Solidarity gathering tomorrow Thursday 3/2, at 9.00am, at Thessaloniki Courts

Solidarity gathering tomorrow Thursday 3/2, at 9.00am, at Thessaloniki Courts

For the two comrades, Rammy Sirianos and Kleomenis Savvanidis, who are accused of armed robbery of a confiscated vehicle auction, on 31/1.

HANDS OFF OUR COMRADES

NO ONE HOSTAGE IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE

Letter from the two Anastasiadis brothers, on remand in Avlona prison for the Nadir case (thessaloniki)

    

 The current situation is a period of economic and political crisis of the capitalist State as its decisions and the new measures begin to be controversial, while at the same time the strength of society is being tested and continuously running out, causing turbulence and the risk of a subsequent social explosion.

 Such a case is also the movement of the people who daily refuse to pay to drive through motorway tolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDI2jPb3ft8), as also people's reaction to the government’s plans to build a landfill refuse disposal plant in the district of Ovriokastro in Keratea that has resulted in violent clashes with the repressive forces. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cdEr_kYzqc). In addition to the above also comes also the massive strike of 15th December in Athens and Thessaloniki when clashes broke out with anarchists, anti-authoritarians, and other radical groups confronting the cops, but also with fire attacks against banks, luxury cars and shopping centres. At the same time the beating up of the ex-minister and parliamentary member of Nea Dimokratia (right wing party) Mr. Kostas Hadjidakis took place, after he was spotted by citizens as he was trying to pass through the demonstration.

 Before this, however, the State wants to prevent such repeated disturbances by any possible means, smashing the most radical parts of the struggle, such as the anarchist one. A few days before the 17th of November demonstration an attack by the para-State takes place against Radio Revolt in Thessaloniki, an attack aimed at the disorganization and disruption of counter-information by the Radio Station, which despite the total destruction carried on transmitting from inside the anarchist centre of NADIR. So, considering also the invasion of the RESALTO social centre in December 2009, in the same way the repression is evident this year in the police invasion of the energetic and always active centre of NADIR, seizing among other things, a large amount of money designated for purposes of the struggle and the server of Radio Revolt thereby succeeding in temporarily preventing the Radio Station from going on air.

 There is no doubt about the great increase in political prisoners in recent years. We would like to make this clear, the work of the State repressive apparatus is extending to the constant persecution and the arrest of comrades, wanting in this way to destroy any kind of insurrectionary mood. But on the other hand, the State faces our determined revolutionary comrades, with more methodical actions and mobilizations against the State and capitalism, fully aware of the risk that we and many other comrades still in the hands of the State ran.

 On remand for one and a half months now, and as the days pass the perception of the events is changing considerably, since the absolute lack of activity is complemented by considerations of self-criticism and personal development.

Prison is a path that each revolutionary person in struggle must take into account individually from the start.

 Nobody can say that the conditions are more or less good, since he/she lacks freedom and his or her uniqueness, but even under the worst conditions you can find data that can be in your favour so time can roll on your side.

 There is no restriction, no authority, no kind of violence that can damage our determination, our actions and our ideas… On the contrary, we are getting stronger and stronger!

 STRENGTH TO THE WANTED AND ARRESTED PEOPLE ON TRIAL FOR “THE CONSPIRACY CELLS OF FIRE” CASE 

 SOLIDARITY TO OUR COMRADE IVAN G. WHO IS ALSO ACCUSED IN THE NADIR CASE

Anastasiadis Brothers

15th January 2011

Avlona prison

 

Letter from I.G. on remand for the Nadir Case in thessaloniki

Early in the afternoon of 4th December an organized raid by 50 cops took place against the anarchist centre of Nadir, on the ground-floor of the B section of the students’ block of buildings, in this way violating the university asylum. The cops raided the place, arresting 9 people, 3 girls and 6 boys, injuring several of them. Later we were taken to ΓΑΔΘ (General Police Headquarters of Thessaloniki), where I am still being held.

On the first day of our arrest, until we were brought behind the bars of these squalid cells, something that lasted about 12 hours, I was the only person who was handcuffed, with my hands going numb because of the pain, with the excuse that the guards did not have the keys or orders to take the handcuffs off. At the same time the cops tried to get statements from us and pushed us to sign confessions. At that time the translator tried to mislead me (she was authorized as translator by the cops and probably works in their interests) to sign a confession telling me that in reality it was a legal document, stating that during the body check on me by the cops no mobile phone was found on me.

