At his home on Monday morning 25 August 2008. Gorki Aguila, founder member and vocalist with the Cuban punk band Porno Para Ricardo was arrested(yet again) at his home.
The Cuban state’s harassment of Gorki Aguila and other Porno Para Ricardo members has been relentless ever since the group first emerged. Back in April this year we issued an appeal for “Urgent solidarity with young alternatives and the anarcho-punk movement in Cuba”, concentrating our attention on the Castroist authorities’ relentless harassment of the Porno Para Ricardo band and of Gorki Aguila in particular. And asking freedom lovers around the world to show active solidarity with the alternative and counter-cultural scene within Cuba and adding our voice to the campaign by the promoters of the Cuba Underground project in defending the physical well-being of the members of Porno Para Ricardo, as well as their relatives, friends and colleagues.
Today we reaffirm our unconditional support for all young anti-authoritarians who face in their daily lives oppression and exploitation at the hands of the bourgeois nationalist dictatorship which has been governing Cuba along absolutist lines for the past half century and we are launching the International Campaign for the Immediate Release of Gorki Aguila, calling for demonstrations outside Cuban embassies and consulates around the world and demanding his release and an end to the current witch-hunt against young alternatives and the anarcho-punk and anti-authoritarian movement on the island of Cuba.
We hope that this call will be taken up as it deserves to be by the international punk and anarchist movements.
For a free libertarian Cuba!
For Anarchy!
The Cuban Libertarian Movement. (MLC) 26 August 2008-08-27
Contact: movimientolibertariocubano[at]gmail[dot]com
www.mlc.acultura.org.ve/
www.pornopararicardo.com
PRESS STATEMENT
GORKI AGUILA, MEMBER OF THE PORNO PARA RICARDO PUNK BAND, ARRESTED!
On the morning of the 25th (August}, whilst members of Porno Para Ricardo were rehearsing in Gorki Aguila’s home, a policeman knocked at the door and asked the singer to accompany him to the station, volunteering that he was only following orders.
Gorki was taken to the Station at 3rd and 62nd, popularly known as “the 5th “[precinct].
According to relations and friends of Gorki, he is to be held until Thursday at that station and will then face the courts on a charge of “dangerousness” which carries a possible sentence of between 1 and 4 years in prison.
So far his relations have not succeeded in getting to see Gorki so his present condition is unknown.
It should be borne in mind that a couple of months ago there were reports of the harassment being visited upon the lead singer of the Porno Para Ricardo punk rock band, Gorki Aguila Carrassco (39), he having been summoned to his local police station on Monday 17 June 2008 to a meeting also attended by one Jesus, his sector delegate and chief. Gorki brought with him a tape recorder and managed to tape parts of the meeting with the authorities. Similarly, since Gorki refused to engage in conversation with those present, he brought with him a written statement spelling out his opposition to the Cuban state as well as his determination to carry on with his music. Under the Cuban Penal Code or Law 62 “dangerousness” is when someone is assessed as liable to commit an offence on the basis of contradictions observable in his behaviour, according to the rules of socialist morality (article 72 covering Dangerousness and Safety Measures). Likewise Article 73 stipulates that habitual intoxication and over-indulgence in alcohol, drug addiction and anti-social behaviour are regarded as constituting “dangerousness”. Anti-social behaviours range from “acts of violence” to “breaches of social norms”, through “social parasitism” and “the practice of socially unacceptable vices”.
Havana, Monday 24 August 2008-08-27
Latest
STATUS OF PORNO PARA RICARDO LEAD MUSICIAN GORKI AGUILA
Gorki Aguila is to be held in the police station located at 3rd and 62nd. Municipio Playa, until roughly Thursday when he will face summary trial on “pre-criminal” charges, or, to put that another way, they have no charges to bring against him. So far his father has been repeartedly calling to the police station, better known as “the 5th” [precinct], but has not managed to get to see his son.
The other members of Porno Para Ricardo and friends of Gorki’s are collecting ready cash in order to hire a lawyer versed in cases like these.
It is expected that a press conference will he called in Havana to give the details of the position of the leader of Porno Para Ricardo.
Porno Para Ricardo
Havana, August 25 2008, 11.30 pm.
www.pornopararicardo.com
Prisoners’ Justice Day Demonstration
Sunday 10 August 1-3pm, outside Styal prison, Wilmslow, Cheshire (nearest stations Wilmslow and Manchester Airport).
In memory of all prisoners who have died as a result of prison brutality and negligence, and in celebration of the life and work of Pauline Campbell, who died in May, after five years spent struggling for justice following the death of her daughter Sarah in Styal.
Called by No More Prisons
Supported by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, 325 Magazine, Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, Campaign Against Prison Slavery, Professor Joe Sim and others. For more details email pikiebub2000[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk
There will also be a solidarity demonstration organised by London FRFI at Holloway prison at 12 noon. For more information telephone 020 7837 1688.
Sunday 10 August 1-3pm, outside Styal prison, Wilmslow, Cheshire (nearest stations Wilmslow and Manchester Airport).
In memory of all prisoners who have died as a result of prison brutality and negligence, and in celebration of the life and work of Pauline Campbell, who died in May, after five years spent struggling for justice following the death of her daughter Sarah in Styal.
