Newsletter

Amnesty International USA Group 48

02.10
In This Issue . . .
1 In Memory of Howard Zinn

Dariusz
howardzinn.org
2 MEXICO: Activists Must be

Rompa Stock.Xchng
Protected
3 Oregon Senator responds
to concerns from Group 48
member
4 CHINA: Urgent Action –
Arbitrary detention
6 GABON: Defend Journalists
in Gabon
7 A Big Thanks to Janan Stoll
8 Report from the Tabling
Team

AIUSA-Group 48
http://aipdx.org
503-227-1878
Next Meeting:
Friday February 12th
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave
7:00pm informal
gathering
7:30pm meeting starts
NewsLetter Designed
By Michelle Whitlock
MichelleWhitlock.com
In Memory of Howard Zinn
by Larry Cox, Executive Director of AIUSA
Amnesty International USA mourns
the passing of historian, author and
activist Howard Zinn, who died on
January 27th at the age of 87. His life-
long dedication to reframing history to
include the voices and struggles of the
poor, the oppressed and the forgotten
inspired untold numbers of students,
activists and citizens around the world
in the struggle for social justice.
His seminal 1980 work, A People’s His-
tory of the United States, drew on voices
seldom heard in the historical record:
African Americans, women, Native
Americans and laborers. By taking a
grassroots approach to history, Zinn
ushered in what he called a “quiet revo-
lution” in the field of history, one that
held the work of academics and histori-
ans to a higher standard of inclusiveness
and integrity.
Zinn was a ceaseless advocate for hu-
man rights and civil liberties, and his
oft-quoted belief that “Dissent is the »
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 2
highest form of patriotism” defined his academic career as a
professor at Boston University. His eloquent denunciations
of war carried the weight of a scholar who took seriously his
responsibility to contribute to the ethical discourse of this na- this important reminder of the power of collective action:
tion. His work inspired subsequent generations of Americans “We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to partici-
to consider history through a more just and inclusive lens.
MEXICO: Activists Must be Protected
21 January 2010
Michal Zacharzewski Stock.Xchng
A mnesty International is asking its members to call on
the Mexican government to protect human rights activists.
Mexico is a dangerous place for such individuals. They face
threats, harassment and intimidation, wrongful prosecution
and even death in retaliation for their human rights work.
Activists highlight human rights violations committed by the
military, police and non-state actors, they also campaign for
the rights of Indigenous Peoples, migrants, women and those
whose environmental rights are threatened. This work to im-
prove the rights of others often brings them into conflict with
the police, illegal loggers, landowners - anyone who sees them
as a threat to their vested interests.
Zinn’s life work will continue to inspire us, and his passing
only deepens our commitment to bring individuals together
to fight for human rights and justice. Zinn himself gave us
pate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by
millions of people, can transform the world.”
Over the last three years Amnesty International has docu-
mented at least six cases of killings of human rights defenders.
Activists also suffered threats, attacks and wrongful prosecu-
tion on spurious charges. Virtually none of these abuses have
been investigated effectively by either federal or state au-
thorities. In some instances, investigations have been wholly
negligent.
As the Mexican authorities are often slow and ineffective
in handling request for protection, defenders in danger in
Mexico have to rely almost entirely on requests issued by the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to the Mexi-
can authorities for their protection.
The intervention of the Inter-American system should be a
last resort, not a first recourse. Amnesty International has
called on the Mexican government to develop an effective and
comprehensive domestic protection programme for human
rights defenders, which would include the effective investiga-
tion of abuses against defenders.
You may mail a letter (composed below) to the Minister of
the Interior, Fernando Gómez-Mont, asking him to prioritize
the protection of human rights activists from harassment,
intimidation and killings.  OR you may visit the Amnesty.org
web page to send an email.
Lic. Fernando Francisco Gomez-Mont Ureta
Secretaria de Gobernacion
Bucareli 99, 1er.piso
Col. Juarez, Del. Cuauhtemoc
Mexico D.F., C.P. 06600 »
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 3
Dear Minister,
I am writing to express my deep concern at the number of
attacks and threats against human rights activists in Mexico
which are not effectively investigated as shown in the recent
Amnesty International report.
In August 2008, the Mexican government adopted a Na-
tional Human Rights Programme, including a component
on protection for human rights defenders. This has still not
Oregon Senator responds to concerns from Group 48 member
jeffmerkley.com
Group 48 member Marty Fromer visited with the aides of
Senator Jeff Merkley to address Amnesty International’s con-
cerns for the detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The detention facilities have become emblematic of the gross
human rights abuses perpetrated by the U.S. government
in the name of fighting terrorism. Amnesty International
welcomed President Obama’s executive orders to close Guan-
tanamo and end the use of torture. However, AI is deeply
