International Week of Action for Jock Palfreeman 11th-17th of April

March 17, 2011 by anarchistsolidarity

THIS IS A CALL OUT!!

SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY FOR JOCK PALFREEMAN

AN INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION HAS BEEN CALLED

FOR 11^th-17^th of April 2011

Continuing the campaign for Jock;

Jock Palfreeman is a 23 year old Australian who, on the 27th of December 2007,
had the courage to stand up against 16 fascist hooligans on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria.
He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to
the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the fascists at bay by waving a knife at
them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice
but to defend himself. Andrey Monov, one of the racist gang, was stabbed and killed
and another, Anton Zahariev was injured. The Roma boys ran away.
Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has
been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been fined 375,000 Australian
dollars. Jock has spent much of the time he has already served in isolation due
to a legal loop hole used by the prison authorities.
Andrey Monovs father is well known in Bulgaria and at the funeral there were a
mixture of judges, police and politicians. Jocks trial was (not surprisingly) a
complete sham – yet another example of corruption and secret handshakes in the
judicial system. The prosecutions case was built on the witness statements made
by the other Nazis that were there that night, all claiming that Jock randomly
attacked the group and chased them with the intent of killing somebody. Key
people and possible witnesses for Jocks defence were never interviewed by police
and the CCTV footage from the scene miraculously went missing. Many of the
statements made at the time were not the same as the statements submitted to the
court by the prosecution.
Jocks statement has remained consistent from the night in question.

You can read Jocks official statement at www.freejock.com You can also watch a
documentary about his case that contains interviews with Jock at the following
links:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rLrOW1g1k&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdhA9UzRGqo&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8NRJF5x-D0&feature=related

Jock appealed against his sentence and few court hearings took place between October 2010 and January 2011. Despite police officers confirming his version of events, one of the fascists making totally incoherent statements in court trying to explain why he changed his original testimony , mounting evidence of judicial errors during the initial trial and all other factors pointing to his innocence his sentence of 20 years was upheld. (For Jocks statement about this please go to: http://anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/jocks-sentence-upheld-after-an-appeal ) He has one last chance of appealing against that decision.
It is now more important than ever that we collectively put as much pressure on
the Bulgarian authorities as possible to accept Jocks final appeal.
From the 11th to the 17th of April there will be another International week of
action for Jock. The more creative the actions the better. Don’t let Bulgarian state bury this courageous man alive in prison! Don’t let them think that they can get away with it!

If you are short of ideas why not try one of the following;

Organize solidarity actions outside Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates etc.
(for a list of the Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates please see,
http://www.buldir.com/bulgarian_embassies_abroad.html).
Phone the Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates with your protests.

Help us to bombard the Bulgarian Authorities with letters of protest and
requests for Jocks appeal to be accepted.
(please see below for a list of addresses).

If you want us to help promote your events send us the details at
anarchosolidarity@yahoo.co.uk
Ideally protest letters are best written in your own words BUT we have provided
a sample letter (attached) that can be sent if you do not want to write your
own. Just print it out, sign it and post it, it’s as simple as that. Feel free to
reprint it and distribute it to anyone you think may send a copy.

We need to get the pressure up and
keep it up.

Addresses to post, fax and email your letters of protest to:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 2 Aleksander Zhendov Str
Sofia 1040
BULGARIA
Tel: +359 2 948 2999

http://www.mfa.bg/en/contact/ (ready form for sending messages from their website, very helpful)

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria LONDON
186-188 Queen’s Gate
London SW7 5HL
Tel.: (0044) (0) 207 584 9400, (0) 207 584 9433
Fax: (0044) (0) 207 584 4948
E-mail: information@bulgarianembassy.org.uk

Information, Public Relations and European Communication Directorate
Director: Sofia Vladimirova
Tel: +359 2 971 1408. OR +359 2 971 3778. OR +359 2 948 2218.
Fax: +359 2 870 3041
E-mail: iprd@mfa.government.bg

Ministry’s Reception Desk
Tel: +359 2 948 2018 OR +359 2 971 1054
(opening hrs 09.30 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 16.00)

Ministry of Justice
E-mail: pr@justice.government.bg

Finally, please write to Jock, even if it’s only a ‘good luck’ postcard. Any
letters and postcards help to keep Jock feeling positive and high spirited and
all are gratefully received. You can write to Jock at the following address:
Jock Palfreeman,
Sofia Central Prison,
21 General Stoletov Boulevard,
Sofia 1309,
BULGARIA

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you in regards to Australian National Jock Palfreeman.

Mr. Palfreeman is currently imprisoned in Sofia Central Prison in Bulgaria.
After defending two young innocent boys from a viscous attack by a group of
drunken football hooligans, and later being forced to defend himself against the
same assailants, he was sentenced to twenty years incarceration under charges of
murder and attempted murder.

He is clearly only guilty of causing accidental death while using self defence.

Mr. Palfreeman witnessed the gang (of around 16 men) attacking the two boys and
ran to their aid. While trying to keep the gang at bay he suffered a viscous
attack and was left with no choice but to defend himself. His version of events
has remained consistent since the night in question and is supported by numerous
witnesses. All of whom are prepared to testify in his defence.

It has since transpired that at his trial, to my astonishment, key people and
possible witnesses were never interviewed by police, the CCTV footage from the
scene went missing and many of the statements that were submitted to the court
by the prosecution were not the same as the statements made (by the same people)
on the night in question.
Anything working in favour of Mr. Palfreemans’ defence was completely
disregarded by the judge and the prosecutions case was built on the witness
statements made by the football hooligans that initially attacked the two boys,
all claiming that Mr. Palfreeman randomly attacked them and chased them with the
intent of killing somebody.
The trial was a farce!

