Spirit of Freedom (Easter 2007)

Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

"I thank you all dearly for writing”
(Jon Ablewhite, Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the Easter 2007 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  First off
I’d like to apologise in the delay in publishing this edition of
Spirit of Freedom.  A lot of things have been happening recently for
ELP’s volunteers and a delay was inevitable.  However, despite the
delay in publication ELP has some fantastic news.  For the first time
in ages ELP is able to bring some good news!  A lot of the ‘Il
Silvestre’ prisoners have been released!  Marco Camenisch has had his
sentence reduced at appeal!  Jeff Luers may have his sentenced
reduced!  Rod Coronado has been released!  Garfield Gabbard has been
released!  And long-term prisoner Dave Blenkinsop has been
released!!!  This is all brilliant news.  However despite our
celebrations, ELP has also seen a number of new prisoners added to
our list.  So lets celebrate the good news of our friends and then
lets support the news prisoners.  Also before we end this editorial
we’ve been asked by Joyanna Zacher to remind everyone on ELP’s policy
towards police informants.  We do not support them!  Regardless of
how long they are jailed for, we do not support them.  Regardless of
who they are, we do not support them.  A police informant
relinquishes their right to be regarded as an eco-prisoner as soon as
they inform.  ELP supports eco-prisoners, not police informants.  But
remember, no matter where you are in the world, support the real
eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence of Mother Earth!

COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES

MARCO CAMENISCH APPEAL NEWS
In mid March 2007 ELP received some news from Switzerland that at his
appeal, Marco Camenisch, has had his 17-year prison sentence, for
allegedly killing a Swiss boarder guard, reduced to 8 years.
 The Appeal Court ruled that the original Judge had not taken into
account Marco’s time spent in prison in Italy for destroying
electricity pylons, nor had the Judge fully considered the
outstanding prison sentence Marco had to serve for destroying
electricity pylons in Switzerland.  Added altogether (39 years), the
prison sentence was excessively long and so was reduced so now Marco
is serving an 18-year sentence.

JEFF LUERS APPEAL UPDATE
On Valentines Day (Feb 14th) the American media announced that the
Court of Appeal has declared Jeff ‘Free’ Luers, 22+ years prison
sentence is too long and suggested it should be reduced to between
11+ to 13+ years.  ELP will bring you more news as we get it.

ARRESTS IN MEXICO
On the 30th of November 2006 two Mexican anarchists, Oscar Santa
Maria Caro and Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, were arrested for
as yet unknown reasons.
 Oscar is a well known animal rights activist who is involved with
RATA (Resistance Against Animal Torture).
 Reports are coming out of Mexico alleging that both Oscar and
Sacramento have been tortured whilst inside.  There are also reports
alleging that their interrogators have threatened to rape female
political prisoners if the two men do not confess to their alleged
crimes. ELP is trying to obtain more information about these arrests
and will bring you more news as we get it.

ROD CORONADO UPDATE
In late March, American Earth First! activist, Rod Coronado, was
released from prison having served his sentence for sabotaging a
mountain lion hunt.  ELP has learnt that Rod’s trial for
"demonstrating the use of a destructive device," relating to a speech
he gave in San Diego in 2003, is scheduled to begin in June.

FINNISH ‘GREEN SCARE’
ELP has learnt that the authorities in Finland appear to be copying
American tactics and are targeting known animal rights and
environmental activists.  No matter how minor the ‘offence’ the
Finnish police seem determined to prosecute.  One person ended up in
court for ringing the doorbell of an animal abuser whilst on a demo. 
The activist was fined for "disturbing home peace".
Another activist was questioned for ‘criminal damage’ after they
allegedly spat on a fur shop window!
Two more activists were raided and questioned for allegedly putting a
leaflet through a post box and putting a sticker on the window of a
fur shop.  The police accused them of ‘criminal damage’.
ELP’s Finnish friends, who wish to remain anonymous for obvious
reasons, say these are just a few examples of the types of police
activity happening in Finland at the moment.
              ELP is informed that the police have set up a special
unit to investigate animal rights activists and the unit has said
intend to get activists  involved in the early stages of activism
“before it gets more serious”.  Translation, the police want to
intimidate people away from activism.

SERIOUS ORGANISED CRIME!
Every so often ELP brings you stories of ridiculous prosecutions of
non-violent activists under Britain’s new “Serious Organised Crime”
legislation.  Who can forget the fines imposed on two peace activists
for reading out the names of the British war dead, killed in Iraq,
whilst standing next to Britain’s main war memorial!
 Sadly the courts have now moved beyond just fining people and have
started to hand out prison sentences to activists under this new law.
 In early March three British animal rights activists were jailed for
between 15 months to 4 years for their part in a non-violent campaign
against Huntindon Life Sciences.
               According to the BBC, the three were accused of being
key figures in a campaign against companies with links to HLS.  They
were accused of entering the offices of the companies and demanding
that those companies cut their links to HLS.  They were also accused
of organising loud demonstrations against the companies buildings. 
Plus they were accused of taking photos of the people who worked for
the companies.

MAN ARRESTED IN AMERICA
At the end of March the American media reported that a 24-year old
man, Grant Barnes, had been arrested accused of setting fire to SUV’s
in Denver, CO.  The media quoted the cops as saying incendiary
devices were used to damage the vehicles and one of the vehicles had
ELF spray painted on it.  The police also stated they did not believe
that Grant Barnes was a member of the ELF.

