New antiterrorist investigations in France – death of a comrade, serious injury repost | 05.06.2009 17:47 | Social Struggles With every passing day,

New antiterrorist investigations in France – death of a comrade, serious injury

repost | 05.06.2009 17:47 | Social Struggles
With every passing day, a new article about the recent death of a comrade in France appears in the bourgeois press. The story uncoils piece by piece. We will keep on following the events, therefore keep an eye on our website, as soon as any updates are available, they will be published there. For the ones, who speak French, are not in prison and have access to Internet, we recommend the website for the anarchist publication “Cette Semaine”, www.cettesemaine.free.fr (which is always worth reading). These words were written around the 15th of May.

We have tried to write down these few thoughts but we find it extremely difficult to express our feelings by words. However, we try it, especially since these facts have not yet been made public. At the beginning of May, we had to read sad news on a few French websites. During the night of the 1st of May, one comrade, Zoe, 24 years old, died in unclear circumstances while she was handling nitrium chlorate (a substance which can be adopted in order to build explosive devices or smokebombs – depending on how it is mixed). Her friend, Mickäel, suffered serious injuries and is now in an artificial coma in the intensive care department of Lyon Hospital, where he was brought by a helicopter. What will happen to him, in the case that he might wake again, is still unclear. The cops are already waiting without patience in the hospital and the vultures of the press are working to construct the figures of two “terrorists, who probably belong to the anarcho-autonomous movement”. At the time of the incident, both comrades were in an abandoned factory in Cognin, which lies in the surroundings of Chambery. They have been described by the press as “persons close to the libertarian milieu”. As we had to read on the newspapers, Mickäel has been active in Switzerland and was living in the squat “La Tour” in Geneva until its eviction in 2007. Zoe has also a history linked to squatting. Regarding Zoe, the authorities complain that “(they) did not find anything but her participation in a few political demonstrations”. On monday the 4th of May, their living environment, the squat “Les Pilots” in Chambery (a city close to Grenoble) was raided by 130 cops, antiterrorist units among them, with a brief to “find any kind of evidence”. The eleven people who found themselves in the squat at this moment have been interrogated. One of them, Raphael, was brought for a longer time to the police station. In fact, one can be kept up to 144 hours (six days) under the anti-terror law. Finally, he was transfered to prison after his interrogation by the judge responsible. As per usual, the investigations are now centered around “membership in an association of wrongdoers in contact with a terrorist association” and “destruction of documents or objects which could have a link to crimes or offences”. Raphael is accused of destroying a few documents related to the explosion in Cognin. Moreover, they suggest the squat “Les Pilots” should get evicted, in order to restore the order in the city. Since then two other squats have been raided and more people have been interrogated. A quote from a communique’ of the squat “Les Pilots”:”(…) There is a big chance for this event to be utilised by the State, in order to build further the “inner enemy”, the new “anarcho-autonomous cell”, now so fashionable and a psychosis en vogue. This will lead to the application of new security measures, especially now in regards to the upcoming European elections (…). Also for us, this story is not yet finished. Indeed, we are waiting for the next GAV ((”Gard a vue”, when one is arrested and awaits to see the judge to confirm or not the pretrial detention, can be up to 144 hours), we do not know yet what they look for and what point they are ready to go. It has been said, that they would look as well for an “older man” who is suspected to have been there on that night in Cognin. (…).” The magistrate who has the investigation in her hands is partly involved in the investigations against the so called “Tarnac 9”. Raphael has been transferred to the prison of Paris “La Sante” after he came before the judge. He sits now in the same wing as Julien Coupat, the last prisoner of the “Tarnac 9”. In Chambery, a support committee has been called together for Raphael and a solidarity demonstration for him took place with the participation of 200 people. Up until this point these are the facts we are aware of. In general, it remains quite difficult to understand what is going on in France, since there have not been yet any texts translated into other languages and it seems a certain “dormancy” surrounds the events. We got the largest part of our information from the bourgeois press, a thing we do not really like, since to us the words of our comrades are clearly much more trustful. Above all, we would wish to read more communiques which take a stand on the death of a comrade and the serious injuries of another. In fact, most of the texts published which we have been able to read (clearly this does not mean that we read them all) declare “we are not terrorists” (a quote from the “Les Pilots” squat) and concentrate on the attempted criminalization of other comrades by the State and its anti-terror troops. Certainly, we also declare the latter. It is important and necessary. In fact, we do know who the real terrorists are and where they sit in all commodity: police stations, tribunals, parliaments and so on. We find it quite sad the fact that we have been able to find only a few words spent on both comrades. Perhaps there remains little time to concentrate on them, especially when the State wraps those with any links to the two comrades immediately in repression. Surely, their closer comrades must be in a state beyond “shock” and we can understand when they do not feel like speaking a word in the public. But what is with all the others? We are quite shocked by the death of a comrade and the serious injuries to another, and we do not want to stay in silence before this… Here, from the distance, we find ourselves in a rather “privileged” position. Therefore, with these words we do not aim to “condemn” the behavior of the comrades there. In fact, as we have already said, we know so little about the situation, that we feel we can say very little about it, besides expressing some of the emotional impressions produced by such an event. Also, what one should not forget here, is that through a poor flux of information stemming directly from the “scene”, which would involve the usage of the existing autonomous medias, one makes the spreading of information and ideas the responsibility of the bourgeois medias. Such a monopoly will always be used in a way which will put us under a bad and defamatory light, certain information will be left on the side and false information filled in, in order to paint certain images before the populace. Therefore it is necessary to use our own medias so that we, as comrades, are not forced to be dependent on the bourgeois press. Do we know the comrades? Probably not, but that is not the question here. Surely, it could be that we have met somewhere on the barricades in Europe during the years, or simply while eating at a popular kitchen at some no border camp, who knows. For us is of even less interest to know what both of them did that night and what they were planning. In fact, our solidarity or sorrow will not change in regards to this. Like in the same way our bond with people who struggle against State and Capital will not change. We hope that people will not let themselves be frightened by the difficulty of the events and that we will be able to organise together the support for the other comrade, who lies right now in hospital, in the hands of the cops, and also to effectively fight back any act of repression which could take place any time soon. Clearly, the authorities will not loose such an event from their field of vision and will keep on trying to push us into a “defensive” position by new investigations. Let us show them, that our revolt is unstoppable and that we are able to organise a new attack against the existent, despite being pushed in a defensive position. As we have often done in the past. The best way to mourn Zoe and support Mickäel remain the furthering of the struggle against the present conditions. We are not able to write down more, since one can not really express the sadness of the event by words or combatant slogans.

