Animal Welfare and Environmental News: (Indymedia) Activist Jailed For Sequani Protest

[Indymedia UK]

Following a lengthy police investigation and an 18-week trial costing
over £4.5 million, the operator of a website criticising animal
testing company Sequani, has been jailed for four and a half years for
organising a legal protest.

In an unprecedented case, the press were barred from reporting the
trial, witnesses were bussed into the court and mobile phones were
even confiscated from the public before they entered the gallery and
the jury. The atmosphere was more akin to a terrorist trial than one
relating to non-violent protest, which made the charges appear far
more sinister than they in fact were. The choice of judge was also
considered highly questionable considering he is a keen hunter.

Sean Kirtley was found guilty under Section 145 of the SOCPA law for
"Interfering with the contractual relationships of a Laboratory" for
allegedly organising protests at Sequani Limited and associated
business associates. Police say disorder took place on a occasions
during protests and claim as the organiser that Sean is responsible
for any criminality that takes place.

Kirtley will be lodging an appeal. Kirtley's defence lawyer said:
"This case sadly goes to show that animal rights campaigners have been
singled out and ordinary criminal law principles have been contorted
simply because, in the Government's eyes, powerful commercial
interests, founded on animal experimentation, are at risk from
effective, open and popular protests."

We urge the press to cover the case because this is not just an issue
of an animal rights protester, whose views we understand many members
of the media may not share. But as Voltaire once said: "I disapprove
of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
We hope that this proves the case today.

Most importantly, the case has serious repercussions on the freedom of
publishing protest information on the net and the right to protest
peacefully, particularly where commercial interests are concerned.

The SSAT website was closed down and a new campaign against animal
experimentation at Sequani has been started by other activists –
http://sequani.wordpress.com

Interviews can be arranged with the legal team and campaign press
officer by contacting:

Name: Chris Dowdeswell
Tel: 01452 539673 / 07912 039069
Email: warn@riseup.net

full story:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400889.html

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