URGENT: Friday Nov 14th: solidarity demonstration with Saloniki hunger strikers - close to death

dublin | anti-capitalism | news report

Thursday November 13, 2003 19:07

by redflaremist - Magpie Anarchist Collective (personal capacity)

Demonstration called for tomorrow - Saloniki anti-capitalist demonstrators on hunger strike

Saloniki anti-capitalist demonstrators on hunger strike in extremely bad health - situation is not good

Who are the Thessaloniki seven?

They are seven anti-capitalist demonstrators who were arrested during the anti EU summit demonstrations in Thessaloniki in northern Greece, in June of this year. It was Greece's turn to hold the six month presidency of the EU. At present it is Italy. Ireland takes over the presidency for the first time since 1997 in January of next year.

What have they been charged with?

The Greek Police have charged them with a variety of trumped up charges, such as possession of explosives. The most blatant case of a set up is that of Simon Chapman. The Greek police planted rucksacks containing Molotovs on him - there is video evidence showing him with a different coloured bag on his back prior to his arrest (and subsequent physical assault) by the cops. You can see this evidence for yourself at http://www.freesimonchapman.org/evidence.html You can download the video evidence which was filmed by a Greek news channel.

What is their current situation?

5 of the 7 have been on hunger strike. You can see their current status at the English translation of the Thessaloniki IMC site - http://thessaloniki.indymedia.org/features.php3?target=en If you click on the link you will see that the longest is Suleiman Dakduk Castro who at the time of writing has been refusing food for 54 days. Hunger strikers usually last about 61 days before their internal organs experience massive failure and their brain shuts down. They recently refused liquids in protest at their civil and legal rights being denied to them in prison.

What is happening in Dublin?

*****

Tomorrow Friday the 14th of November, at 12pm midday, we will be assembling at the north east corner of Fitzwilliam Square in Dublin 2 for a solidarity demonstration with the Thessaloniki Hunger Strikers. Please wear black clothing to symbolise their potential deaths at the hands of the Greek state.

*****

Here is a map of Dublin - http://www.bia.co.uk/maps/dublinmap.html . To get to Fitzwilliam Square you walk along the north end of Stephens Green down Merrion Row and Baggot Street, then take a right hand turn when you reach Fitzwilliam Street. Fitzwilliam Square is the small green square to the right of Stephens Green.

Apologies for the short notice of this demonstration - but desperate times call for urgent actions.

These people have been arrested during an anti capitalist demonstration. The circumstances of their arrests are extremely dubious. The Greek police are happy to frame them for crimes they did not commit. The same thing could happen to any of us.

Please come along to the demonstration tomorrow. THESE PEOPLE ARE CLOSE TO DYING. It is important that we show our support for their struggle for justice.

For more information please email: redflare AT dublin DOT com (anti spam measure) or else phone 086 177 0439

For more background information, check out:

UK Indymedia: http://www.indymedia.org.uk
WOMBLES news page: http://www.wombles.org.uk/news/home.php
Thessaloniki IMC (English Pages): http://thessaloniki.indymedia.org/features.php3?target=en
The Free Simon Chapman Campaign: http://www.freesimonchapman.org/
Latest Hungerstrike Updates: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/09/278180.html#hungerstrike

Send messages of support for the hunger strikers to the Greek Embassy in Dublin:

Ambassador Pispinis Ahileas-Vasilious
Greek Embassy
1 Upper Pembroke Street,
Dublin 2.

Phone: 01-676 7254
Fax: 01-661 8892

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Comments (2 of 2)

PRESS RELEASE for tomorrow's demo - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

by supporter - Anarchist Prisoner Support

Thu Nov 13, 2003 19:12

We have called a protest at the Greek Embassy due to the inhuman
treatment that has been dealt out to the 5 hunger strikers. All of
them are now in a serious condition and are in hospital.

We have heard reports of one prisoner who whilst into his fifth week
of his hunger strike was tied into a chair and beaten by police.

A total of 7 people were arrested following protests against the EU
immigration summit back in June of this year. At that time Greek
were holding the presidency of the EU, a position that Ireland will
have next year. Since the arrests what has taken place leads us to
believe that they are being victimised by the Greek state for daring
to protest against the policies that have brought about “fortress
Europe”. One of the hunger strikers has been threatened with
deportation to Syria, a country where he has been targeted by the
authorities since he was 16.

At a time when the Greek Foreign minister at the UN, called for a
truce throughout the world for the duration of the Olympics (Summer
2004) we ask the Greek authorities to look closer to home right now.
However, it’s all very well spouting these peaceful words on the
World stage whilst they have prisoners who are starving to death,
being beaten in their cells, denied beds and blankets in a Greek
prison.

We call on the Greek state to stop the persecution of the seven
prisoners. We think that there is enough evidence here to suggest
that they have been “fitted up”. We ask people to swamp the
Ambassador here in Dublin with protest letters. We shall continue to
protest here and shall escalate our protests if the Greek Government
fail to address our concerns.

The treatment of the hunger strikers is tantamount to a state
execution of them. We call on our all people who are concerned for
justice and human rights to ensure that the Greek state is not
allowed to get away with this.

Irish Supporters of the Thessallonki Seven.

Anarchomedia and Anarchist Prisoner Support Thessaloniki 7 Solidarity Pages

by Narc - Anarchomedia Collective

Thu Nov 13, 2003 21:39

Anarchomedia (www.anarchomedia.org) in conjunction with Anarchist Prisoner Support(www.anarchistps.org) has created a thessaloniki solidarity page on the Anarchomedia website. This page is continuously updated with the latest reports and information Anarchist Prisoner Support get about the status of the Saloniki 7. Along with up to date reports we provide the casual visitor with some background information on Saloniki 7's case.

For those who dont know five of the 'Saloniki 7', imprisoned on false charges following demos around the EU Summit in Thessaloniki, have been on hungerstrike for between 36 and 53 days in protest against their imprisonment. We urge all to get out there and do what they can do get this into the media and into the public domain. Support our prisoners!

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URGENT: Friday Nov 14th: solidarity demonstration with Saloniki hunger strikers - close to death

Comments (2 of 2)