Raphaels adress: Raphaël SERRES numéro d’écrou : 290890 Maison d’arrêt de la Santé 42 rue de la Santé - 75014 Paris

french website: www.lesinculpes.over-blog.com

In mourning for Zoe, Our thoughts are with Mickäel and all those who mourn with us, Solidarity to Raphael Solidarity to all prisoners

From ABC Berlin


repost | 05.06.2009 17:47 | Social Struggles
With every passing day, a new article about the recent death of a comrade in France appears in the bourgeois press. The story uncoils piece by piece. We will keep on following the events, therefore keep an eye on our website, as soon as any updates are available, they will be published there. For the ones, who speak French, are not in prison and have access to Internet, we recommend the website for the anarchist publication “Cette Semaine”, www.cettesemaine.free.fr (which is always worth reading). These words were written around the 15th of May.

We have tried to write down these few thoughts but we find it extremely difficult to express our feelings by words. However, we try it, especially since these facts have not yet been made public. At the beginning of May, we had to read sad news on a few French websites. During the night of the 1st of May, one comrade, Zoe, 24 years old, died in unclear circumstances while she was handling nitrium chlorate (a substance which can be adopted in order to build explosive devices or smokebombs – depending on how it is mixed). Her friend, Mickäel, suffered serious injuries and is now in an artificial coma in the intensive care department of Lyon Hospital, where he was brought by a helicopter. What will happen to him, in the case that he might wake again, is still unclear. The cops are already waiting without patience in the hospital and the vultures of the press are working to construct the figures of two “terrorists, who probably belong to the anarcho-autonomous movement”. At the time of the incident, both comrades were in an abandoned factory in Cognin, which lies in the surroundings of Chambery. They have been described by the press as “persons close to the libertarian milieu”. As we had to read on the newspapers, Mickäel has been active in Switzerland and was living in the squat “La Tour” in Geneva until its eviction in 2007. Zoe has also a history linked to squatting. Regarding Zoe, the authorities complain that “(they) did not find anything but her participation in a few political demonstrations”. On monday the 4th of May, their living environment, the squat “Les Pilots” in Chambery (a city close to Grenoble) was raided by 130 cops, antiterrorist units among them, with a brief to “find any kind of evidence”. The eleven people who found themselves in the squat at this moment have been interrogated. One of them, Raphael, was brought for a longer time to the police station. In fact, one can be kept up to 144 hours (six days) under the anti-terror law. Finally, he was transfered to prison after his interrogation by the judge responsible. As per usual, the investigations are now centered around “membership in an association of wrongdoers in contact with a terrorist association” and “destruction of documents or objects which could have a link to crimes or offences”. Raphael is accused of destroying a few documents related to the explosion in Cognin. Moreover, they suggest the squat “Les Pilots” should get evicted, in order to restore the order in the city. Since then two other squats have been raided and more people have been interrogated. A quote from a communique’ of the squat “Les Pilots”:”(…) There is a big chance for this event to be utilised by the State, in order to build further the “inner enemy”, the new “anarcho-autonomous cell”, now so fashionable and a psychosis en vogue. This will lead to the application of new security measures, especially now in regards to the upcoming European elections (…). Also for us, this story is not yet finished. Indeed, we are waiting for the next GAV ((”Gard a vue”, when one is arrested and awaits to see the judge to confirm or not the pretrial detention, can be up to 144 hours), we do not know yet what they look for and what point they are ready to go. It has been said, that they would look as well for an “older man” who is suspected to have been there on that night in Cognin. (…).” The magistrate who has the investigation in her hands is partly involved in the investigations against the so called “Tarnac 9”. Raphael