Of course, like the rest of my comrades, I did not sign anything, but I was close to being trapped and sinking into deep shit, as has probably already happened with other Bulgarians with the same translator.

So started the racist discrimination against me, because I come from Bulgaria, discrimination that still exists today.

After almost 12 hours we were led to the detention cells of  Γ.Α.Δ.Θ .  (General Police Headquarters of Thessaloniki),  where the conditions of detention for prisoners are deadly, since for the first days they did not give us any blankets and many of us were sleeping on the floor.

Two days later and accompanied by a whole army of cops, we were taken to the prosecutor who announced the ridiculous accusations blaming us as responsible for all the damage that has happened on the University Campus over recent years. Three days later we appeared before the investigator who decided about my pre-trial custody. Once again my home country became serious evidence for my imprisonment, despite the fact that I had the same accusations as the rest of my comrades who were released.

My opinion is that this whole cop action that reminds me of a Hollywood movie took place just because it was two days before the 6th of December, the date when Alexandros Grigoropoulos was murdered, event that led to the revolt of 2008 breaking out.

The cops’ action obviously took place in order to create a climate of terror before December 6, just like what happened last year against Resalto anarchist centre in Athens.

With this action, the cops also succeeded in stopping the self-organized radio station Radio-Revolt 88.7 FM from transmitting because among the objects they seized was the server of the radio station. The wagon of Radio-Revolt was attacked one month before by the Para-State and after this the server was transferred to the anarchist centre of Nadir.

The anarchist centre of Nadir is an open social space with a sound studio, cafeteria, library, gym, and also a place for people to sleep. The centre was visited every day by many people who wanted to develop socio-political action, events that I do not consider negative.

In conclusion, for almost 40 days now I am a hostage in the squalid conditions of detention offered by the cells of democracy. Despite all the above, they will not make

it to break me because I know that it’s not me who is the victim, but the cops themselves because their rotten minds cannot even understand what freedom means.

Solidarity to all those people who, like me, stay in the squalid cells behind bars because I know and believe that all together we are powerful and there are no prisons or authority that can scare us or knock us down.

15th January 2011

Γ.Α.Δ.Θ.

(General Police Headquarters of Thessaloniki),

On remand for Nadir case.

Responsibility claim for attack with incendiary device on restaurant in thessaloniki, 25/12/10

Responsibility claim for attack with incendiary device on restaurant in thessaloniki, 25/12/10 “Our day will come, our day will come” Bobby Sands Or has it come? Gone is the days when the politicians toured the cities and villages promising the growth and the prosperity of our land accepting claps and handshakes. Gone are the days when the cops went around care-free without bulletproof vests, with the gun secured and chilling outside the Police Stations and the “hangouts” of the city. Gone are the days where the journalists were next door people “compassionate” and “understanding” the problems of the people. Gone are the days where the judges and public prosecutors gave out the sentences and the years as if they were chick peas. Gone are the days where the snitches were the proud informal cops of social prosperity. Gone are the days…. Gone are the days…. What goes around comes around. The day came where the politicians will get beaten wherever they are (if they are) and bloody they will run to save, not their political career but their life. The day came where the cops will go around in groups of ten, they will hide in the police sations behind bulletproof windows and when they go to look after a witness of a case they will not know if they will return home at night. The day came where the journalists will think very well before putting the pen to the paper. The day came where the judges and the public prosecutors will accept as many parcels as the the years they give out. The day came where the snitches will not expose but will be exposed. The day came… The day came… Here we are With the repression, the terrorism and with more than 30 prisoners and 10 persecuted the battle is not lost, neither finishes but it continues with each one of us counting forces and re striking wherever this is possible. Everywhere. From militant protests with stones and bottles to the haters of our freedom up to bomb attacks on banks, homes of politicians and government buildings. From spontaneous attacks against uniformed pigs up to organized attacks in the centre of the city. From the incendiary attack on a car dealership in Maroussi up to the mailing of bombs to the embassies of Switzerland and Chile in Rome. Again and again remaining in the substance, that of aggressive mood whatever means, quantity individual towards this rotten existence that surrounds us. Until the destruction of everything. Participating thus to the call of Warriors of Revolutionary Conscience we placed on the 22/12 an incendiary device in the restaurant Pyrofania in the area of Stavroupoli, Thessalonici, a known hangout of cops where they enjoyed also the 15% discount that is offered to them by the shop in question. Finally we greet the imprisoned comrades Giannis Skouloudis and the 2 for the Nadir case, as well as the 4 persecuted (Sokratis Tsifkas, Babis Tsilianidis, Dimitris Fessas, Dimitris Dimitsiadis) We should set the terms. Make our refusal action. MOVE ON THE ATTACK. Incendiary circles of Disarray

