Troubling correspondence #1

The next 2 posts are of recent letters Andrew and Woo-kyung have received from Ali. There is a troubling change of temperament - a lack of interest in carrying on with the campaign or even carrying on any correspondence.

The following includes Andrew's interpretation of the letters based on all his previous correspondences with Ali. It is worthwhile to note, that my past two letters have gone completely unanswered, while a third letter was more curt than is typical in our letters.

As of this moment, if I may speak for Andrew at the others, the campaign seems to be experiencing a communication black out. I have not received any word from Ali despite sending him return postage, while Andrew is uncertain if the letters below were written by an Ali under terrible stress and/or intimidation or if they were written by someone posing as Ali.

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1. Letter Received 30/9 from Ali Khan

The envelope bears a sender address on a strip of paper glued to the top of the envelope. The address (in Korean, I’m romanising and punctuating...) reads “Chungnam, Chonnan-shi, Sobuk-gu, Songgoeup, Songgo Uchaekuk, Sasoham 1–Ho, 331 – 706”. The postal stamp reads “Chonan Shindang”.

The thing to note here is that, to my knowledge, a prison usually allocates a P.O. Box number for inmates but there doesn’t seem to be one here. The strip of paper has been torn on the left side indicating that it’s possible someone has torn the P.O Box number off of the strip so as not to reveal the beginning of the address. Above the address (which is printed in computer type) is hastily written in pen ‘Khan 1453’ (it’s possible that the second digit, 4, is actually a ‘6’ making it 1653, again, a result of eligible handwriting... I suspect it’s 1453 but can’t be certain).

So, Ali Khan, according to this letter, is no longer #3390 of Daejeon prison but possibly #1453 of Chonan prison.

Text of the letter is one side of paper in hastily written handwriting and signed ‘Ali’ (I mention this because the word Ali is used three times in this letter, but twice (once at the beginning and once at the end) the word is barely legible. The last usage, at the end, looks like Ali (or someone claiming to be Ali) has changed the ‘l’ to a capital ‘C’ (possibly? or perhaps another letter?). My impression is that is IS most likely from Ali but an Ali in a state of total panic/confusion.

I wrote to Ali from my home address about 10-14 days ago telling him of the newsletter, a possible ‘walking event from Daejeon prison to Seoul Ministry of Justice’ (also mentioned to him while visiting in July as part of the bike ride events, and in the subsequent article for the Gwangju News).

On closer inspection the paper also bears the marks/imprint of other writing on top of this piece of paper (perhaps another draught discarded leaving an imprint on this sheet?)

Here’s the text of the letter (indecipherable letters/words have been bracketed off and no punctuation added). The writing in the first half of this letter, particularly, is barely legible. I don’t have a scanner that works here so this is the way I’m presenting it for now.

Andrew [??] Woo Kyung

Hi Ali [possible ‘A’ crossed out/’l’ is possibly ‘D’] has moved to Cheon[?]an prison and it’s been quite some time now [now/?never] but he hasn’t written [but/?to/?he] not only you but all of the other friends as well and for that he really apologizes actually Ali’s [illegible word crossed out here] been under too much stress that not only you but he’s not written to any of other friends as well.

Ali’s decided to [‘to’ is scribbled out?] not to write to anyone due to his health conditions. And please don’t post [word scribbled out] or do anything for sometime that’s a request...... and hope you understand that.

[word scribbled out] much love

Ali [as I say, this word has a heavily penned in capital ‘A’ with an obscured ‘l’ that looks like it has unsuccessfully tried to be turned into a different letter]

-Who wrote this letter? -
Evidence possibly against it being from Ali is the mention of ‘all the friends’ which, if it was Ali, might consider that, from what he has told myself and other volunteers directly, and to the best of my knowledge, no one but myself, Audrey, and the two GIC volunteers, have been in contact with him for a number of months. But, then again, this may be a simple way of buoying himself up out of stress, or perhaps these correspondents are the people he is referring to (some of which were on the bike ride in July). Is it a shift into third person or genuinely the writing of someone else?


-Was it Written Under Circumstances of Coercion?-
From looking at this letter it is quite probable that it was written to order by someone else, under conditions of coercion of some kind. This is more probable, given that Ali has subsequently torn up copies of his written confession and his deposition believing that he may well be killed in prison for keeping them (we were given the impression, from our visits in July, that Sammy’s influence over those in the prison was now wholly negative and Ali believed that his murder would be possible inside Daejeon prison).

’and hope you understand that’ is an incredibly dodgy construction and doesn’t fly with the writing style of his earlier letters. It has a very strange feeling about it, as if the writer were taking dictation from someone. Alternatively could it be the consequence of someone incredibly confused.

