Newsgroups: soc.culture.china

Received: by dreggs.cisco.com; Thu, 10 Dec 92 17:57:56 -0800
Subject: Re: Will The Prisoners Get The Cards? (fwd)
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 92 17:57:55 PST
Status: RO

Ignatius, an encouraging word on SVDC's Xmas project from Morey's Soviet
prisoners' experience.  Pls distribute his message to all.  //doug

Forwarded message:
> Date: Wed, 09 Dec 92 14:18:52 PST
> Subject: Re: Will The Prisoners Get The Cards? (fwd)
> 
>           Doug, the message from Ignatius is correct indeed! Our
>           experience in dealing with the prison authorities in the
>           Soviet Union was the same.
> 
>           1. Prisoners spirits are lifted greatly if even one or two
>           get through, especially from someone in the West whom they
>           do not know.
> 
>           2. Prison authorities do not want to "rock the boat". They
>           are sometime prone to be influenced by masses of letters
>           from the West.
> 
>           3. I have held many long discussions with former Prisoners
>           of Conscience from the USSR.  One was called into the head
>           commandant of the prison camp and ordered " to tell all of
>           his friends in the West to STOP writing!!!" Another received
>           no mail for years--on the day he left, he was shown a closet
>           that was nearly filled to the top with his mail. He was told
>           to take it with him (ha!). he grabbed a handful and left!
>           Another was shown his prison file, which included all
>           correspondence to him from the West, which they were
>           tracking very carefully!
> 
>           My bottom line------WRITE ON!!! The more the merrier!
>           The rulers in Beijing will fall one day just as the rulers
>           in the Kremlin did. The pen is mightier than the sword!
> 
>           Keep up  the good work!
>           Regards, Morey@ngc.com
> 
===============================================================================
		     Silicon Valley for Democracy in China

				  News Flash

			       December 9, 1992


			   Right!  We Have To Write!



      The following is a frequently asked question from many supporters and our
own members regarding our annual Christmas Card Campaign:

	"Are you sure those prisoners will receive cards which we'll
	send to them at the prison addresses?  If they are blocked to
	freely receive anything from outside, what's the meaning of
	sending cards?"

      Some of them will get the cards.	For example, more than 200 cards
reportedly were sent to Chen Ziming at Beijing No. 2 Prison last year.	The
warden would not permit him to see any of the cards or letters but also
hesitated to say a flat "no" to the matter.  As a compromise, Chen got a list
of the names of those who sent him the seasonal greetings and some of the
messages in the letters.  In fact, his wife, Wang Zihong, wrote back on his
behalf to thank everyone because his treatment was consequently improved in the
following month.  Wang was allowed to visit him on routine basis ever since.
In addition to the letters that we received from Wang and others, we have
gotten more encouraging confirmation of concrete results of the letter drive
supported by the overseas groups and individuals.

      A visitor, who came back from Beijing ten days ago after talking to
dissidents' family members in person, has verified that several prisoners
received our letters and cards.  On the other hand, some prison authorities
probably would block the mails to the political prisoners.  But we must keep in
mind that one of the purposes to send the cards is also to tell the prison
authorities and people at the postal services that there are so many of us out
here care enough to put our money where our mouth is.  Well, those goons just
have to be clearly and repeatedly told that "The World Is Still Watching!!!"
Let these word spread.


Ignatius Ding
SVDC Communications
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china,soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.hongkong