Author of sex predator law resigns from congress for prposiitoning children

I guess we should all feel safer knowing that sex predators are drafting the laws to protect children from, well, sex predators. Unlike the poor and unconnected though the law drafters aren’t looking at mandatory minimums, sex offender registration and civil commitment. The problem I have with draconian sentences is their unequal application.

And it is ironic that the Bill Foley authored is named after Adam Walsh, son of John Walsh the host of America’s Most Wanted. Prison Legal News and a newspaper in Florida and one in Alabama were the only ones to report, back in 1996 about Walsh senior’s cocaine and marijuana use and why his suit against Sears over the death of his son unraveled.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060929/pl_nm/usa_politics_foley_dc_4

Rep. Foley resigns House seat

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent1 hour, 41 minutes ago

Six-term Republican Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) of Florida resigned from the U.S. Congress on Friday following reports he sent sexually inappropriate e-mails to underage congressional interns.

Foley, chairman of the House caucus on missing and exploited children, said he would resign immediately after ABC News reported he sent messages to current and former congressional pages with repeated references to sexual organs and acts.

"Today I have delivered a letter to the Speaker of the House informing him of my decision to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, effective today," Foley said in a statement.

"I am deeply sorry and I apologize for letting down my family and the people of Florida I have had the privilege to represent."

Foley's decision to resign just five weeks before the November 7 congressional election complicated Republican efforts to retain control of the House of Representatives. Democrats must pick up 15 seats to reclaim a House majority.

Lawyers from both parties were examining Florida election laws to see if his name can be removed from the ballot in his Republican-leaning district, party sources said, but it might be too late.

Foley won re-election in 2004 with 68 percent of the vote and was favored to win in November over Democrat Tim Mahoney, a self-funding financial officer. President George W. Bush carried the district with 54 percent of the vote.

Foley was the author of the key sexual predator provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which Bush signed in July.

Foley, who represents a district in southern Florida, also was a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax and trade policy.

Terrorism Task Force in Charlottesville

Terrorism Task Force in Charlottesville

Terrorism Task Force in Charlottesville

Lisa Ferrari

September 28, 2006

It may surprise you to know that the war against terror is being fought right here in Charlottesville. The FBI has joined forces with local law enforcement to prevent terrorist acts in our area.

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Government officials have identified Charlottesville and the surrounding communities as a potential threat area for terrorists, which is why they formed a Joint Terrorism Task Force at the local Charlottesville FBI office.

After 9/11 the government began looking every where for potential threats.

“I would say we have serious potential threats to the community,” said Charlottesville Police Detective Brian O’Donnell, who is assigned to the task force.

In this area there is a nuclear power plant, various historical landmarks, technology based companies, and government research groups, all potential targets for terrorists.

“It’s the kind of area that one might consider a soft target, but it has a lot of infrastructure critical to the United States,” said FBI Special Agent Steve Duenas, who is also assigned to the task force as well.

Another reason why the Joint Terrorism Task Force is focused here: terrorists could easily hide in remote areas.

“The number of law enforcement personnel is smaller and the number of places where someone can be living and doing what they to do is higher,” said Duenas.

The FBI says there have been incidents in the area. In 2004 the Earth Liberation Front claimed they set fire to some equipment where Target now stands. Last year a leader of that movement, Stanislas Meyerhoff was arrested in Charlottesville and charged with a series of arsons on Vail Mountain in Colorado.

Four men were also arrested near Harrisonburg for allegedly financing terrorist groups overseas. However, the task force's main objective is to prevent terror acts.

“Our main goal is to gather intelligence to prevent acts of terrorism,” said Duenas.

There are seven investigators on the task force. They include representatives from many local law enforcement agencies including UVa, Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

The task force is not common to areas this size and members of the task force say they believe their job will only get harder.

Gerlach and Meyerhoff Arraigned on Vail

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/09/28/e2.cr.backfire.0928.p1.php?sectionfiltered=cityregion

Colorado arson suspects arraigned

By Bill Bishop

The Register-Guard

Published: Thursday, September 28, 2006

Two central defendants in a major federal probe of arson by environmental radicals were arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Eugene on charges stemming from the $12 million arsons at a Vail, Colo., ski resort in 1998.

Chelsea Dawn Gerlach and Stanilas Gregory Meyerhoff, each 29, are scheduled to enter pleas and be sentenced on eight counts of arson in the Vail fires on Dec. 14, when they are also to be sentenced for other arson-related crimes to which they pleaded guilty in July.

Under plea deals the pair made with federal prosecutors, both agreed to have the Colorado charges transferred to Oregon to be settled along with their other arson cases. The Vail crimes focused national attention on radical environmentalists who credit their attacks to the secretive Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front.

The Vail fires are one of 18 separate attacks charged to a group of 13 alleged co-conspirators that happened between 1996 and 2001. The case, dubbed Operation Backfire by federal investigators, is the largest-ever indictment of a radical environmental group.

Meyerhoff, 29, who has publicly renounced his involvement with ELF, earlier pleaded guilty to 54 charges related to seven separate attacks in a plea deal for a sentence of 15 years and eight months, according to court records.

As part of his deal, authorities in Michigan, Arizona, Washington, Wyoming and California will not prosecute potential cases against him, according to court records.

Gerlach pleaded guilty to 18 charges in five separate attacks. She has publicly apologized for the harm and fear created by her actions, which she said were motivated by "a deep sense of despair and anger at the deteriorating state of the global environment."

Gerlach will get a 10-year sentence under her plea deal unless the judge decides on a shorter term. Authorities in Wyoming, Washington and California agreed not to pursue potential cases against Gerlach, according to court records.

Of the 13 defendants, six have pleaded guilty, four face trial and three are currently fugitives.

CHILE’S POLICE CRACK DOWN ON ANARCHIST GROUPS

(September 29, 2006) Chilean police launched a new offensive against the various “anarchist groups” operating in Santiago this week in response to the Molotov cocktail launched at the La Moneda Presidential Palace during a September 10 protest march.

CHILE’S POLICE CRACK DOWN ON ANARCHIST GROUPS

In Wake Of La Moneda 9/11 Molotov Cocktail Attack

Santiago Times

(September 29, 2006) Chilean police launched a new offensive against the various “anarchist groups” operating in Santiago this week in response to the Molotov cocktail launched at the La Moneda Presidential Palace during a September 10 protest march.

The order to monitor the groups was issued by Judge Leonardo de la Prida, and the Special Investigations Brigade of the Chilean Civil Police (Bipe) is now actively creating a “register” of all anarchist groups operating in the country, documenting the groups’ leaders, members, ideology, financing, operating areas, and possible connections to foreign anarchist movements.

The new crackdown on Chile’s anarchist movement lead to a raid Tuesday in the San Ignacio borough of Santiago. Six young anarchists were arrested in a squatter settlement, and police said the group had Molotov cocktails in their possession. One of the arrested included a Spanish citizen, Miquel Balaguer, identified as being a leader in the Barcelona-based “okupa” movement.

Police Chief José Bernales said that police found evidence the group had participated in the violent marches that occurred on September 10 and 11 commemorating the September 11, 1973 military coup lead by Gen. Augusto Pinochet (ST, Sept. 11). The police suspect the group has connections with other anarchist groups, and evidence was found indicating the group had been planning violent actions for an upcoming October 9 protest march in support of Chile’s native Mapuche population.

The actions against the anarchist groups were widely criticized online in anarchist blogs and on the Indymedia independent media outlet. A group calling itself the “Platform for the Freedom of Anarchist Prisoners” issued an online press release on Wednesday and said, “Today they criminalize us just for being anarchists, for expressing an alternative political view, paradoxically in a country that prides itself by speaking of democracy and freedom of _expression.”

The group called for the release of the “26-S Anarchist prisoners” (alluding to the day they were arrested). At about the same time, the Chilean consulate in Barcelona was covered with graffiti urging the prisoners’ release.

While Chile’s mainstream media widely reported that Molotov cocktails were found during the house raid, anarchist activists argued that the objects found were simple household goods. In an article entitled “Witch Hunt in Chile,” Indymedia reported that the confiscated goods included empty bottles, common in any house populated by groups of university students; kerosene, used by several of the detained who are fire-jugglers; and sawdust, used to care for the many cats found in the house.

In addition to the materials that could be used for Molotov cocktails, the police carted away “subversive material,” including magazines, posters, banners and books.

A witness to the raid told Chile’s La Nación newspaper that the house was a “cultural center.” “They showed free movies there. I know one of the people that lived at the house. I never saw several of the people who were taken away; they may have been there for just a day or two,” the witness said.

The raid prompted fear in other squatter collectives around Santiago. The leader of the República 550 Cultural Collective, Alex Corvalán, filed a preventative lawsuit Wednesday before Chile’s Court of Appeals, seeking to protect the commune’s residents from police action. According to Corvalán, police asked to enter the center last week and were allowed in. Once inside, however, the police began to “interrogate” the residents.

“I think a serious attack against democracy is underway in Chile,” said the center’s pro-bono lawyer, Hugo Gutiérrez. “People are being persecuted for their ideas, for their beliefs, and that is not tolerable.”

The República collective was created in 2005, after a group of squatters known as Akí took over the abandoned building. Today, over 600 people from age 15 to 80, including ballerinas, acrobats, actors, human rights activists, and indigenous Mapuches, frequent the center.

“We are a group of professionals that have started a cultural project,” said one of the collective’s spokesmen, who is called Lobsang. “A lot of people come here to create and learn. We don’t want them to be bothered by the police bugging us.”

The actions against Chile’s anarchist groups come after the Bachelet government was widely criticized for being caught off guard by the student protests that rocked Santiago in May and June. After sacking her Interior Minister and appointing Belisario Velasco to the job, the government indicated it would use secret “informants” in order not to be caught off guard again (ST, Jul. 18).

Bachelet said it was the duty of the executive to be aware of pending social problems and to have all available information. “We are speaking of institutions approved by Parliament, of police forces that always work to find problems and solve them,” she said. “As the entire world wants us to better anticipate problems, that is what we are going to do.”

Last week, Velasco prohibited protest marches near the La Moneda Presidential Palace both in response to the Molotov cocktail and in anticipation of Monday’s health-care and student strikes (ST, Sept. 26).

“Today I could not authorize a march because there is no way to guarantee that no one will infiltrate the march to attack La Moneda, but this doesn’t signify a permanent movement backwards,” Velasco said. He said once the committee is able to identify the violent groups that infiltrate demonstrations to encourage vandalism of property and confrontations with the police, it will allow marches around the capitol building to resume.

Still, not everyone was pleased with the crackdown. Representatives of the Families of the Disappeared called the measures “unnecessary” and “insulting a right that the Chilean people achieved after many years of fighting and at huge costs” (ST, Sept. 25).

Velasco received widespread acclaim in Chile’s mainstream media after Monday’s strikes and marches were mostly peaceful in nature, and many argued the methods he implemented had proved successful.

SOURCE: LA TERCERA, EL MERCURIO, INDYMEDIA, LA NACIÓN
By Nathan Crooks (editor@santiagotimes.cl)


============================

9-11 VIOLENCE ROCKS SANTIAGO, CHILE

Santiago Times

(September 13, 2006) Violence erupted in several parts of Santiago Monday night, as protestors marked the 33rd anniversary of the September 11, 1973 military coup led by Gen. August Pinochet that plunged the country into 17 years of dictatorial rule. According to police, the violence peaked at 10 p.m. In perhaps the most tragic incident, a six-year-old child was shot in the head by a stray bullet while playing in his house.

Hooded protestors blocked roads and attacked power stations in the southern Santiago communities of La Pintana and Puente Alto. Widespread power outages were reported.

Traffic was blocked to the exclusive Santiago suburb of Huechuraba because of barricades set up on the Avenida Vespucio highway.

In Santiago’s Peñalolén borough, police faced off 100 protestors at the intersection of Tobalaba and Grecia. The conflict was broadcast live on TV, and protestors were seen firing semi-automatic guns into the air.

The six-year-old child who was shot with a bullet apparently fired into the air by the Peñalolén protestors. The bullet entered the second floor apartment in which the child was playing with its mother.

The child, identified only by the initials T. F. A. B., was taken to Santiago’s Clinica Alemana Hospital and operated on several times. By Tuesday morning the bullet had been removed, but the child remained in critical condition.

Santiago’s historic center borough was relatively quiet, as were the neighboring borough of Providencia and the eastern suburbs of Las Condes. Santiago Times staff reported empty streets along the normally busy downtown Ahumada and Huerfanos pedestrian boulevards. All businesses were closed early, and many were boarded up with plywood.

Metropolitan Governor Víctor Barrueto spent the night in a helicopter observing the violence. The helicopter overflights reminded many of the worst days of the Pinochet regime, when popular protests were similarly observed and threatened. Early in the day, over 79 were detained after protestors connected with the radical Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front took over the University of Santiago and resisted police with 90 Molotov cocktails.

Violent protests were also reported in Arica, Temuco, Valparaíso, and Concepción.

President Michelle Bachelet condemned the violence Monday, referring to a Molotov cocktail tossed at La Moneda during a Sunday march. “No one has the right to attack La Moneda,” she said. “The best way we can honor this tragic day is to commemorate it in a way that makes the country better. People didn’t give their lives for this country so that these kinds of attacks could occur” (ST, September 12).

Bachelet said that it was regrettable that there were “still people who don’t understand the sacrifice that was made to restore democracy to the country…. La Moneda was in flames 33 years ago, it’s something that should never happen again.”

The Sunday march turned violent as it proceeded from Santiago’s central Alameda boulevard, past the La Moneda Presidential Palace, and onwards to Santiago’s General Cemetery, where the remains of political opponents killed during the Pinochet era are buried. An anarchist group, identified by the initials CRA, tossed a Molotov cocktail at the Palace and also painted graffiti on surrounding buildings. The central headquarters of the BancoEstado bank was also attacked (ST, September 11).

The Santiago Times received unconfirmed reports that numerous U.S. franchises, most especially McDonalds and Burger Kings, were also attacked by vandals. National media did not confirm these reports.

September 11 was decreed a national holiday during the Pinochet regime and remained a holiday during the first years after Chile’s transition to democracy, thus giving protesters a day free to manifest their disapproval of the anniversary.

Following Chile’s return to democracy in the 1990’s, the day has been used by both Pinochet supporters and leftist activists to mark the most controversial event in modern Chilean history. In the early 1990’s, protesters were sometimes killed, but the intensity of the protests has calmed in recent years.

Forty-nine people were arrested in last year’s September 11 protests.

The September 11 commemorations come smack in the middle of a politically charged month in Chile that includes the anniversary of a failed attempt of Gen. Pinochet’s life (Sept. 10), which is celebrated by many, and the national independence holidays celebrated September 18 and 19.

SOURCE: LA TERCERA, EL MERCURIO
By Nathan Crooks (editor@santiagotimes.cl)

URGENT! support andy stepanian of SHAC 7

URGENT! support andy stepanian of SHAC 7

Very Urgent Donations Needed for SHAC-7 Defendant Andy Stepanian

SHAC-7 Defendant Andy Stepanian has located a great first amendment attorney who has represented members of MOVE, the Black Liberation Army, Republican National Convention arrestees, and many others, and has argued numerous times in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals (where the SHAC-7 will appeal their convictions). However, Andy needs to raise $7,000 by THIS TUESDAY in order to be able to hire this attorney and file his appeal on time. Unlike many of the other defendants, Andy has had only a public defender up until this point. Having received the maximum possible sentence for his charge, it is extremely important that he have competent counsel to work on his appeal - otherwise we will not see Andy for another three years.

All donations need to be RECEIVED by this Tuesday, October 3, or Andy will not be able to hire this attorney (by Wednesday, he will be in jail). If you can donate, or if you can hold an emergency fundraiser in your area, PLEASE do so for Andy. All donations can be sent to the address below. For questions on the issue, or how to transfer money in time, please call: (603) 387-2018

Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to the "Animal Defense League," and all mailed donations should be sent to:

2119 South 16th St.

Apt. 2

Philadelphia, PA 19145

Thank you! For more info on the case, visit www.SHAC7.com

Urgent Action on Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Needed RIGHT NOW!

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act action alert

New federal law may pass TOMORROW that labels peaceful activism as "terrorism!"

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is pending in Congress (HR 4239). Industry groups are pushing it through quickly and with little public scrutiny (fast-tracking it like the Patriot Act... first through the House of Reps, then through the Senate) before the Fall recess.
They plan to vote on this tomorrow, Friday, September 29 in the House.

This is the most important call yet because it affects our ability to help ALL animals!

We need to flood the lines with calls in opposition now!

Call the numbers below and tell them where you live to be connected to your local reps. Even if you are under 18 please call, you will be voting soon and they need to hear from all of us!
• Contact your House Reps now at 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose HR 4239.
• Contact your Senators now at 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose S 3880 (was S 1926).
• Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121 to oppose S 3880.
• Forward this message to friends & social advocacy groups.

Details & Talking Points:

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act drastically expands the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992.

• AETA labels the tactics of Martin Luther King and Gandhi as “terrorism.” It spells out penalties for “an offense involving exclusively a nonviolent physical obstruction of an animal enterprise or a business having a connection to, or relationship with, an animal enterprise, that may result in loss of profits but does not result in bodily injury….” In other words any act that causes a loss of profits to animal-exploiting industries (like a reduction in meat consumption) can be treated as terrorism.
• AETA risks the prosecution of undercover investigators, whistle-blowers and other activists as “terrorists.” It defines “economic damage” as including “the loss of profits.” The extremely vague and broad sweeping language puts all animal advocates at risk. Causing the loss of profits is NOT terrorism. It’s effective activism. And even activists that are not prosecuted under the law will be affected by the extreme rhetoric.
• AETA is unnecessary. There are already laws to protect industries against illegal actions, regardless of who commits the acts.
All Americans should be concerned about this gross infringement on the first amendment. The term terrorism should not be used against peaceful social justice advocacy.

6 anarchists arrested after police raid a squat in Chile.

Santiago de Chile.
> In the morning of September 26th, special forces of the police broke into
> a squatted house located downtown, and six people, including a compañero
> from Spain, have been detained. Police say that molotov bombs and all the
> stuff required to prepare them were found in the place. Empty bottles (who
> doesn't have empty bottles at home?), kerosene (some of the people were
> jugglers and of course did fire juggling), sawdust (used for beds that the
> [black] cats in the house had), and of course "subversive material":
> zines, posters, banners, books, and videos and printed instructives to
> make molotov bombs. 4 bombs already made were found, according to the
> local CSI, who were there too. All the four bombs were supposed to be used
> in the protest organized for that day by the Nacional Association of
> Teachers and High School students organizations.
>
>
> This is a intelligence operation directed by the Vicepresident himself
> together with the A.N.I. (National Agency of Intelligence), a quite dark
> institution that resembles the ones that operated during the fascist
> dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Of course, this is just one part of the
> operation, they have been filming during protests, investigating activist
> groups, infiltrating grassroots movements. For the part of the media, we
> suddenly start to hear and see on television that "anarchists" or
> "anarchic groups" are responsible for all kinds of destructive actions
> during protests. This year has been tough for the public image of
> anarchists in Chile. What used to be "infiltrators" in protests, are now
> identified as "anarchists", which is, at least in the mass media, new.
>
> "A network of anarchists, activists has been dismantled", said the General
> Director of Carabineros (Police). "We've seen this for a long time, [these
> people] breaking into authorized protests, with their faces covered and
> molotov bombs". Belisario Velasco, the Vicepresident said "intelligence
> operations are being developed by the Police and the Investigation Bureau
> and some houses where molotov bombs are being produced already identified
> and will be raided soon".
>
> President Bachelet was satisfied with all the operation. She said that the
> government is "going to do whatever is necessary to preserve the rights,
> not only of those who want to express themselves, but also of the ones who
> want to live in peace and quietly".
>
> Regarding the spanish kid, Velasco said that "once he serves the sentence
> that the court might give him, he will be expelled from the country".
>
> This is what progressive democracy looks like.
>
> Please send this news to all the people, organizations and radical news
> websites you know.
>
> September 27th.
> Agencia Interlocal de Traducción Urgente.
> Interlocal Agency of Urgent Translation.

Eric McDavid's Birthday is on October 7!

