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Six
months after the EU summit in Thessaloniki, 7 people
remain incarcerated within the Greek prison system.
Simon Chapman (English), Fernando Perez Gorraiz (Spanish),
Carlos Martin Martinez (Spanish), Souleiman "Kastro"
Dakduk (Syrian), Spyros Tsitsas (Greek) and two Greek
juveniles are continuing to be denied justice, despite
overwhelming evidence that they have been framed and
despite solidarity protests around the world.
On
November 10th the hunger strikers began refusing liquids,
they have already been on hunger strike over 40 days.
November
11: All hunger strikers were transported to another
hospital, accompanied by massive police presence.
November
10: Last night, the hunger strikers began refusing
liquids. This dramatic escalation in their protest
was in response to a denial of their basic rights.
When their lawyers arrived at the hospital they were
surrounded and threatened by armed police who prevented
them from entering. Also rumours that the hunger strikers
will be split up and sent to separate prisons some
miles away
November
8th: All 5 hunger strikers are taken to hospital as
their physical condition is becoming increasingly
critical.
November
6th: Fernando and Tsitsas went to Papanikolaou hospital,
as a result of being on hunger-strike and went back
to prison as they did not accept any food or medical
treatment.
November
5th: Carlos Martin has been returned to the prison
after having spent 1 day in two different hospitals.
His lawyer reports that on arrival to the hospital
he was put in a chair with his hands tied behind his
back, and was continually beaten and kicked by police
throughout the night. As for the other prisoners,
they are all starting to get into a critical condition.
Sulieman Dakduk is unable to move from his bed. Simon
Chapman is unable to sleep, and Fernando Perez is
passing blood.
November
3rd: Carlos Martin Martinez was admitted to hospital
on Monday evening after 30 days without food.
Background
Information
Simon
Chapman was arrested on Saturday June 21st at the
anti-EU demonstration in Thessaloniki, Greece. He
was by the anti-authoritarian block march which left
the occupied university at around 5.00pm. Initial
scuffles broke out between the police and part of
the march with the police responding with hundreds
of cannisters of CS gas and other chemical weapons.
Simon was caught up in this attack by the police and
was overcome by teargas. A police snatch squad then
went for Simon and proceeded to kick Simon in the
head and face repeatedly. At this point Simon was
wearing a distinctive blue and purple rucksack as
a photo taken by Reuters shows. His bag was subsequently
taken by undercover police who proceeded to place
three black rucksacks of molotovs near him as a photo
taken by AP shows. In addition to this evidence, a
film footage moments after the initial contact with
the police shows clearly undercover police placing
the bags full of molotovs near Simon as well as placing
a hammer and pickaxe handle in the bags. The Greek
authorities claim that Simons Blue and Purple rucksack
does not exist! Well we know and can show different!
So
as it stands Simon and six others are temporarily
imprisoned and charged with resisting authority, construction
and possession of molotovs, arson, serious damage
to property and riot which could theoritically mean
a prison sentence of between 7 and 25 years!! Their
cases could take up to 18 months to come to trial.
All seven have so far had 3 bail appeals rejected
by the prosecutor, who has refused to look at the
video and photographic evidence.
At
the time of writing all 7 prisoners remain in prison
on hunger strike. Their demands are: bail for all
seven, and that one of the prisoners, Suleiman "Castro"
Dakduk - a Syrian who has been living in exile in
Crete for 18 years, and who is now threatened with
deportation back to Syria where he faces torture and
imprisonment for trade union activity - be allowed
to remain in Greece.
More
information at:
http://www.freesimonchapman.org/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/09/278180.html#reports
Anarchist
Prisoner Support site
A
campaign group has been set up in Dublin to support
the Thessaloniki Seven. 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
Post Script: The demands of the protesting prisoners
for access to lawyers and phone calls, privacy and
books have since been met. They are no longer refusing
water, but the hunger strike continues.
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