Weekly Action and News 02/06/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Indigenous Peoples’ rights defenders Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” de Jesus, from the Cordillera region in northern Philippines, have been missing since 28 April 2023, in a suspected enforced disappearance by state security forces. Their families received credible information that two individuals matching the missing activists’ description were forcibly taken in the area where they were last seen by unknown individuals identifying themselves as working for a police agency, but have not received neither a confirmation nor a denial from government security forces that such an operation indeed happened. Amnesty are calling on the Philippines government to urgently clarify the whereabouts of these two human rights defenders, and, if they are detained, to release them immediately.
Important news about June monthly group meeting
Manchester City will be holding a parade through town on 12th June, which means that we have had to make a late change to our plans for the June monthly group meeting.
This will now take place online on Monday, June 12th at 7pm.
A zoom link will be sent to all members ahead of the meeting. We will be discussing our plans and campaigns, including campaign strategies, for the coming busy summer months. All are welcome, including new members. We hope to see you there.
Tiananmen Square - vigil in St Peter’s Square, Manchester, Sunday 4th June, 3.00-4.30pm.
Amnesty Online vigil, with speakers & discussion, 10:00-11:30 Saturday, 3rd June, here.
Tiananmen Square Online Vigil Saturday 3rd June 2023 10am Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
On June 4th 1989, 34 years ago, Chinese troops shot dead hundreds, if not thousands, of peaceful protesters in & around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. These events remain censored in mainland China and, increasingly, in Hong Kong. But they will not be forgotten. The Chinese authorities cannot erase history.
There will be an Amnesty stall in support of Julian Assange at the Fiesta de Las Artes, at the Bread Shed/Sand Bar on Grosvenor Street, M1 7HL on 10th June. If you are able to help with the stall for a couple of hours, while enjoying the music and other attractions at the festival, please contact Lima Al-Iskalachi limakazoor@gmail.com. More information about the festival can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/fiesta-de-las-artes/730283308455585/
To celebrate his 75th birthday,
and in aid of the Saddleworth Palestinian Women’s scholarship fund (SPWSF)
our member Steve Roman invites you to a magnificent evening of entertainment entitled
“Paul Robeson – the giant in a nutshell”
at the Birch Community Centre in Rusholme on Saturday 17th June at 7:30pm.
Featuring Tayu Aluko, the Obsidian Rock Band, and with a global buffet supper and pay bar.
Proceeds to the SPWSF. More information and get your tickets here:
https://www.wegottickets.com/sct/Gkfp3kRzRW
Volunteers needed to help with our refugee week event 24th /25th June!
We will be hanging fabric hearts, handing out information and talking to people in several of the beautiful gardens open to the public for Chorlton Open Gardens
If you could spare an hour or two to help out on either of the days, please let Alison Wearden know (alison.wearden@gmail.com).
Dates for upcoming campaigning events. We have a very busy schedule for June!
Contact alison.wearden@gmail.com if you want more information about any of these events, or if you want to volunteer to get involved.
Saturday June 10th – Climate and human rights, COP28, UAE/craftivism event at Didsbury Festival
Friday June 16th – stall at Manchester Metropolitan University summer sustainability fair.
Saturday June 17th – Steve Roman’s birthday / Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship fund.
Saturday, June 24th Amnesty International UK Section, AGM, London/online. More details to follow.
Sat/Sun June 24/25 – Refugee week events at Chorlton Open Gardens.
Saturday 1st July (tbc) – Israeli Apartheid Street Exhibition, Manchester
Sunday July 16th- UAE/Craftivism event – Arab Arts Festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool.
Good news
Bahrain - On 24 May 2023, parliament abolished Article 353 of the Penal Code which exempted rapists who married their victim from conviction.
Mauritania - On May 26, 2023, Biram Dah Abeid, leader of the anti-slavery movement Ira Mauritania, arrested for the umpteenth time on the morning of May 24 in the capital Nouakchott, was released from prison after local and international protests.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE –please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join, bussk@btinternet.com
Refugees –please contact Alison Wearden, if you would like to join alison.wearden@gmail.com
Anti-racism –please contact Hazel Errey if you would like to join hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism –please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join bussk@btinternet.com . Kathryn will be stepping down as craftivism coordinator so if you would like to take on this role, please let her know.
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly letter writing drop ins) Next session, Saturday, 22nd July 2-4pm, then 4th Saturday in September, November. Manchester Central Library, café area. Contact Anne Walker for more information anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK, Lancine Sacko, sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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