Sacramento Prisoner Support
> September 27, 2006
> Eric's Birthday
> sacprisonersupport [at] riseup [dot] net
>
> Eric McDavid's Birthday is on October 7!
>
> Remember that sometimes it takes Eric's mail a while to reach him, so when
> sending birthday cards and wishes, please allow for some extra time (which
> means send them soon!). This birthday will not be an easy one - Eric will
> have been in jail for almost 9 months on October 7. Let's try to make it
> as good as we can from out here. Send him a card, your favorite poem, song
> lyrics, a beautiful picture - anything to help brighten his day. Thank you
> all for your continued support!
>
> Please see www.supporteric.org/howtohelp.htm for more information on
> writing eric.
>
> And visit www.supporteric.org for information and updates on his case.

She Is 6 To Today!

LA Protest: business as usual

A Plan for Very Civil Disobedience

Police and union will follow a script, which even specifies who will be arrested, in a march near LAX to organize hotel workers.

By Joe Mathews
Times Staff Writer

September 28, 2006

Four hundred people will be arrested early this evening for blocking Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport, in what could prove to be one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in the city's history.

At least that's how the script reads.

For much of this year, the national hotel workers union, labor leaders and immigrant groups have been planning today's protest. Marchers are supporting a drive to organize the mostly immigrant, nonunion workers employed at 13 hotels near the airport.

If the event goes as envisioned, organizers say, it will be a highly choreographed episode of street theater, timed for news broadcasts and peaceful enough to persuade but not enrage the public.

The Los Angeles Police Department has been involved at nearly every stage, advising organizers on how to proceed without endangering public safety. Experts say the close cooperation with law enforcement reflects a more powerful and mature labor movement, and a city government that is far friendlier to labor than its predecessors.

Organizers obtained a permit this week for 1,000 to 2,000 marchers. About 400 of them have signed forms pledging to be arrested and have taken a mandatory class that taught them how to remain calm even when screamed at or insulted.

The driver's license numbers and other personal information of those volunteer arrestees have already been passed on to the LAPD to expedite processing. (Police sent word that six of the volunteers should rethink their participation; though no official reason was given, the six may have outstanding warrants, union officials said).

For its part, Unite Here Local 11, which represents hotel workers in Southern California, has arranged for parking, storage of the arrestees' car keys, lawyers to defend them, crews to clean up after the event and vans to pick up the protesters from jail.

Upon release from jail, expected within 24 hours, each protester will receive a meal (burritos and bottles of water) and a souvenir (their protest sign reading "I Am A Human Being").

"We don't want any surprises," said Paulina Gonzalez, a Unite Here staffer who is handling communications for the event. "We want nobody to get hurt. We want the most peaceful event possible."

Such cooperation would have been almost inconceivable less than a generation ago. Many labor leaders and police commanders remember a protest in Century City in June 1990, when more than 300 demonstrators marching in support of an effort to unionize janitors clashed with police in riot gear. More than a dozen people were injured.

Police officials say the current model allows them to speed up the booking process in a city that typically sees 500 arrests a day. Union leaders say that working with police allows them to keep members safe. Both sides are keenly aware of the public relations advantages of keeping the protest orderly and peaceful.

"The union is trying to present to us the people who are going to be arrested, so we can anticipate some of the booking," said LAPD Capt. William Hayes of the Pacific Division. "We can plan…. We don't want to impact the regular police functions."

Lou Cannon, author of "Official Negligence," a book about the LAPD, the Rodney King case and the 1992 riots, said Los Angeles police officers have a strong union and now "have more of a union consciousness than the general public."

"It's also that we're in an age where the police and the union are quite sophisticated," Cannon said. "There's something in this for both sides."

Peter Dreier, an Occidental College professor of politics who is an expert on cities and labor, said the union is seeking to maximize attention while minimizing disruption. The blocking of Century Boulevard will trigger media coverage of workers' concerns about low pay and expensive health benefits that could not be obtained in other ways.

"What they're trying to do is get a lot of publicity and make it a high-profile issue," Dreier said.

In the face of cooperation between the city and the union, the objections of hotels have fallen on deaf ears. Managers at the LAX Hilton alleged this week that the protest was part of an effort by Unite Here to intimidate workers so they would join the union.

Michael T. Pfeiffer, executive director of the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles, which represents 80 hotels, objected to the protest in a letter this week to the Police Commission. "There certainly must be a better location for the September 28 march than on Century Boulevard, the primary thoroughfare in and out of LAX," he wrote.

The commission granted the union's request for a permit for the protest the very same day.

That permit calls for a rally at 4:30 p.m. next to the Radisson Hotel, just outside the entrance to the airport. At 5:30 p.m., the union will begin a march east along Century, occupying three of the four westbound lanes.

Half of the protesters who have signed up to be arrested will stop outside the LAX Hilton and sit down in the street, an action that is designed to lead to their arrest beginning at 6:10 p.m. The other half will continue east before stopping and being arrested in front of the Westin.

According to the union, those arrested will include Los Angeles County Federation of Labor chief Maria Elena Durazo, leaders of several other unions, about 100 students being bused in from Southern California colleges, about 60 religious leaders, more than 100 community and immigrant activists, 100 relatives and friends of airport hotel workers, and assorted elected officials.

"I've never taken this action before in my life," said Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), chairwoman of the powerful Assembly Appropriations Committee, referring to what would be the first arrest of her life. "I feel that it's important to make a statement."

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is not scheduled to attend. A spokesman said Villaraigosa supported the hotel workers but agreed that those who disobeyed the law and blocked traffic must be arrested.

In addition, Tony Dolz, a Republican Assembly candidate who is active with the Minutemen, said late Wednesday that he had obtained a permit for a counter-protest by the group, which opposes illegal immigration. Dolz said he considered the union protest, because of its proximity to the airport, "an act of domestic terrorism."

Union organizers have urged the airport-area hotel workers not to sit down in the street today, saying that federal labor law might not protect their jobs if they are arrested in front of hotels where they work. Workers have been encouraged to participate in the march.

On Monday night, 43 of those planning to be arrested gathered for nearly two hours of training at Unite Here offices near downtown Los Angeles.

As they entered, protesters were given several forms to sign, including one titled "Arrestees September 28th Action" and others authorizing a lawyer hired by the union, Erika Diaz, to represent them.

"Nelson Mandela spent most of his life in prison," said Glen Arnodo, a top staffer for Unite Here, as he welcomed workers. "We're going to spend one night."

Victoria Vergara, who works at the Bonaventure Hotel and has been arrested four times in protests, told the volunteers: "I'm willing to get arrested as many times as I can to improve working conditions for us."

The protesters also received a schedule, a primer on civil disobedience and a "Frequently Asked Questions" sheet with queries such as "Where Should I Park at LAX?" "What Do We Do to Get Arrested?" and "How Long Will I Be In Jail?"

The protest will be color-coded. Those planning to be arrested will carry yellow signs. Other marchers will carry white signs. Different colored armbands will announce whether a marcher is to be arrested in front of the Hilton or the Westin.

The Rev. Bridie Roberts, minister at Pico Union Shalom Ministries, a Methodist congregation, discussed nonviolence and asked anyone who intended to engage in "aggression" not to show up. With that, she asked the arrestees to pair off and stand nose to nose. Each person then took turns screaming at the partner.

Gustavo Licon, 26, who is active in the group MEChA at USC, bellowed at his friend and fellow student, Ana Valderrama: "Get out of my way! Let me get to the airport!"

The arrestees listened to presentations on the rally's logistics and the legal consequences of arrest. Questions abounded. What about the unpaid speeding ticket in Kansas? What about my unanswered jury summons?

Those who are wanted by the law for other infractions should not get arrested, Diaz said.

Diaz said the city attorney has indicated that arrestees will not have to go to court and will not be prosecuted as long as they are not arrested again in the next 12 months. (A spokesman for the city attorney said that although that is the general practice in such cases, there is no agreement with the union.)

Being on time is crucial, the arrestees were warned, and everyone must check in and put car keys in a brown envelope.

"If you don't check in, you're not going to get arrested," said Arnodo, the Unite Here official.

Other advice was specific.

Leave wedding rings at home. (Police have to remove jewelry and process it, which means you'll stay in jail longer.)

Don't carpool. (Arrestees will be split up and taken to three different police stations, so you may not have a ride back.)

Bring your family and loved ones (for moral support).

Their questions answered, the arrestees clapped and chanted "Si se puede." Spanish for "Yes, we can!" Then they walked upstairs to have their forms notarized.

Buju Banton "Violence to Gays" Reggae Not Cancelled For Thursday WOW Hall 9PM

author: A Fitting Eugene Welcome In Store for Unrepentant Gay Basher

"Dis is not a deal Guy come near we Then his skin must peel Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel" -- Buju Banton song "Boom Bye Bye" 1992

As of Wednesday evening Portland promoter Mike Thrasher had refused to cancel his booking of Buju Banton at Eugene's Community Center for the Performing Arts, better known as WOW Hall. Sally Sheklow and other gay and lesbian community members picked the WOW hall Tuesday. WOW hall staff, requested that Thrasher cancel the show. Thrasher refused. The WOW hall is requiring that Thrasher hire 10 extra security guards for the show. Thrasher indicated his willingness to hire the guards, even through the show might loose money. The Banton appearance in Seattle was cancelled after community protests. Banton played Portland's Crystal Ballroom Monday September 25 (Portland Human Rights supporters were reported "asleep at the wheel").

Besides the anti-gay song, reportedly still in his performances, Banton was one of the men charged in Kinston, Jamaica with the June 24, 2004 beating of six gay men. Banton reportedly paid a $50,000 fine but served no jail time for the violence.

The Eugene venue for the scheduled performance Thursday September 28 is a progressive community owned non-profit hall. The center, informally known as the WOW Hall, promotes its own shows but also rents the facility to outside promoters. The Banton show is such a rental.

At least some WOW Hall staff plans to support and even join protesters at the hall at 8th and Lincoln in downtown Eugene on Thursday. Its also possible than the artist himself, or Eugene police, might cancel the show if it becomes clear that the community is not inclined to tolerate performance artists who promote violence against gays.

October 5th demo day

OCTOBER 5: THERE IS A WAY! THERE IS A DAY!

Think of all the people who are deeply distressed over the direction in which the Bush regime is dragging the country—and the world... All the people who are outraged over the way in which this regime is arrogantly seeking to bludgeon into submission people in the Middle East, and throughout the world, while trampling on the rights of the people in the U.S. itself... All the people who care about the future of humanity and the planet we live on, and who recognize the many ways in which the Bush regime is increasingly posing a dire threat to this... All the people who are stirred with a profound restlessness by these feelings but are held back by the fear that they are alone and powerless; or who say that they wish something could be done to stop and reverse this whole disastrous course, but nothing will make a difference; or who hope that somehow the Democrats will do something to change this, when everyday it becomes more clear that they will not... All these people, who make up a very large part of the population of this country and whose basic sentiments are shared by the majority of people throughout the world...

Imagine if, from out of this huge reservoir of people, a great wave were unleashed, moving together on the same occasion, making, through their firm stand and their massive numbers, a powerful political statement that could not be ignored: refusing that day to work, or walking out from work, taking off from school or walking out of school—joining together, rallying and marching, drawing forward many more with them, and in many and varied forms of creative and meaningful political protest throughout the day, letting it be known that they are determined to bring this whole disastrous course to a halt by driving out the Bush Regime through the mobilization of massive political opposition.

If that were done, then the possibility of turning things around and onto a much more favorable direction would take on a whole new dimension of reality.

For details go to: www.worldcantwait.org

The intelligence report cites "leftist" groups as a terror threat

Fron Salon.com today:

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2006/09/27/leftists/index.html

The intelligence report cites "leftist" groups as a terror threat

The now-declassified summary of the National Intelligence Estimate (PDF) on "Trends in Global Terrorism" focuses almost exclusively on Islamic extremists. But inserted at the very end is this one overlooked, though seemingly quite important, passage that identifies other terrorist threats:

"Anti-U.S. and anti-globalization sentiment is on the rise and fueling other radical ideologies. This could prompt some leftist, nationalist, or separatist groups to adopt terrorist methods to attack US interests. The radicalization process is occurring more quickly, more widely, and more anonymously in the Internet age, raising the likelihood of surprise attacks by unknown groups whose members and supporters may be difficult to pinpoint." It continues: "We judge that groups of all stripes will increasingly use the Internet to communicate, propagandize, recruit, train and obtain logistical and financial support."

Prior to 9/11, the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil was in Oklahoma City, where Timothy McVeigh blew up a federal building in pursuit of his right-wing, anti-federal-government agenda. But there is nothing in the NIE findings about right-wing or anti-government groups. Instead, there is a rather stark warning about the danger of "leftist" groups using the Internet to engage in terrorist attacks against the United States. Is there any basis at all for that warning?

There have been scattered reports over the last several years that the Bush administration's anti-terrorism programs have targeted domestic political groups solely because such groups espouse views contrary to the administration's. That this claim about "leftist" terrorist groups made it into the NIE summary is particularly significant in light of the torture and detention bill that is likely soon to be enacted into law. That bill defines "enemy combatant" very broadly (and the definition may be even broader by the time it is enacted) and could easily encompass domestic groups perceived by the administration to be supporting a "terrorist agenda."

Similarly, the administration has claimed previously that it eavesdrops on the conversations of Americans only where there is reasonable grounds (as judged by the administration) to believe that one of the parties is affiliated with a terrorist group. Does that include "leftist" groups that use the Internet to organize? This NIE finding gives rise to this critical question: Are "leftist" groups one of the principal targets on the anti-terrorism agenda of the Bush administration, and if so, aren't the implications rather disturbing?

-- Glenn Greenwald

AP: Italian communists hail end of house arrest for woman convicted in U.S. for robbery

Italian communists hail end of house arrest for woman convicted in U.S. for robbery

The Associated Press

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

Rome: The remainder of a 40-year U.S. prison sentence for armed robberies and links to black militants, is now free thanks to a recent, nationwide amnesty, communist politicians announced Tuesday.

When Silvia Baraldini was transferred to her homeland Italy from a federal prison in Connecticut in 1999 to serve the remaining 23 years of her sentence, the deal included a condition that she not be released early.

But in 2001, Baraldini was transferred to house arrest while she was being treated for breast cancer for a few months. A court later extended the house arrest. A few years later she began working as a researcher for the city of Rome on women in the work world.

A cause celebre among the Italian left, Baraldini was convicted of robberies and attempted robberies in the United States, including a 1981 holdup of a Brinks truck. In 1983, then-federal prosecutor and future New York mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, won the long sentence for subversive association and other charges.

A guard and two police officers were killed in the holdup. Baraldini has said she had nothing to do with the crime. She was also convicted in the 1979 kidnapping of New Jersey prison guards to help convicted Black Panthers killer Joanne Chesimard escape from prison.

Baraldini, whose sentence was supposed to run out in 2008, benefited from a recent amnesty freeing inmates who had less than three years to serve on their sentences from Italy's overcrowded jails.

A communist leader, Giovanni Russo Spena, called freedom for Baraldini "a good day for democracy."

Support needed, friends in jail (Phils.)

Greetings!

This is Terry from MIP (Manila Infoshop project) . Since last year we have been receiving copies of the 4Struggle Magazine and we really appreciate the contribution you sent for the library.

Early this year in February, we have our hitch-hiker/backpacker friends bound for Sagada Mountain province arrested, tortured and illegally detained by the military and cops in Buguias Town in Benguet - they were forced to admit that they were members of the New People's Army (the communist party of the phils. armed/guerilla group) due to a raid at the camp believed to be perpetrated by NPA members. Kolektivs here in the Phils. doesn't have any legal assistance group to help us out, the area/region is a communist infested area so the Cordillera Human Rights Group immediately responded to the situation. However, the CHRA (Cordillera Human Rights) was a member organization under KARAPATAN (the national human rights/political prisoner support group of the National Democratic Front-CPP) so it was difficult for us to intervene with the case - the kids got a legal counsel courtesy of FLAG (free Legal Assistance Group) - this legal group is not purely commie, however the CHRA has people working inside FLAG and they recommended their comrade lawyers immediately to handle the case...

We have already visited the kids in prison (some of them were minor and 1 of them was a 14 year old girl) , minors were recently released under the monitoring of Dept. of Social Welfare - still we face problems b'coz even CHRA and the lawyers no longer gives updates to the prisoners (tho it is their right at least to know the status of their case...) ... mostly punk friends/kolektivs visit them in jail (visiting days only on weekends) their families and relatives mostly lives in remote provinces...some of them were as far as southern Phils. in mindanao region.

We want to help our friends becoz if the authorities found out that they are from anarchist kolektivs/autonomous groups they would probably suffer the consequences of actions they never did. The situation in the prison system (specifically in provincial areas ...) is tough - the area is located in one of the coldest part of Phils. and they were never given enough food.... they sleep on the floor or in a very small wooden bench about 4 inch. wide - inside each cell contains 25-18 prisoners.

Also, we have difficulties with CHRA as they refuse to provide details unless ur a close relative or parents of the detainees - some kolektivs/individuals would visit the CHRA office only to be not informed - as for the lawyers, they always give excuses and jumping conclusions as such as "no sched of hearing yet" ...for the last 4 months...and another couple of months... - one of the parents disclosed to us that CHRA had them signed papers as approval to only allow the CHRA to intervene on the case...they would not consult other human right/prisoner support groups ..(the parents had no idea at all what their kids got into... so they neither understand the consequences of allowing CHRA to handle the case xcept for the fact they xpect that FLAG is a free legal Assistance with lawyers for their kids..) - we have tried here locally to seek other human rights groups but they are not allowed to intervene (due to leftist dogma clouding their minds...) so finally, the Asian Human Rights group based in HongKong helped us out but they cannot also intervene... we felt at lost as we already have our friends inside the jail for political crimes they didn't commit and yet still they were being hostaged by the commies for not pushing thru with the campaign - they have all the xcuses of death threats (we also have that share...) against their group due to massive killings/assasinations of activists specifically in northern Luzon region - not to mention that Phils. is the 2nd to Iraq in terms of danger for the media (mostly journalists/radio broadcasters...)

We already made petition campaign and about 2 weeks ago we submitted a copy to the dept. of justice in manila.

The updates and infos can be found @ http://a-manila.org (Sagada 11 Campaign), don't hesitate to contact us for inquries on this campaign -

If there's any help/assistance you can provide to us, we have an informal prisoner support network and individuals working on these matters - do contact us.

Herman Wallace court news audio

Here's a link to an mp3 file from new orleans indymedia. News from
Herman's struggle.

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/8782.php

www.angola3.org
www.jerichoboston.org

Jeff Hogg

Jeff Hogg is currently jailed for refusing to testify in front of a
federal grand jury being used illegally to build their case against
Green Scare defendants. Originally, the grand jury in Eugene was set
to end this month, and Jeff would have been freed. This grand jury
has now been extended until March, meaning Jeff could be held till
then. Jeff is a nursing student in a competitive program. Due to his
incarceration, his schooling has been put on hold indefinitely. He
has also lost his job working with autistic adults. His partner is
struggling to make ends meet. More fundraisers are needed to help
them keep their home. We had a very successful garage sale here in
Eugene, but more help is needed.

An appeal of the judge's decision to continue to hold Jeff has been
filed with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The final brief is due
on September 26th. Jeff has remained steadfast in his refusal to
cooperate with this grand jury, or any grand jury being used to
squelch freedom of speech and free association. It is our deepest
hope that the 9th ciruit court will agree and demand Jeff's release.

