TNAG-2320-FCO40-3364-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 63

INTRODUCTION / AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL – A WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 1991

6 fate remained unknown. Several actions on Sudan were also launched during the year. Amnesty International members in Egypt were particularly active in col- lecting signatures for a letter of appeal to President Bashir of Sudan.

Amnesty International frequently asks for support for its campaigns from doc- tors, lawyers, trade unionists and other groups in the community with special interests, skills or influence. In this "target sector work", members either work through their local sections or join professional groups. There are extensive networks of Amnesty International medical and legal groups, and a growing number of trade unionists, teachers and journalists work on behalf of individual. prisoners and in general campaigns.

Between April and September 1990 a target sector action mobilized Amnesty International members and trade unionists from all over the world to appeal on behalf of 12 trade unionists who had been victims of human rights abuses in countries such as El Salvador, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey. Several trade unions. agreed to bring Amnesty International concerns before the International Labour Conference. Recently formed Amnesty International groups in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait distributed a video and a leaflet in Arabic and collected thousands of signatures for the appeal case petitions.

Amnesty International medical groups in over 30 countries around the world organize actions on behalf of prisoners who are seriously ill, often because of tor- ture or inadequate care. They also campaign for an end to medical participation in human rights violations and raise Amnesty International concerns with medi- cal associations. Medical groups sometimes intervene on behalf of colleagues who are themselves victims of human rights abuses. In 1989 Dr Maamun Mohamed Hussein called a 10-minute meeting to discuss a doctors' strike at a Sudanese hospital. Dr Hussein and his colleague, Dr Sayed Abdallah, were arres- ted, tried and convicted of "calling and organizing a strike" and "incitement to opposition against the government". In December 1989 Dr Hussein was sen- tenced to death and Dr Abdallah received a sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. Medical groups began an immediate international campaign to publicize the cases and demand the release of the two men. On the eve of a visit in May by a delegation representing several scientific and medical organizations from the United States of America, both doctors were released. Dr Abdallah was re- arrested in August, and medical groups again organized to put pressure on the Sudanese authorities to release Dr Abdallah and some 20 medical profes- sionals still in detention.

Human rights emergencies are happening all the time all over the world. Amnesty International has to be prepared to act quickly when it learns of a "dis- appearance", or fears that a prisoner may be facing torture or execution. The Urgent Action network can be mobilized for worldwide action within 48 hours. The network has about 50,000 participants in 60 countries who are prepared to write, fax or telegraph immediate appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. One member, a night-watchman in Ireland, writes to every address on every Urgent Action an average of 2,000 letters a year. In 1990 a total of 823 Urgent Actions were issued, taking up the cases of 3,626 people in 90 countries.

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