Trial against Zlin Ten: Three Antifascists sentenced (Jan 01)
Trial against Zlin Ten: Partial Victory (Jan 01)
Trial against Zlin Ten: Call for Solidarity (Jan 01)
Anti-Fascist Prisoners Michal Patera & Vaclav Jez released (99)
FSA-IWA militant Michal Patera
endangered by 25 years sentence (98)
Anarchist Militant Vaclav Jez arrested for "attempted Murder" (97)
Czech Anti-Fascist Pavel Hroupa arrested for Murder (96)
Czech, Zlin: Three antifascists sentenced!
Solidarity needed now
(Jan 8, 2001) - Today, three of nine accused antifascists have been sentenced.
One of them, Vladimir Futak, active anarchist and antifascist, member of
CSAF, has been suspended sentenced to 4 years with 3 years deferment. Other
two guys has given 3 years with 2 years deferment.
Rest has been set at liberty, including David Srott (member of FSA-MAP).
Vladimir Futak signed up to police as vouch, because he could testify alibi
of David Srott. He was accused without any proof, only because neonazist
branded him as one of the aggressor. It's clear that this sentence is just
precaution of Czech state against active anarchist. It has to baffle his
politic activity - he could be sent to prison for whatever now. He has got
a biggest penalty without proof because of his active anarchist work.
He will serve a notice of appeal soon so solidarity is needed.
General info:
On 3 April 1998 a several neonazis was attacked in small Czech town Zlin.
The incident happened near to the railway station. One of the fascists was
wounded and the rest managed to escape. The wounded one was treated with
fracture of both hands and the laceration on his head. The aggressors
disappear.
Police arrested a group of 9 antifascists and SHARP skinheads, which was
getting on the bus flitting away from Zlin. The arrested was spending whole
night in the police station, where policeman threated someone of them by
physical attack. Then the antifascists was accused from "battery in organise
group with ideological reason" and "brawlery" with 3 - 10 years penal servitude.
Antifascist was arrested only because they were on bad place in bad time
and because they had some weapons, which could be brought without restraint
by Czech law. Attacked neonazis of course supported police version and beared
testimony to accused antifascist in spite of one of the antifascist, David
Srott (present member of Federation of social anarchist - FSA-MAP), one
of the most active antifascist in eastern part of the Czech republic, can't
be on the place of the attack. The cream of cooperating fascist with police
was accuse of one of witness, Vladimir Futak (member of Czechoslovak anarchist
federation - CSAF), very active anarchist and antifascist. He went to police
to bear witness an alibi of David Srott and fascist branded him as one of
the aggressor. Fascist of course were concerned on his accuse because then
they could destroyed his witness and also because he has been well-known
anarchist and antifascist.
All witness for the prosecution in this cause are active neonazis. Most
of them was taken legal proceedings because of racist attacks. One of vouches
is in prison now because he killed a homosexual.
Whole case is just the endeavour of Czech state to suppress the active political
opponents. Two of them are active anarchists. We can say that, for example
three of vouches said at the court that they had predicate under pressure.
Case lasted more than two years and has fifteen trials.
What you could do:
1) Send a protest letters, faxes and e-mails to your local embassies and
following addresses, numbers and e-mail boxes:
President Havel
KANCELAR PREZIDENTA REPUBLIKY
PRAZSKY HRAD
PRAHA 1
119 08
FAX : 02/ 24 37 33 00
E-MAIL: president@hrad.cz
Ministry of the Justice
MINISTERSTVO SPRAVEDLNOSTI
VYSEHRADSKA 16
PRAHA 2
128 00
FAX : 02/ 24 91 99 27
E-MAIL: msp@msp.justice.cz
Ministry of the Interior
MINISTERSTVO VNITRA
NAD STOLOU 3
PRAHA 7 - LETNA
170 34
E-MAIL: dotazy@mvcr.cz
FAX : 02/ 24 22 60 68
**********
Example of protest letter (translation following):
Vazeny pane,
dne 8.1.2001 doslo u Zlinskeho soudu k vyneseni rozsudku nad tremi antifasisty
obvinenymi z ublizeni na zdravi v organizovane skupině s ideologickym podtextem"
a z "vytrznictvi.
