Home | 1st September 1995 | Issue 38

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! THE WORLD IS UNDER ATTACK!

SchNEWS
Download PDF

"WE'VE WON!"

JUDGE DECLARES CJA 'DRACONIAN AND UNLAWFUL'

A community of travellers were celebrating a historic victory yesterday when a Court  judge declared the Criminal Justice Act 'Draconian' and unlawful.

Victory came as the Crowborough travellers successfully mounted the first legal challenge of an eviction order made under section 77 of the new Act The test-case decision sets a new legal precedent and means all Councils must now fully investigate the needs of travellers, particularly women and children, their health and education before attempting an eviction. Wealdon District Council may appeal.

Over in the secluded 42-acre Phie Forest, an old army training ground in East Sussex, the travelling community could be found chanting "we have won! we have won! we have won!" About fifty people live on site, including a dozen young children. One said "It means this whole way of life will be looked at and thought about". Another traveller was simply glad that "at last someone has understood". The Public Law Project took up the case on behalf of Tracey Foster, whose daughter Chelsea suffers from a serious medical condition. They fought the Judicial Review on the grounds that Council has a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need under the Children's Act. Jubilant spokesman Ravi Lobier told SchNEWS: "We're over the moon, guv'nor!".

The Criminal Justice Act removed the statutory obligation to provide sites for travellers, repealing the 1968 Caravan Sites Act. Although yesterday's decision doesn't reverse this process it means in effect that all Councils must now seriously think about re-establishing a network of traditional sites. "The expense of court cases and investigation could prove too expensive," explained Steve Staines, of Friends, Families and Travellers Support Group, who hailed the court decision as "a victory for human rights."

Judge Sedley summing up said "Wealdon Council had not made the proper enquiries about the humanitarian needs of the travellers before obtaining the removal order [and had not acted in] a compassionate manner". He added that the Act was "a Draconian piece of legislation". The ruling also means that eviction orders now only apply to those on the land when the order was made. Fresh applications must be made for all new arrivals.

A separate hearing concerning travellers in Lincolnshire was complicated by complaints of "nuisance" which were partially upheld. They could face eviction today but may appeal. Meanwhile it's back to the High Court on Monday for the Public Law Project to counter a case of 'rural fascism' in Cornwall.

Thirty travellers who have been living in Kerrier for five years put in a planning application to stay on the land, but the District Council want to evict before them before they get the chance to be heard. There's been no consultation and councillors have not even visited the site. In the light of the Crowborough decision, however, the case looks likely to be thrown straight out of court. Is this the dawning of a bright new day? After a summer season of demonised travellers caught on an eviction merry-go-round, only time will tell. Friends, Families and Travellers Support Group have set up the Nomad shop and are seeking charity status. Tel: 01458 832371. Public Law Project; Tel: 0171 436 0964

RAMBLERS: ENEMIES OF THE STATE!

The 60-year-old Rambler's Association led a "rambling revolution" on Wednesday in defiance of the Criminal Justice Act. Ignoring barbed wire and 'Keep Out' notices they protested against exclusion from an area of the Pennine moor that has become the exclusive reserve of high-fee paying grouse shooters. 

Frustrated by protracted negotiations the ramblers have declared a policy of "less talking and more walking". Chairwoman Kate Ashbrook stated: "This action follows successes in opening up hundreds of paths unlawfully obstructed by landowners. We are going to fight like never before to win back what should be a fundamental human right - the right to roam". The CJA makes trespass a criminal offence. A spokeswoman added: "Walkers and climbers could be effected as much as hunt saboteurs and we'll be closely monitoring the effects of the new law." A major rally for Open Britain Day takes place on Sunday, 24th Sept Tel: 0171 582 6878

WHO'S LAND IS IT ANYWAY?

In Canada Native Indians have barricaded themselves in and are under armed siege in a stand off with the Mounties over land access. The Indians have been prevented from doing their traditional sun dances. A demo in support takes place in London this Sunday at the Canadian Embassy, Grosvener Square at 3pm. Tel: 01635 521770

COMPETITION TIME!

Protest group The Land Is Ours have joined with Friends of the Earth, The Green Party and Friends and Families of Travellers to launch a competition to uncover the very best and very worst landowners in the country.

Today between 50% and 75% of Britain is owned by 1% of its people. In Scotland just 600 lairds own half the country.

