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WS 112, November-December 2009 Red & Black Revolution
RBR 14 - March 2008 user preferences
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No Justice, No Peace! belfast |
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 Tuesday September 02, 2008 23:45 by Belfast WSM
Our passion for freedom is stronger than your prisons Despite the bad weather and the protest being organised at short notice (within a day) as well as a passing interest from the PSNI, the Belfast branch of the WSM, Anarchist Black Cross joined others outside Belfast City Hall this evening as part of the growing national and international campaign. In solidarity with Amadeu Casellas who is now entering his 73rd day on hunger strike; and the opposition to his continued political incarceration and persecution by the Spanish state because of his anarchist beliefs Release Amadeu Casellas Now! |
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Jump To Comment: 1Q: Why is Amadeu Casellas in prison?
DIANA REIG: Principally for the various bank robberies during the 70's and 80s'.
The money taken was given, above all, to workers of businesses in struggle. He was a militant Anarchist.
Q: And why did the hunger strike of the past 23rd of June start?
D.R.: What Amadeu requires with the hunger strike is that he is set free, and two options are offered: that he is given the 'third grade', or the merging of sentences currently being met.In 1987 he already had 5 convictions merged, which converted to 15 years. What we ask now is that thay make the same with those which are being served, as it's a normal practise with all prisoners. If the sentences which are being serves now are merged, they become 15 years. Altogether then, 30 years of imprisonment. If from these 30 years we subtract eight years of penitentiary benefits, we collect the 22 years of prison which have already been served.
Q: Taking all of these elements into consideration, what is the reason he has not been released already?
D.R.: the Penentiary Institution of the Governemnt gives the excuse of breach of condemnation, which have been broken various times. But there there's a trap, because in reality they make him pay two times for the crime: on the one hand, among the convictions for which he serves time include violation of condemnation, but also say that breaking the prison sentence he loses benefits. It's a double conviction for a single offence.
Q: The petition of release, At what point of the legal level is it found?
ROSER IBORRA: We presented it to the Judge de Vic as proper, but she has shown to be very hard and denied freedom. She never tired of repeating that she was subjected to the "rule of law". Now we have appealed to the Provincial Audience of Barcelona. But we know that the reason for which they maintain him encarcelated isn't legal so much as political. They do this to punish him as a prisoner that has been very vindictive.
Q: In what revindications has Amadeu Casellas participated during his stay in prison?
D.R.: He has participated in many campaigns during the space of all the years which he has been in prison -He has been in all the Catalan prisons-, and has made various hunger strikes. Recently he has participated in the campaign against the FIES prisons and for the release of ill prisoners.
Q: How is he physically after 70 days of hunger strike?
D.R.: He has lost 30 kilos in these 70 days, and now only weighs 63, as such is very skeletal. And now we are worried because if he stops taking glucose his health can deteriorate very rapidly.
JOSEFINA RAMON: I'm afraid because I don't know what will happen, i've afraid that there are sequels left. Now he's starting to lose his sight, and can't get out of bed. he doesn't want that I visit him so I don't see how he is. Those of the Penitentiary Institutions have their compassion in the feet. The last time I was there alone they left me only 15 minutes to be with him. Many times i've bit my toungue because I don't want to say things that could bring him problems.
R.I.: Since he has been transferred to the hospital they only let his Mother, the Lawyer, and two people more enter. I have made the request to visit him 4 times, and Amadeu himself as well has asked, but every time we ask they tell us that they don't have a record of the request and we have to return again to ask.
Q: In respect to his state of mind, how have you found him?
D.R.: He is very lively, has many hopes, and this makes us have a lot of hope for everything. The truth is he is almost skeletal, but when you speak with him he's always still lively, and he also makes you more lively. He is convinced with what he's doing. The first hunger strike began in April, but he stopped because the head of the prison told him he would resolve the situation; but he did not, so Amadeu saw that he had been "sold smoke", that he had been cheated.
Now he says that he will exit on his own legs, or with his feet forward. The hunger strike is to the final consequences.
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GARA 31 august 2008