The Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network exists to provide information on people imprisoned for actions in defence of the earth and its inhabitants. We include people, animal and earth liberationists, those fighting on anti-nuclear and peace issues, indigenous struggles, anti-fascists, MOVE prisoners and more. Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter, Spirit Of Freedom, by emailing us and asking to be added. Subscribe to ELP Extra! to be emailed the latest breaking news.

ELP has just learnt that British animal rights activist, Sarah Whitehead, was today sentenced to an outragious two years imprisonment.

Sarah has been found guilty of entering a house where a puppy was being abused and removing the puppy, rehoming it with a loving family. Sarah has never revealed where the puppy was rehomed and the puppy remains safe. However rather than being given an RSPCA Medal for active compassion, tonight she sits in a prison cell.

At the point of her trial Sarah was serving a 9 month suspended sentence for other animal resuce actions. Following the guilty verdict Sarah was sentenced to two years imprisonment (15 months for the puppy rescue and the revoking of the suspenion of the previous 9 month sentence).

At the trial two other activists were found Not Guilty.

Besides her current prison sentence, Sarah is also awaiting trail accused of charges relating to her alleged SHAC campaigning activities.

Please send urgent letters of support to:

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684
HMP Bronzefield
Woodthorpe Road
Ashford, Middx
TW15 3JZ
England

Sarah is a vegan and the British based Vegan Prisoners Supporters Group are assisting her to secure vegan food.

ELP has just learnt that the Japanese police have arrested two Greenpeace activists for exposing a whale meat scandal involving the government-sponsored whaling programme.

The two activists, Junichi Sato, 31, and Toru Suzuki, 41, are being investigated for allegedly stealing a box of whale meat which they presented as evidence.

Learn more information check out:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/activists-arrested-200608

Briana Waters (www.supportbriana.org) has been sentenced. Below is a mainstream news article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008006678_apwaecoterrortrial1stldwritethru.html

6-year sentence for ecoterror arson at U. of Washington

The woman convicted in an ecoterror attack at the University of Washington has been sentenced to six years in prison.

TACOMA, Wash. -The woman convicted in an ecoterror attack at the University of Washington has been sentenced to six years in prison.

KIRO-TV reports that Briana Waters asked for mercy because she has a 3-year-old daughter.

Prosecutors had recommended a 10-year sentence. Her lawyer asked for no more than a year-and-a-half.

Waters was taken into custody after Thursday's sentencing in federal court in Tacoma. She had been convicted March 6 of arson, and her lawyer is working on an appeal.

The 32-year-old from Berkeley, Calif., was an Evergreen State College student who acted as a lookout in 2001 when others set fire to the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle. The Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility because it believed, mistakenly, a researcher was genetically modifying poplar trees.

ELP has received the following e-mail from Eric McDavid's support campaign. As everyone is aware, Eric is an American vegan eco-activist who is serving just under 20 years for THINKING about maybe, in the future, carrying out an ELF action...

> From: sacprisonersupport@riseup.net
> To:
>
> Dear friends,
>
> Yesterday we finally heard from Eric. He is settling in at Victorville,
> and adjusting to his new surroundings. He applied for a job assignment at
> the library and is waiting for the paperwork to be processed. In the
> meantime, he's playing softball (they put him in left field, which kept
> him busy), guitar, and readjusting to the feeling of stepping foot outside
> without shackles on. After 2 1/2 years of not feeling the earth and grass
> beneath his feet, he is excited to be experiencing these new sensations
> (apparently there are also many huge crows in the area, and Eric has been
> enjoying their presence as well). He is hopeful that soon he will also
> have access to email. The prison seemed prepared for his dietary needs,
> and he has been receiving vegan food since his arrival.
>
> For some unknown reason, his commissary account has not followed him to
> Victorville (it's possible that this is because all prisoner's commissary
> accounts are processed through an office in Des Moines, which is currently
> experiencing massive flooding). If you would like to donate to Eric's
> commissary account, you can do so through Western Union. For information
> on how to deposit funds, visit:
>
> http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/money.jsp#Quick_Collect
>
> You will need Eric's name and registration number (16209-097). Please
> read the instructions carefully, as there are a number of specific steps
> you need to take when calling or making payments online.
>
> Thanks to everyone for their continued support.
>
> Yours,
> SPS
>
> www.supporteric.org

The following letter from Il Silvestre prisoner, Paola Gori, has been published on Indymedia. ELP thought people might be interested in this letter. Please note: Paola can read English as well as Italian, so please send her a letter of support today.

