic Region
AIUSA Mid-Atlantic Weekly Update
April 8th, 2009
In this issue
1. Highlight: Former Peruvian President Convicted for Torture
2. Take Action: Gaza Arms Trade
3. Campaign Updates: Counter Terror With Justice
4. Opportunities
– Join the Special Focus case Street Team!
– Seeking Candidates for AIUSA Board of Directors
– Make a Flag
5. National Events
– SFC Rally
– Get on the Bus
– End of the first 100 days
6. Volunteer Opportunities
– SAC
– Apply to be part of the RPG
AIUSA Weekly Update for Pennsylvania, April 2
Posted April 2nd, 2009 by Jen | Mid-Atlantic Region
AIUSA Mid-Atlantic Weekly Update April 2nd, 2009
In this issue: Read more »
1. Highlight – The Annual General Meeting was a success!
2. Take Action – Immigrant Detention
3. Opportunities
– Seeking Candidates for AIUSA Board of Directors
– Get on the Bus for Human Rights
– Make a Flag
4. National Events
– SFC Rally
– End of the first 100 days
5. Volunteer Opportunities
– SAC
– Apply to be part of the RPG
Tomorrow! at Lehigh – panel on the death penalty and religious perspectives
Posted April 1st, 2009 by April | Amnesty News, Bethlehem
Tomorrow afternoon, LV CASK (Lehigh Valley Committee Against State Killing) and PA-Amnesty International are hosting an interactive discussion about the death penalty and different religious perspectives.
Where: Maginnes 260, Lehigh University
When: April 2
Time: 4pm
Cost: Free – open to the public
Refreshments will also be provided. If you have any questions please contact CalvinJohn Smiley, Pennsylvania death penalty abolition coordinator, at cjs719@gmail.com
Death Penalty and Religion Panel Flyer [Word format]