concerned that human rights violations - and impunity for
human rights violations - continue.
The Senator responded to Fromer’s visit with a letter, as
shown in full below:
January 4, 2010
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me concerning the detention facil-
produced concrete benefits for human rights defenders who
continue to face harassment, intimidation and killings.
I urge you to prioritize the situation of human rights defend-
ers and develop a comprehensive Protection Programme to
allow those who defend the right of others to carry out their
work without fear of attacks or reprisals.
Your attention to my concerns will be greatly appreciated.
ity in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It is an honor to serve as your
Senator, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
I support President Obama’s decision to close the detention
facility in Guantanamo. For too long, this facility has done
immeasurable damage to the image of the United States. I
believe we must develop a mechanism to bring detainees to
justice in a timely fashion, and such a system must take place
under the rule of law. I am also concerned that this detention
facility has threatened our national security, as Al Qaeda has
used images from the Guantanamo facility as a recruitment
tool.
I understand there are many logistical and legal challenges to
overcome in closing the facility, including where to house the
detainees, who can be detained and for how long, and how to
handle issues related to the burden of proof and other eviden-
tiary rules. I am pleased that the Administration has begun
to explore how to address these challenges, and I looked
forward to learning more about their plans. I believe that it
would be premature for Congress to fund the closing of the
facility without these details. I therefore voted for an amend-
ment to prohibit funding the release of Guantanamo Bay
detainees into the United States prior to the announcement of
the Administration’s plan.
I do expect, however, that Congress will approve funding for
the closing of the facility once the Administration provides
greater detail about how it will deal with the detainees. To
that end, on November 17, 2009, I voted against an amend-
ment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
Appropriations Act that would have prohibited funding »
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 4
for facilities in the United States to hold Guantanamo Bay
detainees. I believe that this amendment would have severely
limited efforts to potentially bring detainees to justice in a
federal court of law. I was pleased that this amendment failed
by a vote of fifty-seven to forty-three.
CHINA: Urgent Action – Arbitrary detention
Zhou Yongjun (m)
Rick van Helden Stock.Xchng
O n January 15th, Chinese pro-democracy activist Zhou
Yongjun was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for fraud.
Amnesty International believes that his conviction is politi-
cally motivated. According to his lawyer, Zhou Yongjun is
planning to appeal against his sentence.
His sentence was handed down by the Shehong County
People’s Court, in Sichuan province. Zhou Yongjun was
stopped when he attempted to enter Hong Kong from Macau
in September 2008 on a false passport. Hong Kong police
questioned him about a fraud allegation, but released him for
lack of evidence after approximately 48 hours. He was then
handed over to police from Shenzhen municipality in the
Chinese mainland. Hong Kong does not yet have an extradi-
tion agreement with mainland China.
Press reports published on January 21st quoted a lawyer as
saying concerns remain about the jurisdiction of the case as
the alleged fraud was apparently committed in Hong Kong
and therefore Sichuan authorities should have no jurisdiction
over it. According to a Hong Kong-based lawyer who has
been working on the case along with mainland lawyers, in-
formation withheld by the Hong Kong authorities, including
details of the 48 hours of questioning by Hong Kong police
could have been used to assist in Zhou Yongjun’s defense.
Thank you, again, for sharing your thoughts with me. Please
know that I will keep your views in mind as I continue to
monitor the situation at Guantanamo Bay. I hope you will
continue to keep me informed about the issues that matter
most to you.
All my best, Jeff Merkley, United States Senate
Zhou Yongjun was held incommunicado for more than seven
months in Shenzhen municipality in Guangdong province
before being formally arrested on May 5th, 2009. People who
said they were in detention with him in Shenzhen municipal-
ity have told Zhou Yongjun’s sister that he was ill-treated, and
possibly tortured.
Background Information
In October 2009, the head of the Hong Kong Special Admin-
istrative Region government said that while they could not
comment on individual immigration cases, “(a)nyone who
travels with a false document will be treated accordingly. He’ll
be sent back to wherever is appropriate. That is established
policy.”
China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997,
but a “one country, two systems” model remains in place. An
extradition agreement is being negotiated with the mainland,
but has not yet been finalized. »
Postage Rates
Within the United States
$0.28 - Postcards
$0.44 - Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
To Canada
$0.75 - Postcards
$0.75 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
To Mexico
$0.79 - Postcards
$0.79 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
To all other destination countries
$0.98 - Postcards
$0.98 - Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 5

