Soutenez les militants en Autriche: Journée d'action 4 juin

toujours_pour_eux

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21 mai en Autriche. A 6:00 du matin, une vingtaine d'activistes pour la libération/protection animale ont été réveillés par des unités spéciales de police, les agents avaient des cagoules et ont même pointé leurs armes contre certains activistes à demi-endormis qui ne comprenaient pas ce qui se passait. Ils ont été menottés et la police a fouillé pendant des heures les appartements en confisquant des carnets d'adresse et tout le matériel électronique comme les portables ou les ordinateurs qui sont utilisés comme un outil de travail par diverses associations concernées comme la VGT. Ces confiscations ont plus ou moins paralysé les organisations.

14 personnes ont été emprisonnées.

Il n'y a eu aucune accusation concrète contre les militants emprisonnés, ce qui représente une claire violation de la convention des droits de l'homme. Il y a eu seulement certaines allégations générales contre la communauté de défense des animaux. Aucune preuve de quoi que ce soit n'a été présentée, on dirait que la police veut essayer de trouver des preuves (dans les ordinateurs) seulement APRES avoir emprisonné ces personnes ce qui est absolument contraire au principe élémentaire de présomption d'innocence.

5 activistes emprisonnés ont commencé une grève de la faim pour protester contre cette détention totalement arbitraire et injustifiée. La communication de Martin Balluch disant qu'il est en grève de la faim depuis plus d'une semaine: http://vgt.at/presse/news/2008/news20080527_1.php

Les associations de défense animale pensent qu'il s'agit d'une tentative d'intimidation du mouvement en Autriche qui y est très actif et a réussi plusieurs campagnes. Il est certainement dans l'intérêt de tous les activistes de garder un œil attentif sur ce qui se passe et de donner tout le soutien possible à toute personne souffrant de répression dans certains pays d'Europe.

Faites les actions concrète en soutien d'eux, envoyez ce lettre, (en Allemagne, traduction en Anglais au dessous), à tous les ambassades et consulats d'Autriche. SVP, envoyez une copie vers chaque groupe de 20 emails pour montrer que vous êtes contre la répression illegal en Autriche ce moment!

Lettre pour envoyer:

Sehr geehrte Herr/Frau xy,

am 21.05.2008 wurden in Österreich zahlreiche Hausdurchsuchungen bei Tierschutz- und Tierrechtsaktivist_innen durchgeführt sowie Räumlichkeiten von Tierschutzorganisationen durchsucht. Des Weiteren wurden 10 Aktivist_innen verhaftet und befinden sich nun auf Grund des Vorwurfs der Bildung einer kriminellen Vereinigung in Untersuchungshaft. Es ist meiner Meinung nach an Absurdität kaum zu überbieten, dass bewaffnete Spezialeinheiten der österreichischen Polizei einen derartigen Rundumschlag gegen eine soziale Bewegung durchführen. Dieser Willkürakt ist demokratiepolitisch gesehen ein Armutszeugnis.

Ich schreibe Ihnen, um meine entschiedene Ablehnung gegenüber den gegen Tierrechtler_innen ausgeführten Hausdurchsuchungen und Inhaftierungen zum Ausdruck zu bringen! Ich fordere Sie, stellvertretend für die Regierung Österreichs, auf, die betroffenen Aktivist_innen unverzüglich frei zu lassen. Ich verstehe die Durchsuchungs- und Verhaftungswelle als Versuch, legitimen Protest zu illegalisieren und spreche mich vehement gegen diese Repression aus!

Die Konstruktion des §287a über die mutmaßliche Bildung einer kriminellen Vereinigung lehne ich ab und verurteile die Versuche, die österreichische Tierrechtsbewegung durch derartige Gewaltaktionen zu schwächen, entschieden. Die Befreiung der Tiere aus ihrem Zustand gesellschaftlich vermittelter Ausbeutung und Unterdrückung ist weder, kriminell" noch in irgendeiner anderen Form abzulehnen, sondern notwendige Bedingung einer freien Gesellschaft. Der Kampf unserer Genoss_innen ist ein Kampf, der die tierlichen Opfer vor weiterer Gewalt und Ausbeutung bewahren soll. Es ist mir unverständlich, warum der österreichische Staat diese Menschen bekämpft, anstatt mit daran zu arbeiten, die Ausbeutung der Tiere zu beenden!

Aus diesem Grund fordere ich:

Sofortige Freilassung der Betroffenen österreichischen Tierrechtler_innen!
Sofortige Einstellung aller eventueller Verfahren!

E-Mail adresses: (Groupes des 20)

bern-ob@bmeia.gv.at, wunderlich_law@bluewin.ch, genf-ov@bmeia.gv.at, austria@generalkonsulat-genf.org, oe.konsulat.vd@bluewin.ch, n.lucchini@fiduciarialucchini.com, Konsulat-at@bluewin.ch, info@oe-konsulat-sg.ch, zuerich-gk@bmeia.gv.at, bordeaux@borie-manoux.fr, consulat-autriche-lille@bvp.fr, consulat.a.lyon@wanadoo.fr, consulatautriche@renardassocies.com, consulat.autriche@wanadoo.fr, paris-ob@bmeia.gv.at, paris-kf@bmeia.gv.at, dl.austria@unesco.org, strassburg-gk@bmeia.gv.at, strassburg-ov@bmeia.gv.at, toulouse-hk@wanadoo.fr

helsinki-ob@bmeia.gv.at, roger.talermo@amersports.com, toimisto@raiha.fi, miettiset@koti.luukku.com, ilkka.lantto@antell.fi, erkki.solja@kiilto.com, tiina.niemi@kiilto.com, heikki.sippolainen@simsport.com, marjatta.vehkaoja@netikka.fi, dirk.boelens@sd.be, bruessel-ob@bmeia.gv.at, bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, pol.abt.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, esucherdienst.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, presse.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, verwaltung.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, psk.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bka.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmf.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmgfj.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at

