Day 4: Fast and Vigil for Justice

Compiled by Kate Cowley

We want to mention up front today that there are some particularly powerful reflections from Sweden, Connecticut, & Cameroon (via DC) compiled at the end of this update.  If any of the fasters getting these updates would like to share some reflections, please send them along to fast@witnesstorture.org.

For the latest videos of our presence in Washington, DC, you can check our YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/witnesstorture).

On the fourth day of the fast, a more relaxed schedule allowed us the opportunity to catch our breath, much needed after these last three eventful days. We gathered for our morning reflection, which began with a moment of silence for the people of Haiti, who remain, with their friends and family all over the world, in our thoughts and prayers.

Paul reflected on a passage from Letters from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He then shared with us his own personal story of conversion, and told of how at one point in his life, he was the 'man in a suit' who sneered at protesters when he saw them as he walked to work.  We talked about the process of "becoming" and "awakening," revisiting the notion of the "sheets of ice" around our hearts and the struggle to melt that ice. We really have no control over what will happen when we stand outside in our jumpsuits during a vigil, who may be in the process of becoming or awakening, and how we might be affecting or affected by that process. We can only do what we are doing, even sometimes being seen as "fools" for peace and justice, with the intention that we will break through to people and reach their hearts.

After our reflection, the group had some free time, which people used to plan, write, rest, or walk around and enjoy some of the beautiful day – 40 degrees and sunny in DC! The group then reunited for a vigil back in orange jumpsuits and black hoods at the White House as the sun went down.

Our evening focused on a discussion of upcoming activities, and struggling with the question of 'what do we imagine the men in Guantanamo would want us to do.'  Let us know if you have any ideas, and we'll be sharing ours with you.
Thank you for all you are doing,

Peace with Justice,

Witness Against Torture
www.witnesstorture.org

Table of contents:

1. The Interconnectedness: Heléne Hedberg, Fasting from Stockholm, Sweden, January 14, 2010
2. A Moment of Self-Reflection: Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer, Fasting from Norwich, Connecticut, January 14, 2010
3. Faster Statement: Paula Siri, from Cameroon, Survivor of torture seeking refuge in the United States since September 2007.
4. Video by Mike Benedetti

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1. The Interconnectedness
Heléne Hedberg, Fasting from Stockholm, Sweden, January 14, 2010

I am fasting with you from a distance, in Stockholm, and even though I am not there with you, I am sharing in that interconnectedness that Thich Nhat Hanh is meditating on in his poem that was read by John. I am sharing in it especially this evening.

I am part of a red cross group that every week visits a facility here in Vårberg, Stockholm where refugee kids fleeing by themselves come and stay during their first months in Sweden. There are 27 kids staying there right now, most of them from Afghanistan. Tonight I was sitting down with two 17-year old boys, one from Afghanistan and one being an Uighur. As we were laughing and making gestures (there's a lot of that since we can't speak each others language...yet), and as I am
now in this period of fasting and reflecting on what kind of life the prisoners at Guantánamo are trying to live, I was just struck by the thought that this boy right here in front of me could be one of our future's 'freedom deprived' in a world where this madness would not end.  This boy is the future of a past that has been locked away. This boy is the Uighur man at Guantánamo in a world where the Obama administration does not step up, but continues to wait around to be given the green light from "someone". In a world where Sweden is furthering practices of rendition.

The Uighur boy (I am not mentioning names) was especially proud of his language, being the only one there from this persecuted minority group in China. I know you spoke up for the 17 Uighurs during last years 100-days campaign and as he was teaching me phrases like "there
is a lot of snow outside" (remember he is in Sweden) and "thank you very much," I was thinking about how much I wish for this boy to stay proud of his heritage. That the ugliness of the conflicts and the wars that these kids are more aware of than we can ever imagine will not keep serving the purposes of imprisonment and delayed justice...denied justice.

Keep it up. I am so proud of you all and so encouraged by your work as I am sharing in your interconnectedness from across the ocean.

Peace,
Heléne 

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2. A Moment of Self-Reflection
Patrick Sheehan-Gaumer, Fasting from Norwich, Connecticut, January 14, 2010

As I sit here thinking about my own experience in this, I start to feel really stupid. I'm not doing this to focus on how it feels to not eat. I'm doing this in protest of 8 years of unjust imprisonment. Of 8 years of no rights, no freedoms, destroyed lives.

How much of my life has changed in the last 8 years that I take for granted? What would I have missed if I didn't have the chance to live it? The opportunity for travel (which I'm preparing for now). For work and education and feeling productive with myself. For love (or something like it). The chance to be a parent to an amazing three-year-old person.

To see my daughter every day is the biggest blessing of my life. This imprisonment has not only stopped fathers from seeing their daughters and sons, but it has stopped these men from creating lives, families, children.

I can't help but use myself as my comparison point, but I have the responsibility to leave it at that and focus on who is really being affected by all this bullshit.

I'm fasting today because I can. I have that choice. We can make it worthwhile by being heard. This isn't for us, it's for others. "No one is free while others are oppressed." "So stop whining," I tell myself.

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3. Faster Statement
Paula Siri, from Cameroon
Survivor of torture seeking refuge in the United States since September 2007.

After investigation and evaluation from voices that listen, I have been able to see life as meaningful again.

Through the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC), I learned of a 12 day fast recalling the President of the United States -- Barack Hussein Obama's, one year promise to close down Guantanamo.  We are working so that it is not only closed down but also to look at the human aspect-- the fact that the detainees have lost their values of life for so many years in prison, they miss their families, they have lost jobs and valuable possessions and find it
difficult to resettle in their counties of origin. It sounds very inhuman.

Further, looking at the legal aspect of torture, I feel that America is losing its standing with regards to human rights and justice. It sees itself as the World's Leader for justice, and all continents looking up to the United States for Peace and Justice. Therefore, it serves to give cover to the leaders of Third World Countries to continually increase the levels of injustice to the voiceless Grassroots communities.  These communities are not invited in any decision making, and are trying to resist increases in corruption, discrimination and all forms of torture on human beings in rising rates. "Life will be meaningless".

I fast for the rest of the detainees in Guantanamo whose fate has not yet been decided. And as someone who has been resettled to a country and am working to feel safe, I am particularly interested in how and where these men will be rehabilitate and resettled. Also for Binyam
Mohammad who was released on February 2009, he is proof of the impact fasting can have.

4. Video by Mike Benedetti