Dublin Anarchists Picket in Support of Spanish Hungerstriker

dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice Thursday August 28, 2008 14:33 by WSM

Anarchists from the Workers Solidarity Movement will be staging a wildcat picket at the Spanish Embassy at 17a Merlyn Park, Ballsbridge today from 6pm to highlight the case of political prisoner Amadeu Casellas who is currently on his 68th day of hunger strike.

Contrary to Spanish law, which limits prison sentences to 20 years, Amadeu has been in prison for 22 years, making him the longest serving prisoner in Catalonia.

Because of the continued denials of the authorities to release him Amadeu began his hunger strike; the only way for him to make his voice heard amongst those which want to see him imprisoned.

“Amadeu is serving a sentence for robbing banks in the 70’s and 80’s to finance worker struggles,” a WSM Spokesperson Mark Malone explained

“Regardless of whether you approve of his actions his detention beyond 20 years contravenes the Spanish government’s own laws.”

Malone added
“This is clearly a case of political imprisonment, punishing Amadeu for his involvement in prison protests and for refusing to subordinate himself to the prison authorities.”

“He is now approaching 68 days on hunger strike and having contracted hiv in 2000 while in prison he is unlikely to be able to survive much longer.”

“We demand Amadeu’s immediate release from prison and would warn the Spanish state that should they allow him to die his blood will be on their hands.”

From La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper:

"Casellas was 14 years old in 1973 and was working in a factory in Balenya when he discovered anarchism. He believed in armed struggle, and the neccesity of revolution to change things, even today, when he has turned 45 years and is convinced that guns don't fix anything, he considers anarchism, still to be the definite solution.”