Ffred Ffransis Jailed for 5 Days

Ffred Ffransis, a prominent camapigner with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg was sent to Parc prison in Bridgend today by Llanelli Magistrates for refusing to pay a £50 fine impossed as a result of the campaign for a New Welsh Language Act. In court today, Ffred said that he refused to pay the fine because the situation regarding the status of the Welsh language had not changed in the eight years since the fine was impossed. Ffred also challenged the Magistrates to call on the Assembly Government to demand that all legislative powers for the Welsh language should be transferred from London to Cardiff.

Ffred Ffransis appeared before Llanelli Magistrates' Court at 9.45am this morning. This Court Case arose from a protest held by Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Cardiff back in January 2001. Ffred was ordered to pay a £50 fine and £50 costs following the protest calling for a New Welsh Language Act in Queen Street, Cardiff.

Cymdeithas members painted slogans calling for a New Welsh Language Act on shop windows in Queen Street. The police van arrived to take away arrested members, but a number of the other protesters tried to stop the police van as they were all taking joint responsibility for the actions. Ffred was arrested for obstructing the Police and was consequently ordered to pay a total of £100 by Cardiff Magistrates Court.

During the last 8 years, the case has been referred to Carmarthen magistrates Court to collect the amount due and court officials and bailiffs have unsuccessfully attempted to claim the money.

In Court today, Ffred refused to pay the money because there is no immediate prospect of legislation that will ensure that the Welsh language gets its rightful place in the shops and businesses where Cymdeithas yr Iaith held those protests 8 years ago. The status of the Welsh language in the shops on Queen Street and any other high street throughout Wales remains unchanged since 2001. Unfortunately, it also seems highly unlikely that the forthcoming transfer of powers to the Welsh Assembly will see sufficient powers being devolved to enable the Assembly to introduce strong legislation that will give the language its rightful place in Queen Street shops.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith is calling on the Assembly's Scrutiny Committee (reporting to the Heritage Minister on 4th June) to demand that full legislative powers over the Welsh language are devolved from London to Wales.

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