Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Minutes of Monthly Meeting on Thursday 9th October 2014 7.30 pm at 4, Victoria Road.

1 Chairman’s WelcomePresent: Andrew, Tony, Eddie, Peter, Lesley, Michael P, Fiona and Karen

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2 Apologies: Daphne, Jonathan

3 Minutes of previous meetingTaken as read.

4 Treasurer’s Report Takings from the coffee morning are with Jonathan; the total will be reported as soon

as it has been counted. It was generally agreed that the morning was less busy than usual.

Andrew reported that after contacting John Bostock they suspect the money from Bishops might have been sent to Amnesty headquarters. The concern is to make sure that any further donations should come to us. Michael P will follow this up and report back.

The current account balance is £333.79 with the petty cash the same as the previous month, £38.51.

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5 Update on campaignsDeath Penalty

General UK

o 19th Sept – A Death Row Pop Up Restaurant offering a ‘last meal without the nasty execution bit’ was due to open in Hoxton. Condemned by Amnesty as ‘in appallingly bad taste’, the owners initially issued an apology but later with-drew it, saying ‘all over the world there are attractions that have the potential to offend’

o LC spoke with Kate Allen at the recent Stop Torture Campaign Skills Day and raised the Group’s concern that the Death Penalty was no longer a distinct campaign. Kate noted our concern, but said AI needed to look more to local groups to take the campaign forward.

Pakistan – Mohammed Asghar, the British Pakistani 70 year old with paranoid schizophrenia, sentenced to death for ‘blasphemy’ was shot and badly injured in his prison cell. There is an on line 38 Degrees Petition calling on David Cameron to press his case with the Pakistan Government.

USA o 21st September – the third anniversary of the execution of Troy Davis. An ex-

cerpt from the statement issued by the National Coalition for the Abolition of the Death Penalty reads: ‘……. I am Troy Davis. And we are 90 million

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strong. You, Xxxxx, are Troy Davis, and we are 90 million stronger – because of you. Together we are building the ground-game, state by state and nation-wide to fulfil Troy’s wishes: to keep fighting this battle until we end the death penalty once and for all.’

o Texas – Manuel Velez was released from prison following 6 years on Death Row and 9 years in prison. Convicted and sentenced to death in 2008 for the killing of his girlfriend’s child, in 2012 his death sentence was thrown out be-cause of false testimony during the sentencing phase. A new trial was ordered because of inadequate legal assistance in his original trial. The DA’s office continues to maintain, however, that he contributed to the child’s death.

Afghanistan – Despite attempts by AI and other Human Rights Organisations to per-suade the new President, Ashraf Ghani, to stop the execution of 5 men convicted of rape, they were hanged on 8th October. There were accusations of a lack of evid-ence and forced confessions.

Death Penalty Statistics for 2013o 778 executions were known to have been carried out in 22 countrieso 1,925 people in 57 countries were known to have been sentenced to deatho 23,392 people were known to have been on death row world-wide o These figures do not include the thousands of executions likely to have taken

place in China

Urgent Actions Iran – UA 85/14 – (update) Reyhaneh Jabbari – her execution date of 30th

September was deferred, but she remains at risk as the family of the man killed (who Reyhaneh claims sexually assaulted her) could request her execution at any time. David Cameron has spoken out on her behalf to President Rouhani, and been criti-cised for ‘unacceptable remarks’. Circulated to DPLWG; posted on the Group’s blog – 1.10.14. This month’s Group Urgent Action.

Bahrain – UA 252/14 – Maher Abbas Ahmad – sentenced to death in February for the premeditated murder of a policeman at a ‘gathering’, has lodged his final appeal and could be at risk of execution. He told his lawyer he was tortured into making a confession. Circulated to DPLWG 9.10.14.

Campaigning World Day Against the Death Penalty – 10th October. The Group was asked to

sign cards to be sent to Reggie Clemons.

North KoreaThe sub group recently met and the plans/issues discussed were as follows:1. Plans for the next NK demonstration and petition signing: Date: Sat 8th NovemberTime: 9.30-11.30am Location: Guildhall Steps for video recording, petition stall to the side in the market square.

