The 2009 letter marathon has mobilised internet users in Burkina Faso. They have shown a lot of interest in Amnesty International’s work on behalf of people in danger, as well as in this particular activity.

With the help of our young activists and the cooperation of a cyberspace center called SYNTER, we organised a letter writing marathon with university teachers in sector 27 of Ouagadougou.

For one day, on Tuesday 8 December, at least 40 teachers agreed to sign the petitions. The people we approached asked us about the people on whose behalf we work and especially about our work to end cruel, inhuman and unusual punishments in the world.

When one person saw the photo of Lamba Soukouna, his face bloody from the abuse inflicted on him by the police in a Parisian suburb, he said: “Hey my brother, you should hide this picture so that I can look at you. That is so cruel!”

Another person recognized the usefulness of the marathon and wrote: “I am a trade unionist and that interests me more than anything else. I have known about Amnesty International for a long time, but I never knew the extent of the international support for Amnesty using the best communication tool of the century. I am going to sign the petition because I know you will do the same thing for me if the same thing happens to me someday.”

Another person exclaimed: “Hum! I didn’t know that. But why are there only twelve cases? These actions should take place throughout the year. I have already signed!”

So in Burkina Faso, we have shared in the sufferings of all the people in danger, in the hope that we will soon see a world that respects human rights more.