Your continued support of Jeff through this difficult time is sorely
needed. Please write to him, and consider holding a fundraiser on his
behalf. Print up the support flyers attached here and post them
everywhere. For info on how to donate to Jeff's support, email
gumbycascadia@riseup.net Write to Jeff at:

Jeffrey Hogg
1901 NE F St.,
Grants Pass, OR 97526
USA

Belgium: political trial against DHKP-C - AIC

Belgium: political trial against DHKP/C
Report from the appeal court http://www.antiimpe rialista. org/index. php?optionfiltered= com_content&task=view&id=4774&Itemid=55 Report on the TRIAL OF APPEAL IN BELGIUM which took place from September 11th-19th, 2006 When law is ending and political prosecution takes over its place DECISION: 7th NOVEMBER Between 11th and 19th September (2006) one of the most spectacular trials against presumable members of the DHKP-C was handled before the court of appeal in Gent, Belgium. On 28th February, 7 of 11 defendants were sentenced with 4 - 6,5 years of prison. 4 of the 11 accused have been acquitted by the court, but the Federal prosecutor went into appeal for 9 of the accused. Since end of February 3 of the defendants, Musa Asoglu (6,5), Sükriye Akar (4) and Kaya Saz (4) remain in the prison of Brugge under strong isolation conditions, despite of several court decisions saying that there was no reason to isolate them. All three prisoners, and the spokesman of the DHKC Information Bureau in Brussels, Bahar Kimyongür just as Hasan Ekinci who was aquitted from the trial but again included by the appeal of the Federal prosecutor, were present at the courtroom with their lawyers on their side. Following the demand of lawyer Fermon, also Taylan Tanay, lawyer from Turkey joined the trial. Furthermore over hundred 'prisoners' relatives', members of CLEA (Committee for the Freedom of _Expression and Association) and international delegations from Italy, Austria, England and Germany filled the courtroom. During the trial, which continued for 7 days, also the defendants made statements. Bahar Kimyongür's lawyer Carl Alexander, stressed, that the accusations of prosecutor were completely untrue. "It is claimed that Musa Asoglu and Bahar Kimyongür confessed themselves to a bomb action of DHKC, during the press conference 'Resistanbul 2004' (a left alliance founded in relation to the NATO summit in Turkey), which took place on 28th June 2004. But this claim has been completely proven wrong by video records from this press conference by IHA and AA (two official press agencies from Turkey). There are many other witnesses, just like a correspondent of the Italian News Agency, who could confirm that such a confession of an action wasn't the case. Furthermore, only 4 months after the incidents, the Ministry of Justice answered to a question about DHKC Information Bureau, that the activities of the bureau were legal and according to the law. Musa Asogolu, for whom prosecutor Delmulle asks the highest sentence, is exactly tried in connection with the alleged confession to the action during the mentioned press meeting. While Asoglu is tried for the Knokke case related to a criminal organisation, because of arms and false documents found there, in fact they aim to punish him after the anti-terror law. But the only argumentation for trying him after that law is the accusation to have confessed the action")... Prosecutor Delmulle wants to pave the way for a prosecution according to the "anti-terror law". The lawyer on behalf of the Turkish state, Kris Vincke, spoke about the "geo-political position" of Turkey. He said for example, that "Turkey is under threat of communist dictatorships" and that "organisations like the DHKP-C, attempted to carry out its bloody actions against the Turkish state, in order to create a system, which is not democratic at all". Musa Asoglu's lawyer, Jan Fermon defended: "A Belgian court is not in the position to make a decision on the struggle waged in another country. And even, if that foreign country isn't a state of law at all and this conflict takes place only within that country. This conflict is an internal problem of Turkey, into which a Belgian court isn't authorized to interfere." Lawyer Fermon additionally mentioned the "state of necessity" according to the law in relation with the violent action forms by DHKC. He also leaned on reports of the human rights associations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch or the European Court for Human Rights, defending that violent actions of a non-parliamentary, oppositional movement are inevitable. He also reminded to article 2 of the Human Rights Convention, that foresees the "right to resist against oppression" in the case of state terrorism. But Fermon stated, that in any case, because this would be a political decision, the recent court shouldn't give a decision about it. In his defense, Musa Asoglu said: "70% of the trials in Strasburg are in relation with the Turkish state. During the past 30 years 50.000 people died resulting from state terrorism. Bahar Kimyongür stated: "Dear judge, the prosecutor is asking you to punish me and expects from you to restrict freedom of _expression and democracy in your country. In this sense the burden on your shoulders is heavy. Prosecutor Delmulle and the lawyer of the Turkish state Vincke, introduce DHKP-C as a dangerous, fanatic and terrorist organisation. On the other hand they introduce the Turkish state as a democratic and a state of law. Indeed, this is a democracy of their dreams! A democracy that they want to put into life in Belgium... A democracy, which tortures, constantly puts political prisoners under torture, that honours the torturers (...). Not to see this open reality, means absolute denial. Prosecutor Delmulle tries to write history another time, without a shame and his position demonstrates the political character of the trial." Kimyongür also responded on the prosecutor's accusation, that the 'DHKP-C doesn't respect any different view': "The Turkish state tells its citizens, beginning from the childhood, until their period for army, ideas like 'Every Turk is born as soldier' or 'What a luck to those who can say I'm a Turk'. Just follow the subtitle of the biggest newspaper in Turkey, saying 'Turkey belongs to the Turks'. Totally in contrary, DHKP-C gives the chance to all minorities in the country, to speak about their national, religious identity. Musa Asoglu is Abaza, Dursun Karatas and Fehriye Erdal are Kurds, Sükriye Akar is Las, Zerrin Sari and Kaya Saz are Turkish. I am Arab. As an Arab, I have met with intolerance and fanaticism in the Turkish state. The friends of DHKP-C always showed respect to my nationality. " The state prosecutor asked 10 years for Musa As oglu and Dursun Karatas (secretary general), 7 years for Bahar Kimyongür and 5 years for Kaya Saz, Sükriye Akar, Fehriye Erdal and Zerrin Sar i. He asks 3 years of prison and a fine of 2500-5000 Euros for Hasan Ekici and Irfan Demirtas, who have both been acquitted in the trial. The court decision will be announced on 7th November 2006. SUMMARIZE: First of all: The trial is executed by an exceptional court. The judge, Freddy Troch, is a very controversial character; he violated the law on protection of data privacy 10 years ago by leaking data on political opponents to the Turkish government while the Federal procurator responsible for this case, Johan Delmulle, declared from the very beginning that he is going to make an example out of this trial. By its political character, its exceptional measures taken during the hearings and the heaviness of the punishments, this trial is a danger for all democrats and progressive organisations and individuals. A confirmation of the condemnations given in February in appeal will strengthen the pressure on all forces who fight imperialism and even social injustice on European soil. Among the defendants there are well known left-wing political activists. They are accused of membership in a criminal association while two of them were also alleged to be members of a terrorist organization according to the new Belgian anti-terrorist law. Eventually the trial caught the attention of the mass media, because of Fehriye Erdal, one of the accused. She worked in Istanbul's Sabanci Centre. The Sabancis are one of the most rich and powerful families in Turkey, ruling political an economical life in the country. In January 1996, Ozdemir Sabanci was killed in the Sabanci Centre in an attack claimed by a guerilla unit of the DHKC. Fehriye Erdal was literally hunted. Even the Turkish media reports that there are bounty hunters searching for her. That's why she went into hiding until she was arrested in Belgium in 1999. Turkey immediately tried to gain influence over the Belgian legal system by carrot and stick methods. Eventually legal means and economic relations opened the door for Turkey to Belgium's courts. Turkey managed to take part in the case in a way which violates fundamental international and national laws. A state can't be joint plaintiff in another state. This backyard door, opened to Turkey by Freddy Troch, allowed Turkey to get all files related to the trial! In addition the defense underlined that the DHKP-C is only fighting in Turkey, where its members are tortured, hunted and murdered by the Turkish government. At this point we have to recall the massacres like Sivas, Gazi and Ümraniye which took place in the 1990's, the several massacres in the prisons as the September 1999's massacre of Ulucanlar prison in Ankara, the 19th December 2000 bloodshed in 20 prisons of the country and the ongoing oppression against the Kurdish people. Turkey's lawyer did not deny what is happening in Turkey, but he explained that the Turkish government has its reasons for behaving in this way. Admitting all these cruelties had no consequences for the Turkish state. As we know, Turkey is a EU candidate... Delmulle and Troch were very committed to Turkey. Finally the judges sentenced 7 of the accused, 5 for their membership in a criminal organisation, 1 for his membership into a terrorist organisation and one for both. This definition of terrorism mentioned in the new Belgian anti-terror law is so large and unclear that it allows various interpretations. Its base is cadre-decision of the European Commission in 2001, after the attacks against the twin towers. In this cadre-decision, there was also a list of so-called terrorist organizations, known as the "black list". This decision and the selection of the political and military organizations in that list were made secretly, without any debate and possibility for the concerned organizations to oppose this decision. The DHKP-C was never considered as a terrorist organisation in Belgium until the verdict of February trial. Furthermore, in 1999 there hasn't been a "black list" introduced yet, except of the list of the US State Department. But now, with the new judicial weapons called anti-terror law, the Belgian authorities make all kind of abuses by turning this trial into a political process. Indeed, this trial tried to condemn the ideology and the aims of the DHKP-C. The simple sympathy to this revolutionary movement is considered as terrorism, and is enough to be sentenced for years of prison. This happened to Bahar Kimyongur. Bahar Kimyongur was born in Belgium. He graduated in Archaeology and went to Turkey for excavations. There he learned about the state terror of the Turkish government.. . Since then, he has campaigned for democracy and human rights in Turkey. He has never used violence in his life. He organised a press conference about the NATO summit in Istanbul and also participated in the protest rally against the summit. Twice he made statements on television: Once about an incident in 1991, and once about a bomb which went off by accident in Istanbul. These were reasons enough to find him guilty of membership in a terrorist association. The anti-terror laws, based on fantasies make that possible. He had nothing to do with the events in Knokke. Just like another person convicted, who has been in prison since February 28, 2006: Sukriye Akar. Sukriye Akar is a political activist, who actively opposes human rights violations in Turkey and seeks democratic rights there. Her particular interest is the cause of political prisoners. Her husband has been in one of the notorious F-Type isolation prisons of Turkey since 2001. She has several times met with European Parliament members and Turkey, which needs a clean bill of health to get into the EU, must see her as a thorn in its side. She is accused for no reprehensible act but only for her supposed presence in this house. At the moment she is held in Brugge prison in isolation conditions. But that is not the end of it. For Delmulle's stroke of genius is that he has brought all files from DHKP-C proceedings all over Europe into this case. The new anti-terror laws makes it possible. The close connections between Belgium and Turkey make similar strokes of genius possible and allow classical penal laws to be basically ignored. Although that can only be decided by a court, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs told his Turkish counterpart that Fehriye Erdal would be extradited to Turkey, where she'll face certain torture and maybe death. She was well advised to disappear underground a day before the trial ended. Now Belgium has decided that Fehriye Erdal can be be found guilty in Belgium of the 1996 Istanbul "murder of Sabanci". The law lets itself be bent, broken - and bought. by "Turquie Rebelle"

Monday, 25 September 2006

One Charge Dropped in Israeli Torture Case: NLG Chicago

One Charge Dropped in Israeli Torture Case

Saturday, September 23 2006 @ 07:15 PM PDT
Contributed by: NLG Chicago
Views: 102
Human RightsProsecutors on Friday, September 22, dropped one of three charges against a Chicago-area man whose false confession under torture in Israel may be largely admitted against him in a Federal trial next month.



Muhammad Salah, a U.S. citizen of Palestinian birth, and husband and father, will stand trial with a codefendant beginning October 12, in a prosecution that until now has been portrayed as “the Hamas money-laundering case.”

But the U.S. attorney’s office dropped the charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, apparently in direct response to successful questioning of an FBI informer’s credibility by the defense.

The dismissed count relied heavily on the informer, about whom the FBI itself expressed doubts in a 2003 document, and Mr. Salah’s lawyers moved the court last year to dismiss it. They were turned down.

The government’s use of paid informers with dubious reliability in high-profile “terrorism” cases is under increasing criticism nationally, including in pending “Green Scare” cases in Oregon and California.

The remaining two counts against Mr. Salah are racketeering and making a false statement.

Mr. Salah denies aiding Hamas.

Until now, the mainstream media had habitually referred to Mr. Salah’s prosecution as the “Hamas money-laundering case.” With the main charge dismissed, the description preferred by civil libertarians and human rights advocates, “Israeli torture trial,” may gain mainstream acceptance.

In January, 2003, Israeli soldiers seized Mr. Salah, a Chicago-area businessman and U.S. citizen who was born in East Jerusalem, at a Gaza checkpoint. Mr. Salah stated his mission was to bring humanitarian aid to the families of more than 400 alleged Hamas activists who had been detained or deported to Lebanon without trial.

At the time, the detentions and deportations had come under international criticism as illegal.

According to an affidavit of Mr. Salah, Israeli soldiers blindfolded and handcuffed him, and beat, kicked, and struck him with rifle butts during an hours-long jeep drive to an interrogation center in Ramallah, West Bank.

Over the next 74 days, according to a defense pleading, Mr. Salah was “hooded, bound, deprived of sleep, housed in a refrigerator cell, threatened, physically abused, held incommunicado, and denied access to a lawyer until he made oral statements and signed written statements in Hebrew, a language he did not speak or understand.”

“The interrogation practices of Israel’s GSS [security service] have been well-documented and condemned by both Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations, Human Rights Watch, the Israeli Supreme Court, and even the U.S. State Department,” Mr. Salah’s lawyers stated in a motion earlier this year to suppress the statements extracted under torture.

That motion was denied, and the false confessions were to be admitted against Mr. Salah. What effect the dismissal of the terrorism charge will have is not yet clear.

An Israeli military court sentenced Mr. Salah to five years in prison on secret evidence. Avigdor Feldman, a well-known Israeli human rights lawyer, represented him.

Mr. Feldman and other Israeli and Palestinian human rights advocates have stated that the kind of torture Mr. Salah endured under the Israeli security service was systematic during the time of his interrogation.

In two reports in the two years before Mr. Salah’s arrest in Israel, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem found that Israeli security service torture of Palestinians was “routine.”

During more than two weeks in March 2006, the Federal trial court in Chicago held a hearing on Mr. Salah’s motion to keep the tortured statements out.

In a move that drew disapproval of civil liberties groups and even the mainstream media, the court granted the government’s motion to close parts of the hearing under the Classified Information Procedures Act. Two Israeli agents testified in closed court, under false names, to deny that Mr. Salah had been tortured.

The public version of the court’s order admitting the false confessions contains omissions, or “redactions,” pursuant to the law, known as CIPA. The redactions appear to protect information about Israeli military and secret service actions.

Mr. Salah’s lawyers have criticized the current prosecution as “politically-motivated,” and pointed out that the U.S. indictment came 13 years after his arrest in Israel. When the trial begins in Chicago on October 12, almost nine years will have passed since Mr. Salah finished serving that foreign sentence.

In connection with the current prosecution, Mr. Salah is the first — and so far only — U.S. citizen named a “specially-designated terrorist,” a legal disability that places restrictions on his ability to associate, earn a living, and provide for his family.

According to mainstream media reporters present at the September 22 hearing, the government’s motion to dismiss count two of the indictment came after the defense renewed arguments that the government should disclose information about the informer, known as Jack Mustafa.

Defense attorney Michael E. Deutsch told the court that the defense was entitled to know whether Jack Mustafa had ever been arrested, had met with the Israeli Mossad, and had been paid by the FBI.

In response, government lawyers asked the court to dismiss the charge that relied on the informer’s testimony.

The material Mr. Salah’s lawyers sought is sometimes called “Jencks material,” after a landmark case involving two paid snitches in a McCarthy-era FBI investigation into alleged communist influence in a labor union.

A union organizer was accused of making a false statement when he signed a “non-communist affidavit,” then required under Federal labor law. The government planned on using the testimony of paid informers, and the trial court denied defense discovery motions for documents related to the informers.

In 1957, in a famous opinion by Justice William J. Brennan, the U.S. Supreme Court found Mr. Jencks’s conviction unconstitutional. The combined effect of that and similar decisions was to put a stop to political “Smith Act” prosecutions of alleged communists.

Mr. Salah’s defense team in the pending Federal trial includes long-time National Lawyers Guild member Michael E. Deutsch of the People’s Law Office in Chicago.

Mr. Deutsch’s colleagues will honor him at the NLG Chicago annual dinner, Saturday, November 11, for his “years of service as a people’s lawyer, and for consistently demonstrating the highest level of zealous advocacy and professional skill,” according an NLG Chicago statement.

Tickets for the dinner honoring Mr. Deutsch are available from NLG Chicago at 312-913-0039 and contact@nlgchicago.org.

*National Lawyers Guild, Chicago chapter: http://www.nlgchicago.org/index.shtml
*People’s Law Office: http://www.peopleslawoffice.com/
*18 U.S.C. 2339B: “Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations” – read the statute for yourself: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/113b/sections/section_2339b.html
*Case No. 03 CR 978: Read the indictment for yourself:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/indict/2004/marzook_et_al.pdf#search=%22%2203%20cr%20978%22%22
*Shady informers also used in “Green Scare” prosecutions: http://greenscare.org/
*Israeli human rights group B’Tselem: http://www.btselem.org/English/index.asp
*18 U.S.C. Appendix III: “Classified Information Procedures Act” – read the statute for yourself:
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/laws/pl096456.htm
*Mainstream media story on use of CIPA in white-collar crime trial:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/25/ap/business/mainD8JN9K7G0.shtml
*Jenks v. U.S., 353 U.S. 657 (1957): Read the decision for yourself:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=353&invol=657
*John T. McTernan, NLG Luminary (argued Jencks in the Supreme Court):
http://www.nlgchicago.org/mcternan-about.shtml
*NLG Chicago “Current Local Litigation”: http://www.nlgchicago.org/litgat-node.shtml

ALF solidarity with SHAC 7

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Hardwick, Massachusetts, US - Twenty-three New Zealand white rabbits were liberated from a rural Massachusetts animal-testing laboratory owned by the Caprologics corporation. The raid was executed by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) who dedicated the action to the SHAC 7 defendants, that were recently sentenced to between one and six years in prison for conducting a protest campaign against another animal-testing company.

According to the ALF communiqué when the lab was finished experimenting on rabbits they would be "cut and left to bleed until their life has drained away" and then "thrown into the surrounding fields for coyotes to eat." On Thursday, a Cincinnati-based group called Stop Animal Exploitation Now filed a complaint against Caprologics with the US Department of Agriculture based on photographs taken during the raid and supplied by the ALF.

The ALF has claimed credit for liberating over a thousand animals in the past month alone, primarily in Scotland where a fish farm and a Highland farm that held wild boar were targeted.

From: bombsandshields.blogspot.com

Report on the TRIAL OF APPEAL IN BELGIUM

Report on the TRIAL OF APPEAL IN BELGIUM

which took place from September 11th-19th, 2006

When law is ending and political prosecution takes over its place

DECISION: 7th NOVEMBER

Between 11th and 19th September (2006) one of the most spectacular trials against presumable members of the DHKP-C was handled before the court of appeal in Gent, Belgium. On 28th February, 7 of 11 defendants were sentenced with 4 - 6,5 years of prison. 4 of the 11 accused have been acquitted by the court, but the Federal prosecutor went into appeal for 9 of the accused.

Since end of February 3 of the defendants, Musa Asoglu (6,5), Sükriye Akar (4) and Kaya Saz (4) remain in the prison of Brugge under strong isolation conditions, despite of several court decisions saying that there was no reason to isolate them.

All three prisoners, and the spokesman of the DHKC Information Bureau in Brussels, Bahar Kimyongür just as Hasan Ekinci who was aquitted from the trial but again included by the appeal of the Federal prosecutor, were present at the courtroom with their lawyers on their side.

Following the demand of lawyer Fermon, also Taylan Tanay, lawyer from Turkey joined the trial. Furthermore over hundred 'prisoners' relatives', members of CLEA (Committee for the Freedom of _Expression and Association) and international delegations from Italy, Austria, England and Germany filled the courtroom.

During the trial, which continued for 7 days, also the defendants made statements. Bahar Kimyongür's lawyer Carl Alexander, stressed, that the accusations of prosecutor were completely untruly. "It is claimed that Musa Asoglu and Bahar Kimyongür confessed themselves to a bomb action of DHKC, during the press conference 'Resistanbul 2004' (a left alliance founded in relation to the NATO summit in Turkey), which took place on 28th June 2004.

But this claim has been completely proven wrong by video records from this press conference by IHA and AA (two official press agencies from Turkey)

There are many other witnesses, just like a correspondent of the Italian News Agency, who could confirm that such a confession of an action wasn't the case.

Furthermore, only 4 months after the incidents, the Ministry of Justice answered to a question about DHKC Information Bureau, that the activities of the bureau were legal and according to the law.

