“The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual crime.”
Merry crisis from prison island!
On a wet boxing day, 26th Dec, we held a noise demo outside HMP Bristol in solidarity with all prisoners and to show recently kidnapped Gopal some love & rage! Gopal was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder following the Bristol kill the bill riot in March 2021. You can find Gopal’s details along with other prisoners who welcome letters and solidarity here: https://bristolabc.org/prisoners/
We made noise, left our greetings on the walls and a banner at the entrance.
Fuck christmas but fuck christmas in a cage even more.
ALL SCREWS ARE BASTARDS!
KILL THE BILL!
FOR GOPAN, RYAN, KTB PRISONERS, TOBY, ALFREDO!
FIRE TO THE PRISONS!
Support economically and politically the 4 persecuted comrades, who are under trial at 6 February 2023. The 4 anarchists are being persecuted, under “anti-terrorist” law, for participating in an allegedelly “terrorist” organization named “comrades”. No one alone against the state! International revolutionary solidarity!
The first solidarity banner for the 4 comrades, Exarcheia 10th March 2020. Banner, “In a world that human relationships are being criminalized, we are all comrades”
Chronicle of the prosecution
On March 8th and 9th 2020, after a state security operation three male and one female comrade are arrested. Τhe authorities’ sole piece of evidence was two cops having ‘visually’ identified the first arrested person on a video of the attack against the Mitsotakis* Foundation. The other three were arrested due to their friendly and comrade relationships. They now find themselves charged with an enormous case file which includes 55 attacks.
Based on the anti-terrorist Act 187A, they are charged with setting up and participating in an alleged terrorist organization under the name of “comrades” . The authorities are prosecuting the comrades based on attacks, actions and public addresses uploaded on counter-information platforms which had been signed using the term “comrades”. In this way, the police are attempting to bring any political action signed by “comrades” together under the umbrella of a collective terrorist organization.
A few words on the construct of the organization “comrades”, from the statement of the prosecuted female comrade in May 2020: /… / Behold then, the State, in its attempt to sell the ideological construct of “war against terrorism” fabricating organizations. They claim the terrorist organization they created by the name “comrades” to be a group that has acted since 2016 up to the present carrying out attacks in Athens. This reasoning goes beyond normality or reality in a way that can only be called ridiculous. In fact, the name of this infamous organization is but a sign-off used by the broader spectrum of anarchist/ antiauthoritarian groups for many years now. It was used, it is still being used and it will continue to be used. Anyone who searches can find hundreds of texts bearing the said signature all over Greece, most probably even abroad. This new stratagem, the use, that is, of a broader signature and its conversion into the name of a terrorist organization, is unprecedented and its only aim can be to “lump” together a wide, diverse and multi-faceted range of action on the part of the broader antiauthoritarian movement, as well as to terrorize all who belong there. It´s now the turn of the “solidary”, the “anarchists”, the “communists” to be called terrorist organizations and there’s no end to the lumping /…/ Continue reading “Greece: We are all comrades: Support the 4 persecuted anarchists EN/GR/FR/ES/DE”→
Update about the health condition of Alfredo Cospito on the 71st day of hunger strike (Italy, December 29, 2022)
On December 29th, 71st day of the hunger strike to the bitter end against 41 bis and life imprisonment without possibility of parole, the antagonist radio station Radio Onda d’Urto broadcast a speech by the doctor who is regularly visiting anarchist comrade Alfredo Cospito, imprisoned in the Bancali prison in Sassari. We report a partial transcript of the speech and, at the end of the update, the recording of the broadcast (in italian language).
“[…] So, let’s consider that Alfredo is now 70 days into his hunger strike. He started from a weight of 115 kg and today he is at 84 kg. Surely he has a strong physique, he started from a fairly high weight so he has a better chance than others of being able to sustain this hunger strike. It is clear, however, that everything has an end at some point; in the sense that currently his haemato-chemical parameters are quite good, except for the fact that it is going down a bit with the electrolytes. Today he spoke to me about reducing his agony, in the sense that he wants to make it precipitate a little in order to shift the ground a little, a little more, so that he might eventually be transferred from 41 bis. I told him, however, that as far as potassium is concerned, which is part of the electrolytes, like sodium and chlorine, it is indispensable for contraction, especially for cardiac contraction – I am a cardiologist –, in fact, with the electrocardiogram that we did today there are alterations that are found in the ventricular recovery phase, and which show particular waves that result from potassium deficiency. Obviously I got a bit angry because, a few days ago, he stopped taking the supplements [extremely mild, light, which he has been taking for some time], so this is also the cause of the lowered potassium […]. He is a little convinced [to keep taking them, for a few more days] so he promised me that today and tomorrow, while waiting for the results of the tests [which are done about every four days], he will take the supplements. Then, as for the rest, psychologically he is in high spirits, smiling; a couple of days ago they moved him from his cell to another one, so he has air time with three other inmates, and this pleases him very much, because he talks to these other three inmates during air time. As a complexion then, in fact, he is a little better because he was very, very pale, but not pale because he was deficient in red blood cells; pale precisely because he was not taking light. And obviously the calcemia that he still has good is crumbling a little bit from the bones; somewhere, if you don’t take in food, the body subtracts and tries to help in some way. Let’s say that also as reasoning, as lucidity, he is fine; nothing to say about the answers he gives, they are not at all confused. He is reading, now and then he has a bit of blurred vision, he told me a bit of visual impairment, and that goes with the vitamin deficiency, of course. Every now and then, also because he wants to be conscious, he takes a little honey, which is a bit better than sugar […], when he was hypoglycaemic, they used to give him some sugar, but now he takes honey, so he doesn’t have these glycaemic drops any more. Then, for the rest, he is quite well; obviously he has lost a lot, a lot, a lot of weight, even since the first time I saw him, but nothing disastrous from the haemato-chemical analyses […]”.
