On April 1st, Athena Tsakalou (mother of the Tsakalos brothers) stated that she refuses to walk out of prison until her daughter-in-law is also granted release. The two women, who were remanded in custody over the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire intended prison escape, are currently sharing a cell in Koridallos prison.
The next day, CCF prisoner on hunger strike Michalis Nikolopoulos was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit in extremely critical condition. The rest of the hunger striking comrades also find themselves facing life-threatening problems.
In the small hours of Friday, April 3rd, anarchists gathered at Evangelismos hospital in Athens, where Damiano Bolano and Michalis Nikolopoulos are being treated. The banner reads: “Not a step back – We break state terrorism in the streets”
On April 3rd, Evi Statiri (wife of CCF member Gerasimos Tsakalos) published an open letter asking the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire prisoners – including Angeliki Spyropoulou – to quit their hunger strike, and urging Athena Tsakalou to accept her release from prison. Below is an excerpt from Evi’s words:
“(…) From the first moment, Gerasimos and the rest of the people from the Organization Conspiracy of Cells of Fire assumed the responsibility and emphasised that neither his mother nor I had any relation to the escape they were preparing.
When we were sent to pretrial detention, and despite our objections, these people went on hunger strike demanding our release from prison. Thirty three days later, I think that the legislative provision* of the Ministry of Justice provides a solution to the just demand for my release. Knowing their critical health condition (M.Nikolopoulos is hospitalized in ICU, and there are serious health risks for all of them), I URGE them to stop the hunger strike. The moral weight of the damage they cause to themselves is unbearable to me, and the idea of death hovering over their lives overshadows my every thought. I also ask Gerasimos’ mother to accept her release, and it won’t be long until we share freedom instead of prison. (…)”
summary constantly updated
* pending legislative provision that (under certain circumstances) enables the replacement of preventive detention with house arrest in the case of co-accused spouses or first-/second-degree blood relatives
One thought on “Athens – CCF hunger strike: Words of Evi Statiri from prison”
In the time when people open discussion about reformist demands of prisoners on hunger strike, I think it is more adequate in this situation of repression until death of prisoners to make discussion about changing methods of fight. now, more than ever, prisoners need support from outside, not moral and blabla support, than support against prison guards and other elements of the system. I don’t say banner actions and protests are not important, I just say, those who can, they should do it. Think why prison guards dare to make problem for anarchists but not for organized criminals? simply because of support from outside. anarchists in greece can follow prison guards when they go out from job on their way back to home, etc. the same is with judge, or anybody else. those who are guerrillas they should transfer fight from level of destroying property, to the level of destroying billionaires and their puppets (cops, judges, politicians, prison guards, etc). I think people are more busy with Nazis than with prison guards but guards are making shit for anarchists in the prison, in hospital, etc. they bring them to death, as one of prisoners has slower work of his heart, etc. so, this is time for changing methods of fight. forget property and damage for insurance companies, start to attack puppets and billionaires. think about it, I cannot tell to the people what to do, but banner actions should be done outside of greece, inside of greece more serious action should be done, to help concretely to imprisoned people who are brought to death. it is time to give proper answer to repression which is killing anarchists.