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Operation 'Coxswain' continues

People Against the Terrorism Act (PATA) • 14.03.03

The case against the six people who were arrested and charged in December last year under anti-terror legislation, as part of an operation against political activists supporting the struggle for democracy in Turkey, continued at Bow Street Magistrates on Monday 10th March. The case had previously been adjourned four weeks prior and was adjourned for a further four weeks until Tuesday 8th April. The prosecution said that they had to serve additional papers and that they would do this on 24th March. They have indicated that they intend to pass this over to the crown court now. The next appearance at Bow Streets magistrates is likely to be the last time the defendants appear at a magistrate's court.

Since being charged in the middle of December last year the defendants have had their case adjourned three times, all because the prosecution was not able to serve papers. The prosecution gave a brief outline of the case against each of the defendants, although that was not necessary at this stage. It included: a photo of one of them playing a guitar on stage at a concert; receipts of money transfers to a legally registered magazine in Turkey; accounts of people being stopped when legally entering the country with legal publications; and surveillance records of people being on a May Day march in London. As this is likely to be the last time that the defendants appear at the magistrates and because any trial at the crown court is unlikely to start until September there should be a large turn out at the next hearing on 8th April.

Incidentally the name the police gave the operation was `Coxswain'. Before you all go running for your dictionaries it means someone who steers a boat (apologies to those who knew that). What fun the spooks have in thinking up names for their operations. Perhaps it is a clue. Whose hand is really on the tiller?


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.
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Index: Current Articles



28 March 2003

 

Other Articles From This Issue:

 

"Stop the Deportations of the Irish in America!"
Sean O'Neill

 

The Horse's Head
Anthony McIntyre

 

"Sprint to Baghdad"
Karen Lyden Cox

 

Bombing Basra to Baghdad
Anthony McIntyre

 

Operation 'Coxswain' Continues

PATA

 

25 March 2003

 

Fitting Ireland into Foreign Moulds
Paul Dunne

 

Republican Not Bandit Country
Anthony McIntyre

 

Denigration of Heroes

Proinsias O'Loinsaigh

 

Dodging Double Dicks at the Freak Dance
Eoghan O'Suilleabhain

 

Bombing Baghdad Rather than Ankara
Anthony McIntyre

 

 

 

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