update March 30

Anarchists Monica and Francisco Sentenced to 12 years in prison

Today March 30, 2016, it was notified to lawyers and companions the judgment of the National Court condemning the anarchists Monica Caballero and Francisco Solar to 5 years in prison on charges of “injury”, plus 7 years for “damage with terrorist purpose “, with a total of 12 years in prison for each They were acquitted of charges of “belonging to a terrorist organization and conspiracy” against the Monastery of Montserrat. Demonstrations will begin today against this ridiculous sentence.

‘We are presented with the challenge of extending the struggle and solidarity, to defend our ties and our ideas, denying that their world is reduced to the four walls that keep them incarcerated.Our jailed  comrades will  always be present in our struggles and our daily lives.There is no “inside”, nor is there an “outside” only enemies of the state and authority.Death to the state and long live anarchy !.’

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Update 1st April: Pepe Galán, Francisco lawyer, says he “totally disagrees with the statement that they are the perpetrators” and thinks that “there is no evidence in this regard.” And he will appeal the verdict.

The good news that they were cleared  of being a terrorist organisation and the finding that the supposed terrorist group doesn’t exist should apply equally to all the defendants from the Pandora and Piñata anti anarchist police raids, undermining their future trials!

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The defense demands absolution for Monica and Francisco and denounces the “bias of the police investigation and the judicial proceedings”  

translated from Diagonal with thanks

summary of Day 1.

The big news was that the police have no firm evidence against Fran and Moni who deny ever visiting Zaragoza! All they have is a video of 2 people leaving a bar, you can’t see their faces but the police  claim their ways of walking are similar to those of Fran and Moni. Seriously! That’s the evidence to spend 44 yrs each in jail.

The second big news was that both the judge and prosecutor chosen are extreme right wing zealots famous for their outrageous opinions and judgements. The 3 deciding magistrates (there is no jury) are the same who refused bail for over 2 years, and are openly part of the prosecution. And the police are openly trying to brand Francisco and Monica with leading a grand anarchist insurrection conspiracy, in the hope of getting a green light to attack all anarchists and progressive movements.

On Day 1 every time Fran or Monica mentioned their anarchist beliefs the judge,   Ángela Murillo, interrupted to silence them.. we focussed on this bias. But other reporters focussed on their actual words, which turn out to be important, because both implied that as anarchists they are against terrorism as being authoritarian.

Far from wanting to become martyrs  promoting an anarchist insurrection they appeared to align themselves with the anarchist majority in Iberia, which recognises that mass public agreement is necessary first. (This could be important in the light of recent events like the ‘Black December’ actions which appear to blur the line between legitimate Direct Action and a return to tactics used a century ago).

much more on Day One HERE  http://wp.me/pIJl9-7yQ

update 2nd day:

Continue reading “Final Day: Monica and Francisco Trial. ‘Viva Anarchism!’”