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GAndALF - Breaking The Silence

Margaret Jones, Bristol, speaks out!

It may well be the British free speech case of the century. But the silence about it in the media and in government is deafening.

Last November, Steve Booth, Noel Molland and Saxon Wood were locked up in punishment for articles they had written in their paper Green Anarchist. They were charged with "conspiracy to incite other people to do direct action against road-building schemes and vivisection labs". For this, they were each sentenced to three years.

Two more people are awaiting trial in the autumn, on identical charges - Paul Rogers, another Green Anarchist editor, and Robin Webb, press officer for the Animal Liberation Front (hence the name GAndALF = Green Anarchist/Animal Liberation Front).

What was the establishment reaction to this outrageous violation of civil rights? The civil rights organisation Liberty sent an observer to the eleven-day trial of the original GAndALF Three. According to Steve Booth, this observer spent only one day in court, where he "never even opened his notebook." The Guardian published a snippet about the trial. The rest of the capitalist media was silent.

In the alternative press, fortunately, it was a different story. Papers like SchNews and Earth First Update understand well that the convictions represent an attempt to intimidate and silence them. Several hundred publications have signed a statement of protest against this blatant repression. In defiant refusal to be intimidated, Earth First Update accompanied a front-page report on the jailing of the GAndALF Three with a detailed account of a direct action quarry protest. There has also been international protest against the GAndALF prosecutions, involving groups as far away as Finland and Canada. Noam Chomsky has written from the U.S in support.

When U.S. Amnesty International decided to list the GAndALF Three as political prisoners, it seems the British State had had enough. The Three were released on bail, and are now awaiting an appeal against their convictions.

Things now look more hopeful. If the original convictions are overturned, then Paul Rogers and Robin Webb may never have to come to trial at all. But the battle is by no means over.

If the GAndALF Three lose their appeal, they could be returned to prison. If the defendants have their sentences reduced but are not acquitted, this is clearly still dangerous for the rest of us. If any of these prosecutions stick, then the State will use "conspiracy to incite" to suppress free speech, again and again. Anyone writing an article in favour of direct action - anyone putting their phone number on a leaflet calling others to a road protest - is at risk.

All this may well seem quite hypothetical and abstract to some people. But as Steve, Noel and Saxon can tell you first-hand, there's nothing abstract about being banged up on prison. We must break through the silence surrounding this case - for the sake of all of us. Meanwhile, let's go on acting - and inciting!

In July the GAndALF Three had their convictions quashed in the High Court. The High Court judges strongly criticised the original judge for misdirecting the jury and giving excessive sentences.

Paul Rogers, another GA editor still up on the same ridiculous charges described the outcome as a "hammer blow" for the authorities, who have spent offer £4 million of taxpayers money trying to silence the underground press.

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