Minutes of AIBF Group 81
Meeting of 8 May 2014
Present: Nicola (Chair), Jane, Lucy, David, Peter K., Glen, and Ling
Christel Ergo, AI Coordinator for the Brussels Region, participated in the meeting, which
began with introductions all round.
Apologies: Nataa, Jan, Peter H., Jolien, Karen, Noreen, Joanne & Stefania
Minutes of the April meeting:
Passed without comment
Letter writing
The letter from Glen, on Nepal, was circulated to the meeting.
Letters promised by David and Noreen would be sent later.
Nicola, Peter K. and Lucy volunteered letters for the June meeting
Campaigns
 RAN South America (Stefania)
No developments on this dossier

Death Penalty Jan sent two requests from this campaign;1) The mass executions of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood foreseen following
sentencing in Egypt are the subject of an “Urgent Action” request to sign the protest
petition and fax it to the Egyptian Minister of Justice.
Text & fax n° here
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE12/024/2014/en/41e94537-2d39-45e9be00-7ca7d9dfe509/mde120242014en.html
2)
Coming from a country of vast technological expertise, the horrifying
incompetence of the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma, which closed by
Mr Lockett taking 43 minutes to die, after the administration of a new “lethal drug”
combination, should lead all observers to protest in the strongest terms. Amnesty’s major
position paper on this case is at
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/028/2014/en/f4c06c9b-39bf-4ae49c45-b8f44ea94280/amr510282014en.pdf
 “Mon corps mes droits” No news from Noreen
Individuals at risk

Gao Zisheng
Alex has now accepted a post in Germany, so has de facto left the
Group. The whole issue of our support for Gao Zisheng needs to be revived before the long
holidays, to ensure that the dinner planned for September has a positive outcome.

Omar Khadr (update) Transferred from Guantanamo, and currently serving his
(American) prison sentence in Canada, Omar Khadr is appealing to the Alberta Supreme
Court to have his conviction treated as juvenile sentence, not as an adult one (he was 15 at
the time of the offence).
This would make a difference to the conditions of his
imprisonment, his rights to parole etc.
Fundraising

Quiz A de-briefing from the first Quiz in the “James Joyce” left the meeting
wondering how the atmosphere could remain so positive, with a power-failure, no
microphone, improvised copies of the questions handed round, and results read out by a
sympathetic bystander with a loud voice. Nevertheless, all participants said they would
come again ! The next Quiz will be May 15th. The meeting agreed on a question-writing
evening on June 10th, venue to be decided.
Other Events

Mothers’ Day at Waterstones: Saturday May 10th. Under Nicola’s guidance,
Glen, Lucy, Ling, Nataa, Karen & David would take part in preparing & distributing roses
and cards.

European Parliament Open Doors Day: Saturday May 17th. Nataa, Ling, Fiona,
& Peter K. would all help at this stand.
Any Other Business

Christel Ergo introduced her coordination work for Amnesty, and led a discussion
on strengths & weaknesses in AI groups in general, and Group 81 in particular. She also
outlined the sort of help she could give in supporting the work of the group, seen in the
perspective of Brussels as a whole.

Volunteers were sought to distribute dazibaos in the morning of June 17th as part of
the campaign against torture.

Amnesty Secretariat needed helpers for a series of Festivals over the coming
summer. Nicola has the list

The film “Un homme est un homme” on immigration from Burkina Faso will be
shown at the Secretariat on May 22nd, followed by a debate.

Amnesty’s Université d’Eté 2014 is announced for September 13th

The order for candles 2014 is being handled by David, as in the past.
Next meeting:-
Monday 2nd June