Andrei Sannikov – Belarus
Andrei Sannikov is the most prominent member of the opposition in Belarus and stood as a Presidential candidate in the December elections. Authorities beat and arrested Mr. Sannikov, along with his wife Iryna Khalip after they attended a demonstration on December 19, 2010. On March 12, 2011, he was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of organizing or participating in a mass riot she is under house arrest.
This is an excerpt from an open letter written by Andrei, after he was sentenced. It was smuggled out of the detention centre where he was held.
“The Belarusian people have been deprived of their Human rights, not only on December 19th but today, as the authorities continue to persecute dissidents.
“When court proceedings began, there was overwhelming evidence that the results of the Belarusian presidential elections were falsified. None of the candidates gathered the number of votes necessary to claim victory in the first round, a second round should have been held in accordance with the law. I have no doubts that my team and I would have won the vast majority of the votes in the second round.
“I believe that realising this Lukashenko was driven to fear and panic, and that these emotions continue to drive the unlawful repressions he orders against all opponents.
“I felt shame when the verdict was announced. I am ashamed for the investigators, prosecutors and judges who disgrace our country. I am ashamed that the international respect Belarus once held, has now been systematically ruined by the criminal authorities and their servile judicial system.
“The repressions of peaceful citizens in Belarus cannot be described as anything other than an atrocity. Lukashenko continues to push the country further into economic and humanitarian crisis. The international community has severely criticised the authorities repressive actions over the recent months, but in my opinion, these criticisms do not go far enough.
“They must acknowledged that there is a country in the centre of the European continent run by a regime that maintains control, by threatening the lives of it’s citizens. This should be reflected in the international communities relations with Belarus.
“The overwhelming majority of Belarusian population understands today that it is impossible to continue a life like this. I am sincerely thankful to and proud of those who struggle for our honour and dignity, for our rights and freedoms. Their number is growing despite the atrocious behaviour of the authorities.”
Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh – Chad
As Leader of the opposition, Party for Freedom and Development, I was arrested at my home in N’Djamena, by members of the Chadian security forces on 3 February 2008. The same day, two other political opponents, Lol Mahamat Choua and Ngarlejy Yorongar were arrested, a few hours after a major offensive by armed opposition groups on the capital. On 1 February 2008, Chadian armed opposition groups launched a major attack which was driven back by the army on 3 February 2008 after heavy fighting.
Despite requests from my family, international human rights organizations, the UN and the EU to the Chadian authorities for information about my fate, my whereabouts remain unknown. In March 2009, my family once again asked the government of Chad to disclose what happened to him but have yet to receive a response.
I am the leader of the Parti pour les Libertes et le Developpement (PLD) – Party of Freedom and Development, and spokesperson for the Coordination of Political Parties for the Defence of the Constitution. I am also a professor of mathematics at the University of N’Djamena and a former government minister.
Liliany Obando – Colombia
I am a trade unionist, academic and human rights campaigner. 3 years ago on 8 August 2008 I was dragged away in front of my two terrified children and elderly mother. The Colombian regime accused me of ‘rebellion’ and has held me since then in appalling conditions in prison without having convicted me of any crime.
I was targeted because of my high-profile work, highlighting that fact that Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist, with thousands murdered in recent years. The Colombian regime, which is desperate to improve its international image and cover up the abuses.
I am held in Buen Pastor Women’s Prison in Bogota, a prison holding some of the many hundreds of political prisoners throughout Colombia. All are denied adequate medical care, living in unhygienic and overcrowded conditions, and many have been victims of torture and degrading treatment. I have myself been subjected to physical and psychological abuse and completely denied a fair judicial process.
Liliany wrote in a letter to Justice for Colombia,
Now I spend my days in a high-security cell isolated from the rest of my fellow Political prisoners but I try to keep my dignity and my morale, and to hold my head high. We will continue to struggle for the freedom of all Colombian political prisoners. One day we will realise this dream and I will once again continue to work in freedom to achieve democracy, political tolerance and peace with social justice.
These 36 months of unjust imprisonment have been less tortuous thanks to the invaluable solidarity and expressions of affection of many people, who even without having met me have taken concern over my case and that of the of all political prisoners in Colombia
Min Ko Naing – Myanmar/ Burma
I am a well known political dissidents in Myanmar. As chair of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions I was at the forefront of the pro-democracy mass uprising that took place across Myanmar 20 years ago. The uprising was brutally suppressed by the military junta and an estimated 3,000 people were killed and thousands more imprisoned or disappeared. For my part in the demonstrations I was imprisoned for 15 years, many of them spent in solitary confinement
I was sentenced on 11 November 2008 to 65 years’ imprisonment for my role in the major anti-government protests of August and September 2007. I am a prisoner of conscience at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
George Sabra – Syria
As everyone has seen on their TV screens pro-reform protests had been taking place daily in Qatana from 9 to 15 July, following four months of unrest across Syria. The protesters clashed with supporters of President Bashar al-Assad on a number of occasions when both sides threw stones at each other.
I George Sabra am a Syrian political activist I was detained on 20 July as part of mass arrests by the Syrian army and security forces in the town of Qatana, south-west of the capital, Damascus. I am at serious risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
I was imprisoned twice before for peaceful activities as a senior member of the Democratic People’s Party, previously called the Syrian Communist Party – Political Bureau, most recently for a month, between 10 April and 10 May 2011, and previously for eight years between 1987 and 1995, during which time I was convicted in a grossly unfair trial before the Supreme State Security Court.
