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Letter In Support Of Prague Protestors Below is a model letter you could send to protest at the jail conditions experienced by those arrested at the Prague Anti-IMF Protest. Please send it to the addresses below and also to the Czech Embassy in New Zealand. I am extremely concerned about the reports coming from Prague of 'S26' prisoners being tortured in jail by the Czech police. A press release from INPEG in Prague reveals that: Women have been strip searched by male officers and have been forced to perform physical exercises for their enjoyment. Many individuals are being denied water, food, and sleep; some are able to get food only if they pay guards, women and fascists are more likely to get water. Many people released have reported that before reaching police stations, officers took individuals to isolated areas and beat them severely. Two Norwegians that went to a police station on Trisparni Street near Vlatavska to report a stolen mobile phone witnessed behind briefly opened doors that a number of people were handcuffed to the wall and being beaten severely. This has also been confirmed by many reports from released persons that in the processing rooms groups of 40 to 60 people were asked to spread eagle while they were beaten, heads were knocked back, legs were kicked in, and numbers of men had their groins twisted or punched. Additionally people handcuffed were tossed down stairs. There is one report that 22 people were crammed into a 4 square meter cell. 30 People were detained at the Olsanska jail in an outdoor courtyard overnight with no blankets or food. They were later moved to Balkova near Pilsen. Two Germans that were detained in Lupacova, Praha 3 on Wednesday for approximately eight hours were held with an Israeli, an American,a German, and an Italian. The Israeli had been beaten severely, had difficulty walking, a black eye, and likely had a broken rib. He has been denied medical attention. People with diabetes were not fed, people that needed medication were not given it, the British Embassy had to intervene to get medication into the jail. A Norwegian woman held in jail with 30 other women witnessed a German woman with a badly injured leg where medics were denied. Right to legal representation and advice, right to interpreters, right to food and water, right to basic medical attention, and the right to a phone call have all been ignored on a widespread scale. I demand the immediate release of all the prisoners and wish to be informed when you have done this.
Signed .....................................................
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