Milan Rai, who was charged along with Maya Evans for the tiny, peaceful 2 person "reading out the names of the British soldiers killed in Iraq " Remembrance Ceremony by the Cenotaph in Whitehall last October, is due in court tomorrow.
He is the first person to be charged with organising an unauthorised demonstration under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
Although he appears too have been told that he might not be facing more than 3 months in prison if convicted, the law actually states:
136 Offences under sections 132 to 135: penalties(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 132(1)(a) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or to both.
A fine of Level 4 on the standard scale is up to £2500
Press Release:
PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 14 March 2006AUTHOR 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.orgNOTES:
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)