Musa Asogolu, for whom prosecutor Delmulle asks the highest sentence, is exactly tried in connection with the alleged confession to the action during the mentioned press meeting.

While Asoglu is tried for the Knokke case related to a criminal organisation, because of arms and false documents found there, in fact they aim to punish him after the anti-terror law. But the only argumentation for trying him after that law is the accusation to have confessed the action")... Prosecutor Delmulle wants to pave the way for a prosecution according to the "anti-terror law".

The lawyer on behalf of the Turkish state, Kris Vincke, spoke about the "geo-political position" of Turkey. He said for example, that "Turkey is under threat of communist dictatorships" and that "organisations like the DHKP-C, attempted to carry out its bloody actions against the Turkish state, in order to create a system, which is not democratic at all".

Musa Asoglu's lawyer, Jan Fermon defended: "A Belgian court is not in the position to make a decision on the struggle waged in another country. And even, if that foreign country isn't a state of law at all and this conflict takes place only within that country. This conflict is an internal problem of Turkey, into which a Belgian court isn't authorized to interfere."

Lawyer Fermon additionally mentioned the "state of necessity" according to the law in relation with the violent action forms by DHKC. He also leaned on reports of the human rights associations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch or the European Court for Human Rights, defending that violent actions of a non-parliamentary, oppositional movement are inevitable.

He also reminded to article 2 of the Human Rights Convention, that foresees the "right to resist against oppression" in the case of state terrorism.

But Fermon stated, that in any case, because this would be a political decision, the recent court shouldn't give a decision about it.

In his defense, Musa Asoglu said: "70% of the trials in Strasburg are in relation with the Turkish state. During the past 30 years 50.000 people died resulting from state terrorism.

Bahar Kimyongür stated: "Dear judge, the prosecutor is asking you to punish me and expects from you to restrict freedom of _expression and democracy in your country. In this sense the burden on your shoulders is heavy. Prosecutor Delmulle and the lawyer of the Turkish state Vincke, introduce DHKP-C as a dangerous, fanatic and terrorist organisation. On the other hand they introduce the Turkish state as a democratic and a state of law. Indeed, this is a democracy of their dreams! A democracy that they want to put into life in Belgium... A democracy, which tortures, constantly puts political prisoners under torture, that honours the torturers (...). Not to see this open reality, means absolute denial. Prosecutor Delmulle tries to write history another time, without a shame and his position demonstrates the political character of the trial."

Kimyongür also responded on the prosecutor's accusation, that the 'DHKP-C doesn't respect any different view': "The Turkish state tells its citizens, beginning from the childhood, until their period for army, ideas like 'Every Turk is born as soldier' or 'What a luck to those who can say I'm a Turk'. Just follow the subtitle of the biggest newspaper in Turkey, saying 'Turkey belongs to the Turks'. Totally in contrary, DHKP-C gives the chance to all minorities in the country, to speak about their national, religious identity.

Musa Asoglu is Abaza, Dursun Karatas and Fehriye Erdal are Kurds, Sükriye Akar is Las, Zerrin Sari and Kaya Saz are Turkish. I am Arab. As an Arab, I have met with intolerance and fanaticism in the Turkish state. The friends of DHKP-C always showed respect to my nationality."

The state prosecutor asked 10 years for Musa Asoglu and Dursun Karataş (secretary general), 7 years for Bahar Kimyongür and 5 years for Kaya Saz, Sükriye Akar, Fehriye Erdal and Zerrin Sari. He asks 3 years of prison and a fine of 2500-5000 Euros for Hasan Ekici and Irfan Demirtas, who have both been acquitted in the trial.

The court decision will be announced on 7th November 2006.

SUMMARIZE:

First of all: The trial is executed by an exceptional court. The judge, Freddy Troch, is a very controversial character; he violated the law on protection of data privacy 10 years ago by leaking data on political opponents to the Turkish government while the Federal procurator responsible for this case, Johan Delmulle, declared from the very beginning that he is going to make an example out of this trial.

By its political character, its exceptional measures taken during the hearings and the heaviness of the punishments, this trial is a danger for all democrats and progressive organisations and individuals. A confirmation of the condemnations given in February in appeal will strengthen the pressure on all forces who fight imperialism and even social injustice on European soil. Among the defendants there are well known left-wing political activists. They are accused of membership in a criminal association while two of them were also alleged to be members of a terrorist organization according to the new Belgian anti-terrorist law.

Eventually the trial caught the attention of the mass media, because of Fehriye Erdal, one of the accused. She worked in Istanbul's Sabanci Centre. The Sabancis are one of the most rich and powerful families in Turkey, ruling political an economical life in the country. In January 1996, Ozdemir Sabanci was killed in the Sabanci Centre in an attack claimed by a guerilla unit of the DHKC.

Fehriye Erdal was literally hunted. Even the Turkish media reports that there are bounty hunters searching for her. That's why she went into hiding until she was arrested in Belgium in 1999.

Turkey immediately tried to gain influence over the Belgian legal system by carrot and stick methods. Eventually legal means and economic relations opened the door for Turkey to Belgium's courts. Turkey managed to take part in the case in a way which violates fundamental international and national laws. A state can't be joint plaintiff in another state. This backyard door, opened to Turkey by Freddy Troch, allowed Turkey to get all files related to the trial!

In addition the defense underlined that the DHKP-C is only fighting in Turkey, where its members are tortured, hunted and murdered by the Turkish government. At this point we have to recall the massacres like Sivas, Gazi and Ümraniye which took place in the 1990's, the several massacres in the prisons as the September 1999's massacre of Ulucanlar prison in Ankara, the 19th December 2000 bloodshed in 20 prisons of the country and the ongoing oppression against the Kurdish people. Turkey's lawyer did not deny what is happening in Turkey, but he explained that the Turkish government has its reasons for behaving in this way. Admitting all these cruelties had no consequences for the Turkish state. As we know, Turkey is a EU candidate... Delmulle and Troch were very committed to Turkey. Finally the judges sentenced 7 of the accused, 5 for their membership in a criminal organisation, 1 for his membership into a terrorist organisation and one for both.

This definition of terrorism mentioned in the new Belgian anti-terror law is so large and unclear that it allows various interpretations. Its base is cadre-decision of the European Commission in 2001, after the attacks against the twin towers. In this cadre-decision, there was also a list of so-called terrorist organizations, known as the “black list”. This decision and the selection of the political and military organizations in that list were made secretly, without any debate and possibility for the concerned organizations to oppose this decision.

The DHKP-C was never considered as a terrorist organisation in Belgium until the verdict of February trial. Furthermore, in 1999 there hasn’t been a “black list” introduced yet, except of the list of the US State Department.

But now, with the new judicial weapons called anti-terror law, the Belgian authorities make all kind of abuses by turning this trial into a political process.

Indeed, this trial tried to condemn the ideology and the aims of the DHKP-C.

The simple sympathy to this revolutionary movement is considered as terrorism, and is enough to be sentenced for years of prison.

This happened to Bahar Kimyongur. Bahar Kimyongur was born in Belgium. He graduated in Archaeology and went to Turkey for excavations. There he learned about the state terror of the Turkish government... Since then, he has campaigned for democracy and human rights in Turkey. He has never used violence in his life. He organised a press conference about the NATO summit in Istanbul and also participated in the protest rally against the summit. Twice he made statements on television: Once about an incident in 1991, and once about a bomb which went off by accident in Istanbul. These were reasons enough to find him guilty of membership in a terrorist association. The anti-terror laws, based on fantasies make that possible. He had nothing to do with the events in Knokke. Just like another person convicted, who has been in prison since February 28, 2006: Sukriye Akar.

Sukriye Akar is a political activist, who actively opposes human rights violations in Turkey and seeks democratic rights there. Her particular interest is the cause of political prisoners. Her husband has been in one of the notorious F-Type isolation prisons of Turkey since 2001. She has several times met with European Parliament members and Turkey, which needs a clean bill of health to get into the EU, must see her as a thorn in its side. She is accused for no reprehensible act but only for her supposed presence in this house. At the moment she is held in Brugge prison in isolation conditions.

But that is not the end of it. For Delmulle's stroke of genius is that he has brought all files from DHKP-C proceedings all over Europe into this case. The new anti-terror laws makes it possible.

The close connections between Belgium and Turkey make similar strokes of genius possible and allow classical penal laws to be basically ignored. Although that can only be decided by a court, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs told his Turkish counterpart that Fehriye Erdal would be extradited to Turkey, where she'll face certain torture and maybe death.

She was well advised to disappear underground a day before the trial ended. Now Belgium has decided that Fehriye Erdal can be be found guilty in Belgium of the 1996 Istanbul "murder of Sabanci". The law lets itself be bent, broken - and bought.

--

Green Scare info group

ELP Information Bulletin (24th September 2006)

Dear friends

ELP has just received the following e-mail which may be of interest
to people on this list.

> In order to disseminate important information to activist regarding
> regarding the [American] governments efforts to marginalize the radical
> environmental movement, greenscare has been created on yahoo groups.
>
> greenscare-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Appeal for anti-fascists repressed in St. Petersburg

 Appeal for anti-fascists repressed in St. Petersburg
>
> 29th of August 2006 mafia of Chechen origin went havoc in small city of Kondopoga in Karelia after a conflict with some local people, killing at least 3 persons and
> wounding many more. This shook the small city, and 2nd of September 2000-3000 inhabitants gathered in
> the central square. In a meeting local bourgeoisie and nationalist activists who had
> arrived from other cities managed to turn a justified urge to lynch mafia of all stripes to an all-out ethnic
> pogrom - during following days people of Caucasian origin were indiscriminately attacked, their homes and business ransacked
> and burned.
>
> Crucial role in channeling popular protest to a nationalist direction, not
> dangerous for authorities was DPNI, (Dvijenie Protiv Nelegalnoy Immigratsiy, Movement Against Illegal Migration,
> dpni.org), movement which has managed to unite many far-right tendencies during last 4 years
> under a "single issue", seemingly moderate banner.  Although DPNI attempts to maintain a moderate
> image, it has links to underground groups organising racist terror,  and is also more and more
> often seen together with Vladimir Zhirinovskys LDPR (liberal-democrat) party, a pro-government tool
> created to use and control far right groups for purposes of the authorities. 4th of November 2005 DPNI organised a 3000
> strong march, mostly consisting of nazi-skinheads in Moscow together with Eurasian Union of
> Youth, this was biggest show off of far right in Moscow since perhaps 1993.
>
> Events in Kondopoga have inspired DPNI and other far-right groups to spread
> hate in all around Russia. But not without resistance.  In sunday 17th of September 3:30 PM
> anti-fascists of St. Petersburg attacked picket of DPNI "for defence of Kondopoga inhabintans" at pioneer square. Antifa
> took fascists by surprise, outnumbering them perhaps 40 to 30,
> most of the fascists fled and few showed resistance. Thus at once fascists
> felt how it is to be a hunted instead of a hunter. Few of the fascists were armed, one with  a
> knife and another one with a hammer, they managed to stab one antifa and one passers by. Antifa had no
> other arms but bottles and pepper gas pistols. After one minute, fight was over and fascists
> dispersed. But unfortunately police managed to arrest many people in the region, two of them (19 year Igor
> Malyshev and 21 year old Igor Kuzmichov) are facing felony charges. Kuzmichov is an
> activist of local Food not Bombs. Police tried to extract a confession from Malyshev by beating him up
> cruelly. Currently Kuzmichev has been released under oath of staying in St. Petersburg,
> Malyshev has been transferred to infamous St. Petersburg remand prison Kresty.
>
> Some pictures of the anti-fascist action are available in
> http://ikd.ru/media/Image.2006-09-18.4020 and in website of the DPNI itself, http://www.dpni.org/index.php?0+0+7802
>
> Right now it makes no sense to publish prison address of Malyshev as letters are not allowed in Russian remand prisons. However funds for legal costs of Malyshev and
> Kuzmichov are urgently needed, you may pass money to account below in dollars or in euros. In case
> you live in an EU country, hold on for a few days as we will soon have an account in EU
> country to which money transfers are much more cheaper to make. You may ask information for
> this account from spt2003@email.com during late September and October.
>
> Bank name: Branch "Severnaya stolisa" Of ZAO Raiffeisenbank Austria In the
> city St. Petersburg
> Bank address: Moika embankment. 36, St. Petersburg, 191186 Russia
> SWIFT: RZBMRUMM
> Account number: 40817840803000221211
> Account holder: Koreckij Dmitrij Aleksandrovich

Russian Prisoner

Our comrade Igor Malyshev is taken into prison after attacking DPNI
> and NPR metting which took part 14.09.2006 on Pionerskaya square in
> Saint Petersburg.
> DPNI (Russian movement against illegal immigration) and NPR
> (national patriots of Russia) are two biggest nationalistic parties
> in Russia nowadays.
>
> Malyshev is waithing for a trial which is going to take part soon.
> We need to find goood lawyers now. So if someone is willing to
> help, please get in touch:
> Number of the bank account where to translate money
>
> ¹42301810703000221211
> Branch “Severnaya stolisa”
> Of ZAO Raiffeisenbank Austria
> I the city St. Petersburg, Moika embankment 36
> Corr. Acc. ¹30101810100000000723
> With GRKC GU CB RF in St. Petersburg.
> BIC 044030723
> INN 7744000302
> KPP 783502001

Letters in Rolling Stone

Letters in Rolling Stone Issue 1010
October 5, 2006

Eco-Radicals' Fall
Let me get this straight: In your August 10th issue, you details how the US government has jailed a handful of 'eco-terrorists' [The Rise and Fall of the Eco-Radical Underground,' RS 1006] who have caused $110 million in property damage but with no lives lost. Meanwhile, Bush has caused billions in property damage in Iraq and killed tens of thousands of people...but he is still iin the White House. I now have proof: America is officially insane.
Ross MacTaggart, Strong City, KS

Italian news

> Update Nottetempo
>
>
> During the first hearing after the summer break, which was held in
> Lecce on September 21, a dozen of witnesses for the prosecution
> (police and carabinieri officers) made their depositions.They all
> exposed a long series of police reports referring to the shadowing
> of the Lecce anarchists during the period 2000-2003. All in all
> nothing relevant emerged from their declarations to such an extent
> that the public, the defence and possibly even the jury had the
> impression that yesterday's hearing was just a waste of time.
> At least Salvatore and Saverio, who are now detained under house
> arrest (as well as Cristian), attended the trial sitting behind
> their lawyers and not sranding in the cages where they had been
> placed during the previous hearings.
> On September 28 other prosecution's witnesses will be heard,
> including the infamous ex-director of Regina Pacis detention centre
> father Cesare Lodeserto.
>

Another new British Animal Lib prisoner

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (22nd September 2006)

Dear friends

Today British animal rights activist, Madeline Buckler, was sentenced
to two years imprisonment for sending hate mail to the Hall family
who bred guinea pigs for vivisection.

Please send letters of support to:

Madeline Buckler (new prisoner)
HMP Peterborough
Saville Road
Westwood
Peterborough
PE3 7PD
England

===========

Another new British Animal Lib prisoner

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (22nd September 2006)

Dear friends

Today British animal rights activist, Madeline Buckler, was sentenced
to two years imprisonment for sending hate mail to the Hall family
who bred guinea pigs for vivisection.

Please send letters of support to:

Madeline Buckler (new prisoner)
HMP Peterborough
Saville Road
Westwood
Peterborough
PE3 7PD
England

Italian news

Update Nottetempo
>
>
> During the first hearing after the summer break, which was held in
> Lecce on September 21, a dozen of witnesses for the prosecution
> (police and carabinieri officers) made their depositions.They all
> exposed a long series of police reports referring to the shadowing
> of the Lecce anarchists during the period 2000-2003. All in all
> nothing relevant emerged from their declarations to such an extent
> that the public, the defence and possibly even the jury had the
> impression that yesterday's hearing was just a waste of time.
> At least Salvatore and Saverio, who are now detained under house
> arrest (as well as Cristian), attended the trial sitting behind
> their lawyers and not sranding in the cages where they had been
> placed during the previous hearings.
> On September 28 other prosecution's witnesses will be heard,
> including the infamous ex-director of Regina Pacis detention centre
> father Cesare Lodeserto.

Another new British Animal Lib prisoner

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (22nd September 2006)

Dear friends

Today British animal rights activist, Madeline Buckler, was sentenced
to two years imprisonment for sending hate mail to the Hall family
who bred guinea pigs for vivisection.

Please send letters of support to:

Madeline Buckler (new prisoner)
HMP Peterborough
Saville Road
Westwood
Peterborough
PE3 7PD
England

September 15 (2006) prison dispatch from Jeff “Free” Luers

September 15 (2006) prison dispatch from Jeff “Free” Luers

The last several weeks have been very intense. Many of you are familiar with my personal struggles at this time having lost my contact visits for the next year. But, that is a small story compared to what the last two weeks have been like at OSP.

The Oregon State Penitentiary is Oregon’s only maximum-security prison. It is a home to violence, drugs, and sexual assaults. Typically, OSP is deceptively calm, but underneath is a perpetual storm always capable of becoming a full-blown disaster.

Last Sunday the storm broke loose and so far shows no sign of letting up. It started with the brutal beating of a guard during the evening yard.

What needs to be understood is that many - though not all - the guards here are disrespectful and dehumanizing. They believe they are untouchable and therefore immune to repercussions. This doesn’t mean they treat everyone like shit; a handful do, but usually they split somewhere down the middle. You know, while someone might be nice to you they aren’t always nice to everyone kind of thing.

This is the underlying tension that constantly exists. It is the nature of any environment where one group has all the power and another none.

Sometimes that scale tips, often violently, and not always without warning. And so last Sunday a guard was beaten into submission, and when the guards ordered everyone on the yard to lie prone no one did. And when the guns were turned on us a chorus of fuck-you was sounded. And when the gun towers ordered everyone to be still no one was. And when the prisoners were suddenly empowered the guards lost all of theirs. Then the gates were locked and all of the guards left the yard. When the ambulance arrived to take their fallen a cheer went up across all of OSP.

That night a modified lockdown was imposed. All blocks would only have one yard. In essence everyone would be on 22 hour a day lockdown.

But that would not be enough to stem the flow of blood. The next night an inmate was stabbed. Rumors circulated that he was a snitch.

The day after that a fight erupted in the chow hall. One a week has been the average for a while now.

Then on Wednesday night I watched a man die. He took his last gurgled breath less than 10 feet from me and then his heart stopped beating. I watched for twenty minutes as medics performed CPR and shocked him.

I felt nothing as I watched this man die from my cell, nothing as they pronounced him dead. Nothing when they put the crime scene tape around his body.

They left him lying in front of my cell for five hours, his body partially covered with his feet and the top of his head sticking out.

I was awoken and questioned by the police at 4am. I went to sleep with his stiff body just outside my bars. Turns out the man was strangled, homicide or suicide is still unknown.

Today I read in the paper the man was a child molester. He admitted to raping and using a foreign object on a girl younger than twelve. He was sentenced to eight years.

The night he died I felt nothing. Today I feel glad that he is dead.

This is prison. I shower next to serial killers and sexual predators. I have alliances with people I’d fight on the streets. My best friend is a murderer and I love him like a brother (my parents love him too for that matter).

I walk with eyes in the back of my head. I seldom have anything to worry about but I never let my guard down. Every time I get a new cellmate I size him up and decide how I’d take him if I had to.

My friends watch my back and I watch theirs. No one deals with trouble alone. We joke about death. We laugh at the violence and suffering in here. It is a part of our daily existence. It has become part of who we are.

I can watch a man get stabbed in the neck and keep eating. I can pretend to not see a man lying helpless in his own blood (along with everyone else on the yard). And I can watch a man die and be completely unmoved.

Would someone please tell me how this is supposed to make me a better person? Can someone please tell me how locking away more than two million people into places like this is going to stop crime? Is there anyone out there that can convince me we are this planet’s most evolved creatures?