Called by No More Prisons
Supported by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, 325 Magazine, Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, Campaign Against Prison Slavery, Professor Joe Sim and others. For more details email pikiebub2000[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk
There will also be a solidarity demonstration organised by London FRFI at Holloway prison at 12 noon. For more information telephone 020 7837 1688.
26/04: Strangeways Reminisces
Sunday 27th April sees a Radio 4 retrospective on the 1990 Strangeways prison riot.
Just as the flames were dying out from the Trafalgar Square poll tax riot, Manchester's prisoners decided it was time to get a piece of the action! The rest is history.
You can listen to The Reunion at 11.15 am.
Just as the flames were dying out from the Trafalgar Square poll tax riot, Manchester's prisoners decided it was time to get a piece of the action! The rest is history.
You can listen to The Reunion at 11.15 am.
“The power of effective and dynamic prisoner support was, in my experience, never better illustrated than in the way a prison authority climbed down on this occasion, and it was an incredibly empowering experience to be a part of it.”
John Bowden
There are important lessons to be learned from last year’s successful campaign in support of prisoner John Bowden, and in defence of the Anarchist Black Cross. When comrades are attacked, it is not a time for complacency, but a time for determined and decisive action. In our struggle against the State, our collective strength and solidarity is the only weapon we have.
Below, John Bowden gives an assessment of the campaign to defend himself and the ABC against the lies of prison social worker Matt Stillman, who in a crucial parole report, described the ABC as a “terrorist” and “paramilitary” organisation with whom John was in contact.
The decision to mount a campaign against Stillman’s lies about the ABC was made some time before the system actually moved against me, and a view shared by some friends and comrades on the outside was that the decision was premature and would prove ultimately counter-productive by inviting repression against me and seriously prejudicing a parole hearing scheduled for that summer. As far as I was concerned, however, the decision to highlight Stillman’s lies was very much a strategic one and motivated by my concern that should I avoid confronting the prison authorities over Stillman’s report at the earliest possible stage then the report would have gone unchallenged before the parole board that summer. On the basis of his claim that I was linked to a terrorist group my release would have been denied almost indefinitely by the parole board, and no amount of protesting afterwards would have had the slightest effect on that. I knew that any campaign to expose Stillman as a liar had to be organised immediately, no matter what the short-term consequences to myself, and I was, therefore, absolutely clear in my appeal for immediate solidarity from the ABC. Fortunately ex-prisoner Mark Barnsley trusted my judgement implicitly and threw his support behind me right away.
The repression when it came was predictably vicious and cruel, but by then I’d already publicly exposed Stillman’s lies and given warning that I was under attack by the Scottish prison authorities. Their subsequent behaviour in moving me back to maximum-security conditions was therefore immediately seen for what it was – straightforward revenge. As a result, they were never particularly confident about the situation, especially as their treatment of me was now clearly seen as being motivated by the ludicrous claims of Stillman, as opposed to any serious allegation concerning my actual behaviour. By managing to organise a campaign against Stillman early on not only did I provoke the Scottish prison service into moving against me but also pre-empted their actions to a large extent and established the real context of the repression when it came. They were always resentful that I’d managed to do that and frequently accused me of creating a political context to their punishment of me, which eventually would weaken and destroy their attempts to justify and excuse their treatment of me in any other way.
In a very real sense the behaviour of the Scottish Prison Service authorities following my removal back to a maximum-security prison came to be largely dictated by the increasing pressure being applied on them by the campaign outside and the imperative they were now clearly feeling to “resolve” the problem. There was established early on a relationship between the growing intensity and determination of the campaign outside and the increasing involvement of more senior prison bureaucrats and professionals in attempts to deal with the situation – all responsibility for the system’s strategy was being removed from those who had initiated the chain of events, the administration at Castle Huntly Prison, and passed to those with a more direct input at H.Q. level. Had there been no visible campaign of solidarity and support then I’d have rotted away indefinitely in a maximum-security hell-hole while the system did nothing.
Apart from the obvious effect that the campaign was having on the Scottish prison authorities, its psychological effect on me was significant. Even during my lowest moments when I really struggled to make the re-adjustment to being back in conditions of maximum-security, the knowledge that on the outside good committed comrades were campaigning and fighting on my behalf sustained and strengthened me immeasurably. Isolation is a weapon used by the prison system to weaken and dis-empower prisoners, and my removal back to a high-security prison was clearly intended to demoralise and dispirit me, as well as sever my contact with friends and sources of emotional and psychological support on the outside. Leeds ABC, especially, were determined that wasn’t going to happen and so flooded the jail I was in with letters and cards of support every day, reassuring and encouraging me that no matter how deeply the system buried me in here I would not be forgotten, and in fact the longer I was held the more intense the campaign on my behalf would become. The volume of mail I was receiving at this time was also being monitored and handled by screws and administration of the prison holding me and it had an obvious effect on their treatment of me. They were clearly anxious to avoid confrontation with me and risk an escalation in the claims of victimisation being made by my supporters on the outside. This provided me with valuable psychological space in which to adapt to my surroundings and focus on exposing Stillman’s lies.
