Amnesty International - local group
Astrid Fielden runs a local group of Amnesty
with meetings once a month. Members of the group meet to write letters
about political prisoners who have been adopted by Amnesty. Amnesty give
information about the prisoners and guidance about what to say to different
figures of authority who, are either responsible, or involved in the prisoners
continued detention. The letters are mostly to ask for their release or
sometimes to improve the conditions in which they are being held, for
example, in arranging essential medical treatment, and, to investigate
any instances of abuse such as torture that have been reported to Amnesty.
On special occasions such as Christmas, Amnesty
provides the names of prisoners who would like to be sent a card - again
careful guidance is given about what to write and the sort of greeting
that would be appropriate. It is fairly unusual for us to get any response
to our letters or cards. We were quite thrilled therefore to receive the
following reply to a Christmas card sent to a prisoner in Ukraine, on
a Christmas card:
Dear Jill, Thank you for your support and hearty words.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Regards, Aleksandr Rafalsky
and on an accompanying letter:
Dear Jill, Thank you so much for letters.
It was incredibly wonderful and touching to be given moral support from
people who I've never met in person.
And first of all I would like to thank you for your kindness and understanding
of my situation.
My family has put all their efforts for ten years to prove my innocence.
At the moment we have collected all facts proving my innocence in the
crimes I have been jailed for life.
Unfortunately review of my case in trial is a very time consuming process.
Your cordial words and support you have shown to me make me believe in
my future. I cannot say enough good things about your attitude to myself
and appreciate your support very much.
Gratefully Aleksandr Rafalsky
Jill Vogler
