THE FUTURE OF LDMG?
The Legal Defence & Monitoring Group was reformed (on
a one-off basis!) for J18 and has continued to provide
Legal Observers, a newsletter, website, do workshops,
support prisoners etc. since. We are now considering
the future of LDMG. Do Legal Observers help or hinder
direct action? Doesn’t it lead to an unhealthy
specialism? Shouldn’t we all be legal observers on
actions? We are holding a meeting at the Anarchist
Bookfair on Saturday, 25th October, 2003 to discuss
this. Please come and join the discussion. The meeting
will be in room 2B at 1pm at ULU, Malet Street,
London.
For more details see:
 http://www.anarchistbookfair.org/

WITNESSES URGENTLY NEEDED
LDMG are urgently seeking witnesses to arrests at both
Mayday in London and the Arms Fair in Docklands in
September.
One woman keen to trace witnesses was with the Samba
band in Pall Mall/Haymarket close to Trafalgar Square,
when she was arrested at about 4.15pm on Mayday. Her
trial takes place in November.
A legal observer from LDMG was arrested at DSEi whilst
trying to witness an assault by the police. She has
been charged with assaulting a police officer. She
was arrested at the entrance to the passage way by Ivy
Road and Butchers Road. We need to contact the man
being assaulted.
If you can help with the above, or you witnessed any
arrest or if you have video or photos, please email or
write to us. Please include as much detail as
possible. We will pass information on to solicitors.
This information may prevent someone being sent to
prison.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CONSTITUTE AN ASSEMBLY?
According to the law, there must be 20 or more people
for an assembly (Section 16 Public Order Act 1986).
The so-called Anti-social Behaviour Bill currently
going through Parliament will reduce this to 2.
That’s right, if there is more than one person present
there will be an assembly! This would then give the
police power to impose conditions.
The Bill will also remove the words “open air” for the
offence of aggravated trespass, so that you could be
charged with this in the future for going into a
building.
Elsewhere the Bill reduces the numbers required for a
rave from 100 to a mere 20.
The Public Order Act 1986, first made it difficult for
festivals and travellers to gather and placed severe
limits on protests. Then the 1994 Criminal Justice and
Public Order Act, tightened those laws, and lowered
the threshold of numbers attending. The Anti-social
Behaviour Bill contains further serious attacks on
protest and parties.

SIMON CHAPMAN
A medical team has been checking up on the hunger
strikers, Suleiman "Castro" Dakduk, Carlos Martinez,
Fernando Perez, Simon Chapman and Spiros Tsistas. As
can been expected, most of them have lost around a
stone and half each in weight but their spirits are
high and we are in direct contact with Simon everyday.
Castro is doing well though has suffered with
headaches. He is now in his 31st day of hunger strike.
Demonstrations have been organised around Greece as
well as an art exhibition of Castro's work. A decision
on the latest bail application is expected in a couple
of weeks, but it does not seem hopeful. The UK media
has finally taken an interest in Simon Chapman’s
plight – his story was carried on the local ITV news
in London recently and an article appeared in The
Guardian (23/10/03).
At this difficult time, Simon and the others need
support more than ever. Please write letters of
support to: Kratoumeno Simon Chapman, Dikastikes
Flylakes Diavation, T.K. 540 12, Thessaloniki, GREECE
(be sure to included a return address on the back of
the envelope). The Thessaloniki Prisoner Support
Campaign have produced 5,000 colour leaflets
describing the background and events of the EU summit
in Thessaloniki as well as detailing Simon Chapman's
case. 5,000 postcard have also been produced,
addressed to the ambassador of Greece. These will be
available at the Thessaloniki Prisoner Support Stall
at the Anarchist Bookfair in London. The Thessaloniki
Prisoner Support Campaign meets every Wednesday at
7.30pm at the Autonomy Club, Upstairs at Freedom
Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1.
They are also holding a meeting at the Anarchist
Bookfair at 1pm in room 3B.
Two demonstrations at the Greek Embassy have called
for Monday October 27th. The first will start at
12noon until 2pm and the second at 4pm until 7pm.
This demonstration has been called by the Thessaloniki
Prisoner Support Group and will coincide with Simon's,
Carlo's and Fernando's start of the fourth week of
their hunger strike. We ask all supporters to come
down for at least one the two demonstrations. Embassy
of Greece 1A Holland Park London, W11 3TP (Directions:
Exit Holland Park Tube on the central line, cross the
road, turn left then first right. Straight down the
road until you see the Greek flag)

OBSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY
Dozens of people were charged with Obstruction of the
Highway at the arms fair protests and most have been
denied Legal Aid, so are defending themselves.
Recently LDMG held a small but successful workshop on
this issue. The notes will shortly appear on our
website for anyone who was unable to attend.

LIBERTY JUDICIAL REVIEW
The Judicial Review brought by Liberty against the
Home Secretary and the Metropolitan Police over the
use of anti-terrorist legislation against protesters
picketing the arms fair in London’s docklands was
heard earlier this month. The judgment is expected by
the end of October. The will be a protest at the High
Court in London when judgment is given. For further
information and the date when known see:
 http://www.fairfordcoachaction.org.uk/44/

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