Thessaloniki: blockading of the National Bank of Greece – Solidarity to Giannis Dimitrakis

open assembly for the promotion of solidarity

In the frame of the greek call for solidarity actions to comrade Giannis Dimitrakis ahead of his court of appeals on december 6^th we blockaded the national bank that is on egnatia street in central thessaloniki near kamara. After the end of the action the whole of group that was in the action went around egnatia street putting up posters, giving out pamphlets and throwing flyers all around.

Those that we want to provoke and ask to take a position is society itself on who is really the enemy and who is really the criminal.

“Salome has undressed of her veils”

We are with Giannis

We will become the beast (play on the words of an old greek saying)

Solidarity Assembly

the banner says "would you rob a bank if you were invisible?
freedom to Giannis Dimitrakis" 

Thessaloniki (north Greece): Οccupation of the “Union of Daily Newspapers Journalists of Macedonia – Thrace” building.

On Wednesday 11.10.1910 at 11.30 am, an occupation of the ESIEMTH building (Union of Daily Newspapers Journalists of Macedonia – Thrace) took place in Salonica, in solidarity with the comrades Gerasimos Tsakalos and Panagiotis Argyrou and the 5 “wanted” persons for the “Conspiracy of Cells of Fire” case.
Banners were hanged in front of the building and the entrance and after sending several faxes, 40 people left on structured marching after 45 minutes, chanting slogans and holding banners, to the Navarino square (a central square).
The text we sent by fax to several news agencies, newspapers and channels is the following:
……………..
Worthy of your role you pimps …
1/11/2010 two more comrades arrested by the pigs of DI.AS. after the ignition of a trapped parcel in a courier office in Pangrati (central Athens) and the announcement of the existence of other parcels later on. On the same day, photos of 5 more comrades persecuted for the “Conspiracy of Cells of Fire” case, were published in all media.
And the well-known journalistic vomit starts.
We know very well what you are for years now. This does not mean that we will let any bastard to earn surplus value talking about our comrades, it does not mean that we remain silent towards the patchwork of conservatism and filthy scandalmongering that we watch taking place every night at 8 o’clock, where the TV cannibalism wears its kind and the recurring Hollywood type movie comes back on screen …
Reporters of every type, from financial analysts to physiognomists, go on an unconditional TV orgy. They deposit their deepest concerns about “where does this situation lead to” sometimes with the cordial suspense for the astray children and other times with anger against the “uncontrollable terrorists”.
Everybody has a place in this journalists’ and anti-terrorism police’ feast. From the extreme right-wing to the left and progressive tabloids and from the well-known fascist assholes -direct reporters with a glorious history from the 12th floor (anti-terrorism police floor) of police headquarters- to the versatile reporters, worthy minions of their bosses. The “TV trials” come back with all the details about the lives of the comrades, statements of relatives, neighbors, employees, witnesses and of course cops, in an attempt to create the profile of the “hard core”.
Within all this, the parastate father Makis Triantafyllopoulos (famous journalist), who has surpassed himself this time, decides to criticise the other journalistic assholes from the position of an impeccable journalist. A failed attempt to stand out of the journalistic cesspool. Comedy has its limits.
And a special mention for the local “Macedonia” (newspaper and press organization of north Greece), that has a brilliant history in sneakiness and flirting with the fascist ideas, could not stay out of this sewer. The failed attempt in sarcasm of the revolutionaries do not ridicule our comrades, but those who invented it.
And one more thing.
We know that “you’re not all the same.” For every 9 bastards journalists, minions of their boss, there may be one who wants to do real research and to highlight some interesting issues. But as this one chooses to work and be part of the corporate media, the only thing he achieves is to reproduce the dominant propaganda “on democratic pluralism” and “respect of the other opinion.” Every hip documentary in SKY (Greek TV channel) or any “subversive” article in Eleftherotypia (popular newspaper) simply legitimize the other 49 pages and 23 hours of brainwashing, filthiness and spectacle.
WE WILL NO LET ANY COMRADE TO BECOME FOOD IN YOUR DIRECTED CIRCUS!
the greek text: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1223105