I ask that the Bulgarian Authorities grant him his appeal and release him from those absurd charges!

Mr. Palfreeman selflessly saved the lives of two young boys, risking his own
safety and costing him his own freedom. He should be deemed a hero, not a cold
blooded killer!

Signed

Jock Palfreeman’s sentence upheld after an appeal

Jock finally received court verdict on his appeal. In blatant disregard for all
the facts presented to them during the process Bulgarian authorities upheld
Jock’s ridiculous sentence, complete ignoring all evidence in his defense.
There are no words to describe our contempt and disgust we feel towards all
those people responsible for his imprisonment. Jock can appeal the decision
within 14 days and last appeal will take place within next few months. We have
to put more pressure on Bulgarian authorities if we don’t want them to get away
with what they are doing at the moment.

Below is Jock’s comment on the sentencing:

To say I’m dissappointed would be an understatement. But I am not dissappointed
in the Monov family’s demands for unjustified punishment. I am dissappointed in
the judges and legal structure that seems to have the moral backbones of
jellyfish. When I saw the 15 men attack the two homeless men, I was presented
with a choice. Stand back and let the injustice continue or intervene in an
attempt to save human life. The Sofia city court and the Sofia court of appeal
were all presented with a much easier choice than that. Their choice was not
one that could result in their own deaths as mine was. Yet still they chose to
take the easy way. They chose to bow to the political pressure from the
Bulgarian Socialist Party and it’s beaurocrats which float around the Ministry
of Interior and Ministry of Justice like bad smell. Although this latest
decision keeps me with a 20 year prison sentence, it is useful as evidence to
show the depth and width of corruption in the Bulgarian courts and justice
system. As disheartening as this blatantly corrupt decision is, we all must
take encouragement from the 10 neutral witnesses who did have the moral
backbone to come forward and tell the truth. Also from the 5 police who too
eventually told the truth despite overwhelming pressures from their superiors.
To all those who fight against racism, nationalism, corruption and injustice- I
tell you not to loose focus or direction. Do not loose hope. Those who wish to
hide the shame that the 15 skinheads brought on Bulgaria have only been
successful in increasing it and legalizing it. Ironically Andrei Monov was not
ashamed of his nationalism and I doubt he would have lied about actions he and
his family are clearly proud of. “Bulgaria for Bulgarians” was what Dr Monov
said he and his son believed in. “Defending the underdog” is what I believe in,
be it Bulgaria or Bangladesh. The supreme court of appeal will not remedy the
injustice. The head judge of the supreme court of appeal was even present at
Andrei Monovs funeral. My prison sentence although outrageous, will be served
easier now that the evidence is overwhelmingly in concurrence with my
statements and that I know I was correct in opposing racism in it’s most
disgusting form, violence. My gratitude to my family, friends and comrades who
have not supported me as an individual but supported me based on the evidence
in my case and the reason for my involvement with the 15 skinheads.

Jock Palfreeman

www.freejock.com

Freedom for Jock Palfreeman

Jock had his final defence plea in his appeal on 19th of January. It means that
theoretically within 30 days he should receive his verdict- Bulgarian system
however is not know for its efficiency so it might take more time than that. In
the meantime we definitely need last push for him!

Comrades in Moscow already organised another picket outside Bulgarian embassy
and we know there is something going to take place in Holland in few days. If
you have a Bulgarian Embassy or consulate in your area why not to pay them a
visit with few friends and a abnner or at least go there and offcially deliver
a letter of support? (it has to be noted by embassy staff and sent to Ministry
of Foreign Affairs so it carries more weight that you might think). If not that
send few emails to bulgarian authorities, reminding them that Jock is not
forgotten and we are watching them.

There is very handy form for sending messages to one of the bulgarian ministires
here : http://www.mfa.bg/en/contact/

Free Jock website finally seems to be moving, with large update of different
articles about him: www.freejock.com online petition for Jock here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freejock/

News about solidarity actions: www.anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com


Anarchist Solidarity

30-day wait for Jock Palfreeman appeal verdict

Jan. 20,2011 — avtonom.org

A verdict in the appeal case against Jock Palfreeman’s 20-year jail sentence is due to be handed down in the next 30 days. A final hearing in the appeal trial was held in a Bulgarian court last night, 19th of January.

Palfreeman, raised in Mosman, was last year found guilty of murdering Bulgarian student Andrei Monov, 20, and severely wounding Anton Zahariev, 19, during a fight in 2007. His lawyers lodged an appeal, saying the verdict was not based on correct evidence.

Let us recall, that Jock Palfreeman was a 21 year old Australian visiting friends for Christmas in Sofia, Bulgaria, when he found himself caught up in a situation which has left him serving a 20 year sentence.

On the 27th of December 2007, had the courage to stand up against 16 Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by waving a knife at them but they attacked him. (Sofia can be a dangerous place and Jock had only decided to carry a knife after being assaulted in the street on more than one occasion). The Nazis turned on Jock. He was beaten, kicked and hit with rocks. He was sustaining severe injuries and was left with nowhere to run. He had no choice but to defend himself. Andrey Monov (one of the Nazis) received a knife wound whilst beating Jock, he later died. Anton Zahariev (another) was injured. The Roma boys ran away. Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment

You can sign a petition in support of Jock here

Also You can write to the prisoner, the address is:

Jock Palfreeman

Sofia Central Prison

21 General Stoletov Boulevard

Sofia 1309, BULGARIA