From: tofutti@kermit.berkeley.edu (Caryn R Graves)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: FREEDOM WRITERS APPEALS - NOV. 1992
Date: 10 Nov 1992 23:18:26 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: kermit.berkeley.edu


***"Freedom Writers Network Appeal Cases - November 1992"***
 
Each month, Amnesty International's Freedom Writers Network
focuses on three different cases of victims of human rights
abuse.  Some may be prisoners of conscience -- people
imprisoned solely for their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic
origins, language, or religion, who have not used or
advocated violence.  Others may have been denied a fair and
prompt trial, while others may have been tortured or
"disappeared," or may be facing execution.  All are of great
concern to Amnesty International.  Personal letters from
caring people can bring about a prisoner's release, secure
vital information, launch an investigation, or even save a
life.  Your letters can make a tremendous difference in the
fate of these individuals.
	Below are copies of the three sample letters published
in this months' Freedom Writers bulletin.  Please direct
your correspondence to the address at the top of each letter
and send a copy to the embassy address at the bottom (where
applicable).  You may copy the sample letters directly onto
your stationery or compose your own letters, using the
samples as guides.  For the greatest impact, letters should
be polite in tone and mailed within the month.  U.S. airmail
postage is 50 cents for a one-page letter.
	NOTE:  While you are free to depart from the text given
in the sample letters when writing your own personal
appeals, no one may in any way alter the on-line material as
presented originally by Amnesty International.
	Amnesty International is a worldwide movement working
impartially for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair
and prompt trials for all political prisoners, and an end to
torture, "disappearances," and executions.  It is funded by
donations from its 1.1 million members and supporters
throughout the world.  If you are interested in joining
Amnesty International USA, please write to:  Amnesty
International, 322 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10001.
 
 
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Chief L. M. Mangope
President
Private Bag X2005
Mmabatho 8681
Bophuthatswana
SOUTH AFRICA
 
Your Excellency,
	I would like to bring a matter of great importance to
your attention.  On March 21, 1991, Johannes Mafatshe, a 22-
year-old teacher and one of a group of unarmed and peaceful
demonstrators, was shot and killed in Phokeng, in the
Bophuthatswana "homeland."  Bophuthatswana security forces
have admitted that they were responsible for Johannes
Mafatshe's death; however, authorities have neither
suspended the officers involved in the unlawful shooting nor
brought them to justice.
	Johannes Mafatshe and many other members of the
Bafokeng community had gone to the home of their traditional
leader, chieftainess Mrs. Molotlegi, to show their support
for her.  Mrs. Molotlegi faced imminent expulsion from
Bophuthatswana, apparently on account of her political
opposition to your government.  Security forces are said to
have used tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition to
disperse the crowd, reportedly without giving prior warning.
	The independent human rights organization Amnesty
International is concerned that the security forces used an
unnecessary degree of force to disperse the peaceful crowd. 
I urge you to investigate this matter fully and impartially,
to make the findings of such an investigation public, and to
bring to justice those found responsible.  
 
						Respectfully,
 
 
 
 
 
copy to:
His Excellency Harry Heinz Schwarz
Embassy of South Africa
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20008
 
 
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President Hafez al-Assad
Office of the President
Presidential Palace
Damascus
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
 
Your Excellency,
	I have recently learned of the situation of Burhan
Nassif, a student who was  arrested in July 1983, apparently
on account of his membership in a banned political party. 
He has been held without charge or trial for over nine
years.
	Burhan Nassif had been a student at Damascus University
at the time of his arrest.  Although he was initially held
in Shaikh Hassan Prison in Damascus, it is not known where
he currently is being detained.  Despite the fact that some
2,000 political prisoners were released in Syria between
December 1991 and January 1992, Burhan Nassif is one of
several thousand prisoners of conscience and political
prisoners still locked away in Syrian jails.  
	The independent human rights organization Amnesty
International considers Burhan Nassif to be a prisoner of
conscience, detained for the non-violent expression of his
beliefs.  I urge you to look into this case and see that
Burhan Nassif is immediately and unconditionally released. 
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
 
						Sincerely,
 
 
 
 
 
copy to:
His Excellency Walid al-Moualem
Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic
2215 Wyoming Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20008
 
 
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Mr. Seyfi Oktay
Minister of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi
06659 Ankara
TURKEY
 
Dear Minister,
	I am pleased to learn that government officials in your
country have indicated a desire to improve Turkey's
adherence to international human rights standards, including
those pertaining to fair trials.  Given your concern in this
area, I would like to bring the situation of Selahattin
Simsek, a 37-year-old Kurdish schoolteacher, to your
attention.  I understand that he has been in prison for more
than 12 years, having been convicted of robbery and killing
a policeman on behalf of the Kurdish Workers' Party. 
Selahattin Simsek has consistently denied any involvement in
these crimes, and, according to the independent human rights
organization Amnesty International, his trial was grossly
unfair.
	Selahattin Simsek has said that he was tortured for 23
consecutive days while undergoing interrogation.  During a
two-year trial involving more than 500 defendants, he was
allowed to see his lawyer only once.  None of the
prosecution witnesses was able to identify him in court, and
his conviction was based on contradictory evidence, mainly
statements extracted by torture from his fellow defendants. 
In addition, he was not permitted to see important legal
documents relating to his case, including the testimony of
witnesses, until three years after the trial ended.  He was
sentenced to death in 1983, although this was commuted to a
20-year prison term in 1991.  He is currently held in Bursa
Special Type Prison.
	I urge that Selahattin Simsek's allegations of torture
be investigated by an impartial and independent authority,
and that his case be reviewed.  
 
						Respectfully,
 
 
 
 
copy to:
His Excellency Nuzhet Kandemir
Embassy of Turkey
1714 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20036