- Jeff “Free” Luers

Write to: Jeff Luers

#13797671

Oregon State Prison

2605 State Street

Salem, Oregon 97310

USA

For more information: www.freefreenow.org

Another Josh Wolf update

Here's what Josh just posted on his blog!
>
> A 2-day Reprieve
>
> Great news guys! We filed an emergency motion to ask for two more
> days so that I can take care of some unfinished business before
> turning myself in, and the judges granted it! This means I have two
> more days of freedom, and that I will get to speak at my benefit -
> which is below this entry.
>
> I hope to see some of you there…

Green Scare article from Earth First! Journal

Six People Plead Guilty to Arsons and Conspiracy
The Green Scare Continues
by Civil Rights Outreach Committee

Background

On December 7, 2005, one of the largest roundups of environmental and animal liberation activists in American history began. Using the code name “Operation Backfire,” the FBI arrested six people. (See EF!J issues Brigid, Eostar and Beltane 2006 for more background information.) Chelsea Gerlach, William Rodgers, Kendall Tankersley, Kevin Tubbs, Daniel McGowan and Stanislas Meyerhoff were arrested for allegedly taking part in a wide variety of actions the government attributes to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

Within days of the first arrests, it was revealed that informants, including Jacob “Jake” Ferguson of Eugene, were the sole basis relied upon by the feds and grand jury in issuing the indictments. It was also revealed that Stanislas Meyerhoff had agreed to be a federal cooperating witness almost immediately upon arrest and interrogation.

On December 22, William “Avalon” Rodgers was found dead in his cell in Flagstaff, Arizona, from an apparent suicide.

At first, those arrested were indicted separately with certain individuals facing numerous trials for each separate alleged incident. On January 20, federal prosecutors, the head of the FBI, and US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales held a press conference announcing a sweeping 65-count indictment, including two conspiracy charges, against 11 individuals relating to 17 different incidents in Oregon, Washington and California. In addition to the six people arrested on December 7, the Oregon indictment also named Jonathan Paul, Suzanne Savoie, Joseph “Joe” Dibee, Rebecca Rubin and Josephine Sunshine Overaker.

The Oregon indictment charged certain defendants with arson, attempted arson, and using and carrying a destructive device. The destructive device charge, 18 USC 924(c), carries a 30-year mandatory sentence and a life sentence for a second conviction of the charge.

In the weeks that followed, five individuals were revealed as “confidential sources” for the government’s case. Subsequently, on February 23, Nathan Block and Joyanna Zacher were arrested in Olympia and were charged with involvement in the 2001 Jefferson Poplar and Romania II arsons.

On March 15, the government released a superseding indictment that replaced all preexisting indictments. This giant conspiracy prosecution included Nathan and Joyanna with the other 11 indicted individuals.

On March 30, Briana Waters was arrested in connection with an alleged arson at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture in 2001 and placed under house arrest. She is currently indicted in both Tacoma and Seattle for the same alleged crimes. Her trial is scheduled for May 7, 2007. She staunchly maintains her innocence to the charges and was recently released from house arrest.

On April 6, California issued its indictments in connection with the 2001 horse corral fire near Susanville. Justin Solondz was charged by the federal court in Sacramento, but is not in custody. Also indicted for the corral fire were Joe Dibee, Rebecca Rubin and Darren Thurston (Thurston’s plea on this charge was integrated into his Oregon plea deal as a result of cooperation, the extent of which is not publicly known at this time, see below).

Updates

On May 10, Washington issued a superseding indictment. This indictment includes the destructive device charge, a 30-year mandatory sentence, for Waters. The indictment also added Solondz, Tubbs and Rodgers to the UW arson. Washington has agreed to waive prosecution of Tubb’s as a result of his cooperation with the federal government. Other informants in this case include Jennifer “Jen” Kolar and ex-Earth First! Journal editor Lacey Phillabaum, both of who walk free as uncharged co-conspirators as of this writing.

On May 18, a federal grand jury indicted Chelsea, Stan, Josephine and Rebecca for alleged involvement in the 1998 arson of the Vail ski resort.

On June 28, the government arraigned Nathan, Joyanna, Daniel and Jonathan on a new 65-count superceding indictment. All four plead not-guilty. Trial for the four remaining non-cooperating defendants is currently scheduled to begin on October 31 in Eugene.

Plea Deals Aplenty

Without any notice to the codefendants or the public, on July 20 and 21, formal change of plea hearings were held in the Oregon court for Darren, Kevin, Kendall, Stan, Chelsea and Suzanne. These six pled guilty to a variety of conspiracy, arson and attempted arson charges—none of them pled to the destructive device charge used as a hammer by the feds in coercing these people to become informants. The US attorney’s office recommended sentence for Stan is 188 months imprisonment for pleading guilty to 54 charges; Kevin, 168 months for 56 charges; Chelsea, 120 months for 18; Suzanne, 63 months for 15; Kendall, 51 months for three; and Darren, 37 months for two.

When he entered the courtroom, Stan waved and smiled at the federal prosecutors. They returned the smile and the wave. Stan, who displayed what appeared to be mental instability during the proceeding, was keen to point out that he “walked away from the ELF in 2003,” as he mentioned during what was supposed to be an account of his educational history. The above terms of imprisonment are recommendations that the feds will make to the Court at the time of sentencing and are contingent upon these cooperating defendants continued full and complete cooperation for the rest of their lives. This term applies to ALL of the defendants who have pled out so far.

During this hearing, the government seemed especially keen on connecting the ELF and the ALF to broader environmental efforts and movements. The state stressed that Stan and other defendants allegedly attended an Earth First! party directly after performing a sabotage, and also that the Vail arson followed unsuccessful litigation and grassroots campaigns against ski resort development in the area. The government also made a point of stressing that these defendants used the term “direct action” in reference to the arson incidents. Heavy mention of William Rogers (Avalon) was made in connection to the Vail arson during both Chelsea and Stan’s hearings. They both swore in court that William was solely responsible for the Vail arson.

At the behest of the federal government, Chelsea read a statement at the conclusion of her change of plea proceeding denouncing her actions.

For the first time, new allegations were disclosed at the change of plea hearings disclosing additional arsons that allegedly occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, and the eastern district of Michigan

Upon motion by the cooperating defendants’ attorneys, all of the plea petitions, cooperation agreements, and even the transcripts of the public court hearing for all six, are sealed, making them unavailable for public scrutiny. The government announced that it would pursue upward enhancement of sentences for the six taking pleas, arguing that the federal terrorism enhancement guidelines apply to their sentences as well. This enhancement, normally only utilized in cases where human lives were lost in incidents such as 9/11, carries up to an additional 30 year sentence. The government indicated that the defendants were free to argue against the terrorism enhancement, however, it would appear that all of the defendants who entered pleas in July stipulated to the prosecution’s “facts” underlying the plea petition. These “facts” included the verbatim definition of a “federal crime of terrorism,” thereby reducing the amount of work the feds will have to do to convice a judge that the enhancement applies. The definition of terrorism read in open court by the prosecutors is: A crime calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct. Under this broad definition, historic acts of nonviolent civil disobedience could be construed as terrorism. It is confusing and troubling that these defendants would permit the feds to potentially brand them with this over-used and inappropriate label.

All remaining charges for those taking cooperation pleas, in Oregon and other jurisdictions, will be dropped if those taking pleas fully and completely cooperate with the government’s terms. They all agreed to testify against others charged in the case and to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation into similar crimes.

All six of the cooperating defendants are scheduled for formal sentencing hearings on December 14.

Lacey is expected to enter a plea in Seattle in exchange for her cooperation. It is unclear which of the many jurisdictions informant Jen will plea in as a result of her extensive cooperation with the feds. Numerous other people have been contacted and have voluntarily agreed to provide information to the federal government about these cases, their political ideologies and their associations,

Suzanne, Kendall, Daniel, Jonathan and Briana are all out on pre-trial release. McGowan is under strict house arrest. All other persons indicted in Oregon who have been located, are currently in custody.

Nathan, Joyanna, Daniel, Jonathan and Briana now face trial with several of their once co-defendants preparing to offer up dubious testimony against them, while the government raises the specter of “terrorism” over alleged property damage allegations in defense of the environment. Nathan, Joyanna and Daniel, face charges that carry a 30-year mandatory minimum sentence, and maximums of life plus 300 to 1,015 years. All remaining defendants also face a “terrorism enhancement” under federal sentencing guidelines which carries a maximum 30 year sentence.

Without the information provided by Jake, uncharged informants such as Jen and Lacey, as well as the parroted statements made by the cooperating defendants thus far, there would be no federal case. Jake and Stan have admitted to their participation in most of the alleged arsons, yet Jake remains free and without charges (and according to a Rolling Stone article, $50,000 richer). To date, no other hard evidence exists linking the defendants to the alleged charges. The snitch statements all vastly contradict each other and have changed and evolved as the government changes it’s story. These informants will face cross examination at trial and vast amounts of resources are being utilized in defense of those defendants who continue to assert their innocence before a jury of their peers.

Misuse of Grand Juries

On March 21, Camilo Stephenson was subpoenaed to a Denver grand jury and questioned about the 1998 Vail ski resort fire. Jake Ferguson told the feds that Camillo would substantiate his story that attempted to rope in additional people. Camillo denied any knowledge of any of the incidents and was able to inform the jury as to Jake’s reputation as a drug addict, thief, and untrustworthy individual.

Jeff Hogg and Burke Morris were subpoenaed to testify in front of federal grand juries on May 18, Jeff in Eugene and Burke in Denver. Jeff refused to testify before the grand jury and was held in contempt by Judge Michael Hogan and sent to jail. Jeff is still in and could remain in jail until the grand jury’s expiration. (Write to Jeff Hogg #1065518, 101 W. 5th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401.) Burke answered limited questions asked by the Denver grand jury, questions about his personal life, but denied any knowledge of the incidents about which he was questioned. Burke also ended up in this position as a result of Jake Ferguson trying to use him to corroborate untruthful statements that Jake made to the feds.

On June 27, Jim Dawson of Olympia received a subpoena to appear before a grand jury in Seattle. His appearance has been postponed since he consented to be questioned by the FBI in lieu of his scheduled grand jury appearance. His partner, Heather Moore, also of Olympia, had earlier agreed to be voluntarily questioned by the feds regarding her community. The extent of their disclosures to the government is unknown at this time. As a result of their voluntary cooperation, additional subpoenas are possible.

The fact that the feds are continuing to subpoena people would normally lead one to believe that the government continues to search for additional defendants in these cases — it is either that, or a grave abuse of the grand jury system at work. In the Oregon court hearing on June 28, Jonathan’s attorney told the court that he was putting the government on notice that he was deeply concerned with the unlawful abuses of the grand jury system by the government. Grand juries are intended only to decide whether or not to bring indictments. In this case grand juries are being used to gather evidence to prepare for trial, an illegal use of the grand jury.

Craig Rosebraugh is subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury in Eugene August 17.

Jeff Hogg is scheduled for a Grumbles hearing on August 15th seeking his release from jail. He continues to argue that no amount of jail will coerce him into testifying to the grand jury based upon his strongly held beliefs. The government’s response to his motion spends the majority of it’s pages attempting to malign the Civil Liberties Defense Center and its attorney, somehow inferring that the public education events that the CLDC provides on grand juries and federal criminal prosecutions is attempting to obstruct justice. Apparently the feds now believe that free speech and an educated public are the latest threats to their police state and campaign of political repression.

The Latest

On August 7, Nathan and Joyanna were present for a status hearing on the upcoming trial. Also in attendance were Daniel’s lawyers, as well as Jonathan’s via phone. The first order of business was a continuance for the upcoming discovery hearing in which defendants’ attorneys will ask for the court to order the release of surveillance evidence in discovery. The US attorney’s office has been dancing around the release of this surveillance, which could go back many years. (What do they have to hide? Unwarranted wiretaps? Agents provacatuers? We'll see...)

That hearing was postponed until August 22nd at 9:30 a.m. with a possible continuance to September 6 at 10;30 am. due to a possible conflict of scheduling with one of the defense attorneys.

Next, one of Daniel’s lawyers requested that discovery released to defense last week be viewable by defendants without a lawyer present. There is currently an order in place that only allows the defendants to view this discovery (the testimony of cooperating defendants) in the presence of their lawyers. The US attorney, Kirk Engdall, said the order is in place because the discussion or distribution of this discovery could “intensify the security risk” of cooperating defendants. A discussion ensued in which Jonathan’s attorney made suggestions about ways in which copies of this discovery could be given to defendants to make duplication impossible. The US attorney’s office did not feel any of the suggestions would ensure the security of the documents. Engdall asked that a decision on the issue be delayed until both sides could agree on a way to protect the confidentiality of the discovery. A date was set, August 22 at 9:30 am, for a hearing on the issue.

Then Engdall proposed a date be set for motion to continue the trial to a later date, since the US attorney'’s office would need time to subpoena witnesses from five federal districts to testify at trial. He stated it seemed all parties would want an extension of the original October 31 trial date. That issue will also be heard on August 22.

The government continues to monitor and scrutinize on-line sources such as indy media sites. Many of the court filings include voluminous pages printed from the internet comment sections, personal email communications, and other documents that make it obvious that the government continues to spy on political groups and their activities. There is nothing illegal about doing prisoner support or discussing current events, but the fed continue to manipulate and misconstrue these communications to their own benefit. Please think of this before you write and post on the internet.

Support Information

To stay informed about the latest goings on related to the Green Scare, visit cldc.org, http://portland.indymedia.org/en/topic/greenscare/ and future issues of the EF!J.

Don't forget to write to and support the non-cooperating defendants and talk to your friends and neighbors about the Green Scare cases.

If anyone has information they are willing to share on any of the cooperating witnesses, background, history, etc., to help in the defense of the non-cooperating defendants, please contact attorney Lauren Regan at lregan@cldc.org. Your opinion or anecdote could save a brave person many years in jail.

The Civil Rights Outreach Committee (CROC) is a media working group that has taken on the task of monitoring the mainstream press surrounding the Green Scare, producing our own pro-active media, and assisting the defendants in their attempt to get a fair trial through outreach to media outlets, NGOs and members of the public. To contact CROC or to make a donation to our work, write to civilrightsoutreach@gmail.com.

===================
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Alternate Focus Interview With Dr. Salman Abu Sitta at 4th International Al-Awda Convention in San Francisco

During the 4th International Al-Awda convention at San Francisco State University, Alternate Focus recorded an interview with Dr Salman Abu Sitta. This interview is now available on CD/DVD at their web site at:

http://www.archive.org/details/Salman_Abu_Sitta . It is well worth your attention.

More on Herman Wallace's quest for new trial

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5430094

La. prosecutors oppose new murder trial for Angola inmate, ex-Black Panther

ANGOLA, La. -- A former Black Panther convicted of killing a Louisiana prison guard in the 1970s deserves a new murder trial because prosecutors withheld key evidence that could have won him an acquittal, his lawyer argued in a prison courtroom on Tuesday.

Herman Wallace has spent most of the past three decades in solitary confinement at the state's top-security prison after his conviction in the 1972 stabbing death of guard Brent Miller. His lawyer argued that, before the trial, the warden had essentially bribed a witness into fingering Wallace as one of the killers _ and prosecutors knowingly kept the deal secret."Jurors would have dismissed (the witness') testimony as hogwash" if they had known about the alleged deal, lawyer Nick Trentecosta said.Prosecutors, fighting Wallace's efforts at a new trial, said no proof exists of that deal _ an alleged promise from the warden to help the witness get a pardon and eventual release from prison. The warden and the witness are dead, and prosecutor Dale Lee argued that the idea of a deal between the two is based on speculation."I haven't seen anything to say that there was a promise given," Lee said. "There's nobody here to disprove what actually happened in 1972 _ they're all dead."Presiding over the hearing was a court commissioner, Rachel Morgan, who said she will issue a recommendation to the trial judge, probably within a month, on whether Wallace should get a new trial. District Court Judge Michael Irwin could accept or reject her recommendation, or order another evidentiary hearing in his courtroom, she said.Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert Wilkerson are known as the Angola Three, considered by prisoners' rights groups to be wrongly held in solitary confinement because of their political activity with the now-defunct Black Panthers. Demonstrators gathered outside the prison gates with a banner that read: "Free the Angola 3" and referred to Wallace as a political prisoner.Wallace, Wilkerson and Woodfox have a pending lawsuit against the state, arguing that their decades of solitary amount to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the federal constitution. Wilkerson was released in 2001 after a judge overturned his murder conviction. Woodfox, convicted in Miller's death, remains in Angola.Prison officials have said Wallace and Woodfox are in solitary because they would be endangered if returned to the general prison population.Hezekiah Brown, the witness who testified against Wallace and Woodfox, was at Angola on a rape conviction at the time of Miller's killing.After Wallace's conviction, Brown received a weekly carton of cigarettes from prison authorities, what Trentecosta said was part of the payoff for testifying against Wallace. The cigarettes amounted to valuable currency _ "a prison pension" _ that Brown could spend on gambling, alcohol, drugs or sex, Trentecosta said.After Wallace's trial, Brown was also given a plum assignment: transferal to a house on the prison grounds where he helped take care of the penitentiary's bloodhounds. Brown had his own room and a television set, a former guard, Bobby Ovileaux, testified. Ovileaux said he personally delivered the weekly cigarette carton to Brown and sometimes gave him more when he ran out, on orders from prison authorities.Lee said the prison was right to segregate Brown from the general prison population because he would be in danger of being attacked or killed by other inmates, angry that he had testified against a fellow prisoner. Lee noted that Brown was known to have nightmares.Lee said the prison was obligated to protect a prisoner from violence if he agrees to endanger himself by testifying against a fellow inmate."That's a commitment that I think a prison has an obligation to fulfill," he said.Brown was released in 1986, when then-Gov. Edwin Edwards commuted his sentence on the advice of the Pardon Board.Trentecosta produced several documents from then-Warden C. Murray Henderson in which Henderson referred to commitments and promises he had made to help Brown get a pardon. Henderson also testified in court that he had agreed before the trial to help Brown get a pardon.Lee argued that evidence of the warden's help with the Pardon Board was vague and could have stemmed from other agreements he had made with Brown.Wallace became involved with the Black Panthers while in the city jail in New Orleans, awaiting trial for armed robbery. He was convicted of the bank robbery and sent to Angola, where he helped form a branch of the Panthers.Morgan rejected Trentecosta's attempt to call a high-profile witness, Wilbert Rideau, a former Angola death row inmate who is known around Louisiana for his journalism while behind bars.Rideau had no direct knowledge of Wallace's case or Miller's killing. His only relevant expertise, Morgan said, was the conditions at Angola in the 1970s, when it was known to be among the most violent lockups in the nation. Morgan told Rideau to step down from the witness chair, saying she was familiar with Angola's history.

