The new government in Greece is launching an unprecedented offensive against the libertarian and self-governing movement. The newly elected right-wing prime minister Kyrikas Mitsotakis has publicly promised to “clean up” Exarchia this summer and smash the anarchist group ‘Rouvikonas’ (1). Beyond the “notorious” neighborhood and the elusive group, the entire left-wing scene is also being targeted with various repressive measures.
Once again, what is happening in Greece gives us food for thought.
What is being prepared in other parts of Europe, how capitalism is
becoming more and more armoured throughout the continent and how
societies are becoming more and more authoritarian. This time it is
primarily a question of sanctioning anarchist projects by considering
their revolutionary political aims themselves as an immediate threat and
thus a punishable act. Or in short: being outlawed. Not anarchist
projects as such, but as a trick rather the creation of a “threatening
environment” which represents a “danger to social order and bourgeois
peace”.
Especially in the specific case of ‘Rouvikonas’, the government
considers it appropriate to classify direct but non-bloody forms of
action in the category of ‘terrorist acts’ (Article 187a of the Greek
Penal Code), with serious legal consequences for all members of the
group. Worse still, the Greek state will systematically hold all members
of Rouvikonas responsible for any action taken (even by one) of the
members of the group. In other words, if a state office were destroyed
tomorrow morning by five members of the group, the hundred other members
would also be prosecuted. The penal code will not only be amended to
intensify this impending offensive announced a month ago, but it will
also strengthen state resources to hit Exarchia and then the entire
anti-authoritarian milieu in Greece. 2000 police officers are deployed
to monitor and conquer Exarchia.
The Greek police are being advised by French special units (thanks
Macron!). In this context we would like to remind you of the French
political and economic support of the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia. Here
the French police provided equipment for the regime. Michele
Alliot-Marie (2) had even suggested sending CRS units to Tunisia. And
this at a time, in which opponents of the regime were fired upon with
live ammunition.
The traditional left-wing retreat zone, the Polytechnic University,
known for its historical role in the uprising against the dictatorship
in 1973, and also an important place of resistance during the uprisings
of 2008 and 2014, is now to be placed under police supervision. The
university asylum (3) is to be completely abolished. The state is also
sending clear signals towards the organs of repression: Epaminondas
Korkoneas, the policeman who killed Alexis Grigoropoulos in cold blood
with his service weapon, has meanwhile been released (4). Police
officers who prepare to use guns when entering Exarchia may now assume
impunity.
Should the state decide to attack Exarchia this fall, fall is likely
to be hotter than the hottest Greek summer. A defense of the entire
district would even be of historical dimension. While the whole world
continues to become more fascist, in Greece, as in France, the
pseudo-democrats surf on the wave of right-wing extremists. No wonder
that the opponents of the authoritarian world are at the top of the list
of enemies.
Further information, suggestions and texts will come in the coming
days and weeks, especially from Exarchia. Many thanks for all
cross-border solidarity, even despite or in case of political
differences.
Yannis Youlountas
(1) The group is known for its various high-visibility attacks, which
tend to cause symbolic material damage, but of which video clips shot
during the actions appear on the internet.
(2) Former French Foreign Minister with close links to the Tunisian
regime. Had a holiday in the country during the 2011 revolt, flew
through world history in the private jet of a Ben Ali confidant, and
meanwhile her parents were doing real estate deals with the regime. Then
had to resign.
(3) Since the fall of the Obrist regime the cops have been forbidden
to enter university campuses, even if militant actions emanate from
these places. In the past, exceptions were extremely rare.
(4) Originally sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, a court
reduced the sentence to 13 years a few days ago. Due to “good conduct”
the cop was released within a few days. This led to street battles in
Exarchia on 31.7.2019. Before that, many people had gathered at the
place where Alexis was shot.
Note of Sebastian Lotzer, who translated thist text into German:
This text was published on 31.7.2019 in French under the title “GRÈCE : LA CHASSE AUX ANARCHISTES EST OUVERTE ! http://blogyy.net/2019/07/31/grece-la-chasse-aux-anarchistes-est-ouverte/“. I edited the translation work of Resi Lucetti and added some footnotes.
taken from here
Der Beitrag Greek territory: The hunt for anarchists has begun erschien zuerst auf non.copyriot.com.