Amnesty Greetings Card Campaign Launched With Cross-Party Backing

3.45.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 12th Dec 2004

Amnesty Greetings Card Campaign Launched With Cross-Party Backing

Amnesty International's annual Greetings Card campaign was launched this weekend in Southampton with cross-party support from three Hampshire parliamentarians.

Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, Southampton MP Alan Whitehead and Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne are pictured with Amnesty local group vice-chair Becky John (in Amnesty t-shirt) and volunteer Jilly Cooke supporting the stand at the Marlands shopping centre.

"The idea of the campaign is to support prisoners of conscience around the world by sending cards to them. It is a great boost to their morale and it also tells the authorities who have detained them that they have friends and supporters around the world" said Ms John.

Sandra Gidley sent her card to the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) that is fighting for civil rights under the regime of Robert Mugabe. Whenever the women take to the streets in peaceful protests at the deterioration in social and economic conditions and human rights, they are arrested and detained.

Chris Huhne and Alan Whitehead wrote to Headmaster Khalil Bashir whose 15 year old son was shot and injured this year after a long period of pressure on the family from the Israeli authorities to vacate their home in the Gaza strip.

Chris Huhne wrote to Liu Fenggang, a Chinese protestant who was sentenced to three years in prison for publicising reports on the arrest of Christians and the destruction of churches in China, where only state-approved religious activity is allowed.

Mr Huhne said that Amnesty's efforts to stay in touch with prisoners of conscience had a surprisingly strong effect in putting oppressive governments on notice that they are being watched. "Amnesty's work has slowly but surely been pushing on the frontiers of freedom" said Mr Huhne.

The stand was also visited by Southampton Mayor Dennis Harryman and local television celebrity Chris Packham.

"These cards offer hope and encouragement to the recipients and can act as an effective way to bring about change because the impression their mail makes on police, prison staff or political authorities can help to keep them safe" said Mr Huhne.

Anybody who would like to send a card as part of this year's Christmas campaign can find details on the Amnesty UK website at http://www.amnesty.org.uk/gcc.2004/