Log in

View Full Version : Imprisoned Anti-fascist Jock Palfreeman calls for solidarity



Anarchist Skinhead
17th February 2012, 20:52
Dear Comrades,
As of around August 2011 I have been convicted without right of appeal in the highest court of Bulgaria. I was left with a 20-year sentence in a maximum security prison.
However what did change in the court's decision was that unlike the first court's verdict, the court of appeal ruled that there were Roma present and there was a "physical fight between the Roma and the group of boys".
Seeing as the Roma were 2 and the "group of boys" were 15 the use of the word "fight" is being stretched. The neo-nazis from South Division Levski Ultras have denied that there was a "fight" with any Roma and even deny that Roma were there at all.
Yet the appeal court, although contradicting the neo-nazis on this point, went on to claim that the statements from the neo-nazis were truthful. Strangely the crux of the prosecutor's arguments was that there was no fight between the neo-nazis and Roma and there weren't even Roma there, hence the accusation against me that I attacked them without cause.
This was also the excuse given by the investigator and prosecutor for not bringing the Roma to court as witnesses. Now, however, the court has ruled that Roma were there and that yes there was a physical fight between the Roma and neo-nazis, but the court stops short at discrediting the neo-nazis as witnesses and made no attempt to find these "new" witnesses.
Until today the only evidence used to prosecute me were the statements from the neo-nazis themselves. There is no other collaborating evidence or witnesses to the indictment or court findings that I "for no reason attacked 15 men with the intent to kill them".
I have not changed my explanation of events from the beginning, and they remain the same after four years of being kidnapped by the Bulgarian state. I witnessed the 15 neo-nazis all attack two Roma due to the colour of their skin. I intervened to defend the two Roma. The 15 neo-nazis then attacked me and I defended myself.
For these reasons and many more we are trying to revitalise the solidarity movement with my case and all the connotations that my case involves, i.e. racism, violent neo-nazi gangs and their mates who defend them the corrupt police, corrupt courts and the corrupt prison system.
The neo-nazis wouldn't be able to attack people on the streets if it wasn't for the protection afforded them by the police and courts. It's telling when hundreds of the state's agents are needed to stop me, a lone individual. However against their hundreds I have morality, I am right and they are in the wrong and this is why it takes so many of them.
I am putting out a call to action to all those opposed to racism both on the street and in it's institutionalised form of fascism: This March 2012-organise yourselves to the Bulgarian embassies or consuls in your cities. Let the Bulgarian state know that the matter is yet settled and that you don't recognise the court's decision to incarcerate me and protect the racists.
I am also trying to transfer to Australia so as be closer to my family and to escape the persecution against me by the prison administration at the behest of those connected with my case. Yet the Head Prosecutor-Boris Velchev and his lap dog prosecutor Krassimira Velcheva have already tried to coerce me into retracting my transfer request.
I refused to retract my request and as such the Prosecutor's Office of Bulgaria is refusing to answer my requests based on Bulgarian laws to transfer to Australia.
March 2012 solidarity demands are:
• Jock's case be re-opened due to missing evidence primarily the two Roma witnesses/victims.
• The neo-nazis are punished for their past race hate crimes and prevented from committing more.
• Jock is allowed to transfer to Australia and all foreigners who wish to transfer to their countries.
Letters of demand can be sent to the following relevant addresses:
Head prosecutor of Bulgaria, Boris Velchev, Ns 2 Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia 1061, Bulgaria.
Directorate of International Legal Assistance and European Integration, Krassimira Velcheva, 2 Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia 1061, Bulgaria.
Minister of Justice, Diana Kovacheva, Ns 1 Slavanska Street, Sofia 1040, Bulgaria.
Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boiko Borrisov, Ns 2 Dondukov street, Sofia 1123, Bulgaria • President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneviev, Ns 2 Slavanska street, Sofia 1040, Bulgaria • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N2 29 "6th September" street, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria.
Solidarity to all my comrades both outside and inside.

Storm Petrel
24th February 2012, 10:25
There's a Jock Palfreeman Solidarity Demo in London at the Bulgarian Embassy, SW7 5HL.

11am, Thursday 15th March 2012.