Soon after my return to maximum-security conditions at Glenochil Prison, the administration there decided to provide a link of communication between myself and senior governors at the prison by appointing Charlie Kelly, a Senior Psychologist, as that conduit. Initially, Kelly was instructed to try and persuade me that it could be in my interests to keep my head down and desist from rocking the boat. When knowledge of the campaign outside began to filter in to Scottish Prison Service H.Q. Kelly’s role changed from one of conveying warnings to one of seeking out negotiation and compromise. At one stage he admitted that the degree of obvious political support mobilised on my behalf had surprised and unnerved the Scottish prison authorities who were simply not accustomed to prisoners in Scotland having that sort and degree of political support. If unaccustomed to facing that degree of prisoner support, the Scottish prison authorities were also seriously hamstrung by the sheer ridiculousness of Stillman’s lies and their inability to defend them. In the usual course of events the prison system and those who administer it operate in the confident knowledge that there is no accountability to their actions and behaviour towards prisoners. Any lie, no matter how obvious, can be levelled against a prisoner, isolated from the outside world and powerless, and no restraint on the repression unleashed by that lie. When the Scottish prison authorities realised that Stillman’s lies were being publicly exposed and campaigned against by an organised political group on the outside it took fright and then began to try and distance itself from Stillman.
Six months after my transfer to Glenochil, the Scottish Prison Service commissioned an “updated psychological” risk assessment report on me, and the conclusions of its author, Senior Psychologist Dawn Harris, made a stark and bewildering contrast to Stillman’s earlier report on me. While Stillman had written of my contact with a dangerous paramilitary group fanatically dedicated to terrorism, Harris referred to the ABC as a perfectly legitimate and peaceful group committed to prisoners’ rights and in fact a very positive vehicle for my anger against the prison system! This was a complete volte-face on the part of the Scottish Prison authorities, who by now were desperate to nullify the campaign, even if it necessitated a climb-down and abandonment of Stillman. Harris recommended that I be returned to an open prison as soon as possible, and this represented a definitive gesture on the part of the system that it was anxious to call a truce and end the ABC campaign. The power of effective and dynamic prisoner support was, in my experience, never better illustrated than in the way a prison authority climbed down on this occasion, and it was an incredibly empowering experience to be a part of it.
Following the submission of Dawn Harris’ report she returned to Glenochil Prison to warn me about continuing the campaign and undermining the “corporate integrity” of the Scottish prison system by placing on the internet internal prison reports about myself, such as Stillman’s and her own. Her message was clear: the campaign had hurt the system and it wanted it stopped right now! By then I was in a position to suggest that the campaign was directly linked to my treatment in prison and would therefore remain active and vocal while I continued to be victimised. She was sent to offer a “deal” – call off the campaign and my situation would improve significantly. The reality was the ABC’s campaign had broken their will to continue the repression and now they were desperately looking for a way out.
By this time Stillman was completely abandoned by them, and three months after my return to an open jail Perth and Kinross Council officially upheld my complaint that Stillman had lied about the nature of the ABC.
The fighting spirit and commitment of Leeds ABC, especially, in defending me had succeeded and should represent a lesson to all prisoner support activists that victory against the prison system is possible providing they’re prepared and willing to actively fight on behalf of prisoners.
John Bowden
The article below is by prison activist John Bowden.
In late December 2007, following a lengthy investigation by Perth and Kinross Council into my complaint that Matt Stillman, a social worker employed by them and temporarily seconded to Castle Huntly jail last year, had deliberately lied in a critically important parole report about my involvement with what he had claimed was a “terrorist organisation”, the Council has issued the following statement:
“The complaint concerned two specific statements in the report for the Parole Board that was completed by Matt Stillman.
Statement 1: That Brighton Anarchist Black Cross website was a website for eco-terrorists or paramilitaries, and that you were involved with this organisation. On investigation, there is no evidence to substantiate the claims made in the report to the Parole Board. Our conclusion is that the website, although clearly political is not paramilitary or eco-terrorist, therefore the statement to the Parole Board is incorrect.
Statement 2: That the prisoner (John Bowden) whilst in Edinburgh Prison received visits from terrorists. On investigation the officer could find no evidence to support this allegation in either Social Work or Prison files. Therefore again we conclude that this statement is incorrect.”
Inaccurate reporting is commonplace in parole reports but rarely has such a report prepared by a social worker contained such a dramatic allegation that a prisoner currently in an open jail in preparation for release is in fact a member of a terrorist organisation. When Stillman’s report was submitted last April the consequences were extreme and brutal. Just a month before a crucial parole tribunal to decide my suitability for release after 25 years in prison, I was suddenly thrown into solitary confinement and then transferred from Castle Huntly Open Prison to Maximum-Security Glenochil Prison. A local newspaper, The Dundee Courier, screamed across front-page headlines, “Castle Huntly Killer Has Terrorist connection” and published verbatim Stillman’s ludicrous claim that Anarchist Black Cross (in fact a perfectly legal and legitimate prisoner support group) was composed wholly of terrorists and paramilitaries, some of whom had visited me in prison.
The prison system itself, against whom I’d campaigned against for years in furtherance of prisoner’s rights, jumped at the opportunity to bury me againin maximum-security conditions and use Stillman’s claims to justify subjecting me to a battery of psychological assessments and evaluations to determine the extent of my dramatically increased danger to the public.
