Prison Struggle – Page 34

Chile: In view of the sentences requested by the prosecutors, solidarity and complicity with Monica and Francisco!

Posted on 2022/08/30 - 2022/08/30 by darknights

On July 24, 2020, comrades Monica and Francisco are arrested in two repressive operations. The authorities accuse Francisco of sending explosive packages against the former Minister of the Interior Rodrigo Hinzpeter and the 54th police station of Huechuraba (Action occurred on July 24, 2019, claimed by “Cómplices Sediciosos/Facción para la Venganza”), while both are accused of the double explosive attack against the Edificio Tánica in the commune of Vitacura (Action occurred in full revolt, on February 27, 2020, claimed by “Afinidades Armadas en Revuelta”).

During these more than two years of imprisonment, Monica has remained in the module of public connotation of the San Miguel prison while Francisco was initially imprisoned in the maximum security section of the CAS but then transferred, along with other comrades, in June 2021 to the La Gonzalina prison in Rancagua, where he is currently being held.

It is fundamental to emphasize that both of them in this time of confinement have been a permanent contribution to the anarchist and social war debates through their writings, communiqués and articles, realizing that prison is not the end of anything but another trench from where to give continuity to the insurrectional struggle and that its walls, bars and cages are not enough to break the solidarity and complicity among the anarchists. It is also from that place where we must situate that Francisco assumed the facts he is accused of, thus giving validity and validity to an anarchism of offensive action and the need for the continuity of his blows. Continue reading “Chile: In view of the sentences requested by the prosecutors, solidarity and complicity with Monica and Francisco!” →

France: Update on Claudio Lavazza

Posted on 2022/08/30 by darknights

On May 17, 2022, a hearing was held which, at the request of Claudio’s lawyer, was to allow his release on the basis of the principle of accumulation of the sentence, a principle applicable in his case, according to European laws, given that he has already served more than 25 years in prison.

On June 21, the court rejected the lawyer’s request and agreed with that of the prosecutor, who claims that Claudio still has five years left in France plus those he has already spent in Spanish prisons. Her “legal” reasons for this insistence have not yet reached Claudio’s lawyer, who will in any case appeal.

Once again we will have to wait for the slowness of the penitentiary system and it seems that the answer will not arrive before September. This means another months of imprisonment for Claudio, who, we remind you, should have been released on December 11, 2021, according to the calculation of the years already deducted and the consequent accumulation of sentences provided for by their codes. It is not surprising if the State, not content with making Claudio pay the maximum sentence, goes so far as to contradict even its own agreements and its own laws in order to keep locked up a comrade who claims his own ethics, his own ideas and his own path of struggle with his head held high.

To act, so that Claudio is definitively free.

Act, so that the repressive fury of the State against anarchist prisoners finds a just response.

To act, so that all may be free.

Some anarchists in solidarity

Source: Anarquia

Alfredo out from 41 bis. Close 41 bis. Freedom for everyone EN, GR, IT [Updated]

Posted on 2022/08/14 - 2022/08/14 by darknights

Chile: Two years after our imprisonment. Monica and Francisco’s words from prison

Posted on 2022/08/06 by darknights

We have always prioritized not having intermediaries when it comes to communicating, that no one speaks for us and in these days that we will be two years since those who support the hegemony of power and force locked us in these concrete pits called prisons, will be no exception.

This second year of imprisonment will bring with it the end of the investigative period of our legal process, that is to say that the period in which the prosecution and the ten prosecutors could gather information against us, will end. The closing of the investigation opens an intermediate process prior to the trial.

The judicial investigation against us has spared no resources; the police have made great efforts not to leave any loose end. The aim with us is to give an exemplary sentence that will frighten anyone who makes the practice of political violence their own, especially with regard to the placing and sending of explosive devices. Furthermore, we are not unknown to the powerful; on more than one occasion we have been seated in the dock, and in all of them we have made clear our anarchic position. Our current legal situation is closely linked to our previous judicial processes.

