This group started in Amherst due to the efforts of Peter Somssich.  In 1984 he contacted area people from a list of Amnesty International contributors and held a preliminary meeting to determine interest.  Eight individuals decided to form Group #344 in May 1985 (at that time the 6th group in New Hampshire).  Our first members were from Amherst, Bedford, Milford and Nashua.

The first case was a Prisoner of Conscience in Czechoslavia.  Since that time we have worked for prisoners of conscience in Sir Lanka, Bulgaria, People's Republic of the Congo, India, Thailand, Greece and Myanmar(previously Burma). We have added new members from area towns and others have moved away.  Officially, A.I. lists us as an Amherst group but as our current members are drawn from so many area towns we call ourselves the Southern New Hampshire Group.

Currently Group #344 focuses on Israel and the Occupied Territories,the Palestinian Authority, Death Penalty and South America.  Occasionally we join another campaign. Prisoner of Conscience cases are thoroughly researched by the International Secretariat in London to determine that these people are persecuted for their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religion and not for an criminal intention or action.