> http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401070.html
>
> Letter from Paola Gori in prison, Italian Eco-Anarchist
>
> They have not let at least a month pass from the last acquittal... and a
> new process, the same arguments, the same references, the same attempt
> is already ready to paralyze. Stupid guards continue spying and
> listening on me. What a pity they do not have a breadcrumb of brain..
> because if they had it, by force of listening they would understand, by
> the minimum to at least realize they are servants of a system in which
> they themselves are meat to the slaughter house. But probably if a
> servant is born, he remains a servant and although it seems stupid it is
> made voluntarily if it is created to have a little power.
>
> In any case if one tries not to be a passive spectator of a devastated
> world but actor of a radical change the repression is not a surprise,
> but something that sooner or later arrives. At the moment the conflict
> exists and is concrete, it is in our hand to be next to those rebels in
> front of the authentic enemy of everyone and each of us, the State,
> expression of Capital, the devastation, the exploitation... in a word,
> dominion.
>
> What I am living now and that other comrades have lived and are living,
> it is an attack on our struggle and ourselves, and that is why it must
> be a stimulus to intensify the fight.
>
> The tortures inflicted to millions of animals are not acceptable,
> prisoners in deposits, slaughter houses and laboratories, the continuous
> and incessant domestication of Nature and the Earth is not acceptable,
> it is not acceptable the exploitation of the towns, neither the security
> measures of Capital, nor bombs against defenseless populations. It is
> necessary to act and not to pause.
>
> Until the total liberation
>
> For the anti-speciesism.
>
> Paola
>
> Prison of Livorno (Italia) 2/06/2008
>
>
> Paola Gori
> Via delle Macchie 9
> 57124 Livorno
> Italy

ELP has been sent a copy of the following open letter, to the international animal rights movement, from Dr Martin Balluch. Martin is one of the Austrian animal rights prisoners who have been wrongfully arrested and accused of crimes they have not committed.

Please circulate & reproduce this open letter.

+++++++

My message to the international animal rights movement

On Wednesday 21st May, my life was to change drastically. We had prepared a new campaign on a constitutional change for animals, which would have gone for a vote in Parliament at the beginning of July. The campaign was to be launched the very next day. For this campaign we had managed to unify just about the whole movement in Austria to pull on the same string. As many of you, who know me, will have expected, this is one of my primary aims, to unify the movement for double strength.

But the campaign was not to be. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, police launched the most violent attack ever in Austrian history against a social justice movement and against NGOs. Hundreds of armed police officers smashed in the doors of 21 different homes, of 6 different NGO offices and of our warehouse of demo material. 25 people were arrested and questioned by police. 10 people were put on remand since, one of them me.

In order to “catch” me, police not only broke into my home, but also in the home of two of my brothers and my girlfriend’s.

Black clad, masked up officers stormed through the broken down door and run, guns drawn, to our beds. They pointed their guns at my head and pulled me out of my bed naked. My brother was pushed onto the wall and had the gun put into his neck.

One of the 10 people police intended to put on remand was not at home. So they phoned him, and guess what? Trustingly, he went to the police station suspecting nothing evil. Till today, 19 days later, he is still rotting in a cell, not knowing why. Incidentally, he is campaigns director of the well known animal welfare group “Four Paws”, which has offices in 6 different countries.

After police had arrested us, they searched all our homes, including those of my brothers, who are not involved in the animal rights movement. Police mainly took computers, but also brochures, books, videos and mobile phones.

You would be forgiven to think that this massive police operation was the state reaction to a high level of animal rights related criminal activity. But instead, fact is that ALF activity in Austria is on a much much smaller scale than in all other countries with a big animal rights movement.

You would also be forgiven to think that police must have had information that dangerous ALF-attacks were about to happen, or that they would discover firebombs or terrorist material. But again, you could not be more wrong. They had no such information, they did not even look for such material. They were only interested in computers, books and videos, i.e. in stuff that says something about the attitude of those people they had arrested. This is what this case is about: the attitude of people, no specific crimes.

If the police had any evidence against any of the arrestees regarding crimes they supposedly here committed, they would have said so by now. But the arrest order says something else. We all were arrested for “forming a large criminal organisation with a hierarchical structure like a company”. And the crimes this organisation under the name ALF supposedly has committed, is EVERY SINGLE animal rights related crime that ever happened in Austria! This sounds like a joke, but it is not. Every single animal rights related crime ever, every lock glued, every tyre punctured, every window broken and so forth, but also – believe it or not – every run-in, every home demo and every undercover investigation without criminal aspect, to every topic imaginable, from vivisection to fur, factory farming, circus, the lot, is supposed to have been done by our criminal organisation.

You would expect that if police and the State Prosecution suspect you of such heinous crimes, they would come to you after your arrest and question you. But wrong again. Ever since I have been put on remand in a cell, I have never been asked by anyone any question related to this case. My solicitor has demanded to see the police evidence, and so for we have seen some 2500 pages. And in all those pages, some animal rights related crimes of the last 2 years are forensically analysed, even a bite lock that was put on a door was investigated for DNA traces. And no evidence against any of the 10 arrestees was found. Also, police has listened to our phones, had us under surveillance, put cameras pointing at our front doors, have put V-men into our groups and have read all our emails. For 2 years! And still, they have found no evidence. So they started the huge police operation, desperate for something to use to charge us of anything, and be it tax fraud.

