by megiana

Tuesday 1st February

January 31, 2011 in information by megiana

Hello everyone,

Just a quick email to let you all know what we’ll be doing tomorrow.

With all that we have coming up over the next few months we’ve decided to try and concentrate on one thing at a time. The beginning of the meeting shall see us discussing the upcoming events and assigning a few roles to anyone who wants involved. The events include: The Sleep Out, The Scottish Parliament Elections and the upcoming Annual Ceilidh.

Tuesday 1st February, 5pm, QMU, committee room 1: Gaza, two years on, planning for an awareness raising event.

We shall then be watching some footage on the Amnesty view point of the Gaza, two years on, situation. We shall then have a discussion and hopefully come to a conclusion on how we want to take this forward.

If you’d like to take a look at the campaign before tomorrow, follow this link:

Please come along and bring any ideas with you!

Best,
Megan.

by megiana

Updates and SPB Success!

January 23, 2011 in events, information by megiana

Hello everyone,

I think you will all agree that Saturday went above and beyond what we hoped for! I cannot express enough how much all the help in the run up (flyering, cakes, ticket selling, raffle prize collecting), and help during the evening (setting up/clearing away, manning the door, raffle tickets selling) was appreciated. A ginormous THANK YOU to you all – we definitely pulled together as a team and we should all be very proud of ourselves.

So to get down to it, and drum roll please – the amount of money raised (as it stands just now, we think there’s a little more to come) is the absolutely fantastic amount of £1,414!!!!! What an amazing amount of money that Amnesty International is going to benefit from!

So, I’m exhausted! And I’m sure you all are too – and that’s why we’ve decided to take a wee break from being super human beings and from organising/planning anything new, by having a much more informal, relaxed meeting tomorrow.

Tuesday 25th January, Meeting, 5pm, QMU: We shall be showing a documentary on the 2003 Liberian civil war. “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”. Biscuits and other tasty snacks shall be provided and this shall be followed by a celebratory drink in Jims Bar.

For more info follow: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/pray-the-devil-back-to-hell/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

However, this well deserved break can only last for one week as we have lots coming up:

What’s Coming up in GU Amnesty:

Sleep out week, 21st-27th February: in collaboration with STAR. We shall be holding a sleep out one evening during this week and shall be looking to out together a team of people who are interested in helping to organise this.

Gaza 2 years on: After last weeks introduction we shall be arranging a carefully thought out event/action around this issue. Again, looking for a team of people.

Scottish Parliament Elections: I have contacted the Scottish office and they inform me that full candidate listings will be released on Wednesday (26th Jan) and they shall be sending all relevant information immediately to me. This means that next weeks meeting shall see us making a start on this very exciting opportunity.

Phewph!

Hope to see some of you tomorrow and just want to say once again – thank you thank you thank you for all the incredible hard work!

Best wishes,
Megan and GU Amnesty.

by megiana

TOMORROW: Secret Policeman’s Ball

January 21, 2011 in events by megiana

So it’s finally here. THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALL, tomorrow!!! Saturday 22nd January, doors 7.30pm, QMU. Not to be missed!!!

First off, thank you all very much for all cake baking, stall manning and flyering over the past few days, publicity stint well and truly achieved!

I’m sorry to have to say that we shall no longer be doing our Lumberjack sketch, Billy doesn’t think he’ll have time to teach us it so it’s been scrapped I’m afraid. HOWEVER! We do need everyones help tomorrow!

* Setting up: 5.30pm, QMU, (This will include helping set out tables and chairs and decorating the place with our beautiful new banners).

* During the event: Manning the door and helping to sell raffle tickets.

Anyone who is able to help set up give me a wee text on 07842094672 and everyone else – see you tomorrow!

Thanks again,
Megan

by megiana

This Week!

January 18, 2011 in events, information by megiana

Hello everyone,

Just a very quick email to remind you all of this weeks Secret Policeman’s Ball plans and what we’re going to look at in this weeks meeting:

Meeting: Scottish Parliament Elections and focuses for the coming term.

Immediately after the meeting, Tuesday 18th January 6pm onwards: Secret Policeman’s Ball decoration making (painting banners will be the main task). We’ll be heading round to Catherine’s flat for tea and painting!

All this week
: Flyering over the lunch period.
Thursday 20th January: Cake stall outside the library 11-2 (Rotas for both of these will be decided at the meeting).

Best,
GU Amnesty.

by megiana

Postering 3PM Today @ QMU

January 12, 2011 in actions, main by megiana

Secret Policeman's Ball Poster

Secret Policeman's Ball Poster


Hello all,

Just a wee reminder that we’re meeting at 3pm outside the QMU today for operation Secret Policeman’s Ball posters!

My number is 07842094672 if any of you are running late and want us to wait 🙂

Thank you all very much for the help you’ve offered over the next few weeks, exciting times!

Megan

by megiana

First Week Back!

January 9, 2011 in campaigns, events by megiana

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you’ve had a nice relaxing time off and are back feeling refreshed for a new term filled with Amnesty fun! There are lots of exciting things coming up over the next few weeks and whilst essay deadlines and exams are still nice and far off, I hope you’re all as excited as I am!
What’s coming up?

* Tuesday 11th January – 8th Anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay.

