CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

PLIGHT OF CORNISH NATIONALIST ATTRACTS GLOBAL SUPPORT

The Kernow Branch of the League continues to receive messages of support
and cooperation from around the world for one of its members who is
due to answer police bail on Wednesday (26th March 2008), over six
and a half months from when he was first arrested.

Tony Leamon, who is the Branch Treasurer, was arrested last September
following blanket arrests by the police as they searched for persons
behind the Cornish National Liberation Army (CNLA), which later became
known as the Cornish Republican Army (CRA). Mr Leamon is now the last
person, of those arrested, to remain on bail and many of his possessions
are still confiscated by the police authorities.

The General Secretary of the League has written to the Devon and Cornwall
Constabulary and other bodies to complain about the treatment of Mr
Leamon and is awaiting their reply. Mr Leamon, who is registered disabled
and has leukaemia, last appeared at Camborne police station to answer
bail in January. He was interrogated without rest for approximately
10 hours and was only released too late for him to make the long journey
home independently.

Last week, Mr Leamon was visited by the police at his home after he
had written to his Member of Parliament to complain about his treatment,
who in turn had written to the Chief Constable, Stephen Otter. The
police told him that his bail was only to be expected while they carried
out their investigations, but noted that on the day of the arrest
Leamon's father, who he cares for, was left unsuitably cared for.


As a consequence of his unjust treatment, news of Mr Leamon's plight
has travelled around the globe. Early in March a leaflet explaining
his ordeal was distributed at an art show in New Mexico, USA exhibiting
work that had been produced by Irish republican prisoners. The art
show was attended by a number of US politicians. Another organisation
in the US that fund raises on behalf of prisoners from the Celtic
countries has sent donations to help pay for any legal costs that
may be incurred, should Mr Leamon's case go to trial. Someone else
has also set up an internet Blog in response to the arrest of Mr Leamon
and other Cornish nationalists who were arrested in 2007, called Cornwall
Police Watch and features daily comment on police related activities.

Mike Chappell, Kernow Branch Secretary and Assistant General Secretary,
who has been campaigning hard on Mr Leamon's behalf said:


"He [Tony Leamon] now has a world wide following of people interested
in his welfare at the hands of the police in Kernow and although the
situation is barely known in Kernow, those outside from as far a field
as Australia, India and the USA will be watching the actions of the
Colonial Police in their dealing with him. Tony has also received
substantial support from Kernow's Gay Community although he is straight.
Many Gay people in Kernow feel that they have been ill treated by
the police in the Duchy and there is much empathy between the two
movements."



In protest last week, the Kernow Branch sent Mr Otter a copy of the
book 'Our Future is History' by John Angarrack. The Cornish history
book has been just one of the many Cornish related items (along with
flags and Cornish language tapes) the police in Cornwall have confiscated
from the people who have been arrested in Cornwall. The book was also
on show at the art exhibition in New Mexico.

Messages of support for Leamon continue to be received from individuals
and organisations in Australia, Brittany, Cornwall, India, Wales and
London.

ne ya ket re vat saozneg ganin , penaos eo ur wech troeet en Brezhoneg?