Action; Petition signing and leafleting with copies of the latest 3 Kim’s leaflet.

During this time (10.00 till 10.30) we are also planning to take our first steps into social media and produce a

You tube clip we will be using an image from the Arirang or mass games combined

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with the demand of "CLOSE THE CAMPS" in English and Korean. As a group (15 people minimum) we will first hold up the cards showing the huge image (see photo at end of minutes) and then turn the cards to reveal the message. This will be recor-ded and uploaded onto you tube, which will hopefully be seen by a much bigger audi-ence as well as Saturday shoppers. Plus grab the attention of the local press!

Tony has sent emails to members to ask for video volunteers; so far we have had 9 con-firmed offers. Many thanks. PLEASE if you have just half an hour on Sat 8th Nov. @ 10am contact Tony or Karen and join in.Require; 15 people to make the image and one to video.The group agreed to cover the costs of £37.20 for printing and laminating of the cards.

2. Possibility of financial support to a SK group sending materials via balloon into NK. Upon putting this to the group everyone was happy to go ahead with research into the possi-bility with the proviso that any group chosen would not have a religious agenda. Michael P will go ahead with checking protocols with AIUK. This could act as an on going part of the campaign along with street campaigning.  Lesley suggested contacting the campaign sup-port team for details on groups we could support.

3. Ongoing response to UN Commission of Inquiry report North Korea has presented its own human rights report during a rare briefing at the

United Nations headquarters in New York. (Released on 13/09/14) North Korean official Choe Myong Nam told diplomats and journalists at the Oct 7th

UN meeting that there were no prison camps in his country. "We have time and again in the past stated about these so-called prison camps... that there is no prison camps in the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]," he said. “In practice there's no things like that. "There are detention centres whereby people improve their mentality and look upon their wrong doings and they reform through labour." In its 109-page document, North Korea dismissed the UN investigation report as "wild ru-mours" peddled by "hostile forces".

Param-Preet Singh, a senior counsel for Human Rights Watch who attended the briefing along with a number of diplomats from other countries, said the significance of the event was that North Korea held it at all. The country used to be seen as “im-pervious to pressure,” she said. Also this is the first time DPRK have publicly admit-ted to any type of detention centre.

NK News up dates• Arirang news 9/10/14United Nations is inching closer to referring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the Interna-tional Criminal Court over the regime's human rights violations. A UN diplomatic source said that a draft resolution on Pyongyang's human rights abuses was circulated behind closed doors on Wednesday. The proposed resolution, written by the European Union, “… Would need to be approved by related UN councils and the General Assembly to go into effect.”

• North Korea Demands Halt to Propaganda Leaflets. NK News 15/09/10North Korea has urged South Korea to stop floating propaganda leaflets across the border before resuming high-level talks. "They floated balloons carrying 1.2 million copies of leaflets and 2,250 copies of insidious religious propaganda pamphlets" to the North in a single day.

• As of October 9, Kim Jong-un has officially been missing from public view for 36 days. Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister has allegedly taken over state duties while her brother receives medical treatment. Her responsibilities include handling important government decisions. No specific information on his alleged health troubles has been made public. 

• North Korean food exports to China have increased by more than 35% and are at their

highest levels in at least four years, according to Chinese customs data. It is speculated that “the reason is higher productivity of farmers’ households, who are now allowed to keep part of the harvest for themselves, (and) hence have much more incentive to work hard.”

The talk On North Koreans in London by Bona Shin has been confirmed for the next meeting on 13th Nov. She will be describing her work with North Korean refugees in London. It will be held in Sarum College at 7.30, there will be a brief monthly meet-ing before hand at 7pm.

6 Report on website and newsletter

Peter has received an email complimenting him on the quality of the website. He is also building up a “blog roll” on the website consisting of links to other human rights organizations, at present there are 20 kindred websites and growing.

Preparation for the next newsletter is starting and any contributions are very wel-come.

