Just imagine being locked in a cell alone.

You may not even know why you are there and you certainly don’t know when – or if – you will be released.

Then, suddenly, the door opens and you are handed a bundle of envelopes.

You open them. Christmas cards, dozens of Christmas cards from people you have never heard of and from all corners of the world.

The next day, more cards – and the next.

You don’t need to understand English or French or Spanish or Italian or Urdu to know what these Christmas cards are telling you.

They are saying you are not alone; they are saying you are remembered and someone, somewhere is doing everything possible to get you released.

“I know those who receive the cards get a real boost when they realise they are not forgotten,” declared Ashley McMullin.

“We have had replies from a detainees to say how important the cards are.”

Ashley, 18, is a student at Colchester Sixth Form College, and a member of the college branch of Amnesty International UK.

In fact, the branch is older than Ashley. It has just celebrated its 20th “birthday”, and was launched by two of the college’s teachers.

David Huggon still teaches Spanish and French at the college.

It was his interest in Spanish history which turned his attention to South America and, in particular Chile, where, during the 1970s under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, thousands of people “disappeared”. They were never heard of again.

“Amnesty International was doing all it could to keep that atrocity in the spotlight,” said Mr Huggon.

“And it wasn’t the only atrocity. There was so many others, everywhere.

“That was when we decided to set up a branch at the college. We wanted it to be student-lead – which it is – and, each year, the branch has between 15 and 20 student members.”

Ashley joined when he became a student at the college last year.

His parents have been members of Amnesty International for a long time and take Amnesty’s magazine.

“So, from an early age, I was aware of the work of Amnesty,” he explained.

“One of the most important things which Amnesty does is ensure those who are imprisoned without trial or whose trial was suspect are not forgotten. We do that by writing letters.”

censorship They find details of these prisoners on the Amnesty website.

In fact, the internet has been a big help to those wrongfully imprisoned.

“There is a lot of website censorship in China and the internet is banned in North Korea, but people still find a way to log on and access most sites,” said Ashley.

Lena Bharania, 16, read about the college’s branch of Amnesty in the prospectus.

She was impressed by the amount of work being done to highlight the plight of those in countries across the world who have not had a fair trial or no trial at all.

“They have been called enemies of the state, but how can they be enemies of the state if they have had no trial?” she asked.

Jessica Portway revealed that this year, 400 Christmas cards signed by students and staff at Colchester Sixth Form College have been sent to prisons and detention centres around the world.

“Guantanomo Bay detention centre may be closing, but there are many more places where people are locked up for their beliefs and tortured,” declared 16-year-old Jessica.

“No-one here needed to be persuaded to sign the cards – they just did, which was great.”

The branch has organised talks by former detainees. One, Emilio Barreto, from Paraguay, put on a production in the college’s drama studio.

“He had been tortured for 13 years in a prison in Paraguay,” said Mr Huggon.

“His wife was also arrested and tortured, but she was released much earlier.

“He thinks he was arrested because his father had been a trade unionist. He can’t think of any other reason.2

  • To find out how to set up a branch of Amnesty International at your school or college, e-mail David Huggon at huggond@colchsfc.ac.uk

WHAT IS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL?

  • Amnesty International (AI) is an international non-governmental organisation made up of ordinary people from around the world standing up for humanity and human rights. Their purpose is to “protect individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied”
  • Founded in London in 1961, AI draws its attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international standards. It works to “mobilise public opinion to exert pressure on individuals who perpetrate abuses”
  • AI was awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its “campaign against torture” and the UN Human Rights Prize in 1978
  • It is is largely made up of voluntary members but has a small number of paid professionals
  • AI is financed largely by fees and donations from its worldwide membership. It does not accept donations from governments or governmental organisations
  • For more information about Amnesty International go to amnesty.org.uk. Information on north Essex’s local branch can be found at amnesty colchester.org.uk