bmi.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmj.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmlfuw.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmsk.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmukk.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmvit.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmwa.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, bmwf.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, post@bruessel.vst.gv.at, stb-bxl@skynet.be, oegemeindebund@skynet.be, sabine.meyer@oenb.co.at, eu@eu.austria.be, office@akeu.at, brux@lk-oe.be, europabuero@oegb-eu.at, psk.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at, fcbx@eupen.com, jean-paul.macharis@vpk.be, j.thomas@metalinject.com

philippe.delaunois@verslavenir.be, tallinn-ob@bmeia.gv.at, aneum@talk21.com, austrianconsulate@focusscotland.co.uk, richter@candw.ky, london-ob@bmeia.gv.at, consulate.london-ob@bmeia.gv.at, london-kf@bmeia.gv.at, dublin-ob@bmeia.gv.at, marzio.musolino@emmeemme.it, consolatoaustria.bo@libero.it, cons.austria@albinipitigliani.it, consolatoaustria.ge@libero.it, mailand-gk@bmeia.gv.at, mailand-kf@bmeia.gv.at, consaustriana@virgilio.it, consolatoaustria.pa@hotmail.it, rom-ob@bmeia.gv.at, bmlv.vait@austria.it, rom-ka@bmeia.gv.at

rom-kf@bmeia.gv.at, cons.austria.ts@alice.it, cons.austria.to@gmail.com, consolato.austria@zoppas.com, puntigam@puntigam.it, mail@oehgk.nl, den-haag-ob@bmeia.gv.at, hans.vanmoorsel@simmons-simmons.com, anders.alm@online.no, gerhard.runshaug@dnah-group.net, erikhodne@hotmail.com, oslo-ob@bmeia.gv.at, bjorn.conradi@if.no, conra@online.no, harald.overvaag@adm.uit.no, egil.tegnander@intra-group.com, konsulataustrii.wroclaw@onet.eu, konsulat@prokom.pl, krakau-gk@bmeia.gv.at, rektor@wsmib.edu.pl

warschau-ob@bmeia.gv.at, warschau-kf@bmeia.gv.at, moskau-ob@bmeia.gv.at, moskau-ka@bmeia.gv.at, moskau-ob@bmeia.gv.at, administration@austria-generalkonsulat.spb.ru, franziska-vikgren@tcg.nu, lindstrom.lulea@telia.com, william.marschall@svedala.mail.telia.com, stockholm-ob@bmeia.gv.at, sga@telia.com, barcelona@consuladodeaustria.com, cons.austria.bilbao@corzac.com, juan@cullenabogados.com, madrid-ob@bmeia.gv.at, madrid-ob@bmeia.gv.at, consulado.austria@bufetejaimelamas.com, oksevilla@yahoo.es, consuladoaustriaco@hernandez-marti.com, seb@holst-law.com

ptn@abena.dk, kopenhagen-ob@bmeia.gv.at, pma@mollex.dk, bb@mollex.dk, president@captaincook.com, ferdinands@seefriedproperties.com, consul@austria-bos.org, auskonclt@aol.com, chicago-gk@bmeia.gv.at, fbohm@nbbj.com, wegherfirm@aol.com, acwegher@aol.com, aschwarzpc@aol.com, otmark@earthlink.net, owensappeal@aol.com, info@austrianconsulatelasvegas.com, los-angeles-gk@bmeia.gv.at, Brama21@aol.com, plorio@dkslaw.com, new-york-gk@bmeia.gv.at

info@austria-ny.org, new-york-kf@bmeia.gv.at, desk@acfny.org, new-york-ov@bmeia.gv.at, tobyunwin@austriaconsulate.org, edgar.braun@andritz.com, austrianconspit@aol.com, crhermann@stoel.com, hcatricva@comcast.net, informacio@austria.info, info@rakousko.com, aoit@austria.info, austria@austria.info, stockholm@austria.info, moskau@austria.info, info@austria.info, moskau@austria.info, travel@austria.info, tokyo@austria.info, info@antosyd.org.au

herbk@crowntonka.com, ausconsutah@kolb1.com, pfredericks@austrianconsulatesf.org, Dmorrow269@aol.com, austrianconsulaz@cox.net, AustrianConsWa@aol.com, dieteru@ungerboeck.com, jhhindels@earthlink.net, washington-ob@bmeia.gv.at, consularsection@austria.org, washington-id@bmeia.gv.at, austroinfo@austria.org, washington-kf@bmeia.gv.at, culture@austria.org, eaustria@cable.net.co, autriabot.@intelnet.net.gt, austria@isb.comsats.net.pk, buenos-aires-ob@bmeia.gv.at, consuladosp@austria.org.br, santiago-de-chile-ob@bmeia.gv.at

casilla153@hotmail.com, miampaglia@infodema.cl, taipei@austriantrade.org, prague@austriantrade.org, kairo-ob@bmeia.gv.at, kairo-kf@bmeia.gv.at, helsinki@austriantrade.org, berlin-ob@bmeia.gv.at, muenchen-gk@bmeia.gv.at, tokio-ob@bmeia.gv.at, pressburg-kf@bmeia.gv.at, pressburg-ob@bmeia.gv.at, holiday@austria.info, urlaub@austria.info, urlaub@austria.info, vacances@austria.info, Holiday@austria.info, vacanze@austria.info, vakantie@austria.info

post@bmi.gv.at, berlin-ob@bmeia.gv.at, Oesterr.konsulat@thb-bremen.de, oesterreich@konsulat-dresden.de, hamburg-gk@bmeia.gv.at, konsulat@vhv.de, austriahoko-kiel@t-online.de, muenchen-gk@bmeia.gv.at, info@oesterr-honorarkonsulat-nuernberg.com, oesterreich@konsulat-rostock.de, konsulat@raethiery.de, info@oesterreichisches-konsulat.de, dominique.kraft@helvetia.ch

Traduction du lettre, (en Anglais)

Dear Mr./Mrs. Xy

On the 21st of May there have been a lot of raids against animal rights and animal welfare activists and groups. Furthermore, 10 activists have been arrested and are now blamed to be part of a criminal organization. In my opinion, it is more than absurd, that armed special forces of the Austrian police carried our such a big strike against a social movement. This act of arbitrariness is an evidence of incapacity for a democratic society.

