International prisoner solidarity on NYE

As we slowly reassemble ourselves back here in Bristol after the winter holidays, news filters in of some New Years Eve prisoner solidarity actions here and abroad.

(Update: news of more NYE prison solidarity protests here, and report from Lewes prison near Brighton here).

Here in Bristol it is confirmed that at least 20 anarchists paid a late night visit to Bristol prison up in Horfield, where a quantity of fireworks were let off. Comrades then melted off into the cold night. We understand this action was carried out specifically in solidarity with those activists still locked up after the Copenhagen climate protests earlier in December, and more generally with all political prisoners. Nice one!

Protestors & riot cops at Korydallos prison (Athens)

In Europe there is a long tradition of prisoner solidarity protests outside prisons on new years eve, and in recent years anarchists in Greece have been keen proponents of this tactic. This year was no different, with protests known to have occurred outside Korydallos prison (Athens), Volos (Central Greece) and Alikarnassos (Crete). Slogans included ‘Freedom to all that are in the prisons’. There is a report and video link at Occupied London blog, with further links to photos. Also linked to Greece, a further appeal has been issued for solidarity with Christos Stratigopulos, and Alfredo Bonanno, arrested last autumn for allegedly trying to expropriate funds from a bank. You can read the full solidarity call here on UK Indymedia.

Further afield, some 500 prisoners rioted on new years eve at Chachapoyas prison, about 650km northeast of Lima in Peru, in protest at worsening conditions. 6 hostages were taken and only released after negotiations with senior state officials.

Its going to be a busy year on the prison front, in more ways than one.

Letter from Elijah James Smith Bristol EDO Decommissioner on remand

Back on 20 December, at the Bristol EDO Decommissioners solstice fundraising cafe at kebele social centre, a card was produced for Elijah (James) Smith by a Bristol ABC activist, and all present were asked to send him a seasonal and new year message. Elijah of course is still locked up in prison, now nearly for 1 whole year on remand, innocent until proven guilty – but locked away anyway by the state.

Well the card was sent, and on xmas eve Elijah penned a reply, that has now been received in the post. Here’s what he had to say:

Update on international hunger strike

Around 7 people were arrested and 2 “Carabineros” injured at a demo in Santiago, Chile. According to Chilean press there were around 70 people at the demo, which was organised in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike in Europe and Chile itself. 2 Chilean anarchists, Matías Castro and Pablo Carvajal, are under “preventative arrest” since September after an arson attack at a police station and have both joined the hunger strike. The “Carabineros” Special Force intervened to stop the demo and 2 of them were injured. Buildings and cars were also damaged.

To my knowledge, pickets outside jails will be taking place in the next few days and New Year’s Eve in Italy and Switzerland in solidarity with the strikers and all prisoners.

International hunger strike till January 1st

Following  Gabriel Pombo Da Silva's call for an international hunger
strike 13 anarchist prisoners from all over the world have so far joined in.
The strike started on December 20th and will carry on till January 1st.

The initiative comes spontaneously from the prisoners themselves,
in particular to remember the Chilean anarchist Mauricio Morales
who died in May this year while he was trying to place a bomb  
outside a local penitentiary police's school.

In his initial communiqué Gabriel writes: “To me hunger strike is a
strategic tool of struggle...in the situation we are - kidnapped by the
State and the Capital - we only have this form of struggle seen as we
all are spread in different jails and countries.”

The prisoners who have so far joined in are:
Gabriel Pombo Da Silva (Germany), Marco Camenisch (Switzerland),
Juan Carlos Rico Rodriguez, Francisco Maya Fernandez, Honorio and
Alberto (Spain), Diego Petrissans (Argentina), Sergio, Mike, Evelin, Luca
and Pasquale (Italy), Matias Castro (Chile).



Elijah Smith 11 months locked up without a trial

Today 20 December marks 11 months on remand for EDO Decommissioner Elijah (James) Smith. That’s 11 months locked away in a shitty little cell, deprived of all his freedom, and without any opportunity to argue his case in court. 11 months in prison without actually being found guilty of anything.

