Solidarity Statement with Prisoners in Struggle

by Geert Waegemans

I am Geert Waegemans, a political prisoner in Belgium.

I'm incarcerated since 17 oktober 2000 for an attempted assault on a car of the examining magistrate and under suspicion of a couple of ALF-assaults. Assaults I confessed and what I took responsibility for.

Through comrades on the outside I know there is an intensive, international prison struggle going on, especially in Turkey and Spain and apparently now also in the death camps of Amerikkka. Also I learned that a lot of solidarity actions take place, inside and outside of the prison walls, in France, Italy, G.B., the Netherlands, Belgium, With this statement I want to join the anarchist prisoners Mark Barnsley and John Bowden in the suggested weekends of fasting at the beginning of every month.

I consider the struggle in the prisons, against the isolation regimes, as an essential and justified struggle, resting on the most elementary human rights. As an animal rights activist I want to clearly state that for me human rights are also of the utmost importance. There are people who dare to doubt this.

Struggle for human and animal rights is the same in my opinion. Both are subjected to the laws of capitalism; humans and animals are exploited, oppressed and sacrificed to the profit madness. I hope that one also has attention and respect for this part of my struggle.

Let it be clear that prisons are no solution. The growth and the perfection of the prison system is an imminent warning. In our society a feeling of fear rules that is created artificially and sustained by those in power who're afraid of social changes. The many and massive anti-capitalist actions of the recent years give me hope that there are changes brewing. But the murder on Carlo Giuliani has to make us realise that the struggle is not battled yet. With my modest action I want to support and encourage my Spanish, Turkish, Kurdish, English, American, friends and continue the struggle with them for a just society with respect for human, animal and environment. A society where prisons, that are the dungeons of the so-called democratic society, are of no use anymore.

Respect and solidarity,
Geert Waegemans
Begijnenstraat 42
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium

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