I..m writing you to express that i..m totally opposed to the raids and arrests of the animal rights activists. I demand of you - in place of the Austrian government – to release the animal rights activists immediately. I understand this amount of raids and arrests as an attempt to criminalize legitimate protest and I condemn this repression in every way.

I reject the construct of §287a concerning the suspected formation of a criminal organisation and condemn the attempt to weaken the Austrian animal rights movement with such acts of violence. The liberation of animals from their state of socially institutionalized exploitation and oppression is neither „criminal" nor to reject in any other way but a necessary condition for a free society. The fight of our comrades is a fight to safe the animal victims from further violence and oppression. I don't understand why the Austrian state fights against those human beings instead of working for the abolition of animal exploitation .

Therefore I demand:

Immediate release of the Austrain animal rights activists!
Immediate dismissal of all prosecutions!
_________________

Typhoon

Des news fraiches ? Comment vont-ils ? Des nouvelles de leur santé ?
_________________

freedom_fighter · Militant CAV Offline Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 85

Comment peut on s'organiser ça me parait juste pour mercredi ...
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Be Active. Be Aware. Be Effective.... stay free to fight tomorrow

toujours_pour_eux

C'est déjà organisé, je l'expliquerai tout à la réunion
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toujours_pour_eux

N'oubliez pas à agir pour les autrichiennes aujourd'hui!!!
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francis cabarel · Last edited by francis cabarel on Fri 6 Jun 2008 - 05:33; edited 1 time in total

Ce 4 juin, une dizaine de militants Francais sont alles a l'ambassade d'Autriche a Paris afin d'avoir une entrevue avec l'ambassadeur au sujet des militants Autrichiens emprisonnes.
C'etait pas gagne car les militants se sont presentes en dehors des heures d'ouvertures et n'avaient pas pris rendez-vous.

Une delegation de 2 personnes ont neanmoins ete recu par un diplomate de l'ambassade.

Compte rendu

L'entretien a dure une vingtaine de minutes et fut tres courtois.
Le diplomate a avance comme premier argument que les gens arretes avaient commis des actes de delinquances sous couvert de la protection animale, que ces personnes arretes n'etaient pas des militants animaux.

La delegation a reclame une nourriture adequate pour les militants emprisonnes car ce ne serait pas le cas.
Par ailleurs, la delegation a insiste sur le fait que cette repression etait exageree et a demande que la lumiere soit faite au plus vite car il n'etait pas normal de garder en prison des militants sans raison.

Il a ete rappele que l'affaire faisait grand bruit partout en Europe et l'image de la democratie Autrichienne etait actuellement souillee.
Le diplomate a reconnu recevoir ces temps-ci moult courriers sur cette affaire des militants emprisonnes, et s'est engage a contacter au plus vite les autorites de Viennes et a rendre compte a la delegation de ce qu'aura dit le gouvernement autrichien.

A suivre !!

Libby

BRAVO !! Faut garder un oeil là dessus maintenant...
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oslo93 · Modérateur Offline Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 893

Dr Günter Platter ministerbuero@bmi.gv.at (Ministre de l’intérieur)
Frau Dr Berger minister.justiz@bmi.gv.at (Ministre de la justice)
Dr Heinz Fischer heinz.fischer@hofburg.at (Président fédéral)
Dr Alfred Gusenbauer alfred.gusenbauer@bka.gv.at (Chancelier fédéral)

Voici une suggestion de message à leur adresser que vous pouvez adapter à votre guise :

Titre du message : Peaceful Austrian people detained in jail with no charge?

Texte du message :
Dear XXX (remplacer XXX par le nom du destinataire)

I've read about what is happening to animal rights activists in Austria : 24 homes, appartments and offices raided by policemen, activists being woken up by masked people aiming their weapons at them, peaceful people being detained in jail with no charge ...
Is all that really legal in your country? I doubt it.
10 activists arrested and held on remand. 7 out of the 10 on hunger Strike, including Dr Martin Balluch who has not eaten for over 2 weeks!
Up to now, Austria was a model for other countries on progress for better treatment of animals.
Now it seems that it is shameful regarding human rights.

Sincerely,

Name : écrire ici votre nom
Country/city or town : écrire ici les noms de votre pays et ville de résidence

Pour votre information, lire la traduction du message en français.

Vous pouvez également protester (en français) auprès de l’ambassade et des consulats d’Autriche en France :

Ambassade de l'Autriche
6, rue Faber - 75007 Paris
Tél: 01.40.63.30.63
Fax : 01.45.55.63.65
Internet : http://www.amb-autriche.fr
Courriel : paris-ob@bmaa.gv.at

Strasbourg, Consulat Général
29, avenue de la Paix - 67000 Strasbourg
Tél: 03.88.35.13.94
Fax : 03.88.25.19.88
Courriel : strassburg-gk@bmaa.gv.at

Marseille, Consulat Général Honoraire
27, cours Pierre Puget - 13006 Marseille
Tél: 04.91.53.02.08 /04.96.10.07.50
Fax : 04.91.53.71.51
Courriel : consulatautriche@renardassocies.com

Ajaccio, Consulat Honoraire
10, rue Bonaparte
20000 Ajaccio
Tél: 06.08.05.24.88
Fax : 04.95.21.22.68 ou 01.45..3.11.21 (hors saison été)
Courriel : consulatautriche-ajaccio@hotmail.com

Bordeaux, Consulat Honoraire
86, cours Balguerie-Stuttenberg - 33300 Bordeaux
Tél: 05.56.00.00.70
Fax : 05.57.87.60.30
Courriel : consulatautriche.bordeaux@fr.oleane.com

