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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

NEWS SERVICE 161/93

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TO: PRESS OFFICERSAI INDEX: NWS 11/161/93

FROM: IS PRESS OFFICEDISTR: SC/PO

DATE: 3 DECEMBERNO OF WORDS: 564

NEWS SERVICE ITEMS: EXTERNAL - COTE D'IVOIRE

PLEASE NOTE: SEE NEWS SERVICE 152 FOR WABY SPIDER CASSETTE ORDER FORM

NEWS INITIATIVES - INTERNAL

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASES

Pakistan - 7 December - SEE NEWS SERVICE 137

India - 15 December - PLEASE SEE NEWS SERVICE 159

TARGETED AND LIMITED NEWS RELEASES

South Africa - 8 December - SEE NEWS SERVICE 151

Human Rights Day Speech - 9 December - The completion of the speech has been delayed. It will now be ready on 6 December and will be sent out to sections as soon as possible. A news release summarising the main points of the speech is being prepared which will also be sent to sections. This only needs to be translated/used by sections who are planning to include the speech in their human rights day activities.

FORTHCOMING NEWS INITIATIVES 1994

Children - 7 January A news release is scheduled to go with a Focus article. We realise that some sections may find the date inconveniently close to national holidays; however, the text should be with you shortly, in plenty of time to plan media work ahead of the holidays.

Tunisia - 12 January

USA death penalty - 26 January Open letter to Bill Clinton, around anniversary of his inauguration as President. News item planned.

South Africa - 16 February SEE NEWS SERVICE 159

Women - 8 March A news release to go with a Focus article, embargoed for International Women's Day

Colombia - 16 March - SEE NEWS SERVICE 123 + UAs AMR 23/56+57/93

News Service 161/93

AI INDEX: AFR 31/WU 02/93

EMBARGOED FOR 10 DECEMBER 1993

COTE D'IVOIRE: LAUNCH OF MUSIC CASSETTE FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN

"I am an active member of Amnesty International in Côte d'Ivoire. In my country, we have decided to act to put an end to extrajudicial executions and political killings. Every one of us was asked to put all his energies into it because, in this field, remaining impassive is more criminal than what we are opposing. Only our action can end the situation."

These are the words of the well-known African musician Waby Spider, whose cassette "Maagizo" is to be launched on 10 December, Human Rights Day, at a press conference in Côte d'Ivoire as part of Amnesty International's major international Campaign against "Disappearances" and Political Killings. Waby Spider, one of West Africa's most popular musicians, will be giving a speech at a press conference held in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan by the Ivorian section of Amnesty International. All proceeds from the cassette will go to the section.

"Maagizo" (which means "message" in Swahili) is a cassette of eight songs all on the theme of human rights. They are recorded in five major African languages and a variety of musical styles, including African jazz and reggae. In his speech Waby Spider talks about the "assassination" of democracy in Africa, despite the ratification of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights by most African states. "The African Charter is not respected by the States which ratified it", he says. The songs featured on "Maagizo" are an expression of the different human rights contained in the African Charter. Alongside an Amnesty International publication "Guide to the African Charter", the songs aim to increase awareness and understanding of the Charter in Africa.

On behalf of Amnesty International's Côte d'Ivoire section, Waby Spider will be touring Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone as a speaker for the human rights organisation's Campaign against "Disappearances" and Political Killings.

ENDS/