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Articles : Civil LibertiesPrison News Roundup
Japan
Repression in run up to G8 summit in Japan
Over 40 people have been arrested in pre-emptive sweeps of broad left and anarchist groups in the build up to the G8 in Japan. Activist Tabi Rounin who was arrested on the 4th June was released again on the 13th June. It is unclear as to whether the others are still being held.
“Kin-chan from the Kamagasaki Patrol, who is constantly followed by police and usually has a helicopter following him at demonstrations, was arrested yesterday morning. They haven’t even come up with a charge for him apparently. Falsifying the reasons may be difficult since there are no problems with his address registration or parole. Nevertheless he will be held for 23 days for sure. The same day a union in Rakunan, Kyoto was raided, had their office searched and 2 of their members arrested. Its not yet clear when this happened, but 4 members of the Chuukaku-ha Leninist organization were arrested in Tokyo, apparently members of the leadership. Also, on May 29th, there were 38 people arrested at Hosei University in Tokyo, at a political assembly against the G8 at the University.” (Indymedia UK 13/06/08)
East Africa
U.S. accused of holding terror suspects on prison ships
On the 2nd June The Guardian covered a report being prepared by the human rights organisation Reprieve. The report, due to be published later this year, “will raise particular concerns over the activities of the USS Ashland and the time it spent off Somalia in early 2007 conducting maritime security operations in an effort to capture al-Qaida terrorists.
At this time many people were abducted by Somali, Kenyan and Ethiopian forces in a systematic operation involving regular interrogations by individuals believed to be members of the FBI and CIA. Ultimately more than 100 individuals were “disappeared” to prisons in locations including Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Guantánamo Bay.” (The Guardian 02/06/08)
Zimbabwe
Women activists arrested in Zimbabwe
Amnesty International reported on 3rd June:“A group of Zimbabwean women activists are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment following their arrest at a peaceful demonstration in Harare. Fourteen activists from the organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), including WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magadonga Mahlangu, were arrested on 28th May and are being held under harsh prison conditions.” (Amnesty International 03/06/08)
Afghanistan
Taliban Free 1,200 Inmates in Attack on Afghan Prison
The New York Times reports: “In a brazen attack, Taliban fighters assaulted the main prison in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Friday night, blowing up the mud walls, killing 15 guards and freeing around 1,200 inmates.” (New York Times 14/06/08)
Two days later the Kansas City Star reported on the findings of the eight month McClatchy investigation into American soldiers routine abuse of detainees stating that; “sadistic violence first appeared at Bagram, north of Kabul, and at a similar U.S. internment camp at Kandahar.” (Kansas City Star 16/06/08)
Also earlier in the day of the prison break the Guardian predicted that U.S. prison plans would increase “tension” in Afghanistan: “News that the US plans to spend $60m to build a 40-acre detention facility at its main military base in Bargram north of Kabul to replace an existing prison at the same site has set off speculation that Washington intends to create a new version of its controversial jail at Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba, where hundreds of detainees have been held since 2001.” (The Guardian)
Turkey
Conscientious objector Mehmet Bal beaten in prison
War Resisters International reports: “Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Bal, who was arrested by plain clothes police on 8th June 2008, has been severely beaten in prison. At some stage Mehmet Bal passed out from the beatings, and was taken to a cold shower so that he would regain consciousness and the beating continued. After the attack, Mehmet Bal was taken to Gumussuyu Military Hospital for treatment. Although he could not move his neck, legs and arms, he was not admitted to the hospital, and taken back to the prison on a stretcher.” (War Resisters International 16/06/08)
Germany
Three young Munich squatters get five years
On the 27th of June 2007 three squatters Lukas, Steffi and Sven (all at that time between 17 and 19 years old) were stood in an empty building in Westendstrasse in Munich. The majority of the houses located in this street have been uninhabited for a long time and some of them are used by punks and others to gather. The building was raided that evening by an armoured unit of the Bavarian police special forces, the three resisted by throwing stones. In January they were sentenced to five years each for attempted murder.
