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Letter to Swedish embassy

a friend | 22.06.2001 16:06

.

Dear Sirs/Madam

I am writing to express my disgust that three people were shot
at a street party, by Swedish police in Gothenberg on June 15th. I
understand that one of these people was shot in the back while
running away, and is now in a critical condition in hospital.
Contrary to the Swedish police version of events, the policeman
who fired was not in any danger and his actions cannot be
justified.

I am also concerned about the case of Paul Robinson, the man
from Britian who is currently
being held by Swedish police, following the demonstrations in
Gothenborg.

Paul has baton injuries to his head, and further injuries to his
legs and back which are consistent with having been kicked.

Paul is being held in isolation and has not been allowed to
phone his family or friends to
let them know that he is alright.

Paul has been appointed a lawyer by the court, but has been
unable to seek or have access
to independent legal advice. The only people who have been
allowed to visit him are the court appointed lawyer and the British
consulate. The British consulate is a personal friend of
Lennart Ronnebro - the police officer in charge of Paul's case.

Paul has been subject to trial by media. He has been accused
by the British media of
being a ringleader of the anarchists, and playing a part in the
organising of violence. Both of these accusations are completety
untrue and there is no evidence evidence what so ever of thse
claims. Paul is not a member of any organised political group.
He has no contacts with any groups or individuals in Sweden
and he did not participate with the organising of the events in
Gothenberg. He was not present at the June 18 protests in the
City of London, nor at the Mayday protests in 2000, nor in Prague
last year or Nice earlier this year. How can he be a ringleader if
he is never present.

I am also concerned that Lennart Ronnebro - the police officer in
charge of Paul's case - has made statements to the British
press which could prejudice the outcome of any future trial.

In November 1999, Paul was arrested during an
anti-privatisation rally which was in support of rail unions, at
Euston Station, London. This demonstations was suported by
Unison - the UK public services union, who encouraged their
members to support the rally. Paul is a Unison member. He
was found not guilty and acquitted by a British court, yet the
Swedish police have said that they plan to use evidence from
this case in Paul's case in Sweden. They do not accept that Paul
was found not guilty, and that there is no evidence to suggest
that he has ever played any part in organising violence.

Paul has worked, for the past 3 years, in a library, and is a
member of Unison, the UK public services union. His local
branch of Unison have given Paul their full support, and are
urging all Unison members, members of other trade unions,
and individuals to do the same.

Gothenberg was the first demonstration Paul had been to in
another country, and he went there to make a non-violent protest.

So many of Paul's basic Human Rights are being violated that
we are certain a grave injustice against him is about to be
committed by the Swedish authorities. We are concerned for his
welfare, his isolation and those basic Human Rights.

We call upon the British media to report these injustices, we call
upon the Swedish authorities to put an end to these injustices
and we call upon the Foreign Office of the British Government to
do its utmost to secure Paul's immediate release.


Send to:

Mats Bergquist
Ambassadör/Ambassador/Ambassadeur
Embassy of Sweden
11 Montagu Place
LONDON W1H 2AL Tel: +44 20 791 76 400 (växel)
Fax: +44 20 7724 4174

E-mail:  ambassaden.london@foreign.ministry.se
 embassy@swednet.org.uk
Web:  http://www.uk-embassy.swednet.net/

a friend
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Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

He is a model motion for union support

22.06.2001 17:21

MOTION IN SUPPORT OF PAUL ROBINSON

This branch of (name of union) deplores the reporting
in the British media which has simply regurgitated the
charges Swedish Police have made against Paul
Robinson, a member of UNISON, the public services
trade union.

UNISON has legitimate objections to the policies of G8,
the IMF and the World Bank because one of the
consequences of those policies is a cutback in public
services in all the countries where the organizations
have influence, e.g. all over the world.

Paul was arrested on Friday 15th June and charged
with charges of incitement to riot, attempted assault
and sabotage according to the British media. He has
actually been charged with violent rioting and battery
(akin to the charge of violent disorder in the UK), an
offence which carries a maximum 4-year sentence and
not 10 years which has been bandied around by the
hysteria mongers in the UK.

An unjust 4 year jail sentence is every bit as unjust as
an unjust 10 year jail sentence.

Paul is accused of being a ringleader of the anarchists,
but he is not a member of any organised political
group. He has no contacts with any groups or
individuals in Sweden and he did not participate with
the organising of the events in Gothenberg. He was not
present at the June 18 protests in the City of London,
nor at the Mayday protests in 2000, nor in Prague last
year or Nice earlier this year. How can he be a
ringleader if he is never present.

He was present at the demonstartion at Euston Station
in November 1999, a few months before the Hatfield
Rail Disaster, which was called by the rail unions to
protest against the decline in safety standards in this
country. UNISON called on its members to support this
protest. Paul is a UNISON member.

He was charged by police with violent disorder at this
demonstration and he was subsequently found not
guilty of the charge. This means that the court found,
beyond all reasonable doubt, that he did not do
anything wrong.

Superintendent Lennart Ronnebro of the Swedish
Police has stated that he will use evidence from the
Euston demonstration to support the present charges
against Paul. A British Court has already decided that
he did nothing wrong at this demonstration. Does this
mean that the Swedish Police has no respect for British
Justice and British Courts?

Paul suffered injuries to his head, back and legs during
his arrest. He has not yet been found guilty of any crime
but the only people he has access to are the lawyer
assigned to him by the Swedish authorities and the
British Consul who claims to be a personal friend of
Lennart Ronnebro. He is not allowed to make or
receive telephone calls, not even to his mother.

So many of Paul's Basic Human Rights are being
violated that we are certain a grave injustice against
him is about to be committed by the Swedish
authorities. We are concerned for his welfare, his
isolation and those basic Human Rights.

We call upon the British media to report these
injustices, we call upon the Swedish authorities to put
an end to these injustices and we call upon the Foreign
Office of the British Government to do its utmost to
secure Paul's immediate release.




Signed by BranchSecretary/Chair



Name of Branch:



Name of trade union/organization:

a friend
mail e-mail: .
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To write to Paul Robinson

25.06.2001 18:39

Paul Robinson
Goteborg remand centre [ haktet]
Goteborg polis HQ [Polis Huset]
Box 429
40126 Goteborg
Sweden

a friend
mail e-mail: .