The only thing I was able to marshal in my defence was the support of ABC friends and comrades on the outside who protested and demonstrated on my behalf and campaigned tirelessly to expose Stillman’s lies. Their efforts alone forced the Scottish Prison system to take a more defensive position and distance themselves from Stillman’s ridiculous claims. Finally in October last year, following the completion of an “updated psychological risk-assesment” report on me by forensic psychologist, Dawn Harris, who explicitly rubbished Stillman’s allegations.
Although the prison system has backed down in the face of the prolonged protests organised by ABC on my behalf, Stillman’s lies had cost me six months locked-down in maximum-security and at least another year, possibly more, in prison. Stillman was investigated by Perth and Kinross Council, who provide the social work team at Castle Huntly Prison, and when initially questioned by their investigation officer he claimed that he had been “advised” by others about the nature of the ABC organisation. When questioned further about the source of his information regarding ABC he changed his story and claimed that he had seen some reference to it in an existing prison file on me. The investigation revealed this to be a lie. Stillman was clearly guilty of malpractice in deliberately presenting lies as fact in an official parole report, and yet he remains employed by Social services in Fife and to date hasn’t been subject to any form of disciplinary action.
They conclude the report of their investigation with the following: “As a result of this investigation we have looked at our procedures when producing parole reports and will consider how we can ensure that proper stands are met, etc, etc”. Translated, this means that no concrete action will be taken against Stillman or his line-manager in the social work department at Castle Huntly, Christina Brown, who enclosed with Stillman’s report to the Prison Board a covering letter supporting the validity of Stillman’s claims and swearing to his honesty and integrity.
Stillman’s lies were always going to be unsustainable when subjected to even a perfunctory examination, and the investigator at Perth and Kinross Council had little choice but to admit that. But that was as far as he was prepared to go – in terms of what motivated or encouraged stillman to make the accusation of terrorism against myself and ABC, the lid was placed back on. No one is culpable and a “lessons have been learned” statement considered adequate to close the matter.
The matter, however, is far from closed. Apart from the Perth and Kinross investigation, the Scottish Social Service Council, a body set up to oversee and enforce a code of conduct in the treatment of service users, is also conducting an investigation into Stillman’s conduct following a complaint from me. Should the SSSC accept the decision of the Perth and Kinross investigation then the removal of Stillman’s social work licence on the grounds of misconduct should, by any standard of natural justice, follow.
I intend also to pursue legal actions against both Stillman’s social work employers and the Scottish Prison Service, during which I intend to expose the full extent of the prison system’s complicity in Stillman’s lies and attempt to bury me indefinitely in prison. I would ask all supporters to write letters of complaint to the following:
Dave Roberts, Executive Director of Perth and Kinross Council, 5 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth PH2 0PA demanding that proper disciplinary action be taken against Stillman and Christina Brown.
Stephen Moore, Head of Social work at the Social Work Office, South Street, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5NL demanding that he explain why Stillman continues to be employed at Fife Social Services.
Scottish Prison Service HQ, Communications Branch, Room 338, Calton House,5 Redheugh Rigg, Edinburgh, EH12 9HW demanding that Christina Brown, still employed at Castle Huntly Prison and so obviously complicit in encouraging Stillman to concoct lies in parole reports, be dismissed.
John Bowden
HMP Noranside
Fern By Forfar
Angus
DD8 3QY
Scotland
In late December 2007, following a lengthy investigation by Perth and Kinross Council into my complaint that Matt Stillman, a social worker employed by them and temporarily seconded to Castle Huntly jail last year, had deliberately lied in a critically important parole report about my involvement with what he had claimed was a “terrorist organisation”, the Council has issued the following statement:
“The complaint concerned two specific statements in the report for the Parole Board that was completed by Matt Stillman.
Statement 1: That Brighton Anarchist Black Cross website was a website for eco-terrorists or paramilitaries, and that you were involved with this organisation. On investigation, there is no evidence to substantiate the claims made in the report to the Parole Board. Our conclusion is that the website, although clearly political is not paramilitary or eco-terrorist, therefore the statement to the Parole Board is incorrect.
Statement 2: That the prisoner (John Bowden) whilst in Edinburgh Prison received visits from terrorists. On investigation the officer could find no evidence to support this allegation in either Social Work or Prison files. Therefore again we conclude that this statement is incorrect.”
Inaccurate reporting is commonplace in parole reports but rarely has such a report prepared by a social worker contained such a dramatic allegation that a prisoner currently in an open jail in preparation for release is in fact a member of a terrorist organisation. When Stillman’s report was submitted last April the consequences were extreme and brutal. Just a month before a crucial parole tribunal to decide my suitability for release after 25 years in prison, I was suddenly thrown into solitary confinement and then transferred from Castle Huntly Open Prison to Maximum-Security Glenochil Prison. A local newspaper, The Dundee Courier, screamed across front-page headlines, “Castle Huntly Killer Has Terrorist connection” and published verbatim Stillman’s ludicrous claim that Anarchist Black Cross (in fact a perfectly legal and legitimate prisoner support group) was composed wholly of terrorists and paramilitaries, some of whom had visited me in prison.
The prison system itself, against whom I’d campaigned against for years in furtherance of prisoner’s rights, jumped at the opportunity to bury me againin maximum-security conditions and use Stillman’s claims to justify subjecting me to a battery of psychological assessments and evaluations to determine the extent of my dramatically increased danger to the public.
