Prison Writings - letters from two Hostages Samar Alami Greetings, sadly, madly, but truly from my new dump. This is just a short note to say hello and to let you all know I'm generally OK and getting on, as I must. I've only been in HMP Send a few days. although there is no such thing as a nice prison, I hope this is a better place and a positive move for me. No movement on the legal front, still waiting on a response from the House of Lords. It has been refreshing to see Satpal Ram, Mark Barnsley and Frank Johnson, are 'out and about'. Great relief and inspiration/renewal of hope that "it does happen - can happen". Even though it is incomplete justice because: A) the convictions never should have happened and not so easily b) has taken donkeys years for them to be released c) the system 'never apologises' or acknowledges the 'mistake' even worse the 'stitch up'. Anyway their struggle and the struggle of their families and friends have born fruit even if it's not all 'over yet. It's great to have some joy of 'Freedom and Justice'. Congratulations to all those involved in the struggle and all the best for the future. Warm wishes and regards, in friendship and Solidarity Samar Alami, HMP Send Ripley Road Woking Surrey GU23 7LJ ========= Phil Taylor My probation date has now passed two weeks and i'm still none the wiser as to whether they are going to release me. It appears to be the same problem as last year, accommodation. They won't let me stay with my sister because she believes in my innocence and they said she would only strengthen my denial, which is utter rubbish, considering I have maintained innocence from day one and throughout the last five years of my incarceration. My probation officer is supporting my release, although that didn't go without controversy. She booked a double visit for Monday 8th July. She got to the prison at 10.30am, I had been waiting from 08.30am at the visits centre, but some kind person informed my probation officer that I did not want to speak with her. she phoned internal probation asking him to persuade me to speak with her as she needed to do her report. He told her, that there was no point in him asking me to speak to her if I had already made my mind up. At 10.55am, the visits staff came and informed me that my visitor had not turned up. I saw the internal probation officer at 10.15 that morning whilst in the visits room and had said "good morning" but he just ignored me. When I saw him at 2.00pm that afternoon, he told me that my probation officer had phoned him stating that I had refused to speak with her, when I said to him "didn't you hear me say good morning to you earlier, he responded that he heard someone, but thought it was god speaking to him. I thought to myself you sarcastic bastard. Anyway I phoned my probation office that afternoon and when I found out what had gone on, I absolutely blew my top and she did as well, We have both filed complaints with the prison governor and I have instructed my solicitor to take action against the prison service. I will pursue my complaint to where/whom ever it takes to get satisfaction. The prison service have the bloody audacity to call me a liar, because I maintain my innocence and pull a trick like this. This has been a deliberate attempt by prison staff to sabotage my parole, just because I am in 'denial' and maintain my innocence, I still have the same rights as a person who is guilty. So things are once again on hold and I am not any closer to the gate. Phil Taylor, AP 6337 HMP Wandsworth Heathfield Road London SW18 3HS Comment from MOJUK. Many of MOJUKs prison visits, about one in eight have been aborted, because we have been told either, 'the prisoner doesn't wish to see you' or "the person you have come to visit has been deported". MOJUK has had many irate calls from prisoners asking why we hadn't turned up. None of the prisoners had refused the visits and none of them had been deported, some had not been told they had a visit but the visitor changed their mind at the last minute and said they didn't want to see you. All the complaints we have made came to nothing. |