Osian Jones, north Wales organiser of Cymdeithas yr iaith Gymraeg was given a suspended sentence of a month's imprisonnment by Pwllheli Magistrates today, for criminal damage to the property of PCWorld and Matalan shops in Bangor. Osian had pasted stickers and posters on the shops windows in May, calling for a comprehensive Language Act including the private sector, and making a clear statement that the present Language LCO's scope is too narrow and is a barrier to the rights of the people of Wales to use our own language.

The defendant had asked the magistrates to give him an unconditional release rather than a fine to show their disgust at the behaviour of these 2 huge stores which refuse to provide a Welsh language service to their customers.The Pwllheli magistrates decided to give him a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £200 of court costs for today's hearing, but Osian told them that he would not pay any fines or costs. As a result the magistrates gave him a 28 day prison sentence if he does not pay the costs of today's hearing within 28 days and also previous fines for protests in the same campaign which come to a total of £1100. As he left the court, Osian said:"I am glad that Pwllheli Magistrates have shown their support by giving me a discharge today. But I have explained that I will not be paying the costs nor the previous fines and so I will be accepting the 28 days in prison."In the Court, Osian warned the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones and the Assembly Government, that the time is running out to transfer responsibilities for the Welsh Language to Wales before the next election. He said that the Heritage Minister was gulity of not doing enough to ensure a widespread LCO which would devolve full powers over the language to Wales, and that the Welsh secretary is guilty of obstructing the LCO's advance. He said:"We are disappointed with what is presently offered in the Welsh Language LCO by the Heritage Minister. Alun ffred Jones understands very well the weak position of the language, and so he has a great responsibility to act positively for the language. The challenge he faces is to legislate in a way which will make a difference just as legislation has made a difference in other areas of inequality."Before the Assembly can pass a comprehensive Language Act, all powers over the language must be devolved to Wales through the LCO. Cymdeithas yr Iaith has called on Alun Ffred Jones to increase the scope of the LCO, in order to devolve full powers over the language from London to Wales. Osian added:"Irrefutable evidence was placed before the Assembly and Westminster Committees concerning the need to transfer full powers over the Welsh language to the National Assembly for Wales. The time for discussion has ended, it is now high time that Alun Ffred acted!"