Troubling Correspondence #2

2. Letter Written Mid-Late July Received After the Ali Khan Bike Ride

Comparing the handwriting to his last letter, from July, there are definitely similarities, particularly the shaping of ‘f’s and ‘d’s. The tone has obviously shifted massively though.

To understand his state of mind it is worth looking at the last letter written to me (received shortly after the bike ride was over in July).

Dear Andrew & Woo Kyung,

‘Hello’
Hope you’re well. I still don’t know what is it that’s happening to me. Just wanted to tell you ‘Hi’ and yeah, wanted to say that please not to hurry on taking “symbolic walk” here. Because I’m not in the right conditions to give any kind of statements to anyone until I get completely better.

I just don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I just want to deal with whatever that’s happening to me. first......

with all the best wishes & love
your friend

ALi

Notes:

-Dates-
Another important factor is that neither letter has been dated. It is even possible that another prisoner (an English speaker with similar handwriting?) could have written the most recent letter. It may have been delayed in posting. We simply don’t know.

-Signatures-
Ali often (as in the second letter) uses a capital L for the ‘l’ of his name. This is obscured in the most recent letter, and adds to the evidence that it was written by someone else. The question regarding the third person is a massive one. Would Ali refer to himself in the third person in these circumstances? Well, the psychological changes that prompted a GIC visit in early July would suggest so but, in letters, Ali has never referred to himself in the third person before, to my present knowledge.

-Psychology of July Letter-
Since July the changes that have occurred in Ali’s behaviour are very distinct but what does not fit is Ali’s constant speaking of his psychological condition. It’s my opinion that he has been pursuaded that he is ill, or is not in a fit ‘condition’ by someone else.

After several meetings with him in July it became obvious that whatever fear he had was simply lifted by volunteers speaking to him over a number of visits... whatever fear he has is not ‘a sickness’, but a response to a number of sequences of coercion present in the prison system he is confronted with, either from prison authorities or from other prisoners, possibly both. The reason it is hard to get firm information from him is because of a fear that has been instilled in him from outside himself. The source of his fear, as I say, could come from a number of outside influences.

-Other Thoughts-
I’d like to repeat this, though. Since approximately the end of June this year I have been speaking to an Ali Khan who I feel is suddenly incredibly mindful of whatever he passes on to me about his present circumstances in prison. He is still reliable on the past facts of his incarceration but in no way do I feel that I am getting his present thoughts on his situation anymore. As I hint at, above, I feel that this is the result of some nameless intimidation that he’s fallen victim to, either from prison authorities or from somewhere else within the prison.

The meaning of his apparently being moved to Chonan (a distant suburb of Seoul) has yet to be established, and the question remains: does Ali want the campaign to wind down, or do the prison authorities that are holding Ali, or other prisoners (possibly Sammy, the individual incarcerated with Ali who confessed to being directly involved with the murder back in 2003) want the campaign to wind down?

Whoever it is should know that the campaign will not do this.

Lately

The news has ranged from positive and hopeful,
"I have started working in a factory and can run for more than 25 mintues . . ."

to depressed and stressed, "My brother has spoken to several attorneys, cops and crime scene reporters in Pakistan about my situation. . . all the people he has spoken to have told him told him the same thing. Sammy is a professional criminal."


You can read some earlier posts in regards to Sammy's (the co-accused) confession. This latest turn of events finds Sammy writing another statement in which he changes his story to include people not preciously mentioned and tweaks in the time line. Ali is seeking to have the Pakistani embassy come to question Sammy's latest turn, and is pushing for the all-important thumb print* on this and previous documents written by Sammy.

Naturally all this causes a great deal of stress. New documents lead to new questions lead to new suspicions lead to backtracking and covering all the ground from the beginning. This frustration takes it's toll. Thankfully, Ali realizes he has many people on his side. In the past, I have asked for your comments of support to send to Ali. He's going through a particularly rough spot right now, and I would love to send him your words.

*thumb-printed documents are considered nearly absolute truth in the ROK legal system.

Andrew's Perspective: Justice For Ali Khan Bike Ride

The idea for a bike ride to raise awareness and possible funding came to me a few months ago and was pitched to the volunteers already involved with the case of Ali Khan at the G.I.C (for more information on the case of Ali Khan please check out the November '08 Gwangju News article 'Introducing... The Justice for Ali Khan Campaign').