1. Refreshers Fair: 1pm – 5pm, Qudos, QMU. All help welcomed for half an hour here and there – we’ll be petitioning for those still detained in Guantanamo as well as hosting a stall to promote our society.
2. First Meeting: 5pm – 6pm, Committee room 1, QMU. We shall be a) making plans for Secret Policeman’s Ball preparation. b) Appealing to release Shaker Aamer from Guantanamo. Please bring along a postcard/photograph/something along those lines of your hometown for the action this week.

* Next Week: Exact dates TBC at Tuesday’s meeting-cake stalls and flyering for the Secret Policeman’s Ball.

* Saturday 22nd January: The Secret Policeman’s Ball, 7.30pm, £5, Qudos, QMU. Not to be missed!!! All information at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170131473022936

Thanks!

by actions

AI UA 267/10 Russian Federation: Woman Disappeared in the North Caucasus

January 7, 2011 in actions by actions

WOMAN DISAPPEARED IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Zalina Elhoroeva (F)

On 22 December, Zalina Elhoroeva was taken away by armed camouflaged men wearing balaclavas in the North Caucasus, Russia, according to two witnesses. Her family has filed complaints with law enforcement agencies, but Zalina has not been seen since, and her whereabouts are unknown.
Zalina Elhoroeva (Yelkhoroeva), aged 30, was travelling by taxi from Valdikavkaz in North Ossetia to Nazran in Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, accompanied by her brother’s wife. According to her family who received information from Zalina Elhoroeva’s brother’s wife and the taxi driver, on the way through the village of Chermen the road was blocked by four vehicles (models UAZ and VAZ-2114) which are often used by law enforcement agencies.

Armed camouflaged men in balaclavas who spoke native Russian requested to see their papers, following which they took Zalina Elhoroeva into a silver-coloured VAZ-2114 and drove her away without any explanation. The driver was told to drive to “Chermenskii Krugâ€Â (a checkpoint on the administrative border between North Ossetia and Ingushetia, staffed by armed law enforcement officers) and wait for her. However, Zalina Elhoroeva did not appear.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Zalina Elhoroeva was travelling to Vladikavkaz to visit her brother, Timur Elhoroev, who had been transferred from a hospital to a pre-trial detention centre by a law enforcement agency earlier in December. He was in hospital following an incident on 18 November in Nazran when unknown men opened fire at a car in which he was travelling during which he was badly wounded and the driver killed. According to human rights centre Memorial, Timur Elhoroev’s father is unaware of what charges have been made against his son.

Amnesty International has received numerous reports from Ingushetia, Noth Ossetia and across the North Caucasus in Russia of people being detained by masked members of law enforcement agencies who refuse to introduce themselves and explain the reason for the person’s detention and where he/she is being taken to. In a number of cases, after a period of initial incommunicado detention the family later learns that their relative is under investigation and being held by police or other law enforcement agencies. In other cases, such persons’ whereabouts have never become known to the family.

Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law violating the right to recognition as a person before the law, the right to liberty and the security of the person, the right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the right to life.

The security situation in the North Caucasus is volatile, with violence affecting Ingushetia and North Ossetia. Armed groups have been launching sporadic attacks against law enforcement officials, but have also targeted civilians indiscriminately in suicide bombings. In September, a car bomb in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania, reportedly killed at least 17 people and left over 100 injured. There are also regularly reported allegations that law enforcement officials use unlawful methods to combat armed violence which often involve violation of human rights. Alleged cases of disappearances, unlawful detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and extrajudicial execution are regularly reported from across the North Caucasus.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Russian or your own language:
* Urging the authorities to establish Zalina Elhoroeva’s whereabouts and ensure her safety;
* Expressing concern that she may have been subjected to enforced disappearance;
* Calling for a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of her possible enforced disappearance, including identifying and bringing to justice those responsible for it.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 4 hrs / BST + 3 hrs)

Minister of Interior
Lt-Gen A. F. Akhmetkhanov
Ministry of Interior of North Ossetia
Pushkinskaya street 10V
Vladikavkaz 362004
RSO-Alania, Russian Federation
Fax: +7 8672 53 45 54
Email: mvdosetia@rambler.ru
Salutation: Dear Mr Minister

Prosecutor of North Ossetia
Mr Vladimir Pavlovich Vekshin
Prosecutor’s Office of RSO-Alania
Pushkinskaya street 8
Vladikavkaz 362004
Republic of North Ossetia – Alania
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 8672 53 23 72
Email: info@procuror-osetia.ru
Salutation: Dear Mr Prosecutor

Head of UFSB RF for RSO-Alania
Maj-Gen Oleg Yatskov
Directorate of the Federal Security Service for North Ossetia
Mordovtseva street 6
Vladikavkaz 362040
RSO-Alania, Russian Federation
Fax: +7 8672 53 41 76
Salutation: Dear Maj-Gen Yatskov

For all numbers above, if a person answers, say clearly “FAXâ€Â.

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEAL TO:
Mr. Alexander V. Sternik.
Embassy of the Russian Federation
13 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QX
Fax: 020 7727 8625
Email: office@rusemblon.org

PLEASE CHECK WITH THE UK SECTION IF SENDING APPEALS AFTER 04 FEBRUARY 2011.

Individuals At Risk Programme
* including Urgent Actions

Tel: 020 7033 1572
Fax: 020 7033 1503
Email: iar@amnesty.org.uk
Web: www.amnesty.org.uk/cases

Amnesty International UK
Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London
EC2A 3EA