Lille, Consulat Honoraire
Adresse : 18, rue Jean Moulin - BP 87
59003 Lille Cedex
Tél: 03.20.22.75.00
Fax : 03.20.93.16.70
Courriel : consulat-autriche-lille@bvp.fr

Lyon, Consulat Honoraire
27, rue de la Villette
69003 Lyon
Tél: 06.30.93.92.74
Fax : 06.30.93.92.74
Courriel : consulat.a.lyon@wanadoo.fr

Nice, Consulat Honoraire
6, avenue de Verdun - 06000 Nice
Tél: 04.93.87.01.31
Fax : 04.93.87.59.92
Courriel : consulat.autriche@wanadoo.fr

Papeete, Consulat Honoraire
Boulevard Pomare - B.P.4560
97800 Papeete
Tél: 00.689.43.91.14
Fax : 00.689.43.91.14
Courriel : paulmaetztahiti@mail.pf

Toulouse, Consulat Honoraire
32, rue des Cosmonautes - BP 34171
31031 Toulouse Cedex 4
Tél: 05.61.20.82.50
Fax : 05.62.16.13.62
Courriel : toulouse-hk@wanadoo.fr

Typhoon

Amnesty Internationnal a écrit une lettre à l'Autriche !

http://www.vgt.at/presse/news/2008/news20080605_1_en.php
_________________

Typhoon

Voilà une réponse que j'ai reçu :

toujours_pour_eux

ALERT: 09. June 2008 (19th day of the hunger-strike!) - Ten innocent animal-rights professionals and activists are being arbitrarily held captive since nearly three weeks in the dungeons of Vienna under trumped up charges and without any concrete evidence has been provided by the state authorities concerning any wrongdoing of the detainees.

The health of those on hunger strike is deteriorating rapidly! The head of the registered animal-rights charity VGT (http://www. vgt. at), Dr. Dr. Martin Balluch, is already so weak that he had to be transferred into the sick-bay of that Austrian detention centre, where he is held without any evidence concerning the official charge.

As from today, Monday, he might have to be put on a life-saving drip and be force-fed.

Balluch, a world renowned and passionate advocate of public education and legislative change has a double PhD in physics and philosophy and is a former colleague of Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University.
See: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

Like in the other 9 cases, also his lawyers were not even given the possibility to have the legally guaranteed full access to the court and prosecution files. The Austrian state is far off its own constitution, its laws and the European Convention on Human Rights. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, ECOTERRA Intl. and many other human rights organizations are very concerned and all animal-rights organizations worldwide are outraged about the state of affairs in Austria. For three of the detainees the remand prison detention has been extended - the other seven still were not even given a hearing. The kangaroo-court in Vienna ordered now for all 10 detainees to be kept for up to 4 more weeks in remand prison...For those people on hunger-strike this can mean death!

The head of the governmental medical team responsible for the medical health of the detainees left for a "conference" over the weekend, which is why no independent and trusted doctor can even speak to those responsible for the health of the prisoners until Monday. Independent and trusted medical attention is still withheld.

Further investigations into the Austrian filth and the underground links between the brothers Peter and Werner Graf, owners of the last fur-selling Austrian chain of department stores, and certain highest political office bearers as well as all their connections to these atrocities against the animal-rights professionals are under way. It seems that there are serious implications concerning members of the party of the Austrian conservatives (övp) and business interests behind this affair as the Austrian animal-rights movement has achieved many progressive law changes for the benefit of animals in the last years and the conservatives, who are in a coalition government and seem able to manipulate the media, want to beat back. Another lead points to a revenge action involving Mrs.Maggie Entenfellner, a leading columnist at the large newspaper KRONENZEITUNG (www. krone. at), and her pig-breeding brother, whose products were removed from the shelves of one of Austria’s largest food-store-chain REWE, after a scandal, which had been uncovered and made public by animal and consumer rights protectors. Austria is infamous for deadly scandals involving highest political office bearers and underground business affairs.

PRINCIPIIS OBSTA!
Austria actually is a lovely country having a stunning history, a pristine nature and mainly very kind people, who made it happen that great achievements in arts (world famous music, architecture et al) and science could be achieved in the past and one should not agree with the superficial negative picture, which was portrayed by also making clear mistakes in the London Times recently (permalink: http://zurzeit. twoday. net/stories/4977160/). But Austria has had always this dark side of her sole and needs help that especially the present governance can not elaborate their deeds too much out of this dark spot. The Austrian government in the moment certainly needs serious guidance to find back its way into the circle of humane nations. Friends of Austria therefore will help Austrians to overcome the present obstacles, even if it has to be by letting Austria stand a bit in the cold - so that the present governance is overcome and Austria finds the more warm, light, lovely and humane side of her nature again.

Today Austria is for Europe what Zimbabwe is for Africa! Totalitarian rogue states under mad-dog governance! The pretence of being "civilized" only makes it more difficult to deal with it concerning Austria and the actual atrocities, like arbitrary detentions hitting on members of the civil- or animal-rights-movements by invoking flawed anti-terrorism laws can simply not be tolerated by the free world.

It must therefore be ensured by the international community that:

1) Austria will not be allowed into the planned Mediterranean Union

2) Austria will not be allowed a seat in the United Nation Security Council and its respective application is refused

3) Austria’s status (observer only) with the West European Union must be frozen or revoked.

- until it has a governance which respects human rights, its own constitution and its own laws.

Facts:
- Most if not all activities of animal rights activists and other groups in Austria and their legally registered charities were and are clandestinely observed by Austrian state organs. Phone calls, e-mails and other communication of people, who openly say that they stand for the legally enshrined rights of animals, have been recorded and are listed in all details since at least the year 2000. People are now even afraid to place their signature on petition sites, since they fear to become entangled in the illegal data-mining of the Austrian state.