Povazujeme za naprosto neprijatelne, ze vetsina svedku obzaloby v tomto
pripade jsou aktivni neonaciste a několik z nich jiz bylo v minulosti souzeno
za rasove motivovane trestne ciny. Jeden z nich je dokonce v soucasne době
ve vykonu trestu za vrazdu homosexuala. Jde tudiz o nanejvys mozne zaujate
svedky, protoze odsouzeni jsou dobre znami svymi antifasistickymi postoji.
Alarmujici je tez to, ze antifasistum jsou za pouhe ublizeni na zdravi udelovany
vysoke tresty, zatimco neonaciste odchazeji od soudu bez trestu za rasove
motivovane vrazdy.
Pozadujeme osvobozeni vsech odsouzenych v plnem rozsahu.
NAME
COUNTRY (ORGANIZATION)
Dear sir,
on 8 January 2001 Zlin's court sentenced on 3 antifascist accused from "battery
in organise group with ideological reason" and "brawlery." It's unacceptable
that majority of witness for the prosecution in this case are active neonazis
and some of them was been sentenced for racist attack. One of them is in
prison now because he killed the homosexual. It's clear that they are biased
against sentenced, because they are well-known by their antofascist attitude.
Also it's exhorting that antifascist are being suspended sending to prison
for several years while neonazis accused from racist murders are being letting.
We demand setting at liberty of all accused.
NAME
(COUNTRY) ORGANIZATION
**********
PLEASE, SEND THE E-MAILS DAILY!
If you send the e-mails, send copy to protest.letter@seznam.cz , please.
If you send fax or letter and if it's possible for you, give us an e-mail
to
abc.csaf@seznam.cz , please.
2) Organise demonstrations, pickets or other actions in front of Czech
embassies or other important buildings.
If you make demonstration or other action for Zlin ten give us an e-mail
to
abc@csaf.cz , please.
Also if you want to contact us please use abc@csaf.cz
.
3) Remit us money for defending this politic prisoners
Please contact us for details.
Vladimir Futak certainly and probably all sentenced in this cause will serve
a notice of appeal. Appeal courts in Czech republic are very expensive and
all sentenced have to pay court costs as well. Also lawyers aren't cheap.
4) Publish info about this case in your magazines and forward this message
to everyone which could be interest about it
**********
Anarchisticky cerny kriz pri CSAF /Ceskoslovenske anarchisticke federaci/
Anarchist Black Cross attached to CSAF /Czechoslovak anarchist federation/
P.H. (please don't write ABC on envelope!)
P.O.Box 41
Chocen
565 01
Czech republic
Europe
e-mail: abc@csaf.cz
tel. +420604388631
"Zlin Ten Trial - partical victory for anarchists"
Provided by Federation of Social Anarchists
Czech section of International Workers Association
Report 05-2001
(Prague-Zlin - January 9) First phase of infamous so called "Zlin Ten" monster trial, a three-years long legal and political battle between anarchist/antifascist movements and Czech capitalist (in)justice, had surprisingly ended in almost total victory. Zlin City Court on January 8 acquitted eight from eleven defendants. Three remaining received conditional sentences, which is only a minor problem, with regard to sentences proposed by State prosecutor - up to several years in high security prisons. State prosecutor immediately appealed to High court.
In this case, altogether eleven anarchists and revolutionary antifascists from Eastern part of Czech republic, were charged by "heavy health injury, committed in organised group under ideological pretext." The whole trial started as in spring 1997 group of some 15 Zlin armed neonazis, well-organised and mostly affiliated to fascist "Patriotic Front", tried to attack local pub where anarchists and antifascists usually gather. They were repulsed in a militant way, leaving one of them heavily wounded. Police, alarmed by owner of the pub, hastened to the scene and subsequently rounded up all well-known local anarchist militants, despite many of them were not even present on the place of incident. Among them was David SROTT (22), metalworker, dedicated militant of FSA-IWA and one of the principal anarchist activists in Eastern part of Czech republic. Because of his political involvement he has been usual target of Police repression, see our previous reports at http://www.volny.cz/fsa-map.