Zhou Yongjun was formally arrested on 8 May and indicted PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
for fraud by the Shehong County People’s Procuratorate in Fax: 011 86 825 2242826
Sichuan province on 3 August. In the indictment, he was Salutation: Dear Procurator
accused of writing to the Hong Kong-based Hang Seng Bank,
under the name Wang Xingxiang, to ask for money to be Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department
transferred between bank accounts. His family and lawyer of Public Security
argue that the Hong Kong police had investigated Zhou Yun- ZENG Shengquan Tingzhang
jun’s supposed involvement in this case, and had released him Sichuansheng Gong’anting
because there was no evidence to connect him to it. As Hong 9 Jindunlu
Kong is outside mainland Chinese jurisdiction, he should not Chengdushi 610041
be brought to court in China unless the Chinese authorities Sichuansheng
can demonstrate he is charged with a recognizable crime over PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
which they have jurisdiction. Fax: 011 86 28 86301177
Salutation: Dear Director
Zhou Yongjun is a former student leader of the 1989 pro- Copies To
democracy protests. He was jailed for two years for his Ambassador Wen Zhong Zhou
involvement in the 1989 pro-democracy protests. When he Embassy of the People’s Republic of China »
was released, he was exiled to the US. He returned to China
in 1998, and was sent to Re-education Through Labor for
another three years for “illegally crossing the border.” AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
Recommended Action
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: Group Coordinator OR State Death Penalty
Joanne Lau Abolition Coordinator
◌◌ demanding that the Chinese authorities release details of 971-221-5450 Terrie Rodello
the evidence against Zhou Yongjun and demonstrate that jlau@easystreet.net 503-246-6836
China has jurisdiction over the criminal offence on which he Concert Tabling trodello@igc.org
was charged; Will Ware Central America RAN
503-227-5225 Marylou Noble
◌◌ urging them to guarantee that while he remains in custody, ww_ware@yahoo.com 503-245-6923
he will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and will have marylou_noble@
Newsletter Editor
access to his family, legal assistance of his choosing and any Dan Webb yahoo.com
medical care he may require; 503-253-3491 Dignity Campaign
dlwebb02@yahoo.com Janie Whitlock
◌◌ urging the Hong Kong Secretary for Security to explain 503-969-7240
Treasurer
the legal basis for having handed Zhou Yongjun over to the janie.whitlock@gmail.com
Tena Hoke
Shenzhen police in the absence of any extradition agreement tena.hoke@gmail.com Guantanamo cases
with China. Legislative & Darfur
Coordinator Jane Kristof
Appeals To kristofj@pdx.edu
Dan Johnson
Procurator of the Suining City People’s Procuratorate 503-310-4540 Marty Fromer
JIA Xiansheng Jianchazhang subtlet@hotmail.com 503-227-1878
martyfromer@gmail.com
Suiningshi Renmin Jianchayuan Central Africa
Qishandonglu RAN Indonesia RAN
Max White
Hedongxinqu Terrie Rodello
503-292-8168
503-246-6836
Suiningshi 629000 maxw33@comcast.net
trodello@igc.org
Sichuansheng
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 6
2300 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 328-2582
Email: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn
GABON: Defend Journalists in Gabon
xuhara hamid Stock.Xchng
The government of Gabon, ruled by the Parti Democratique
Gabonais [PDG] party since 1968, has aggressively harassed
journalists and restricted freedom of speech in Gabon. After
the highly contested presidential election of August 30, 2009,
the Interior Ministry, the police, and the Gabonese judiciary
have acted to menace journalists and newspaper editors who
have openly criticized the government.
Background On October 6, 2009, Jonas Moulenda, a journal-
ist at the weekly government-run “L’Union” newspaper, hid in
an embassy to escape threats of physical harm from Gabonese
security forces. The government’s National Communications
Council (CNC) slapped suspensions and final warnings on
eight privately-owned publications on 10 November 2009.
Private television channel Canal Espoir also saw one of its
programs suspended in the CNC clampdown, which was
announced at a plenary session on November 10, 2009. The
CNC accused the offending media outlets of “wholesale relay-
ing of public rumors” and “spreading ethnic divisions, insults
and slander”.
Norbert Ngoua Mezui, founder and head writer for the news-
paper “Nku’u le Messager”, told activists at the internation-
ally regarded organization Reporters Without Borders of his
concern about the “deteriorating climate” for the media. He
said he feared that the CNC decision might be only the first
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending
appeals after 4 March 2010.
in a raft of measures aimed at gagging the press. He said the
punishment was aimed at “the outspokenness of the media
during the presidential campaign.”
The most severe punishment was meted out to the bi-monthly
“Echos du Nord”, which was handed down a three-month
suspension for an article it carried in its October 29 issue
headlined: “The first fruits of a hooligan state”. Three publi-
cations, “Le Scribouillard”, “L’Ombre” and “La Nation” were
banned from appearing for two months. The weeklies “Nku’u
le Messager” and “Le Crocodile” were suspended for one
month. The weekly “Le Temps” and a newspaper that appears