My arrest and remand is “justified” as follows. There is some albeit comparatively little, animal rights related criminal activity. Hence, there must be a big, hierarchical organisation run like a company, which is responsible for it. Further, since I have been active in the movement for decades, since I have international contacts and since I am influential in the movement and have run many campaigns, I must be the head of this organisation. Full stop. That is it. That is the evidence. Can you believe it? I can’t, but for all I can see, it seems to be reality.

How is it possible that I am sitting on remand for such a ludicrous “suspicion”? Good question. For 2 weeks I was given no reason why I was arrested. Then I could see the “evidence” and was put before a judge last Friday 6th June. The prosecutor read out the list of all animal rights related crimes and non-criminal actions in the last 11 years, which took a while. Then he said I am suspected to lead a criminal organisation, which is responsible for all of them. Then my solicitor said that there is no evidence. Then I wanted to give a statement, but the judge did not allow me to do so. She just handed me a prepared verdict, which said that I have to remain on remand for another 4 weeks, then she will consider my case again. And that she did with all 10 arrestees, including the campaigns director of Four Paws International.

So, what is behind all this? I think behind all this is the most fundamental attack on animal rights movement ever in the history of our movement worldwide. Let me explain. About 11 years ago, we embarked on a new type of campaigning in Austria. We used the classic grass roots campaign tactic with media work and civil disobedience actions for legal reforms. And we were very successful indeed. First, we banned fur farms, then wild animal circuses, then battery cages and vivisection on apes, and at last rabbit cage farming. Theses successes caused a lot of concern for powerful groups in society. After the hen battery cage ban was achieved in 2004, we started to feel an increasing amount of police repression. The anti-terrorist police department started to watch us and slander us by releasing statements how the suspect us of criminal activity. Also, police restricted our rights to protest ever more. Then the Minister of the Interior publicly called us a violent group. We tried to sue him for it, but he turned out to be immune to law suits as a minister. But he admitted in Parliament when questioned that his accusation was based on wrong assumptions. We publicly called him a liar, but, revealingly he did not react.

Or so we thought. At about the same time a special police squat was formed and started a major surveillance operation on us, i.e. on a number of different animal rights groups, NGOs and individuals. The rest you know already.

Since, after years of intensive surveillance, police could find no evidence of any criminal act, they had to come up with suspicion of an offence that does not need concrete evidence. For that they used a recently introduced law against terrorist groups and the mafia. This law says it is illegal to form a big (i.e. more than 10 people) organisation, which is hierarchical and run similarly to a company, which aims to influence politics or economy, and which was for that aim at least also and at least occasionally, criminal acts. Since we do run campaigns to influence politics and economy, and since there is some sort of animal rights related criminal activity, even if not related to us, on a very low level and of no serious kind but still, the State Prosecution is using the law now – for the first time in history against an NGO. And don’t forget: some of those “crimes” recounted by the State Prosecution include flyposting, run-ins, blockades and undercover investigations inside factory farms. This is a very worrying development. Police is using an anti-terrorist law against legitimate and non-criminal political campaigning. Amnesty International has voiced concern. A Green Party MP has visited me in prison and the Greens have put critical questions to the minister of the interior in Parliament. But he refused to comment. Instead, the state prosecutor released a statement to media that we are suspected of committing arson and “gas attacks”, in order to slander us.

This is a political trial, a full scale attack on legal and legitimate reformist law campaigns, which were successful. Please protest against those criminals, who are behind this attack on us, and who are probably high up in government.

I support this protest as much as I can. Immediately after my arrest, I went on hunger strike. Apart from before my court hearing in order to be able to attend, I have not eaten since. I am on my 19th day today. I have been in prison hospital for the last week, have blurred vision and fell unconscious once already. I have been told that soon they will start force-feeding me.

I need your help. I count on you. Thanks for all the support you have given us already. Please trust that there really is no evidence whatever of criminal activity against me. There is none now, and there never will be any.

DDr. Martin Balluch
Association Against Animal Factories
From prison hospital in Vienna, Austria

Monday, 9th June 2008

ELP has just learnt that American vegan activist, Eric McDavid, who is serving just under 20 years imprisonment for planning to carry out ELF actions (please note: no actions had been carried out at the time of Eric's arrest) has been moved to FCI Victorville.

