Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Newsletter
January, 2002
"Prison is a weapon used by the State to crush individuals who step out of
line"
(Michael Collins, former Mayday 2000 prisoner)
Welcome to the January 2002 edition of the ELP Newsletter. Britain is
currently witnessing the proposal of some of the most pro-development,
anti-environmental legislation ever seen. (See "Earth Liberation
Investigation" on page 4). With such proposals being made, ELP would not be
surprised to see an increase in Earth First! style protests. But with that
runs the risk of imprisonment. It is totally unjustified that people should
have to risk imprisonment because they want to try and save one little piece of
the planet. It is totally unforgivable if, once inside, that prisoner was not
given the support they deserve. Remember, no matter how long they are serving,
they all deserve our support. Support the Earth Liberation prisoners.
COURT REPORTS & LEGAL UPDATES
SUPPORT TRASH
On Halloween 2001 British eco-activist "Trash" was caught allegedly "trashing"
quarrying equipment at the Nine Ladies quarry site. Judging by past sentencing
for ecotage at this protest site, if found guilty, Trash is guaranteed a prison
sentence. As far as we are aware, Trash is not yet inside. However, his
supporters are asking that everyone sends him letters of support straight away
to help keep his spirits strong. Please send letters of support to: Trash,
c/o Nine Ladies Anti-Quarry Camp, Lees Cross, Lees Road, Stanton Lees, Nr
Matlock, Derbyshire, England
JOSE BOVE
On 20/12/01 militant French farmer Jose Bove was sentenced to six months
imprisonment for destroying a GM rice crop in 1999. However he has been
allowed to remain free until after he has appealed the sentence.
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
On 18/12/01 U.S. District Judge William Yohn overturned the death sentence
imposed on Mumia Abu Jamal. However he let stand the first-degree murder
conviction. Mumia is now due to be re-sentenced, probably to Life.
MORE CENSORSHIP IN BRITAIN
In November 2001, three British organisers of the international animal rights
campaign 'Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty' were jailed for producing the SHAC
campaign newsletter. The police claimed that the newsletter incited people to
cause a public nuisance towards Huntingdon Life Sciences staff and investors by
publishing their names and addresses.
LINUS BROHULT
In June 2000, ELP reported that Swedish eco-activist Linus Brohult, had been
sentenced to one-year imprisonment for incitement after he allegedly described
how to destroy road-building machines in the magazine Ekologisten. ELP also
reported that Linus was out on bail awaiting his appeal. In December 2001 the
appeal court effectively suspended the sentence and issued Linus community
service instead. The Court of appeal agreed that two of the alleged inciting
articles did not describe how to cause any damage. However, according to the
court, two other articles did constitute incitement. Speaking after his appeal
Linus stated "I am disappointed that court of appeal considers expressing ones
opinion as an incitement. That is a defeat to a freedom of expression. But in
the same time I feel great that I was not imprisoned."
SANTA CRUZ 2
On 15/10/01 American activists Peter Schnell and Matt Whyte entered guilty
pleas for possessing incendiary devices. They are due to be sentenced on
28/01/02. For more info e-mail
FLOWER POWER
At the start of November 2001, during a British Royal visit to Latvia, peace
activist Alina Lebedeva (age 16) slapped Charles Windsor (aka Prince of Wales)
across the face with a bunch of carnations. Alina's action was carried out to
protest the war in Afganistan. Initially Alina was charged with endangering
life & threatened with 15 years imprisonment. However due to a wave of
international protest & calls for clemency the Latvian Government dropped these
charges against Alina.
JON BATCHELOR
On 02/01/02 American animal rights activist Jon Batchelor is due to appear in
court charged with allegedly assaulting a police officer during an animal
rights protest in 2001. Jon's supporters are warning people that Jon may be
remanded as a result of this court appearance and he could be moved from jail
to jail at short notice until he finally reaches Virginia where he is due to
stand trial for the alleged assault.
GREENPEACE
17 The trial of the Greenpeace 17 has been delayed until 08/01/02. Lawyers
stated the defendants could not receive a fair hearing in America so soon after
the September 11th attacks in New York. For more info check out
www.greenpeace.org/~nuclear/
GM COURT VICTORY
In November, 2001, British activists Barbara Charvet and Jim Ridout were found
not guilty of criminal damage to GM corn destroyed on a farm in Herefordshire
in August 2001.
GEERT WAEGEMANS
At the end of 2001, Belgium animal rights activist Geert Waegemans had his 5
year prison sentence (for the attempted arson) reduced, on appeal, to 2 years
actual imprisonment. He will also have a 2 year suspended sentence after that.
