Calling
all Marelec prisoners
From April 19 until April 21 the Marelec arms fair took place in
Amsterdam. There were several protests against it, organized by
"Ontwapen!" and other groups and individuals. Now several
people are being fined, despite being wrongly arrested.
What happened:
On Thursday, April 20th, there was a noise demo at the Maritime
Museum where all the bigwigs were dining. In order not to let this
dinner, during which much lobbying and deal-making went on, pass
undisturbed a group of people made sure that a dissenting voice
would also be heard. This noise demo was then outlawed by mayor
Cohen without any explanation, and the demonstrators had to disperse.
Earlier that afternoon a journalist had already been told that the
police intended to arrest everyone, that every dissenting sound
had to be suppressed immediately. This became obvious when people
started to leave (there had been enough noise to make our point
that arms dealers who make money at the expense of humans, the environment
and animals are not welcome) but were closed in en masse and arrested
for failing to obey the order to disperse. Shortly after we walked
away we were surrounded by the ME riot police. They completely ignored
the fact that our group was by then already 50 metres away from
the door where we had been making noise, and that a large part of
our group had already crossed the bridge and couldn't be boxed in
by the police anymore.
After the arrests the prisoners whos identity was known to the police
were released, NNs (those who remained anonymous) were kept inside
until six o'clock the next day (by then the arms fair was over).
The NNs were released without any summons to appear in court and
it was assumed they would not be prosecuted. After all, punishing
people who DID indeed comply with the order to disperse would be
very stupid indeed. But... the justice system has shown its stupid
side and everyone whose name is known has received a 110 Euro fine,
"pay up or else"...
We advise everyone NOT to pay this fine. You are entitled to have
an independent judge look at this case, and you will almost certainly
be acquitted. If you don't pay the fine it will first be raised
by another 40%. If you still don't pay you will receive an invite
to appear before a judge. We are asking everyone who has received
this fine to contact either the "Ontwapen" group or the
Amsterdam Arrestantengroep, and let them know what you want to do.
If you are under age, you might be asked to come to the "Halt"
bureau for an alternative punishment (like community service). You
don't have to accept this either and can ask for a judge to assess
the case.
At 19.00 on Thursday, June 8th at the Filmacademie, Overtoom 301,
Amsterdam (up the stairs until you can't go any further, then turn
right into the space where the Samba-band sometimes practices) we,
people from "Ontwapen" and the Amsterdam Arrestantengroep,
are having an evaluation meeting for everyone who was arrested at
the Marelec arms fair. We want to talk about our options, what lawyers
are available, whether we want to file official complaints, etc.
If you can't make it to this meeting do please let us know if you
want to go to court rather than pay the fine, and whether you want
to file a complaint.
Please tell everyone who was at the Marelec arms fair about this
meeting, pass it on!
Contact:
ontwapen@hypocrisy.org
info@arrestantengroep.org
More info:
- http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/04/35765.shtml
- http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/04/35697.shtml
- http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2006/04/35727.shtml
http://www.ontwapen.org/
*This website is under construction and therefore not yet complete*