- If you want to know how it feels to live as an innocent person under such surveillance - please read here from such case in Germany: http://events. ccc. de/congress/2007/Fahrplan/events/2381. en. html But at least in Germany there are some checks and balances in place and the courts slap on the wrists of the spooks, though they also do not yet provide for full legal redress: http://einstellung. so36. net/en/soli/992

- The addition of paragraph 278a to the Austrian penal code was introduced to combat serious organized crime (like drugs and human trafficking or money laundering and fake money production / circulation - all with the intent to amass substantial wealth from illegal activities as a necessary part of the applicability of that paragraph), but it is now misused to spy on ordinary citizens, who only defend the legally enshrined rights of animals and struggle for their better legal protection.

- During the raids on 21. May 2008 several arrested people were refused their basic right to contact a lawyer or next of kin, which sums up to forced abduction. All communication equipment and the data stored (incl. even the cell-phone registered private phone-numbers of people) had been immediately confiscated by the state organs and the police therefore also removed all the evidence of crimes against animals, collected by these organization over many years as well as the databases concerning their contacts and sponsors. These raids were carried out not only concerning those organizations, which have a link to the detainees, but even against not accused organizations. The authorities so far refuse to return any of this vital equipment and data, though not a single specific accusation has been made and the prosecutor could not provide any detail for any wrongdoing of any of the persecuted detainees or raided organizations.

- The raids were carried out in a totally unacceptable and inhumane manner. I one case the arrested man in hand-cuffs was placed naked, only having his underwear, in front of the stormed apartment. Clearly visible for all neighbours he had to stand there for two hours!

- Numerous other people in addition to the 10 detainees had been arrested that morning and at the investigation rooms horrific scenes unfolded, because the police and state security interrogators tried with all perfidiousness to play one person against the other, even not shunning away from inventing cases of sexual affairs targeting to split known partners and to get them at each others throat. A standard approach was to ask the interrogated animal-rights supporters to reveal issues, which could be used against the the 10 detainees, because these detainees had tarnished the good name of animal protection movement. The days of the Inquisition are back in Austria.

- The state prosecution was not able to point out a single specific misdeed concerning any of the detainees. They are kept now since almost three weeks in detention centres, because the authorities claim that if released the detainees could abscond or hinder further investigations. This means that innocent citizens in Austria are holed up in detention centres without clear charges brought forward and held under dreamed up and trumped up charges of conspiracy to further criminalize them, their friends and families. The last time such happened in Austria was in the past dark days and under Adolf Hitler (an Austrian), which did lead to World War II. Serious vigilance and intervention is therefore required from the international community to avert the further deterioration of human rights and the legal system in Austria.

- The legal representation has not even access to the files, which are claimed by the state prosecutor to contain indications pointing towards planned criminal activities, because also here it is pretended that the legal right of the defence lawyers to get access to the files of the prosecution would again hinder further investigation. So what is this? The Austrian state arrests innocent citizens, claims that they have sufficient evidence, but refuses to lay it open, as required by law, because they fear that the (presumed non-existing) evidence could not be fully established if the detained people would be released. All 2000 pages of documents presented by the prosecution so far do not provide any evidence in any single case for any wrongdoing and certainly not for any charge that would justify to invoke the provisions of newly introduced paragraph 278a of the Austrian penal code. Other vital prosecution files are continuously and illegally withheld from the defence-lawyers and their right to file a complaint is bluntly refused by the state.

- In addition the legally enshrined duty of the state prosecutor to inform at least the defence lawyers of the detainees about important decisions, like the transfer of prisoners to other locations, is violated daily and often the legal representatives are only informed by media releases about such grave decisions of the prosecution. Their official complains are ignored or even bluntly denied.

- 7 of the 10 detained animal rights professionals and activists went shortly after their arrest on hunger strike and several have vowed that they would start to take food only, if they either would be set free or officially accused of any wrongdoing with detailed charges. Their health status is deteriorating fast, since the hunger strike is now going on since nearly three weeks for some. What is specifically grave is the fact that even medical attention had at first been totally refused for several detainees.

- State terror and violations of basic human rights is happening daily in these cases e.g. by hindering access to defence-lawyers or medical assistance, locking the non-smoking detainees together with chain-smoking hard-core criminals, not allowing them to wash themselves or change clothes or not even providing them the necessary application papers to receive books or other reading material from friends. Medical aid is withheld but DNA samples were forcefully taken against the will of these state-hostages.

- Though members of the official opposition in Austria have raised serious questions about all these happenings even in parliament, neither the lady-minister of justice, Frau Dr. Maria Berger, who just had hardly survived a non-confidence vote in the Austrian parliament, nor her government counterpart of the Ministry of Interior, Herr Günter Platter, have responded. Austrian Green-Party speaker Brigid Weinzinger: “Unless the Prosecution Service has concrete charges that they can bring against the detainees, their detention on remand is clearly unlawful. It is prohibited by law to keep a person locked up on remand as an attempt to discredit legal animal welfare campaigning, or because the legal campaigning on behalf of animals causes some politicians discomfort. Withholding documents from the detainees’ lawyers is a deliberate attempt to prevent them from being properly defended. This constitutes a massive infringement to their rights.

- Official letters sent by numerous human rights organizations from all over the world to these officials remain unanswered. Even the Nobel-peace-laureate Mrs. Elfriede Jellinek, who publicly stated her solidarity with the detainees, was not respected by the Austrian state moguls and their ministerial zombies.

- Other innocent citizens like the green-party member of a local constituency-council Matthis Podgorski had been enlisted in the prosecution files without that he has any connection. It took several lawyers and a massive effort to get his name deleted from the prosecution files and the state prosecutor tried to play this horrific mistake down by stating that the inclusion of that name was "just for registration purposes"! In Austria one therefore can end in a file of a "terrorism"-case just for "registration purpose". The majority of Austrians feels therefore already that they are haunted by over-active ghost-hunters like in the days of the Nazis.

