Support the Eco-Prisoners (September 2006)

Spirit of Freedom
(September 2006)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

"I want to thank everyone who did whatever to help me out.  Sincerely it
meant a lot to me and I appreciate it.  (Harjit Singh Gill, former Animal
Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the September 2006 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  First off I
would like to apologise for the delay in publishing this edition of the
newsletter.  ELP has been awaiting the outcome of the USA-SHAC 7 sentencing
and, as a lot of people will be aware, the news is not good.  So far the
sentences have been between 36 to 72 months imprisonment with two more
sentences due later on this month.  ELP urges everyone to support the
USA-SHAC 7 and all the other eco-prisoners.  Around the world people are
being jailed for standing up for what they believe in and their reward is
imprisonment.  So please, no matter where you are in the world, please
support the eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES

ROD CORONADO JAILED
In early August 2006, well known American activist, Rod Coronado, was
sentenced to 8 months imprisonment for his part in an Earth First! mountain
lion hunt sabotage action.  His co-defendant, Matthew Crozier, was given a
non-custodial sentence.
      ELP regards the jailing of Rod as a highly political act, especially
as the cops offered not to prosecute him if he agreed to stop campaigning in
defence of the mountain lions.  Rod refused this offer and has ultimately
been jailed as a result.
      Besides the Earth First! conviction, Rod is also facing additional
charges relating to a speech he made at an animal rights conference.   For
more information visit www.supportrod.org

AMANDA GARCIA
In late July 2006 ELP learnt that Spanish eco-activist Amanda Cerezo Garcia
has been
awarded "conditional freedom".  We're not 100% sure what this means in legal
terms, but in practical terms she is no longer in prison!
     Amanda and her boyfriend were accused in 2003 of been a part of an
anarchist
terrorist group that destroyed a road construction vehicle and sent a letter
bomb to a neo-nazi politician.  But apparently the Judge has said that they
are not terrorists and has awarded Amanda this "conditional freedom".

CHIARA SACCHETTE
As we reported in Spirit of Freedom July 2006, in early May 06 a number of
Italian activists from the eco-anarchist group Il Silvestre were arrested
accused of conspiring to use explosives to destroy electricty pylons
transporting nuclear energy.  One of those arrested was Chiara Sacchette.
       Following her arrest, Chiara, along with some of the others, was
placed under house arrest.  The conditions of the house arrest included
Chiara not being allowed to meet up with any of her co-defendants.  How this
is where the problem started..
     Some of her co-defendants live in the same house as her and therefore
meeting them (as they were all under house arrest) was inevitable!
     Because Chiara met up with some of her co-defendants (who lived in the
same house as her!) she was found to be in breach of her conditions and was
remanded into custody.  Happily she has since been released after her lawyer
pointed out the ludicrous nature of her remanding.

AUBURN ARRESTEES
On the 20th of July 2006, Zachary Jenson was named as a police informant
after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on condition he testified against
Eric McDavid.  As everyone knows ELP does not support police informants and
we have therefore removed Jenson's details from our list.

OREGON UPDATE
In late July 06, six of the Oregon defendants, Darren Thurston, Kevin Tubbs,
Sarah Harvery (also known as Kendall Tankersley), Stanislas Meyerhoff,
Chelsea Gerlach, and Suzanne Savoie, pleaded guilty to various charges
against them.
      With the exception of Thurston, all of the others had been previously
named, by ELP, as police informants and their cooperation with the
prosecution has been long established.
      Prior to his Guilty Plea there was some speculation that Thurston was
about to do a deal with the authorities.  He had even asked an ELP volunteer
for clarification around our anti-police informants policy.
      Following his guilty plea Thurston's lawyer has asked the courts keep
secret the exact nature of the plea bargain, but it is widely believed that
Thurston has agreed to testify against at least one of his co-defendants
whose location is unknown to the authorities.
      According to an article published in the American 'Earth First!
Journal' following their Guilty Pleas the US Attorney's Office has
recommended the following sentences: S Meyerhoff 15 years & 8 months
imprisonment.  K Tubbs 14 years imprisonment.  C Gerlach 10 years
imprisonment.  S Savoie 5 years 3 months imprisonment.  S Harvey (aka K
Tankersley) 4 years & 3 months imprisonment.  D Thurston 3 years & 1 month
imprisonment.
       All six have been scheduled for formal sentencing on the 14th of
December 06.
       The trial of the non-cooperating defendants was due to start in late
October 06 but has now been moved back to March 07.  But there is some good
news.  According to his support campaign Daniel McGowan is no longer under
house arrest.

