Jock Palfreeman appeal news

According to a report from Moscow ABC, Jock’s appeal case continued in court in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 11 November with 2 witnesses re-questionned by the judge.

However the case was then adjourned again until 25 November, because 3 other witnesses due to be re-questionned did not appear in court. They include 2 cops (!), and a member of the gang who attacked Jock, who is now fortuitously studying abroad! We await news as to whether the case did in fact continue on the 25th?

Jock got 20 years for acting in self-defence in late 2007, when he went to the aid of 2 Roma youth being attacked by a gang of right-wingers, and was himself attacked. More background info here.

Updates on Canadian G20 defendants and prisoners

News received from friends at Toronto ABC…

Toronto G20 Arrestees
June 2010 saw mass protests against the G8/20 meetings in Toronto. There were also mass arrests, with 1093 detained in brutal conditions. Of these over 250 were released facing pending charges, while a few outspoken community activists remain in jail or under house arrest, facing more serious charges.

The Canadian government is clearly hoping to utilize the “conspiracy” model pioneered in the SHAC 7 and RNC 8 cases to terrorize dissidents involved in laying the framework for protests. Your general messages of solidarity to the individuals under house arrest and in jail will mean a lot to them.
More info: g20.torontomobilize.org and Toronto.mediacoop.ca and torontoabc.wordpress.com

Callout for Solidarity with the Thessaloniki 4

Beaten Up, Fitted Up, Don’t Let Them Get Banged Up

Over a hundred people were arrested after a demonstration confronting the European Union summit, held in Thessaloniki in Greece back in 2003. Seven people were imprisoned and held on remand, including UK protester Simon Chapman. The prisoners began a hunger strike that lasted more than 50 days.

A massive worldwide solidarity campaign followed including demonstrations, direct action and occupations leading to all seven being released on bail (archive of solidarity actions). All the charges were eventually dropped.

Years later after appeals from the Prosecutor the charges were reinstated. The first case finally came before the Courts in January 2008 where Simon Chapman and three of the other defendants – Suleiman “Kastro” Dakdouk (Syrian origin), Fernando Perez Gorraiz (Spain) and Michaelis Triakapis (Greece) – were found guilty.

Cops plant black rucksack filled with petrol bombs on Chapman after he'd been beaten up

All of those accused maintain their innocence and video and photographic evidence clearly shows police planting a rucksack filled with petrol bombs next to Simon. This didn’t stop him receiving a prison sentence of more than eight years, with the other defendants all receiving over five years.

They will now face the Appeal Court again in January 2011,

The Tattoo Circus DIY prisoner support benefit FUNdraiser

Saturday 20 November, in London, sees the capital’s second Tattoo Circus of the year, and it looks like being another weird and wonderful cracker of an event!

It all kicks of at 11am in the morning. For venue details ring 07908 037170 or 07908 068724 after 10pm on Friday 19 November.

Prisoner support letter-writing night and hot prisoners

Bristol ABC prisoner support group returns this month to Kebele social centre for November’s public letters to prisoners night.

Wednesday 10 November, from 7 to 9pm at 14 Robertson Rd, Bristol BS5 6JY. Hot drinks available, bring snacks to share please.

Once again we will have lists of prisoners here and abroad who welcome support.

Prisoner support list for November

The updated November 2010 list of UK & international political prisoners welcoming support.

Here is our latest updated monthly prisoner support list to download:
open office doc version: Prisoners list_Nov 2010
pdf version: Prisoners list_Nov 2010

Update on SHAC prisoners

On 25th October six British SHAC campaigners were convicted on charges related to their role in the campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences. Alfie Fitzpatrick was given a 12 month sentence suspended for 2 years. Sarah Whitehead received 6 years. Nicole Vosper received 3 and a half years. Thomas Harris received 4 years. Nicola Tapping received 15 months. Jason Mullen received 3 years.

Please send urgent letters of support to:

New transferral in Swiss prisons

Billy and Costa and have been transferred. At the moment we do not know why. The new addresses are:

Luca Bernasconi (Billy)
c/o Regionalgefängnis Bern
Genfergasse 22
3001 Bern
Switzerland

Costantino Ragusa
c/o Regionalgefängnis Thun
Allmendstr. 34
3600 Thun
Switzerland

ELP Information Bulletin (21st of October 2010)

October 2010 prisoner list and letter-writing night

Our monthly public letter-writing sesion takes place on Wednesday 13 October, from 7 to 9pm, at 28 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol, BS2 8RU (ring the olde bell on the green side door and say you’ve come for the ABC event).

All those with an interest in supporting anarchist, class struggle and other radical prisoners…are very welcome. We will provide paper/cards and enelopes, but welcome donations towards postage.

This month we will be focusing on the dire situation of Jock Palfreeman, currently serving 20 years in a Bulgarian prison. Jock has an appeal against his sentence starting on 21 October, and now is the time to increase pressure on the Bulgarian authorities to demand justice for Jock. See his campaign website and our previous posts on Jock for more info.

We will of course be encouraging people to write to other prisoners and find out about their situations. We have now updated our monthly list of UK and international prisoners. Feel free to print it off and circulate it amongst your friends, fellow workers and campaign groups. It is availabe here:
As a pdf – Oct 2010 prisoner list
As an open office doc – Oct 2010 prisoner list
Until all are free!

Important update: Marco Camenisch has been transferred

Dear comrades,
Marco Camenisch has been transferred from Zurich to a high  security prison in Orbe, without even giving him the time to get ready or tell anyone! This happens after 8 years in Zurich, out of the blue and without any warning!

We don’t know the reasons for this, but can make our own conclusions. We think this is due to his recent hunger strike together with Silvia, Billy and Costa; to the international mobilisations around long-term revolutionary prisoners; to his long-term committment and his contacts with the international movement. Once again the system is trying to isolate him, by transferring him to a high security prison far away.

Solidarity is our weapon: let’s use this weapon by sending cards and greetings to Marco.

Marco Camenisch
Penitencier de Bochuz
Case Postale 150
1350 Orbe
Switzerland
Original article: International Red Aid