Author faces 3 months in prison for organising protest

[Annie]

From: info@parliament-square.org.uk
[mailto:info@parliament-square.org.uk]
Sent: 14 March 2006 16:46
To: JNV
Subject: Author faces 3 months in prison for organising Maya Evans
protest


PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 14 March 2006

AUTHOR FACES 3 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ORGANISING MAYA EVANS PROTEST

Thursday 16 March 2006, Bow Street Magistrates Court, 2pm

Milan Rai, the first person to be charged with organising an
unauthorised demonstration in the vicinity of Parliament under the new
Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA), will go on trial on 16
March at Bow Streets Magistrates Court. The maximum penalty for this
charge is currently three months. [A]

Eleven people have so far been convicted of participating in
demonstrations which did not have police authorisation since the
controversial new law came into force in August 2005. However, this is
the first case to come to trial of anyone accused of the more serious
charge of being an organiser of such a protest.

Milan Rai was arrested on 25 October last year for organising the
demonstration that led to the conviction of Maya Evans. [B] Rai and
Evans, who are both part of the anti-war group Justice Not Vengeance
(JNV), were arrested opposite Downing Street as they held a two-person
ceremony of remembrance, reading the names of Iraqi civilians and
British soldiers who have died in the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Rai, aged 40, is an author and has recently written two books on the
invasion of Iraq. His latest book on the London Bombings is due out in
April. [C]

Milan Rai said: 'The storm of protest in the media, critical questions
in Parliament and wide public concern about Maya Evans' conviction for
reading the names of the dead within view of the Government shows how
out of step this law is with the level of democracy and human rights we
rightfully think should be ours. We should not have to ask permission to
remember the dead. I am prepared to go to prison to oppose war and the
erosion of our rights.'

CONTACT:
Milan Rai on 07980 748 555, www.j-n-v.org

NOTES:
A. Under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005)
anyone wishing to demonstrate within 1km of Parliament must apply to the
Metropolitan Police Commissioner at least 6 days in advance or, if not
"reasonably practicable", 24 hours in advance. Permission must be
granted but the Commissioner can impose draconian conditions on the
protest including: when and where it can take place; how long it can
last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the
number and size of banners and placards used.

B. On 7 December 2005 Maya Evans was the first person to be convicted
under the SOCPA 2005 of taking part in an unauthorised demonstration in
the Designated Area. See www.j-n-v.org for further details.

C. Milan Rai is the author of 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the
Iraq War (Pluto, due in April 2006)