ANTI-HUNT ACTIVISTS JAILED
On the 25th of July 2006, three British animal rights activists, Natasha
Avery, Heather Nicholson and Daniel Wadham were convicted of carrying out
public disorder offence against a fox hunting family after the three became
enraged at stickers in the fox hunters car which incited the illegal
bloodsports of fox hunting.
      Natasha and Heather (who are both former prisoners) where sentenced to
16 months imprisonment each.
      Dan was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
      Because of time served on remand awaiting her trial, Heather has now
served her sentence and has been released.

SUPPORT THE USA SHAC SEVEN
As reported in our March 2006 edition of Spirit of Freedom, on the 2nd of
March 2006 six American animal rights activists, along with the whole of the
SHAC-USA campaign, where found guilty of encouraging direct action against
Huntingdon Life Sciences.
      In early September 2006 four of the six defendants received the
following sentences:
      Kevin Kjonaas: 72 months imprisonment.
      Lauren Gazzola: 54 months imprisonment.
      Jacob Conroy: 48 months imprisonment.
      Josh Harper: 36 months imprisonment.
      Andrew Stepanian and Darius Fullmer are due to be sentenced in
mid-September.
      Following their sentences all of the defendants have 30 days to hand
themselves over to the authorities.  ELP will being you their prison
addresses as soon as we have them. Please send e-mailed messages of support
to:
        lettersforkevin@shac7.com
        lettersforjosh@shac7.com
        lettersforlauren@shac7.com
        lettersforjake@shac7.com
        lettersforandy@shac7.com
        lettersfordari@shac7.com
For more info check out www.SHAC7.com

SARAH WHITEHEAD
In early September 2006 British animal rights activist Sarah Whitehead was
remanded into custody for alleged witness intimidation and harassment
against a pet shop owner/breeder.  However within days of her being remanded
Sarah was released on bail.  It is unclear at this stage if the witness
intimidation is against a witness in a case against Sarah personally or
against a witness in someone elses trial.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Fadalla Idris Alajaimy (address unknown).  Sudan anti-dam protester on
remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the
construction of a dam.  The sentence for this crime is Death.

Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy (address unknown).  Sudan anti-dam protester on
remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the
construction of a dam.  The sentence for this crime is Death.

Tre Arrow, CS# 05850722, Vancouver Island Regional Correction Center, 4216
Wilkinson Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 5B2, Canada.  On remand accused of
involvement with an arson on logging trucks and an arson on vehicles owned
by a sand & gravel company.  Both arsons occurred in the USA.  Tre is
fighting his extradition to the USA.

Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401,
USA.  On remand accused of involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree
Farm and an arson against an SUV dealership.  Also charged with involvement
in a conspiracy to carry out direct action in Oregon.

Federico Bonamici, Casa di Reclusione, ia Nuova Poggioreale 177, 80143
Napolo Poggioreale (NA), Italy.  Il Silvestre member on remand accused of
using explosives to damage an electricity pylon.  Also accused of planning
to overthrow the State.

Giuseppe Bonamici, Nuova Casa Circondariale "San Michele", Strada casale
50/A, 15100 Alessandria, Italy.  Il Silvestre member on remand accused of
using explosives to damage an electricity pylon.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.  Serving 27
years.  1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons
leading from nuclear power stations.  2) Seventeen years for the murder of a
Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run.  In '02 Marco completed a 12-year
sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.

Ibai Ederra, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 - Iruñez -
Pamplona, Navarra (España), Spain.  Serving just under 5 years for
sabotaging machinery at the controversial Itoiz dam construction site.

Rodney Coronado #03895000, FCC Florence, PO Box 6900, Florence, AZ 85232,
USA.  Serving 8 months for his role in an Earth First! hunt sabotage against
a mountain lion hunt.  Rod is also facing additional charges relating to a
speech he made at an animal rights gathering in 2003.

William Frediani (currently under house arrest).  Il Silvestre activist
sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for promoting & participating in COR
direct action.

Benedetta Galante, Casa Circondariale, Contrada Capo di Monte, 82100 -
Benevento (BN), Italy.  Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 3 years 6 months
for promoting & participating in COR direct action.  Also awaiting trial
accused of using explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at
nuclear energy.

Francesco Gioia, Via Maiano, 10, 06049 Spoleto, Italy.  Il Silvestre
activist sentenced to 5 years 2 months for promoting & participating in COR
direct action.  Also awaiting trial for escaping from house arrest.