IL SILVESTRE UPDATE
At the end of February 2007 the Italian courts ruled that Silvia
Guerini and Federico Bonamici should be released under house arrest. 
This means that only three Il Silvestre members are currently
imprisoned.  They are Benedetta Galante, Francesco Gioia and
Costantino Ragusa.

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.

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.

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.

Grant Barnes #1533241, PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201, USA.  On remand
accused of setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles.  On one of the
vehicles the letters ELF was spray-painted.

Nathan Block, #1663667, Lane County Jail, 101 W 5th Ave., Eugene, OR
97401, USA.   Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an
arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV
dealership.  Also admitted involvement in a conspiracy to carry out
direct action in Oregon.

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland. 
Serving 18 years.  1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy
electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations.  2) Eight
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.

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.

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.

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.

Costantino Ragusa, Casa Circondariale, Via Prati Nuovi 7, 27058
Voghera (PV), Italy.  Il Silvestre activist serving 7½ years.  1) 
Five years for promoting & participating in COR direct action.  2)
18-months for burgling and firebombing a multinational company. 3)
12-months for organising an anti-GM protest.  Costanino is 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.  Awaiting sentencing having admitted involvement in an
arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an arson against an SUV
dealership.  Also admitted 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.

Madeline Buckler PR7492, HMP Morton Hall, Swinderby, Lincoln, LN6
9PT, England.  Serving 2 years for sending hate mail to a family who
supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Victorville Medium I Federal
Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA.
Serving 48 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA
campaign.

Donald Currie TN4593, HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambs,
PE15 OPR, England.  Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less
than six actual years, for carrying out arsons against targets
associated 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 #26397-050, FCI Fort Dix Satellite Camp, P.O. Box
1000, Fort Dix, NJ 08640 USA.  Serving 12 months for helping organise
the SHAC-USA campaign.

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury Route #37, 33 1/2 Pembroke
Road, Danbury, CT 06811 USA. 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.

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional
Institution, P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA.  Serving 36
months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Joseph Harris TN5728, HMP Bullingdon, Patrick Haugh Road, Arncott,
Nr. Bicester, Oxon, OX25 1WD, England.   Serving 2 years for damaging
the property of people associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences. 
(His original sentence was reduced on appeal).

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN
55072 USA.  Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the
SHAC-USA campaign.

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.

Trish Portwine, TM7153, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU,
England.  Serving fifteen months for her role in loud demonstrations
outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

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 #26399-050, FCI Butner Medium II Federal
Correctional Institution, PO Box 1500, Butner, NC 27509 USA. Serving
36 months for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.

Mark Taylor TT6636, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London,
SE28 0UB, England.  Serving four years for organising loud
demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

Suzanne Taylor, TM7154, HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU,
England.  Serving two and a half years for helping organise loud
demonstrations outside the offices of companies with links to HLS.

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.

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.  All of the defendants are
currently either under house arrest or released on bail.

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.

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada
142, g. Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia.  Serving 2½
years for stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself
from attack.

Augustin Kraus, Vazebni veznice, PP-1, Litomerice, 41 201, Czech
Republic.  Serving 14 months for his participation in attacks against
local neo-nazis. His charge was "bodily harm". He speaks Czech,
Slovak and Polish.  You can also write him short postcards in English.

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

Oscar Santa Maria Caro, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio Diaz, Oaxaca
en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico.  On remand.  The exact charges against
Oscar are unknown but Oscar is a member of RATA, a known animal
rights group.

Sacramento Delfino Cano Hernandez, CERESO, Miahuatlan de Porfirio
Diaz, Oaxaca en Hall B, Cell 5., Mexico.  On remand.  Co-defendant of
Oscar Santa Maria Caro.

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 Russian antifa
activist, Stanislav Korepanov, who died in hospital on the 31st of
March 2007, having been attacked a few days earlier by an armed gang
of neo-nazis.
 Stanislav is the second Russian antifa activist to have been
brutally attacked in recent months.  On the 14th of January 2007
vegan animal rights activist, Ivan Elin, was surrounded and attacked
by ten neo-nazis in St. Petersburg after he had taken part in a
weekly "Food not bombs" peace rally.  Ivan suffered 21 stab wounds
and was rushed to hospital where he is making his recovery.
 Following on from the knife attack on Ivan, on the 4th of February,
with a small bomb exploded in Vladimirskaya Square of St. Petersburg,
near to where Food Not Bombs organise their weekly protests.  The
bomb was hidden in a kiosk selling flowers.  Luckily the bomb only
damaged the kiosk and did not injure anyone.
 This is not the first time neo-nazis have used knives or explosives
to target Russian activists.  On the 22nd of December 2006 a number
of police were injured whilst trying to defuse a device, which set to
murder antifa activists in Moscow.  In August 2006 eleven people were
killed in Moscow when a neo-nazi bomb exploded in Cherkisovski
marketplace.
 The brutal murder of Stanislav Korepanov and the attack against Ivan
are a reminded of why fascism must never be allowed to go
unchallenged.
 ELP wishes Ivan Elin a speedy recovery from his injuries and we
congratulate the Russian ‘Food Not Bombs’ movement for not giving
into this neo-nazi intimidation.
               Our thoughts and sorrow are with the family and
friends of Stanislav Korepanov who was only 18 years old when he died.