- These cases of state repression and persecution of innocent citizens have already triggered many demonstrations inside Austria but also abroad and in front of numerous Austrian embassies and consulates.

- It can not be ruled out that the Austrians want to demonstrate how one easily can achieve arbitrary detention without legal base (EU und specifically UK plans to introduce legislation in order to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge are under way.)

- It further must be observed that the Austrian media, obsessed in the moment only with football (soccer), are under heavy pressure by the state to not inform the general public about these state-sponsored acts of terror and oppression. It is already feared by many that a free press seems to no longer exist in Austria and a recent representative public opinion poll did provide the stunning result that already 88% of all Austrians believe their politicians to be constant and outright liars.

That police chiefs and other officials in Austria are liars already has been stated before: http://www. vgt. at/presse/news/2007/news20070530_en. php

- While Austrian state-security has been beefed up now by numerous special forces members from 18 other European countries to step up surveillance and counter-strike readiness for the time of the ongoing European football championship they seem to use this opportunity to play anti-terrorism-warfare-games: http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/world/europe/7432157. stm

Xenophobia is obvious in Austria and the drive to let Austria become again a totalitarian state can be seen everywhere. That Austria now even lost in their very first football-match in the ongoing EURO 2008 championship will make the henchmen of state atrocities in Austria only more dangerous for foreigners, the civil rights movement and the animal protection groups. But like in the lost footbal-ball game for their foul play, the Austrians must get the penalty, the red card and a dismissal for their blatant human rights violations and state atrocities against innocent people.

Victor Schonfeld published in the GUARDIAN article: Who’s being caged? (http://www. guardian. co. uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/05/animalwelfare. austria) that DDr. Balluch wrote forebodingly some time ago, "the moment the politicians can portray you as terrorists and are believed, they have won this battle, no matter what." When he (DDr.Balluch) collapsed due to his hunger-strike on 06th of June 2008 he was saying "I simply cannot believe this can happen in Austria."

Background:
At around 6:00 am on Wednesday 21th May 2008 black-hooded and fully armed units of the Viennese "elite" police force WEGA, infamous because several of their members already had been prosecuted for serious crimes involving drugs or robbery in the past, stormed several apartments in Vienna. Some of the residents were woken up in their beds with guns drawn on them. A total of twenty-three (23) apartments, houses and offices were attacked, searched and ransacked in Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria and Tirol.

In many of the apartments the WEGA squad broke forcefully into the houses and kicked in the doors. The officers stormed the apartments like in bad Bollywood movies. Only after the residents had been intimidated, “secured” on the wall and/or put in handcuffs (in some cases in front of their children) did the police start the searches. Apparently in Austria a police officer can continue to serve, though he has been prosecuted, if his charge is less then 12 month jail. A police officer (SWB - BzI), who had thrown his wife - who later claimed she "slipped" - out of a window at the first floor, allegedly even continues to teach school-children in Vienna about "crime-prevention".

The reason given for these searches was the accusation: Formation of a Criminal Organization according to §278a of the criminal code, an act introduced recently and similar to the AETA (Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act) in the US in order to criminalize animal rights activists.

There were arrest warrants for 10 of the people targeted by the searches.

The basis of the arrest warrants was the accusation of Danger of the Destruction of Evidence (because, for example, the targeted people communicated via encrypted e-mails, which is perfectly legal in Austria as elsewhere and common, even recommended practice among business people or e.g. medical doctors) as well as Danger of Committing a Crime (partially because the targeted people have been active in the animal rights scene for a long time). Both lines of argumentation stand in blatant opposition to the presumption of innocence. The accusation of forming a criminal organization is completely and arbitrarily constructed and used only to hold the detainees responsible for all unsolved criminal offences of the last few years. The accusations are not substantiated by any evidence; on the contrary – the authorities apparently only hope to find via the house searches evidence, which would confirm their suspicions . But up until now and also in the future the suspicion of Forming a Criminal Organization can not be corroborated neither by evidence nor vague assumptions.

The targeted persons were brought directly from their apartments to the police detention centre at Rossauer Lände and were brought before a custodial judge, after which the targeted persons were being remanded to Wiener Neustadt.

During the house searches a large part of the targeted persons were denied any possibility to call a person of their confidence or legal representatives. Friends who wanted to observe the legality of the actions were also denied and not given any opportunity to speak to the targeted persons.

The actions of the authorities were far out of any proportion. The early morning storming of the apartments by masked WEGA officers with drawn weapons can only be described as completely excessive.

The Austrian State violates article 6 sec. 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and its own penal code (§ 8 StPO), whereby every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty as well as its legislation concerning the right of every arrested person to immediately contact a lawyer (art. 4sec. 7 PersFrG ). The state violates obviously also the right of the defence lawyers to have access to the files of the prosecution (§ 51 sec. 2 last sentence of the Austrian StPO) and because it did not inform the arrested people concerning the reason for their arrest and detention the Austrian state violates superior European law (art. 5 sec. 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights).

It remains unclear what the specific motive for these operations was. It can be assumed that the time and realization of these operations have a political background, when even the general public in Austria (86%) press for having the rights of animals enshrined in the constitution as it is the case in Germany or Switzerland already. In any case unpopular political actions are being criminalized and made impossible. Should this wave of repression, which obviously was decreed from those in power, remain unquestioned or unchallenged, this wave will certainly hit other forms of resistance and areas of activism.

The repression of leftist structures reached a new high point in Austria with this wave of house searches and arrests. House searches by masked WEGA officers who kick down doors and and wake sleeping persons with drawn weapons have not been employed against leftist groups in the past several years. The last time that a similar house search was made happened after the Opera Ball Protest in 2001 directed against the EKH (a squat and autonomous centre in Vienna).