The only thing I was able to marshal in my defence was the support of ABC friends and comrades on the outside who protested and demonstrated on my behalf and campaigned tirelessly to expose Stillman’s lies. Their efforts alone forced the Scottish Prison system to take a more defensive position and distance themselves from Stillman’s ridiculous claims. Finally in October last year, following the completion of an “updated psychological risk-assesment” report on me by forensic psychologist, Dawn Harris, who explicitly rubbished Stillman’s allegations.
Although the prison system has backed down in the face of the prolonged protests organised by ABC on my behalf, Stillman’s lies had cost me six months locked-down in maximum-security and at least another year, possibly more, in prison. Stillman was investigated by Perth and Kinross Council, who provide the social work team at Castle Huntly Prison, and when initially questioned by their investigation officer he claimed that he had been “advised” by others about the nature of the ABC organisation. When questioned further about the source of his information regarding ABC he changed his story and claimed that he had seen some reference to it in an existing prison file on me. The investigation revealed this to be a lie. Stillman was clearly guilty of malpractice in deliberately presenting lies as fact in an official parole report, and yet he remains employed by Social services in Fife and to date hasn’t been subject to any form of disciplinary action.
They conclude the report of their investigation with the following: “As a result of this investigation we have looked at our procedures when producing parole reports and will consider how we can ensure that proper stands are met, etc, etc”. Translated, this means that no concrete action will be taken against Stillman or his line-manager in the social work department at Castle Huntly, Christina Brown, who enclosed with Stillman’s report to the Prison Board a covering letter supporting the validity of Stillman’s claims and swearing to his honesty and integrity.
Stillman’s lies were always going to be unsustainable when subjected to even a perfunctory examination, and the investigator at Perth and Kinross Council had little choice but to admit that. But that was as far as he was prepared to go – in terms of what motivated or encouraged stillman to make the accusation of terrorism against myself and ABC, the lid was placed back on. No one is culpable and a “lessons have been learned” statement considered adequate to close the matter.
The matter, however, is far from closed. Apart from the Perth and Kinross investigation, the Scottish Social Service Council, a body set up to oversee and enforce a code of conduct in the treatment of service users, is also conducting an investigation into Stillman’s conduct following a complaint from me. Should the SSSC accept the decision of the Perth and Kinross investigation then the removal of Stillman’s social work licence on the grounds of misconduct should, by any standard of natural justice, follow.
I intend also to pursue legal actions against both Stillman’s social work employers and the Scottish Prison Service, during which I intend to expose the full extent of the prison system’s complicity in Stillman’s lies and attempt to bury me indefinitely in prison. I would ask all supporters to write letters of complaint to the following:
Dave Roberts, Executive Director of Perth and Kinross Council, 5 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth PH2 0PA demanding that proper disciplinary action be taken against Stillman and Christina Brown.
Stephen Moore, Head of Social work at the Social Work Office, South Street, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5NL demanding that he explain why Stillman continues to be employed at Fife Social Services.
Scottish Prison Service HQ, Communications Branch, Room 338, Calton House,5 Redheugh Rigg, Edinburgh, EH12 9HW demanding that Christina Brown, still employed at Castle Huntly Prison and so obviously complicit in encouraging Stillman to concoct lies in parole reports, be dismissed.
John Bowden
HMP Noranside
Fern By Forfar
Angus
DD8 3QY
Scotland
Review of child inmate batons ban
There were 18,000 assaults in YOIs between 2003-2006
The government is to consider allowing staff at young offenders institutions in England and Wales to use batons to control children as
young as 15. Staff are currently allowed to use them only against those aged 18 and over but that policy is to be reviewed.
The Prison Officers Association says its members need more protection from a rising number of assaults and to help bring situations quickly under control.
But critics fear the move could be counter-productive and fuel violence. Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), told BBC Radio Five Live that officers often got hurt.
"The injuries vary from broken noses, compressed fractures of cheekbones, fractured eye sockets, ears being bitten off, pens being shoved through people's faces, slashes," Mr Travis said.
Currently we have no deterrent to intervene - Colin Moses Prison Officers Association "There is a serious violent problem within the criminal justice system and we believe it's out of control."
Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, added: "What we want is the deterrent to defend ourselves and defend those in our charge. "And currently we have no deterrent to intervene."
The POA said some of his members had suffered long-term psychological problems after being assaulted by children. In one case, staff had to intervene when a group of teenagers was trying to kick an inmate to death.
Recent figures, compiled by the Howard League for Penal Reform, show there were more than 18,000 assaults in young offenders institutions (YOIs) between 2003 and 2006 - 2,500 of which were attacks on staff.
Frances Crook, director of the league, said a recent parliamentary answer had revealed that nine out of the 10 most violent places of detention in the UK were YOIs, where the majority of those held are aged between 18 and 21.
There are huge numbers of young men in prison with very serious mental health problems and threatening them with batons is completely
inappropriate Frances Crook, Howard League "The National Offender Management Service estimates that 11% of prisoners involved in serious assaults are children, despite being only 3% of the population," she said.
"But while not all the assaults recorded directly involve children held in prison, those children are at the very least witness to what goes on in these hotbeds of violence."
Ms Crook said batons were "always the wrong answer" and would make YOIs even more violent for staff and inmates. "There are huge numbers of young men in prison with very serious mental health problems and threatening them with batons is completely inappropriate.