Statement by anarchist station Radio Revolt concerning the attack on its wagon saloniki greece

 Translation from Athens IMC On Tuesday November 9th at around 11pm, while there were five comrades in the wagon of radio revolt, around 20-25 para-statists and fascists attacked it. Armed with clubs, hammers, sticks and knives they threw three molotovs inside the wagon and tried to block its door. The response of the comrades was instant – they grabbed sticks, managed to get out of the wagon and responded to the attack. The fascists chanted their totally unimaginative slogans and threw stones, but the comrades nevertheless managed to push them back, chasing them to their motorcycles. However, the fire had already gone out of control while the coordinated attempts of all who arrived resulted in limiting the damage to the wagon, the inside of which was destroyed. Six fire brigade cars arrived in the area, which (according to the fire brigade unit) were blocked from the police, who demanded that they accompany the cars inside the campus – something we could not by any means accept [university campuses are protected by academic asylum in Greece –trans]. At the same time, while the electricity remained connected therefore posing an additional threat to the gathered people who were putting off the fire, the water supply was cut off (twice) by the university administration. We obviously did not await the intervention of any state mechanism to “save” us and we believe that the attack was organised by this very mechanism. More specifically, from the early evening the streets around the university were full of cops with at least three riot police units outside the (closed) EXPO building, motorcycle cops hovering around in groups of fours at a nearby square and the confirmed presence of helmet-wearing individuals (possibly undercovers) outside the nearby sports stadium, shortly after the attack. As it has been repeatedly proven, the fascists do not have the capacity to conduct such an attack without assistance. Typical examples of this are the racist pogroms under cop protection in Ayios Panteleimonas in Athens, the taxi-riot police unit at Larissis Station and the attack against the haunt in the West, in Athens again, where one riot police unit arrived only seconds after the fascists had left. Likewise, the fascists’ motorcycles cut through the police cordons with no hassle whatsoever. We easily see this is another attack in the generalised attack against radical parts of society. An attack which is only to be expected in the present socio-economic condition in Greece. We live through a period in which a government is desperately trying to keep a country float, where it condemns to impoverishment the largest part of the population, resulting in new poles of radical action springing up while the existing ones strengthen. In this period the panicked system choses to escalate its repression using all means at its disposal. Its aim is the prevention of any resistance to the new measures, the state or the system from any individual, collective or group. It tries to defend against this generalised discontent across society. All these comprise the full picture of the events of Tuesday. Fascists make a murderous attack against a self-organised anarchist radio with the backing of the police, which plays the double role of safeguarding their escape and blocking an intervention by the fire brigade. The university authorities “rest their case”, while the systemic Mass Media talk of “disturbances” at the university and about clashes between gangs, hiding away and distorting the true events. The wagon has been burned down but Radio Revolt continues. Twenty minutes after the disruption of the show, the station returned on both the internet and FM and of course the flow of the station continues as normal and aggresively. The wagon will operate again to aid the station project. All perpetrators of Tuesday’s attack will find us against them, ready to respond to any attempt of silencing of counter-information, of the support of subversive action and the dissemination of subversive ideas. Additionally, each attack of this kind crouches us together as proven by the material solidarity we immediately received. 

They don’t deter us, they enrage us! Cops, TV, neonazis – all scum work together. You will find us against you.

Solidarity attack in xanthi north Greece

Yesterday, a few hours after the fascist attack on Radio Revolt (Thessaloniki), we expressed our solidarity
by destroying 2 cash points outside the main branch of the Bank of Greece,
Xanthi, North Greece.
Our solidarity does not stop here.
BACK FASCISTS
we are going to destroy you one by one.
the ungrateful children

“Radio revolt” anarchist radio station in Thessaloniki burnt down by fascists

On Tuesday night at 23.00 the occupied train carriage hosting the anarchist radio station Radio Revolt at the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki was attacked by fascists, who set it on fire. The few comrades who were in the carriage at the time of the attack are well in their health. According to reports on Athens IMC, fire brigade units in the area refused to intervene. The carriage has been destroyed completely. 

Thessaloniki courts SMASHED UP

at the hearing of the arrested 19year old comrade Giannis Skouloudis

13/10


The provocative attitude of the cops did not stay unanswered today, comrades attacked the riot cop units inside the court building outside the room the comrade was being held.