For more info and analysis on the case, including links to TV documentaries, see the featured events for March on London Indymedia.

Or the 'Jock Palfreeman Solidarity Demo' Facebook Event which includes news articles and other info. (link available on the AF site)

See you there,
Storm Petrel.

Storm Petrel
24th February 2012, 11:14
There will be a Jock Palfreeman solidarity demo outside the Bulgarian embassy in London on the 15th of March at 11 am.
For in-depth analysis and information about Jock Palfreeman’s arrest and imprisonment visit the support site ‘Freejock’. Also there is a link on the AF site to the Facebook event, which has articles and news about the case. Or see London Indymedia’s Featured Event for March.

An application has now been lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Jock Palfreeman and there’s info about this on the ‘Jock Palfreeman Solidarity Demo’ Facebook page too.

Look forward to seeing you at the Bulgarian embassy.
for communist anarchy,
Storm Petrel.

Anarchist Skinhead
24th February 2012, 19:54
it appears that us kicking a fuss about lack of support for Jock from AF finally worked ;) Good to see some effort being put into that and we will try to be on the demo as well.

Storm Petrel
25th February 2012, 00:10
The AF's Stormy Petrel red and black flag will be definitely there.

Storm Petrel
25th February 2012, 00:35
The question arises, what will be the next solidarity action for Jock Palfreeman after the March 15th demo?

Anarchist Skinhead
27th February 2012, 15:09
it is a long run thing... lots of small actions, awareness raising and bombarding Bulgarian authorities with letters all the time... and every time and again week of actions coordinated all over the world.. but it pains me to see that lots of lefties/anarchos have lots of time to argue bullshit on forums but when it comes to practical support for the comrade they all go quiet suddenly

Anarchist Skinhead
5th March 2012, 13:59
so is there nothing happening in other places? Nobody else is joining?

l'Enfermé
5th March 2012, 15:27
Spineless cowards, 15 guys beat on 2 Roma and have one of their guys get killed and then dare to testify, falsely, in court? I would rather kill myself rather than humiliate myself like that. Some people...

Anarchist Skinhead
6th March 2012, 15:33
well, they are fascists, surely you didn't expect bravery and morals of them?

Anarchist Skinhead
9th March 2012, 01:22
so... nobody cares it seems (apart from handful of people already involved in the campaign that way or another, respect for you guys). Seems like its better to spend hours debating left-wing theories on the forum.

Ned Kelly
9th March 2012, 06:56
Is there anything happening Australia itself?

Anarchist Skinhead
9th March 2012, 13:52
I know some people did banner drops some time ago and one person tries to organise something outside Canberra embassy through freedom for jock palfreeman FB page but there seems to be no response..

Storm Petrel
17th March 2012, 22:14
On Thursday the 15th of March a demonstration was held outside the Bulgarian Embassy in London in solidarity with Jock Palfreeman. The AF’s Stormy Petrel flag and banners with ‘Free Jock’ and ‘Leeds Anarchist Black Cross’ were displayed. About 30 people turned-up to the picket including comrades from Brighton, Bristol, Norwich, Reading, London Anarchist Federation, Surrey/Hants AF, Staines Anarchists, Leeds Anarchist Black Cross, Anarchist Solidarity, London ABC, ALARM and the Traveller Solidarity Network. Leaflets explaining Jock Palfreeman’s case were handed out and a Bulgarian Flag was burnt in front of the embassy.
Photos on Leeds Anarchist Black Cross site.

Sasha
5th February 2014, 15:05
ABC-Nijmegen and the AGN set up a soli-campaign for Jock Palfreeman
Submitted on Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

Anarchist Black Cross Nijmegen (ABC-Nijmegen) and the Anarchist Group Nijmegen (AGN) are starting a solidarity campaign for Jock Palfreeman.

While writing, Jock Palfreeman is already more then 5 years imprisoned in Sofia, Bulgaria for aiding two young Romani-boys when they were under attack from a group of right-wing hooligans. Palfreeman came into a fight with the group of fascists and two of his attackers got injured of whom one died later from his injuries.

