Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Global Day of Solidarity with Animal Rights Political Prisoners in Austria

In solidarity with the 10 animal rights activists in Austria who have been rounded up and jailed without being charged, NYC activists staged a protest at the Austrian consulate today.

Dr. Martin Balluch, Austrian activist and head of Verein Gegen Tierfabriken (Association Against Animal Factories) has been on a hunger strike since his arrest (this is day 15) and the Austrian government is planning on hospitalizing him and force feeding him on Friday.

"Stop the suffering, stop the pain - The Austrian Government is to blame!" shouted the activists while holding signs and banners with slogans such as "Free the Prisoners" and "Free Martin Balluch".

Repost of an international action alert: "On May 21st special forces of the Austrian police forced entry to 23 homes of animal right activists across Austria. 14 persons were charged with suspectedforming of a criminal organisation (§278a of the Austrian penal code) in connection with direct animal right actions. Ten persons were arrested and are in prison as suspects. At first nine were sent to the Vienna Neustadt prison and one to Innsbruck who has been brought to Vienna Neustadt on 28.05. Fiveprisoners are in hungerstrike at the moment, at least one since the 21.05. (date today: 29.05.). The organisation die tierbefreier e.V. is also affected by this wave of repression.

The way searching was done is indescribable. The homes and apartments were entered with pulled weapons; doors were smashed, despite tenants inside, sleeping. A complete chaos was left, PCs, files and other papers confiscated. No evidence of any criminal offence could be proved against the 14 persons; they were arrested purely on suspicion. Apparently only being engaged in animal right activities for some years was enough reason to arrest them.

Since the files handed to the lawyers could not prove any criminal offence, application for immediate release was filed. Imposing remand under these circumstances is absolutely against human rights.

One of the prisoners, Dr Martin Balluch, who is the President of the Austrian Association Against Animal Factories, has been on hunger strike for thirteen days now....the situation has become critical and they need your support.

Please contact the Austrian authorities requesting that they take immediate action to prevent this ongoing, and unlawful, repression of a legtimate animal rights campaign!"

Statement from WAR: We demand that the animal rights activists being held by the Austrian government either be released or charged. In a civilized society it is unconscionable that a government would respond to the compassionate activism of its citizens with heavy handed political repression and the kind of thuggery that was evidenced by the WEGA raids. FREE THE PRISONERS NOW!

Video Clip:

Protest Political Repression at Austrian Consulate in New York City

W.A.R. (WIN ANIMAL RIGHTS) is an independent non-profit organization not affiliated or associated with SHAC, SHAC USA or any other group or organization and does not conduct or incite any illegal activity. The above information is not meant to incite or request any illegal actions or illegal activities of any kind. If you have any questions about the legality of any act, we encourage everyone receiving this (or the) action alert(s) to check your local laws and ordinances before proceeding to do anything.