SUPPORT ANTIFA PRISONER TOMEK WILKOSZEWSKI

Tomek Wilkoszewski is in Sieradz prison already for 10 years. He ended up behind bars in 1996 after participating in a streetfight, after which one neo-nazi died. During his trial judge was not at all concerned with fact that Tomek was for few years harassed, attacked and humiliated by local nazi shinheads. He comes from village and he didn't have money for good lawyer. He was sentenced like a normal murderer. 15 years of jail for somebody acting in self defence is a good example of state "justice".

After serving 2/3 of his sentence Tomek has right to appeal for earlier release. He never caused any trouble and continued his education. Despite that there are no apparent reasons to keep him locked, he is still refused release.
During last years there were thousands of signatures collected in his support, yet court still rejects his appeal.

Probably in October there will be another parole board deciding granting him freedom. Unfortunately without professional help there are little chances that Tomek will receive it. There is a need for a good lawyer, especially in situation when from legal point of view there is nothing that should stop Tomek from being released. Leaving him on his own we would loose unique chance to get him out of this shit, in which he landed also becasue of ideas that are close to all of us. Anti-fascist and libertarian movement simply owes it to him.

We appeal to all groups and individuals to support Tomek. Money for lawyer is needed now (cost will be around 1000 USD). In case that Tomek would be released he will need money to meet his basic needs as well, as he will not have much funds. He will need help with finding work, house etc.

News:

In 2007, in spite of the fact that Tomek had a lawyer, both lower and superior court did not agree to his earlier release. They said that is it because of "not fully critical attitude towards the crime he committed".

It's been over 12 years since Tomek was imprisoned. A year ago we hired a lawyer for him and tried to release him on probation, it didn't work out.
In april 2008 there was another attempt to release Tomek on probation, the prison court again refused to release him, saying he is still not critical to the crime he committed. On the other hand, the prison authorities gave him a really good opinion about his behaviour in prison, which makes this case even more absurd.
We are still trying to release Tomek earlier and we are not giving up the fight.
Money for legal help are needed, also we need to collect money for Tomek's future.

The struggle for his release still goes on.
We still collect money for Tomek to help him in the future.

Accounts on which we collect funds:

mBank PL81 1140 2004 0000 3202 3517 7247
Katarzyna Jankowska
BRE Bank S.A. Retail Banking, al. Mickiewicza 10, 90-050 Łódź
BIC/SWIFT BRE Bank: BREXPLPWMUL
SORT CODE- 11402004

Jakub Gawlikowski
PL05 1140 2004 0000 3702 4238 2269
BRE Bank S.A. Retail Banking, al. Mickiewicza 10, 90-050 Łódź
BIC/SWIFT: BREXPLPWMUL
SORT CODE: 11402004

Write "for Tomek"

If You can, copy this appeal and send it forward!

There is also a new bank account created, where you can donate money for some products that will be sent to Tomek every month. Pease pay the donations here:

87 1090 1506 0000 0000 5001 7923
SWIFT: WBK PP LPP
BANK ZACHODNI WBK SA
RUGOWSKI SLAWOMIR
UL. NIESIOŁOWSKIEGO 16 C / 38
87-100 TORUŃ
POLAND

You can send letters, fanzines, vege food, tapes, CDs. Write to him (in English preferably) - max. 2 kg.:

Tomasz Wilkoszewski
Zakład Karny
ul. Orzechowa 5
98-200 Sieradz
POLAND

We should all get involved!

Anarchist Black Cross 2008

POLAND
FROM CIVIL RIGHTS SPOKESPERSON'S REPORT ABOUT THE SITUATION IN POLISH PRISONS (YEAR 2002).
As a result of a new, much more severe penal code, prisons and detention places are getting more and more overcrowded. Sentences are becoming more severe, it's getting harder to obtain parole passes and pardons. There are less suspended sentences. The use of temporary arrests has become so widespread, that currently Poland has the highest number of people imprisoned without sentence in Europe There are 80.000 incarcerated in Polish prisons, whose capacity can cope with only 63.000. A number of them have 50% more prisoners than they should have. The Administration isn't able to provide prisoners with 3 square meters to which they are legally entitled. (It is significant that this norm is much lower that in EU countries. For example in Turkey, which is well-known for human rights violations where the norm is 8 square meters). Recreation rooms and infirmaries are made into cells. High overcrowding has a significant impact on health, sanitary and living conditions as well as the atmosphere among prisoners. Crowding people in small spaces results in increasing stress and aggression and contributes to more frequent law-breaking. The numbers of harrassments, beatings, robberies, suicide attempts, self-injuries and rapes are increasing. Overcrowding also has the effect of new prisoners being sent to prisons as far as 300-400 km from their homes. This makes relatives visiting more difficult or even impossible for many. High increase in prison population isn't accompanied by the increase in numbers of prison-staff. It results in a negative impact on their duties. In practice it means lowering the amount of direct contact between staff and prisoners thus making the latter being left alone.