Spirit Run in Honor of Alvin Littlehead; Indigenous Peoples' Day Events

Forward by Tacoma LPSG

Indigenous Peoples Day
March, Rally & Spirit Run
with Support LEONARD PELTIER and All Political Prisoners
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Hosted by: Native Peoples Alliance with Friends & Allies
SPIRIT RUN in Honor of ALVIN LITTLEHEAD
From Portland, OR to Blaine, WA
Contact: Jeremy M., NWAIM and NALA @253-208-8201

12 NOON: MARCH to the PEACE ARCH
From Salishan Park in Blaine, WA(at the corner of
Blaine/Alder)(Marchers are responsible for arranging their
own drop off & pick up)

1PM; RALLY at the PEACE ARCH
By Special Invitation: Aztec Dancers 12:15PM @the PEACE
ARCH
Welcoming: Skala Pauline Helaire, Lummi Elder
Opening Prayers: Shoni Sinji and Shoni Gilberto,
Bainbridge Is. WA
Co-MC's: Elder Harold Belmont, Sr. and Pete Sanchez

INVITED SPEAKERS: 1.April Nation; 2.Arthur Miller; 3.Kelly
White; 4.Juan Bocanegra; 5.Jeremy Miller; 6.Shelly
Vendiola; 7.Ramona Benett; 8.Terese Mayer; 9.Aaron Dixon;
10.TBA; 11.TBA; 12.TBA; 13.Lisa Powers; 14.Dorothy
Ackerman

5PM in the Park House: POTLUCK AND RAFFLE
(no cooking facilities available)
Invited Special: United Nations, Tulalip Tribe and the
band B.M.O.
Open Mic Speakers: Pilar & Chauncey Peltier
*Please sign up for Open Mic (time permitting)

CARAVAN FOR JUSTICE leaves 8:30am from 23rd & Jackson
For more information contact: Jack W. 206-329-3251 or
Harold B. 206-723-5393

A.I.M. STRAIGHT
7th ANNUAL SPIRIT RUN
BUILDING THE STRENGTH OF WARRIORS WHO RUN IN ALVIN LITTLEHEAD'S HONOR
For Indigenous Peoples Day and Leonard Peltier

Leaving August 7, 2006 from NARA Residential Treatment
Center, Portland, OR
Arriving October 7,2006 at the Peace Arch, Blaine, WA

1st Week 8/7 NARA to Scapoose
8/8 Scapoose to St. Helens
8/9 St. Helens to Longview
2nd week 8/14 Longview to Castle Rock
8/15 Castle Rock to Vader
8/16 Vader to Napa Vine
3rd week 8/21 Napa Vine to Chehalis
8/22 Chehalis to Rochester
8/23 Rochester to Tumwater
4th week 8/28 Tumwater to Lacey
8/29 Lacey to Lakewood
8/30 Lakewood to Tacoma
8/31 Tacoma to Des Moines
5th week 9/4 Des Moines to Seattle
9/5 Seattle to Shoreline
9/6 Shoreline to Lynnwood
6th week 9/11 Lynnwood to Everett
9/12 Everett to Tulalip
9/13 Tulalip to Stanwood
7th week 9/18 Stanwook to Mt. Vernon
9/19 Mt. Vernon to Swinomish
9/20 Swinomish to Edison
8th week 10/4 Edison to Blanchard
10/5 Blanchard to Bellingham
10/6 Bellingham to Lummi
10/7 Lummi to Blaine
Honoring for the Runners @ the Border

PLEASE JOIN US
ALL STAFFS AND ALL RUNNERS
LET US CARRY THE SPIRIT
FOR OUR ELDERS, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR PEOPLE
DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE

Former concentration camp guard deported to Germany, after her Jewish husb

Ex-Nazi hid past even from husband

           Posted on Wed, Sep. 20, 2006



            Ex-Nazi hid past even from husband

            By Josh Richman
            MediaNews

            For more than 60 years, Elfriede Lina Rinkel kept a dark secret
from her family: In the waning days of World War II, she worked as a guard
in a Nazi concentration camp.

            When federal agents finally confronted the woman, now 84, and
eventually deported her, relatives say she still didn't reveal the real
reason behind her flight back to Germany.

            ``It knocked us off our feet,'' Rinkel's sister-in-law said from
her home in Berkeley on Tuesday, after the Justice Department announced
Rinkel's deportation. The sister-in-law, along with her husband, Rinkel's
brother, asked not to be identified. ``We have many, many Jewish friends . .
.. and this would be quite shocking to them as it was to us.''

            Rinkel also kept the secret from her late husband -- a German
Jew who had fled the Holocaust himself. Fred William Rinkel ``did not
know,'' her lawyer, Allison Dixon, told the Los Angeles Times, ``because all
these years she was totally embarrassed.''

            She is the only woman to be caught and deported in more than 100
completed cases of Nazi persecutors who lied their way into the United
States.

            U.S. officials caught up with Rinkel not long after her husband
died. After tracking her down to her San Francisco apartment, they charged
her under a federal law that requires the removal of foreign nationals who
participated in Nazi-sponsored persecution. She signed a settlement in June,
admitting that from June 1944 to April 1945 she was a guard at the
Ravensbrück camp, built near Fürstenberg, Germany, almost exclusively for
female prisoners.

            According to documents released Tuesday, Rinkel used a trained
SS guard dog at the camp. The Office of Special Investigations also provided
copies of her service card, taken from an SS records office, and bank
records showing pay she received for her service at the camp.

            An estimated 130,000 women and children were imprisoned within
Ravensbrück's walls, and about 90,000 died from starvation, execution,
weakness or medical experimentation. The inmates came mostly from Poland and
the occupied Soviet territories; almost 15 percent were Jewish.

            The government's charges, filed in April, say Elfriede Rinkel
was born July 14, 1922, in Leipzig, Germany; served at the camp from 1944 to
1945; and applied for a U.S. immigrant visa Aug. 29, 1959, at the U.S.
Consulate in Frankfurt. The visa application instructed her to list all her
residences from 1938 forward, but she omitted Ravensbrück.

            Rinkel was admitted as an immigrant to the United States on or
about Sept. 21, 1959, at San Francisco, the document says. Her
sister-in-law, who with Rinkel's brother had sponsored her immigration, said
Tuesday that Elfriede Huth met Fred Rinkel decades ago at a German-American
Club in San Francisco.

            Rinkel's husband died in January 2004; his obituary said he was
a longtime member of the Jewish service organization B'nai B'rith, and his
funeral services were held at a Jewish memorial chapel. The couple had
planned to be buried side by side in a Jewish cemetery in Colma. Rinkel's
sister-in-law said Rinkel's brother had never learned of his sister's
wartime activity because he had been captured by U.S. troops while fighting
for the German army in North Africa.

            Even as Rinkel's relatives were helping her to pack up her
apartment on Bush Street, two blocks up Nob Hill from Union Square, they
said they still knew nothing of her past.

            ``Never a word about why she was leaving,'' Rinkel's
sister-in-law said. ``She said she just wanted to go back to Germany, and
because she told us that, we believed her.''

            Rinkel was discovered after investigators compared Ravensbrück
guard rosters with U.S. immigration documents -- some 70,000 names have been
studied since the Office of Special Investigations opened in 1979 -- and
stumbled upon her maiden name.


            She admitted being assigned to the camp, explaining that she had
had a less desirable job as a factory worker and then volunteered to be a
dog handler at the camp for better wages.

            But she insisted she never used her dog as a weapon against the
prisoners, never forced them into marches every morning to work or to die.
She said never joined the Nazi Party, just did its bidding, according to the
Los Angeles Times.

            Dixon, her San Francisco attorney, told the Los Angeles Times
that it was all just too long ago. She said her client had tried to remake
her life and never thought she would be tripped up so late in her years.

            ``She was trying to atone for actions in the past,'' Dixon
said.. ``She married a Jewish man, and she gave to Jewish charities.

            Only in death can Rinkel return to the United States. However,
before she left, she sold her plot in Colma's Eternal Home Cemetery --
giving up the double gravestone with the Star of David above the couple's
names..


--------------------------------------------------------------------
            The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

Joe Harris' Prison Details

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (20th September 2006)

Dear friends

Earlier today we reported the jailing of British animal rights
activist Joe Harris.  ELP has just been informed of his prison
address.

Please send urgent letters of support to:

Joseph Harris
TN5728
HMP Woodhill
Tattenhoe Street
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK4 4DA
England

=============

New British Animal Righst Prisoner

ELP Information Bulletin (20th September 2006)

Dear friends

British animal rights activist, Joe Harris, was today sentenced to 3
years imprisonment for taking direct action against Huntingdon Life
Sciences targets.  His tactics included gluing locks and slashing car
tyres.

As yet ELP does not have a prison address for Joe, so if anyone knows
where he is being held can they please contact ELP as soon as
possible.  Thanks.

Below is a mainstream media article about Joe.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5362926.stm

Animal rights protester is jailed

A cancer research specialist who sabotaged companies linked to animal
research lab Huntingdon Life Sciences has been jailed for three years.

Joseph Harris, 26, a doctor of molecular biology, has become the
first person to be convicted under economic sabotage laws to protect
companies.

As part of his campaign Harris, of Bursledon, Southampton, glued
locks and slashed tyres at three companies.

Northampton Crown Court heard his work had put him in a "moral dilemma".

He carried out the first attack on the day he was awarded his PhD.

 It causes me great discomfort in seeing you before the court having
thrown so much away

Judge Ian Alexander

The court was told his field of speciality was leading him to test on
animals as he researched treatment for pancreatic cancer.

In sentencing him, Judge Ian Alexander said: "I am sorry that your
conviction and the sentence I impose will seriously damage what was a
very promising career.

"It may well be that your future inability to continue your research
into gastro-intestinal cancer will be a great loss to those who
suffer that disease.

'Thrown away'

"The seriousness and objective of your offences must be marked both
as a punishment and deterrent to others."

 Essentially he came to a crisis point

Rebecca Trowler, defending Harris

The judge added: "It causes me great discomfort in seeing you before
the court having thrown so much away."

Harris attacked three companies linked to Huntingdon in December 2005
and January 2006.

He admitted charges under the Serious and Organised Crime Act
involving attacks at firms in Northampton, Nottingham and Bicester.

The companies supplied building materials, refrigeration servicing
and testing equipment to the Cambridgeshire firm.

Damage caused by Harris totalled more than £25,000

The court heard how the Nottingham University graduate had recently
split up from his girlfriend, who disagreed with his work and its
animal testing.


Rebecca Trowler, who was defending Harris, said: "This put him in an
increasing moral dilemma.

"Essentially he came to a crisis point and he took a very very stupid
decision."


The Serious and Organised Crime Act was brought in by the government
last July to tackle harassment and threats from animal rights
activists.

Vernon Coaker, Home Office minister, welcomed Harris' conviction.

He said: "It is wholly unacceptable that a small minority of animal
extremists should mount a campaign of fear and intimidation against
individuals and companies going about their lawful business and that
is why this Government took steps to introduce these tough new
measures."


====================

Josh Wolf back in Prison Wednesday!

> Hello Everyone,
> I just wanted to inform everyone that on Wednesday September 20th
> Josh Wolf will return to FCI Dublin, after his press conference at
> 11AM.
> Earlier he said to me “I should get a lot of letters this time!” 
> To which I replied, “You will if I have anything to do about it!” 
> Let’s all do our part to prove him right.
>
> Joshua Wolf 98005-111
> Federal Correctional Institution - Dublin
> 5701 8th St. Camp-Parks, Unit J2
> Dublin, CA 94568
>
> http://freejosh.pbwiki.com/
> http://www.joshwolf.net/blog/
> We are going to put a “real” update on his wiki soon but right now I’m wiped!
>
> Also, for anyone who has friends in the San Francisco area, we are
> holding a Free Josh Wolf!  Free The Media!  Benefit on Thurs. Sept.
> 21 at Crash, 34 Mason Street between Eddy and Turk.  There will be
> speakers, music, and much more!  We are asking a $10 fee but not
> one will be turned away.

Prosecutors oppose new trial for Angola inmate, ex-Black Panther

Prosecutors oppose new trial for Angola inmate, ex-Black Panther

By DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press Writer

ANGOLA, La. (AP) -- A former Black Panther convicted of killing a Louisiana prison guard in the 1970s deserves a new murder trial because prosecutors withheld key evidence that could have won him an acquittal, his lawyer argued in a prison courtroom on Tuesday.

Herman Wallace, one of a trio of prisoners known as the "Angola Three," has spent most of the past three decades in solitary confinement at the state's top-security prison after his conviction in the stabbing death of guard Brent Miller.

His lawyer argued that the warden had essentially bribed a witness into identifying Wallace as one of the killers - and that prosecutors knowingly kept the deal secret from jurors.

"Jurors would have dismissed (the witness') testimony as hogwash" if they had known, lawyer Nick Trentecosta said.

Prosecutors, fighting Wallace's efforts at a new trial, said no proof exists of that deal - an alleged promise from the warden to help the witness get a pardon and eventual release from prison. The warden and the witness are dead.

"I haven't seen anything to say that there was a promise given," prosecutor Dale Lee said. "There's nobody here to disprove what actually happened in 1972 - they're all dead."

Trentecosta said Hezekiah Brown, the witness who testified against Wallace, received a weekly carton of cigarettes as a payoff for his testimony. The cigarettes amounted to valuable currency - "a prison pension" - that Brown could spend on gambling, alcohol, drugs or sex, Trentecosta said. After the trial, he was transferred to a private house with his own room and television set, a former guard, Bobby Ovileaux, testified.

Lee said the prison was right to segregate Brown from the general prison population because he would be in danger of being attacked or killed by other inmates who were angry that he had testified against a fellow prisoner.

Trentecosta also produced several documents from then-Warden C. Murray Henderson in which Henderson referred to commitments and promises he had made to help Brown get a pardon.

Court commissioner Rachel Morgan said she will issue a recommendation to the trial judge, probably within a month, on whether Wallace should get a new trial. District Judge Michael Irwin could accept or reject her recommendation, or order another evidentiary hearing in his courtroom, she said.

Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert Wilkerson are known as the "Angola Three," considered by prisoners' rights groups to be wrongly held in solitary confinement because of their political activity with the now-defunct Black Panthers.

Wilkerson was released in 2001 after a judge overturned his conviction for killing another inmate. Prison officials have said Wallace and Woodfox are in solitary because they would be endangered if returned to the general prison population.

Angola 3 Update

http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/o/632/09-19-2006/f28800127b5158ad.html

Ex-Black Panther Asks for New Trial

By DOUG SIMPSON Associated Press Writer

(AP) - BATON ROUGE, La.-A former Black Panther convicted of killing a Louisiana prison guard in the 1970s is attempting to get a new trial 30 years later, arguing that prosecutors improperly withheld information that could have swayed the jury in his favor.

Herman Wallace was convicted in 1972 in the stabbing death of Brent Miller, a guard at the state penitentiary at Angola, after a fellow prisoner testified against him. Wallace has been in solitary confinement since then - one of three black convicts known as the "Angola Three."

Wallace's lawyer, Nick Trentecosta, said he will argue at a hearing on Tuesday that prosecutors never told the defense that the prison warden assured the prosecution's star witness that he would help get him a pardon. Trentecosta said such help would amount to a bribe in exchange for testimony against Wallace - an arrangement that prosecutors should have told the defense about.

Prosecutors dispute the basis of Trentecosta's argument. They say no evidence exists that the warden made such a deal with the witness.

"Nowhere have I seen any proof that there were any promises made," said Dale Lee, an assistant district attorney.

The man who testified against Wallace, Hezekiah Brown, was at Angola on a rape conviction at the time of Miller's killing. He was pardoned in the early 1980s and died after his release, Trentecosta said. C. Murray Henderson, the warden of Angola in the early '70s, died in 2004.

Trentecosta said he would produce documents and a witness to prove that Brown and the warden made a pardon deal before Wallace's trial.

The "Angola Three" - Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert Wilkerson - are convicts considered by activists worldwide to be political prisoners punished with solitary confinement for their political activities with the now-defunct militant group the Black Panthers.

Wilkerson was released in 2001 after a judge overturned his conviction for killing another inmate. Prison officials have said Wallace and Woodfox are in solitary because they would be endangered if returned to the general prison population.

SF Chronicle: Bail revoked for journalist in contempt case

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/19/BAGQ1L87KV1.DTL

Bail revoked for journalist in contempt case

Freelance journalist and activist Josh Wolf is heading back to jail after a federal appeals court on Monday ordered his bail revoked unless he changes course and gives a federal grand jury outtakes of footage he shot at a violent San Francisco protest in July 2005.

Wolf, who has argued that he has a right as a journalist to withhold unpublished material, plans to turn himself in at the federal prison in Dublin before a 1 p.m. Wednesday deadline, said Jose Luis Fuentes, one of Wolf's attorneys.

A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected Wolf's appeal of a lower court's decision to hold him in contempt. The same three judges on Monday granted a federal prosecutor's motion to revoke bail.

Attorneys for Wolf, who has already spent a month behind bars, had hoped to keep their client free while he appeals the case. They plan next month to ask the full Ninth Circuit appeals court, based in San Francisco, to review the case and may also take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In his argument for revoking bail, prosecutor Jeffrey Finigan wrote that Wolf must be jailed because the "coercive intent behind the recalcitrant witness statute is lessened with each passing day."

Fuentes said jailing his client will not be coercive because Wolf hopes to achieve victory through his appeals. "It's just punishment," Fuentes said.

The subpoena for Wolf's footage was issued by a grand jury investigating the alleged attempted burning of a San Francisco police car at an anarchist-led rally July 8, 2005, in opposition to an economic summit taking place at the time in Scotland.

A police officer was hit on the head during the protest and suffered a fractured skull. The grand jury is investigating the police car incident, which prosecutors say would be a federal crime because the Police Department receives money from Washington.

E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa@sfchronicle.com.

SHAC7: Andy Stepanian & Darius Fulmer Sentenced

From www.shac7.com:

ANDREW STEPANIAN AND DARIUS FULMER SENTENCED

Today was the last day of sentencing in the SHAC 7 case with Andrew Stepanian and Darius Fulmer being sentenced.

Despite questioning the strength of the government's case against Andy and Darius at the end of trial, the court sentenced them both to prison today.

Andrew Stepanian received the maximum sentence of 36 months in prison, and Darius was sentenced to 12 months, 1 day.

Both were ordered to pay into the $1,000,001 restitution.

Andy must turn himself in to begin his sentence within 15 days, and Darius must turn himself in in 30 days.

MI county prosecutor will not prosecute cases when guards rape prisoners

Outrage of the day.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/METRO/608040358

Wayne won't take prison rape cases

Prosecutor testifies county lacks resources to prosecute female inmates' complaints.

Norman Sinclair / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- A presidential commission investigating prison rape around the country heard one of its major complaints confirmed Thursday as Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy testified that her office refuses to prosecute prison sex abuse cases.

Worthy told the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, chaired by federal district Judge Reggie B. Walton of Washington, D.C., that because of budget restraints, her office cannot afford to handle such cases.

She told commissioners at the meeting at U.S. District Court in downtown Detroit that as recently as last month, she declined to take the cases of three women allegedly abused by prison staff that were referred to her by the Attorney General's Office.

"We are in a budgetary crisis that won't allow us to undertake state prison cases," Worthy said. "We are down 34 positions and facing a 5 percent budget cut. We have 175 assistant prosecutors and most offices this size around the county have double or triple that number. We have 12 investigators (compared) to 20 to 100 in counties this big."

Rusty Hills, spokesman for Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, called Worthy's comments "outrageous."

"All other prosecutors in the state with prisons in their county prosecute these cases," said Hills. "Wayne County is the only one refusing to do so. Every prosecutor has budget problems."

Hills said because of Worthy's stance, his office has asked for the cases she was not acting upon. He said her office dumped 23 cases on the attorney general and the three they asked her to take were ones in which his office had conflicts of interest because the attorney general is already defending the Corrections employees involved.

Hills said his office has approached the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan to consider appointing a special prosecutor .

Commissioner Jamie Fellner, director of the United States Program of Human Rights Watch, said she had a hard time understanding how any group of county residents, including prisoners, could be removed from seeking justice in cases of rape and assault.

"You have chosen to cut off the most politically powerless people in society," Fellner said.

The plight of female inmates facing sexual abuse by male staff in Michigan's women's prisons was detailed in May 2005 in a three-part series in The Detroit News.

On Thursday, Corrections Director Patricia Caruso testified that the most controversial change she adopted in the wake of that series was removing all male officers from female prison living quarters. She said since the move was completed in December, the number of complaints by female inmates had dropped considerably.

Walton said he hopes the commission's recommendations for changes that will go to the president and Congress will have a profound impact on the national problem.

You can reach Norman Sinclair at (313) 222-2034 or nsinclair@detnews.com.

ALF release fish from a Scottish farm

ALF release fish from a Scottish farm
www.arkangelweb.org
September 15, 2006

Yesterday Arkangel reported on the release of Wild Boar from the Millcraig Mill Farm, Alness in the Scottish Highlands. In what appears to be an escalation in the activity of the ALF in Scotland, Arkangel has received another anonymous communiqué from a cell of the ALF claiming responsibility for the attack on a fish farm on the west coast of Scotland.

The communiqué dated the 13th September begins "Activists went to an intensive halibut farm near Oban, on the west coast of Scotland. All the pens were destroyed & sunk, & we saw hundreds, if not thousands of fish swimming free towards the sea".

Having released the fish it would appear that the ALF group wanted to cause as much economic damage as possible to the fish farm company as the group systematically destroyed the equipment belonging to the farm. They began by first disabling the farm's boat.

"Having finished liberating the fish we boarded the farm's ship, smashed everything we could, including the controls, the radar, the GPS system,& all the keys, finishing by emptying a fire extinguisher inside the cabin& shutting the door".

The communiqué ends by detailing further damage to the farm: "Finally, we broke into an on-site portakabin, destroying all the clothing & paperwork inside, as well as destroying a computer & a mobile phone with an axe. We then repeated the fire-extinguisher trick, this time with two. A massive on-sight crane was also disabled".

