May 2018. Minutes

Truro and Falmouth Amnesty International Group

Minutes of Meeting held on 9 May 2018

1. Present: Margaret George, Chris Clarke, Meike Koops, Hetty Tye, Karen Cooper,  Georgie Wong, Shirley Sweeney.
2. Apologies: Wailim Wong, Linnea Glynne-Rule, Chris Ramsey.
3. Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2018: 9.i visit of activist Ziya Kocabiyik to Truro on 4^th May (cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats). This went really well, photos were taken outside the cathedral and he also had time to visit the ‘Freedom to Express Yourself’ exhibition in Archie Brown’s. The group presented him with a cheque for £100 and Shirley gave £10 towards this at the meeting. Meike had bought a copy of the book that has been published in conjunction with the exhibition and intended to present it to Archie Brown’s as a thank you for hosting the exhibition.
4. Secretary’s report: i. Groups News had arrived and was circulated. ii. the monthly action email included the forthcoming Refugee Week, being linked to the Families Together Bill which is going through stages in Parliament. Also reports on voting in the Lords on amendments to the Brexit Bill, linked to Amnesty campaigns to make sure we keep our Human Rights. Meike spoke about the 3 million EU citizens living in the UK. Iii, Margaret has sent off the booking for a stall at Pride together with a cheque for £60
5. Treasurer’s report: Karen had not received the latest bank statements. She and Margaret would chase this up at the bank.
6. Data Protection: Chris, Meike, Karen and Margaret had met to draft out our policy. Chris will finalise it and then it will be circulated to all members. Meanwhile, it was agreed that we need permission of anyone named in the Minutes for their names to appear on the website. Those present agreed.
7. Campaigns:

North Africa – Hetty is writing every month on behalf of Azza Soliman and distributed different addresses to members will to do the same. She had 2 letters to sign on behalf of journalists and HR defenders in Egypt. She also had information about taking action calling for an investigation into the murder of the Italian student Giulio Regeni and would send it out via email to Margaret.

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Chris had sent the IOPT newsletter and had sent letters to sign for four members of the Palestinian Legislative Council threatened with having their residency permits revoked, and Abdul Raqez Farraj, a detained HR defender.

Former Soviet Union – Margaret had brought the latest newsletter and 2 letters to Kazakhstan.

Central America – Georgie had reports from Mexico, including news of the arrest of 9 people in connection with the murder of Bertha Careras. In Vera Cruz 25 journalists have been murdered over recent years. The UN has released a report on the disappearance of the 43 students. In Honduras a Trade Union activist at Fyffes was beaten up but the management denied all knowledge of it.In El Salvador there is an attempt to get the ban on all abortions overturned. Georgie had brought letters to sign to go to Nicaragua where there is an uprising concerning pensions.

8. Forthcoming events –

1.  Street collection in Truro for Saturday 26^th May. It will be from 9.30 to 1.30, with a table in High Cross as a base. Margaret will circulate supporters to ask for help. We have the new labels for tins, and Margaret will order some stickers.
2. 18-24 June is Refugee Week. Precise plans not known yet as Chris R was absent.
3. Bookstall in Lemon Street Market – it is hoped to have this on 4^th or 11^th August. Margaret would ask for permission.
4. 25^th August is Cornwall Pride in Newquay. We have booked a stall.
5. In the absence of a mayor’s Coffee morning, it was suggested that we have a picnic or teaparty. This needs to be discussed at the next meeting.
6. 11 Nov is the end of WW1. And on 10 Dec, the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

9. Next meeting will be on Wed 13 June, 7pm at Sambells Café.