Please send your letters of support to:

Eric McDavid 16209-097
FCI Victorville Medium II
Federal Correction Institution
PO Box 5700
Adelanto, CA 92301
USA

Below is a mailout from Eric's support campaign:

> From: sacprisonersupport@riseup.net
>
> Dear friends,
>
> This morning Eric was moved to what should be his final destination -
> Victorville, Medium II in southern California. This is a huge relief to
> Eric and his loved ones - while he is now housed 6.5 hours from his
> family, everyone is relieved that he did not end up across the country.
>
> Please start sending those letters! Eric's new address is:
>
> Eric McDavid 16209-097
> FCI VICTORVILLE MEDIUM II
> FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
> PO BOX 5700
> ADELANTO, CA 92301
>
>
> Remember, the prison authorities read all Eric's mail- and he is appealing
> his case. If Eric is granted a new trial the government will still try to
> use anything and everything against him. Please keep this in mind when
> writing him.
>
> We'll send more information about how Eric is doing when we hear from him.
>
> Thanks to you all!
>
> SPS

ELP has just received the following e-mail from Daniel McGowan's support campaign:

It's 10 pm on the east coast and a few hours ago we finally heard from
Daniel. He called from the Columbia County Jail in Portage, Wisconsin.
Daniel was woken up at 4 am and on a plane en route from Oklahoma City to
Chicago by 6 am. Daniel and his supporters presumed he was going to
Marion, Illinois, but once he landed in Chicago, he was put in a van and
driven to Madison, Wisconsin. From there he was driven to Portage. Along
the way, Daniel asked if he was being transferred based on facing new
charges, and the marshal flatly told him no. Daniel then asked if he was
facing a Grand Jury subpoena. The marshal would not come right out and say
yes, but he hinted at it and at one point said, "good guess."

If Daniel is called before a grand jury, he will not testify and is
concerned about being held in civil contempt and imprisoned at the
Columbia County Jail, where the time he serves will not count against his
7 year sentence.

At this point, neither Daniel nor his attorney have received a subpoena or
any other paperwork to indicate that he will be appearing before a grand
jury, but it's what he is preparing for and what folks would be best
served to see as a possibility.

Over the past month, Daniel has been in transfer. And while the time he
has served thus far has been without incident and even though he received
a good team review before being yanked from FCI Sandstone, he tells us
that he has been put in Segregated Housing Units ("The Hole") and treated
differently for the duration of this transfer, all due to the application
of the "Terrorism Enhancement."

For now, it is important to keep Daniel connected to the communities he is
a part of. Please write to him and let him know we're out here for him*.

For now, Daniel's address is:
Daniel McGowan
Columbia County Jail
403 Jackson Street
Portage, Wisconsin 53901

Daniel wanted us to emphasize how important your support has been thus far
and how truly appreciative he is.

Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan
*For guidelines on writing to Daniel, go to
http://www.supportdaniel.org/news/#Anchor-49575
For more information, please visit
http://supportdaniel.org or http://myspace.com/danielmcgowan

ELP has learnt that the American prison authorities have developed a new trick. They are using black marker pens to hide some of the addresses of people who are writing letters of support to vegan Earth Liberation Front prisoner, Grant Barnes.

If you have written to Grant recently and not received a reply, its not a case that Grant is ignoring your letter, it could be that your letter was one of the ones that was censored by the prison authorities. So please do write to Grant again.

Grant is especially keen for Courtney to write to him again, as apparently he wants to reply to your letter but can't because your address was obliterated by the authorities.

As always letters of support should be addressed to:

Grant Barnes #137563
San Carlos Correctional Facility
PO Box 3, Pueblo
CO 81002, USA.

Well known American eco-activist Tre Arrow pleaded guilty to two counts of arson. In exchange for his Guilty plea, Tre is expected to be sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment. However the court will also acknowledge the four years he has already served on remand, in Canada, fighting his extradition to the USA.

Below are two articles about the plea. Firstly a news item published on the web and then a statement from Tre himself.

ELP totally supports Tre in his decision to plead guilty and we encourage everyone to continue to offer him all their support.

++++++

http://www.katu.com/news/local/19494614.html

Tre Arrow pleads guilty in firebombing case

PORTLAND, Ore. – Radical environmentalist Tre Arrow on Tuesday pleaded
guilty to arson charges as part of a deal with prosecutors that will
keep him behind bars for more than two years.

Arrow, who legally changed his name from Michael Scarpitti, was charged
with firebombing three cement trucks at Ross Island Sand & Gravel in
Portland and setting fire to logging trucks and a tractor near Estacada.

On his Web site, the 34-year-old said recently he did not want to risk
receiving a life prison sentence and called the plea deal an offer he
"couldn't refuse."

On Tuesday, he entered a guilty plea to two counts of arson during a
hearing in federal court in Portland.

As part of the deal, he agreed to receive a sentence of 6-1/2 years in
prison. However, he will be given credit for the four years he spent
behind bars in British Columbia following his arrest in 2004.

The deal also restricts Arrow from associating with so-called
eco-terrorist groups, including the Earth Liberation Front and Animal
Liberation Front.

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

Arrow will serve his time at a medium-security federal prison in
Sheridan in Yamhill County.

