LAST Wednesday saw Aster Fissehatsion mark her 51st birthday - but she was not able to celebrate with family and friends.

Aster, an opposition political figure in Eritrea, has been imprisoned since 2001. Held incommunicado, and without charge or trial, her family do not even know where she is.

Her captors no doubt hope that as time passes, Aster's plight and that of the 10 others arrested with her, will be forgotten.

But the members of the Swindon and Marlborough Amnesty group are determined to play their part in ensuring that will not happen.

Spurred on by a commitment to campaign for the release of 'prisoners of conscience' held around the world, the group came together at a recent meeting to remember Aster's case and to send her messages of support as she spends another anniversary in custody.

The group signed a birthday card, painted by local artist Rachel Pryor. Inside they wrote messages of hope and support, alongside messages written by visitors from The Harbour Project who have fled conflict and persecution all around the world – including some from Eritrea.

Judith Furse, Chairman of Swindon and Marlborough Amnesty, said: “We wanted to do something for Aster’s birthday to remind her that she has not been forgotten.

"She has been in solitary confinement for nearly 16 years and hasn’t seen her son in all that time. She’s not even been charged with any crime. The horror of it is almost unimaginable.

"We wanted to bring home the fact that this is a mother, a real person, not just a statistic, someone whose only 'wrongdoing’ was to call for peace, unity and the rule of law in her country."

The group chose to campaign for Aster’s release as they have had much success in campaigning for the release of previous Prisoners of Conscience.

They would be delighted to hear from people who are interested in getting involved with that work. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm at the Friends’ Meeting House on Eastcott Hill.