(Forwarded) THE A-INFOS NEWS SERVICE News about and of interest to anarchists E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.ainfos.ca - Saturday, 9 September 2000 - ----- ____________________________________________________________________ Warsaw, Poland: SEND PROTEST FAXES IN SUPPORT OF ANTI-FASCIST PRISONER ____________________________________________________________________ Source: Laure Akai, [EMAIL PROTECTED] On September 27, Tomasz Wilkoswewski's case will be heard in court here in Warsaw. He has already served more than 4 years out of a 15-year sentence for the murder of a nazi skinhead committed in self-defense during an attack. We are trying to help publicize his case and are asking for your solidarity. Please send information about Tomek to all the ABC groups you know and ask people to write with protests. We really would like to help out in some way and we think that if different groups could take a few minutes to write letters, it would help. If they could send copies of their protests to this address, we could also translate them into Polish. We really would appreciate any show of solidarity we can get. Poor Tomek has been totally victimized in this case and needs to get out of jail soon before long-term imprisonment takes its toll on his health and his spirits. Thank you. Laure Akai Tomasz Wilkoszewski (Tomek), is from Radomsk, a medium-sized, working-class city with a skinhead problem. Tomasz was one of only a handful of anarchists in this city which has recently become more and more economically depressed as a result of the destruction of Polish industry. The local skinheads would constantly be on the prowl for these anarchists, often attacking them and in effect, terrorizing them. Tomasz could have fled the city, as so many people in similar situations are forced to do, but instead he decided he'd stay - but that he's have to carry a weapon to defend himself. In March of 1996, the worst happened. Tomasz was attacked again and fought back with his knife. Unfortunately, he cut an artery when he stabbed one of his attackers in the leg and the person died. Clearly, there was no intent on Tomasz's part to committ a murder; he was only trying to defend himself. It probably does not need to be said that local police did nothing to prevent the attacks that eventually lead up to the tragedy in the first place. Tomasz was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. At the time, he had not even finished high school. The sentence is exceptionally harsh compared to others normally given in Poland; such sentences are reserved for premeditated murders and felonies committed by hardened criminals. Gazeta Wyborcza wrote about this case years ago and presented it as a tragedy - and as the failure of society, including the police, to control such street violence that may end in murder. It is that, but even more so, it is a case of the police looking the other way as skinheads terrorize the town and then blaming the victim who would not take it any more. Tomek's case is important not only to us as anarchists, his comrades, but also to anybody who wants to put a stop to police-endorsed violence against anarchists, leftists, immigrants, and anybody targetted by these ring-wing thugs. We think that some protest letters will help; we have a petition, but think that short notes by e-mail from abroad would be even better. I am sending a small sample text but think it would be even better if people added their own personal touches; it will show more than an international campaign - it will show that people are thinking about Tomek and people like him around the world. To: Dr. Lech Gordacki, Supreme Court of Poland Pl. Krasinski 2/4/6 00-951 Warsaw 41 Fax: (48) 22 530-91-00 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] On September 27, the case of Tomasz Wilkosweski will be heard before your court. Tomasz Wilkoszeski was sentenced to 15 years in jail in connection with tragic events occurring in Radomsk in March of 1996. Tomasz was given a harsh murder sentence despite the fact that it is clear that the tragic events were a result of his attacking in self-defense after having been terrorized by local skinheads. We feel that the sentence was very harsh in light of these circumstances. Tomasz has already served 4 years of this sentence, during which time he has finished his high school education, passed exams and stated his desire to continue his studies. He has been called a model prisoner and it is our opinion that justice will not be served by continuing to keep him imprisoned. He is not a threat to society and deserves a chance to get out and lead a normal life. The longer he is denied this chance and kept in isolation with hardened criminals, the less likely he is to get this chance. We ask that you consider his immediate release.
