Resisting the political police
Anti-authoritarian and civil liberties groups fight back
In recent years the Greek authorities have restricted individual and collective rights, in the name of "anti-terrorism." The anti-authoritarian and civil liberties movements have been on the defensive. But things may be about to change. One solidarity committee is internationalising the struggle Yiannis Felekis SINCE THE EARLY 1980s, GREEK REPRESSIVE organs have had two main concerns. Firstly, they have attempted to align themselves with the European and American "anti-terrorist" context at both the political and the "opperational" level. Initially, the Greek police had very little support from the population, because of popular memories of the civil war and the dictatorship. At the same time, these authorities faced relatively frequent, high impact armed activities from a range of armed organisations, many of which enjoyed considerable social acceptance. While the overall level of violence was low in absolute terms, it was certainly a serious problem in the Greek context.
During this period, the repressive authorities were also confronted with a growing "street-fighting" tendency within the anarchist milieu (and, to a lesser extent, the Marwhich implemented the exercise of individual and collective rights have been abolished or stunted. The protection of social order is suddenly more popular than the protection of civil rights and liberties. The accused is increasingly judged according to his or her political and moral beliefs and behaviour than for the offense in question.
This year alone, sentences totalling hundreds of years were handed down against 500 demonstrators who occupied the Polytechnic School. They were arrested by the special MAT police units, after a violation of the right of asylum. Greek prisons are filled with drug addicts who have recieved several
Europe/Greece * separate sentences for the same activity. American agents have officially, openly taken over responsibility for "anti-terrorist"
activities in police headquarters.
The George Balafas case
[see below] has become the forum for a confrontation with far reaching implications. The
Greek authorities, and their US
"advisors" are using Balafas as the test case for a new trial proceedure under which "terrorism" suspects will only physically be brought to court for the confirmation of a sentence which has already been imposed. This prevents any possibility of judicial defence.
Meanwhile, the Balafas committee has proved itself capable of relating to the wider left. It increasingly articulates not only solidarity with George, but the defence ot basic social and civil rights, and the fight against neo-liberal barbarism and imperialist domination.
On 12-17th January 1997 the committee will host a series of international meetings on the general theme of political prisoners and repression in Europe. The goal is to internationalise solidarity campaigns, exchange experience and information with similar groups in other parts of Europe, and discuss together the changing context of their anti-authoritarian work. * xist far-left). This new dynamic was partly a • George Balafas Solidarity Committee shaking-free from the restraints of traditional dead-end, passé political currents, and partly the desire of a younger generation to state their own concerns in a dramatic, and different way, through direct confrontation with the repressive authorities, and the state in
To meet these two challenges, the repressive authorities unleashed a "pogrom of persecution" against the most radical elements of the anti-authoritarian struggle. This culminated in the arrest of a large number of militants, and their trial for armed activity. Meanwhile, whole areas of political activity were penalised through "black" campaigns accusing leading militants of being agents of organised crime, drug trafficers, and so on. The repressive authorities deliberately cultivated a climate of fear among the more conservative parts of Greek society, in an attempt to increase tension and bring about a generalisation of state repression.
Despite a number of important victories for the democratic movement, and partial setbacks for the forces of persecution, the 1990s have brought widereaching anti-democratic and anti-social "reforms". . 1970s victories
THE COMMITTEE IS PART OF A MILIEU OF collective action and direct confrontation groups, which trace their origin back to the fight against state repression and solidarity with political prisoners both in the period of political change in Greece (1974) and in the period from 1985 to the present.
Activity in solidarity with political proners, particularly those accused of armed activity, has been the backbone of Greece's anti-authoritarian movement. Over the years, a number of massive protests have been organised, and many partial victories for justice have been won.
Within this movement, the Balafas Committee has a particular identity. The central axis of work is specific activities of solidarity for George Balafas, who, since 1985, has been accused of murder, assasination, drug smuggling, and membership of the "17 November terrorist group."
After repeated trials, under constantlyshifting rules, and despite a patent lack of evidence, he was sentenced to 10 years inprisonment in November 1995.
At this point, the George Balafas solidarity committee was created by activists of the far left and the anti-authoritarian movement. Comrades who have been victims of persecuation by state forces over the last decade have a significant presence.
The Committee's concerns include: • the "upgrading" of state repression. • the pretended need to crack down on terrorist activities in Greece • the subjugation of Greek authorities to • the continuous, careful planing of injustice against "enemies of the state" and "enemies of society" by the judicial powers.
In May, the committee organised a large solidarity concert in Athens, which ended in a march of 1,000 people to the Parliament and the American Embassy.
An international meeting will be held in Athens from 12-19 January 1996. Similar committees and like-minded individuals are encouraged to contact the organisers ASAP. • G. Balafas Solidarity Committee, Valtetsiou 35, Exarhia, 10681, Athens, Greece. © (01) 775 3979 fax: 674 5302
December 1996 #283 5
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