[FCR The Persons Unknown case is the latest…]

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FCR The Persons Unknown case is the latest in a series of state trials which reflect shifts in the attitudes of the state and the level of its technical preparation for the developing crisis in Britain.

State trials, occasions on which the full machinery of state security, the media and "justice' are mobilised against political opponents of the state regime, are not rare in Britain.

indeed, every capitalist regime requires the occasional test of its apparatus, to train its staff and to evaluate its latest techniques.

Context

The Persons Unknown' case must be seen in this context.

To say this is in no way to denigrate the revolutionary seriousness of the anarchists who are the victims of the case, and with whom we have profound political differences.

We are convinced that the charges against them are untrue, but even if it were otherwise, we do not believe that the method of individual terror and sabotage is in any way capable of providing a solution to the problems faced by the mass of the workers.

The scale of the resources which the state has employed in the trial however, is clear out of all proportion 'to any threat which any small group of anarchie, is capable of posing. however well Training procedure We are convinced therefore that the trial is a testing and training procedure, and in no sense a serious exercise by the state in its own defence.

The most important of the recent state trials was the ABC trial, which resulted in a humiliating defeat for the security forces.

In itself the ABC trial was important to the security forces, for several reasons.

The 3 journalists in the case were engaged in serious investigations of the state apparatus, reaching conclusions which the state apparatus tound deeply embarassing.

The succesful defence of the ABC journalists showed the fact that the working class movement remained determined to defend its democratic rights.

Coinciding with a rising wave of wage militancy, it marked a limit to 'the capitalist state's drive against the living conditions of the working class.

Other cases in this period had proved to be greater successes for. the state particularly the Agee and Hosenball case (with which the ABC trial was closely linked) and the WRP/Observer libel case.

Not discouraged As a result the security forces are not likely to be seriously discouraged by their defeat in the ABC trial. Indeed, all the evidence points in the opposite direction.

The eventually succesful and the repeated fascist attacks against her defence organisation, WONT INNOCENC ABC defendants outside the Old Bailey NOS OF ASTRID DEDI PHOTO: Mark Rusher, IFL wi...v *. NO RETURN TO -N PRISON TORTURE LIFE. PEACEF IF SHE IS E FRIENOS OF TON Astrid Proll picket HANLAL NOSE TO I eat Bow Street Magistrates Court

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extradition of Astrid Proll, requiring changes in the law,