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& Orpington Group Home Page
For the
latest information on events & campaigns.
July
2008 NEWSLETTER
This
month's Draft Letter/s
Our thanks to Angie Brignell of Chislehurst for
sponsoring this month’s Newsletter
COME TO OUR NEXT MEETINGS
Tuesday 8
July Campaign Roundup including security and terror campaign
Tuesday 12
August Fund-raising planning!
Tuesday 9
September Speaker Krysia Sturgeon AI Regional Coordinator South
East Asia
Zimbabwe – Human
Rights in Freefall
Franco Henwood,
Amnesty regional co-ordinator for Zimbabwe gave us a harrowing
picture of the systemic disintegration of human rights over the past
eight years in a campaign of state sponsored terror. The emergence
of an unprecedented challenge to ZanuPF has resulted in
confrontation against opposition parties and the forces of free
speech and toleration. A trade off in 2000 strengthened the powers
of the presidency at the expense of parliament and civil
institutions. A long drawn out assault on the opposition has been
conducted via three means; repressive legislation, a "normalised"
use of torture and food shortages. The weakness of civil society
effectively to oppose this attrition was also pointed to with
Zimbabwe fast moving towards military dictatorship. African
governments, notably South Africa, have not proved effective at
dealing with the situation. Although the magnitude of the problem
appears overwhelming, we were told that Amnesty’s voice is needed
now more than ever, whilst the volume of letters is believed to be
having an effect in staying the worst abuses. An action focused on
WOSA, the women of Zimbabwe, whose situation is of deep concern to
AI following their arrest at a peaceful protest is attached. Please
sign, address and post the enclosed letter, which will cost 56p to
post.
Monthly Action -
Bhopal
In March 2008 some
50 representatives of the Bhopal survivors, including children,
began a long walk of more than 800km to New Delhi to seek a meeting
with the Prime Minister. They are now in New Delhi hoping to discuss
their long-standing concerns over the clean-up of the Bhopal site,
and problems relating to health and lack of clean water. We sent a
letter of solidarity with the Bhopal protestors calling upon the
Indian authorities to address their legitimate concerns about the
clean up.
Chelsfield and
Cudham Fairs
We will
have our usual stall at the Chelsfield Village Fair on Saturday 5
July from 1.00pm until about 5.00pm and also at the Cudham Village
Fair on August Bank Holiday, Monday 25th.
Sevenoaks Sponsored
Walk
The Sevenoaks
sponsored walk will take place on Sunday 21st
September – so please put it in your diary now to come and join us
for what is always a wonderful family day out. Collect sponsors, or
simply come along for the legendary lunch held on the farm deep in
the Kent countryside. More details to follow. Rene will be delighted
to receive offers of food for the lunch so please contact her
on 020 8467 6973
Sign up to our e-newsletter Amnesty
Campaign and Action Roundup from the Website
We are very
conscious that not all our friends and supporters have access to the
Internet. Each month we like to bring you actions you can take part
in by logging on to the Amnesty website. Now we will précis these
here in the Newsletter, and if you do not have access, Janice will
send details by post – just contact her for more information.
A petition
surrounding the 42 day detention Bill running until the end of
the year. Although narrowly passed in the Commons, the House of
Lords has still to vote and support against it is needed.
A newspaper
editor from Yemen jailed - freedom of expression and health
concerns
An action on
Burma regarding access for humanitarian aid in the wake of the
cyclone
An action
urging the UK to continue to push for the abolition of cluster
bombs as a weapon of war
Schools and Colleges
Janice has given
talks at Croydon High School to year 9 on China, and is returning to
Knight’s Academy to talk about China. At the end of the month she
continues globe-trotting way beyond our immediate area to give a
talk at Woking College for their diversity day on social and
economic rights, which Amnesty is increasingly taking up.
Monthly Letter – Death Penalty in
Japan
Okunishi Masaru is
aged 82 and has been on death row since 1972. He was sentenced to
death after being convicted of poisoning five women to death in the
city of Nabari, in the south of Japan, on 28 March 1961. No evidence
was found to prove that Okunishi Masaru had administered the poison.
Okunishi Masaru confessed to the crime after long interrogation
sessions by the police, during which he was reportedly tortured. At
his trial he retracted his confession and was found not guilty due
to lack of evidence. The verdict was overturned on appeal by a
higher court and he was sentenced to death. Despite his appeals for
a retrial the death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on
15 June 1972. Okunishi Masaru has now exhausted his appeals and
could be executed at any time, unless pardoned by the Minister of
Justice or granted a retrial. AI believes there is severe doubt over
the case, and we are asked to write urging a reversal of the death
sentence. Please sign, address and post the enclosed letter,
which will cost 56p to post.
Present on 10 June:
Neville White, David
Howkins, Janice Davis, Gladys Edmonds, Pamela Smith, Rene Eastwood,
Waltraut Gilchrist, Margaret Coppard, Mark Gill, Eleanor Ivens, Ted
Burke, Patrick Nield, Wendy Simmonds, Joan Williams, Simon Nash. Apologies:
Stuart Sweeney, Shirley Henderson, Patsy Paine, Vivien Glanz
Meetings are held
at the Committee Room, Orpington Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road,
Orpington commencing at 7.30pm. E-mail
aibromley@btinternet.com
website: www.aibromley.freeuk.com/