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UNITED KINGDOM SECTION GROUP No. 182 |
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| email us at: COLCHESTER-GROUP |
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| Tips Death Sentence Article 9 - Arbitrary Arrest Article 5 - Torture Prison Conditions |
EXAMPLE LETTERS One of Amnesty International's primary tools is letter writing to government officials, embassies, heads of state, prisoners' or other victims relatives, prison governors and prisoners themselves. Letters need not be beautifully composed or very long; they are there to express the writer's concerns and make a simple request. |
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REMEMBER: THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT LETTERS DO HAVE AN EFFECT!
Your Excellency,
I write to appeal to Your Excellency on humanitarian grounds to spare the life of Mr. ....... presently under sentence of death.
Yours respectfully [TOP]
Dear Governor J.......,
As a member of Amnesty International, the organisation which opposes the use of the Death Penalty in all cases on humanitarian grounds. I urgently request that you commute the Death Sentence on John X....... on the basis that his execution would be in violation of the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Yours sincerely [TOP]
Dear Governor M.......,
We deeply regret to learn that John X......., who was convicted of murder and robbery in 1973, and has since that time been held on Death Row, was executed on 30th November.
As members of Amnesty International, the world-wide Human Rights movement which opposes the Death penalty in all cases and without reservation on the grounds that it is the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is a violation to the right to life as proclaimed in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, we appeal to you to ensure that no further executions are carried out in you state.
Yours respectfully [TOP]
Dear President X......,
I was concerned to learn of the arrest of Mr. X......., the former President of the Mineworkers Union, at his house in Guatemala City on January 14th.
I urge you to do everything in your power to locate his whereabouts and ensure that he is fairly and humanely treated. I also request that he be immediately released, unless he is charged and brought before a court.
Yours respectfully [TOP]
Dear General,
I am ....... (a teacher) from ....... and a member of Amnesty International. I have been greatly disturbed by the news of the disappearance of Mrs. ....... in Santiago, on November 9th.
I would be grateful if you would inform me of her whereabouts and give assurances that she is being well-treated. I would also be grateful for news of legal status in this regard, I would respectfully remind you of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile".
Yours sincerely [TOP]
Dear Prime Minister,
I write this letter to you in the spirit of respect for human dignity as understood all over the world, to ensure that Professor X......., a prisoner held in ....... State Prison, is given adequate diet and medical treatment. I have been informed that he is suffering from pneumonia and urgently needs to be transferred to a hospital for immediate attention.
I would be pleased to hear from you as to whether Professor X....... is being treated for this most serious illness.
Yours respectfully [TOP]
Dear Lieutenant General X.......,
As a lawyer I was gravely concerned to hear of reports of the arrest of the lawyer, Mr. B....... in the town of C....... on September 10th. I am writing to request that Mr. B.......'s whereabouts are disclosed and that he be granted immediate access to his family and lawyers. I also request that he be immediately released unless charged and brought before an ordinary court of law.
Yours sincerely [TOP]
Dear Madam President,
I was gravely concerned to receive reports of the arrest of a number of students at the University of ....... during December 1984. I was particularly concerned to hear that some of the detainees who are suspected of supporting the ....... Party, are reported to have been tortured and I seek your assurances that all political detainees held in ....... Prison and elsewhere are being treated humanely.
Yours respectfully and sincerely [TOP]
Dear President X,
I am writing to express my concern at the reports of the death in custody of Seņor V....... following his arrest in O....... on January 19th. I urge that an immediate investigation be conducted into the circumstances of his death and that the results are made public. At the same time, I write to ask you on information on the whereabouts of Seņor X....... who was also arrested on January 19th and I seek assurances that his physical safety shall be guaranteed while in detention. In addition, I should like to request that Seņor X....... either be promptly charged with any offence he may have committed and brought to trial, or be immediately released.
Yours respectfully and sincerely [TOP]
Dear Minister,
I was concerned to receive news of the continuing deterioration of the health of Mr. S....... aged 56, whose life is reported to be in grave danger. I understand that he was arrested in October 1980 and has been held without charge or trial since that time.
In view of Mr. S.......'s serious health condition, I urge you to ensure that he is immediately admitted to a hospital and provided with the necessary medical treatment.
I should also like to express my concern that Mr. S....... continues to be held incommunicado and urge that he be allowed access to lawyers and his family.
Yours sincerely [TOP]
Dear Ambassador,
Today (date), I have sent the following telegram to President Juan X.......STUDENT ALONSO SUARES ARRESTED 17 MAY SAN SALVADOR PLEASE ENSURE ACCESS TO LAWYERS FAIR TRIAL AND HUMANE TREATMENT
I was concerned to receive reports that Mr. Suares, a 19 year old student, was detained at the University of San Salvador on May 17th, by security officers. No news of his present whereabouts is known and I would ask you to pass on to your government by request that he be found and given his full rights under the law, and also that he be allowed visits from his family.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would keep me informed of progress on this matter.
Yours sincerely [TOP]
Dear Minister,
In my capacity as President of the Women's Institute of ....... I have the honour to address you on the subject of Mrs. G....... who, it has been reported to me, is on the hunger strike in T....... Prison in H....... for the purpose of demanding an end to her solitary confinement, and improvement in prison conditions and an increase in her daily food allowance.
I was concerned to hear about the reportedly degrading treatment of prisoners in this prison, the inadequate diet and lack of medical services and I urge you to use your influence to improve this unhappy situation.
Further, I ask that no reprisals be taken against Mrs. G....... and that she urgently receives proper medical attention as I have been informed that she is now dangerously ill.
Yours sincerely [TOP]
REMEMBER: THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT LETTERS DO HAVE AN EFFECT!
[TOP]
The Colchester Local Group acknowledges the essential and important information at the International Secretariat site at www.amnesty.org and the UK Section site at www.amnesty.org.uk
