Tagged: prison
Operation Piñata: Last Prisoner Is Released
What follows is a translation from a Spanish site covering the recent repression against anarchists in Spain. Police had raided numerous squats and collectives in the earlier part of this year leading to nearly 30 arrests
The last comrade who was in prison has been released but awaiting trial, like the remainder of the group.
After official judicial mistakes, the last chapter of police operations against anarchists and anti-authoritarians in the Spanish State appears to be over.
We are still aware from the plot, that activists still have the threat of arrest over them and this is a continuing fact; Mónica and Francisco are still in a preventive prison without awaiting trial at all.
At the same time, prisons are still full of people locked behind walls under lock and key. Anarchist comrades and prisoners fighting institutionalisation are still fighting against the state, the mechanism of power, and the establishment. Kidnapped, as prisoners because they do not want to accept the fallacy of ‘democratic’ laws which classify and alienate you as a passive citizen.
People can see that their hopes and future comes to an end in prison, for no other reason than attempting to make a living. Solidarity, actions and struggle shall continue.
FREEDOM ANARCHIST PRISONERS!!
DOWN THE WALLS OF PRISONS!!
Prisoner Support – Emma Sheppard
Today, Emma Sheppard was sentenced to two years imprisonment. She is the police’s first conviction under Operation Rhone, investigating a spate of attacks carried out by anarchists in Bristol. For more information on what the police have been upto see here.
Emma Sheppard had put together a homemade ‘stinger’ device which was placed outside a police station puncturing the tyres of police vehicles driving over it, around the New Year period. The sentencing appears to have opted for anything other than what it was – criminal damage.
We understand from she is in good spirits, but all the same it is important that people write to her, to keep her spirits up. She is a committed environmental activist of some years.
**Address Update 30/03/2015**
Emma Sheppard
A7372DJ
HMP Send
Ripley Road
Woking
Surrey
GU23 7LJ
For a guide on writing to prisoners see here
See Bristol ABC
Repression in Belarus- An Anarchist speaks
Belarusian ABC Infotour 2013: UK in February-March.
London date: this Friday 7pm in Autonomy Club, Freedom Bookshop
Despite the welcome release of Pavel Syramolatau in September 2012, 5 comrades supported by the Anarchist Black Cross are still in Belarusian jails facing years of incarceration since being convicted of a range of crimes in 2011.
Artsiom Prakapenka was sent down for an attack on the KGB headquarters in Bobruisk, in solidarity with anarchists arrested in 2010. He faces 7 years.
Jauhen Vas’kovich faces the same, being convicted of the same crime.
Ihar Alinevich faces 8 years, convicted of attacking the Russian embassy in Minsk in solidarity with Russian anarchists arrested in the high-profile Khimki case. He was also convicted of arson at the Belarusbank and attack on the ‘Shangri La’ casino. He denies all of these charges but was kidnapped by plainclothed cops when in Moscow and extradited to Belarus illegally. He was also sentenced for participation in an anti-militarist demonstration near the headquarters of the General Staff in Minsk.
Aliaksandr Frantskievich was sentenced to 3 years for participation in an attack on the (state controlled) Trade Union Federation building and for computer hacking. Despite having serious health problems (has only one kidney) he is still being held in a pre-trial facility.
Mikalai Dziadok was also found guilty of the attacks on the ‘Shangri La’ and trade union building, and participation in the anti-militarist demo, and was sentenced to 4.5 years after being held illegally. He too denies charges against him.
The criminal damage for which these comrades were sentenced amounts to only a few hundred dollars in each case. They are being in especially harsh conditions, reflective of their noncompliance.
These convictions form part of an ideologically driven repression of anarchists in Belarus. They follow the revitalisation of Belarusian anarchism in the past few years. Unlike in some other ex-Soviet Union countries and other modern dictatorships, anarchists do not form a minor part of a dissident prison population consisting of the usual pro-democracy and anti-corruption activists. They in fact make up just under half of the ‘political’ prisoners in Belarus. This is partly because it is possible to have sentences revoked if you admit your guilt and write to the state asking forgiveness, which the 5 will not do.
The Belarusian ABC has campaigned consistently for them to be released and, in the immediate term, for them to be allowed visits, medication, letters and literature, and raises money for solicitors’ fees and to buy the comrades’ food. Supported by the International of Anarchist Federations (IFA-IAF) they are undertaking a tour of France, Italy, Germany, Spain and UK, to raise awareness and spark further solidarity. The latter have a good chance of success because Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed a desire for the country to be allowed to join the E.U. There are rumours that this may be considered if human rights in the country are addressed.
A speaker will be coming from Belarus in February-March to discuss the situation for activists in the country and to build solidarity for the prisoners. Please consider putting on a meeting.
Confirmed dates so far:
London Friday 15th Feb – convened by Anarchist Federation (London) and London Anarchist Black Cross 7pm at Freedom Bookshop, Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High St, E1 ( nearesat tube Aldgate Easrt)
