kampanj för frisläppande

bröd inte bomber / artikelnytt / kampanj för frisläppande

Inför häktningsförhandlingen på måndag har företrädare för fackföreningen Rossendale and Hydeburn Trades Union Council i England startat en kampanj där de kräver att svenskarna ska släppas och behandlas bättre.

Att fallet överförs till Crown Court är en reaktion mot frikännandet i Liverpool av de fyra kvinnorna i Seeds of Hope för två år sedan, hävdar de. Här följer brev från Alan Johnson, Rossendale and Hydeburn Trades Union Council

Stellan, together with Ann-Britt Sternfeldt and Annika Spalde was arrested for attempting to disarm the fourth Trident, 'Vengeance' on 13th September 1998 before its roll-out at Barrow. They were caught entering the premises of VSEL armed with hammers etc. and, since then, they have all been held in custody. Stellan is at HMP Preston and Ann-Britt and Annika are at Risley Remand Centre. All are Swedish Nationals. All are being supported by the Liverpool Catholic Workers Community and Stellan has the support of the Rossendale and Hydeburn Trades Union Council (of which I am the Treasurer).

I am worried by the weight which the British Government , through its arm the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appears to be attaching to the offence. I suspect that it may be a reaction against the verdict of "Not Guilty" pronounced by the Liverpool jury at the trail of the four Ploughshares Women charged with damaging a Hawk warplane which would could have been used to bomb East Timorese civilians.

Three matters concern me:

1) THE REMAND IN CUSTODY

All three have now been in custody over four weeks. Stellan will appear before the Magistrates at Barrow again on 26th October but it is likely that this will be only for a further remand. Eventually they will be committed for trail to the Crown Court but it may well be another three months or even longer before the trail is listed for hearing. Considering that the constituents of the offence are that they were found on VSEL property carrying articles which they freely admitted would be used to disarm Trident, this prolonged remand in custody at the request of the CPS is unusually harsh and inconsistent with CPS's historical approach. Having said that, Stellan has made it quite clear that he does not intend to apply for bail.

2) THE CHARGE

Stellan tells me that they are charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage. This is unusual in that, as a general rule, where there is an effective and sufficient charge of a substantive offence, a charge of conspiracy is considered undesirable. In this case, clearly, a charge of possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property under Section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act could be made out. This offence carriers a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. "Conspiracy" always reminds me of Des Warren (whom I knew) of the 'Shewresbury Three' who, for organising pickets in the battle against the 'Lump' in the building trade (non-contract, self-employment to undermine union organisation), was charged with two others with conspiracy. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Whilst in prison he was subdued with the use of Largactil, 'the liquid cosh'. He served his full two years without remission and ended up with Parkinsons Disease. The Labour Party, whilst in opposition some years ago, promised to abolish this catch-all offence but has quietly forgotten that commitment.

3) TREATMENT ON REMAND

Several years ago when I had dealings with peace activists who were in prison on remand, it was possible to take in both luxuries and necessities without any problems. Now visitors are not permitted to take anything. Indeed, to ensure that they do not they have to put all their possessions in a locker and they are searched thoroughly, including a visual examination of their open mouths. Nor can one send a newspaper or book through the post. Any book has to be sent directly from the bookshop. Stamps can be sent (and are appreciated). We left a radio for Stellan (he had to make an official application beforehand). Although we left it on our visit on 9th October, he still had not been given it on our next visit a week later. He is only allowed two changes of clothing a week. If he is not around when the collection is made on Saturdays he does not get his clothing laundered. Convicted prisoners who are serving a sentence receive far better treatment than this. They have their own canteen and money to buy food and other nesessities. Despite this Stellan is in good spirits. He is allowed now to use a word processor for two and a half hours every day and he is working on his Ph.D. thesis.

I would urge any interested person to write to

JACK STRAW MP, THE HOME SECRETARY, c/o THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1A 0AA, UK asking:

1) Why the three peace activists are being kept on remand?

2) Why a charge of conspiracy is being preferred?

3) Why the treatment of people on remand, who are presumed to be not guilty until found otherwise by a jury, is inferior to that of convicted prisoners?

Please send copies of any replies to:
Alan Johnson
10 Pendle Close Bacup
Lancashire OL13 9JT
England