The widely applied surveillance of telephones and internet (such as the collection of call data, call locations, profiles of movement, transcripts of telephone calls, requests for IP-addresses from internet providers, e-mail logs, etc.) offer the prosecution and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (somewhat like the American FBI) an immense number of possible contacts as to who all could be part of any organization in order to criminalize them. The police and the judiciary have no evidence or proof – they are investigating without any grounds following the motto, maybe we’ll get lucky and hit something. A cruel Austrian fishing trip, which also can be seen by the fact that in the hearing on 06.06.08 one of the detainees was offered to be set free, if the computer passwords and passwords for encrypted mail would be provided. The legal system and the legal minds of the officials in Austria seem to be retarded to medieval level.

This sort of action from the officials does not only ignite fear in the targeted persons, which already amounts to state-terrorism per se, but friends, family and other activists are intended to be frightened by such actions as well. These excessive and brutal police operations try to communicate that any legal and democratic resistance against the establishment will be broken by all means. European civil liberty, human- and animal-rights movements therefore say: "We can not allow ourselves to be isolated from one another!" and call for further mass-action.

In addition it must be stated that also the many national and international donors to the persecuted Austrian animal-rights organizations (though the organizations themselves were and are not even charged and continue to operate legally) see their rights massively violated, since at least some of their private data were confiscated by the state spooks. This violates grossly the guaranteed confidentiality and security of private data of hundred thousands of innocent well-wishers across Europe and worldwide.

A class-action suit against the Austrian state concerning this blatant violation of privacy and data-security should be set in motion.

Did the police incorrectly quote witness statements?
All week the Austrian authorities have waged battle against the politically inconvenient animal protection movement. On Wednesday, 28 May, the public prosecutor for the region of Wiener Neustadt, just south of Vienna, sent to the accused activists’ lawyers further documents pertaining to their investigations. These documents show that the most significant incriminating evidence is from P., a crown witness. The police contend that P. stated that he is convinced that one of the accused activists is guilty of an arson attack.

P., on the other hand, contests this in no uncertain terms and has since faxed written assertion to the law firm of attorney Traxler clarifying that he never made such a statement. The police’s criminal investigation department apparently tried to take advantage here of a conflict between P. and one of the accused. P. has explained that he was asked several times to act as a crown witness.

Harald Balluch, chairperson of the Association Against Animal Factories, comments: "As it already stood, the events of this last week were a scandal and a dismantling of democracy!" But now it is truly becoming explosive: It has become apparent that the authorities are using massively incorrectly quoted witness statements in order to wage battle against the Austrian animal protection movement - this makes for the consummate political scandal."

Scandal in Raids on Animal Protectionists: Charges against police for abuse of authority
Charges are being brought against the policewoman leading the investigations on the grounds of abuse of authority. These charges follow the grievance procedures already initiated due to the excessive nature of the police raid and due to the numerous human rights abuses in last week’s searches by the police.

First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Socialists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Socialist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak for me.
Pastor Martin Niemoeller

We are asking for solidarity for those targeted by this wave of repression. It does not matter if you are vegan, feminist, anti-fascist, contra surveillance, and against atomic energy or police brutality – we are all targeted, even if only a few are directly affected at the moment!

Ten animal rights activists have been sitting now in pre-trial detention jail for over two weeks. Their detention is based on a trumped up charge of “Forming a Criminal Organization,” under §278a StGB (penal code), similar to the US-induced anti-terrorism-law of Germany or the AETA of the US.

We wanted to see what Austrian Lady-Judge Toifle Goster had to say, but just before the hearing on 06.06.08 she "fell ill". The quickly implanted inexperienced replacement, also a lady-judge, couldn’t help herself at the hearing on 06.06.08 and during the ten-minutes-only sessions per detainee and therefore just ruled for three of the detainees that their remand prison detention has been extended, while the other seven still have to get a hearing. If there will be another hearing on Monday, June 9 2008 remains to be seen.

Some of the prisoners were moved from the detention centre in Wiener Neustadt to Vienna (Justizanstalt Josefstadt) and Eisenstadt respectively, without any reason and without notifying the attorneys. We can only speculate as to the reasons – the prosecutors ramble on about the danger of destruction of evidence – but we believe the intention is the scattering and splitting up of the protests and demonstrations in front of the jail in Wiener Neustadt.

"We refuse to allow ourselves to be intimidated by this new attempt of repression, and we will not stop letting the imprisoned animal rights professionals and activists know that we will not abandon them and will continue to support them." states the legal aid group in Austria and says further:

We will continue to travel to the jails – solidarity is more than just a word! (see also: http://antirep2008. lnxnt. org)

Because some of the prisoners were moved, the addresses for writing letters have also changed. Some of those imprisoned do not want their names published, we accept this and ask you to take consideration of this fact as well. Besides donating money for the defence-lawyers and -actions, organizing protests or benefit parties, you can also support the people in prison by writing letters or postcards to them directly:

Adresses of prisons and jails:
.. * Justizanstalt Josefstadt
Wickenburggasse 18-22
A-1082 Wien / Vienna
* Justizanstalt Wr.

Neustadt
Maximiliangasse 3
A-2700 Wiener Neustadt
* Justizanstalt Eisenstadt
Landesgerichtsstraße 4
A-7001 Eisenstadt

How do I write to the jailed animal rights activists?
Normally the name and date of birth of the addressee as well as the address of the respective jail has to be written on the envelope – but as not all of those in jail wish to have their full names published, there is also the possibility to send letter to our post box.

Here’s how:
Place the letter in an envelope, seal it and write the first name (in pencil) on it or if you don’t know that either, then write nothing. Important: On the back side of the envelope there must be the name and address of the sender. A post office box is also possible.

Then place this envelope (or multiple envelopes at once) in a larger envelope and mail it to: Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, A-1070 Wien

We will then complete the data as well as the address and forward the letter/bring it to the post. It would especially nice if you could send an extra stamp (if you are writing from Austria). If you know the names and dates of birth of those in jail, then send the letters to the address of the respective prisons.

