News, January/February/March/April 1997


Laws on ImmigrationSave Mumia Abu Jamal
The death penaltyDiary
ArchivesPartenia: some figures

 





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Laws on Immigration

After the Pasqua laws which have shown their evil and inhuman effects,comes the Debre law. They are the same repressive and aggressive politicswhich are carried on for the worse, casting suspicion on the foreigner.

Immigration becomes a threat, foreigners a danger. For the last 15 yearsneither the Left nor the Right wing in Parliament have dared to take a positiveand audacious position on immigration. This is because of the racist atmospherewith elections in view and for fear of the National Front (extreme right).Have we to repeat that immigration is not a major problem in France, thatforeigners should not become scapegoats of the economic crisis, that theyare not a threat to our country?

A policy which shuts its borders is turning its back on the future. It solvesnothing but will prompt a new "St Bernard's" (the church wheredisenfranchised people took refuge).

The Debre law does not speak well for this country's history on Human Rights.The picture France now gives abroad is tarnished. I am ashamed of my country.


Jacques Gaillot


Write to Partenia: jgaillot@partenia.org


 






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Save Mumia Abu Jamal

On 17th August of this year, in Pennsylvania, Mumia was not put to deaththanks to an exceptional international campaign. Many organizations askedfor his trial to be reconsidered. It is widely known that Mumia was judgedand condemned under dubious circumstances to say the least.

For the past 15 years, he has become the most notorious prisoner in theworld on death row, living in a steel cell for 23 hours a day and beingtransfered for a break, handcuffed, to another steel cell, for one hour.

How can he survive in such inhumane conditions? The answer is that he hasnever stopped fighting and never accepted his fate.

Mumia is also a writer. In his book "Live from death row", hedared tell the world what happens in this hellish place day after day. Forexample, there is no possible physical contact when his wife and his childvisit him. The prisoner goes out handcuffed and there is an unbreakableglass panel between him and his visitors...

On a December evening, in the heart of Paris, we assembled to give our supportto Mumia and ask for a reassessment of his trial. The frosty winter windcould not blow out our candles.

Let us try to save Mumia Abu Jamal. He is continually under the threat ofbeing led to the death chamber.


Jacques Gaillot


Write to Partenia: jgaillot@partenia.org




 





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The death penalty


Every week there is a capital punishment carried out in America. The deathpenalty still exists in 38 out of 50 states of the Union. For the time being,40% of all prisoners on death rows are blacks, although blacks make up only12% of the American. population. But public opinion shocked by violent crimesinsists upon protecting the rights of the victims.

In France, the death penalty was abolished in 1981. A great event that filledme with joy. Guillotine was outlawed: a great step forward for society.The exemplarity of death penalty and its deterrent effect were abandoned.

The death penalty denies the fundamental right to life. Our own fundamentalrights are diminished when they are refused to others. Respect for lifeis eroded. Demanding revenge and capital punishment is to lock ourself ina spiral of violence: a regression in the struggle for men's and women'srights.

I am against death penalty.
A follower of Christ is always ready to give another chance to life, toleave the future open, to believe in the integrity of the human being.
A human being has the capacity for greater things than the crimes for whichhe/she is condemned.


Jacques Gaillot


Write to Partenia: jgaillot@partenia.org



 

 




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Diary for April

  • 2:
    Debate at Fnac, Creteil (Paris suburbs)

  • 3-11:
    Retreat with Charles de Foucauld priests at Taybeh (Israel)

  • 11-17:
    With the Palestinians

  • 19-20:
    Brussels, lectures

  • 23:
    Debate at Fnac, Pau

  • 27:
    Mons (Belgium) with the Emmaus Community

  • 29:
    Mayence and Heidelberg (Germany) meeting with the Youth and lectures

  • 30:
    Meeting Eugen Drewermann at Darmstadt


 

 

 




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PS: Partenia some figures

Files on the website: 115

Requests for cumulated pages: 205'000

Hits for the year: around 70'000

Per month: around 5'000

E-mails received by Jacques Gaillot
for the first year: 3237

Websites which have a link to Partenia: around 300