A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E http://www.ainfos.ca/
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(((The INPEG www site has been hacked yesterday,
thatīs why we use this personal e-mail account.)))
This is an INPEG Appeal for solidarity statement:
On September, 26 there were massive protest in Prague
against the conference of the IMF and the World bank.
Around twelve thousand people demanded these two
institutions to shut down. It was a success - their
meeting was seriously disrupted and the protestors
arguments were raised. There were also clashes with
the police force, which was present in massive
numbers. Tens of protesters were arrested during the
protest but many more have been arrested since.
Throughout the following night massive police
retaliation took place. Anyone "suspected" of
belonging to the protesters side were chased down,
often beaten and arrested. The official number of the
arrested the morning after S26 was 422 people. As on
September, 27 the protests continued to some extend,
the police had a lot of time to search for those who
looked like activists. There are records that the
police were occasionally assisted by Czech nazis, both
while chasing protesters and at the same time at the
police stations to which the arrested were moved.
Today on Thursday, 28 the massive arrests are
continuing. A non-violent demonstration in front of
the Ministry of Interior against the police brutality
and in solidarity with the arrested took place.
Another 30 people were dragged away. The official
police sources say up till now 892 activist have been
arrested, majority of them having already been
released. The reports of those released are absolutely
horrifying. They are being denied access to phone,
they are beaten from time to time, at least at one
police station the Nazis have been allowed to accessto cells...
It is hard to get a clear picture of the situation in
Prague. Because of the police brutality some activist
are so scared that after they are released they try to
get out of the country as soon as possible. It doesnīt
allow us to record their evidence.
The media are hysterical indeed supporting the police
100% and actually whipping up the repression. As the
repressions have been aimed against Czech activists as
well, itīs hard to organize solidarity with the jailed
here as all the attempts to organize in the streets
result only into more instant arrests. At the same
time we have no chance to push our arguments throughthe official media.
Thatīs why we appeal to international solidarity, as
immediate and strong as possible. The situation here
is critical. The arrested demand your solidarity. We
beg you to send faxes and E-mails protesting against
the treatment of those arrested. Keep in mind that
huge majority of the arrested are arrested only
because of their political conviction. The repression
is based on the collective guilt - the police must
stop their brutality and release them immediately.
If possible try to organize a protest in front of
Ambassies of Czech republic. The sooner the better. If
thereīs no Ambassy in your town there might be a Czechcultural center.
We thank you very much on behalf of the arrestedactivist.
Initiative against economic globalisation, theorganizational platform of
S26.
Yours, Viktor Piorecky (spokesmen of INPEG)
The President Havelīs office fax number:00 420 2 24310851
The Minister of Interior:00 420 2 61433560
Note: try to translate and spread this appeal.
Over the past week, more than 12,000 protesters flooded the streets of
Prague calling for an end to the abusive programs initiated by the IMF
and
World Bank. Their issues ranged from the environment to poverty to
human
rights and most feel that the events were a success, as the delegates
closed
the meetings early.
However, this success has been tempered by reports of extreme violence
on the part of the police and some of the protestors.
In particular, reports are pouring in on the horrific conditions in the
Prague jails. It
is important to let the authorities in Prague know that we are aware of
their actions and we are watching.
This press release from INPEG (below) in Prague, on beatings and human
rights violations of people arrested in the protests is based on
eyewitness
accounts and is very disturbing. So is the report from the indymedia
site
(below).
People should call and fax the following numbers and demand that these
violations cease, and that all prisoners be given access to water, food,
medical attention, phone calls, and legal assistance.