We are self-critical with respect to our mistakes at the time of our actions, each one of them are part of our experience and learning, which we hope will also serve for others. We feel part of a long road of struggles against domination, a historical road that changes according to the different conflict scenarios. Continue reading “Chile: Two years after our imprisonment. Monica and Francisco’s words from prison” →

Call for International Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners 2022 // 23 – 30 August

Posted on 2022/08/06 by darknights

The fact that capitalism does not focus on our needs but on profit, is demonstrated with all its brutality in times of climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of socioeconomic systems all around the world. Those who profit from capitalism enrich themselves through times of disaster. But with ongoing crises we are also experiencing a new era of uprisings from below.

Resistance to the war in Ukraine, Sudanese protests against military rule or the social revolt in Chile are some examples that not only show us the possibilities of organizing and collective struggle. They also highlight how important it is for social movements to learn from each other and support each other in these times. Not only outside the walls but also behind them.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen fierce struggles against imprisonment, reminding us that incarcerated people are the ones most affected when everything goes down. Breakouts from Brazilian and Italian prisons, people in jail setting fire to a prison in Thailand and ongoing hunger strikes like those we see in Greece or in polish refugee detention camps are examples of the courage people in prisons are showing to smash the walls.

In all of these struggles, anarchist ideas and values are the fuel for collective resistance. Unsurprisingly the repression against anarchists is increasing and solidarity is needed more than ever. The capitalist system of domination can function because of the continued isolation between people, endless competition, and overlook our real needs and desires. We need solidarity within our friendships, at work, in the neighborhood, in our communities. Those outside and those inside their walls.

Let’s break out together! That is why we are calling again for International Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners. Do some action of solidarity! Write letters, organize speeches or film screening, make our comrades visible on the streets with a banner drop or a graffiti and let them show that they are in our hearts and that we are fighting together.

Let’s remember those who fought against this injustice and payed with their lives.
No one is free, till all are free!

If you have any questions or comments, if you would like to send us a picture, a short text, a recording of your event or action, please write to us.

Poster download: Poster2022_en

Source: solidarity.international

UK: Letter for the International Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners August 23rd – 30th by Imprisoned Anarchist Toby Shone

Posted on 2022/08/03 - 2022/08/03 by darknights

Letter for the International Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners August 23rd – 30th by Imprisoned Anarchist Toby Shone, UK

“Does this rising generation know that those who inaugurated the 8 hour day were put to death at the command of Capital?”
Lucy Parsons, The Haymarket Martyrs, November 1926

“Although we are not reformists, the struggle to obtain improvements in one’s immediate situation (wages, housing, health, education, occupations etc) sees the anarchists present, but they do not see these struggles as ends in themselves. They push the exploited towards this form of struggle so that they can develop the elements of self-organisation and refusal of the delegate which are indispensable in order to develop direct action at all other levels.”
Alfredo M. Bonanno, What are Anarchists?

Despite being in prison, news occasionally reaches me of the many repressive operations and terrible circumstances that our comrades are confronting. That’s why I am in agreement with the proposal once again put forward by the Anarchist Black Cross for a week of solidarity at the end of August. This date is chosen to mark the State murder of anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti. We cannot give in to resignation or become complacent in these times. It is more important than ever to explain and make accessible the anarchist analysis and to put it into practice immediately.

Anarchism is internationalism, self-management, mutual aid, solidarity, and direct action: incisive, voracious and alive. That’s why our spaces are raided and evicted, our publications seized, our communities hunted, beaten, imprisoned and killed around the world.

During my interrogations, the Counter-Terror cops at one point focussed on the International Week of Solidarity with anarchist prisoners, accusing this event of supporting terrorism, glorifying terrorism. That’s because part of their strategy is to try to illegalise the Anarchist Black Cross. Their aim is to destroy all solidarity and counter-information structures which spread information about and provide material support for the legal cases of anarchist comrades who are locked up. Continue reading “UK: Letter for the International Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners August 23rd – 30th by Imprisoned Anarchist Toby Shone” →

URGENT: Critical health condition of 65-day hunger striker Giannis Michailidis

Posted on 2022/07/26 by darknights

URGENT: Critical health condition of 65-day hunger striker Giannis Michailidis

On Monday 25 July, after 64 days of hunger strike, the court of appeal in Lamia held a hearing for his release. Although there was a commitment on the part of the council to issue the decision in time, we understand that the timeframe for respecting the hunger striker has passed. Indeed, they have been elapsed since the Amfissa council delayed a month in issuing its decision. Any further delay on the part of the Lamia council constitutes further torture and an attempt to eliminate our comrade.

