16-Year-old Latvian Who Slapped Charles with Flowers Arrested, Apologizes Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit http://news.excite.com/news/ap/011122/17/int-people-charles Arrested Activist Apologizes for Slapping Prince Updated: Thu, Nov 22 5:50 PM EST RIGA, Latvia (AP) - The 16-year-old girl who slapped Prince Charles with a flower earlier this month has sent a note apologizing for the incident, her father said Thursday. "I didn't want to offend you personally and I ask for your forgiveness and hope you understand," Alina Lebedeva wrote in the letter, published in the Chas Russian-language daily. Her father, Nikolai Lebedev, confirmed its contents. Lebedeva struck Charles in the face with a red carnation earlier this month as he stopped to greet children in Riga. She said she was protesting Britain's involvement in the Afghan war. The prince, who was unhurt, was on a five-day tour of the three Baltic states to mark Britain's recognition of their independence 10 years ago. A spokesman for the prince called the incident "trivial." But Latvian police arrested Lebedeva and charged her with threatening the life of a foreign dignitary, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The high school senior spent three days in police custody before being released to her parents. Her case was turned over to prosecutors and a decision about whether they'll put her on trial is expected within several weeks. * source - KIM ARREST OF ANTI NATO ACTIVIST, A 16 YEAR OLD SCHOOL GIRL, IN LATVIA We call on the proletariat of all the countries of the world, communists and, specially on the revolutionary youth, on all progressive forces to provide moral support to the Latvian internationalists and put pressure on the government of Latvia in order to free from jail Alina Lebedeva, a school girl who has been arrested by the authorities for political reasons. 16 year old Alina Lebedeva is facing up to 15 years in prison for the accusation of terrorism. Alina Lebedeva, an anti NATO activist, tried to slap with bunch of flowers the face prince of Charles of Britain, who was in Latvia on an official visit. This is how the treacherous bourgeoisie of Latvia deals with activists who struggle against international terrorism lead by NATO. Latvian internationalists are struggling against the integration of Latvia in NATO under the conditions of rigorous fascist terror inflicted by the dictatorship of the local bourgeoisie. The Latvian bourgeoisie is inflicting on the working masses and the progressive forces of that country a campaign of ramping terror. This is done with the support of the Russian and Western bourgeoisie. It is our duty to support the Latvian proletariat and progressive forces of this small country in their struggle against capitalism. We ask you to distribute the text of this call in order to expose the infamous arrest of the school girl Alina Lebedeva using all available progressive channels at your disposal. Editorial board of "Proletarskaya Gazeta" Anatolii Pizhov, secretary of international relations of the Federation of Workers Unions of Russia, "Zaschita Truda" Addresses for protest: * Latvijas Valsts prezidentei V. Vike-Freibergai LR Valsts prezidenta kanceleja, Pils laukums 3, LV-1900, Riga, Latvija * Latvijas Republikas Tieslietu ministrija (Minister of Justice - I. Labucka) Brivibas bulvaris 36, LV-1050, Riga, Latvija * Latvijas Republikas Generalprokuratura O. Kalpaka bulvaris 6, LV-1050, Riga, Latvija Russia, Leningrad November 14, 2001 ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nyteeu-11.22.01-21:17:32-10595