MOJUK: Newsletter ‘Inside Out’ 29 ~ November 2001
=================================

Dear Ronnie, & MOJUK

Hi Ronnie, I read your wee note in MOJUK and have been intending to drop you a wee note since but nobody up here by the by knows where HMP Whitemoore is. So I'm just going to sent this and take a chance it'll get to you.

I trust that you are well and getting better yet, Fast Protests have that way of focusing your mind very sharply. I know that I tended to see the whole chain reaction of Government policy all the way down the line right to the Scooby doo on my doorstep. Mine were mostly under Thatcher, but also Major and Tory Blair. The Prison Department still have me down as "Hunger, Striker" though the truth is that I'm having some difficulty keeping my weight down within my normal bounds. At six foot, thats about 14 Stone. Though I have gone down to 7 stone and into a coma many times in the past.

See, I still refuse to eat prison food. Demanding that I will only eat food supplied by my family as per the rights of an untried prisoner, which were the rules when I was sentenced in 84. 1 would say, "No! I'm not on Hunger Strike" I'm asking to be allowed to eat. Just will not swallow the crap you hand out to me. I am innocent until proven Guilty By a fair trial and, not having had a fair trial, I demand the rights of an untried prisoner" As this was not allowed, then, I was INNOCENT IMPRISONED UNDER SIEGE. HUNGERING FOR JUSTICE IN A FAST FOR FREEDOM. thus the onus for so called "self inflicted" is reversed and they are responsible for any damage or death which may result. Let me try to explain...

Of Course you will realize that the common law, (Thou shalt not kill etc) Holds greater say over the statutory law of Governments ... (Thou shalt pay your taxes and do as you are told etc) which itself holds greater sway over the local government Bye Laws. (Thou shalt not walk on the grass etc) which themselves hold greater sway over mere rules and regulations, of a government department say. ie Prison rules. (Thou shalt take whatever crap we give you etc) So you see that it works in a power structure, Priority basis. with one having the power to over rule the other all the way up the line.

Now it is a well established maxim, at least here in Scotland, that Health and safety over rules (Prison) security in all cases and without exception. Also, the great Scottish philosopher and legal writer, The Baron Hume (Humes commentaries VOLUME 1 & 2) wrote... "Where it is in violation of the bye law not to step on the grass at pain of fine or imprisonment, it is not therefore reasonable excuse not to step on the grass if one must do so to throw a drowning man a life line. For not to do so, would be culpable homicide by omission"

Thus the greater common law of preservation of life (Health and safety) over rules the bye law. Thus where there is a prison regulation which says that you are not allowed the rights of an untried prisoner. It can be over ruled by the common law and by your human right to life. Etc. What they do with me now is to allow me those rights. My right that I am innocent until proven otherwise by a fair trial.

I don't know if this information would be of any help to you in your situation and, I would not encourage anyone to undertake this course of action other than as a last resort. Or at their wits end for the preservation of their sanity. Starvation is a horrendous traumatic experience to undergo. Not only for the physical suffering endured, but also for it's psychological effects upon the one who fasts. And their families and loved ones. It is, in fact, a slow death by slow torture. It can leave a person insane if they do not go into it with purity of heart or suffer any doubt whatso ever as to the correctness of their action. If anyone wants to know an easy way to test this out, Try stopping breathing. It will save them so much more heart ache and pain.

My heart goes out to you and I hear you. Like a voice in the wilderness, where there is no one to hear you because so few care enough to listen. But let me say one thing. Try not to die just yet. Try to stay alive to stand to fight again. The lady Justice needs fight ers to stand to fight for he purity. Remember it is not "Justice" - which is in error here. It is the administration of it. Justice do' es not stem from those cold processes and impartial practices of law. For such are no more than the workings of a mincing machine. Justice does in fact flow from the hearts and souls of the common people. Justice just is, in fact, a primal cosmic force to be relied upon as well as reckoned with in the everyday interplays of life, here today on planet earth. Justice just is the very balance of the atomic structures which bind the genetic codes of our mortal souls, here today on planet earth, and where the wheels of justice no longer grind sure, but scream a primal roar in righteous outrage There in can be found the common struggle of the common people as maladministration malfunctions.