irregularly, “Gabon d’abord”, were both issued warnings to
comply with the current rules on journalistic ethics.
Gabon has been ruled by the PDG party since 1968. Omar
Bongo, the father of current president Ali Ben Bongo, ruled
the country with an iron grip from 1967 until his death in
May 2009. Ali Ben Bongo won a presidential election on 30
August 2009, which is believed by many Gabonese to be il-
legitimate because of rampant electoral fraud. The crackdown
on 10 November 2009 appears to be closely linked to opposi-
tion protests about the election results.
Action Request
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) asks that we write
polite letters to the following individuals to protest recent
government restrictions on freedom of speech in Gabon. In
your letter, please ask:
◌◌All legal action against journalists take place in a docu-
mented, transparent, and fair manner;
◌◌The Gabonese government take immediate legal action
against any individuals who use threats of physical harm or
violence against any journalist;
◌◌The Gabonese government consider changing laws that
provide arbitrary closure and censure of newspapers;
◌◌The Gabonese government immediately cancel all present
suspensions of newspapers. »
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 7
Sample Letter
Dear President/Ambassador,
I am a member of Amnesty International, and I am deeply
troubled by restrictions against journalists in your country.
On November 10, 2009, the Conseil National de Commu-
nication suspended eight independent newspapers without
providing a clear rationale for its decision. If Gabon is truly
an emerging democracy, then I ask you to demonstrate your
government’s respect for individual freedom by ending the
policy of suspending newspapers or arresting journalists
solely because they express unpopular opinions.
I urge your government to ensure impartial and transparent
legal proceedings against all journalists, and to prosecute
anyone who threatens journalists with violence.
Finally, I urge you to annul the suspensions on November
10, 2009.
A Big Thanks to Janan Stoll
by Tena Hoke, Treasurer
Laura Leavell Stock.Xchng
I joined Group 48 in 1987, and for as long as I can remember
Janan Stoll has been our Treasurer. During all that time she
has been a brilliant steward of our finances, ensuring that
money is spent where it can best be utilized to advance the
cause of human rights. A good example of this was when
Janan encouraged our group to go digital with our monthly
newsletter. The money that was freed up as a result goes to
outreach and action to support our campaigns on Central
I look forward to your response to my concerns.
Sincerely,
Mail To
President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba
Presidence de la Republique
BP 546, Libreville, GABON
President Emmanuel Ondo Methogo
President of the Conseil National de Communication
Conseil National de Communication
BP 1075, Libreville, GABON
Ambassador Carlos Victor Boungou
Ambassador of Gabon to the United States
Embassy of Gabon
2034 20th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009-5001
Africa, the US, Central America, China, Bhopal and so many
other places. Thank you so much for your service, Janan!
My first task as Treasurer is assisting Joanne with the call
for membership contributions. As Joanne has publicized at
meetings and by email, contributions can be made online at
http://aipdx.org/donate/. Several people have taken advantage
of the convenience of this site and the ability to pay by credit
card - thank you to Joanne for getting it set up. Checks may
be mailed to: AIUSA Group 48 c/o Tena Hoke, 5026 SE 46th
Ave., Portland OR 97206.
Following are the donations that had come in as of press time
- I’ll publish another list next month with the names of our
February donors.
For particularly generous contributions we thank: Kathy and
Clarence Pugh, Jane and Ladis Kristof, Marylou Noble and
Maia Manock.
For their 2010 membership contributions to AIUSA Group
48 we thank: Mary Loos, Cornelia Cerf, Diane Koosed, Marty
Fromer, Martha Gies, Janan Stoll, Erika Swiberg, and Daniel
Johnson.
 AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010 Pg 8

Report from the Tabling Team

by Will Ware On February 16th and 17th, Tues and Wed, Richard Thomp-
son, the English folk/rock singer/song-writer, known for his
Ivan Soares Ferrer Stock.Xchng

work with Fairport Convention and a duet with wife Linda

as well as guitar wizardry (if God bought an electric guitar he
would hire Richard to give him lessons) has graciously con-
sented to allow us to pass our petitions through the audience
at the Alladin.
What I would like to have is at least three helpers each night
to pass the petitions rather in the manner of a church collec-
tion.  It is hoped by this stratagem to best our Amnesty Inter-
national record of 861 signatures obtained at a U2 concert a
couple of years ago.
Group 48 members Eileen and Geoff Hutchinson and
myself clip-boarded the queue in the Steve Earl concert at the Please email me or talk to me at the next meeting if you can
Aladdin on January 19th and 20th obtaining 251 signatures help.  Also if you have tabling materials, banners and clip-
on actions various.  We did quite well, although finishing with boards please indicate how I can retrieve these for this run at
soggy petitions due to the rain, wind and cold. the record.

Postage

AIUSA group 48 Newsletter February 2010