Owen John Thomas AM, Plaid Cymru spokes-person on the Welsh Language, is expected to attend Cardiff Magistrates Court this morning to voice his support for four members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg who will be appearing before the bench because of their involvement in Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s direct action campaign for a New Welsh Language Act.

The four defendants who will appear in court at 10.30 this morning are Lowri Larsen from Caernarfon, Menna Machreth from Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire, Lois Barrar from Nelson and Gwenno Teifi from Llanfihangel ar Arth.This will be the first in a series of court cases involving members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg who were arrested for painting slogans calling for a New Welsh Language Act on the Welsh Assembly Government building in Cathays Park, Cardiff. In this on going campaign fourteen Cymdeithas members have already been arrested.“This is the first in a series of court cases which members of the Welsh Language Society face. A number of prominent Welsh people will be attending the court cases in order to show their support for the activists. The court cases highlight the seriousness of the situation and the need for stronger legislation. The campaign will continue until Rhodri Morgan and his government discuss the need for a new Welsh Language Act.Cymdeithas yr Iaith are not the only ones calling for new legislation for the Welsh language. There is now a consensus between language experts and politicians from all parties. It is standard practice to revise social legislation every decade. Why does the Welsh Assembly Government fail to admit this?Today’s court cases highlight the crisis of the present situation. They also highlight the contradictions in Rhodri Morgan’s relationships with the Welsh Language Act of 1993. In 1993, he refused to vote in favour of the Act, yet today it is acceptable. Today’s court cases and the series which follows are indicative of Rhodri Morgan and his government’s lack of both continuity and concern regarding the future of the Welsh language.”