Silvia Guerini, Carcere "La Dozza", Via Del Gomito 2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Il Silvestre member on remand accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon.

Jeffrey Hogg 1901 NE F st, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97526, USA.  Jailed for
refusing to testify to a Grand Jury investigating a series of direct actions
in Oregon.

Leonardo Landi (currently under house arrest).  Il Silvestre activist
sentenced to 3 years 6 months imprisonment for promoting & participating in
COR direct action.

Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP, 2605 State St. Salem, OR 97310, USA. Serving
22 years & 8 months for arson on a SUV dealership & the attempted arson of
an oil truck.

Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad (address unknown).  Sudan anti-dam protester on
remand accused of Waging War against the State for protesting against the
construction of a dam.  The sentence for this crime is Death.

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E 231A, Sacramento County Main Jail, 651 "I" Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814, USA.  On Remand accused of planning to destroy the
property of the U.S. Forestry Service, mobile phone masts and power plants.

Christopher McIntosh 30512-013, USP Hazelton, US Penitentiary, PO Box 2000,
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, USA.  Serving 8 years for a joint ELF/ALF arson
attack on a McDonalds restaurant.

Alessio Perondi (currently under house arrest).  Il Silvestre activist
sentenced to 3 years 8 months imprisonment for promoting & participating in
COR direct action.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058 Voghera
(PV), Italy.  Il Silvestre activist sentenced to 5 years for promoting &
participating in COR direct action.  Also awaiting trial accused of using
explosives to damage an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.

John Wade #38548-083, FCI Petersburg Low, Satellite Camp, PO Box 90027,
Petersburg, VA 23804, USA.  Serving 37 months for a series of ELF actions
against a number of targets including McDonalds & Burger King; urban sprawl;
the construction industry; and an SUV dealership.

Joyanna Zacher #1662550, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401,
USA.  On remand accused of involvement in an arson against a Poplar Tree
Farm and an SUV dealership.  Also charged with involvement in a conspiracy
to carry out direct action in Oregon.

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS

Jon Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middlesex,
TW15 3JZ, England.  Serving 16 months for a public order offence after
telling a fox hunting murder what she thought of them.

Dave Blenkinsop EM7899, HMP Rye Hill, Onley, Warwickshire, CV23 8AN,
England.  Serving 10 years.  1) Three years for a stave attack on the
Managing Director of HLS.  2) 18 months for rescuing 600 guinea pigs from a
lab supplier.  3) 5½ years for planting incendiary devices under an
abattoirs vehicles.

Jacob Conroy (Address unknown).  Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Rodney Coronado.  Serving 8 months for his role in an Earth First! hunt
sabotage against a mountain lion hunt.  See his details in the Eco-Defence
Prisoners list.

Donald Currie TN 4593, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, MK4
4DA, England.  On remand accused of arson against a courier company with
links to the vivisection industry including HLS.

Josh Demmitt 12314-081, FCI Safford, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O.
Box 9000, Safford, AZ 85548, USA.  Serving 30 months for an ALF arson on a
University animal testing facility.

Darius Fullmer (Address Unknown).  Awaiting sentencing for helping organise
the SHAC-USA campaign.

Garfield Marcus Gabbard TB 4271, HMP Moorland (Closed), Bawtry Road,
Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN7 6BW, England.  Serving
36 months for Affray during an animal rights demo where he jumped onto a car
and kicked a security guard who pulled him off the car.

Lauren Gazzola (Address unknown).  Serving 54 months imprisonment for
helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Sarah Gisborne, LT5393, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU, England.
Serving 5½ years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage following the
damaging of 8 vehicles owned by people linked to Huntingdon Life Science.

Josh Harper (Address unknown).  Serving 36 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Jeffrey Hogg.  Jailed for refusing to testify before a Grand Jury.  See his
details in the Eco-Defence Prisoners list.

Kevin Kjonaas (Address unknown).  Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Chris McIntosh.  Serving 8 years for a joint ALF/ELF arson on a McDonalds.
See his details in the Eco-Defence Prisoners list.

Josephine Mayo PR6508, HMP Drake Hall, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6LQ,
England.  Serving 4 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

John Smith TB4887, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Andrew Stepanian (Address Unknown).  Awaiting sentencing for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Daniel Wadham TF5524, HMP Rochester, Kent. ME1 3QS, England.  Serving 12
months for a public order offence after telling a fox hunting murder what he
thought of them.