"These are very disturbed young people who harm themselves a lot."
Ms Crook said prisons had created their own problems by keeping young people cooped up indoors without exercise. "I sympathise with [prison] staff, but they've got to try talking to the children. They've got to increase the activities inside the prisons."
At the start of October, the league says 3,006 children were in custody in England and Wales. Of these, 2,512 were in YOIs. The government said it was going to review the ban on baton use to control younger children, although it said there was no timetable for a final decision.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "It has been prison policy for a number of years that the use of batons are not routinely used in the juvenile estates. "However, ministers have agreed to a review which is expected to start in the autumn."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7054605.stm
There were 18,000 assaults in YOIs between 2003-2006
The government is to consider allowing staff at young offenders institutions in England and Wales to use batons to control children as
young as 15. Staff are currently allowed to use them only against those aged 18 and over but that policy is to be reviewed.
The Prison Officers Association says its members need more protection from a rising number of assaults and to help bring situations quickly under control.
But critics fear the move could be counter-productive and fuel violence. Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), told BBC Radio Five Live that officers often got hurt.
"The injuries vary from broken noses, compressed fractures of cheekbones, fractured eye sockets, ears being bitten off, pens being shoved through people's faces, slashes," Mr Travis said.
Currently we have no deterrent to intervene - Colin Moses Prison Officers Association "There is a serious violent problem within the criminal justice system and we believe it's out of control."
Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, added: "What we want is the deterrent to defend ourselves and defend those in our charge. "And currently we have no deterrent to intervene."
The POA said some of his members had suffered long-term psychological problems after being assaulted by children. In one case, staff had to intervene when a group of teenagers was trying to kick an inmate to death.
Recent figures, compiled by the Howard League for Penal Reform, show there were more than 18,000 assaults in young offenders institutions (YOIs) between 2003 and 2006 - 2,500 of which were attacks on staff.
Frances Crook, director of the league, said a recent parliamentary answer had revealed that nine out of the 10 most violent places of detention in the UK were YOIs, where the majority of those held are aged between 18 and 21.
There are huge numbers of young men in prison with very serious mental health problems and threatening them with batons is completely
inappropriate Frances Crook, Howard League "The National Offender Management Service estimates that 11% of prisoners involved in serious assaults are children, despite being only 3% of the population," she said.
"But while not all the assaults recorded directly involve children held in prison, those children are at the very least witness to what goes on in these hotbeds of violence."
Ms Crook said batons were "always the wrong answer" and would make YOIs even more violent for staff and inmates. "There are huge numbers of young men in prison with very serious mental health problems and threatening them with batons is completely inappropriate.
"These are very disturbed young people who harm themselves a lot."
Ms Crook said prisons had created their own problems by keeping young people cooped up indoors without exercise. "I sympathise with [prison] staff, but they've got to try talking to the children. They've got to increase the activities inside the prisons."
At the start of October, the league says 3,006 children were in custody in England and Wales. Of these, 2,512 were in YOIs. The government said it was going to review the ban on baton use to control younger children, although it said there was no timetable for a final decision.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "It has been prison policy for a number of years that the use of batons are not routinely used in the juvenile estates. "However, ministers have agreed to a review which is expected to start in the autumn."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7054605.stm
A new 32 page pamphlet from Leeds Anarchist Black Cross
PRISON WAS CREATED FOR THE POOR
Mothers & Sons: From FIES to Aachen
Pastora & Xose Tarrio Gonzalez
Julia & Gabriel Pombo da Silva
Prison Was Created For The Poor focuses on two tireless militants of the Spanish prison struggle, Xose Tarrio Gonzalez and Gabriel Pombo Da Silva, who fought against the brutal F.I.E.S. isolation units. Xose was killed by a life behind bars, and Gabriel now rots in a German prison. The main part of this book though, is written by neither Xose nor Gabriel, instead it is the text of an interview with their mothers, Pastora and Julia. Through this medium, they tell a powerful and emotional story, which not only takes us inside the world of Spanish high security prisons, but reflects on jails throughout the world. Prison Was Created For The Poor is a compelling read.
32 pages. £2 plus 50p UK postage. Please contact us for trade and international rates.
Leeds ABC, PO Box 53, Leeds, LS8 4WP. England.
e-mail: leedsabc[at]riseup[dot]net
Homepage: http://www.myspace.com/leedsabc
08/09: Statement from John Bowden
On Friday the 31st August, representatives of the management at Castle Huntley prison and Glenochil prison met at Glenochil and agreed to accept the reccomendation of Dawn Harris that I be returned to an open prison.
Full details here
The allegations of social worker Matt Stillman, claiming that I was linked to a "terrorist group" (the Anarchist Black Cross) had been effectively discredited and proved false.
I would like to express my deepest heartfelt thanks to the ABC and others who expressed support and solidarity with me over the last few months, and provided me with the strength and encouragement to endure the consequences of Stillman's ludicrous allegations.
John Bowden
Full details here
The allegations of social worker Matt Stillman, claiming that I was linked to a "terrorist group" (the Anarchist Black Cross) had been effectively discredited and proved false.
I would like to express my deepest heartfelt thanks to the ABC and others who expressed support and solidarity with me over the last few months, and provided me with the strength and encouragement to endure the consequences of Stillman's ludicrous allegations.
