KRAKÓW. PUNK GIG ATTACKED BY THE POLICE.
On 13 January in Kraków, during a punk concert, which was a part of
a charity campaign, the police used brutal force against the concert's participators.
The policemen shot plastic bullets at people and severely beat a dozen or
so of them, including girls. Forty two youths were detained. Hopefully, the
brutal action of the police was recorded, and on basis of the video recordings
a police officer (who commanded the action) of a high rank was dismissed.
However, other policemen who took part in beating still remain unpunished.
Of the detained youths, sixteen are still held under arrest, being denied
contact with families or lawyer's assistance. They are being threatened not
to lodge any complaints concerning violent behaviour of the police during
the concert. Most of the detained are suspected of assaulting a police officer
(conviction may result in up to 10 years in prison), also of robbery and participation
in a dangerous gathering. Polish ABC was fighting for the release of t
he arrested and for just punishment of the responsible for these incidents.
In result at the end of March all arrested people were released, however they
will face the court in following months.
KRAKÓW. RAFAL GÓRSKI ARRESTED.
On 7 February, an Anarchist Federation activist from Kraków, Rafa3
"Moczul" Górski was arrested. In the evening the police entered
his house and took him under arrest. Rafa3 wasn't allowed to take any personal
effects with him, even though he was to be detained for three months. He was
charged with participation in a demonstration against evictions in April,
2001. It appears not to be accidental that Rafa3's arrest took place only
two days before the annual protests of the Anarchist Federation from Kraków
against the city's authorities. After strong protests, Rafa3 was sentenced
to pay 800 z3 fine and one month of prison suspended.
PAYMON STILL IN PRISON.
Klaudiusz "Paymon" Gliklich, who was to be finally released, as
we informed in the previous newsletter, is still in prison. The court did
not accept the money that was offered by ABC as a fine. Moreover, the judge
found in Paymon's files an old sentence of three months imprisonment, whose
carrying out had been stayed, and decided to execute it now. Consequently,
Klaudiusz has to serve this sentence in spite of his poor physical and mental
condition, as he was previously hospitalized.
BIALYSTOK. ANTIFASCIST CHARGED.
Slawomir "Lapa" Lapinski, an eighteen year-old antifascist from
Bia3ystok, was charged with an assault with use of a dangerous object and
grievous bodily harm after he took part in defence of the De Centrum squat
in Bia3ystok, which was attacked by nazi-skinheads. In result, one of the
nazis suffered an eye injury after he was hit with a brick. Lapa was accused
of causing this injury, even though the nazis know well that somebody else
threw the brick. However, they decided to testify on Lapa, as he is an active
antifascist. He had already been sentenced for beating a nazi-skinhead, the
carrying out of the sentence being stayed. Now Lapa may be sent down for up
to ten years. We appeal for help, as the case is really serious and hiring
a lawyer is going to cost a lot of money. Meanwhile two other proceedings
are in couse regarding two squatters involved with antifa actions and defending
De Centrum against police action in November last year.
SZCZECIN. FREEDOM OF SPEECH VIOLATED.
A legal proceeding is under way against Dominik Sawicki, an editor of "Stoczniowiec",
an anarcho-syndycalist newspaper on workers' rights. Dominik was charged with
fomenting sabotage in his newspaper, which he distributes in the Szczecin
Shipyard. This case is an example of violation of freedom of speech. You can
send your protests and opinions to court:
S¹d Rejonowy
VI Wydzia3 Karny
ul. Kaszubska 42
70-952 Szczecin
WARSZAWA. SEVERE SENTENCES FOR DAWID HASS, WLADYSLAW MATUSZEWSKI AND JANUSZ
SZEWCZYK
Dawid, Janusz, W3adek and Jakub on 27 December 2000 were detained and arrested
for three months after having a fight with neo-nazis. They were charged with
beating of one of the nazis. While being under arrest one of them was severely
beaten by other prisoners. In the meantime Jakub was released in order to
take his matriculation exam. On 20 December 2001 the District Court in Warszawa
sentenced Dawid, Janusz and W3adek for three years and six months of imprisonment
as they were found guilty of robbery with use of a dangerous object. It appears
a scandalous sentence, as their guilt wasn't proved - a person who allegedly
used a knife to threaten the nazis wasn't among the accused. It is also a
ridiculous punishment in view of little harm that was done. None of the nazis
was seriously injured and an alleged sum of money lost by one of the skinheads
equaled 10 z3oty. Moreover, it is clear that the judge was biased and sentenced
Dawid, Janusz and W3adek for their beliefs and ideology. During the process
the judge openly showed contempt for anarchists, denied punks participation
in the process as an audience and made comments on appearance of the accused.