has been transferred to the prison of Paris “La Sante” after he came before the judge. He sits now in the same wing as Julien Coupat, the last prisoner of the “Tarnac 9”. In Chambery, a support committee has been called together for Raphael and a solidarity demonstration for him took place with the participation of 200 people. Up until this point these are the facts we are aware of. In general, it remains quite difficult to understand what is going on in France, since there have not been yet any texts translated into other languages and it seems a certain “dormancy” surrounds the events. We got the largest part of our information from the bourgeois press, a thing we do not really like, since to us the words of our comrades are clearly much more trustful. Above all, we would wish to read more communiques which take a stand on the death of a comrade and the serious injuries of another. In fact, most of the texts published which we have been able to read (clearly this does not mean that we read them all) declare “we are not terrorists” (a quote from the “Les Pilots” squat) and concentrate on the attempted criminalization of other comrades by the State and its anti-terror troops. Certainly, we also declare the latter. It is important and necessary. In fact, we do know who the real terrorists are and where they sit in all commodity: police stations, tribunals, parliaments and so on. We find it quite sad the fact that we have been able to find only a few words spent on both comrades. Perhaps there remains little time to concentrate on them, especially when the State wraps those with any links to the two comrades immediately in repression. Surely, their closer comrades must be in a state beyond “shock” and we can understand when they do not feel like speaking a word in the public. But what is with all the others? We are quite shocked by the death of a comrade and the serious injuries to another, and we do not want to stay in silence before this… Here, from the distance, we find ourselves in a rather “privileged” position. Therefore, with these words we do not aim to “condemn” the behavior of the comrades there. In fact, as we have already said, we know so little about the situation, that we feel we can say very little about it, besides expressing some of the emotional impressions produced by such an event. Also, what one should not forget here, is that through a poor flux of information stemming directly from the “scene”, which would involve the usage of the existing autonomous medias, one makes the spreading of information and ideas the responsibility of the bourgeois medias. Such a monopoly will always be used in a way which will put us under a bad and defamatory light, certain information will be left on the side and false information filled in, in order to paint certain images before the populace. Therefore it is necessary to use our own medias so that we, as comrades, are not forced to be dependent on the bourgeois press. Do we know the comrades? Probably not, but that is not the question here. Surely, it could be that we have met somewhere on the barricades in Europe during the years, or simply while eating at a popular kitchen at some no border camp, who knows. For us is of even less interest to know what both of them did that night and what they were planning. In fact, our solidarity or sorrow will not change in regards to this. Like in the same way our bond with people who struggle against State and Capital will not change. We hope that people will not let themselves be frightened by the difficulty of the events and that we will be able to organise together the support for the other comrade, who lies right now in hospital, in the hands of the cops, and also to effectively fight back any act of repression which could take place any time soon. Clearly, the authorities will not loose such an event from their field of vision and will keep on trying to push us into a “defensive” position by new investigations. Let us show them, that our revolt is unstoppable and that we are able to organise a new attack against the existent, despite being pushed in a defensive position. As we have often done in the past. The best way to mourn Zoe and support Mickäel remain the furthering of the struggle against the present conditions. We are not able to write down more, since one can not really express the sadness of the event by words or combatant slogans.