The trumped-up charges came amid calls for harsher sentencing following the riot on 2nd June 2007 against the G8-Summit in the north German town of Rostock. The state is attempting to set a legal precedent with this judgement that will have sweeping consequences for all of us. Write to:
Lukas Winkler
Marktplatz 1
96157 Ebrach
Germany
Stephanie Trager
Am Neudeck 10
81541 Munchen
Germany
Sven Maurer
Stadelheimerstr. 12
81549 Munchen
Germany
More Info: squatterbenefit.de.vu
Italy
Il Silvestre – Paola Gori
325 reports: “On the 29th May 2008 the Italian police raided a number of houses whose occupants are connected to the eco-anarchist group Il Silvestre. This group have been constantly harassed by the state and had false prosecutions brought against them. The charge against those raided this time is “subversive conspiracy”. It is alleged that Il Silvestre activists robbed a post office to help fund their alleged direct action activities and publish their literature. One of the people raided yesterday is vegan activist Paola Gori who is linked to the Italian prisoner support group Senza Gabbie. As a result of these latest raids Paola has been remanded into custody. Paola can read English as well as Italian, so please send her a letter of support today.” (325)
Paola Gori
Via delle Macchie 9
57124 Livorno
Italy
Austria
Ten animal rights campaigners have been held since the 21th May
Indymedia reports: “Ten animal rights campaigners have been held since the 21th May after police raided twenty-three homes and offices in Austria charging individuals with 31 different offences related to the campaign against the the fur-promoting fashion company Kleider Bauer, but most significantly of forming a criminal organisation under Section 278a of Austrian law. One of the prisoners, Martin Balluch has been on hunger strike since the arrests against the violation of his human rights and the state attacks on legitimate campaigning organisations. He is now becoming very weak and was recently moved to a prison hospital after suffering from dizzyness, blurred vision, and stomach pains.” (Indymedia UK 17/06/08)
U.K.
Riot alert at immigration centre
The BBC reported on the 14th June that: “A team of prison officers has helped to restore order at an immigration detention centre after a disturbance. The team, dressed in riot gear, went into Campsfield House in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, to escort detainees back to their rooms, the Home Office said. Earlier small fires had been started and one person suffered smoke inhalation, but no detainees escaped. Detainees were held in an exercise yard to calm down. It is the latest in a number of disturbances at the centre.” (BBC 14/06/08)
“In August last year, 26 immigrants managed to escape. Prior to that in March, an Algerian man attempted to forcefully resist efforts by immigration authorities to remove him. When fellow detainees attempted to help him a riot ensued in which 2 detainees and 7 staff staff were hospitalised.” (Indymedia UK 14/06/08)
Pauline Campbell
Prison activist Pauline Campbell was found dead near her daughters grave on the morning of Thursday 15th May 2008. “She was an inspiration to all who knew her, both activists and journalists alike. She fought for years for the rights of those whom the government and society would try to forget. She was never afraid to put herself in the firing line and to this effect she was arrested 15 times though the state never succeeded in prosecuting her. To see her courageous action and eloquent speeches it was easy to forget that she fought a daily battle with her grief at losing her only daughter. Something she never really recovered from.
She leaves behind a proud legacy of tireless campaigning and direct action. Rest in peace Pauline. You will be remembered with great pride and affection by all of us who had the honour of knowing you.” (Indymedia UK 15/05/08)
Eric Allison wrote an obituary in the Guardian on 16th May: “The death, at the age of 60, of Pauline Campbell marks the end of the single most dedicated and vociferous campaign for the cause of women in prison of recent years. That her body was found at her daughter’s graveside adds a poignant postscript to her untimely end. For it was the death, in January 2003, of Sarah, her only child, that ignited the torch Pauline was to carry tirelessly and with great courage for the next five years.
Before Sarah’s death, Pauline, by her own account, was living a normal life in the village of Malpas, Cheshire. The former college lecturer, born in north Wales, doted on her daughter, a talented artist, pianist and local tennis champion. Sarah’s father had left when she was four, and she was sexually abused as a child by a distant relative. When she was 15, she was raped, became clinically depressed and started taking drugs. By the age of 17, she was a self-harming heroin addict and, at Chester crown court, was convicted of the manslaughter of pensioner Amrit Bhandari, who suffered a heart attack on a Chester street while being hassled for money by Sarah and a fellow addict.
Sarah was jailed for three years and was sent to Styal prison, near Wilmslow, Cheshire. Because she had given evidence against the co-accused, she asked to be placed on a vulnerable prisoners wing, but instead was taken to the segregation unit, where she died the following day after swallowing a quantity of prescription drugs. Just a few days short of her 19th birthday, she became the youngest of the six women who were to die at the Cheshire jail in a 12-month period. Returning a narrative verdict, an inquest jury concluded that a failure in the duty of care contributed to her death.
