----- Original Message -----
From: Anti-Slavery International
To:
glasgow@distributel.net
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 7:23 AM
Subject: Urgent Action as Niger Government arrests activist
Dear Janette, [my birthname]
In March we wrote to tell you some good news that the Niger Government was going to hold a ceremony that would mark an end to slavery throughout the country. 7,000 people were to be released in one region of Niger.
However, that release did not go ahead as planned. A ceremony was held and slavery was announced to be a criminal offence, but the authorities warned slave masters not to release their slaves officially. If they did, they were told they would face up to 30 years in prison.
Now, in an alarming move, the Government of Niger has arrested the country’s leading anti-slavery activist, Ilguilas Weila. He and another activist, Alassane Biga, remain in prison following their arrest over a week ago.
On 5 May, they were charged with illegally soliciting funds from an international organisation based in London, meaning Anti-Slavery International. This charge is unfounded and baseless.
On 28 April, Ilguilas Weila, president of Niger's pioneering anti-slavery organisation Timidria and 2004 Anti-Slavery Award winner, Alassane Biga, Assistant General Secretary of Timidria's Tillabery office, and four other people, were arrested and accused of “propagating false information on slavery and attempting to raise funds illegally”. The charge of propagating false information on slavery has now been dropped and the four men who were arrested with Weila and Biga were released.
The Government's actions against Weila and Biga appear to be a concerted campaign to discredit them and the work of Timidria as a whole.
At least 43,000 people are in slavery across Niger. They are born into an established slave class and are made to carry out all labour required by their masters without pay, including herding, cleaning, and moving their master’s tent to ensure he and his family are always in the shade. Slaves are inherited, given as gifts and babies may be taken away from their mothers once weaned. They are denied all rights and choice.
In May 2004 a new law came into effect making practising slavery punishable by up to 30 years in prison. This was in response to the publication of the first national survey of slavery, which was jointly carried out by Timidria and Anti-Slavery International. The report established the extent and countrywide existence of slavery, having interviewed over 11,000 people, most of whom were found to be in slavery.
For more information and background on slavery in Niger and Timidria go to
www.antislavery.org/homepage/news/latestnews.htm
Please send an email now to the European Commissioner for External Relations and the United States Department of State, to ask them to seek the immediate release of Ilguilas Weila and Alassane Biga.
You can copy and paste the sample letter below into a fresh email although using your own words will carry more weight.
Send your emails to:
1. The Honorable Constance Berry Newman,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, US Department of State
E-mail: (care of Connie Lykes, Executive Assistant):
lykesc@state.gov
Salutation: Dear Assistant Secretary Newman
2. Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
EU Commissioner for External Relations, European Commission
Email:
benita.ferrero-waldner@cec.eu.int
Salutation: Dear Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner
Sample letter:
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Dear [insert name]
I am writing to express my concern over the arrest and detention of anti-slavery activists Ilguilas Weila and Alassane Biga in Niger.
Ilguilas Weila is president of Niger's pioneering anti-slavery organisation Timidria, which won the Anti-Slavery Award in 2004. Alassane Biga is Assistant General Secretary of Timidria's Tillabery office. They remain in prison following their arrest over a week ago for their work against slavery in the country. On 5 May, they were charged with illegally soliciting funds from an international organisation based in London, meaning Anti-Slavery International.
Anti-Slavery International and Timidria have been partners for many years and the current accusations arise from work they are undertaking jointly to raise public awareness of slavery in Niger and to assist with those currently living in slavery. Anti-Slavery International and Timidria have categorically denied the accusations against Mr Weila. The Government's actions against Messrs Weila and Biga appear to be a concerted campaign to discredit them and the work of Timidria as a whole.
I urge you to take all necessary measures to pressure the government of Niger to grant the immediate release of Messrs Weila and Biga and to drop the charges against them.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
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Please send us copies of any replies you receive.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes
Sarah Williams
Campaigns Officer
e-mail:
s.williams@antislavery.org