People displaced by armed conflict, northern Sri Lanka, 26 April 2009. © Private
By Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s researcher on Sri Lanka.
Six months ago the Government of Sri Lanka announced that war in Sri Lanka was finally over. Victory seemed sweet to ordinary Sri Lankans in the south. The deliberate killing of civilians by Tamil Tiger suicide bombers polarized communities and bred real fear that conflict could leak into ordinary life and affect anyone at any time.
Triumphalism about the elimination of the Tamil Tiger leadership led to dancing in the streets of Colombo. What was forgotten in the moment of victory was the suffering of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians displaced by the conflict and now unlawfully detained in camps in the north east.
Continue reading ‘Six months of suffering in the Sri Lanka camps’
Amnesty International activists raise banners in support of the Sri Lankan displaced.
By Tim Molyneux, a volunteer working in Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka team.
On Monday night I took part in a big event to raise awareness about the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in Sri Lanka currently confined in mass detention camps.
This marked the first day of an international week of action in support of the ‘Unlock the Camps’ campaign, calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure safety and dignity for all displaced people in Sri Lanka.
Continue reading ‘Standing in solidarity with displaced people in Sri Lanka’
Kabala audience uses chairs to stay dry ©Amnesty International
Kabala is a mountainous town in Koinadugu district – the largest district in Sierra Leone with the roughest terrain and according to the available statistics the highest maternal mortality rates. Most people use motorcycle taxis to manoeuvre around the mountains, but in an emergency it isn’t easy.
When we were discussing the fact that one in eight women die in Sierra Leone from pregnancy and childbirth related complications, a volunteer stated that it used to be much worse before.
It poured down with rain before the launch event and finished just in time for the start. However, half way through the play the sky started rumbling again and the rain came pouring down.
Continue reading ‘Rain doesn’t deter people in mountainous Kabala’
Drama group performing at Kambia launch ©Amnesty International
We departed at 6.30am today for the long bumpy ride to Kambia. After a courtesy visit to the paramount chief, I spoke to a group of volunteers about Amnesty’s maternal mortality campaign and caravan. I also asked them to help collect petition signatures during the launch in the afternoon. So far, we have an estimated 3,000 signatures.
The Kambia launch was the best one yet. The paramount chief attended the launch along with local partners and the district medical officer welcomed us and made the opening speeches. One of the musicians travelling with us is the paramount chief’s grandson and everyone in Kambia was excited to see him and the other musicians perform.
Continue reading ‘Play in Kambia highlights problems women in labour face in Sierra Leone’
The Bishop Johnson Memorial School, before the launch © Amnesty International
Khairunissa Dhala is a campaigner in Amnesty International’s Africa team.
After days, weeks and months of planning, the first day of the caravan and campaign launch on maternal mortality in Sierra Leone has arrived!
The event is being held at Bishop Johnson Memorial School, which is next door to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and one of Freetown’s biggest slums called Moaf.
We hope to attract people from these areas as they are most affected by the issues surrounding maternal mortality.
We are expecting 5,000 people at the Freetown launch. The Sierra Leone section has spent the last few weeks
advertising the event in newspapers and on the radio and everyone is really excited.
Continue reading ‘Starting up the Sierra Leone caravan…’