For many years a debate had raged of whether fish feel pain, it is now believed in most quarters that fish do feel pain. In a 1996 report examining the welfare of farmed fish, the Ministry of Agriculture's official advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, noted the following:

"Almost all fish live the whole of their lives in water and show a maximal emergency response when removed from water, even for a very short period. This response includes changes in heart rate, increased production of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol and vigorous muscle contractions… These changes often indicate fear in the fish…All of the scientific evidence concerning such effects makes it clear that the term stress is certainly relevant to fish and that the means by which stress effects are mediated are very similar to those in mammals. Evidence that the term pain is applicable to fish comes from anatomical, physiological and behavioural studies whose results are very similar to those of studies on birds and mammals. The fact that fish are cold blooded does not prevent them from having a pain system and, indeed, such a system is valuable in preserving life and maximising the biological fitness of individuals. The receptor cells, neuronal pathways and specialised transmitter substances in the pain system are very similar in fish to those in mammals." (Farm Animal Welfare Council Report on the Welfare of Farmed Fish, September 1996)

Even a study funded by the British Field Sports Society and the National Federation of Anglers found that capture of fish by anglers causes acute physiological stress. (T.G. Pottinger, Fish Welfare Literature Review, The Institute of Freshwater Ecology, May 1995.)

Facts about fish you might not have known:

• Fish are cold-blooded, which means that their blood temperature fluctuates in relation to the surrounding water. They breathe through their gills - taking in water through their mouths, retaining the oxygen and passing it into their bloodstream. Their bodies are covered with overlapping waterproof scales to provide protection against infection without hindering movement. Their scales are not watertight, so fish have a layer of protective mucus, which also keeps out infection. Handling by humans damages this mucus, leaving the fish vulnerable to disease when returned to the water.

• Most fish have a row of tiny pores on their sides called the lateral line. These act as a hearing aid, making them very sensitive to vibrations and reflections. Outside the water, however, they can hear no sounds. They also have a swim bladder to help them balance and move from deep to shallow water.

• Fish are short sighted. Their eyes can look in separate directions at the same time. They do have colour vision, though. Hence the use by anglers of brightly coloured bait.

• Just as we use our hands, fish use their tongues and lips to build nests, gather food and hide their young from danger.

• Scottish farmed fish start their lives in industrial hatcheries and are then moved to huge cages, often located at the mouths of sea lochs. The cages are up to 70 metres in diameter, with plans to extend them to 90 metres. Around 250,000 fish are tightly packed into each cage. Many die prematurely under this intensive regime. There is also a high level of snout, fin and other injuries - plus infestations and viral and bacterial infections. Prior to slaughter, the fish are starved for days and even weeks. In some units they are killed by first being hit on the head with a club and then having their gill arches torn or cut so that they bleed to death. In other operations, the fish are placed in a tank with carbon monoxide and then clubbed or bled to death.

Review of Igniting A Revolution: Voices in Defense of the Earth

www.4strugglemag.org.

Review of Igniting A Revolution: Voices in Defense of the Earth

by Sara Falconer

Think environmentalists seem flaky? Wondering if “eco-terrorist” is an oxymoron? The newest release from AK Press is an essential primer for the curious and veteran organizers alike, challenging misconceptions and exploring many issues surrounding revolutionary environmentalism.

Igniting A Revolution: Voices in Defense of the Earth, edited by Steven Best and Anthony J. Nocella, II, is a lengthy collection of essays and poetry from voices on both sides of the prison walls: John Zerzan, Fred Hampton, Jr., Jeffrey “Free Luers,” Ashanti Alston, Sara Olson and many more. Ample space is devoted to history, spirituality, primitivism, repression and tactical debates, from a range of diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives.

The first section in particular stands in stark opposition to any notion that environmentalists are wishy-washy. Several well-researched and well-argued pieces document the development of radical environmentalism and the birth of the Earth Liberation Front.

In addition to academic analysis, there are personal accounts of experiences from eco-warriors, and at times these present an overly romantic and uncritical view of a controversial movement. Still, the passion and dedication of these activists is quite compelling. Even the primitivist perspectives, which I personally find less than convincing, are an interesting read.

Perhaps most fruitful is the final section, “Social Movements and Alliance Politics,” which situates revolutionary environmentalism in the context of feminism and anti-racist organizing. And this is a primary strength of this carefully thought-out book: the attempt to unite the struggles of eco-warriors with larger movements for social justice. These connections are vitally important now, as environmental activists face COINTELPRO-style repression from the U.S. government.

No matter what your level of engagement with environmentalism or radical tactics, Igniting A Revolution will provide plenty of food for thought, from Marilyn Buck’s visceral, jarring poetry to Ann Hansen’s thoughtful commentary on direct action. You’ll be moved… but will you be moved to act?

Adios Ann Richards: The Original Texacutioner

http://www.counterpunch.org/stark09182006.html

September 18, 2006

The Original Texacutioner

Adios Ann Richards

By MIKE STARK and JIM BILLINGTON

I n the end, it's fitting that Bill Clinton would eulogize Texas ex-Governor Ann Richards for the "big things" she accomplished. Executing 49 people, including two juveniles and two mentally disabled prisoners certainly is "big." Clinton only executed three people as Governor of Arkansas.

Of course, next to George W. Bush, who more than tripled Richards' numbers at 152 kills, everyone looks like a lightweight. That's probably why many liberal commentators bent over backwards to praise the recently deceased ex-Texas Governor as a civil rights pioneer and progressive. Richards, who lost her job as Texas Governor in 1994 to GW, appears as the archetypal hero of the "anybody but Bush" crowd. After all, her place in that national political spotlight came after her "poor George" speech when she famously skewered then-President George Bush Sr. as having a "silver foot" in his mouth.

In an era when the only fortitude Democrats demonstrate is their willingness to defy their political base and slavishly prop-up the right's agenda, the myth of a larger-than-life Texan who sacrificed her political career to stand up for her ideals is appealing.

But Richards's civil rights credentials crumble when you consider the outrageous and obvious racial-bias of Texas' death row. Of the 49 executions she allowed, over half were minority prisoners -- even as non-whites made up less than 25% of the population. While Blacks made up approximately 25% of murder victims annually, less than 4% of those executed were accused of killing Blacks. 87% the executed involved those accused of killing whites. Texas's death row was (and continues to be) so bad that in 1994, the Death Penalty Information Center's Richard Dieter described the situation as "in crisis."

Richards' 1990-94 stint as Governor spans an era when Democrats eagerly shed progressive positions in a rush to appeal to the right. One of the first "liberal" positions to be jettisoned was opposition to the death penalty. Leading the way was 1992 presidential candidate Bill Clinton, who left the campaign trail to mug in front of cameras as he oversaw the execution of mentally disabled Ricky Ray Rector. This display set the stage for the massive increase in executions during the Clinton years that would peak in 1999 with 98 executions nationally in a single year. Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council gave a lead to Democrats nationwide who drew all the wrong lessons from Bush Sr.'s successful race-baiting Willy Horton attacks ads and the meek ineffectual response to these challenges by Democratic challenger, Dukakis, in 1988.

Which brings us back to Richards. Her famously sharp tongue was still when it came to the death penalty. When asked would she support a death penalty abolition bill if it passed the Texas legislature, her sarcastic "I would faint" response betrayed indifference. When asked directly on the campaign trail about her views, she said, "I will uphold the laws of the State of Texas." Considering the racial and class composition of the Texas killing machine -- this commitment to the law sounds more George Wallace than MLK Jr.

In 1992, an opportunity to take a stand for justice came with juvenile death row prisoner Johnny Frank Garrett. Garrett was severely mentally impaired individual described as chronically psychotic and brain-damaged. His life was such a horror show that one mental health expert described Garrett as "one of the most virulent histories of abuse and neglect...I have encountered in 28 years of practice."

According to Amnesty International:

"As a youth, Garrett was raped by his stepfather, who then hired him to another man for sex. From the age of 14 he was forced to perform bizarre sexual acts and participate in pornographic homosexual films. He was first introduced to alcohol and other drugs by members of his family at the age of ten and subsequently indulged in serious substance abuse involving brain-damaging substances such as paint-thinner and amphetamines. Garrett was regularly beaten and on one occasion was put upon the burner of a stove, resulting in severe scarring."

Richards, was called on by human rights groups all over the world to halt the execution, but instead she meekly weighed in to temporarily delay the execution and then deferred to the Governor appointed Texas Board of Pardons and Parole and allowed it proceed on February 11, 1992. To Richards standing up for Garrett just wasn't worth the effort.

That same year, the US Supreme Court infamously blocked Texas death row prisoner Leonel Herrera's request from presenting newly-discovered evidence he claimed proved another man was responsible for the murder. Herrera had exhausted his appeals and no legal remedy was available for presenting the new evidence. The Supreme Court ruled innocence was not itself grounds for appeal.

Again, according to Amnesty International,

"Shortly before Herrera's execution date, a group of prominent Texas attorneys and former judges called on Governor Ann Richards to develop mechanisms so that condemned prisoners alleging miscarriages of justice would receive full and fair clemency hearings. The only response from the governor's office was a promise to 'study' the group's recommendations."

Leonel Herrera was executed on May 12, 1993. Herrera's last words were: "I am innocent, innocent, innocent. Something terribly wrong is happening here tonight."

Months later, juvenile offender Curtis Harris was executed in July 1993. There was strong evidence of racial bias in the selection of the jury in Harris' case and his court-appointed attorney failed to present evidence of his mental disabilities and abusive childhood. Again, Richards did nothing.

In fact, during her time occupying the highest office in the Texas she did nothing to stop the death machine in Texas. To her, political expediency meant more than the lives of innocents, minorities, the mentally disabled, or juveniles.

Ann Richards support for incredibly barbaric and racist Texas death penalty should lay to rest any notion that she deservers to be called a progressive. Far from being a wistful alternative to GW Bush that progressives pine for, by paving the road for the slaughter to follow, her legacy is not only the dead men she executed, but it is also the 152 men and women GW Bush, her so-called nemesis, executed.

Goodbye Anne and good luck. Because if there's a heaven, it's a good bet Johnny Frank Garrett, Leonel Herrera, and Curtis Harris have been bending St. Peter's ear for quite some time now.

Mike Stark is a national board member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty and a regular contributor to the New Abolitionist, the newsletter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

Jim Bullington is prison-literacy activist in Denver, Colorado . He is a native Texan and a member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

Jonathan Robert Transfered again

Sept 17, 2006
>
> Jonathan Robert Transfered Again
>
> Jonathan was transfered again. Please send urgent letters of support and
> paperback books to:"
>
> Jonathan Robert
> # 92558-020
> FCI TALLAHASSEE
> FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
> 501 CAPITAL CIRCLE, NE
> TALLAHASSEE, FL  32301
> USA

U.S. war prisons legal vacuum for 14,000

By PATRICK QUINN, Associated Press Writer Sept. 17, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - In the few short years since the first shackled Afghan shuffled off to Guantanamo, the U.S. military has created a global network of overseas prisons, its islands of high security keeping 14,000 detainees beyond the reach of established law.

Disclosures of torture and long-term arbitrary detentions have won rebuke from leading voices including the U.N. secretary-general and the U.S. Supreme Court. But the bitterest words come from inside the system, the size of several major U.S. penitentiaries.

"It was hard to believe I'd get out," Baghdad shopkeeper Amjad Qassim al-Aliyawi told The Associated Press after his release — without charge — last month. "I lived with the Americans for one year and eight months as if I was living in hell."

Captured on battlefields, pulled from beds at midnight, grabbed off streets as suspected insurgents, tens of thousands now have passed through U.S. detention, the vast majority in Iraq.

Many say they were caught up in U.S. military sweeps, often interrogated around the clock, then released months or years later without apology, compensation or any word on why they were taken. Seventy to 90 percent of the Iraq detentions in 2003 were "mistakes," U.S. officers once told the international Red Cross.

Defenders of the system, which has only grown since soldiers' photos of abuse at
Abu Ghraib shocked the world, say it's an unfortunate necessity in the battles to pacify Iraq and Afghanistan, and to keep suspected terrorists out of action.

Every U.S. detainee in Iraq "is detained because he poses a security threat to the government of Iraq, the people of Iraq or coalition forces," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Keir-Kevin Curry, a spokesman for U.S.-led military detainee operations in Iraq.

But dozens of ex-detainees, government ministers, lawmakers, human rights activists, lawyers and scholars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States said the detention system often is unjust and hurts the war on terror by inflaming anti-Americanism in Iraq and elsewhere.

Building for the Long Term

Reports of extreme physical and mental abuse, symbolized by the notorious Abu Ghraib prison photos of 2004, have abated as the Pentagon has rejected torture-like treatment of the inmates. Most recently, on Sept. 6, the Pentagon issued a new interrogation manual banning forced nakedness, hooding, stress positions and other abusive techniques.

The same day, President Bush said the CIA's secret outposts in the prison network had been emptied, and 14 terror suspects from them sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to face trial in military tribunals. The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the tribunal system, however, and the White House and Congress are now wrestling over the legal structure of such trials.

Living conditions for detainees may be improving as well. The U.S. military cites the toilets of Bagram, Afghanistan: In a cavernous old building at that air base, hundreds of detainees in their communal cages now have indoor plumbing and privacy screens, instead of exposed chamber pots.

Whatever the progress, small or significant, grim realities persist.

Human rights groups count dozens of detainee deaths for which no one has been punished or that were never explained. The secret prisons — unknown in number and location — remain available for future detainees. The new manual banning torture doesn't cover CIA interrogators. And thousands of people still languish in a limbo, deprived of one of common law's oldest rights, habeas corpus, the right to know why you are imprisoned.

"If you, God forbid, are an innocent Afghan who gets sold down the river by some warlord rival, you can end up at Bagram and you have absolutely no way of clearing your name," said John Sifton of Human Rights Watch in New York. "You can't have a lawyer present evidence, or do anything organized to get yourself out of there."

The U.S. government has contended it can hold detainees until the "war on terror" ends — as it determines.

"I don't think we've gotten to the question of how long," said retired admiral John D. Hutson, former top lawyer for the U.S. Navy. "When we get up to 'forever,' I think it will be tested" in court, he said.

The Navy is planning long-term at Guantanamo. This fall it expects to open a new, $30-million maximum-security wing at its prison complex there, a concrete-and-steel structure replacing more temporary camps.

In Iraq, Army jailers are a step ahead. Last month they opened a $60-million, state-of-the-art detention center at Camp Cropper, near Baghdad's airport. The Army oversees about 13,000 prisoners in Iraq at Cropper, Camp Bucca in the southern desert, and Fort Suse in the Kurdish north.

Neither prisoners of war nor criminal defendants, they are just "security detainees" held "for imperative reasons of security," spokesman Curry said, using language from an annex to a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the U.S. presence here.

Questions of Law, Sovereignty

President Bush laid out the U.S. position in a speech Sept. 6.

"These are enemy combatants who are waging war on our nation," he said. "We have a right under the laws of war, and we have an obligation to the American people, to detain these enemies and stop them from rejoining the battle."

But others say there's no need to hold these thousands outside of the rules for prisoners of war established by the Geneva Conventions.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan declared last March that the extent of arbitrary detention here is "not consistent with provisions of international law governing internment on imperative reasons of security."

Meanwhile, officials of Nouri al-Maliki's 4-month-old Iraqi government say the U.S. detention system violates Iraq's national rights.

"As long as sovereignty has transferred to Iraqi hands, the Americans have no right to detain any Iraqi person," said Fadhil al-Sharaa, an aide to the prime minister. "The detention should be conducted only with the permission of the Iraqi judiciary."

At the Justice Ministry, Deputy Minister Busho Ibrahim told AP it has been "a daily request" that the detainees be brought under Iraqi authority.

There's no guarantee the Americans' 13,000 detainees would fare better under control of the Iraqi government, which U.N. officials say holds 15,000 prisoners.

But little has changed because of these requests. When the Americans formally turned over Abu Ghraib prison to Iraqi control on Sept. 2, it was empty but its 3,000 prisoners remained in U.S. custody, shifted to Camp Cropper.

Life in Custody

The cases of U.S.-detained Iraqis are reviewed by a committee of U.S. military and Iraqi government officials. The panel recommends criminal charges against some, release for others. As of Sept. 9, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq had put 1,445 on trial, convicting 1,252. In the last week of August, for example, 38 were sentenced on charges ranging from illegal weapons possession to murder, for the shooting of a U.S. Marine.

Almost 18,700 have been released since June 2004, the U.S. command says, not including many more who were held and then freed by local military units and never shipped to major prisons.

Some who were released, no longer considered a threat, later joined or rejoined the insurgency.

The review process is too slow, say U.N. officials. Until they are released, often families don't know where their men are — the prisoners are usually men — or even whether they're in American hands.

Ex-detainee Mouayad Yasin Hassan, 31, seized in April 2004 as a suspected Sunni Muslim insurgent, said he wasn't allowed to obtain a lawyer or contact his family during 13 months at Abu Ghraib and Bucca, where he was interrogated incessantly. When he asked why he was in prison, he said, the answer was, "We keep you for security reasons."

Another released prisoner, Waleed Abdul Karim, 26, recounted how his guards would wield their absolute authority.

"Tell us about the ones who attack Americans in your neighborhood," he quoted an interrogator as saying, "or I will keep you in prison for another 50 years."

As with others, Karim's confinement may simply have strengthened support for the anti-U.S. resistance. "I will hate Americans for the rest of my life," he said.

As bleak and hidden as the Iraq lockups are, the Afghan situation is even less known. Accounts of abuse and deaths emerged in 2002-2004, but if Abu Ghraib-like photos from Bagram exist, none have leaked out. The U.S. military is believed holding about 500 detainees — most Afghans, but also apparently Arabs, Pakistanis and Central Asians.

The United States plans to cede control of its Afghan detainees by early next year, five years after invading Afghanistan to eliminate al-Qaida's base and bring down the Taliban government. Meanwhile, the prisoners of Bagram exist in a legal vacuum like that elsewhere in the U.S. detention network.

"There's been a silence about Bagram, and much less political discussion about it," said Richard Bennett, chief U.N. human rights officer in Afghanistan.

Freed detainees tell how in cages of 16 inmates they are forbidden to speak to each other. They wear the same orange jumpsuits and shaven heads as the terrorist suspects at Guantanamo, but lack even the scant legal rights granted inmates at that Cuba base. In some cases, they have been held without charge for three to four years, rights workers say.

Guantanamo received its first prisoners from Afghanistan — chained, wearing blacked-out goggles — in January 2002. A total of 770 detainees were sent there. Its population today of Afghans, Arabs and others, stands at 455.

Described as the most dangerous of America's "war on terror" prisoners, only 10 of the Guantanamo inmates have been charged with crimes. Charges are expected against 14 other al-Qaida suspects flown in to Guantanamo from secret prisons on Sept. 4.

Plans for their trials are on hold, however, because of a Supreme Court ruling in June against the Bush administration's plan for military tribunals.

The court held the tribunals were not authorized by the U.S. Congress and violated the Geneva Conventions by abrogating prisoners' rights. In a sometimes contentious debate, the White House and Congress are trying to agree on a new, acceptable trial plan.

Since the court decision, and after four years of confusing claims that terrorist suspects were so-called "unlawful combatants" unprotected by international law, the Bush administration has taken steps recognizing that the Geneva Conventions' legal and human rights do extend to imprisoned al-Qaida militants. At the same time, however, the new White House proposal on tribunals retains such controversial features as denying defendants access to some evidence against them.

In his Sept. 6 speech, Bush acknowledged for the first time the existence of the CIA's secret prisons, believed established at military bases or safehouses in such places as Egypt, Indonesia and eastern Europe. That network, uncovered by journalists, had been condemned by U.N. authorities and investigated by the Council of Europe.

The clandestine jails are now empty, Bush announced, but will remain a future option for CIA detentions and interrogation.

Louise Arbour, U.N. human rights chief, is urging Bush to abolish the CIA prisons altogether, as ripe for "abusive conduct." The CIA's techniques for extracting information from prisoners still remain secret, she noted.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government's willingness to resort to "extraordinary rendition," transferring suspects to other nations where they might be tortured, appears unchanged.