The attitude of the comrades was militant. Despite the attack on the riot cops, no comrade was left behind. There were two riot cop units, one in front of us and one on the side (which was just sitting

around). After that windows were smashed inside the court on the first floor as well as cop shields. All the cops managed to do was throw one tear gas cannister which we didn't even realize.

It was answered to immediately with a fire extinguisher by a comrade.

No comrade stepped back neither feared, since all of us felt the rage inside of us for the arrested comrade.

Since the cops did not manage to do anything with the comrades they hit the mother of the accused comrade over the head.

The 19year old was arrested yesterday accused of arson of a car of the national electricity company.

The charges of the comrade are with the “anti-terrorist” law:

“Composing a criminal organization”

“Arson”, “Explosion”, charges concerning the possession, making and use of explosive devices, and “Grievous criminal damage”, and breaking the law “about weapons”.

After arresting him the “anti-terrorist” police looking for another 3 people did a show of power transforming it into an exercise, stopped people everywhere, raided comrades homes and harassed

anyone who looked “suspicious”.

No one hostage in the hands of the state.




EVERY REVOLUTIONARY A WILD FLOWER

FREEDOM TO COMRADE SKOULOUDIS

ARRESTED COMRADE IN THESSALONIKI 13/10/10

Early this morning police officers arrested a comrade which they accuse for arson of a vehicle of the national electrical company in Thessaloniki. It is already confirmed that besides his house they have proceeded to raid various houses of individuals of the a/a movement in athens and thessaloniki. They are looking for two more comrades they say were with him. There is a call to meet at the polytechnic of thessaloniki tonight at 8.30 pm for information.

THE ILLEGALS OF HISTORY 30 september

Text from a solidarity gathering by the self-organized steki of the philosophical school and the Open assembly of the western neighbourhoods at the french consultant in thessaloniki, protesting the deportations of the Roma in france and in solidarity to every persecuted person: For roughly one year now we have become spectators of a vicious repressive tactic of the french state against the populations of Roma. From June 2010 until today there have been 8000 deportations and more are expected, as has been pre-announced by the french government. Already many destructions of settlements have preceded in the frames of a generalized and racist pogrom against the gipsy populations, as it also happened 2 years ago in Italy. In each system of sovereignty, from feudalism until today, the Roma constitute the first and easier target, while history has shown that the predicaments were and remain a permanent piece of their life. Because of their nomadic way of life and lack of desire or even difficulty of adaptation to the way of life of the majority of the rest of the residents, the Roma often have fallen victims of discriminations. Their resistance toward the individualistic neoliberalism leads to the growth of solidarity bonds between them to cover their daily needs and substantially gives them a form of autonomy towards the law and political-economic frames of the state. They are not under the organization of power and in the laws of the market, and structure their own self-organized communities. With the “repatriation” of gipsy populations, Sarkozy tries initially to bring up his popularity attracting super-conservative parts of society and arousing french nationalism. His additional target is to disorientate society from the scandals in which he has fallen lately, but also the workers from the abolishment of basic social security, working and social rights that the future holds for them, a fact that happens already all over Europe. Sarkozy invests in the feeling of safety and power of the state, precisely in order to remove the question of crisis (political, economic, social, cultural) from the limelight. In this way he seeks the generalized terrorizing of the week classes in contradiction to the safety and the social prosperity that he offers to the privileged classes. This policy, if indeed is proved effective for authority, it is very likely to be also applied from other governments, (as already leaked by the media that is “silently” and indirectly happening) that investing in conservatism, they will try they resolve the problems of their internal policy. On the other side, Romania and Bulgaria receive pressures for the repatriation of the Roma in return for the support of France at an economic and European level. The system and the power use their repressive mechanisms towards the weakest parts of society with a purpose to perpetuate their supremacy. It is something that is basically turned against each one of us and concerns us all. And because we do not believe in the good intention of the European mechanisms, we demand no one gets kicked out of anywhere. We stand in solidarity to all excluded and displaced. We affix and claim a world without borders WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKE THE GIPSIES I DID NOT REACT. I WAS NOT A GIPSY. WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKE THE COMMUNISTS I DID NOT REACT. I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST. WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKE THE JEWS I DID NOT REACT. I WAS NOT A JEW. WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKE ME THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO REACT. Bertolt Brecht

Open Assembly of Western Neighbourhoods
Dytikessynoikies.wordpress.com

Responsibility claim for the arson attack of a restaurant in thessaloniki greece on 1 octomber

Wild times we are living.
Times of war.
Here where hesitation and neutrality does not fit,
Where cowards have no place,
Here where every desire which clashes with the values of this world, meets those who have as a task its suppression.
Those who even their existence, humiliates every dignity, supervises compromise.
Here where choices are not defined as such,
maybe because there is not the strength to carry their cost.
And if the side of revolution recognizes this cost,
Its time the other side felt it under its skin.



