Greek uprising calls for international solidarity action

Friends,
The purpose of this message is to let you know what is now happening in Greece, and to appeal for international solidarity from all anarchists and freedom-loving people.

Greece is at a critical turning point, and many changes are taking place on a soceital level. The disintegration of the dominant – until recently – model of power and exploitation is more than evident, so it defines what is commonly called ‘crisis.’ What we are experiencing now is the total failure of a system that is unable to secure social consensus any longer, therefore is engaged in a frontal attack that is unconditional and without pretext.

Initially, at the beginning of this condition which was called ‘crisis,’ the attack occurred in material terms. Namely, through the devaluation of labour, the reduction of wages, the ‘flexible’ working conditions, the institutionalization of insecurity, the increase of the price of consumer goods and public utility bills, the increase of taxes and the cuts in welfare benefits. At the same time, the sale of public wealth to private individuals, the widespread police presence on the streets, the auctions, the rise of unemployment began…

In addition, the unprecedented attack by means of propaganda was unleashed. The mass media controlled by the State and Capital unleashed a staggering rate of catastrophology and promotion of disaster scenarios such as… ‘If Troika does not approve the next installment of the loan, we will fall apart…’ With all these, the communicative mechanism of Power manages continually to muddy the water and maintain a state of terror ensuring the paralysis of society via extortion.

However, the resistance has never stopped for a part of the Greek society and proletariat. Occasionally, declarations for general strikes are surrounded in a different degree by people who actively resist and express their willingness to fight against the conditions imposed by the State and Capital.

At the general strike of May 11th in Athens, once again thousands of protesters marched and voiced their opposition to the Greek government’s new anti-social measures which affect the workers and the majority of people. During the demonstration, while a big part of the protesters had passed by the Parliament and were heading to an end-point, the cops attacked viciously and without provocation, targeting the most radical demonstrator blocks – anarchists and anti-authoritarians, neighbourhood assemblies, rank-and-file labour unions, extra-parliamentary left – beating them with unprecedented savagery, and firing hundreds of tear gas canisters against them, until these blocks were dispersed. More than 100 demonstrators were hospitalized, while a number underwent surgery.

Comrade Yannis was the protester whose health right now is in the most critical condition. Having suffered a murderous attack by the cops which caused him severe head injuries, he was transferred to the hospital in an antemortem (pre-death) condition– according to the medical report issued later. After the doctors ascertained the extent of internal head bleeding, he immediately underwent surgery; he has been situated in the intensive care clinic since. His situation remains critical but stable, without having escaped the danger for his life or health.

It is obvious that these murderous attacks against demonstrating strikers on Wednesday, May 11th, had a single purpose: to intimidate people and all those who resist the attacks of Power and capitalist State. It was an act for exemplification aiming at the subjugation of people, that seemed to send the following message: stay home, quiet and disciplined.

In the context of this very procedure, the State increasingly enlists the right-wing and/or its para-military offshoots. Outbreaks of racist violence recently multiplied across the country, and reached a climax last week. In the wake of the cold-blooded murder of a resident in the centre of Athens with intent to robbery, for which many immigrants have become a target, an unprecedented pogrom against migrants has been unleashed. Groups of organized and/or autonomous fascists, racists and extreme rightists took the opportunity to gather every evening to attack immigrants, injuring several while the death of an economic migrant also seems to have been caused by them. At the same time, the neo-Nazis alongside the police also attack squats in the city centre, putting comrades in position in which we have to defend ourselves at the risk of our lives against police and fascist brutality.

The gravity of the situation is obvious. Once society accepts an unprecedented attack in material terms, the most radical political elements – one of the main being the anarchist milieu – are under police and fascists attack (literally this time, if one considers the murderous rage).

This is the reason why we call urgently for international solidarity!

Solidarity has always been one of the strongest values of anarchists. We always count on solidarity to support our struggles and fight back the logic of isolation and retreat into private life promoted by state power, and also the capitalist condition of separation, isolation and dismantling of the collective notion.

Now that the Greek society and the proletariat suffer the strain of unprecedented deterioration of living conditions, now that anarchists are under such an oppression that takes dimensions of actual attempted murder, now that the anarchist political milieu is the site of state violence and fascist threat, we need to see our comrades around the world call actions and stand in solidarity with our struggle; by organizing events, demonstrations, marches, protests, by writing texts, via words and actions; anything that the comrades deem most fitting; any expression of revolutionary solidarity that only anarchists know and want to demonstrate, will vitalize our spirit and strengthen our struggles.

With comradely greetings,

Group of libertarian communists (Athens)

Eutopia journal

See also the following links:
http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/ additional information about recent events in Greece
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1288989 video: police attacks the demonstration
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1290982 video: fascists and police in co-operation attack immigrants
http://www.demotix.com/photo/688561/demonstration-stabbed-greek-turns-ri... photos: nazis attack immigrants
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1288923 photos: police attacks the demonstration
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1289018 photos: police attacks the demonstration
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1289114 photos: police attacks the demonstration