CZ. Anarchist Black Cross, integral workgroup of FSA-IWA, has monitored this case since inception, got good defence counsel for comrade David Srott, paid the expenses and also organised international protest campaign against "Zlin Ten" trial. Materials about the trial appeared in established international anarchist press like British "Direct Action" and French "Le Monde Libertaire" and hundreds of protest e-mails, letters and faxes were sent to Czech embassies world-wide. The powerful combination of international anarchist political pressure and intense work of professional defence counsels, paid by CZ ABC, again proved to be key to victory over capitalist (in)justice system.
However, the case has not been ended altogether. The State prosecutor appealed to High court, but it is not too probable that it will overturn the sentences, passed by City Court.
International ABC groups should stay on alert. Keep in touch with CZ ABC (FSA-IWA) for more information to come.
FSA-IWA PO BOX
5, 15006 Praha 56, Czech republic
e-mail: intersec@atlas.cz
tel: *420-(0)604-773440
www.volny.cz/fsa-map
Zlin Ten Trial: Call for Solidarity
with
Persecuted Anarchists and Antifascists
Czechoslovak Anarchist News Service
Provided by Federation of Social Anarchists
Czech section of International Workers Association
Report 001/2001
(PRAGUE - January 1, 2000) - On January 8th there is scheduled probably the final session of the famous case of "Zlin Ten". Ten anarchist and revolutionary antifascist comrades are accused of "heavy health injury, committed in organised group under ideological pretext", for which they can be given maximum 10 years sentence. Zlin City Court shall decide this case after more than 3 years of prolonged legal and political battle between anarchist movement and biased capitalist INjustice.
One of the ten defendants is David SROTT, age 22, metalworker, dedicated FSA-IWA militant, one of the most active comrades all over former Czechoslovakia. On December 12th the State prosecutor proposed to pass against David the sentence of at least 3 years in high security prison. Comrade David has been common target of Police persecution, see our reports about violent Police dispersal of 1st May anarchist demonstration in Prague 2000, when David Srott was for no reason attacked by riot troopers, violently abused and arrested.
So called Zlin trial started as early as in April 1998, when group of local anarchists/antifascists violently repulsed attack of 12 naziskinheads, organised in so called "Patriotic Front", extreme nationalist and fascist organisation, leaving one of the nazis heavily wounded. Police hastened to the scene, rounded up all well known local anarchists and constructed monster case when "group of dangerous extremists attacked the group of innocent citizens." All comrades were given charge of "heavy health injury, committed in organised group under ideological pretext" (A7 222 of Penal Law), for which they can ge given 10 years sentence.20
Details of biased Czech INjustice
Some of the neonazis, giving witness reports against David and his co-defendants - especially Tomas OZVOLDIK, Viktor PAPALA, Stepan PLACAK and Petr PECENA - were already sentenced in the past for racially motivated violence and other crimes. Mentioned Stepan Placak, who is used as a witness against comrade David, has been for instance charged with attempted murder (A7219) for armed assault on life of young soldier of compulsory service of Jewish origin, who protested against Placak's verbal propaganda of holocaust and nazism in one Prague pub.
The whole case is led by the state apparatus in the style of disgusting manipulation with facts, using fake witnesses and open support, given to neonazi violence. Here are some more cases.
The responsible Police investigator, officer PALISEK, forced by various threats former naziskinhead J. Kubik to testify against the defendants. Officer Palisek moreover smuggled into the crime file one falsified report, allegedly made by one of the witnesses, originally proving innocence of the defendants, but now dismissing her statements. Officer Palisek had been in the past already punished by the Interior Ministry Inspection for serious offences, like denying arrested persons the right to have a defence counsel.