From the plain traffic cop coordinating traffic, until the last, useless pigriotcopinforcer of order. From the wimpy office cop, to the slimy undercover, EYP cop (greek c.i.a.) snitch. From the freshmen cadet, until macho motherfucker EKAM (special forces) cop.
With all means, everywhere and always.
From the kickings in the street until cold execution.
On and off duty.
You will find us in front of you.
Wild times we are living.
Times of war.
We should make the terms.
Make our denial practice.
MOVE ON THE ATTACK.
-So we chose to attack with an incendiary device against the restaurant “Kreonidis”, a few hours before a cop gathering was planned to be held there.

Arsonist cycles of Disorder

BIOLOGICA Squat Info. Thessaloniki Greece

BIOLOGICA is a collective, whose activity revolves around the autonomous (squatted) space in the department of biology, in the University campus, in Thessaloniki. As a collective, based on common beliefs around a D.I.Y. ideology, we engage upon concerts and relevant to the D.I.Y. music scene activities, in order to express our opposition to the commercialisation of music and creativity in general.
We regard music as a communication tool, to share common beliefs and feelings and therefore we stand against all profit making forms of music industry and stereotyped entertainment.
What BIOLOGICA tries to do (and has been doing for almost 18 years), is to raise consciousness against the "star system" society and deconstruct the idea of the "show", the audience and the producer. We aim at creating an interactive enviroment during concerts, where people can freely participate, with no constrains. That's why we find it important for everyone to understand that, concert organising has expenses and that we ask for the minimum compensation (2 euro-non obligatory entry fee), in order to cover the concert and maintenance expenses, as well as the traveling fees for the bands from abroad.
Last but not least, BIOLOGICA, aims through its activity, to contribute to the formation of the local D.I.Y music identity and initiate co-operation towards a common goal.

BIOLOGICA BAR: On Tuesdays, at Biologica squat, we hold a bar, which features film and documentary screenings, music nights and plenty of booze! Through this bar we are trying to propound an alternative way of entertainment, which is not based on profit making. Through this bar we try to initiate closer contact between people, that share a common interest in the D.I.Y. culture, and exchange perspectives around the subject.

Contact Biologica at: biologica666@gmail.com

source: http://biologicasquad.blogspot.com/

The court of appeals of the Thessaloniki 4 has been adjourned for January 14, 2011 This morning, the court of appeals of the Thessaloniki 4, the last remaining defendants of the 2003 EU summit demonstration, was adjourned for January 14, 2011. More information on the case and on solidarity initiatives will be published here in the build-up to the court of appeals in January.

This morning, the court of appeals of the Thessaloniki 4, the last remaining defendants of the 2003 EU summit demonstration, was adjourned for January 14, 2011. More information on the case and on solidarity initiatives will be published here in the build-up to the court of appeals in January.

Simon Chapman and 3 other defendants to again face the Greek Courts

saloniki2003.blogspot.com/2010/05/freedom-spiros.html

Statement of the London Thessaloniki Solidarity Group - September 19th, 2010 version

The solidarity group was formed in 2003 soon after the arrests at the EU summit demonstrations in Thessaloniki.

The entire basis of the arrests in 2003, was and still remains, an arbitrary attack upon the demonstrations, where culpability was placed upon those that the Greek authorities sought to make examples of. From the beginning of the process of detention it was clear that evidence of guilt would not even be based upon recognition of legal facts or evidence but by association. In Thessaloniki during those days everyone was guilty, and for the Greek authorities, it was merely the case of charging those either unfortunate to be detained ( then beaten and tortured ) many of which coming from outside of Greece. The 7 which were detained, know as the Thessaloniki 7, consisted of 3 Greeks ( 2 of which were teenagers ), 2 Spanish, 1 Syrian and 1 British. In response to their continued incarceration, a hunger strike began in early September 2003, lasting 56 days and finally leading to the release of all 7 prisoners for humanitarian reasons. The embarrassment of negative publicity, along with the many solidarity demonstrations and actions throughout greece and the world, forced the hand of the Greek state in averting a greater problem of creating martyrs for a burgeoning movement. After the successful release and dropping of bail conditions for the 7, rumours of a re-emergence of the trials again began circulating. This time in late 2007 the initial confirmation for the start of a trial being 8th January 2008.