The first entries already look unbeatable: A group of travellers living on a patch of wasteland for over ten years decided they'd try and find out who owned it with a view to buying. As it turned out the landowner didn't even know be owned the land and when he found out he simply ordered the travellers off, refusing to negotiate. Another case uncovered in Oxfordshire tells the tale of a landowner fencing off a large section of his local common while the men of the village were off fighting in World War 2. Locals are still trying to get their piece of common back! Send 500 words nominations and entertaining prize ideas by Nov 1st to: Landowners Competition, The Land Is Ours, Box E, 111 Magdelen Rd, Oxford, OX4 1RQ. Tel: 01865 722016

SAVE THE COURTHOUSE!

Beloved birthplace of a million dreams (and the SchNEWS), the Courthouse was squatted late last year as a meeting place for all those opposed to the Government's Criminal Justice Act plans. In just three days the derelict 100-yr-old former magistrates office was transformed into a thriving community centre with cafe, meditation space, crèche and free entertainment for a free people. Over 1,000 people a week came through the doors. Despite vowing in court to turn the building into a homeless hostel following the eviction it still remains empty, bricked-up and fortified. Now Guernsey-based American owners Alford Developments have applied to rip it down and build yet more offices. In a poetic twist the Council will decide the fate of the Grade II listed building exactly a year to the day since it was re-opened to the public. Please send your objection by Sept 19th quoting ref 95/ 0892/FP to: Environmental Services, PO Box 780, Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JP.

* Since being evicted from empty beach chalets, a community of homeless people have taken to high-profile actions setting up camp in public areas. As SchNEWS went to press Brighton Council won a court order banning them from practically every park and square in Brighton. "There is nowhere left to go," said one, Alex. "What kind of solution is this?". The squatters plan more imaginative stunts - watch this space!

* Yes, the SchLondonlets, a list of derelict properties, is available from the Justice? office if you fancy squatting in the big smoke. SQUASH have promised to keep us up to date as and when new potentials come in.

GET CONSCIOUS II

Going from strength to strength is the new monthly direct action video, Conscious Cinema, out today. A kind of SchNEWS on video, it is available on loan on condition it is publicly shown - not just home viewing!
Featured this month: FAIRMILE TREE VILLAGE, NON! TO FRENCH NUKES - GO LE SHOPPING!, WINDSOR TREE PROTEST, RALLY AGAINST THE CAR RALLY, BLACK DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY, NEWBURY NIGHTMARE, MORE CRAP ARRESTS, LAND MINES, McBOLLOKS, TRAVELLER'S VICTORY, COURTHOUSE & WEST PIER - SQUAT'S GOING ON? plus MILLIEMATIONS & REAL PEOPLE PRESENTERS! 
Essential information for action! Video 60 mins available from 
Conscious Cinema, PO Box 2679, Brighton, BN2 1UJ. Tel: 01273 679544. 
Can't be rated highly enuff! Top stuff.

SchNEWS IN BRIEF

Hundreds of Mancunians have been hit by a Poll Tax collection scandal. The desperate City Council, trying to recover a staggering £41 million in unpaid bills, hired agents who picked out names and address at random from phone books. One ineligible 14-year-old, Antony Wells, was threatened with the bailiffs for non-payment of £126.03! No need for debt enforcement now, of course. The Poll Tax has been replaced by the National Lottery- tax on the daft Scratch-cards are now the UK's number one consumer item, outstripping Coca-Cola sales three to one

*** The Conservative party have decided to do no more TV party political broadcasts for the time being. They discovered that support actually went down after their last two were broadcast!

*** An unprovoked attack on a small group of travellers by site security on the opening night of the Guildford Folk and Blues Festival left one man with serious bead injuries. The following night marauding security attacked the Guildford Hunt Sab stand leaving two needing treatment. In both instances police watched on and did not act. In fact one person was threatened with arrest while reporting the second incident, being told: "Go away or we'll nick you for obstruction". Complaints of widespread drunkenness, violence, drug dealing, ticket touting and sexual harassment by security were all accepted by the organisers off the record. However, in response to A live BBC radio report of the trouble the organisers insisted that the £27-a-ticket pay to play event was a total success, claiming the traveller's hospitalisation was due to his diabetic condition! I Must've fallen over his insulin or something. "The police just watched - if this event had been a rave they'd have had the riot police in," commented one angry reveller, Chris.