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7 Magna Carta EventsProgress continues to be made with the MC activities next year.Andrew and Peter met Seif on 29 September and the following were discussed:

The Cathedral is asking if Kate Allen can be persuaded to move from 7 March. Con-tact has been made and a change is in hand

Seif confirmed that the speaking events will take place over a period not condensed into a few days

On the question of speakers, Fiona has asked Ben Rawlence of Human Rights Watch and Peter has secured the services of Prof Malcolm Evans of Bristol Univer-sity who is also on a UN group which deals with torture. See a link on the website to the BU site and HRW. Shami Chakrabarti has declined for the second time unfortu-nately. A request has been sent to Dominic Grieve but a reply has not been received so far. Andrew is to contact Terry Gilliam

The speaker programme will be agreed in January A sixth form conference is being planned and they have asked if KA can attend.

Peter mentioned this to Kate in London and she was willing to do this Seif was shortly to meet the designers and would ask if they are prepared to make

the torture wheel for us

Caroline, the regional rep, has contacted the other groups in the region to see if there is interest in contributing to a tapestry. If there is sufficient interest ideas for methods of display will be needed.Ideas for speakers would be welcome.

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No future meeting is planned and we will correspond via email as necessary.The Arts Centre is not willing to display our Amnesty posters but suggestions to consider in-cluded the cathedral and library window.

8 Monthly ActionThere has been no monthly action sent from head office however the September one was concerning torture in Mexico and could also be used this month.

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9 Other forthcoming events – Death Penalty Signing 11/10/14A signing event will take place on Saturday 11th October from 9.00-12.00 in the Library Cov-ered Way. We will be asking the public to sign cards calling for justice for Moses Akatugba, the young Nigerian tortured and sentenced to death for the alleged theft of three mobile phones. There will be fact sheets to give out and posters with the 2013 report on death row numbers throughout the world. Plus the message “Mental ill health is never a crime.”

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Citizenship Conference 23/10/14 The rehearsal for the presenting group will be next week. The Essay Competition informa-tion is ready and will be given out on the day to launch the competition. Any current peti-tions will be available to sign along with cards for Moses Akatugba, plus all our website and twitter contact details.

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Stop Torture Stall 15/11/14Amnesty has sent a large campaign banner “protect the human.”The stall is planned to be located in the library alleyway. 9am – 12.00Lesley reported on the excellent Stop Torture day workshop. Ideas that stood out were to;

Make 2 “wheels of torture” Stage a short play of a game show host and contestants.

Lesley and Peter offered to work on the wheel of torture idea for this stall.

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Arts Centre film 4/12/14 Tickets for “Omar” are now on sale. The documentary “Hakaya” made by Sanihi Ab-

deldjabar (speaker at the film) is available to borrow from Fiona. Fiona has assessed 2 possible documentaries that might be used in the proposed

series of evening film/documentaries for 2015. Fiona will report back on possible dates and suggested titles. The Arts Centre has asked if we want these advertised in their programme

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Write for RightsThe campaign starts on the 1st of November and will provide a new list of individual people to support.

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AOB Andrew noted that the Arms Trade Treaty has now been ratified by 50 countries and

so triggers a 90-day count down until it enters into force. Lesley highly recommended the campaign workshop day, if anyone gets the chance

to attend in future. It was also suggested to consider inviting Shumi Choutori (the AI education and training person) to one of our meetings for ideas on street campaign-ing.

Tesco (Southampton Road) is offering a meeting room for free. It was noted that even though the abolition of the HRA was headline news at the Tory

conference there was no comment in local press by John Glen. The group hoped that this was as a result of the previous meeting with John, giving him a chance to recon-sider his media comments on the subject.

Tony also noted the date for the annual evensong event in the Cathedral hosted by the Salisbury group requires confirmation. We had been offered the use of St Lawrence chapel the week before and after as a display area. He suggested the posters would work well there.

Next Meeting:Sarum College, short monthly meeting starting at 7pm, followed at 7.30 by our speaker for the evening, Mrs. Bona Shin.  

Group website: www.salisburyai.comTwitter @salisburyaiAIUK website: www.amnesty.org.ukCampaign box and banner: Lesley and Peter.