As for his health, comrade Giannis Michailidis estimates that he will not be able to drink any water until Thursday, as his body is so badly damaged that he suffers constant palpitations, which make swallowing water impossible. He has now lost 20.6 pounds, more than 28% of his original body weight. In general he states that he has no strength, moves very little and has severe pain in his spleen, left kidney and chest. He is also forced to sleep sitting up due to constant stomach upsets. His blood sugar has dropped to 71 and his blood pressure is 8 and 6. He is very dizzy and cannot concentrate.

The rejection of decisions and proposals so far, and the fact that the council was set on a date when the comrade was on 64 days of hunger strike, blatantly shows that the state and bourgeois justice have two weights and measures. They exterminate, torture and force to death an anarchist militant, while releasing scum murderers and rapists such as Korkoneas, Filippidis, Horterias, Leventis and Lignadis. Justice is class-based, and it is our responsibility to bring justice to the streets by joining forces and fighting actively to end the extermination of Giannis Michailidis. To rally and fight with all our strength for the release of our comrade. To support and accompany the solidarity calls of the coming days:

GATHERING AT SYNTAGMA ON TUESDAY 26/7 AT 19:00

SOLIDARITY ASSEMBLY: Tuesday 26/7, 20:30, Strefi Theatre Continue reading “URGENT: Critical health condition of 65-day hunger striker Giannis Michailidis” →

Chile: On anarchist prisoner Marcelo Villarroel’s sentence computation review hearing

Posted on 2022/07/22 - 2022/07/22 by darknights

Today, July 5, the sentence computation review hearing in favor of Marcelo Villarroel took place before Judge Carolina Gajardo, of the 7th Guarantee Court of Santiago. In this hearing, Marcelo’s defence denounced before the Court the illegality of the Gendarmerie’s action of increasing by 21 years the minimum time of his effective sentence to be eligible for parole. Before this modification, he could have applied for parole in December 2019. This action, covered by the modification of DL 321 by law 21.124 in December 2019, violates a series of fundamental guarantees, especially the non-retroactivity of criminal law and the principle of in dubio pro reo, established in the Constitution (art. 19 n3), in the Criminal Code (art. 18) and in a series of international human rights treaties ratified and prevailing in Chile.

The Prosecutor’s Office was also present, represented by prosecutor Arturo Gómez, who argued that Marcelo must still serve sentences of more than 30 years, given the sentences of the Military Prosecutor’s Office, and that this request of the defence had already been resolved in a negative manner by the Court on repeated occasions, and should therefore be rejected (despite the fact that this is the first action for sentence computation).

In the pleadings, the National Institute of Human Rights also appeared, whose delegate referred to read the general conclusions of a report they prepared in the year 2021 on this matter, in which they provide the grounds for which this modification of Decree Law 321 has been applied in violation of fundamental guarantees of persons deprived of liberty. However, at the hearing, this entity did not express its opinion in relation to the specific case for which its assistance was requested and which was being discussed (despite the fact that this same report explicitly refers to the case of Marcelo Villarroel), even stating that this matter should be resolved by the trial judge.

Finally, Judge Carolina Gajardo rejected the request, basing her decision on the fact that this discussion had already been settled previously and in various instances, and that she was not competent to rule on the actions of the Gendarmerie, leaving Marcelo without legal protection.

The legal team is already preparing the appeal to this resolution, as well as the different motions that will continue to be filed until Marcelo is released.

AGAINST THE PERPETUITY OF THE CONVICTIONS!

FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE SENTENCES OF MILITARY JUSTICE FOR COMRADE MARCELO VILLARROEL!!!

AGITATE, PROPAGATE, INSIST, PERSIST!!!

Legal Team

Anticarceral Solidarity Network with Juan and Marcelo (RSAJM)

July 5, 2022.

Source: athens.indymedia

Via & Translated by Act for freedom now!