At the same time the judge refused to take into consideration young age of
the accused, the fact that they hadn't been punished before or the conditions
of the alleged robbery - a conflict between anarchists and nazis. The convicted
are to appeal the sentence.
Write to them to show your support in this tragic instance of injustice:
DAWID HASS, WLADYSLAW MATUSZEWSKI, JANUSZ SZEWCZYK
ARESZT ŒLEDCZY
UL. CIUPAGI 1
03-016 WARSZAWA
POZNAN. ANTIWAR DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED.
On 15 November in Poznan the police arrested 12 participators of a peaceful
anti-war demonstration in front of the consulate of the United States. The
demonstrators were not allowed even to begin their protest. They were charged
with participation in an illegal gathering and not heeding commands of the
police.
KRAKÓW.
Eight people were arrested during an anti-war demonstration in Kraków.
They were charged with obstructing police work. They are all under surveillance,
i.e. they have to report at the police station twice a week. During the arrest
one demonstrator received an eye injury and was denied medical care.
Two people were fined 700 z3 for participation in incidents in Krynki during
'no borders' camp in July 2001.
A legal proceeding against an ABC member, who was accused of damaging a police
car during a demonstration in May 2000 in Kraków, was discontinued.
The public prosecutor decided that the demonstrator, who jumped at the roof
of a police car to distract the police from beating people, did not damage
anything and therefore did not commit a forbidden act.
WRITE A LETTER TO A PRISONER:
TOMASZ WILKOSZEWSKI
Zak3ad Karny
Orzechowa 5
98-200 Sieradz
In 1997 Tomek Wilkoszewski was sentenced to 15 years in prison
for taking part in a fight, in which a nazi skinhead died. It is an extremely
severe punishment for a person that has never broken the law before and who
had been earlier terrorised for a long time by the local nazis without any
reaction of the police. Now Tomek has still almost 10 years of his sentence
left. It means for him spending about 3500 identical days with hard work being
the only variety. He has only one hour for a walk during a day and three hours
for a meeting with his family or friends a month. In order to avoid a nervous
breakdown and apathy Tomek took up education. In prison he finished secondary
school and successfully passed his matriculation exam. He wants to take up
extramural studies, however it is likely that the administration of the prison
will turn down his request as nowadays there is a tendency to apply more severe
conditions of serving one's sentence. Thanks to help from people supporting
him, Tomek received a computer and is learning how to work on it. For five
years Tomek has seen the world from behind the bars. It is not known when
he may receive a pass to pay short visit to the world outside prison. Courts
of all levels ignored the extenuating circumstances of Tomek's deed. Petitions
of above two thousand signatures, demonstrations, support and guarantees from
politicians, a TV commentary which was positive for Tomek - all these proved
to be of no help. There isn't any possibility to change Tomek's sentence in
legal proceeding. The only chance for Tomek is the president's pardon. Letters
of support for Tomek are being sent to president Kwaœniewski from many
countries. However, the court has already presented its negative opinion in
that case. Soon Tomek is going to ask for earlier release.
If you publish or distribute a zine, CDs or T-shirts, send one to Tomek by
mail on the prison's address. You may also write to Tomek; he is happy to
receive every letter, though he may not be able to respond quickly.
You may also visit the website: www.tomek.most.org.pl
March, 2002.
No copyrights. Distribute freely.
You can obtain this sheet in e-version on www.ack.most.org.pl
or contacting us directly:
ACK (ABC) Poland
skr pocztowa 5
60-966 Poznan 31
Poland