Prosecutions and Memories

The exposure of sadistic abuse, torture and death at Abu Ghraib two years ago touched off a flood of courts-martial of mostly lower-ranking U.S. soldiers. Overall, about 800 investigations of alleged detainee mistreatment in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to action against more than 250 service personnel, including 89 convicted at courts-martial, U.S. diplomats told the
United Nations in May.

Critics protest that penalties have been too soft and too little has been done, particularly in tracing inhumane interrogation methods from the far-flung islands of the overseas prison system back to policies set by high-ranking officials.

In only 14 of 34 cases has anyone been punished for the confirmed or suspected killings of detainees, the New York-based Human Rights First reports. The stiffest sentence in a torture-related death has been five months in jail. The group reported last February that in almost half of 98 detainee deaths, the cause was either never announced or reported as undetermined.

Looking back, the United States overreacted in its treatment of detainees after Sept. 11, said Anne-Marie Slaughter, a noted American scholar of international law.

It was understandable, the Princeton University dean said, but now "we have to restore a balance between security and rights that is consistent with who we are and consistent with our security needs."

Otherwise, she said, "history will look back and say that we took a dangerous and deeply wrong turn."

Back here in Baghdad, at the Alawi bus station, a gritty, noisy hub far from the meeting rooms of Washington and Geneva, women gather with fading hopes whenever a new prisoner release is announced.

As she watched one recent day for a bus from distant Camp Bucca, one mother wept and told her story.

"The Americans arrested my son, my brother and his friend," said Zahraa Alyat, 42. "The Americans arrested them October 16, 2005. They left together and I don't know anything about them."

The bus pulled up. A few dozen men stepped off, some blindfolded, some bound, none with any luggage, none with familiar faces.

As the distraught women straggled away once more, one ex-prisoner, 18-year-old Bilal Kadhim Muhssin, spotted U.S. troops nearby.

"Americans," he muttered in fear. "Oh, my God, don't say that name," and he bolted for a city bus, and freedom.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE — The Associated Press staff in Baghdad and AP writers Andrew Selsky in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Matthew Pennington in Kabul, Afghanistan; Anne Plummer Flaherty in Washington, and Charles J. Hanley in New York contributed to this report.

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.

New prison dispatch from Jeff “Free” Luers (August 28, 2006)

New prison dispatch from Jeff “Free” Luers (August 28, 2006)

When I started this dispatch a few days ago, my thoughts were jumbled. I’m not sure they are any clearer now. But I know what I want to try to say.

Now that I am out of the hole most of the letter that were sent 4-5 weeks ago are starting to be delivered. Thank you all for the love and support. It warms my heart.

I don’t know what it is like for our other captured warriors. There is little communication between me and other prisoners. And there is a definite lack of structure that would allow the political prisoners to work together. I would like to change that. However, that is perhaps a topic for my next dispatch.

I find myself in a strange situation of being a voice for an ideal and belief system. I give countless interviews and speeches on anarchism, environmentalism, direct action and activism. I always try to just speak for myself, but give an overview of broader topics.

I’m not entirely sure how all of this came about. It could be because of my amazing friends who have put up websites, made stickers, and movies about my story. My wonderful friends who refused to give up until the world knew my name and case.

Maybe it’s because of how much time I got and the fact that I steadfastly refuse to quit running my neck. Always preaching, even begging, for a revolution.

It might even be the right combination of the two. Still it never ceases to amaze me at the overwhelming amount of mail I’ve received, so many people from all over the world telling me how much I’ve inspired them.

I like to think that I inspire people because I’m still trying, still struggling. I like to think that I’m proof that everyone has this courage and passion inside of themselves.

It would break my heart if people thought I was something special or part of some kind of vanguard. I’m just an ordinary human being. I’m just like you.

Direct action isn’t something that is supposed to be left to some vanguard. It is for the people. All people. It doesn’t have to be spectacular it just has to be consistent.

Finding the courage to face state repression isn’t difficult it just takes believing in yourself and knowing you are right.

When I read the papers, even mainstream ones, I see how much global warming has become apart of our collective conscience. It is on the front page, in the comics, and editorials. Everyone is saying, “Something must be done”. And everyone is saying it like the power to fix the problem lies in someone else’s hands.

How did we as a society ever get so disempowered? How did we become so impotent?

For a long time I thought it was fear of repression. I thought it might have been intimidation or the belief that a small group of people can’t change anything.

But, what if it’s none of that. What if our collective fear is that we are powerful beyond measure? What if our fear comes from not wanting to be responsible?

These days it seems like everyone knows what is going on. Many people want change and are articulate and passionate about ending the war, creating social and environmental justice.

So, really, what gives? Why are we waiting?

I guess there is some big miracle around the corner. I just don’t know about it. Now that I know, I can sit back and rely on it, too. I can turn to these nameless and faceless others that will create this miracle. I mean, thank goodness, it’s someone’s responsibility to address all these pressing issues.

That doesn’t work for me. It shouldn’t work for anyone else.

I know what my country is doing wrong. I know what we are letting corporations get away with. It is my responsibility to try and stop it because I know.

I don’t enjoy it, but I embrace that responsibility. To steal a quote, evil flourishes when good people do nothing.

If you are reading this you likely know, also. Especially since I’ve yet to master preaching beyond the choir.

This responsibility is yours, as well. You don’t have to like it (I don’t). But you have to accept it, for two reasons: 1) you have the power to change that which is wrong. 2) You know what’s wrong and if you do nothing then you are part of what’s wrong.

I don’t want to be in prison. I wish I had been born in a different time, one that allowed me to live a simple life with my family and friends.

I’m not sure how much I believe in destiny or fate. All I know is that I was born into this mess. Born into a society of injustice, that puts profits before life and justifies all of it with twisted morality.

I can’t live in this world without challenging it, I don’t know how. Some people say that’s why I belong in prison. And, maybe, I do. If there is only a handful of people willing to fight back against insanity maybe this is where we belong. Locked away as a threat to those in power. Locked out of mainstream activism because our resistance goes beyond what the state allows, beyond their self-defined comfort zone.

But that doesn’t make me or anyone else an elite. Perhaps it just means we try too hard. That we have the audacity to believe a better world is possible and that we can help create it.

Maybe I’m the crazy one. It could be that those in power are supposed to be corrupt. Inequality really could be human nature. Maybe people should know their places and cower before their masters. It could very well be that this is the order of the universe and those who accept it have the right idea.

If that is the case, well, I’ll just have to continue being stubbornly wrong.

Jeff “Free” Luers

Write to: Jeff Luers

#13797671

Oregon State Prison

2605 State Street

Salem, Oregon 97310

USA

For more information: www.freefreenow.org

Miami to pay man hurt by police

Wed, Sep. 13, 2006

FREE TRADE SUMMIT

Miami commissioners agreed to pay $180,000 to a filmmaker injured during the Free Trade Area of the Americas summit.

BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ
mrvasquez@MiamiHerald.com
Miami Herald

The city of Miami agreed Tuesday to pay $180,000 to a man injured when a police officer fired a beanbag at him during protests at the Free Trade Area of the Americas summit in 2003 -- its first settlement of a suit related to police tactics at the gathering.

Carl Kesser, an independent Miami filmmaker, was seriously injured when the beanbag hit him in the head and lodged under his skin near the eye. Kesser suffered nerve damage and partial paralysis on one side of his face.

After medical costs and attorneys' fees, Kesser said that he was ''breaking even'' by taking the offer. Kesser said he was disappointed the courts did not find Miami violated his constitutional rights, as he'd hoped to make a statement with his suit against the city. On the plus side, he said, ``there's probably 150, 170 cases behind me.''

A massive police presence -- composed of multiple local law-enforcement agencies -- patrolled downtown Miami during the November 2003 summit.

Hoping to deter riots that occurred at previous free trade summits, police achieved their goal of preventing widespread property damage by protesters but faced allegations of heavy-handed, unconstitutional crowd-control tactics.

Miami police higher-ups have acknowledged mistakes but overall characterized their crowd-control efforts as a success.

Labor union activists and protesters have filed complaints and suits against the city.

FAVORED FTAA

Far from being a free-trade protester, Kesser said shortly after he was injured that he had traveled to the trade summit 'to do a pro-FTAA thing . . . a `feel-good piece.' ''

Kesser's lawsuit alleged that Miami police violated his civil rights. Attorneys for the city got that claim dismissed, but the city faced an uphill battle fighting Kesser's negligence claim, and for that reason decided to settle.

''The guy was lucky that he's alive,'' City Commissioner Tomás Regalado said before the commission voted to compensate Kesser.

Assistant Miami Police Chief Adam Burden told Regalado that Miami is examining other non-lethal weapons technology but that for now, firing beanbags is still allowed in certain circumstances.

A report by Miami's Civilian Investigative Panel, which looks into allegations of police misconduct, found that while certain officers acted inappropriately, ``most officers conducted themselves admirably, professionally and with considerable restraint and discipline even when they were subjected to acts of violence and other indignities.''

FEW CONVICTIONS

While hundreds of protesters were arrested during the trade summit, the report said only four of the arrests resulted in convictions, and three of those were for misdemeanors.

In August, Broward Sheriff's Maj. John Brooks apologized for derogatory comments he and other officers made in a police training video following the summit. The tape shows Brooks and other deputies praising each other over shooting nonlethal rubber projectiles at protesters. They congratulated each other for shooting Elizabeth Ritter, a 45-year-old Coral Gables attorney, five times as she cowered in the street.

SHAC Smackdown

http://eugeneweekly.com/2006/09/14/news1.html

SHAC Smackdown
Feds slap animal rights activists with the T-word.
BY KERA ABRAHAM

Murderous Islamic fundamentalists, tree-spiking eco-punks, radical puppy lovers — they're all terrorists in Uncle Sam's eyes. The recent conspiracy convictions of six animal rights activists illustrates the extent to which the feds are using the war on terror to paralyze the anti-corporate left with the fear of guilt by association.

The SHAC defendants

In May 2004, federal agents arrested seven activists with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), a global group that aims to shut down an animal testing company with labs in New Jersey and England. Their target, Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), has a record of violating animal welfare laws and kills 500 animals a day, according to Greenpeace.

The feds charged the SHAC activists — Kevin Kjonaas, Lauren Gazzola, Jacob Conroy, Joshua Harper, Andrew Stepanian, Darius Fullmer and John McGee — with violating the never-before-tested Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992, a fruit of corporate lobbying that makes it a felony to smear companies that scrape profit off animals' backs. Prosecutors later dropped the charges against McGee.

Animal rights activists had done naughty things to HLS's New Jersey lab, like breaking windows and freeing caged beagles. But the feds aren't blaming those acts on the SHAC defendants; the saboteurs themselves are still underground. The SHAC seven merely acted as their aboveground supporters, organizing demonstrations, sending black faxes to clog up company machines and posting news on their website (www.shacamerica.net) in an attempt to pressure companies to stop doing business with HLS.

All of that may have been legal had the Animal Enterprise Protection Act not redefined terrorism to include physically disrupting or intentionally causing the property loss of animal testing companies. The feds argue that the SHAC activists' campaign, including the dissemination of videos showing HLS lab technicians punching beagle puppies in the face, caused some of HLS's biggest clients — like Procter & Gamble and The Bank of New York — to suspend business with the labs. That's property loss against an animal enterprise, which is now considered terrorism.

Federal prosecutor Charles McKenna noted that after the SHAC America website published HLS executives' home addresses and phone numbers, petty crimes — like the cutting-up of an executive's golf course and the partial sinking of another exec's boat — followed. "[The SHAC defendants] conspired with the people who did the actual vandalism and damage," he said. "Time and time again, when they would put that information out, bad things would happen to those people."

But SHAC supporters are furious that the campaign organizers, rather than the vandals themselves, now face years behind bars. "It seems like this case is sending a message that it's much safer to be an underground activist than an aboveground activist these days," said SHAC spokesperson Andrea Lindsay. "If you just hold signs and run a website, next thing you know you're going to prison for 10 years."

The idea that campaign organizers are responsible for whatever illegal acts underground activists do for their cause is potentially far-reaching. If that line of logic were applied across the political spectrum, the webmasters for pro-life groups could be held responsible for abortion-clinic bombings, and Republican National Committee staffers could be liable for atrocities committed by U.S. troops in Iraq. Of course, lefty activists expect the smack to land on their own asses, not the right's.

Prosecutor McKenna disputes that idea. "We don't look at the politics behind law-breaking," he said. "If you break the law, we're going to go after you whether you're on the right or the left."

The SHAC case is part of a larger federal campaign against domestic environmental and animal rights movements, dubbed the Green Scare. One arm of that effort is Operation Backfire, an FBI sting that resulted in the indictments of 14 Earth Liberation Front (ELF) activists allegedly linked with a string of eco-sabotage crimes across the West. That case, which made international headlines, is currently being heard by federal judges in Eugene.

The six SHAC defendants were convicted in March for a medley of nebulous crimes: conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Act, conspiracy to stalk, interstate stalking and conspiracy to harass using a telecommunications device. Their attorneys are appealing the verdicts. On Sept. 12 Kjonaas, Gazzola and Conroy received sentences ranging from four to six years and were ordered to pay $1 million in restitution to HLS and its employees. Fullmer, Harper and Stepanian will be sentenced in the next week.

Meanwhile, Congress is poised to consider the an expansion of the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act. HR 4239, now in a House committee, would stiffen the penalties for conspiracy and replace the word "Protection" with "Terrorism."

For updates on the SHAC defendants visit www.shac7.com,and to learn more about the campaign against the AETA check out www.stopaeta.org.The SHAC America website was taken offline under court orders, but the UK counterpart is still up at www.shac.net

Jeff Free Luers loses contact visits for one year

> From: "Friends of Jeff 'Free' Luers" <freefreenow@mutualaid.org>>

> Dear Friends,
> This is very bad news for Jeff and for all of us that
> support him and love him. Jeff was found NOT guilty but
> has still lost his contact visits for one year. Below is
> the latest Dispatch from Jeff which explains his situation
> in detail.  We will be discussing this situation further
> and talking with his lawyer about options we have to try
> and help Jeff and we will post another message once we
> know more. Thank you all for your wonderful ongoing
> support. PLEASE continue to write to Jeff, and go here to
> find out how you can help further at
> http://freefreenow.org/donate.html and
> http://freefreenow.org/howtohelp.html
> Thanks,
> Friends of Jeff Free Luers
> -
> August 22nd, 2006
>
> Dispatch from Jeff ‘Free’ Luers
>
>
> Talk about a shitty couple of days. I get out of the hole
> on Sunday, August 20. To start I have to fight to get out
> on my date because I'm not in the computer. I get let out
> without having had a hearing, which means I have no
> sanctions.
>
> I'm excited, though. I know that no matter what I get to
> call her today. I get out right at yard line. I go and
> find my new cell conveniently locked on the bar box. The
> first cell on the tier, the one right in front of the
> guard.
>
> Ok, no big deal. Been here before. I throw my bedding in
> and hit the yard. The number that I've dialed nearly
> everyday for many months is gone from my memory. I try
> many combinations. I have to know it!
>
> I don't. I call the old number. I feel like an ass. I get
> the new number. Finally, her voice. I don't know what to
> say. So much is happening around me: softball, birds,
> sunlight, people coming up to shake my hand. I haven't
> been outdoors in six weeks. Nowhere near my longest hole
> stretch, but it's messing with me.
>
> I try, she keeps saying talk to me. Yet, the only words
> that come are ‘I love you’, ‘I'm scared they will not let
> me see you.’
>
> It's been less than twenty minutes. I notice cops pointing
> at me. Something is coming. I know it. I know the look.
> Sure enough here they come.
>
> ‘Luers, you're not supposed to be out here, you're going
> back to the hole.’
>
> ‘But I'm not on LOP (loss of privileges).’
>
> ‘You just got out of the hole, of course you are.’
>
> ‘I never got a hearing.’
>
> Looks of suspicion, hands going for the cuffs. Then
> something unexpected. She believes me.
>
> ‘Ok then.’
>
> ‘What was that about,’ I hear over the phone.
>
> ‘Nothing, just more of the same.’
>
> Next day. Monday.
>
> I go down to pick up my property. All my envelopes that I
> was told weren't there when I was in the hole. They are
> right on top. Guess they didn't want me writing letters
> the first few weeks. No biggie, it ain't the first time.
>
> Lots of my property is missing. Nothing major. Just the
> food and coffee I bought the week before the hole trip.
> That kind of thing happens. It will work itself out.
>
> Again, drop the stuff off, hit the yard. Everyone is
> shaking my hand offering me food, coffee, shoes. I mean
> everyone: my friends, black guys, skinheads, strangers. It
> feels good to be respected. It feels good to know that my
> politics, my character goes beyond prison divisions.
> People respect why I'm in prison. This place is a micro
> community and like any community it has its ‘popular’
> members. Somehow I'm one of them.
>
> Back to the cell. All my stuff doesn't fit. Fuck, shit,
> fuck! Ok, 30 books gone. Damn not enough. Ok, got to mail
> some letters home. Still not enough room. More stuff has
> to go. I've gone from a 6x9 cell with 7 shelves and a
> drawer to a 5x8 with one shelf and drawer. I've
> accumulated a lot of stuff in 6 years. Not more than the
> two duffel bag limit. But the limit still won't fit in a
> small cell.
>
> I feel slightly ill about this loss.
>
> Day number three. Tuesday. Today.
>
> They called me in for my hearing today. Nevermind speedy
> investigations. This one took 5 weeks. 5 weeks to get a
> tape of a phone call and ask a cop one question.
>
> At the hearing I'm informed that they listened to 6 phone
> calls. 3 hours worth of conversation. They never heard me
> talk about smoking pot. Never heard me talk about pot.
>
> I'm told that there's no longer any basis for suspicion.
> Reality and what is written in the report are two
> different things.
>
> Vindication. My heart leaps. Maybe, for once I'll get
> ahead. Well, at least not any farther back.
>
> Then a set back. The UA officer lies to the investigator.
> Says he didn't give me any water before the test. Says
> maybe 6oz.
>
> But he gave me two 8oz glasses. 16oz in 15 minutes.
>
> Their very rule says one 8oz glass every half hour after
> the first half hour. He violated the rule but he can't
> admit it. That alone would get me off. It would also show
> he was incompetent.
>
> Still, I'm not worried. Even though it's his word against
> mine I've still got the ace. The hearings officer says
> there's no reason to believe I was smoking weed.
>
> He gives me the decision. He says with no suspicion I do
> not find you guilty of disobeying an order (Yes! I've
> won!). However, you still submitted a diluted UA. So I
> find you guilty of contraband one.
>
> I'm sanctioned to 14 days LOP, 42 days hole time (time
> served, a $50 fine, and I lose my contact visits for one
> year. Even though no one thinks I smoked pot.
>
> I felt sick. It took a lot not to hit a cop today. Any
> cop, it didn't matter. Even the ‘cool’ ones who think I
> got fucked over simply say that's the way it goes.
>
> I wanted to say ‘yea, well I'm an anarchist and this is
> the way that goes’ Pow! But I keep control of my seething
> anger. I make my way back to my cell. My stupid fucking
> cell on the bar box where I can't get away from anyone.
>
> Here is when it hits me next time I see her face, next
> time I see my parents, there will be glass between us
> again. Just like county jail. No hugs, no kisses, no
> holding hands for a year.
>
> I've done it before. It doesn't seem like a lot. But when
> the only thing that has kept me going are those visits,
> it's everything.
>
> I'm not sure I can be ‘good’ anymore. I'm not sure that I
> want to be. I'm not sure what that means for my future.
>
> Then again, maybe I'm just bitter, tired of being fucked
> over by the prison system. Maybe this feeling will pass.
> Or maybe next time I'm pushed, I'll push back. Maybe I
> won't have to. Maybe people out there will start pushing
> back when they are pushed and all this stupid
> authoritarian bullshit will end.
>
> Jeff ‘Free’ Luers
>
>
> Write to: Jeff Luers
>               #13797671
>              Oregon State Prison
>              2605 State Street
>              Salem, Oregon 97310
>
> For more information: http://www.freefreenow.org
>
>
> --
> Friends of Jeff Free Luers
> www.freefreenow.org
>
> Jeff's listserve:
> http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/freejeffluers
>
> Donate to Jeff's Legal Defense Fund
> http://tinyurl.com/2uykh
>
> How to Help:
> http://freefreenow.org/howtohelp.html