+++++++

June 3rd, 2008

A warm blessing to you all – i thank you for your support and for being here
today. Some may look at this non – cooperation plea agreement as a victory.
Some may see it as a defeat. It's really neither! It's simply another step in
this journey as i walk my path of conscience. You see, it's never been about
me. From before the days of the ledge-sit, right thru 'til today, this has been
and will always be about the commitment to leave our Earth Mother in a
healthier, more beautiful state then when i arrived. This is about taking back
our power from the government and corporate entities that would have us believe
that monetary wealth and the acquisition of material objects is more important
than the health of the planet, it's people and the billions of life forms with
whom we share this home. This is about being a voice for the trees, our animal
friends, the waters, mountains and blue skies. This is a calling to consider
our children grandchildren and the generations to follow. This is living up to
our divine potential. This is an opportunity to be a voice for truth,
compassion and respect in the face of profound corruption and disregard for the
sanctity of life that permeates the governments and corporations of the world.

Now, more than ever, the desperate need to be thoughtful stewards of this earth
is upon us. The reality of the enormous detriment impact humyns have on the
planet can no longer be ignored. In honor of our Earth Mother and all her
sacred creatures (big and small, plant and animal, humyn and non – humyn), i
ask you to take a deep, hard look at your life and ask yourself this one
question:

"Is this what really matters?"

This government with its many devices of power and control has constructed the
Prison Industrial Complex, not as a means for healing and benefit to society,
but as a form of institutionalized slavery that garners big-business contracts.
Most are worse off when they leave prison than when they arrived. Instead of
rehabilitation and true opportunity for self improvement, the Prison Industrial
Complex is largely a political tool to crush dissent and keep the status- quo
in place. No being deserves to be locked in a cage, no matter what their
"crime". Many government and corporate officials are responsible for the most
heinous crimes yet never spend a day behind bars.

I say to those who try to keep the voice of dissent squelched: you may cage my
body, but you will never succeed in trapping or containing my mind and spirit!
The deeper the oppression, the stronger the light radiates. And so i declare
with confidence and passion: As long as i am able, i will do what i can to help
preserve the last remaining wild places while helping to restore the damage
this one race has caused.

Someday, in the not-so-distant future, i will meet you on the outside of the
prison walls and fences, and together we will heal this Earth.

Blessings,

thank U

NAMASTE

tre arrow

ELP has just been sent the following update about the Austrian prisoners.

> Hi ELP,
>
> just wanted to update you on the situation in Austria. Yesterdy the remand was extended for all ten activists. This is a routine closed court proceedure in Austria and means they will be inside for at least another 4 weeks. After this, the remand may be extended for two months at a time. The reasons given for the remand are danger of concealment of evidence, because some of the arrested communicated using pgp and danger of further offences because some have been active in the animal rights movement for several years. This could result in them being remanded for up to a year.
>
> They have been charged with membership of a criminal organisation. This offence was created to deal with organised crime like money laundering and mafia activities and has never been used for political activists before.
>
> As far as I know, only three are on hunger strike now. And their physical situation has deteriorated greatly. Force feeding is allowed in Austria, but it is not known at what point. The situation with vegan food isn't great, with them getting bread and jam for breakfast and in the evening. For lunch they get something warm, but it's not much. The legal aid group in Vienna are really good and are sorting out as much as they can but it's difficult. Visits are restricted with glass wall and phone and are often not allowed as they are being recorde and listened to by someone, so they are only allowed when ths person has time. They are only half an hour, twice a week at best. Phonecalls are not allowed because of the danger of concealment allegation. Nothing is allowed to be brought in or sent except letters, which generaly take between 2-4 weeks to get through to Austrian remand prisoners.
>
> They all want letters but most do not want their complete names published
>
> Christoph, Jan, Kevin Kroemmer, Leo, Martin Balluch, Sabine.
>
> Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, 1070, Vienna, Austria
>
> Letters will be passed on by the soli-group.
>
> Would be good if you could spread this around a bit.
>
> All the best

More info: www.antirep2008.tk or www.tierbefreier.de/soli-oesterreich

On the 29th of May 2008 the Italian police raided a number of houses whose occupants are connected to the eco-anarchist group Il Silvestre (most ELP supporters will be aware the police are constantly harrassing and bringing false prosecutions against the group Il Silvestre). The charge against those raided this time is "subversive conspiracy". It is alleged that Il Silvestre activists robbed a post office to help fund their alleged direct action activities and publish their literature.

One of the people raided yesterday is vegan activist Paola Gori who is linked to the Italian prisoner support group Senza Gabbie. As a result of these latest raids Paola has been remanded into custody.

Paola is known to ELP as a dedicated prisoner support activist and we encourage everyone to support her.

Please send urgent letters of support to:

Paola Gori
Via delle Macchie 9
57124 Livorno
Italy

Paola can read English as well as Italian, so please send her a letter of support today.

British vegan animal rights activist, Sean Kirtly, was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for running a website which encouraged LAWFUL protest against the vivisection company Sequani Ltd. Please send urgent letters of support to:

Sean Kirtley WC6977
HMP Birmingham Prison
Winson Green Road
Birmingham
B18 4AS
England

For more info on Sean check out the following websites

http://supportsean.wordpress.com
http://www.myspace.com/supportsean

For more info on the campaign against Sequani visit www.sequani.wordpress.com

American vegetarian animal/earth lib prisoner, Rod Coronado, has been told that some of his mail is "too radical" and consequently it is not being passed onto Rod.