All prisoners will be pleased to receive lots of mail with greetings of solidarity!

Do not write anything in your letters which could harm/be incriminating to you or to the prisoners.

If you feel unsure, then do not bother writing it – everything will be read by the prosecutors!

There is more detailed information (in German) about how to write prisoners here http://no-racism. net/article/111/

Please do not send any other things like food, CDs, books, or t-shirts – the prisoners are at the moment only allowed to receive letters, that is written pieces of paper, everything else is not allowed and will be returned to the sender!

In the jail in Wiener Neustadt letters can also be personally delivered, everywhere else they must be sent by mail!

Here again are the names from some of the prisoners: Christoph, Jan, Kevin Kroemmer, Leo, Martin Balluch, Sabine. These are not all the names, but we want to first check with the other prisoners how and whether they want their names released. Kevin told us that he would like us to release his contact info so that he can receive mail quickly and without complications.

This here is his address:
Justizanstalt Wr. Neustadt z.H. KEVIN KROEMMER geb. 18. 07.
1978 Maximiliangasse 3 2700 Wiener Neustadt

Because we cannot assume that the prisoners will stay in any one certain place, we offer you to send your letters to the prisoners in an envelope (first name is sufficient and if you do not know the people personally, then you even do not need to address your letter of support to anyone specific). Please send your letter(s) of support enclosed in a further envelope to Antirep 2008, Postfach 101, A-1070 Wien, Austria (EU) and we will forward the mail directly to the prisoners.

Send letters of protest to:
Home Secretary; Mr. Günter Platter ministerbuero@bmi.gv.at
Minister for Justice; Frau Dr Maria Berger minister.justiz@bmi.gv.at
Federal President; Dr Heinz Fischer heinz.fischer@hofburg.at
Federal Chancellor; Dr Alfred Gusenbauer alfred.gusenbauer@bka.gv.at

Please take action: http://www. vgt. at/actionalert/repression/emailappell/index_en. php

Mail the Authorities:
http://www. vgt. at/actionalert/repression/emailappell/index_en. php

Online Petition
http://www. vgt. at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en. php
http://www. wikileaks. org/wiki/Category:Whistleblowers/Austria
_________________

francis cabarel

trinayani

16th to 18th JuneTelephone and Email Action Days

Support the 'Kleider-Bauer-Campaign'Solidarity with the Austrian Animal Liberation Activists!
The Austrian state bares its teeth. Since the 21.05.2008 the animalrights movement sees itself confronted with an incomparable wave ofrepression. In the early morning units of the special force WEGA 23raided appartments and offices of animal liberators at the point of thepistol in Vienna, Graz, Tirol and Kärnten. 10 persons were arrested.They are being accused of the formation of a criminal organisation,concretely of the participation in so far unsolved direct actionsagainst animal exploiting companies. The affected are especially personsand groups, who have been participating in the campaign against thefashion company Kleider Bauer. Furthermore, this affected numeroussocieties for the prevention of cruelty to animals and the vegan societyAustria, who are supposed to be taken away their means of existence bythe diversion of computers and donation data, as well as the destructionof infrastructural means such as telephone networks. These massive attempts at intimidation yet also caused actions ofsolidarity with the accused and arrested. In Vienna and Graz there weresolidarity demonstrations on the very same day in which up to 200 peopleparticipated. A few days later, animal liberators demonstrated inStockholm, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich in front of agencies for Austriansabroad and demanded the immediate release of the prisoners. In this context there is a call to an action week against fur trade ofthe Kleider Bauer Group. Kleider Bauer has been the target of continuousprotests by animal liberators in Austria for two years. The demand isnothing less than the end of the fashion boutique chain?s fur trade.Write emails to the addresses listed below, call them and demand theimmediate end of fur trade. The attempts of state repression toconstrain the actionability of animal liberators will not be leftunanswered. With our solidarity with the accused and arrested we willshow the state that its threatening gestures cannot change anythingabout our determination. We will not be intimidated but keep on fightingfor animal liberation!

Contact Kleider Bauer Via Telefone and Fax: +43(1) 91944-0 (try direct-inward dialings as well, e.g. -200, -201,-202...)Fax: +43(1) 91944-10

Via Email: info@kleiderbauer.at; office@kleiderbauer.at; wg@kleiderbauer.at; pg@kleiderbauer.at; eb@kleiderbauer.at ; peter_graf@kleiderbauer.at; werner_graf@kleiderbauer.at; peter@kleiderbauer.at; marjan_firouz@kleiderbauer.at; joana_bogdanova@kleiderbauer.at; ernst_legat@kleiderbauer.at; michael_stocker@kleiderbauer.at; sehriban_akyapu@kleiderbauer.at ; filiale@fil38.kleiderbauer.at; filiale734@kleiderbauer.at; filiale781@kleiderbauer.at; filiale13@kleiderbauer.at;

Support the accused and arrested! Organise demonstrations in front of Austrian embassies and demand therelease of the prisoners. Demand the end of repression in phone callsand emails! (More information on www.antirep2008.lnxnt.org)

Eh oui je suis une grande paresseuse, g fait un copier/coller de mon mail !!
Mais on peut ecrire en masse a kleider-bauer en soutien aux detenus autrichiens les 16, 17 et 18 juin.
Pour les les manifs devant l'ambassade ca va etre peut etre un juste pour organiser ca.

toujours_pour_eux

Publicite Xooit · Offline

Publicité	Supprimer les publicités ?

Laurent · Offline Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 23 Localisation: Liège

A l'heure actuelle,un militant autrichien est toujours en grève de la faim.
Je pense que des visites spontanées dans les ambassades autrichiennes sont urgentes.
Si des belges sont disposé à me suivre à l'ambassade autrichienne,qu'ils prennent contact d'urgence avec moi.
DIDDENLAURENT@HOTMAIL.COM
_________________
Animal defense is in my blood,
it's a part of me,a part of my life