>Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 00:21:42 -0500
>From: Sumita_Bidaye@edu.yorku.ca (Sumita Bidaye)
>
>Please post: from the Friends of MOVE-Toronto
>
>SELF-DEFENCE IS NO OFFENCE! SATPAL RAM IS ON THE MOVE!
>
>In a recent letter, Satpal wrote:
> "I made sure that I circulated the copy of 'First Day';
>[newspaper of the MOVE Organization] amongst all the brothers.
>It makes me rage everytime I think of their situation. The blatant
>injustice is so apparent yet they continue to deny MOVE any form of
>redress. How they can possibly justify this is beyond comprehension. The
>MOVE 9 and Brother Mumia have now spent two decades behind bars, and
>despite the extreme nature of their situation, they have continued to
>struggle against overwhelming odds. We must not let them down. The time
>has now come to intensify our efforts and MOVE forward. Please convey my
>Love and Solidarity to Brother Mumia and MOVE. Freedom is our
>birthright."
> - Satpal Ram
>
>"As in previous cases of injustice, sustained pressure is the only way
>that the system has acknowledged and accepted that a miscarriage of
>justice has taken place."
>
> - Satpal Ram, 1999
>
>Satpal Ram is a South Asian man serving a life sentence in Britain under a
>charge of murder. In November of 1986, Satpal was having a meal at a
>restaurant in Birmingham. A group of six white men began yelling racial
>insults at Satpal and eventually began to physically attack him. One of
>these men broke a glass, and used it to stab Satpal in the chest and face.
> Satpal was bleeding and in fear of his life. In self-defense, he pulled
>out a small pocket-knife, which he carried and used to open packages at
>work. Both Satpal and one of his attackers were badly injured. This
>attacker refused medical attention and later died. Satpal was eventually
>charged with murder despite protesting the charge and pleading
>self-defense. Defense witnesses, most of whom spoke only Bengali, were not
>provided with interpreters. After a blatantly unfair trial an all white
>jury found Satpal guilty and the judge sentenced him to life in prison.
>
>Throughout Satpal' imprisonment, he has faced countless verbal,
>physical and psychological abuse at the hands of prison authorities. He
>is known to speak out against abuse and mistreatment in the prison not
>only against him, but against other prisoners. Over the past thirteen
>years, Satpal has been moved 59 times, a strategy known as
>"ghosting"; used intentionally to hamper any efforts to
>organize support for him and to sever family ties. SATPAL RAM IS A
>POLITICAL PRISONER: he has been targeted for abuse and for continued
>imprisonment as a form of punishment for his political beliefs and
>solidarity with other prisoners struggling for justice. Despite these
>brutal attempts to break his spirit, Satpal remains overwhelmingly strong
>and committed to the truth in his case: that he defended himself from a
>life-threatening racial attack.
>
>This December 1st, 1999, Satpal's case will be heard before the
>Parole Review Commission. He has asked that all those concerned with
>justice please write a letter to the Parole Commission, recommending his
>release.
>
>On November 16th, in solidarity with the London-based Free Satpal Ram
>Campaign, various community organizations in Toronto will be demonstrating
>outside the British Embassy to mark the 13th anniversary of the racist
>attack against Satpal. We are also commemorating Satpal's strength,
>righteousness and loyalty to the truth.
>
>URGENT: WRITE TO THE PAROLE BOARD
>
>Letters can be written to Usha Prashar, the Chair of the Parole Board,
>urging her to look closely into the case and recognize the wrongful
>imprisonment of Satpal, as well as the dehumanizing conditions he has
>withstood. Copies of all letters will also be sent to Satpal's
>lawyer Gareth Pierce. Address your letters to: Usha Prashar (Chair)
>
>The Parole Board
>Abbel House
>John Islip Street
>SW1P 4LN
>UK
>
>Send an additional copy of the letter by fax to 1-416-650-8014 by Friday
>November 19th, so we can forward this letter to Satpal's lawyer.
>
>For more info contact: sumita99@hotmail.com
>
>or call Friends of MOVE-Toronto at 416-760-2152