For this story continues. Simon Chapman from London, UK was found guilty of the following charges in 2008

• Culpable of repeated explosion from which there could result common danger for a human being
• Repeated construction of explosive bombs
• Possession of explosive bombs
• Distinguished riot/rebellion
• Distinguished cases of damages in confluence

He was then sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison in his absence, with others receiving 5 years, most either being found not guilty or guilty of lesser non-imprisonable charges. Since 2008 the trial has left a legacy with 5 outstanding appeals to the conviction and inflated prison sentences. These appeals - now reduced to 4 defendants after the outcome of an earlier appeal hearing of one of the defendants - again sees 3 of the 5 hunger strikers of 2003 appear in court including Simon Chapman.

At this stage, with just under a week left before the beginning of the trial (the trial begins on September 24th in Thessaloniki ) , the fact remains, that what we are fighting now is the same process of repression that we fought successfully in 2003. In Simon's case especially, documented video and photo evidence clearly shows MAT riot police plant molotov cocktails in black bags and strap them to his body. Simon has maintained, and which photographic evidence illustrate, that he was carrying a light blue rack sack with nothing more than water bottles. This blatant attempt to artificial manufacture culpability remains a reflection of the nature of these trials.

We therefore express our solidarity to the 4 defendants facing the courts and prosecutors of the Greek state, and reaffirm our commitment to fight in solidarity with them.


Our commitment for the freedom of the Thessaloniki 4!

Solidarity and dignity against repression!

London Thessaloniki Solidarity Group - September 19th, 2010

For Contact Please email us at:  thessalonikisolidarity@gmail.com

We will be using UK indymedia to post updates during the next few days

London Thessaloniki Solidarity Group
e-mail: thessalonikisolidarity@gmail.com

The protection of the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki, tried to set fire

Sun, 19/09/2010 

On the night of September 18, a group of 15 unknowns in black clothes and masks, threw a Molotov cocktail booth security at the Turkish consulate in the Greek city of Thessaloniki. According to Greek police, Butka burnt who were inside the police rescued. The attackers fled back into the University of Aristotle and escaped arrest. Despite the fact that on 12 August anarchists have thrown the Consulate building with Molotov cocktails, police believe the attack on August 18, directed against the officers of the flooritsii, and not against the Turkish Consulate. Sources: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com http://www.trdefence.com/

Molotov cocktail attack on the outpost of the Turkish Consulate Thessaloniki

Attack with Molotov cocktails made unknown to the outpost of the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki, at 2.35 o'clock in the morning Saturday 17 /9 The persons covered their faces fired Molotov cocktail at the outpost, located at the intersection of St. Demetrios and St. Paul.
The attack was not injured. The fire burned foliage on the roof of the outpost and caused damage.
to the area rushed police and fire forces.
A similar attack was done by mid August.

Video..Man throws shoe at Greek prime minister

 A man threw his shoe at Prime Minister George Papandreou

It was an exotic new
A man threw his shoe at Prime Minister GeorgeGeorge Papandreou as he visited kiosks an international trade fair on Saturday, September 11 in Thessaloniki, but it widely missed its mark and the man was pinned down by security guards.
The man, in his 60s, was placed in a police car and detained by police.
Witnesses at the scene said the man was part of a protest group and the action was planned.
Papandreou, surrounded by security and media, had opened the international fair, where he was set to give a speech in the evening on the state of the economy.
They also arrested as well as the doctor's daughter with a fifteen-year-old,

In addition to a farmer named Stavros Vitalis, were accompanied at the time, but they announced later in the release of three detainees.

In a statement to the Greek media, he said Bravazeres He is a member of a new organization called the "National Front"

And protesting against government policies.

Bravazeres described what he had done "a political act against the policies of the Government's austerity"

He warned that "many will follow suit," refused to reveal the number that successfully recruited in the front to do so.

