Prisoners for Peace

For forty years War Resisters' International has publicised the names and stories of prisoners of conscience.

Wilson bin Nurtiyas is a member of the Legislation Committee of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) of Indonesia and coordinator of the Indonesian Solidarity with the Struggle of the Maubere [East Timorese] People. In September 1996, he was arrested following a demonstration in Jakarta. He was eventually sentenced to five years in prison, but was released in July of this year as part of a partial amnesty for political prisoners.

PN: You refused to leave prison. Why?

MAGGIE HELWIG

On 1 December, put aside at least one hour and write at least four cards to prisoners; If possible, invite friends around and make an evening of it -- remember to bring nice cards, pens, photos, and some money for postage; Get your peace group or class or place of worship to organise a card-writing session; Set up a stall in your town centre -- make a mock prison cell to highlight the plight of the prisoners. Sending cards and letters Always send your card in an envelope; Include a return name and address on the envelope

1 December is International Prisoners for Peace Day, and every year War Resisters' International invites supporters to send greetings cards to prisoners. The Honour Roll includes those imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service and for nonviolent action against war preparations.
Each year the day has a focus on a particular region or campaign: this year we highlight political prisoners in Indonesia, East Timor and West Papua.

ARMENIA

Pedro Oliver of KEM-MOC (the Basque CO Movement) evaluates the prison experience of insumisos as a political tool.

From the very beginning, in 1989, MOC and other anti-militarist groups have endeavoured to make their total resistance campaign ("Insumisión") its own best antidote against state repression.

This Prisoners for Peace list was originally published as a supplement to the December 1997 Peace News, which is sent to Broken Rifle subscribers as issue number 40. It is also published in French, Spanish and German in those language editions of The Broken Rifle. If you would like a copy of the newsletter in one of these languages, please contact the WRI office at 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 90X. Britain (fax +44 171 278 0444; email office@wri-irg.org). The list and individual articles can also be forwarded by fax or by email on request.

Well, okay... not exactly. So far, we are still safely in our seats. But if we were in Tibet, it could be a very different story. A 60-year-old tailor and a 58 year-old businessman were sentenced to nine and six years respectively after a court found them guilty of putting together a list of cur-rent and released Tibetan prisoners. They were convicted of espionage, since their alleged intention was to send the list abroad. Apparently one of the men had committed the "crime" of passing this letter on to another Tibetan for delivery to India.

CYPRUS

There are religious COs currently imprisoned in southern Cyprus, but they do not wish to have their names published. They face up to 26 months in prison.

FINLAND

Jukka Lassila
Uudenmaan Laaninvankila
Avovankilaosasto
PL 20
05401 Jokela
Finland
(in 2/6/97 -- out 18/12/97)
Total objector

Timo Saarelma
Same address as above
(in 03/11/97 -- out 20/05/98)
Total objector

International Prisoners for Peace Day, 1 December, is a time to remember, to salute nonviolently, and to send our love, letters and cards to imprisoned antimilitarists around the world. Pacifist prisoners are often at the heart of anti-militarist struggles. and it's fitting that they should enjoy a special place in our calendar as well as in our hearts and minds.

Stephen Hancock Prison conjures up hundreds of images and feelings. And covers a variety of institutions and experiences - from hell-holes of torture and deprivation to well-resourced open campuses. Each person's experience is shaped by myriad factors: gender, race, age, sexuality, geography, character, regime, prisoners, prison officers, family relationships, political climate, and support. Even within one country prison varies enormously. I have stayed in three different English prisons, twice for one week and once for six months.

1 December is Prisoners for Peace Day

Every December, War Resisters' International invites supporters to send greeting cards to prisoners for peace. This Honour Roll includes imprisoned conscientious objectors and nonviolent activists who have tried to obstruct war preparations. Each year, we also focus on one of the nonviolent struggles around the world: this year it is in Burma, where a military régime suppresses democratic organisations and wages a war against tribal groups.