Prison for direct action campaigner who refused to back down
Huw | 25.11.2009 20:38 | Culture | Globalisation | Social Struggles
Osian Jones, a full-time organiser with the radical pressure group Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society), was today (25 Nov 09) imprisoned for 28 days having steadfastly refused to pay over £1000 of fines he picked up campaigning.
Osian Jones.Prison No.DX8265. HM Prison Altcourse, Fazakerley, Liverpool L97 LH.
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The charges against Osian follow a slogan painting and sticker campaign against a number of big-business who, despite much public pressure, make little or no use of the Welsh language on their signs and advertising.
Osian attended a hearing a fortnight ago in Pwllheli, expecting to start his sentence then, but proceedings were adjourned as magistrates feared uproar in the packed court. When the members of the bench left the room a sit-in and “peoples’ court” were held at which the government and crown were found guilty of ignoring the rights of the people of Wales. Today’s hearing was moved to a brand new high-security court building at Caernarfon where only a few members of the public were admitted to the public gallery.
Over the past 40 years non-violent law breaking protests - resulting in hundreds of language campaigners appearing in court and dozens imprisoned - have succeeded in winning several changes of legislation and the establishment of a Welsh language TV channel.
The status of Welsh has risen, from being a language with no legal status, to being prominent on road signs and with government departments and public bodies providing bi-lingual services. But many are unhappy that there are no rights to use Welsh with big businesses, mobile phone companies and privitised utilities.
Recently authorities have done their best to avoid imprisoning language protesters and to prevent them from using the courts as a platform. Fines are usually automatically deducted from wages but as an employee of the pressure group Osian Jones has successfully avoided all orders to make payments.
Cymdeithas members last week dressed as Boots staff and distributed “Disadvantage Cards” to shoppers in one north Wales store.
Two years ago the Cymdeithas presented a 10,000 name petition calling for more rights and Welsh Government has promised a change in legislation but appears to be nervous to take further steps in the face of considerable opposition from bosses’ organisation the Confederation of British Industries.
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Cymdeithas yr Iaith:
http://cymdeithas.org/english/ Tel: 01286 662908 Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymdeithas_yr_Iaith_Gymraeg Story in Morning Star:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/83582 Photos of Osian & language demos etc..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51447658@N00/
Huw
Homepage:
http://cymdeithas.org/english/
Comments
Hide the following 11 comments
Aren't different languages just a barrier that divides us?
25.11.2009 23:36
The old myth about the Tower of Babel giving us different languages was intended to be a curse, after all.
I know the problem is agreeing on a language to converge on, but isn't that happening naturally? Should we be trying to fight it by artificially keeping dying languages alive?
Maybe I'd feel differently if English wasn't my first language, I don't know.
anon
Diversity
26.11.2009 09:33
Go figure.
owen
where is the Welsh?
26.11.2009 13:56
@rchie
ignorance is no excuse
27.11.2009 01:47
Listen. There's nothing natural about the fact that Welsh suffered a decline in the number of speakers. It wasn't that long ago that schoolkids in Wales were being forbidden from speaking it and were beaten if they did.
In future, please take the time to learn something about the histories of an oppressed people before making thoughtless ignorant comments. Ta.
3
I get your points, but I still think language is a barrier that divides us
29.11.2009 03:03
Isn't Mandarin Chinese spoken by the most people of all languages? Maybe if that became internationally popular we would learn to speak that.
If schoolkids were beaten in the past for speaking Welsh then of course that is bad and should be condemned. I don't think that is the main reason for the decline in Welsh speaking though. And I still think if the world is naturally converging on a single language that is a good thing that should be celebrated as it leads to greater understanding and communication between us.
Good luck to Osian anyway, it's always good to throw a spanner in the works. I guess I just see the negative sides of too many different languages. Think of all the person-hours that are wasted learning new languages and translating between them. If we all spoke the same language we would have so much more time for other things.
anon
keep languages, smash the bosses that divide us.
29.11.2009 20:26
{A}
learning languages is wasted time
30.11.2009 03:40
I wasn't thinking the time saved could be spent on doing more business! I was thinking more it could be spent on lazing about or enjoying yourself.
Translating and learning languages is busy-work - it serves no real purpose other than to create what is essentially un-needed work.
I'd rather stay in bed, thanks very much.
anon
...
30.11.2009 15:30
No thanks, not the type of capitalist/utilitarian world I want to live in.
{A}
not sure why you think I'm pro-capitalist?
30.11.2009 18:24
Languages would still have historical and linguistic value and people would be needed to translate that, so your friends who love learning languages can do that. But I think most of us find learning languages a right pain in the arse and a waste of time.
Imagine the beauty of being able to converse instantly with anyone in the world without being blocked by a language barrier.
How many languages are there? Hundreds? Thousands? Even if you dedicated you life to learning you would only manage to know a handful. Think of all those people you are divided from because of that language barrier.
You will still have different cultures, it's not like we would all become clones if we spoke the same language.
anon
the ignorance
01.12.2009 13:54
The resurgence in the Welsh language does not put up barriers, but it does re-inforce the independence and cultural identity of Wales - those that understand the principle of autonomy should recognise and support that.
Thank you for the post. That was a brave that this guy did.
Cymru am byth
I'm totally aware of the history, I just think languages divide us
01.12.2009 14:57
But that is a totally separate issue from whether the world being divided by language is a good thing or not.
Like it or not, languages change and die out just as part of a natural process, as well as the oppression mentioned above. I'm saying rather than see that as bad we should embrace the benefits of increased ability to communicate more effectively with anyone in the world.
As an abstract principle I see it as good if the world spoke one language.
So I think things like forcing kids in Wales to have Welsh lessons might not be a good idea. If they want to learn Welsh then sure, go for it.
anon