1. Judges deny anti-GMO activists a fair trial 
2. Support the Wetteren 11

NOTE: Anti-GM protesters who 'liberated' a GM potato field in Wetteren, Belgium have reportedly been denied a fair trial (item 1). Background to the story and link to a video of the protesters is given in item 2.
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1. Judges deny anti-GMO activists a fair trial 
Debate on GMOs refused by court 
Announcement by Field Liberation
15 Jan 2013

Dendermonde/Brussels, 15/01/2013 - In the presence of a huge crowd of supporters from a range of organisations, the court of Dendermonde (Belgium) has denied 11 anti-GMO activists the legal right to a defence in court. The court refused to allow defence witnesses to give their statements, and also refused to allow video footage to be shown. This is in violation of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights which guarantees defendants the right to a fair trial. In response, the 11 field liberators and their lawyers decided unanimously to leave the court room.

In contrast to the vast majority of Belgian court cases, no independent investigating judge was appointed. This is despite the fact that the prosecution has politicised the trial by introducing the charge of forming a criminal gang. The summons to appear was issued directly by the public prosecutor. The investigation was therefore only conducted for the prosecution. In order to be a fair trial, the investigation should also be conducted for the defence. In order to ensure a fair trial, the defence lawyers wanted at least an investigation during the trial, including a number of defence witnesses and video clips. This was refused by the court. At this point the defendants and their lawyers left the courtroom, let the case continue in their absence, and took no further part in the trial. 

The civil parties to the case – including ILVO (The Flemish Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research), VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology), University of Gent, Hogeschool Gent – put forward their case, and demanded damages.

The judgement is expected on 12 February: in the event of a guilty verdict, the activists will appeal.

The court has refused to allow a debate about sustainable agriculture, the role of GMOs, and pubic research. The struggle for freedom of expression, justice for activists, and a sustainable agricultural system will continue. 

See you again soon in Dendermonde.

 http://fieldliberation.wordpress.com/
Soutenez-nous! Steun ons! Support us!
Compte de soutien / Solidariteitsrekening! / BE59 5230 8045 6626 (triodos)
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2. Support the Wetteren 11
Put GMOs on trial, not field liberation
Michael Claerbout
Come to DENDERMONDE (BE), 15th of January 2013, 8 a.m.
Video:  http://vimeo.com/54974962

On 29 May 2011, hundreds of activists decontaminated a GM potato field trial in Wetteren. They pulled up genetically modified potatoes and replaced them with organic varieties, which are naturally blight resistant, tasty and healthy.

The "great potato swap" was public and nonviolent. The aim of the action was to stimulate debate about the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our fields and on our plates. It succeeded: the public debate took off in the papers, online, and on the radio and television. Schools and universities took part as did NGOs and the political and farming sectors. This act of civil disobedience made people aware of the dangers of GMOs and the role that public research plays in their development. We need to find real sustainable and fair solutions to respond to future food challenges.

11 activists have been accused of belonging to a criminal gang, and risk being asked to pay €200,000 damages. Why so much? Because the Flemish Institute for biotechnology, University of Ghent, Ghent HogeSchool and the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research wants them to pay not only for six months of private security for the site, but also for the pro GMO rally, the time the biotech industry spent dealing with the press, and the many hours that the lecturers spent spreading pro-GMO propaganda by e-mail and Facebook.

Campaigning for a more sustainable agriculture is not a crime and this prosecution for criminal gang is undemocratic. More than 80 people have volunteered to join the accused in the dock to reinforce this message. Among them are farmers, politicians, academic scholars, civil society representatives, concerned citizens and French voluntary reapers. This is a strong message that the 11 accused belong to a broad social movement against GMO.