Aachen trial: 4th day (31-03-2004) Today the tension in court heightened considerably (after yesterday, when we kept rather calm in respect to the two people who had been taken hostage and came to testify).
Despite several complaints and protests of the lawyers
and the prisoners themselves, the mistreatment of the
prisoners during the transports from and to prison
(strip searches, blind and ear folded, shackles on
hands and feet, …) as well as the general security
measures against the visitors (200 policemen, cops in
civil clothes everywhere, identity control, metal
detector, body search, …) continue.
To protest this, Gabriel tore apart his clothes once
in the Court building this morning and appeared almost
naked in the court room. We responded with shouts and
fists and greetings. When finally the judges entered
the room - in all the unrest created it took almost an
hour before the trial could start - we waited till
everyone did sit down, and then stood up holding
papers and shouting ("ears and blindfolds off",
"shackles off", "trousers on", "stop torture" "all
Stasis out"). Also Jose stood up and shouted that an
end should be made with the torture, that 8 months of
isolation is enough, that he could and would not take
it anymore.
The judge tried to neglect the protests and start the
hearing, but immediately the lawyers asked again
attention for the conditions of the prisoners and the
excessive security measures, after which the judge
decided to retreat for deliberation with the other
judges, the public officer and the lawyers.
It took a long time and finally it was decided that a
doctor should come to examine Jose. Jose had
complained already before the trial about headaches
and pains in the heart but never was allowed to see a
doctor.
The rapport of the doctor was clear: Jose has heart
problems and is suffering. But when asked if the
prison conditions and the stress he is enduring during
the trial could further harm him, he hided behind
empty words, not daring to stand up against the
judges.
The judge then decided to decide tomorrow about the
´security' measures imposed on the prisoners.
We do not want to wait till another of our comrades
dies in custody. The situation of Jose is critical.
The treatment of our imprisoned comrades is
unacceptable. We do here what we can. But, please act
now where you can, wherever you are.
Some comrades in Aachen
More detailed reports will follow, and can be read at:
http://www.escapeintorebellion.info
and the prisoners themselves, the mistreatment of the
prisoners during the transports from and to prison
(strip searches, blind and ear folded, shackles on
hands and feet, …) as well as the general security
measures against the visitors (200 policemen, cops in
civil clothes everywhere, identity control, metal
detector, body search, …) continue.
To protest this, Gabriel tore apart his clothes once
in the Court building this morning and appeared almost
naked in the court room. We responded with shouts and
fists and greetings. When finally the judges entered
the room - in all the unrest created it took almost an
hour before the trial could start - we waited till
everyone did sit down, and then stood up holding
papers and shouting ("ears and blindfolds off",
"shackles off", "trousers on", "stop torture" "all
Stasis out"). Also Jose stood up and shouted that an
end should be made with the torture, that 8 months of
isolation is enough, that he could and would not take
it anymore.
The judge tried to neglect the protests and start the
hearing, but immediately the lawyers asked again
attention for the conditions of the prisoners and the
excessive security measures, after which the judge
decided to retreat for deliberation with the other
judges, the public officer and the lawyers.
It took a long time and finally it was decided that a
doctor should come to examine Jose. Jose had
complained already before the trial about headaches
and pains in the heart but never was allowed to see a
doctor.
The rapport of the doctor was clear: Jose has heart
problems and is suffering. But when asked if the
prison conditions and the stress he is enduring during
the trial could further harm him, he hided behind
empty words, not daring to stand up against the
judges.
The judge then decided to decide tomorrow about the
´security' measures imposed on the prisoners.
We do not want to wait till another of our comrades
dies in custody. The situation of Jose is critical.
The treatment of our imprisoned comrades is
unacceptable. We do here what we can. But, please act
now where you can, wherever you are.
Some comrades in Aachen
More detailed reports will follow, and can be read at:
http://www.escapeintorebellion.info
