War Resisters International
(November 30, 2021) — December 1st is Prisoners for Peace Day. On this day (and every day) we encourage you to show solidarity with the activists and conscientious objectors imprisoned due to their peace work and their refusal to take arms and perform military service.
This year we want to highlight and denounce how countries like Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Eritrea and Tajikistan continues to prosecute and imprison conscientious objectors.
Find a list of prisoners for peace here.
Download the list here or below.
130 veterans arrested in protest near White House.
What Can You Do?
We have been told repeatedly by people who have been sent messages of solidarity while in prison, either via letters or solidarity actions, that the moral support of like-minded people has been invaluable. Your solidarity is crucial to remind the imprisoned refusers and peace activists that they are not alone and that we are aware of the significance of their resistance. On this day,
- Join many others from across the world and write to those imprisoned for their peace work and conscientious objection.
- Encourage your friends, peace group, student, faith or community group to organise a card-writing session (online, or if the Covid-19 regulations allow, physical).
- Help us spread the word on social media. Use the hashtag #PfPday21 and post your messages of solidarity with prisoners for peace on social media, and invite others to write to those in jail.
If you have details of other prisoners for peace not yet listed, please write to info@wri-irg.org.
In Prison Now: Prisoners for Peace List, November 2021
(November 30, 2021) — Below is a list of some of those currently in prison for their work for peace. We include those whose addresses we can obtain, and who are happy to have their names and stories made public. In some cases, nicknames are used and ‘care of’ (c/o) addresses given, where that person is happy to be contacted, but does not want their contact details spread publicly.
Singapore
All following prisoners are Jehovah’s Witnesses, imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Usually, they receive a first sentence of 12 months (but it can be up to 15 months) and a second sentence of 18 months (but it can be up to 24 months). Therefore, the total time spent is usually 30 months (but it can be up to 39 months).
- Ca Leb (Azariah) Wa, age 21
Second term. Expected release date: 11 May 2022
- Donovan Yong, age 20
Second term. Expected release date: 30 June 2022.
- Edrenz James Ramos, age 21
Second term. Expected release date: 08 February 2023.
- Ganesh Aravind, age 24
Second term. Expected release date: 08 February 2023.
- Joshua Soon, age 26
Second term. Expected release date: 30 March 2022.
- Lie Hao Norman Sek, age 21
Awaiting 2nd Court Martial following his first term in prison.
- Nicholas Ang, age 21
Second term. Expected release date: 11 May 2022.
- Raj s/o Rajamogn Rohan, age 24
Second term. Expected release date: 08 February 2023.
- Shao Qi Koh, age 21
Awaiting 2nd Court Martial following his first term in prison.
- Shawn Jonathan Kumar, age 23
Second Term. Expected release date: 30 June 2022.
- Yi Jie Lucas Lee, age 19
Awaiting 2nd Court Martial following his first term in prison.
- Nicolaus Wei Ern Chong, age 20
First term. Expected release date: 15 August 2022.
- Junn Orville Yu Quiseo, age 21
Awaiting 1st Court Martial.
- Ming Jie Tan age 20
Awaiting 1st Court Martial.
- Won Kiat Yap, age 20
First term. Expected release date: 16 May 2022.
For all above, write to Singapore Armed Forces Detention Barracks, 402 Lor Kebasi, 688791, Singapore
Republic of Korea
- J.S. Jeong
Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 30 June 2022. Imprisoned in Uijeongbu Correctional Institution.
- S.H. Ahn
Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 23 April 2022. Imprisoned in Yeoju Correctional Institution.
- S.H. Choi
Jehovah’s Witness. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release date: 10 November 2022. Imprisoned in Uijeongbu Correctional Institution.
- Jeong-hoon Hong
Arrested on 8 March 2021. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release: August 2022. Imprisoned in Seoul Detention Center. (Address: #2298, 143, Anyangpangyo-ro, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea zip code 15829).
- Gyeong-taek Oh
Arrested on 12 March 2021. Sentence: 18 months. Expected release: August 2022. He has recently been transferred to Yeoju Correctional Institution. (Address: #464, 107, Yanghwa-ro, Ganameup, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea zip code 12627).
Eritrea
Eritrea continues to imprison conscientious objectors. The below are all Jehovah’s Witness, imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Eritrea’s military service is indefinite, for men and women, and starts in the final two years of high school, which is in a military camp.
- Bereket Habteyesus, age 29
Arrest date: 26 May 2014
- Henok Gebru, age 39
Arrest date: 24 January 2005
- Samuel Ghirmay, age 34
Arrest date: March 2009
- Yosief Fissehaie, age 34
Arrest date: October 2006
For all above, write to: Mai Serwa Prison, Asmara, Eritrea
USA
In October 24, 2019, seven peace activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, were found guilty and charged with a range of crimes, including trespassing, depredation of government property for their protest actions at Kings Bay nuclear submarine base in Georgia on April 4, 2018. During 2020 and 2021, all activists were sentenced to serve in prison between 10 to 33 months.
The Kings Bay Plowshares support group announced that as of 23rd November 2021, all 7 activists have completed their sentences and been released. You can still write to them and send your messages of solidarity via kingsbayplowshares@gmail.com.
Read the bios of the activists here: https://kingsbayplowshares7.org/about/bios/
Israel
Eran Aviv (19) and Shahar Perets (19) have spent 114 days (in six terms) and 58 days (in three terms) behind bars respectively for their refusal to serve in the Israeli military. In November, Eran received an exemption from military service by the end of his sixth term in prison. Shahar will refuse to perform again and is expected to receive another prison sentence in the coming days.
Write to Sahar for solidarity here.
Meanwhile, conscientious objection Oren Feld, 29, spent 14 days in prison in November for refusing to do his reserve duty in the Israeli military.
There might be other Israeli conscientious objectors jailed for their refusal to be conscripted in the coming weeks and months For up-to-date info follow Mesarvot and Refuser Solidarity Network as well as WRI website.
Ambazonia
There are multiple activists in Ambazonia at the moment. They are imprisoned for expressing their conscientiously held belief that the fundamental human rights of the people of Ambazonia, formerly the United Nations Trust Territory of Southern Cameroons under United Kingdom administration, needs to be respected by all — including the French neo-colonial regime in Cameroon and its allies. Below is a list of some of them.
- Mancho Bibixy (Sep ’16 —)
- Tsi Conrad (Sep ’16 —)
- Tha Emile Angwe (Sep ’16 —)
- Aselech Martin (Sep ’16 —)
- Tamngwa Martin (Sep ’16 —)
- Guingah Valentine (Sep ’16 —)
- Awah Thomas (Sep ’16 —)
- Penn Terence (Jan ’17 —)
- Mr. Wilfred Tassang (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Mr. Julius AyukTabe (5 Jan ’19—)
- Profesor Augustine Awasum (5 Jan ’19—)
- Dr. Cornelius Njikimpi Kwanga (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Dr. Henry Kimeng (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Dr. Fidelis Ndeh-Che (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Dr. Egbe Ogork (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Barrister Shufai Berinyuy (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Barrister Eyambe Elias (5 Jan ’19 —)
- Dr. Nfor Ngalla Nfor (5 Jan ’19 —)
For all above, write to, Prison Principale Kondengui Yaoundé, B. P 100, YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon