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.

Peter Daniel Young, #10269-111, FCI Vitorvill Medium II, Federal
Correctional Institution, PO Box 5700, Adelanto, CA  92301, USA.  Serving
two years for releasing mink and foxes from six different fur farms.  Also
awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a raid on a fur farm in South
Dakota.

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell - Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft.
Worth, TX  76127, USA.  Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused
on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world.  The
actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court
and making threatening communications.  Previously Helen had served 20½
years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo.  2) Burning
$25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental
destruction & economic injustice.  3) Mailing warning letters with bullets
attached to Government & corporate officials.

OTHER ANTI-WAR PRISONERS

Brendan Walsh, 12473-052, FCI Allenwood Low, PO Box 1000, White Deer, PA
17887, USA.  Serving 5 years for an arson on an army recruitment office in
protest at the War on Iraq.

THE LECCE FIVE
The Lecce Five have been charged with "subversive association" accused of
damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash
machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the
multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists
in Chile.  Most of the defendants are under house arrest.  However Salvatore
Signore is on remand.

Salvatore Signore, Casa Circondariale di Sulmona, Via Lamaccio 21, 67039
Sulmona (AQ), Italy.  On remand.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Lasandra Burwell W063658, Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave.
Marysville, OH 43040, USA.  Serving 5 years for taking part in an
anti-fascist demonstration which turned into a riot.

Igor Kisielewicz, syn Aleksandra, A.S. Bialystok, Kopernika 21, 15-377
Bialystok, Poland.  Serving 3 months for failing to do his community service
imposed for antifa activity.

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending
himself.

PARTY & PROTEST
Around the world there have been several massive protests against global
capitalism and its environmental impact.  The following have all been jailed
in connection with the protests.

Jonathan Philip Robert, Crisp County Detention Center, 197 Ga. Hwy. 300
South, Cordele, GA 31015, USA  (12 months)

OTHER PRISONERS

Ted Kaczynski (04475-046), US Pen - admin Max Facility, PO Box 8500,
Florence Colorado 81226, USA.  Serving multiple life sentences for the
infamous 'Unabomber' anti-technology bombing & murder campaign.

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk
140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson,
criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya.
Due for release in 2009.

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her
home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke
campaigner.

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of
all life. There are currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving
100 years after been framed for the murder of a cop in 1979.  9th defendant,
Merle Africa, died in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa  (006307), Janet Holloway Africa  (006308) and Janine
Philips Africa (006309)  all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave,
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI
Grateford, PO Box 244, Grateford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa  (AM4974), 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA 17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI
Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA
15370, USA.  In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of
MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop.  He was originally sentenced to
death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in
2001.

MAPUCHE PRISONERS & OTHER LAND RIGHTS PRISONERS
Due to space limitation we cannot publish the names & addresses of the
Mapuche & Land Rights prisoners in this edition of Spirit of Freedom,
however if you would like a list please contact Spirit of Freedom.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions.
'Spirit of Freedom' does not condone violence.  But we are also against
censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to
support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in
1993 to support jailed eco-activists.  We support the prisoners by producing
various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP's international bimonthly publication (available
via e-mail or in a paper version).  If you would like to receive a copy
contact Spirit of Freedom, BM Box 2407, London, WC1N 3XX, England.  Or
e-mail ELP4321@hotmail.com

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any
new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details.  For more info e-mail
ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters - ELP has a number of websites that provide news,
prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political
prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by
ELP.  To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact.  For more info e-mail
elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco
Camenisch.  For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105
Regensdorf, Switzerland.

North American ELP is our North American contact.  For more information
e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact.  For more info e-mail
yesilanarsi@yahoo.com

North American ELP Prisoner Fund.  The North American ELP group has set up a
fund where people can pay money, for North American Eco-Defence and Animal
Rights prisoners, which will then be distributed to the North American
prisoners.  For information about the Fund and how to make a donation please
contact naelpsn@mutualaid.org

DEDICATION
This edition of Spirit of Freedom is dedicated to the American activist
Murray Bookchin who died at the age of 85 on the 30th of July 2006.
      Bookchin is accredited with the creation of the eco-anarchist theory
"Social Ecology", which argues for social as well as environmental reforms.
      Although 'Social Ecology' and Bookchin have been criticised by some
within the radical environmental movement it is important to acknowledge the
impact he made on the movement.  ELP's thoughts are therefore with his
family & friends.