However, it is not yet known exactly how long Geert will have to spend inside
as he is still to be sentenced for the 4 arsons which he has pleaded guilty to.
In addition to this, at the end 2001, Geert had 4 more arson charges placed
against him, which he denies. Geert's friends fear that if found guilty of
these new charges Geert could be inside for a long time.
ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS
Dr. Yurl Bandazhevsky, Ul. Kalvarijskaya 36, PO Box 35K, Minsk 220600,
Belarus. Serving 8 years for telling the world that the nuclear radiation
around Chernobyl is worse than the Belarus Government has admitted.
Jeremiah Rush Bowen, #108016, DCC, 1140 E 10th St, Delta, CO 81416, USA.
Serving 2 years for an arson against a Townhouse. Expected release date,
February 2002.
Marco Camenish, Viale dei Tigli, 14 13900, Biella, Italy.
Serving 12 years for eco-bombings in Italy. Also wanted in Switzerland to
serve a 10-year sentence for eco-bombings. He reads French, German, Spanish &
Italian.
Ted Kaczynski (04475-046), US Pen - admin Max Facility, PO Box 8500,
Florence Colorado 81226, USA. Is serving multiple life sentences for the
infamous 'Unabomber' bombing & murder campaign, which was carried out against
symbols of technology.
I–aki Garcia Koch, Carcel de Pamplona, C/San Roque. Apdo. 250, 31080 -
Iru–ez - Pamplona, Navarra (Espa–a), Spain Serving just under 5 years for
sabotaging a dam construction site.
Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, OSP , 2605 State St. Salem, OR 97310, USA. Serving
22 years & 8 months for arson on a car dealership & attempted arson of an oil
truck.
Craig Marshall, #13797662, SRCI, 777 Stanton Blvd, Ontario, OR 97914 USA.
Serving 5 years 5 months for "Conspiracy to commit arson" and "possession of an
incendiary device.
Silvano Pellissero, Com. Mastrolierto, Via Ferrerinoli no2, Sanponso, 10080
Torino, Italy. Serving 6 years 8 months for allegedly sabotaging a rail line
construction site. Silvana can read Spanish, Italian & French.
Fran Thompson (93341), 1107 Recharge Rd., York NE 68467, USA.
An eco-activist serving Life for shooting dead, in self-defence, a stalker who
had broken into her home.
Helen Woodson, 03231-045 FMC Carswell, POB 27137, Fort Worth, TX 76127, USA.
Serving 27 years for robbing a bank & burning the money to protest
globalisation.
ANIMAL LIBERATION
Greg Avery FF9142, HMP Belmarsh, London, SE28 0EB, England.
Serving 12 months for helping organise Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC)
campaign.
Heather Avery TE1951, HMP/YOI Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket, Suffolk,
CB8 9YG, England. Serving 12 months for helping to organise the SHAC campaign.
Neil Bartlett, FW7083, HMP Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA, England. On remand
for allegedly making bomb hoax telephone calls to various animal & earth
abusers.
Dave Blenkinsop, EM7899, H.M.Prison Birmingham, B18 4AS, England.
Serving 3 years for attacking the Managing Director of HLS. Also serving 18
months for rescuing 600 guinea pigs from a lab animal supplier.
Mel Broughton DJ8216, HMP The Mount, Bovingdon, HP3 0NZ, England.
Serving 4 years for conspiracy to cause explosions.
Natasha Dellamaigne TE1952, HMP/YOI Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket, CB8 9YG,
England.
Serving 12 months for helping to organise the SHAC campaign.
Rae Newlands GN6613, HMP Holloway, London, N7 0NU, England.
On remand for various charges including bomb hoaxes, arson, criminal damage,
harassment and conspiracy.
Geert Waegemans, Begijnestraat 42 2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
Serving 4 years for an attempted arson. Awaiting sentencing for 4 more arsons.
Controversially Geert named police informant, Anja Hermans, as aiding him with
his actions after she named him as an ALF activist & alerted the police to his
activity
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.
Rob Middaugh (3 years - Expected to move soon. E-mail naelpsn@tao.ca for
new address)
Paul Robinson, KVA Karlskoga, Box 7, 69121 Karlskoga, Sweden (12 months)
Robert Thaxton #12112716, OSP, 2605 State St, Salem, OR 97310, USA (86
months)
PLOUGHSHARES (ANTI-WAR)
Ploughshares is an international movement which uses accountable direct action
to disarm weapons of mass destruction. The following have all carried out
direct disarmaments.
Rev Carl Kabat #03230-045, FCI, POB 5000 Greenville, IL 62246, USA. (12
months).