It is not yet clear what mail is and isn't getting through to Rod, but for the time being his support campaign are asking "Please no materials regarding ALF, ELF, animal liberation, um…. what else, radical anything. Until further notification, I would suggest these guidelines be followed".

Unradical letters of support should be sent to:

Rodney Coronado #03895-000
FCI El Reno
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. BOX 1500
El Reno, OK 73036
USA

ELP has just learnt that American eco-activist, Tre Arrow, has reached a non-cooperation plea agreement with the authorities concerning the ELF charges against him. Below is a statement which his support campaign has circulated.

At this momenet, no further details are held by ELP about this plea agreement. As everyone knows Tre is a raw energy vegan who asks that letters of support are sent on either the re-used scrap paper or on tree-free paper.

Once ELP has more news we will circulate it.

Forwarded message from tre@riseup.net
From Tre Arrow:

Blessings to all of you.

Perhaps you've heard that I'm set to take a plea bargain on June 3rd. In
the aftermath of Briana Waters' and Eric McDavid's trials, I have
weighed the options and decided that i don't want to take the risk of
potentially being convicted and spending the rest of my life in prison.

I want you all to know that this is a non cooperation plea agreement: I
am in no way selling my soul just to receive a sweet deal from the
prosecution. By this I mean I am not giving them any information about
anyone or any thing which could lead to others being prosecuted. They
offered me a deal I couldn't refuse, which takes into account the time I
served in Canada. For those who supported me through all of this, I
thank you deeply.

I continue to stand firm in my commitment to being a voice for the
Earth. I speak for the trees, for our fellow co inhabitants, and for the
voices commonly ignored. This is our home, our one and only Earth
Mother. Just as I will protect my birth mother from violation and harm,
I am dedicated to being a force to stop the unnecessary and egregious
assault on this precious planet. To this end I devote my music, my
passion, my life. I look forward to seeing everyone on June 3rd.

Namaste,

Tre
Tre Arrow Defense Committee

As people may be aware, earlier in the week Austrian police raided and arrested ten Austrian animal rights campaigners. ELP has been trying to gather as much news on these raids/arrests as possible and if anyone has any further information about these raids please let ELP know. However, here is an Associated Press article about the raids.....

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/24/europe/EU-GEN-Austria-Animal-Rights.php
The Associated Press
Published: May 24, 2008

Austrian police question 10 'militant' animal rights activists suspected
of arson, sabotage

VIENNA, Austria: Austrian authorities say they are questioning 10 animal
rights activists suspected of arson, sabotage and other crimes.

Investigators said six of the suspects have been placed in pretrial
detention for their alleged involvement in "militant" animal rights
groups. Officials allege that the suspects are behind numerous arson fires
and vandalism targeting food, clothing, pharmaceutical and agricultural
companies.

Prosecutors said the 10 were arrested earlier this week after a months
long investigation into radical animal rights groups.

Austrian media reported Saturday that one of the suspects has begun a
hunger strike while in custody.

Investigators said the suspects used various aliases and allegedly had
links to an international network.

Below is a mailout from Chrysta, the partner of American vegetarian animal/earth liberation activist Rod Coronado. True to the compassion so characteristic of Rod, he has asked that we, the international prisoner support movement, support his family whilst he is locked away, therefore if you can help Rod and his family please do. For more information about Rod please check out http://www.supportrod.org

> ” the lonely path,
>
> through dust and fog-
>
> sweet home!”
>
> It’s been two weeks now that Rod has been up in Oklahoma, a place that will serve as a residence to him for the next 10 months. It, like the above haiku, is a lonely path, but what awaits is the beacon of inner strength.
>
> He says it is really not so bad; the yard is nice and actually has vegetation, the other prisoners have been very helpful, and it seems as he may navigate his way through there alright. He said he could sit in the afternoons, alone in the soccer yard, leaning on a goal post, reading undisturbed. He said there are spaces of peace there.
>
> The first week went as anticipated~ he being put in the whole as the incoming terrorist……. They needed to make sure he wasn’t going to make any trouble. Once he met with the “captain”, he was allowed to join general population but he would be monitored very closely. That is for certain, as I have only received one letter and he says he is sending one daily. I think that is due to the regulations that every letter must be personally read before it goes out. This is not standard procedure. Also, Rod can call me between the hours of 1-4 pm his time, so that every call is live monitored, as well. This means I can talk to him at 1pm my time, if I am off of work. Such is the game.
>
> At first I was not as disturbed by these limits, understanding the system of hierarchy and what it aims to do. But as I think more on it, I become more concerned. The reasoning on the part of FCI to monitor Rod is that they want to make sure that Rod is not recruiting from within prison. That is heavy. At first I laughed, I know it seems almost silly to think in their terms. But, what it means is that they perceive Rod as a serious threat to National Security, a recruiter who must be monitored from even within his confinement!
>
> I hear in Rod’s voice that he knows he has to be very careful. There is a line in our conversations that we cannot cross. They seem to be looking for something, and that makes me cautious. I have felt how power-hungry and tyrannical this system is, and I have no doubt that once they are able to find a reason to punish Rod, they would. It makes me hesitate to believe that the end of a battle with the government is near.
>
> Sweet Home!
>
> On a lighter note, I am trying to get myself out to Oklahoma, in June to surprise Rod with a visit! It is intended to be a surprise, so if you write him please don’t mention it! At this point, I charged the ticket to his credit card, and I am not sure how I will pay for a hotel and rental car! But, I am determined to make it happen! I know he needs me, I hear it in his voice!
>
> If you could assist in any way, it would be appreciated! We have always considered the community support such a honor to have! I again would be so appreciative of any help in this direction. If you please use the paypal option , that is always easiest for us, as well.
>
> Thanks for keeping us in your hearts on the path through dust and fog-
>
> Chrysta

