On Wednesday 4 June activists picketed the Austrian Consulate General’s office in Wellington, in solidarity with 10 imprisoned Austrian animal rights activists. The office is right behind the main bus stops on Willis Street, and we had lots of support from the lunch-time crowds. Around 30 college students briefly joined our picket , and one passer-by decided to go up to the Austrian Consulate General’s office and complain!

At around 1 pm, we decided to go and hand in a letter of complaint, so about ten of us piled into the Consulate General’s office with a banner. The Austrian Consul himself was not there, but we discussed the political situation in Austria with an office worker.

According to Wellington Animal Rights Network spokesperson Norman Bell “This wave of repression against Austrian activists is outrageous. The only “crime” that any of the activists have committed is to work for the rights of animals. We demand that the Austrian authorities release all the imprisoned activists immediately.”

The Austrian animal rights activists have been in prison since May 21, 2008, when police raided 23 homes and offices. The activists are from a variety of animal rights groups, and include activists who managed to force a ban on battery farming in Austria. Seven of the prisoners are on hunger strike, and one has just been moved to hospital. The reasons that the state has given for the arrests are very vague, and are linked to an Austrian law relating to “forming a criminal organization.” The prisoners have not been charged. They will be having a bail hearing on the 6th or 9th of June. For more information, see www.antirep2008.tk/

The contact details for the Austrian Consul are: Peter Diessel, ph. 499 6393, fax 499 6292, mobile 021535 510, austria (at) ihug.co.nz. Please also email the Minister of Justice Maria Berger, Minister.justiz (at) bmj.gv.at

Wellington Animal Rights Network, PO Box 6387, Wellington nzarinfo (at) gmail.com