A twenty year ‘conspiracy of hope’

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 22

A twenty year ‘conspiracy of hope’

By

THOMAS HAMMARBERG,

1. Secretary-General of

Amnesty International.

Amnesty International was launched in 1961 to bring out of the dungeons the forgotten prisoners. It began with a newspaper article published in the London “Observer" on May 28. 1961, calling on people of all walks of life to begin working impartially and peacefully for the release of thousands of men and women imprisoned throughout the world for their political and religious beliefs. These were to be called "prisoners of conscience,” and with that a new phrase entered the vocabulary of world affairs. Within a month more than a thousand people had sent in offers of practical help. Six months later, the founder, Mr Peter Benenson. announced a further step in the campaign. What had started as a brief publicity effort was being converted into a permanent international movement. "We believe that these first six months have shown that in an increasingly cynical world there is a great latent reser-

voir of idealism to be tapped," he declared. In each case where the free expression of views was being suppressed by torture and imprisonment. Amnesty' _ International members (slowly’ being organised into groups) attempted the seemingly impossible. They began their own battle against official silence and political persecution. They contacted the prisoners’ families and lawyers and began sending off postcards, letters and telegrams appealing to government authorities to respect human rights. An early supporter of the movement, the humanitarian, Dr Albert Schweitzer, underlined the significance of Amnesty International’s purpose. In a special message in 1963. he wrote: "I believe that world peace can only be achieved when there is freedom for people of all politics, religions and races to exchange their views in a continuing dialogue. For this reason I would partic-

ularly ask all those who are working in their different way towards world peace, to make their contribution, preferably b.v active service or, failing that, by financial contribution, to this great new endeavour called Amnesty International." Not everyone was of that view. As the movement became better known and attracted more support, its critics became vocal. But from inside the very countries that were damning Amnesty came other voices. The postcards and the telegrams and the little parcels of medicine were getting through. Letters came back, many of them smuggled out of prison or past airport censors. “We have been able to face our problems with great determination as a result of encouragement from people like you." wrote Winnie Mandela, one of the best-known leaders of black opinion in South Africa. "We know that we are not alone in our lifelong battle. We owe this feeling to you ...”

Faced with mounting evidence of the atrocities being inflicted on prisoners, an epi-

demic that seemed to spread like a cancer in the seventies. Amnesty International launched a global campaign for the abolition of torture.

Wherever prisoners were being subjected to torture —

there were dozens of nations where the practice had become systematic, leading to mutilation and deaths in detention — Amnesty International would intervene. A new network was set up, using telephones, post office boxes, telegrams and telex machines to cross-check reports of arrests and alert volunteers if torture was a possibility. Once a report was checked, hundreds of appeals could be on their way within hours. It became a life-saving operation. A voice from prison: "Faith in your efforts and concern sustained me throughout the horrible period of my imprisonment. Without hope I think I would have died.” The movement had become a lifeline —

a "conspiracy of hope,” open to everyone prepared to work in defence of human dignity. It had proved that ordinary people could work together re-

gardless of politics in an effort to halt the excesses of tyranny. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 brought with it a reaffirmation of the original Amnesty vision. In making the award, the Nobel Committee stated: “The world has witnessed an increasing

brutalisation and internationalisation of violence, terrorism and torture . . . Through its activity for the defence of human worth against degrading treatment, violence and torture. Amnesty International has contributed to securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world." Those in Amnesty International . are less confident. Countless prisoners remain. Torture remains. Executions are reported daily. Now. human rights run the risk of being dragged into the tangle of international power politics. Faced with this challenge, Amnesty International's complete independence is even more .imperative. It has an obligation to keep partisan politics out of the work for prisoners of conscience. It has an obligation to maintain the highest possible standards of accuracy in reports. It has to keep Amnesty International true to its own ideal — an independent people's movement defending the victims of political imprisonment, torture and the death sentence.