Members of PEN American Center's Freedom to Write Committee elected Cuban poet, writer, and independent journalist Raúl Rivero and 25-year old Uzbek independent journalist and human rights activist Ruslan Sharipov as Honorary Members at their June and September meetings.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write polite letters to the Cuban authorities on behalf of Raúl Rivero and the Uzbek authorities on behalf of Ruslan Sharipov calling for their immediate and unconditional releases and the dropping of all charges against them.

***** CUBA ***** [Date] His Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz President of Cuba c/o Cuban Mission to the United Nations New York, NY Fax: (212) 779-1697 Your Excellency, I am writing to express my serious and urgent concern about the continued imprisonment of Raúl Rivero. As you know, in April 2003, Mr. Rivero was sentenced to 20 years in prison solely for exercising his right to free expression and association, rights protected under Articles 19 and 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, I am shocked that this harsh sentence was handed down just days after he and several other independent journalists were arrested. This raises serious questions concerning due process of law. I respectfully ask that you please reconsider Mr. Rivero's case and in a spirit of humanity order his immediate and unconditional release. Sincerely, [Your name and signature] ***** UZBEKISTAN ***** His Excellency President Islam Abduganievch Karimov Rezidentsiya prezidenta Tashkent 70000 Republic of Uzbekistan Fax: + 998 71 139 5625 H. E. Rashidjon Hamidovich Kodirov Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ul. Yahyo Gulomov 66 Tashkent 70000 Republic of Uzbekistan e-mail: prokuratura@lawyer.com Your Excellencies, I am writing to express my grave and urgent concern over the continued imprisonment of Ruslan Sharipov. I fear that his closed trial was unfair and that he has been sentenced in reprisal for his criticisms of the Uzbek government. I am also extremely fearful for his safety in detention. I therefore urge the Uzbek authorities to release Ruslan Sharipov immediately pending an independent review into his trial and the sentences entered against him. Sincerely, [Your name and signature] Cc: H.E. Shavkat S. Khamrakulov Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 Fax (202) 293-6804

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN released major reports concerning attacks on writers and journalists around the world at PEN´s 69th International Congress, held in Mexico City from November 22-28, 2003.

PEN is seriously concerned about the alarming and disturbing trend in Morocco, where authorities appear to be using anti-terrorist legislation to suppress writers and journalists since May. Seven Moroccan journalists have been detained in connection with their work, and two remain imprisoned, Ali Lmrabet, since May 21st, and Mohammed Al-Herd since June 13th. The five others, Moustapha Kechnini, Abdelaziz Jallouli, Miloud Trigui, Mohammed el Hourd and Abdelmajid Ben Taher, have been given prison sentences of between 18 months and three years, but are presently free pending appeals.

This sharp deterioration in press freedom comes amid efforts on the part of the Moroccan authorities to confront terrorism. The crackdown began after the May 16th terrorist attacks in Casablanca, which killed 44 people. An anti-terror law passed soon after the attacks has been used repeatedly to detain reporters who have written about militancy in the country.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write a polite letter to the Moroccan authorities expressing concerns about the convictions and charges against the writers and journalists, and calling upon the authorities not to use newly-introduced anti-terrorist laws to violate the right of Moroccans to express themselves without fear of reprisals. You may copy the suggested text for your appeal or write your own.

[Date] His Excellency Driss Jettou Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco Rabat Morocco Fax: +212 37769995 Your Excellency, I am writing to express my concern about the detention of and charges against the writers and independent journalists Ali Lmrabet, Abdelaziz Jallouli, Miloud Trigui, Mustapha Alaoui, Mohammed el Hourd, Abdelmajid Ben Taher and Mustapha Kechnini. I believe that their convictions constitute a violation of the detainees' universally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, and I therefore respectfully call upon the Moroccan authorities to reverse all charges against them and release those who are currently in detention. Sincerely, [Your name and signature] Cc: H.E. Aziz Mekouar Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco 1601 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Fax: (202) 265-0161

As part of the ongoing Impunity Campaign, the PEN Writers in Prison Committee circulated the following details of killings of writers and journalists since July 24, 2003. Appeals calling for a full and proper investigation into the deaths may be sent as suggested below. You may also access this information, plus all the latest on the impunity campaign, on the Canadian PEN website (www.pencanada.ca/impunity/)