In the face of the attempted annihilation of Alfredo, it is of the utmost importance that the ideas, deeds, and contribution of the comrade not be forgotten, condemned to oblivion as desired by the repressive apparatus of the state with the Scripta Manent trial, the Sibilla operation, and the transfer to the 41 bis regime.
The recent decree of the Court of Surveillance of Rome that confirms the detention in 41 bis is placed in the same perspective – the annihilation of the comrade – and is indicative of the reprisal that the state intends to give to the anarchist movement. Repression, convictions, decades of imprisonment, however, will not be enough nor can they ever lead to surrender: inevitably, our passion for freedom is stronger than any authority.
We continue the struggle with determination, we support all anarchist and revolutionary initiatives in solidarity with Alfredo Cospito who has been on hunger strike for over 70 days, with Ivan Alocco since December 22nd again on hunger strike alongside Alfredo, and with all imprisoned anarchists and revolutionaries.
The recording of the Radio Onda d’Urto broadcast (in italian language):
On December 27, 2021, the group “Negra Venganza” claimed responsibility for the explosive attack against the National Directorate of Gendarmerie, causing significant damage to its offices and buildings after the detonation of an explosive device against its premises.
Almost a year after the attack, the repressive forces carried out important raids and arrests in order to find those responsible. On December 22, 2022, the police raided several homes in Santiago and Valparaiso, arresting about 7 people.
5 detainees will be prosecuted for different illegal elements found in their homes, a sixth is directly accused of the explosive attack against the gendarmerie, and a seventh was found with black powder in his home.
So far 4 of the detainees will be formalized, and there will be more clarity on the legal situation. Solidarity with the accused for the attack on the gendarmerie!
Comrade accused of explosive attack on gendarmerie and arrested during raids remanded in custody
On December 22, 2022, the South Prosecutor’s Office ordered multiple raids in an operation to find those responsible for the attack on the National Directorate of the Gendarmerie, which occurred in December 2021, an action claimed as “Negra Venganza”.
The result of the operation ended only on December 23 with the formalization of 4 detainees:
Three subjects were formalized for the possession of different illegal objects found in their homes, and were remanded in custody. Aldo Hernandez was formalized for the attack to the National Direction of Gendarmerie, 16 crimes of frustrated injuries (by the jailers who were inside) and carrying weapons and ammunition.
The 10th Court of Guarantee accepted the term of 120 days of investigation, being transferred to the prison/company Santiago 1 and the Prison “La Gonzalina” in Rancagua.
Solidarity with those who arm themselves in their denials and attack the jailers!
Lately the state has been intensifying social misery and repression while at the same time sharpening class barriers, making survival a luxury. It is trying to impose total social control over every aspect of our lives, thus reinforcing its counterinsurgency policy. One of the social groups that experience this control to the greatest extent is the prisoners, being a subject completely cut off and stigmatized from the rest of society, thus becoming the perfect breeding ground for the harshest state policies.
Thus, on 28/10 the new penal code is passed which, among other things, includes the tightening of the conditions of leave and conditional dismissal, tightening of disciplinary procedures, extending the detention time of those accused of criminal-terrorist organizations, robberies or drugs, reintroducing type C prisons as ” Maximum Security Prisons ” and the prohibition of transfer to rural prisons. In this way, the regime of exclusion experienced by political prisoners is deepened while at the same time it is extended to other categories of crimes, increasing the time of incarceration of those who fall into this category. Immediately after the passing of the bill, mobilizations against it started in many prisons throughout Greece, with the participation of many criminal and political prisoners.
