(See the Thessaloniki 4 solidarity website for more info; Occupied London will be covering the upcoming trial at the Thessaloniki 4 tag)
A demonstration is planned at the Greek Embassy in London on the first day of the trial at 2pm, Friday 14th January 2011.
Check the website or facebook pages for full details nearer the time as well as regular updates on the campaign.
Background: Beaten Up, Fitted Up, Don’t Let Them Get Banged Up
Short film gives overview worth watching:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheThessaloniki4
Over a hundred people were arrested after a demonstration confronting the European Union summit, held in Thessaloniki in Greece back in 2003. Seven people were imprisoned and held on remand, including UK protester Simon Chapman. The prisoners began a hunger strike that lasted more than 50 days.
A massive worldwide solidarity campaign followed including demonstrations, direct action and occupations leading to all seven being released on bail. All the charges were eventually dropped.
Years later after appeals from the Prosecutor the charges were reinstated. The first case finally came before the Courts in January 2008 where Simon Chapman and three of the other defendants – Suleiman “Kastro” Dakdouk (Syrian origin), Fernando Perez Gorraiz (Spain) and Michaelis Triakapis (Greece) – were found guilty.
All of those accused maintain their innocence and video and photographic evidence clearly shows police planting a rucksack filled with petrol bombs next to Simon see the photo, and also see: http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=162765.
This didn’t stop him receiving a prison sentences of more than eight years, with the other defendants all receiving over five years.
They will now face the Appeal Court again in January 2011, when they have the opportunity to appeal against their convictions. This means we have less than two months to build a campaign, raise vital funds and show true global solidarity to the defendants.
Please link to the campaign’s website on your web sites, forums, blogs, facebook profiles etc, tell friends and family and help to spread the word. Join and share the facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Simon-Chapman-and-the-Thessaloniki-4/113450595384764
or join and share the facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150278698345263
Solidarity with the Thessaloniki 4!
http://www.salonikisolidarity.org.uk/
Films on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheThessaloniki4
Saloniki 2003
Comments
Victory for the Thessaloniki 4
After 3 weeks of court dates, adjournments and a lawyers strike – Simon Chapman, Suleiman “Kastro” Dakdouk and Michalis Triakapis were found not guilty of all but one minor charge of “minor defiance of authority”, with Fernando Perez Gorraiz being found not guilty of all charges. This has been an amazing outcome to a saga that began in July 21st 2003 with the initial violent arrests of our comrades, through to the 2 months of hunger strikes and international solidarity campaigns that won its first victory with the release of the original 7 detainees in November 2003. The final outcome of the judgement in the case finalises this 8 year story, where the Greek police, in open court, testified in their dozens by the instruction of their superiors to ensure convictions and maximum sentences for the defendants. On Monday January 31st at around 11am, 3 judges and 4 jurors return a verdict – 4 against 3 in favour of the defendants.
This shouldn’t be seen as “justice being seen to be done”, as we do not believe that justice is a value known to any court, but it is a victory for the four who stood up in their defiance against the power of the Greek state – as they did during the days of the EU summit in 2003 – and a victory of our collective solidarity when faced with the criminality of power. The prosecutors, the judges and the police were committed to their role as repressors of social and political dissent, attempting to enlist the lay jurors within their conspiracy. What limited power we may have in such circumstances was flexed and the limitations of their power laid bare. Ultimately it is with the compliance of those outside the direct employment of the state that ensures the repressive mechanisms maintain their social legitimacy, it is also by our non-acceptance of this compliance that we can break down and defend ourselves whether in the courts or on the streets.
We move forward with this victory, with the knowledge that other comrades in Greece continue to face the brutality of repression and the violence of imprisonment – until all are free we continue to fight by any means for them and all of us.
“Our passion for freedom is stronger than any prison”
reposted from http://www.salonikisolidarity.org.uk/victory-for-the-thessaloniki-4/