We start this campaign because, next to the just move of Palfreeman to act, his court case was a total fraud in which he got convicted to 20 years of imprisonment. While in prison his treatment is worsening. One of the reasons for this is his support for other prisoners through the by him co-founded Bulgarian Prisoners Association. In the beginning of 2013 this was reason for depriving him from his right to finish his study in prison by the prison authorities.

In reaction to this Palfreeman started a hunger strike. A few months later (October 2013) there was another incident in which he and fellow prisoners were subjected to severe beatings by prison guards.

Meanwhile the Bulgarian state upholds a pretty picture about human rights, tolerance and its fight against xenophobia1. Through this the Bulgarian government is trying to present itself as a fitting partner of the o-so-tolerant bourgeois European Union. This same state is keeping Jock Palfreeman imprisoned while he stood up against a form of injustice that everyone should act against.

Everywhere in Europe we see an increase of right-wing and xenophobic ideas. On the wind of the social crisis and in the name of 'freedom' and as false saviors of 'the people', they are surfing as vultures around the rotting corpse of the capitalist bourgeois democracy. From Poland to Spain, from the Ukraine to Greece they try to win the inhabitants – terrorized by budget cuts and driven into disparity by social demolition by the IMF, the ECB and the EU – for their ideas. They try to put the crisis on scapegoats. Scapegoats like homosexuals, Jews and in many Eastern-European countries the Romani-communities2 . This while this specific group is often already living in harsh economic circumstances. It is in this light Jock acted.

There are, when analyzing such mechanics, many complex matters at work. A large part of the Eastern-European countries feels itself – understandably – for years discriminated and neglected. This region is dealing with a torn history of communist dictatorship and after that the trampling by capitalist elites, both 'pro-Russian' and 'pro-European'. Meanwhile there has been a certain racism from West to East. The origins of the social and economic problems these fascist movements point out are disturbing and make clear all the more where the neglecting of an unprocessed history and a tormented past can lead to.

The antifascist struggle and the struggle for a social revolution together are the only path out towards true freedom for all peoples. In the struggle for social justice for everyone it is for its utmost importance to take a firm stance against all forms of discrimination. This way we can prevent, from West to East and also internally, that innocent minorities get the blame on base of their ethnicity, sexuality, social-economic position while we unmask and fight against the true origins of the problem: the international system of nationalism and capitalism; divide and conquer. The people in the front-lines of these struggle need our support.

We designed a poster (in English) to get international attention for the case of Jock Palfreeman and his current situation. This poster is currently being spread widely in Europe (Germany, Austria, Czech, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia). The poster is not only meant to inform the public but also to pressure the Bulgarian state. The Bulgarian state is currently vulnerable because of the attention it receives for the expiration of the need to have a visa in the EU for people with a Bulgarian passport. The Bulgarian state hopes when this works out well it can enter the EU-schengen-zone3.

Next to spreading information through the internet and via posters in the public space, we therefore also call for actions to put up the pressure against the Bulgarian government. They are thus far ignoring and frustrating the release of Palfreeman. Next to the pressure on the government for Palfreeman's release this can also give him some new hope.

We ask to write the Bulgarian embassies with the demand for the release of Jock Palfreeman, send along posters to make clear the story is on the streets. This is not because we are seeing the Bulgarian state as a legit entity but they are the ones who keep Palfreeman hostage.

When you or as an individual or as group want to support this initiative, you can email the AGN. We can send you posters, get your a PDF or web-version or might be able to help you out in an other way. Also we want to ask you to use your own network to spread this initiative to have an as wide reach as possible.

Freedom for Jock Palfreeman and his fellow prisoners!




Anarchistische Groep Nijmegen en Anarchist Black Cross Nijmegen
www.anarchistischegroepnijmegen.nl / http:/abcnijmegen.wordpress.com




If you are not familiar with the story of Jock Palfreeman we would like to direct you to the following article or to www.freejock.com




1 Xenophobia: an irrational fear of the 'unknown', the fear of unknown things from outside, most often in the form of the fear for strangers, foreigners etc.

2 Romani: a diasporic gypsy peoples

3 The Schengen-treaty within the EU allows that the members of the treaty have open borders for free trafic for their 'servants'