July 27th, Nepal: Amar Lama, managing editor of the weekly Tajakhabar, killed in Naya Bazar, Kritipur town, 10 km south of Kathmandu. Witnesses say that men posing as police officers apprehended Lama outside his newspaper office, and then attempted to abduct him. Lama is said to have fled but was caught and shot at point blank range. The murder may be linked to Lama's political activities. He was a member of the Nepali Congress Party but had been freed in 1998 after five years in prison. He was the surviving member of a car crash in which two Communist Party of Nepal members died. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in 1993, but this was overturned on appeal to the Supreme Court.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write a polite letter to the authorities in each respective country calling for a full and impartial investigation into the murders. In appeals to Nepal, note the current critical situation in the country, expressing regret that peace negotiations between the Maoist guerrillas and the government have broken down and the violence increased. Remind the government of Nepal of its obligation to uphold the human rights provisions contained in the country's constitution and the international treaties to which it is a state party. Below is a suggested text for your appeal as well as addresses for the governments where murder has ocurred with impunity.

[Date] Your Excellency, I am writing to express my serious disappointment at the murder of journalist [name] in [city] on [date]. I respectfully call upon the authorities to carry out an exhaustive investigation into his killing and to bring those responsible to justice. I also urge the government to take steps to safeguard journalists in your country from attacks. Sincerely, [Your name and signature] Addresses: NEPAL Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa Prime Minister's Office Singha Durbar, Kathmandu Nepal Fax: +977 14227 286 PHILLIPINES Secretary of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez Department of Justice Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila Philippines Fax: + 63 2 521 1614 JAPAN Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister's Residence 1-6 Nagata-cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100 Japan KYRGYZTAN Ministry of Justice Mr. Daniyar Narynbaev 37, ul. Orozbekova, Bishkek, 720040 Kyrgyztan Fax: +996 (312) 663044 INDIA Shri L.K. Advani Deputy Prime Minister Room No.104 North Block New Delhi 110 001 India Fax: + 91 11 309 4221

PEN Members and Friends of PEN conducted a coordinated, worldwide campaign from September 15 through October 10, 2003 to focus attention on the plight of colleagues currently in prisons in Myanmar (Burma). This campaign focused on eight writers currently in prison or under house arrest. They are:

• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi- leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and author of many books, including Freedom From Fear (1991), Letters from Burma (1997), and The Voice of Hope (1997);

• Aung Myint- Poet, journalist, and head of the information department of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Rangoon, sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment;

• Ko Aung Tun and U Myo Htun- writers sentenced to 13 years and 7 years in prison respectively;

• Khin Zaw Win- a dentist, interpreter, former speech and report-writer for UNICEF and student, arrested in 1994 and sentenced to 15 years in prison;

• Kyaw Sein Oo- Accused with Aung Myint (see above) of distributing information regarding the repression of the NLD to international press agencies and to Western diplomats based in Rangoon;

• U Ohn Kyaing- an MP, translator and former editor sentenced to 7 years hard labour and an additional 7 years' imprisonment;

• U Sein Hla Oo- a journalist with the daily Botahtaung and a well-known short story writer, was also MP-elect for National League for Democracy; and,

• Win Tin- Former editor of the daily Hanthawati, sentenced to a total of 20 years' in prison with hard labor.

For complete case information and letter writing instructions click here.




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From September 1-12, PEN drew attention to the continued repression of the freedom of expression of writers and journalists in the Francophone North African countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. While writers in Algeria continue to be arbitrarily detained for pursuing their work, freedom of expression for writers in Morocco and Tunisia is also coming under increased pressure in the aftermath of the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

For full information on PEN's Francophone North Africa Campaign and on how to send letters in support of these imprisoned writers, click here.

PEN American Center has joined amicus curiae briefs submitted in key First Amendment cases currently under review in Michigan, California, and Texas.

In Michigan, where the ACLU has filed the first challenge to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act (Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor v. John Ashcroft), PEN co-signed a brief submitted on behalf of literary and First Amendment organizations. The brief specifically challenges the provisions of Section 215 that allow federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies access to bookstore sales and library lending records, even records of patrons not suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities, and the related provision imposing a gag order which prohibits booksellers and librarians from reporting that they've been served with Section 215 subpoenas. Arguing that Section 215 implicates core First Amendment values, the brief asserts that the section unconstitutionally allows the government to obtain First Amendment-protected materials with any showing of need or relevance; and that the section's automatic gag rule directly violates the First Amendment. The brief, prepared under the auspices of the American Booksellers for Free Expression, is available at http://abffe.org/pdfs/amicus_brief.pdf.