Thanos Chatziangelou actively participated in the above mobilizations and was quickly targeted by the state, culminating in his vindictive transfer to Nigrita prison on 19/12, as happened a few days later with Kostas Dimalexis who was transferred to Trikala prison. The purpose of these transfers is to remove the militants, who have not stopped opposing their oppressors, from the communities of struggle they had created. Thanos’ response was immediate, starting a hunger and thirst strike on 19/12 demanding the disclosure of the reason for his transfer and his return to Korydallos prison. Continue reading “Thessaloniki, Greece: Responsibility claim for solidarity attack on stores with the anarchist hunger/thirst strike of Thanos Chatziangelou”→
Solidarity to comrade Thanos Chatziangelou, member of the Anarchist Action organization who is on hunger and thirst strike since 19/12/2022 and is in danger if he has not already suffered permanent damage to his health.
We are living in times of a general unbridling of state violence and repression in a general environment of social crisis, misery and impoverishment: Suppression of self-managed spaces of resistance, violent repression of demonstrations, state killings with the organs of the state going unpunished, continuous hardening of criminal and ”penitentiary” legislation with one of its main objectives being to deal with political opponents of the state.
The state’s increasingly intense attack on prisoner militants has reached the point where it does not even accept the demands made through hunger strikes, which are not even mentioned in the new Penitentiary Code, as they were in the old one, but involuntary hospitalisation and forced feeding, which constitutes torture, are now being rearranged.
Comrade Thanos’ request to return to Korydallos prison should be granted.
Solidarity with the anarchist prisoners L. Vougiouklaki, F. Daskala, G. Michailidis, K. Dimalexis and I. Rodopoulos, who are on hunger strike and accompanying Thanos Chatziangelou, who are also on hunger strike.
No comrade should be left alone in the face of state repression.
Pola Roupa, third ward of Eleonas prison of Thebes
In October 2022, within the framework of the zero tolerance doctrine, the new Penitentiary Code is passed, which among other things makes the granting of leave and the conditional release of prisoners even more difficult and essentially restores the C-type prisons with the “maximum security prisons”. In response to this law, on 28 October, mobilisations by prisoners in prisons throughout the country began. The state, in an attempt to intimidate those who are struggling, reacts vindictively, targeting some of them with threats and bullshit in their cells.
Thus, at dawn on Monday 19/12 the kidnapping of the political prisoner for participation in the organization Anarchist Action, Thanos Chatziaggelou, and his transfer from his cell in Korydallos to the prison of Nigrita Serres. In the same way, on 22/12, the transfer of comrade K. Dimalexis to the prison of Trikala was carried out. On the same night of his abduction, comrade Th. Chatziaggelou starts a hunger and thirst strike demanding the disclosure of the reason for his transfer and his return to Korydallos. The comrade’s health is in a very critical condition and he is in danger of suffering kidney failure or cardiac arrest. In an attempt to discredit his struggle, a verbal prosecution proposal is made to force-feed the striker, a practice that constitutes torture and endangers his health. In solidarity, prisoners G. Michaelides, F. Tziotzis, I. Rodopoulos, L. Vougiouklakis and F. Daskalas go on symbolic or non-symbolic hunger strikes, putting their bodies on the mound.
As a minimal sign of solidarity with comrade Th. Chatziaggelou and the rest of the strikers, we chose on 27/12 to attack by breaking the facade and throwing paint at the offices of the New Democracy party in Koukaki, which as a government applies the doctrine of zero tolerance, at least against those who do not enjoy its favour.
VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE OF THE HUNGER AND THIRST STRIKER TH. CHATZIAGGELOU
STRENGTH TO THE IMPRISONED COMRADES IN STRUGGLE
SOLIDARITY WITH THE 11 TURKISH HUNGER STRIKERS FROM 7/10
Once again they took advantage of Giampi’s comfort and spaciousness to place yet another bug on him, this time it must be said that they put a little more effort and did a more thorough job, certainly not a ten-minute job.
The next racist murder attempt of the Greek cops, but also the ongoing hunger strike of the anarchists in Italy have motivated us to attack HERTZ as a supporter of the Greek cops and thus of the racist and neoliberal Nea-Demokratia regime.At the branch in Hamburg Wandsbek we set fire to the building.
Not only in Greece HERTZ offers favorable conditions for the uniformed executioners, but also for example in the USA.
Not only the shot in the back of the head of Costas Fragoulis in Thessaloniki is an expression of the racist violence that is the order of the day in Greece. There are daily pushbacks and assaults against people fleeing at the borders. In the camps and deportation jails, it becomes clear again and again what Europe’s closure against refugees means: brutal, inhuman violence that the Greek state and other European security agencies use without scruples.
At the same time, places of rebellion and migrant self-organization are repeatedly attacked in Greece: recently the Prosfygika Squat in Athens, but also many other squats and projects face constant attacks.
Solidarity with those detained in defense of Prosfygika!
Strength to the revolt of Roma and others who are rising up as a result of the shooting of Costas!
Combatative greetings to the hunger strikers in Italian prisons who fight against the solitary confinement system 41bis – freedom for Alfredo and all others!
The first solidarity banner for the 4 comrades, Exarcheia 10th March 2020. Banner, “In a world that human relationships are being criminalized, we are all comrades”