Over the previous months the Korean language blog has generated a sufficient number of hits to gather over 700 signatures protesting for a total legal review of the sentencing of prisoner #3390 Ali Khan at Daejeon prison. I'm very proud that over 700 Koreans and foreigners living in Korea have had faith in the information we have brought to them over the last while. The next step, it seemed to me, would be an event to mark our own collective commitment to Ali Khan's cause and to bring further awareness to the case of Ali Khan in the hope of a human rights lawyer giving proper legal attention to this case.

The bike ride was to begin in Gwangju and to arrive two days later at the gates of Daejeon prison, approximately 205 km north of Gwangju. With this first event we thought it best to involve ourselves closely with members from the Gwangju YMCA who had already planned an incredibly ambitious bike ride for the beginning of July. They were to cycle from Haenam to Gosong Reunification Observatory in Gangwondo and we had thought to join them for the Gwangju to Daejeon leg of the journey. The riders who had joined us were: [show photo] Gwak Hyo Sung, Daniel Baek, Julian Warmington, Kim So Ri and Jong Il.

It did not start well, however. A punctured tire somewhere on the outskirts of Cheomdan in the pitch black marred our arrival at the exit point for our trip. For a dreaded hour it looked like without a supplier to get me a new tire having my bike make the 120 km ride to Jeonju the following evening would be a miracle. With hasty visits to two bike shops we patched up the puncture as best we could and I and Jong Il arrived two hours late at the YMCA where the rest of the YMCA riders had arrived from Haenam earlier that evening. The only thing to give me confidence was Jong Il, relating to me the Korean expression 'A small accident before a big event brings one luck'. If only we Brits could be so optimistic!

I awoke, after barely three hours sleep, to a large breakfast in the basement of the Cheomdan YMCA. We were to leave an hour before an interview and photos had been planned. I crossed fingers that we'd relay what needed to be relayed later on into the trip.

And so it was, on the morning of Tuesday 7th July 6 riders from the G.I.C and 35 assorted riders from the YMCA walked out into the pouring rain in a strange attempt to cycle to Jeonju. And rain it did. Gutters streamed to bursting in the 7am half-dawn, streams burst their banks and glasses were repeatedly wiped from under tenuously protective plastic hoods. After an hour of cycling we found ourselves among the morning traffic of highway 1 heading north out of Gwangju. Either because of the rain or in order to keep the entire group together we stopped every hour or so to regroup, snack, and/or relate the newest horror story. About twenty km north of Gwangju we stopped at a small Mart and found cover, watching the rains pummel the trees and cars unfortunate enough to be out on this particular morning in time.

Three hours in the heavy rains lightened and the act of rain, after all this time, seemed to be less of a problem. Although we'd all been fearful that the YMCA's pace would leave us tired out after an hour the speed of our two-tiered convoy was actually bearable. The YMCA proved amazing at organizing how our convoy was to push ahead towards Jonju. Batons were produced at each major junction and elected individuals made sure no one strayed from the route. Shouts of encouragement (along with the rain) sprayed the air at every major incline, and even the worst prepared person, by lunch time, would have felt a little more secure travelling with the YMCA's more experienced cyclists.

A hastily prepared speech in Jeongup, after lunch, communicated to the YMCA's riders what we were in this for. Ali Khan, a citizen of Pakistan had been held in Daejeon prison for over six years as a result of a badly executed trial and confessions gained under police torture.

Legs ached but no one tired too visibly after lunch. North of Jeongup we hit that steep obstacle known as Galchae San and, as the rain came down lightly we all (slowly!) made it to the top... to be met by the brilliant view of the largely flat lands of Jeollabukdo. While the rain continued the wonderful view gave one pause for thought and a certain delight in attempting a journey that wasn't from behind the comfort of a train of bus window. Cycling, for me, gives you the sense of accomplishment that, yes, you've actually completed distances due to your own efforts. It also affords you the time to really consider the reasons for doing such a thing... in this way, a confirmation of the problems and setbacks of the case of Ali Khan, as well as giving you confidence in your own goal of wanting a fair trial for a hugely mistaken prisoner.

These were the thoughts that circled through my head as we made our way across the first 50 kms towards Jeonju. Four hours of further cycling and we found ourselves joining the busy rush hour traffic of Jeonju, having completed the first 120 km of our trek. So Tuesday had been the hardest day. Tomorrow would be easier.

In the morning I woke to the news that my bike had finally, and once again, given in to another puncture and I was obliged to borrow a spare bike from the YMCA riders while we tried to work out what had gone wrong with it (it turned out the tires had worn through so fast that I would have to buy new ones in Daejeon). In reality I wondered how my back tire even managed the 120 km to Jeonju without any problems. After a still-wet start we completed our daily morning exercises (a kind of elaborate pre-football 'dance' to these British eyes) and cycled out onto highway one again.