Elijah and the other 5 Bristol anti-militarists face a major trial in May 2010. Whilst the other five face stringent bail conditions, they are at least not locked up in a cell. Elijah however faces another 5 months locked away before getting into court. Compare and contrast this treatment of a man accused only of property damage, with the treatment of the cop who assaulted Ian Tomlinson, moments before he died, at the G20 protests in London on 1 April 2009 – who remains uncharged, at liberty and on full pay. British justice, what a farce.

Elijah presently remains in Lewes prison. Please write and send him your support, write to Elijah Smith VP 7551, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA

Next big Smash EDO protest

Elijah, the other Decommissioners would welcome your support and solidarity, both in their case and in their campaign against EDO ITT and other profiteers from wars. To support the Decommissioners check their website, keep an eye on Bristol Indymedia for upcoming events, and also see the wider Smash Edo campaign. To support the anti-militarist campaign just find an arms delaer/manufacturer, anywhere, and DIY. There is a fundraising cafe & film night for the Decommissioners support campaign tonight, 20 December, from 6pm at Kebele social centre.

Solidarity!

Jock Palfreeman gets 20 years in Bulgaria

Self-defence is no offence

Jock is a young Australian man, with British connections, who a few years ago visited Bristol for a while. He hung out mainly in East Bristol around the alternative scene, went to The Plough pub etc.

After nearly 2 years on remand in Sofia Central prison, Bulgaria, he was on 2 December 2009 found guilty of of premeditated murder and attempted murder with antisocial (hooligan) intent. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, and a 450,000 leva (375,000 Aussie dollars) fine.

Prisoner support letter writing and social evening

Greek democracy in action right now

This Wednesday 9 December sees our last monthly public letter-writing session of the year, and it’ll be a social too – with food and hot drinks, plenty of time to chat, find out more about supporting political prisoners, and we hope to round off with a 30 minute dvd of anarchic comedy.

Prisoner support fundraising event on 5 December

benefit gig flyer

(Update 6/12/09 – Saturday’s fundraiser was a hectic one, and after costs over £250 was raised for our projects. Many thanks to the organisers, the bands, and all who came.)

This Saturday we have a fundraising gig at The White Hart, 181 Whitehall Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 9BJ. The fundraiser has been organised for us by our friends the Bastard Squad Collective, with Kebele Sound doing the PA. For bands see the flyer, there should also be projections and info/book stalls. It starts at 8pm and its a fiver on the door. Late bar. Do come along, it’ll be a cracking night out, and you can find out more about what we do and why – come and chat to us between the bands!

2010 Solidarity calendar available now

Once again Bristol ABC is delighted to be helping distro ‘Certain Days: the 2010 Freedom For All Political Prisoners Calendar’, which this year has a focus on Indigenous Resistance.

Calendar back cover showing 12 months artwork

This beautiful 44-page calendar is packed with superb full colour artwork, alongside extensive writings on the prisoners, campaigns and communities represented. It includes artwork by Martin Mantxo, the former Bristol street artivist and co-founder of Kebele social centre, who has now returned to his native Basque country (where he remains extremely active and artistic!). If you are looking for the perfect politically conscious gift supporting some vital causes this solstice/new year, then this is it!

Remember Ian Tomlinson dead for 8 months

and still no cops charged over his death

Lots of waffle in the media over the last week about the G20 policing, and various reports and reviews into their misbehaviour have been announced. But a stunning lack of comment or news relating to Ian Tomlinson, the newspaper vendor who died at about 7.25pm on 1 April 2009, just a couple of minutes after being viciously assauled from behind by a member of the Territorial Support Group (TSG – hardcore riot cops).

Ian Tomlinson was dead about 5 minutes later

The Tomlinson Family Campaign have called a candlelit vigil for Tuesday 1 December, from 6pm, at Royal Exchange, by Threadneedle St, London EC3V. This will be exactly 8 months since Ian Tomlinson died.