John Bowden
Dear Friends,
It is with some happiness that i am emailing you all, to let you know
that the 2008 Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners and
Prisoners of War Calendar is... now available! that's right, it's EARLY this
year!
Since 2001 political prisoners Herman Bell, David Gilbert and Robert
"Seth" Hayes have worked with activists in Montreal (and in 2005 and 2006
New York City) to produce these calendars. The result has always been
a wonderful collection of artwork and political texts addressing some
of the most pressing political issues fo our day.
As always, this is one of the most beautiful political projects in
alliance with and in support of our captured comrades. While the artwork
and writings always cover a variety of subjects, this years calendar has
a focus on the Black Panther Party. As the collective explains: "The
2007 targeting of the San Francisco Eight (SF8) shows, more than ever,
that COINTELPRO is ongoing. Over thirty years after the incident of which
they are accused, eight Black Panthers face new charges... During
2008, as this calendar hangs on your wall, the SF8 will be in court and the
Black Panther Party will be on trial once again. So this year's theme
is the Legacy of the Panthers. Now more than ever, it is vital that
their contribution be celebrated."
(For more about the SF8 please visit http://www.freethesf8.org/)
Contributors to this year's calendar include Mumia Abu-Jamal, Joy
James, Ashanti Alston, Emory Douglas, Ward Churchill, Laura Whitehorn, Gord
Hill, George Katsiaficas, David Gilbert and many others.
Beyond its own value, the calendar is also a worthwhile fundraising
tool - money raised from this years sales will go to support the work of
the New York State Task Force on Political Prisoners, Addameer, a
Palestinian Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, and the San
Francisco Eight's support campaign.
To see some sample artwork, you can all check out the Calendar page on
the Kersplebedeb website at
http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/books/cal2008/index.html
To order your copy from Kersplebedeb for just $15.00 plus postage,
email me or (if you'd like to pay via paypal) follow the link above. As
always, wholesale rates are available.
take care,
-k
It is with some happiness that i am emailing you all, to let you know
that the 2008 Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners and
Prisoners of War Calendar is... now available! that's right, it's EARLY this
year!
Since 2001 political prisoners Herman Bell, David Gilbert and Robert
"Seth" Hayes have worked with activists in Montreal (and in 2005 and 2006
New York City) to produce these calendars. The result has always been
a wonderful collection of artwork and political texts addressing some
of the most pressing political issues fo our day.
As always, this is one of the most beautiful political projects in
alliance with and in support of our captured comrades. While the artwork
and writings always cover a variety of subjects, this years calendar has
a focus on the Black Panther Party. As the collective explains: "The
2007 targeting of the San Francisco Eight (SF8) shows, more than ever,
that COINTELPRO is ongoing. Over thirty years after the incident of which
they are accused, eight Black Panthers face new charges... During
2008, as this calendar hangs on your wall, the SF8 will be in court and the
Black Panther Party will be on trial once again. So this year's theme
is the Legacy of the Panthers. Now more than ever, it is vital that
their contribution be celebrated."
(For more about the SF8 please visit http://www.freethesf8.org/)
Contributors to this year's calendar include Mumia Abu-Jamal, Joy
James, Ashanti Alston, Emory Douglas, Ward Churchill, Laura Whitehorn, Gord
Hill, George Katsiaficas, David Gilbert and many others.
Beyond its own value, the calendar is also a worthwhile fundraising
tool - money raised from this years sales will go to support the work of
the New York State Task Force on Political Prisoners, Addameer, a
Palestinian Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, and the San
Francisco Eight's support campaign.
To see some sample artwork, you can all check out the Calendar page on
the Kersplebedeb website at
http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/books/cal2008/index.html
To order your copy from Kersplebedeb for just $15.00 plus postage,
email me or (if you'd like to pay via paypal) follow the link above. As
always, wholesale rates are available.
take care,
-k
This statement has been written in response to some of the comments on the Libcom website and one letter in Freedom newspaper on the case of prison activist John Bowden.
We reproduce it in full below:
In response to the letter from ‘John’ in a recent issue of Freedom regarding the background to the situation of prison militant John Bowden and the claim that we (Leeds Anarchist Black Cross) provided “misleading information about it”, we would like to clarify a few points.
Firstly, we are deeply troubled that the editors of Freedom did not feel it important to contact either Leeds ABC or John Bowden himself to allow an opportunity to respond to these reactionary slurs. At best that is thoughtless, but the lack of right-of-reply (at least until the next issue) for John Bowden is potentially considerable and only serves to strengthen the odious smear campaign that has risen from the stagnant mire that passes for ‘discussion’ behind the cyber safety net of Internet forums.
It is significant, we feel, that ‘John’ has never been in direct contact with either ourselves nor John Bowden and these spineless attacks on a long-term prison resister reek of ‘key-board revolutionary’. That the basis of the letter writer’s accusations has been lifted heavily from a sensationalist tabloid piece in ‘The Dundee Courier’ speaks volumes and shows little consideration for the facts. As ‘John’ quite rightly points out information regarding John Bowden’s sentence is in the public domain and easily accessible. Sadly, ‘John’ and his forum colleagues seem unable to see beyond the lurid, and frankly disgusting, spectacle they have created and recognise that John Bowden is currently being punished for his political views.