North of Nonsan we had lunch and re-grouped... texts and calls were made to bloggers and reporters and then... yes. Unbelievable. Sunshine! The fifty kilometres north of Nonsan, and on into Daejeon, proved to present us with exactly the opposite problems. Heat. Sunburn. I walked for ten minutes into our next break stop 30 km south of Daejeon. The heat was doing it to everyone. Water bottles were suddenly everywhere. The mild (but long!) inclines south of Daejeon proved incredibly debilitating and so we were glad, two hours later (at around 3:30pm) to finally arrive on the road into Yuseong, just south of Daejeon, where Ali Khan is imprisoned. We took photos with the YMCA and said our farewells (they would need it, they had another 70km to Chongju that day!).

With only five people confirmed as able to meet Ali Khan on Thursday morning Julian and I, with the help of Jong Il, scrabbled a late appointment with a still-confused and depressed Ali Khan at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon. My impression of Ali Khan on this visit was similar to what was reported in Brian Deutsch's blog the week previous. There was talk of Khan 'going mad' or being 'severely depressed' but the reality, as ever, is a little harder to unpick. Ali Khan has become isolated, firstly, from potential visitors to the prison (in his own words he has not received any other visitors than those connected with his campaign in over 18 months) and also from those inside the prison. The person that originally confessed to the murder Khan is in prison for; Samiullah Salamat; has, for the most part, turned away from the regret he displayed four years ago (when he wrote his confession) and is now deeply resentful of Ali's presence in the prison and has convinced more than one foreign prisoner that Ali is indeed the killer that he has been painted as by the authorities. This about-turn has caused such fear in Khan that he has, on occasion, wholeheartedly believed that Salamat, or someone close to Salamat, was going to 'stab him' at the next available opportunity. I and Julian both left feeling that talking with Ali was now a very complex procedure and requires patience and sympathy...

After a longwinded search for accomodation, the long-needed bike shop repair, and a late dinner we each concluded our day.

Early morning, and without any discernible ring around the prison we decide to use the approach road as our symbolic ring, travelling up and down six times, each circle for each year of Khan's incarceration. Any laps made within the prison grounds could not be photographed/documented so this route seemed to be the best plan (even our photos taken at/near the gate, with a zoom lense, were intensely argued about by the guards on duty).The rain started up again on the third lap and by lap six the group is pretty much soaked to the skin. With a lot of effort, though, all six of us make it into the prison, with five of us meeting Ali Khan (three of whom meeting him for the first time).

Hope is sometimes a painful thing to allow in one so abused. So it is with Ali Khan. Khan's continuing isolation from many inside the prison, and, as I mentioned above, Salamat's almost total about-turn from accuser, to regretful confessor, back to cold psychological games player who now holds the threat that Ali is now a wanted man in Pakistan over Ali (without any attainable evidence) must have a lot to do with Khan's continuing confusion, along with the bombings of Pakistan by U.S military that assure him (?) he perhaps will not be able to see his home country in the near future.

What is apparent after my last four visits (in quick succession) is that Khan is not at all 'insane' in any way. He is simply a person who is incredibly nervous and worried for his own safety both in prison in the present, and possibly outside (if he is released). Now that the situation in Pakistan has worsened he sees no 'home' to go back to.

He's also been convinced by Salamat that, if he returns, he will be convicted for 'unspecified crimes' in Pakistan. No option holds much promise, and this is why Khan seems preoccupied and sometimes finds it hard to be swayed by efforts made on his behalf. All these things attest to his pain, both in his local outlook and his international outlook. The campaign will continue to look for ways his case can be transmitted to others, particularly lawyers able to take on a case of this kind, while taking into account Ali's future well being.

More actions are planned in the next few months, with another sponsored event hopefully organised for the beginning of September (all info via the GIC website, Ali Khan blog or from me directly at andrewodonnell77@yahoo.co.uk). For foreigners, there was also some talk of 'political events' like these affecting those on E-2 visas, either with trouble from Hagwon or University bosses/authorities. To my knowledge actions like these are entirely legal provided one has given notice of any time away from work. Without a doubt they are entirely legal under Korean law and, if any of those participating in future events do have future problems rest assured I will be happy to visit them with Korean representatives/translators to explain how I see these actions, and foreigners' participation in them.