Minor violent incidents mar premiere of Thessaloniki International Fair in northern Greece September 12th, THESSALONIKI, Greece, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — Thousands of Greek demonstrators protested against government austerity measures in the center of the northern city Thessaloniki on Saturday afternoon under draconian security measures, as minor violent incidents have already marred the premiere of the 75th Thessaloniki International Fair. More than 4,500 policemen were on increased alert around the conference center, where Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is due to deliver a keynote speech on his government’s economic policy shortly, as tension in the area rose. Holding banners with slogans like “We are not for sale” and “No to EU and International Monetary Fund,” demonstrators from all over the country participated in the rallies organized by labor unions, with minor scuffles with police reported. Earlier on Saturday noon a Greek doctor who was believed to be a member of a far Right group attempted to throw a shoe at Papandreou, shouting that his government betrayed Greek people and served the interests of bankers. The man was apprehended by the premier’s bodyguards and sent to a local police station, along with his 15-year-old daughter and a 55-year-old friend. According to Greek media reports, the doctor had called on citizens of Thessaloniki through his website to ” welcome Papandreou with their old shoes.” Later on Saturday afternoon, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) President Constantinos Michalos was attacked by a group of protesting truck drivers as he entered a Thessaloniki hotel for the General Assembly of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece. He was punched on the face, but was not seriously injured and participated in the meeting as scheduled. Michalos, who supports the government’s plan to liberalize the freight truck sector, which is a “closed” market in Greece, denounced the attack. “Such efforts will not stop reforms,” said Michalos, as unionists of the truck owners, who operate with state licenses for decades in Greece and object to a government plan to open up the sector, announced a new strike next week. Also on Saturday a small group of teachers occupied for a while the Greek Finance Ministry’s kiosk at the trade fair venue, chanting slogans against cutbacks on salaries and a freeze on hiring more teachers. “We will safeguard democracy. We will safeguard citizens’ right to demonstrate, but also it is the duty of the whole society to safeguard people’s lives and properties. And we will do that,” said Greek Citizens’ Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis.

greece , Thessalonike ,today 10/9/10

• In Thessalonike the second biggest city of greece with 1  Million people we have the “international exhibition of thessalonike ” were many years now the prime minister talks and debates about economy and the new year that starts and what his government do
• every year we have protests outside the area where the exhibition is happening
• it is a really big deal for everybody the next 2 days here in greece
• there are more than 4.500 policemen there …
• the “big” protest it is on saturday and we will have some information from there with pictures .
• today around 12 near the port  police blocked  some leftists protest in the street with some fighting  .
• people report :  police state in Thessalonike 4.500 police  it is a lot
• festivals , concerts and parties   for  tonight

The latest state in (the restaurant) Banquet salonika..

Translated by: Subalterne beim Subbotnik During the whole summer period, the workers from the restaurant Banquet and their solidarity committee continued their mobilization with pickets, demonstrations, a live concert and public kitchen outside of the business. The employer not only remained firm at his position, keeping the business suspended, continuing his efforts to eliminate his employees financially. But in beginning  of August he announced that he makes new dismissals, with the excuse of the fact that he doesn't want specific  employees to go back to work. The attempt to ruin the workers economically failed, thanks to the practical solidarity from workers, youngsters, unions and the food supply workers and after the  employees were supported financially by the solidarity  committee's campaign. From Monday 8/16th and on the employer aims to open the restaurant and to put the tables and chairs outside,  since it is the period before ΔΕΘ  (International Fair of Thessaloniki) starts, a period which is traditionally profitable for the  specific company and the city. Until now no one from the 8 workers, who were fired and participated in  the struggle, has been informed, unlike the other  workers, who have helped to prepare the reopening  of the business. We are calling for a new solidarity committee in  order to prepare new protests for Friday 8/20th at 7 pm at the Labor Center of Thessaloniki. Some background information about the labor conflict  in the restaurant 'Banquet' can be found here: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=1170718

-Attack on riotcops in Thessaloniki sunday june 20th.

About 40 people masked up attacked a riotcopvan on Agiou Dimitriou street in Thessaloniki catching them by surprise since as soon as

three pigs saw them tried to run away but dindt manage because of the molotovs that were flying. two of them caught fire since they

coulndt even call for back up from the rest of their unit. they also pulled out their gun and shot in the air.

p.s. they were running like chickens in panic... they dint even have time to pick up their shields..