Osian Liberigita!

…de la Daily Post:

A language campaigner yesterday called on new First Minister Carwyn Jones to write a new Welsh language act.

Osian Jones, Cymdeithas yr Iaith organiser for North Wales, made the call on his return home after his release from Altcourse prison in Liverpool.

The 32-year-old has spent the last two weeks behind bars after refusing to pay fines and compensation for painting slogans on high street superstores.

The action was part of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s campaign for a comprehensive Welsh Language Act to include the private sector.

Mr Jones, from Llanllyfni, near Caernarfon, had painted “Ble Mae’r Gymraeg?” (Where is the Welsh?) on stores in Llangefni, Bangor and Caernarfon in June.

Yesterday he insisted the Welsh language Legislative Competency Order, currently going through its Parliamentary process, needs to be strengthened.

He said: “I hope my actions will mark the start of a new exciting period in the history of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

“The future of Welsh hangs in the balance because too many politicians don’t take it seriously. Despite the overwhelming support, the next decade could see Welsh destroyed because of the indifference and failures of politicians, multinational businesses, and the Welsh establishment...

Robyn Llyn por Kimralingva Akto

…de la Caernarfon Denbigh Herald:

That Osian Jones* has been sent to prison saddened me greatly. He was sentenced to 28 days for refusing to pay fines and costs totalling £1,120, imposed after he had painted pro-Welsh slogans on two English-based chain-stores in Bangor.

It appears that this was the longest sentence imposed on a Cymdeithas yr Iaith member since 1991, eighteen years ago. The first (of some hundreds, since) was Geraint Jones of Trefor, also sent down for a month as far back as 1966.

The law treated Osian Jones just as if he had been caught shoplifting, or some other offence involving dishonesty or violence.

Having been a lawyer for the whole of my adult life, I naturally have a great respect for the law and the courts. But I am equally aware of the law’s many failings.

Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of history will be aware that many worthy movements have only succeeded in their aims by campaigns of law-breaking, aimed at recalcitrant legislators who stubbornly refuse to right injustices. The protest movements won in the end, but only after much needless sacrifice and suffering.

Examples are legion: take the trade-union movement and the enfranchisement of black people in the United States and South Africa, where the names of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela are shining examples of those who suffered for elementary human rights. And, nearer home, the Suffragettes, many thousands of whom went to prison to secure votes for women.

One hundred years ago, the law would have been handing out a sentence of 28 days to some wretched female, who had transgressed merely because she felt women were entitled to the right to vote. That too, was lawful in its day. But it proves that our law does not cater for unjust and imperfect situations.

The remedy for this country is a new Welsh Language Act: Wales badly needs it - now!

.

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:

..Osian Jones

..Rhif / No. DX8265,..

..HM Prison Altcourse,

..Fazakerley,

..Lerpwl, L97 LH

..Lloegr (UK)

Hawl i'r Iaith!

Hawl i'r Iaith from Lleucu Meinir on Vimeo.

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO *

Osian Jones,

Rhif / No. DX8265,

HM Prison Altcourse,

Fazakerley,

Lerpwl, L97 LH,

Lloegr (UK)

Skrivu Osian Jones!

…de la BBC:

A member of the Welsh Language Society who refused to pay a fine for painting slogans on shops has been jailed for 28 days by Caernarfon magistrates.

Osian Jones had been ordered to pay more than £1,100 after he painted graffiti on Boots and Superdrug stores in Caernarfon, Bangor and Llangefni.

The chairman of the bench gave Jones, from Dyffryn Nantlle, a chance to pay the fine, but he refused.

About 30 supporters carrying placards accompanied Jones to court.

The chairman of the magistrates, Gareth Haulfryn Williams, said: "We understand your situation, but I will ask you once again if you would consider paying the fine?"

Osian Jones replied: "I am not willing to pay a single penny.

"The situation of the Welsh language in Wales is as vulnerable now as it was 10 years ago when we got devolution."

* CYFEIRIAD/ADRESO:
..Osian Jones
..Rhif / No. DX8265
..HM Prison Altcourse,
..Fazakerley,
..Lerpwl, L97 LH
..Lloegr (UK)

Kimraj Ludaj Grupoj

…de la Caernarfon Denbigh Herald:

Anger is growing across the county at a proposal which could see the majority of Welsh language pre-school play groups being forced to close.

Petitions are being organised in towns and villages, such as Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Caernarfon, Y Groeslon and Y Felinheli, opposing a Gwynedd Council proposal to save £250,000 from its education budget by changing the funding arrangements for pre-schoolers.

The petitions are expected to garner thousands of signatures and will be handed in to the council’s headquarters in Caernarfon next Thursday (November 5), where a working party of councillors will choose which savings to recommend to a full meeting of the council in December.

Last week the Herald exclusively revealed that the council was considering funding pre-school education from age three onwards and providing it within primary schools, by 2012-2013….

….Welsh language pressure group, Cymdeithas yr Iaith condemned the move.

Its spokesman Osian Jones said: “From our point of view it is important that children of any age are educated in their own town or village.

“We would be totally against any proposal which would force Cylchoedd Meithrin to close and this issue is similar to the debate surrounding the need for rural schools.” ...

Osian Jones Kondamnita al Malliberejo

…de Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymreag:

Cafodd Osian Jones, trefnydd Cymdeithas yr Iaith yn y gogledd, ddedfryd o fis o garchar wedi ei ohirio gan Lys Ynadon Pwllheli heddiw, am greu difrod troseddol i eiddo siopau PC World a Matalan ym Mangor, wedi iddo godi sticeri a phosteri ar y siopau ym mis Mai, yn galw am Fesur Iaith cyflawn sy'n cynnwys y sector breifat, ac yn cyfathrebu'r neges fod y Gorchymyn Iaith fel y mae yn rhy gul, ac yn rhwystro ffordd pobl Cymru at eu hawliau i'r Gymraeg.

Roedd y diffynnydd wedi gofyn i'r Ynadon i roi rhyddhad iddo yn hytrach na dirwy er mwyn dangos eu dirmyg at ymddygiad y ddwy siop fawr, sy'n gwrthod darparu gwasanaethau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i'w cwsmeriaid.

Penderfynodd Ynadon Pwllheli roi rhyddhad amodol iddo, a gorchymynnwyd iddo dalu £200 o gostau Llys am y gwrandawiad heddiw, ond dywedodd Osian wrth yr Ynadon na fyddai'n talu unrhyw ddirwy na chostau. O ganlyniad rhoddodd yr Ynadon 28 diwrnod o garchar iddo os na fyddai'n talu o fewn 28 diwrnod gostau heddiw a hefyd dirywion am ei weithredoedd blaenorol yn yr un ymgyrch, sy'n dod i gyfanswm o £1,100...