Raphaels adress: Raphaël SERRES numéro d’écrou : 290890 Maison d’arrêt de la Santé 42 rue de la Santé - 75014 Paris

french website: www.lesinculpes.over-blog.com

In mourning for Zoe, Our thoughts are with Mickäel and all those who mourn with us, Solidarity to Raphael Solidarity to all prisoners

From ABC Berlin

A night in the prison cell Translator’s note: Yorgos Voutsis-Vogiatzis is an anarchist prisoner in Greece, held over an unsuccessful robbery. The sho

A NIGHT IN THE PRISON CELL

Death rattles follow one another; blood coming out from the mouth and nose. Pulses drop, the heart stops giving a signal. Kicks on the cell’s door, shouts. For ages we shout to the prison guards to open up – to no avail. The first one to arrive, a cold, cynical, prisoner of his constant fear of prison breaks via staged incidents and the many films that he’s been watching: he flatly refuses to unlock the door. Not even the sight of the bleeding person in a coma touches him. He had, he said, to inform the director first. Another ten minute delay and the heart of Spyros Gardiklis lasts no longer. The gates of the penitentiary house become synonymous to those of the Underworld. There is no stretcher to carry the dead, while it is a well know fact that once the cells are locked up, the medical staff disappear. The counting of the inmates is the final act. Today, Spyros was missing. The rest can only count our dead and some of us swear revenge.

Let’s tear down all prisons.

Goodbye Spyro.

Rural prisons of Kassaveteia, Volos, 4/6/09

Yorgos Voutsis-Vogiatzis

Letter by anarchist A.Kiriakopoulos, who was captured during the days of the December uprising. He is one of the 6 people that still remain captives o

Five months after the explosive events of December, the mass arrests and the prosecutions that took place, six of us remain captives in the claws of the state.

Recently, the so called “justice state” and its servants decided to extend my pre-trial detention (remand) stating that what should come first is the extermination of my person and of my “criminal” activity and the protection of society. According to their characterization, I am a reckless and fanatical person. To sum it up they characterized me an enemy of society. But the enemies of society are all those who after the cold-blooded murder of comrade Alexis Grigoropoulos tried to repress the social phenomenon of the violent insurrection in December with the reckless and mass use of teargas to the extent of torture, the beating of protestors, and their swift imprisonment. Anyway, it is known for years now that the cops, especially when dealing with anarchists demos, unleash chemical warfare with the slightest pretext so they can torture people. Despite the vicious repression of December’s insurrectionary violence, it continues to persist and is proof that the fire that was lit cannot be put out. After all Alexis’ murder was the cause and at the same time the pretext for the outbreak of social rage.

As always, a special role was taken on by mass media and the lowlife journalists brought their propaganda to the limit of vileness. After the state murder of Alexis, they reported about the widespread destruction in the whole of Greece and that the police made no arrests. I believe that the fact that all of us imprisoned for the insurrection face the same charges is no coincidence. The line from the state was exactly the same for nearly all of us.

Inside prison, time is the worst enemy. Especially when you are in custody awaiting trial there is a continuous uncertainty as you never know exactly when you are going to be released. This is a situation that definitely wears you down psychologically. This is also an effect of being locked up against your will with four people for 14 hours a day in a 9 square meter cell designed to fit only one person. It is especially felt when relationships of camaraderie or even of understanding are rare as they are outside the prison bars. Of course there are always those who choose to stand in dignity and struggle.

Incarceration is an everyday psychological warfare enforced upon you by the system when you are in prison. On top of this you also have the screws usually treating prisoners who take part in struggles (hunger strikes, refusal of prison food, demanding their printed material from the censorship) in a derogatory and sly way. One typical example is the last time prisoners were refusing prison food as a protest for the murder of Alexis, the warden of the wing came in together with other screws and threatened the prisoners taking part in the protest with disciplinary prison transfers.

Generally, when you are not subjugated to their correctional system they try to create a climate of fear. Anyway prison is like a large melting pot of souls. If you are a coward it will mince you up and make you even more of a coward but if you are tough it will make you even tougher and colder as a person. The cell makes the prisoner suffocate. Outside in the prison yard is the illusion of freedom…

Still through all of this nothing has ended, the struggle continues

Those who are right are the rebels

not the snitches and those who bow down

(a popular greek anarchist chant)

Apostolis Kiriakopoulos

A’ Wing

Koridallos Prison