In 2004, Pauline began to undertake direct action against the increasing number of deaths of women in custody. Whenever a woman died in prison in England and Wales, she held a demonstration outside the prison gates. When a van arrived with new inmates, she blocked its entrance and asked the driver to take the women to a place of safety. The police were usually called. In all, Pauline arranged 28 such demonstrations. She was arrested 15 times and charged with public order offences on five occasions, but was never convicted.” (The Guardian 16/05/08)
More Info: remember-pauline.blogspot.com
Sean Kirtley
Sean Kirtley was sentenced to four and a half years by Judge Ross on Friday 30th May for organising legal protests. After 18 weeks and £4m, Britain’s longest running animal rights trial ended with Sean being found guilty under section 145 of SOCPA, which makes “interference with contractual relationships so as to harm animal research organisations” illegal. Write to him:
Sean Kirtley WC 6977,
HMP Blakenhurst,
Hewell Lane,
Redditch,
B97 6QS
More Info: sequani.wordpress.com and supportsean.wordpress.com
U.S.A.
Tre Arrow
On 3rd June Tre Arrow reached a non-cooperation plea agreement with the authorities concerning the E.L.F. charges against him. Write to him:
Tre Arrow
SWIS # 640393
Multnomah County Detention Center
1120 SW 3rd Ave
Portland, OR 97204
More Info: trearrow.org
Daniel McGowan
On 14th May Daniel was moved from FCI Sandstone. He has spent a month in transfer and is now being held in Portage. He may have been moved to face a Grand Jury subpoena. Write to him:
Daniel McGowan
Columbia County Jail
403 Jackson Street
Portage, Wisconsin 53901
More Info: supportdaniel.org
Briana Waters
Briana’s sentencing has been postponed until the 19th June. She may be moved after sentencing but her current contact is:
Briana Waters 36432-086
FDC – Seatac
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198
More Info: supportbriana.org
Eric McDavid
Eric was moved to a new prison on 13th June. Remember, the prison authorities read all Eric’s mail – and he is appealing his case. If Eric is granted a new trial the government will still try to use anything and everything against him. Please keep this in mind when writing to him:
Eric McDavid 16209-097
FCI Victorville Medium II
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 5700
Adelanto, CA 92301
More Info: supporteric.org
Rod Coronado
At noon on the 13th May, Rod surrendered himself to El Reno FCI in Oklahoma. Rod is a well known American activist who over the years has been involved with a number of different groups including Earth First!, Sea Shepherd and the Animal Liberation Front. He is a former prisoner having been jailed for both ALF and Earth First! activity. He has also served time for an action protesting against the massacre, carried out against Native Americans, by General Custer.
Rod’s current sentence is one year imprisonment for telling people how to make an ALF incendiary device during an Animal Rights gathering. Write to him:
Rodney Coronado 03895-000
El Reno FCI
PO Box 1500
El Reno, OK 73036
More Info: supportrod.org
Angola Three
Albert Woodfox, 61, one of the prisoners known as the “Angola Three,” has spent most of the past three decades in solitary confinement. On Tuesday 10th June magistrate, Christine Nolan, wrote in a recommendation to the federal judge that his conviction should be overturned. (New York Times 12/06/08) Two days later fellow defendant Herman Wallace was placed in a one-man holding cell. (Associated Press 13/06/08)
More Info: angola3.org
Parts of South Carolina prison on lockdown after disturbance
The Associated Press reported that: “Portions of a maximum-security South Carolina prison were on lockdown Thursday as officials investigated an inmate disturbance that led guards to use tear gas, then seal off and abandon a wing of the prison for more than two hours. The disturbance at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville started when some inmates refused to return to their cells after dinner around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. The two guards in the dormitory of about 150 inmates called for backup when they couldn’t get the inmates to follow orders.”
(Associated Press 22/05/08)
Writing to Prisoners
Please read the following guidelines before writing to prisoners:
Guidelines 1
Guidelines 2
Guidelines 3
For more information on Prisons and Prisoner support see:
- Break the Chains
- Brighton ABC Links to UK groups
- 325 Magazine Anti-capitalist, anti-repression magazine, with articles, interviews, writings by political prisoners and distro.
- Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network U.K.
- Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network U.S.
- ABC Network
- ABC Federation
- Prisoner Activist Resource Centre
- Campaign Against Prison Slavery
Posted by NatterJack
Natterjack Press publishes and distributes radical books, pamphlets and articles that inspire resistance to the destruction of nature and community and that provide tools to live healthy, sustainable and liberated lives. We are a non-profit collective based in the UK. ...
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