This should be of interest to the forum. Unfortunately It only
reaached me today so there is little time to reslpond. If you
feel need more info on the trial, please contacct corporate watch
directly,
many thanks, Ian.
Wed, 10 Sep 1997 15:49:37 +0100
To: [log in to unmask]
From: [log in to unmask] (McLibel Support Campaign)
Subject: Re: GANDALF TRIAL & FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997
To: [log in to unmask] (Reclaim the Streets)
From: Corporate Watch <[log in to unmask]>
RE: GANDALF TRIAL & FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
FOR URGENT ACTION
Please, please respond and distribute far & wide
On the weekend of September 5th - 7th over seventy representatives of
various radical publications met in Oxford for the first "Alternative Media
Gathering." One of the issues discussed was the current "Gandalf Five" Trial
going on in Portsmouth, involving editors from Green Anarchist (GA) and the
Animal Liberation Front Support Group newsletter (ALF).
We are going to publish the following statement on Wednesday 17th September.
We are looking for as many publications, organisations and individuals as
possible to sign the statement.
There are three categories of signing: (1) Publications/organisations
present at the gathering; (2) Individuals from the gathering signing in a
personal capacity; (3) journals, organisations and individuals who weren't
at the gathering, but who are in support of the statement.
We need your responses as soon as possible - preferably by Friday 12th, at
the latest by midday on Tuesday 16th September. If signing in a personal
capacity, please provide either your profession or the name of the
organisation with which you're most involved:
Please respond, copy and distribute by all means possible - including
abroad. Tell us who you've told.
Send responses to: Corporate Watch: phone - 01865 791 391;
e-mail - [log in to unmask];
post - Box E, 111 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RQ
(please try to use phone number or e-mail).
This initiative is separate to the "Gandalf Six Defendants' Campaign" (who
can be contacted: "Gandalf Defendants' Campaign",PO Box 66, Stevenage, SG1
2TR ). "Gandalf" comes from GAandALF.
BEGINS:
Statement of Solidarity with the defendants in the "Gandalf" Trial.
We the undersigned are writing to express our solidarity with the five
editors currently on trial in Portsmouth, England, on charges of "conspiracy
to incite persons unknown to commit criminal damage". We condemn this charge
as a violation of journalistic freedom. Without a fearless and free press
there can be no informed discussion and participation in public life.
On January 16th 1996 six people - four editors of Green Anarchist (GA)
magazine, Animal Liberation Front (ALF) Support Group newsletter and the ALF
press officer - were arrested and charged, on the basis of news and comment
they had included in their respective publications and press releases. The
charges carry a maximum prison sentence of ten years. The trial began at
Portsmouth Crown Court on August 26th against five of the six. "Public
Interest Immunity" Certificates have been used to suppress evidence of
secret service actions in the gathering of evidence.
Many publications include coverage of direct action. This case opens the way
for similar attacks on any publication deemed to be in favour of such
action. If the reporting of direct action can constitute incitement this has
very worrying implications for freedom of speech.
Green Anarchist can be seen as an easy target, due to its outspoken and
radical content. The police have been the prime movers behind this case -
"Operation Washington", as the lead-up was known, involved 55 police raids
and, at its height, employed sixty officers. It is vital that the press -
alternative, independent, radical, liberal and establishment - unite to
defend the basic freedoms under attack in this case: freedom of speech and
freedom of the press. It is not for the police to determine the limits of
our discussions.
We call on all concerned to vigorously defend freedom of the press. We call
on editors and journalists to fairly report the case and issues, and we call
on the Crown Prosecution and Judge to drop the case.
It is not the reporting of direct action which incites further direct
action; environmental degradation, animal abuse, economic injustice, attacks
on freedom, weapons exports, nuclear weapons, lack of democratic process -
these, among many others, are the inciting factors.
Catch-all incitement and conspiracy charges threaten not only radical
publications, but anyone making statements which could be interpreted as
inflamatory. Any debate by any columnist potentially falls into this category:
The attack on Green Anarchist and the Animal Liberation Front Support Group
Newsletter is an attack on freedom and an attack on us all.
ENDS - to add your name or organisation, see details above.
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