Canadian Animal Rights Activist, Gabriel Villeneuve, who earlier this year was jailed for allegedly breaching his bail conditions, has been found not guilty at his trial. Below is a mailout from the group that has been running his support campaign:

> Subject: MISE À JOUR DU PROCÈS DE QUÉBEC/ TRIAL UPDATE
>
> Gabriel Villeneuve found not guilty
>
> Last Tuesday was held the trial of the 4 activists arrested in Quebec
> while protesting against animal cruelty. The trial last almost all day
> long and 6 witness spoke about the event (4 employees and 2 cops). While
> watching the video footage taken by the activists at the protest, the
> Judge was able to see by himself that what an activist said was not
> 'Everybody down' has plead by the state prosecutor but something more
> likely to be 'Purolator'.
>
> Gabriel Villeneuve was found not guilty right away on every count.
> Remember that he was not at the protest and had to spend 27 days in jail.
> He now has to do legal procedures to bring the government to court to be
> to be compensated for what he went through in connection with his
> imprisonment.
>
> The three other activists have to go back to Quebec courthouse on July 15
> for their judgment. Because the trial went very well, everyone is very
> optimistic about the judgement.
>
> Thanks to everyone who supported the activists and we'll keep you informed
> in time.
>
> --
> SHAC Canada
>
> Canada west coast-VANCOUVER
> #102 - 2250 Commercial Drive
> Vancouver BC, V5N 5P9
> Canada
> 778-554-SHAC(7422)
>
> Canada East coast-MONTREAL
> PO 47579
> 1550 rue de Maisonneuve
> Montreal,QC
> H3G 2V7
> Canada
> 514-966-6460
>
> shaccanada@riseup.net
> www.SHAC.net

ELP is sad to report that we are receiving more information on the American police informant Frank Ambrose. Documents seen by ELP refer to an informant CS1 who is believed to be Ambrose. CS1 has suggested to the FBI that Marie Mason was involved with both ELF and ALF activities and CS1 allowed a telephone conversation between themself and Marie Mason, in February 2008, to be bugged.

Please note the date, CS1 was cooperating with the FBI in February 2008 before Ambrose and the others were arrested.

It is also being suggested that Ambrose may have named upto 15 people to the FBI as part of his cooperation agreement.

ELP will bring you more news on this as we get it.

An American 17 year old youth, Michael Sykes, has been arrested accused of setting fire to two newly constructed houses. The cops have told the media that Michael has admitted the arson attack saying he did it in protest against urban sprawl. The cops also state he has admitted to torching a supermarket and a string of vandalisms, including damaging an 80-foot utility pole, painting an anarchist symbol and burning the American flag.

Despite the cops claim that Michael has admitted these offences he has pleaded not guilty in court and has been remanded into custody.

Please send letters of support to:

Michael W. Sykes
100 East 2nd St
Monroe
Michigan 48161
USA

Below is a mainstream media article about Michael:

_____

Acused Arsonist May Get Plea Deal
Article published Thursday, March 27, 2008 - www.toldeoblade.com

MONROE - A plea bargain could be in the works to resolve criminal charges
against the Lambertville teenager accused of setting fires that caused
more than $500,000 damage to unfinished homes in Bedford Township, his
attorney said in court yesterday.

Michael W. Sykes, 17, of 7472 Canterbury Drive, appeared in Monroe County
District Court for a pretrial hearing on arson and home invasion charges
stemming from a March 14 fire that destroyed a house being built on
Brentridge Lane.

At the request of the youth's attorney, Judge Mark Braunlich waived a
preliminary exam scheduled for Monday.

The defense attorney, Andrew Peth, told Judge Braunlich that a preliminary
exam may not be necessary because he was in discussions with prosecutors
about a possible resolution that would avoid the case going to trial.
Judge Braunlich scheduled a pretrial hearing for April 9.