Greece: Giannis Michailidis – Rape after the murder of the concept of justice

Posted on 2022/07/17 by darknights

Giannis Michailidis: Rape after the murder of the concept of justice

For Greek “justice”, a rapist of a child (D. Lignadis) has been sufficiently rehabilitated and is not a danger to society after less than 1.5 years in prison. A racially motivated murderer (Ath. Hortarias), has been sufficiently rehabilitated and is also not a danger after 2 months in prison. The murderer of 15-year-old Alexandros (Ep. Korkoneas) does not deserve life imprisonment. Another rapist (P. Filippidis), earns his freedom prematurely as he is not considered dangerous because of his celebrity. This is the “epic” of crony Greek “justice”.

However, for Greek “justice” an anarchist bank robber and escapee, after almost 9 years in prison and 7 months, after completing the required 3/5 of the sentence, “risks committing new crimes as he has not spent sufficient time in prison”.

What I understand is that robbing a bank and escaping from prison is far worse than rape or murder. Especially if the rapist is a close friend of ministers or the killers kill troublesome kids or marginalised people. After all, isn’t the role of the state to protect capital? Also, it will obviously show more vindictiveness towards someone who has actively challenged the feared institution of prison, absolutely necessary for disciplining society.

And as for bank robberies, now that we’re impoverishing you, don’t get any ideas. If you want to rape a kid, a wink to a minister will do the trick! This is the clear message of Greek “justice”.

I received it. That’s why I started a hunger strike. To expose all those arbitrary acts against me, which I list at the beginning of the text. However, from what I can see they don’t need me. They have made their own judgments. Not even for appearances.

I think they are even using the hunger strike as an example now. They’ve set my appeal hearing for 7/25. On that day I will have done 64 days’ hunger strike. The aim is clear. To exhaust me. A possible permanent disability reinforces the message they are sending. Perhaps my eventual death, which becomes more likely with each passing day. Such a perversion of the concept of justice is unthinkable. Let them enjoy their “justice”. Enjoy your careers.

As for me, who do not have access to their villas with their lavish tables paid for with bribes, I can greet this world fasting, but with the spiritual fullness of total existential conflict with their rotten system.

15/7/2022,

On hunger strike from 23/5, Giannis Michailidis

————————–

Source: athens.indymedia

Via & Translated by Act for freedom now!

Italy: On the sentence of the Operation Scripta Manent trial

Posted on 2022/07/13 by darknights

SCRIPTA MANENT SENTENCE

The hearing of the Scripta Manent trial took place on July 6 at the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court). The court reclassified the facts of the explosive attack to the Carabinieri students school in Fossano (Cuneo) on June 2, 2006, claimed by Rivolta Anonima Tremenda – Federazione Anarchica Informale, for which Anna and Alfredo were prosecuted, in “massacre & political” (art, 285), returning the process to the court of Torino for the punitive recalculation of the sentence. All the other sentences were confirmed, between 1 year and 9 months and 2 years and 6 months, for 11 comrades, and the acquittals for the rest of the defendants, which thus become definitive.

There will come times for more detailed reflections. What does seem evident to us is the determination of the State to break the anarchist movement and the revolutionary struggle, making even worse what happened before the Court of Assise (National Court) of Turin, with a sentence that does not seem to presume any margin for criticism. While the contradictions on which society is governed become more and more unmanageable, before the social tension takes forms that the power does not know how to manage, the State tries to give a blunt blow to the movement and a warning to those who do not desist: two or three years for those who publish a newspaper, dozens of years or even life imprisonment for those who act.

The recent decision to lock Alfredo up in 41 bis, shamelessly taken, moreover, on the eve of this sentence, is perfectly qualified in this State reprisal: the decisions have been taken, Alfredo has to stay buried, literally, in prison. His ideas, his actions, his contribution must be silenced, condemned to oblivion.

But forgetting the prisoners of the social war means forgetting the war itself: revolutionary solidarity with the anarchists Anna Beniamino and Alfredo Cospito. Death to the State and capital, long live anarchy.

The addresses of the imprisoned comrades:

Anna Beniamino
C. C. “G. Stefanini” – Rebibbia
via Bartolo Longo 92
00156 Roma (Italy)

Alfredo Cospito
C. C. “G. Bacchiddu” C.C.
strada provinciale 56 n. 4
Località Bancali
07100 Sassari (Italy)