The simple fact is, that John Bowden’s original crime is of no relevance whatsoever to his current situation. John is suffering persecution at the hands of the Scottish Prison Service simply for refusing to condemn the Anarchist Black Cross as a ‘terrorist’ organisation. He has served his original 25 year tariff, and until his contact with the ABC was made into an issue in a report by a right-wing social worker, he was in open conditions with regular home visits. John’s original co-defendants were released long ago - they chose not to take the courageous stand that John has taken against the abuses the prison system inflicts on its victims.
The letter from ‘John’ is sadly typical of the type of ‘solidarity’ shown by many left-wing liberals when faced with prisoners not convicted on accepted ‘political’ charges or an obvious ‘miscarriage of justice’ case. That is ‘solidarity’ with an opt-out clause if the case challenges the safe middle-class armchair-radicalism that blights today’s anarchist movement. We neither want nor need such tourists.
At no point has Leeds ABC sought to excuse the murder John Bowden committed as a young man, but we contend that he has been a ceaseless fighter against the prison system, experiencing hardships that the likes of ‘John’ could never imagine. He has sacrificed his own liberty rather than condemn the ABC – would your correspondent ‘John’ be prepared to do that? We doubt it. Leeds ABC continues to support John Bowden because of the tireless prison resister he is now not the man he was 20 plus years ago.
To damn a man for a crime that was committed well over a quarter of a century ago is to deny the potential for an individual to grow and change.
The logical conclusion of this is that no one can - or should be given the opportunity to – change, and we are hard pushed to see how this is compatible with a revolutionary anarchist ideology. In fact, we feel that ‘John’ may have more in common in the ‘throw away the key’ mentality of the Daily Mail than the genuine solidarity we feel with our imprisoned comrades.
That John Bowden continues to fight against the prison system and that his integrity remains intact despite the continual harassment of the authorities is something we as anarchists should celebrate and fully support.
Yours in struggle
Leeds ABC
John Bowden's most recent pamphlet, "Tear Down The Walls" is available for £1.50 from London Class War.
We reproduce it in full below:
In response to the letter from ‘John’ in a recent issue of Freedom regarding the background to the situation of prison militant John Bowden and the claim that we (Leeds Anarchist Black Cross) provided “misleading information about it”, we would like to clarify a few points.
Firstly, we are deeply troubled that the editors of Freedom did not feel it important to contact either Leeds ABC or John Bowden himself to allow an opportunity to respond to these reactionary slurs. At best that is thoughtless, but the lack of right-of-reply (at least until the next issue) for John Bowden is potentially considerable and only serves to strengthen the odious smear campaign that has risen from the stagnant mire that passes for ‘discussion’ behind the cyber safety net of Internet forums.
It is significant, we feel, that ‘John’ has never been in direct contact with either ourselves nor John Bowden and these spineless attacks on a long-term prison resister reek of ‘key-board revolutionary’. That the basis of the letter writer’s accusations has been lifted heavily from a sensationalist tabloid piece in ‘The Dundee Courier’ speaks volumes and shows little consideration for the facts. As ‘John’ quite rightly points out information regarding John Bowden’s sentence is in the public domain and easily accessible. Sadly, ‘John’ and his forum colleagues seem unable to see beyond the lurid, and frankly disgusting, spectacle they have created and recognise that John Bowden is currently being punished for his political views.
The simple fact is, that John Bowden’s original crime is of no relevance whatsoever to his current situation. John is suffering persecution at the hands of the Scottish Prison Service simply for refusing to condemn the Anarchist Black Cross as a ‘terrorist’ organisation. He has served his original 25 year tariff, and until his contact with the ABC was made into an issue in a report by a right-wing social worker, he was in open conditions with regular home visits. John’s original co-defendants were released long ago - they chose not to take the courageous stand that John has taken against the abuses the prison system inflicts on its victims.
The letter from ‘John’ is sadly typical of the type of ‘solidarity’ shown by many left-wing liberals when faced with prisoners not convicted on accepted ‘political’ charges or an obvious ‘miscarriage of justice’ case. That is ‘solidarity’ with an opt-out clause if the case challenges the safe middle-class armchair-radicalism that blights today’s anarchist movement. We neither want nor need such tourists.
At no point has Leeds ABC sought to excuse the murder John Bowden committed as a young man, but we contend that he has been a ceaseless fighter against the prison system, experiencing hardships that the likes of ‘John’ could never imagine. He has sacrificed his own liberty rather than condemn the ABC – would your correspondent ‘John’ be prepared to do that? We doubt it. Leeds ABC continues to support John Bowden because of the tireless prison resister he is now not the man he was 20 plus years ago.
To damn a man for a crime that was committed well over a quarter of a century ago is to deny the potential for an individual to grow and change.
The logical conclusion of this is that no one can - or should be given the opportunity to – change, and we are hard pushed to see how this is compatible with a revolutionary anarchist ideology. In fact, we feel that ‘John’ may have more in common in the ‘throw away the key’ mentality of the Daily Mail than the genuine solidarity we feel with our imprisoned comrades.
That John Bowden continues to fight against the prison system and that his integrity remains intact despite the continual harassment of the authorities is something we as anarchists should celebrate and fully support.
Yours in struggle
Leeds ABC
John Bowden's most recent pamphlet, "Tear Down The Walls" is available for £1.50 from London Class War.
