Miners' defence campaign launched During the course of the miners' strike over ten thousand miners have been arrested, along with fifty women supporters; 5,000 miners have been injured on picket lines and four have died. Miners and their families have not only had to endure the physical hardship of the strike, they have also found themselves in the dock for offences ranging from assault on police officers to that of 'unlawful assembly'. The miners and their families have committed no crime except to fight for their jobs and communities and to have kept on fighting even when the TUC and other trade union leaders had failed them. The full armoury of the state has been unleashed to punish the miners for their resistance. They are political prisoners.
A campaign is being launched in Britain to raise money and solidarity for those in prison and to support their families. Many of them have also been sacked by the National Coal Board and will, therefore, face added hardship when they are released. Rank and file activists internationally have shown massive support for the strike and it is vital that this kind of support continues in defence of the prisoners and their families. Dick WITHECOMBE
Garry Millward; S. Neath; Terence CapStick; Clive Thompson; Robert Latham; Ian Black; Paul Truman; Michael Eyrebowho; M. Hobson; Steve Wakefield; Neil Marshall.
In H.M. Prison, Lincoln, Greetwell Road, Lincoln LN2 4BD: Steven Wakefield; Steven Gregory; Victor Gregory; A. Edwards; S. Meeth; Jimmy Lees.
In H.M. Prison Featherston, New Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 7PU; John Ellis; Mark Glore; Peter Newbold; Billy Taylor; Mark Grove.
In H.M. Prison, Ranby, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 8EU: Robert Andrews; M. Wyville; Peter Cooper; Ron Staniland; Paul Brothwell.
In North Sea DC, Frieston, Boston, Lancashire PE22 OQX: Todd Booth; Chris Hyman; John Wallace.
In H.M. Prison, Strangeways, Southall Street, Manchester M60: Chris Thomas;
In H.M. Prison, Wandsworth, PO Box 757, Heathfield Road, London SW18: Terry French B (five years)
Dick WITHECOMBE
During the 11½ months of the miners' strike out of the 10,000 miners arrested more than 150 have been imprisoned. Many more are being held on remand -for instance over 100 in Armley in Leeds, Yorkshire, alone. Towards the end of the strike, the courts began to take full advantage by hearing many cases that have been pending for weeks, some up to six months.
The first woman, Brenda Greenwood, was jailed in Risley for defying bail conditions that instructed her to keep away from the picket at Ollerton in Nottinghamshire, when she attempted to prevent her husband from returning to work!
In South Wales, 103 miners are still waiting for the courts to hear their cases. They are accused of causing criminal damage during an occupation of the cranes at Llanwern Steel Works. In Kent, miners leader Terry French, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. sentenced to live years imprisonment.
In Pontefract, Yorkshire, a major campaign has been established in defence of nine miners arrested (one of whom has been sentenced to six months imprisonment) in the small mining village of Fitzwilliam, in connection with incidents on July 9, when police invaded the village late at night wreaking havoc in their wake - leaving three people in hospital. In Lancashire, Bold NUM spokesperson, Dennis Pennington, has been jailed for three months.
Many miners who have been arrested have had stringent bail conditions imposed on them, even before their case has been heard in court. Peter Smith, Branch Secretary of Fryston colliery in Yorkshire was banned from the county and forced to live in Southport, separated from his wife and family. When eventually his case was heard, he was found to be innocent of all charges.
The courts were being used to break up the determination of striking miners. International Viewpoint 25 March 1985
Police were concentrating on arresting miners who they identify as the main strike organisers and spokespeople, who also seem to be incurring the most severe sentences.
In the majority of the coalfields, defence campaigns are being established. Several have existed for months, raising money for the families of miners in prison, organising messages of support, and major rallies, meetings and publicity. Recently a national campaign was established with striking miners and miners' wives attending from all the coalfields with the exception of Durham and Lancashire represented.
Below is a list of miners who are in prison - overall there are over 150. Messages of support are especially welcome:
In H.M. Prison Armley, Leeds, LS12 2TJ:
In H.M. Prison, Haverigg, Millam, Cumbria: Peter Hurst G78282
In H.M. Prison, Cardiff, Knox Road, Cardiff CF2: Russel Shankland 883752; Dean Hancock 899410;
In H.M. Prison, Sudbury, Derby DE6 5H: Andre Bradley; Kevin Neal.
In Sudbury Open Prison, Derby DE6 5HW: David James; Peter Pearson. Michael South well.
For more information about the Yorkshire campaign, write to: South Yorkshire Defence Campaign, 73 West Street, Sheffield. Tel: Sheffield 701384.
A national campaign for the prisoners is about to be launched and information about this can be obtained from Martin Walker, 01 854 8888.
### Dennis PENNINGTON
On February 19, Dennis Pennington was condemned to three months in prison for offences on the picket line. Dennis is a supporter of Socialist Action, a British revolutionary socialist paper and during the strike he was closely involved in the solidarity work of the sections of the Fourth International.
He and two others were accused of acts of violence and damage to private property. In fact, they tried to turn back a car full of scabs. The two other miners arrested with Dennis were eventually released but Dennis was charged, obviously because of the leading role he has played in the strike.
Dennis might be lucky and get out of jail by April 19 on good behaviour. Perhaps the most serious thing is that Dennis stands to lose his job as a result of his imprisonment. On February 20 he received a letter from the National Coal Board saying that he was to be sacked. As he himself said in a letter to the PSO, the Belgian section of the Fourth International, "The judge is not only denying me my liberty, he has also condemned me to unemployment.'
Dennis is a member of the Bold, Lancashire branch of the NUM which is campaigning for him to get his job back. Meanwhile, messages and letters of solidarity are of vital importance. All messages should be sent care of the NUM Branch, Bold Miners' Welfare Institute, Fleet Lane, Parr, St Helens, Merseyside. The NUM will forward all letters to Dennis.
MIDDIE CACT MIDDLE EAST.