Rev. Steve Kelly SJ, #00816-111, FCI, POB 7000, Ft. Dix, NJ 08640, USA. (14
months)
Mordechai Vanunu, Ashkelon prison, Ashkelon, Israel.
Serving 18 years for telling world media about Israel's nuclear capabilities.
INDIGENOUS LAND RIGHTS
Leonard Peltier #89637-132, PO Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048, USA.
An American Indian Movement activist, serving Life after being framed for the
murder of 2 FBI agents.
Eric Wildcat Hall, #BL-5355, Unit I/A 10745 Route 18, Albion, PA 16475-0002,
USA.
Serving 35-75 years for helping ship arms to Central American indigenous
activists.
MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group. 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, 1040 East R. Furman Highway,
Waynesburg, PA 15370-8090, USA. In 1981 Mumia, was framed for the murder
of a cop. Currently awaiting re-sentencing.
DO YOU KNOW OF A PRISONER WHO IS NOT LISTED?
ELP does not deliberately exclude any genuine eco-centric direct action
prisoner. If you know of someone who you feel should be on our lists, but is
not yet mentioned, please get in contact with us as soon as possible. Likewise
if you, or your family or friend, have recently been arrested, please do get in
contact with ELP as we can offer advice & support.
STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this Newsletter have carried out violent actions. ELP
Newsletter 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 was founded in 1993 to support jailed eco-activists. We do this by
producing regular prisoner lists:
Spirit of Freedom is ELP's on-line newsletter. View it at
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk E-mail earthlibprisoner@mail.com or write to ELP
c/o CRC, 16 Sholebroke Ave, Leeds LS7,England.
ELP Newsletter is ELP's hardcopy publication (also available via e-mail). If
you would like to receive a copy contact ELP Newsletter, BM Box 2407, London,
WC1N 3XX, England. Or download a copy from the Spirit of Freedom.
Urgent ELP! is an e-mail Bulletin which distributes the names of any new
eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets the details. For more info e-mail
AnimalEarthLiberation@bigfoot.com
North American ELP is as the name suggests ELP's North American contact. NA-ELP
run a full complement of services including production of a hard-copy
newsletter called Spirit of Freedom. For more info contact North American ELP,
POB 11331, Eugene, OR 97440, USA. E-mail naelpsn@tao.ca
PRISONER SUPPORT ANOUNCEMENTS
The Anarchist Black Cross Network (which is different from the ABC Federation)
has drawn up a draft proposal for the future of ABC prisoner support. View
their new draft proposal at www.anarchistblackcross.org
The Nuclear Resister is starting up its own e-mail prisoner alert list, to
inform people of news prisoners as and when the Nuclear Resister hears about
them. To join this list e-mail nukeresister@igc.org
EARTH LIBERATION INVESTIGATION
It has been much speculated that the British 'New Labour' Government was
planning to change planning permission legislation. On 17/12/01 the
Governments plans were revealed in a Green Paper and the biggest casualty with
the new plans, will be the environment.
As the rules now stand, before any major development can take place there has
to be a public enquiry, and these public enquiries can take years. Under the
new plans, projects that are within the countries "national interest" will
first be debated by Parliament. Parliament will decide if there is a need for
the project. If they give their okay, there will then be a public enquiry BUT
the public enquiry will not be allowed to challenge the principle that there is
a need for the project nor will they be able to challenge its location.
Projects that are of "national interest" will include nuclear power stations,
radioactive waste disposal facilities, trunk roads, chemical plants, open cast
mining and quarrying.
Once Parliament has given its go ahead there will be no automatic right to
object to a proposed project. The Governments Green Paper states "We need to
address the flaws... in the system that frustrate business and others seeking
to develop land." There is no mention of green belts, environmental protection
or nature conservation.
This Green Paper is a charter for the eco-destroyers. Blair and his buddies
have declared war on the environment.
STOP PRESS: ELVES AVOID TRIAL
In our November 2001 Newsletter we reported that three activists in Nebraska,
USA -- Jason Thiemann, Kraig Schjodt and Brian Hindley -- had been charged with
criminal mischief at a number of golf courses that suffered ELF vandalism
attacks. ELP has just learnt that the three have negotiated a deal with the
courts that avoids any trial and any possible prison sentences. As all three
were first-time felony offenders they qualified for a "diversion program" which
essentially means they have to pay restitution and each do community service.
After fulfilling the program the charges will be removed from their record!
DEDICATION
This edition of ELP Newsletter is dedicated to British animal liberation
activist Barry Horne who died in prison on 05/11/01 following a hunerstrike. It
is believed the hungerstrike was being carried out to protest the Governments'
disasterous Foot & Mouth crisis policy. Barry was a dedicated activist and
will be missed by the animal liberation movement.
