WHO ARE THE \u201cCONCERNED RELATIVES\u201d?<\/center>
\nWe are individuals having only one bond in common; relatives isolated in the \u201cJonestown\u201d jungle encampment in Guyana, South America, under the total control of one man, Jim Jones. We espouse no political or religious viewpoint. Our only concern is for our families. We are bewildered and frightened by what is being done to them. Their human rights are being violated and the fabric of our family life is being torn apart.<\/p>\n
*Armed guards are stationed around Jonestown to prevent anyone leaving unless given express permission by the leader. 200 guns have been transported in. A \u201cSWAT\u201d team patrols the borders of Jonestown:<\/p>\n
*Passports and monies are confiscated by Jones upon arrival of his members in Guyana so that they cannot be \u201ccleared\u201d by the Immigration Officials to leave Guyana.<\/p>\n
*Long distance telephone calls to the United States are prohibited as part of Jones\u2019 campaign that all family ties be cut in favor of his \u201ccause\u201d.<\/p>\n
*All incoming and outgoing mail is censored.<\/p>\n
*No one is permitted to leave Jonestown except on business for the \u201ccause\u201d and then only in the company of other residents who are required to spy and report back to Jones.<\/p>\n
*The residents are told that if they try to leave the Peoples Temple organization, they will be killed and their bodies left in the Jungle.<\/p>\n
*Their leader, Jim Jones, says publicly that a \u201cunanimous vote\u201d of the 1,000 residents at Jonestown (including children) was taken to put \u201cour lives on the line\u201d if the alleged \u201charrassment [harassment]\u201d continues. Jones has held mock \u201cmass suicide\u201d sessions to condition his members to die for \u201cthe cause\u201d at the moment he gives the order.<\/ul>\n
Because we are desperate and don’t know what else to do. Neither the Guyana government nor the United States government thus far has been willing to intervene. Jones simply ignores court orders.
\nWe want our loved ones to be allowed to live in freedom. There appears to be only one way to achieve this – to publicize the truth and to pressure the Prime Minister of Guyana both directly and through the U.S. State Department. We sent a petition on May 10, 1978, to Prime Minister Burnham requesting him to:<\/p>\n
Three Things:<\/p>\n
*Pray for the safe return of our loved ones soon, even if only for a one- week home visit at our expense, return fare being guaranteed, so we can know they have free will to choose.<\/p>\n
*Write to the two officials with power to force Jones to respect human and legal rights:<\/p>\n
* Give as you feel led to help defray expenses, which are considerable. Send your check to:<\/p>\n
(An application for tax-exempt status will soon be filed with I.R.S. Our attorneys say \u201cConcerned Relatives and Citizens\u201d meet all the requirements and that approval by the I.R.S. will be retroactive to include donations made now.)<\/p>\n
THANK YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS<\/p>\n
(Editorial note: Rikke Wettendorff transcribed this flyer for this page. The editors of this website are deeply grateful for her invaluable assistance.<\/p>\n