Investigators said the teenager confessed to the arson fire at the
unfinished home on Brentridge and admitted setting fire two days earlier
to a nearby condominium on Fountain Circle in a subdivision off Douglas
Road.

He was arrested March 16 when he attempted to siphon gasoline from the
vehicle of an undercover Monroe County sheriff's deputy, who was among
nearly a dozen officers working in a stakeout to catch the arsonist
responsible for the fires.

According to detectives, the Sykes youth, who is being held in the county
jail in lieu of a $1 million bond, admitted to setting the arson fires
because of his dislike for the development of new homes in the Toledo
suburb and the cutting of trees to build houses.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Roehrig said later in an interview outside
the courtroom that discussions have been held with the teenager's attorney
to reach a possible resolution.

"But nothing has been reached at this date," he added.

In addition to arson fires that destroyed the homes, authorities said the
teenager confessed to setting earlier fires in the condo in Crystal Water
Villas and attempting to chop down an 80-foot utility pole along Sterns
Road on March 14.

The teenager also confessed to stealing an American flag from a residence
near Sterns and painting the anarchist symbol - the letter "A" inside a
circle - on it.

Mr. Roehrig said the investigation into the incidents was being reviewed
to determine possible charges, but a decision had not been made.

Sheriff's Detective Tom Redmond said the teenager also admitted to
committing arson fires when he was 15, including the January, 2006, blaze
behind the Kroger store at Sterns and Secor roads in Lambertville that
destroyed a semi trailer and filled the store with smoke.

The teenager's parents attended the court hearing. They talked privately
to their son as deputies were escorting him from the courtroom, where he
was to be taken back to the jail.

ELP is sad to report that American Earth First! activist Frank Brian Ambrose has pleaded guilty one count of conspiracy to commit arson. In doing so he has admitted his involvement in the 1999 ELF arson on Michigan State University. He has suggested that four other people (named in the original charge) were also involved with the arson. He has also admitted his involvement in an arson on a logging company in 2000, again suggesting the other four people named in the original charge were also involved.

In addition to this Ambrose has also admitted his involvement in eleven other ELF actions occuring between 1999 and 2003. The actions include arson, criminal damage and tree spiking.

Ambrose has agreed to cooperate with the FBI in their investigation into these and other ELF actions including an agreement to testify against others.

In exchange for his guilty plea of conspiracy to commit arson Ambrose will face no other charges. He now faces a sentence of between 5 and 20 years imprisonment.

For full details of Ambrose's guilty plea/cooperation deal go to
http://midwestgreenscare.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/plea-agreement-frank-ambrose.pdf

Following this cooperation agreement ELP is denoucing Frank Brian Ambrose as a police informant and we shall not be offering Ambrose any more support either now or at any time in the future.

Last week a group of Austrian and Czech animal rights activists broke into a chicken farm to as part of an open "ploughshares style" animal rights action.

However during that raid one of the Czech activists, Michal, fell from a ladder onto a concrete floor. He was knocked unconscious, he broke his leg and badly injured his back.

ELP did not reveal the news at the time as we wanted to make sure Michal was okay before breaking the news.

The latest news is Michal has had to endure 2 operations and is still in hospital. However he is recovering but is said to be feeling very depressed. Since the accident Michal has received a few messages of support, from people who were told about the accident and these are said to be cheering him up.

Because e-mails are helping to cheer Michal up ELP has decided to go public with this story and we ask that everyone please help aid Michal's recovery by sending him an e-mail of support. The address to e-mail is realita.tv@gmail.com

Oh and there is some good news about this action. At least one hen was rescued during this action, despite the accident.

ELP has just received the following e-mail from supporters of the American prisoners Laura and Kevin:

PLEASE RE-POST!!!

Kevin and Laura had a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. The
morning session started at about 9am and they were the last case called
(after 12pm). Before the case was called, there was some discussion
between Laura's PD (public defender) and the DA, and also between Kevin's
PD (public defender) and the DA. When the case was called, Kevin and Laura
came out and were visible to the audience sitting next to each other in
the front. The defense and DA agreed to continue the hearing (meaning to
reschedule it) to a later date, March 13. Both Kevin and Laura looked well
and were allowed to wave at the attendees on their way out. According to
Laura, there is a possible plea pending, but more on that after the next
pretrial hearing on March 13.

I visited Laura today, Wednesday, and she said that she is receiving a lot
of mail and books! In fact she has too many books and has asked people to
stop sending books (she is only allowed three per month!) She thanks
everyone for the support. The last time I spoke with Kevin, he also had
received some mail which was greatly appreciated. He has moved facilities
again, so the contact addresses below should work for whereever he is.

They both have limited ability to call and can call landlines much easier
than cell phones. If you would like a call, put your phone number in the
letter. Also remember to put your address in the letter in case they
aren't given the envelope.

The updated contact info for each: (please misspell Laura's name as shown)

Maura Michlle Lungarlli, booking #1167062
[released!]

Kevin Olliff, booking #1167029
Terminal Annex
P.O. Box #86164
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164, USA