Letter to Editor: AI group in search of peace
Dear Editor,
Sri Lanka 1:30 a.m.---Government Security forces crash their way into a young man’s home and tear him away from his loving family. He is handcuffed, blindfolded, and thrown into the back of a cramped squad car. He knows not where he is going or why he has been abducted. The only thing he knows is a deep penetrating fear. His captors tell him nothing but subconsciously as if by instinct he knows what is going to happen.
The car grinds to a halt and he is dragged into the dark basement of a concrete building. He feels himself being pushed into a chair. There is a blinding light as the blindfold is removed. Olive clad military officers sit in front of him and barrage him with questions about militant revolutionaries, weapons trading, and other things he has no involvement in.
He stammers that he doesn’t know what they are talking about. The wind is forced from his lungs as a heavy blow hits his abdomen. He is knocked from the chair and lands on the cold concrete floor. The room spins and takes on a surreal appearance. He catches a glimpse of a boot flying towards his temple, then blackness……
Sadly, even though the previous story is a re-creation, such occurrences are all to common indeveloping countries and even in the industrialized nations of the world. Often the basic human rights we hold so dear are denied to people who have the misfortune of living in oppressive societies. Even we who have the privilege of living in the United States are not immune to such harsh treatment. Nearly every major police force in our country has been the subject of legal action because of brutality and harassment.
One may ask what he or she could do to change such unjust practices. The answer is simple, learn. Amnesty International is a worldwide organization that was organized to ensure the basic human rights of people in all parts of the world regardless of race or creed.
We at Amnesty believe that everyone living on this planet has inalienable rights that for the sake of humanity must be upheld. As the nations of the world become a global community, we believe that the people of the world should have an equal opportunity to live in peace without worry of brutality and injustice.
If you would like to join the IVCC chapter of Amnesty International or would like more information call 433-3294 and find out for yourself what you can do to make our world a better place for all people to live in.
Nathan Prendergast
President, IVCC Chapter of Amnesty International