When the whole trial started to be closed with very probable result of acquitting of all defendants, State Prosecutor proposed two new false witnesses, coming from top ranks of regional neonazi groups. First of them is Petr PECENA, 26 years old, leader of Zlin naziskinheads, who stood in elections for ultra-right wing Republican Party. Pecena gives really "valuable" report, stating, that one of the defendants allegedly told him personally about his complicity in the "attack". Pecena had been in the past already sentenced for various racially motivated violent offences, like attacks on local Gipsy community etc and also for violent abuse of his girlfriend. During this trial he even physically attacked the judge.
The whole situation is perhaps best described by comrade David Srott himself in the statement, given to our magazine:"It is obvious that this is the case of fabricated monster trial, conducted hand in hand by fascists in bomber jackets, fascists in police uniforms and fascists in disguise of judges. We know very well, who is standing against us. This is the real organised crime, based on democratic politics and fascist ideology."
Conclusion
The situation of our comrades is again very bad, but we can see again that powerful combination of international anarchist protest and pressure and activity of good defence counsels, paid by CZ Anarchist Black Cross group (integral part of FSA-IWA), is serious threat and obstacle for repressive plans of Czech state forces.
CZ Anarchist Black Cross is covering expenses for David Srott legal defence, because he as all ordinary anarchists -workers, cannot afford to do so. Costs of legal defence in this case, covered by CZ ABC, climbed over 2000,- USD. Greater part of it comes from international solidarity.
We send brotherly anarchist greetings to organisations and comrades, who recently contributed to defence of Zlin comrades:
-Anti-racist Action, Ottawa, Canada
-Bristol (UK) antifascists and anarchists
-Confederation Nationale du Travail, French section of International Workers
Association
What you can do:
-IMMEDIATELY send letters, faxes and e-mails
of protest to your local Czech consulate or embassy. Demand dropping of charges
against David Srott and his nine co-defendants, charged by "heavy health injury,
committed in organised group under ideological pretext." Demand that the State
prosecutor and judge cease to protect and cover the fascist political identity
of "victims". Protest against the fact that this case is conducted in very
common and almost obvious manner of Czech police and courts denying existence
of political identity of organised neonazis and using organised neonazis against
people with antifascist conviction. Always demand an official answer to your
requests.
-send donations to CZ ABC Defense Fund (for details, contact our International
secretariat)
-spread this information world-wide
- write articles for your local anarchist press.
-became subscriber of CZ ABC English-language information bulletin
-------------------------------------
Federation of Social Anarchists International
secretariat
PO BOX 5, 15006 Praha 56, Czech republic
e-mail: use BOTH intersec@atlas.cz
AND fsa-praha@usa.net
www.volny.cz/fsa-map tel: *420-(0)604-773440
On
Monday, July 7th 1997, the anarchist militant Vaclav Jez was arrested by the Police
in Moravian town Blansko for double murder attempt charges and "keeping illegal
arms." On Saturday, July 6, Vaclav was attacked by two nazi-skinheads while destroying
some anti-anarchist slogans sprayed by local fascists. Two nazis attacked him
brutally with clear intention to heavilly injure Vaclav or even kill him. Vaclav
was in a so desperate situation, that he draw the illegaly owned gun and started
self-defense shooting. One bonehead received hit to the shoulder, second one escaped.
Police immediately accused Vaclav (!) for "double murder attempt," claiming that
the well known Blansko nazi skinheads were just "ordinary youngsters" accidentaly
passing by and that streetfight was incited by Vaclav himself... Vaclav was arrested
and a district judge sentenced him to preliminary custody awaiting trial. Vaclav
is endangered by a 15 years sentence for both "murder attempts" and 5 year sentence
for his illegaly owned gun. The whole situation is complicated by the fact, that
Vaclav was approx. one year ago sentenced to 2 years conditionally for refusing
to serve "civil service" (instead of "normal" military service).