If you can't get through to any of the numbers below (which may happen
today
because it is a national holiday), please call the Czech embassy in
Washington, DC, as soon as possible:
202-274-9100; press 0 for operator
Call and fax:
Office of President Vaclav Havel:
011 4202 24310855 phone
011 4202 24373196 fax (it would be better to fax today [Thursday]
because
it is a national holiday and offices are closed)
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ministry of the Interior:
011 4202 61421115
011-4202/6143 3552-3 (fax)
US Embassy in Czech Republic:
011 4202 57530663
011 4202 57532059 (fax)
__________________________________
Attention News and Assignment
Editors FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2000
Contact:
Chelsea Mozen 420 604 384452 or 02 6272349
To arrange interviews with witnesses recently released,, contact
Cyan IMMEDIATELY: 0605 879 504
Shocking Human Rights Abuses Faced by Protestors in Jail
Police Brutality Widespread, most severe for Czechs & Israelis
PRAGUE - In addition to the mass denial of the legal rights,
individuals have faced extreme brutality in Czech Jails. Paul Rosenthal
from Seattle Washington who was released this morning from the Olsanska
jail
in Prague after forty hours states, "What is happening inside the Czech
jails is more than frightening. People have no rights,they are being
beaten
severely, they are disappearing. Women are being forced to strip in
front
of male guards and perform exercises. People with serious medical
problems
have been denied help." The following are accounts confirmed by people
that
have been released from jail:
· Women have been strip searched by male officers and
have
been forced to perform physical exercises for their enjoyment
· Many individuals are being denied water, food, and
sleep;
some are able to get food only if they pay guards, women and fascists
are
more likely to get water
· Many people released have reported that before reaching
police stations, officers took individuals to isolated areas and beat
them
severely.
· Two Norwegians that went to a police station on
Trisparni
Street near Vlatavska to report a stolen mobile phone witnessed behind
briefly opened doors that a number of people were handcuffed to the wall
and
being beaten severely. This has also been confirmed by many reports
from
released persons that in the processing rooms groups of 40 to 60 people
were
asked to spread eagle while they were beaten, heads were knocked back,
legs
were kicked in, and numbers of men had their groins twisted or
punched. Additionally people handcuffed were tossed down stairs.
· There is one report that 22 people were crammed into a
4
square meter cell.
· 30 People were detained at the Olsanska jail in an
outdoor
courtyard overnight with no blankets or food. They were later moved to
Balkova near Pilsen.
· Two Germans that were detained in Lupacova, Praha 3 on
Wednesday for approximately eight hours were held with an Israeli, an
American,a German, and an Italian. The Israeli had been beaten
severely,
had difficulty walking, a black eye, and likely had a broken rib. He has
been denied medical attention
· People with diabetes were not fed, people that needed
medication were not given it, the British Embassy had to intervene to
get
medication into the jail.
· A Norwegian woman held in jail with 30 other women
witnessed a German woman with a badly injured leg where medics were
denied.
· Right to legal representation and advice, right to
interpreters, right to food and water, right to basic medical attention,
and
the right to a phone call have all been ignored on a widespread scale.
· Czechs and Israelis are being beaten more drastically
and
are being detained longer
· Many internationals are being moved from local stations
to
Balkova near Pilsen which has one of the worst human rights records in
the
Czech Republic.
###
--
INPEG International Press Agent
Office: 4202 2320830
Mobile: 420 604 384452
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Center: Parizska 9, Praha 1
(202) 777-2646 x2570 - US voicemail/fax
http://www.inpeg.org
________________________________
from (http://praha.indymedia.org/)
UPDATE ON JAIL SITUATION IN PRAHA
The OPH legal team is reporting that there are
more than 859 prisoners being held as a result of
S26 actions. The police are reporting that of that
859 around 200 are not Czech citizens. Only 20
have been charged. 30 people inside the jails have
been denied food, water and sleep. We have reports
of people having limbs broken and teeth knocked
out. One woman has a broken spine. There is clear
evidence of tourture by the police.
(http://praha.indymedia.org/)
The State Department reports 13 Americans
arrested; says the story is that they will be held
for 72 hours and then deported to Austria or
Germany; State has requested info on charges, some
information has been given; State has requested
medical access.
Mark reports from Prague that the Americans have
been allowed to make phone calls but the Czechs
have not.
The supposition is that the Czech prisoners are
being treated worse than the foreigners.
The phone number for the Czech embassy in
Washington is 202-274-9100. Zero gets you to an
operator. I spoke with Veronica Lukasova, Asst. to
the Economic Consul, who said she believed that
the prisoners had access to medical care, lawyers,
phones. Obviously I was not too reassured. It
might be useful if they heard from different
organizations, etc. that we are concerned about
the
treatment of the prisoners.
Note that under international law, governments
whose nationals are in detention have the right to
access their imprisoned nationals, so people
should be making sure governments are doing this,
in addition to diplomatic expressions. This does
not directly help the Czech prisoners, but may
have an indirect effect of showing international
vigilance. Also, it's possible that e.g. Americans
could get information out about their impisoned
comrades if they have access to consular
officials, etc.
please visit http://www.nativeforest.org or http://wwwn.nfn.org.au
live simply
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