I don't think that we should be surprised that Tory Blair turned out to be a Tory. I don't think that we should be surprised that we now have the democratic choice between Tory 1 and Tory 2. Nor of the causes of the low turn out on election. Nor that the present Government is just more of the same since Thatcher. I say that if you do not expect justice and fair play from a fascist, you will not be disappointed. I say, so long as you yourself know what is right and what is wrong there will be no inner conflict. Here in Scotland, we do not Expect justice, though we know it is our just due. We go out and take it. Here we have no right if we do not fight for it, but we cannot afford the luxury of sitting back and expecting it just to come to us by itself.

So stay strong and fight on,

In justice name and in solidarity.

Tommy Campbell & Joe Steele. HMP Shots

==============================

Prisoners' property search policy is unlawful

Law Report House of Lords, May 23, 2001,Before Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Steyn, Lord Cooke of Thorndon, Lord Hutton and Lord Scott of Foscote

A policy requiring that prisoners must always be absent when privileged legal correspondence held by them in their cells was examined by prison officers was unlawful.

The House of Lords so held in allowing an appeal by George Anthony Daly from the dismissal by the Court of Appeal (Lord Justice Kennedy, Lord Justice Otton and Lord Justice Waller) on May 25, 1999 of his application for judicial review of the decision of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, acting by the Director-General of the Prison Service, to apply a policy of cell searches in all closed prisons in England and Wales which involved prison staff searching prisoner's legally privileged correspondence in their absence from the cell.

==============================

'People's Tribunal on Deaths in Custody'

United Families And Friends Campaign

Statement

In 1969 David Oluwale became the first black person to die in police custody. That was thirty years ago and hundreds of people have died in custody since then. Many of these incidents have been suspicious, yet none of the police officers involved have ever been convicted. Even when unlawful killing verdicts are returned at inquests charges against the police never follow. We have lost confidence in the ability of the system to deliver real justice.

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) has been set up to challenge this system and stop the killings of black, and white, people in custody. It is a coalition of families and friends of those that have died in the custody of police and prison officers as well as those who are killed in secure psychiatric hospitals. It includes the families of Roger Sylvester, Leon Patterson, Rocky Bennett, Alton Manning, Christopher Alder, Brian Douglas, Joy Gardner, Aseta Simms, Paul Jemmott Harry Stanley and Sarah Thomas to name a few. Together we are building a network for collective action. The manner of deaths of our relatives have been brutal - CS gas, long handled batons, restraining belts and guns are just some of the methods by which our brothers and sisters have been killed.

These institutionalised racist killings are an affront to a society that seeks to be a civilised democracy. These deaths represent unacceptable breeches of human rights and must stop. The UFFC's aims and objectives are to ensure that such basic human rights be upheld and stop deaths within custody. It is to ensure that when deaths do occur, that the whole truth as to how they were killed, by whom and why emerges. The custodial institutions must be made accountable to the communities that they serve and criminal charges brought against the officers and staff that are responsible.

UFFC was formed in early 1997 since then our consistent challenges of the Police Complaints Authority, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Government has made an impact and changes have been promised - but it is far from enough. Nothing less than the prosecution of the killers of our family members will do. On a number of occasions we have asked the Government to hold an inquiry into these deaths but they have refused. We have decided therefore to hold our own inquiry. 'The People's Tribunal on Deaths in Custody' will put the Government on trial for these human rights abuses. The Tribunal will hear the testimonies of various victims families and friends. These will form the overwhelming evidence that support our key demands which are as follows:

*Deaths in custody should be independently investigated.

*The Police Complaints Authority be replaced by a body independent of the police.

*Prison deaths should not be investigated by the Prison Service.

*Officers involved in custody deaths be suspended until investigations are completed.

*Prosecutions of officers should automatically follow 'unlawful killing' verdicts at inquests.

*Officers responsible for deaths should face criminal charges, even if retired.

* Police forces are made accountable to the communities that they serve.

* Legal Aid and full disclosure of information be made to the relatives of the victims.

The findings of the Tribunal will be presented to international bodies urging them to intervene and support us in our struggles for justice.

The Tribunal will take place on:

11th and 12th of July. Conway Hall

Red Lion Square London WC1R

=========================