*** Already hit by over 50 CJA arrests, road protestors in Kent are still standing defiant on the proposed route of the disastrous A299 Thanet Way. Last week 100 sheriff officers, security guards and police launched a dawn raid to evict the Clapham Hill site. Activists are now in the woodland - the last piece of land left to defend. Rumours abound of imminent eviction and they need - and deserve - your support Tel: 01227 275404

*** The Fairmile protest camp against the A30 from Exeter to Honiton is still going strong. They have a wish list for: together people, rope, nets, climbing equipment, gas stoves, tools, food, money, everything... Please help! 0585 278 156/7

*** Well done to Lambeth Green Party and Reclaim the Streets who have been awarded "The Best Pressure Group Social Innovations Award' for '95. Pissed off with the lack of cycle access and waiting for councils to sort it out, they painted cycle lanes themselves. One DiY cycle route painted in Fulham in 1990 is there to this day. The Institute for Social Inventions, a world-wide group with loads of famous patrons decides on the annual award

*** Have you heard the one about the brave pigeon in Dover? Usual scenario: protesters, barrier, police, and a pigeon lands in the middle of the road, dodging traffic. Now, the protesters all being animal lovers, they ask the PC with the beard to please stop the traffic -"We don't hold up traffic for animals" - but thanks to a kind driver who stopped, our hero was saved and walked proudly under the barrier through the applauding crowd. One protester was beard to say "What we need is more pigeons like him"

 *** A warning to Brighton protestors: We all seem to think that one place we are safe from the CJA is our home town, as Brighton Council have always said they are against the Act. It aint so. Last Saturday night 3 van loads of police turned up to break up a party at the Stanmear Park traveller site. They threatened to arrest the 50 ravers under the CJA (and under other obscure laws concerning bike lights). Beware!

*** The French boycott continues as Nuke Tests are due to start next Saturday (8th). If Chirac fails to relent and it all goes BOOM I head straight for the French Embassy in London (58 Knightsbridge SW1). See yer there!

Party and Protest

TUES 5th Rainbow Circle 'Celebration of Life' Camp 0171 794 7093

*** WED 6th Stonehenge Campaign Open Meeting, 7pm, 99 Torriano Ave., LONDON, N5

*** London DiY gathering organisation meeting, 7.30pm Cooltan Arts Centre

*** THUR 7th What's Wrong With Unions? Anarchist Communist Fed, discussion meeting, Community Centre, 62 Marchmont St. London 8pm

*** FRI 8th Walton Folk Festie, Walton on the Maze, essex 01255 670087

*** SAT 9th-11th Glasgow DiY Conference 0141 265066

*** SAT 9th-10th Festival of Global Rights, Brockwell Park LONDON 0171 403 3888

*** SAT 9th CoolTan Party! Fabulous Freedom Network benefit. Three weeks to closedown but the Phoenix will rise! Greenland here we come. 11pm-8am

*** Green Left Convergence 2.30pm Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York, 01904 672489

*** Quercus Tribe Full Moon Acoustic Family Gathering at the protest camp in Fairmile, 01404 815729 

SUN 10th Benefit Gig for Dover Defence Union 01342 303166

*** MONDAY 11th 100th Day of Suffering Mass Sit-Down. Anti-live exports action in Dover. Kent Defiance Alliance 01304 374064.

and Finally

A poverty-stricken SchNEWSreader was involved in a vain attempt to save face today with the imminent return of his girlfriend by pledging undying love in print. "I'm sorry I was busy typing this 'til 7am" said the pitiful scribe, "and I know it's your birthday on Monday, Bagage [for it is her] but I can't afford the flight to Rio'. They were list seen, thumbs out, heading for Prague - Oy, Wozza, come back and hurry up for fuck's sake! Oh and Colin can you do next week? Byeee!

DISCLAIMER
The SchNEWS warns all readers not to attend any illegal gatherings or take part in any criminal activities. Always stay within the law. In fact please just sit in, watch tv and go on endless shopping sprees filling your home and lives with endless consumer crap. you will then feel content. Honest.

Subscribe! Keep SchNEWS free! Just send 1st class stamps (eg 20 for 20 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?). Mark 'Original' if you plan to copy: SchNEWS c/o on-the-fiddle PO box 2 600  Brighton East Sussex BN2 2DX. Tel: (01273) 685913.

Justice? meet at the new kensington, Kensington gardens, every Wed @ 8pm

Tea's up - SHOCK! And biscuits! Nice one, Dyl!

SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England
Phone: +44 (0)1273 685913
email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!