Three veteran members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith who were imprisoned 40 years ago for 12 months for climbing a TV Mast and breaking into Granada Studios in Manchester have again this morning climbed a mast - the Carmel TV Transmitter Mast near Cross Hands. This is to show that the Welsh-language TV Channel is now in great danger.In 1971, 3 members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Mold Crown Court having been found guilty of "conspiring to trespass" (climbing Preseli TV Mast) and Criminal Damage at Granada Studios in Manchester. These actions had been taken as part of the mass-campaign to press for a Welsh-language television channel.Forty years on, the same 3 Cymdeithas members - now in their sixties - have again climbed a TV mast to emphasise the threat to the future of S4C, the channel which was won through mass campaigning decades ago. They will stay for several hours perched on a wooden platform 150 feet above ground level., and are unfurling Cymdeithas's Dragon's Tongue symbol as a call for people to take up the campaign again.The three are Goronwy Fellows, Retired Carer, aged 63, from Glasfryn near Pentrefoelas. Ffred Ffransis, Wholesaler, aged 62, from Llanfihangel-ar-arth near Pencader and the junior member of the group is Myrddin Williams, Senior Housing Officer, aged 61, from Clynnog Fawr. Ffred Ffransis, talking on behalf of the three said:"It was a hard campaign to win a Welsh-language TV channel, but it could be lost so easily by neglect. We call on everyone to rejoin the campaign to ensure that S4C survives as an independent Welsh-language channel, and to oppose the scornful way in which the Tory Government has rejected the united call from wales for a full review of the channel's future. We condemn the BBC for collaborating with the Tories to take over our channel. We cannot afford to drift back to the situation in the 70s when Welsh-language programmes had to compete with everything else for air-time - a situation which caused constant conflict. The channel was won by the people of Wales, and our people will ensure that it survives and grows into a multi-media entity fit for the 21st century."

BACKGROUND Over 1000 members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith were incarcerated in prison and in Police Cells as a result of a decade-long campaign in the 70s for a Welsh-language TV Channel. The Labour Government in 1974 agreed to set up the channel but delayed its implementation annually for 5 years "due to the economic crisis" (deja vu). Ahead of the 1979 General Election, both Labour and Conservatives promised to set up the channel the following year. The election was won by the Tories, and within 3 months they had gone back on their promise (deja vu - Tory Leader in Wales Nick Bourne promised ahead of the 2010 UK Election that "S4C is safe in our hands").The direct action started again in 1979/80, Gwynfor Evans announced his intention to fast, and 2000 people refused to pay their TV license. The Government caved in, and this proved to be one of Mrs Thatcher's few "U" turns. S4C was established in 1982. Immediately after the 2010 UK Election, the new Tory Government again went back on its word and undermined S4C as an independent channel by placing it from 2015 onwards under the financial control of the BBC - with no funding guarantees whatsoever - and intend to tear up the legislation which ensures S4C's independent funding mechanism. All Political Party leaders in Wales (including the Tories) wrote to Westminster Culture Minister, Jeremy Hunt, calling on him to set up a full Review of the future of S4C rather than pressing ahead with these plans. He rejected this call.Trio scale mast in wake-up call aimed at Welsh TV supporters - Carmarthen Journal - 02/03/2011Golygyddol "Cause of S4C deserves full Support" - Daily Post - 25/03/2011Welsh language campaigners climb mast in protest - Daily Post - 25/03/2011Three men in their 60s climb 150 ft mast in protest of S4C changes - Evening Post - 25/03/2011Tri 'hen' ymgyrchydd yn gweithredu eto - Golwg360 - 24/02/2011Protestwyr iaith yn dringo mast teledu - BBC Cymru - 24/02/2011