Stand Up For Human Rights
Weekend before last was the Amnesty conference on terrorism, security and human rights in Newcastle. A good day, with lots of useful discussion and debate, and excellent to see so many people there. Thanks to the Newcastle group for organising the venue, and to AI UK for taking conferences like this out to the regions.
At lunchtime everyone at the conference got done up in orange boiler suits, masks and googles, and were marshalled through the centre of Newcastle by shouty men in US army uniforms, as part of Amnesty’s campaign to close Guantanamo, and to highlight Amnesty’s new Unsubscribe campaign. Made quite a sight for the Saturday shoppers, over a hundred people done up like this walking slowly along, head bowed, in silence. We were then lined up by Grey’s Monument, and put through various positions by the enthusiastic ‘guards’ whilst some of the national Amnesty team handed out info and collected signatures. Was slightly weird, because my googles fogged up right at the start, so it was like being in some sensory deprivation zone. Which, doubtless is the point when done for real.
Number of years since the first prisoners were taken to Guantanamo: 5
Number of prisoners under 18 at the time taken to Guantanamo: 17
Number of attempted suicides in custody: 40
Number of suicides in custody: 3
Number of prisoners brought to trial: 0
Number of prisoners convicted of any offence of terrorism: 0
Replying is good.