December 10 |
[Date]
[See addresses below]
Dear [insert name from below], I am writing as a concerned (writer/journalist/member of the PEN American Center) about the wide-scale repression of the right to freedom of expression of my colleagues world wide who have attempted to use the internet as a means of practicing their profession. Recent figures suggest that over 70 writers and journalists are in prison for having used the internet as a means of expressing their dissenting views. This number is rising. Of particular concern is the large number of writers detained in Asia. Among them are: [here refer to one or more of the cases highlighted in the campaign background pages on China, The Maldives, and Vietnam] The world association of writers International PEN sees the detention of writers solely for the peaceful expression of their views as a direct attack on the internationally recognised right to freedom of expression. I join PEN in its call for an end to the detention of writers, whether they have used traditional print media or the internet, wherever they may be. As [title] or [organization], you will have a particular interest in ensuring free access to your service. I therefore call on you to use your influence on governments who arrest and imprison those who use the internet. I am also concerned by reports that some Internet Service Providers have acceded to pressure from some governments to allow access to their services to be curtailed. In some cases this is linked to attempts to overcome the use of the internet by criminal and terrorist elements. However, there is alarm within the freedom of expression community that some of these restrictions are used to silence those who express legitimate dissenting views. By yielding to such pressure, ISPs have been accused of complicity in government attempts to silence dissent. I therefore urge that [your company] ensures that any limitation it places on access to its services does not have a negative impact on the legitimate practice of the right to freedom of expression and information, as guaranteed by international human rights standards, notably Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Sincerely, [Your name and signature] Addresses of International ISPs MICROSOFT