We are also currently looking for volunteers who are able to put in a few hours every week towards different campaign goals, particularly website designers, translators and potential visitors to Ali Khan... particularly someone in Daejeon who could spend some time with him every week in the absence of any English speaking counselor being provided by the prison service in Daejeon. A newsletter is also in the offing from Aug/Sept.

http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeAli
(Online petition in English, just sign your name and add your email)

http://profile.blog.naver.com/gwangjugic
(Information on Ali's case in Korean)

http://free-ali.blogspot.com
(Information on Ali's case in English)

We are also now collecting money for a human rights lawyer for Ali Khan. For this, you can donate directly to the Ali Khan Fund Account at: 019 107 329298 (Gwangju Bank/Gwangju International Centre)

Thanks go to: Kim Sing Sing at GIC for all the logistics and information gathering, all at the YMCA for their comradeship and support along the way, Michael and Ju Hyun at GFN for their reports and interest, Gwangju Dream, Brian Deutsch at 'Brian in Jeollanamdo', Jo McPherson at 'ZenKimchi', and Kimberly Hogg at 'Socius' for blogging on the event at the last minute, Kim So Ri and Hwan for Ali's brilliant Korean blog design and the petition here in Korea, Audrey Pecott for her continued support and tireless work on the English blog, Jong Il for T-shirt and pamphlet designs, many of the artists at Daein Market for support and encouragement, Mr. Kim Dong Jo for donating a pair of cycling gloves to me in Jongeup on the way back (sore palms after over 100km into the return journey) and, mostly, to everyone who took part in the event itself.

Justice for Ali Khan Bike Ride (July 5, 2009)

To raise awareness, Andrew and a dedicated group of human rights' activists from the Gwangju International Center, rode from Gwangju to Daejeon Prison. The weather was uncooperative to say the least - temperatures soared, rain fell. Still they rode on. The larger portion of the group continued Northward as the Free Ali Khan 6 broke away to Deajeon and the prison where Ali has been unjustly incarcerated since 2003.

I hope to have Andrew's first-person perspective soon.
In the meantime, thank you all for your signatures. Please pass the petition link on, in emails or via your own blogs. With all these efforts, we may finally see justice
done. Let's keep the momentum going!


From L-R: Gwak Hyo Sung, Daniel Baek, Julian Warmington, Andrew O'Donnell, Kim So Ri, Jong Il


SIGN the Free Ali Petition


Andrew, staying focused and positive despite the weather.


Julian representing for Ali.


Justice for Ali Khan 6 at Daejeon Prison (-1. Someone had to man the camera!)

ONLINE PETITION AVAILABLE

Please visit the online petition by using the link below or connecting via the link in the right hand column. With 700+ signatures already collected, we're aiming high. Let's move mountains!!!

SIGN HERE

digg the story here

Free Ali Khan on Facebook

Ali Khan on myspace

Online Petition

The website I am intending to use to host the online petition has been struggling with attacks since the beginning of the Iranian elections/demonstrations. I feel it is important to use this particular site due to their policies that assure the legitimacies of the petitions they host and the signatures collected.

Please be patient, and know that I am attempting to upload the necessary information on a regular basis. As soon as the petition is available. I will post links here, as well as on several social networking sites. If you would like to receive the link in an email update, please make available your email address via the "Send Mail" option in the right hand column.

More soon.

The fight continues. . .

First and foremost, we would like to thank the people who have taken time to read about Ali's plight and send words of encouragement. While the blog has seemed dormant for some time be assured that we continue to move forward. Unfortunately, this does not always translate into time to post - for that, I apologize.

***UPDATE INFORMATION***

Ali's condition is mediocre to say the best. Thankfully, Andrew is in Korea and has made great efforts to visit Ali. Though the news on his sadness and depression is heart-wrenching, the fact that Andrew is there adds a great deal of relief. Ali is well aware of his ever-expanding support, and with 700 signatures currently collected, the revised goal of 1,000 signatures is within reach.

Over the next few days this website will see major updates, including documents, online petition, and information on Andrew's fund-raising efforts in Korea.

JUSTICE FOR ALI KHAN RIDE

Andrew recently emailed me with his plans for a fundraising bike ride in Korea. This awareness and fundraising ride begins on July 5th in Gwangju, and includes not only cyclists from the Gwangju International Center, but also 100+ cyclists from the local YMCA. For some the ride will conclude in Daejeon, the city where Ali has been imprisoned. For others, the ride continues.

Andrew will stay on in Daejeon for the week following the event to visit with Ali as much as possible, and try to raise him from his stupor.

* * * URGENT * * *

As Andrew can only stay on for a week or so, we are hoping to find English-speakers living in or near Daejeon to visit Ali with some regularity. Call it, Guardian Angel duty.