After five years in prison, Tasos Theofilou was found not guilty on all counts by an appeals court in Athens. The decision was taken by a 3-2 majority.
Tag Archives: CCF
June 11, 2016: Against Maximum Security Prisons – Against Every Prison
June 11th 2016: International Day of Action
For June 11th, 2015, we emphasized transition in the struggle and in the lives of the prisoners we support. This year we’re focusing on a different kind of transition: the restructuring of the prison system and thus doubling down on opposition to Maximum Security, isolation, and `s. High-security facilities are not new: for example, Communications Management Units isolated Daniel McGowan and Andy Stepanian for years. But now we are at a new juncture: there is both a fresh focus on the part of the authorities reorganizing prisons to maximize repression against long-term and combative prisoners, while simultaneously cutting costs. In response there has been a wave of resistance and revolt–in the streets and in the prisons. As this wave spreads organically, we feel impelled to contribute in support of our imprisoned friends and comrades.
Around the world, repression intensifies against anarchists, their comrades, and their families. The left-wing SYRIZA government in Greece continues the isolation of rebellious prisoners in the C-type maximum security prisons. The Spanish state attempts to criminalize anarchist solidarity through an “anti-terrorist” spectacle of raids, arrests, and show trials. Anarchists from Santiago to Kansas City face decades in prison for choosing the path of revolt and for their refusal to bow before pressure from the state. Everywhere we look: the state’s jaws clamp down on rebellion.
But all this cannot break our comrades or the spirit of our struggle. As Mónica Caballero and Francisco Solar are sentenced to twelve years in prison, anarchists respond to their persecution with smoke and shattered glass. As the Greek state levels its force against the families of the imprisoned comrades of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire and condemns Nikos Maziotis to life in prison, fugitive comrade Pola Roupa attempts to hijack a helicopter to free the imprisoned fighters. As Osman Evcan and Eric King both fight the state’s attempts to starve them for their refusal to consume flesh, comrades mobilize to ensure that their demands are backed with acts of solidarity. As the Chilean state continues to arrest and imprison anarchists, an intransigent minority strikes back in vengeance. As the State of Ohio continues to restrict Sean Swain’s communications, those holding the controls find their names and addresses spread online. As the state constructs an “anti-terrorism” roundup in Belgium, the multiform struggle against prison society there continues, unflinching and defiant. As the United States prison system continues its brutal enforcement of white supremacy and the social liquidation of undesirables, prisons from Alabama to Nebraska face the flames of rebellion. Everywhere we look, the revolt against prison society deepens and spreads.
Click here to continuing reading the text from June11.org
Brisbane: Graffiti in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike
In the small hours of April 3rd around south Brisbane we tagged several businesses and factories with slogans in solidarity with the comrades on hunger strike in Greek prisons. This was done as a small contribution to the international actions in solidarity with the hunger strike.
Victory to the Hunger Strikers!
Long Live the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire!
Love Live the Informal Anarchist Federation!
Lawless Solidarity with the Hunger Strikers!
– Subversive Taggers Cell, Brisbane, territories of ‘Australia’.
in Greek
Athens, Greece: Spyros Mandylas and Andreas Tsavdaridis were released from prison!
Spyros Mandylas and Andreas Tsavdaridis were released from prison on January 12, 2015 owning to the expiry of the maximum 18-month period of pretrial detention.
The two anarchists were arrested on July 11, 2013 in Thessaloniki and then sent to pretrial detention in Koridallos prison, in Athens, on terrorism charges. Tsavdaridis has assumed responsibility for sending a parcel bomb (as FAI-IRF cell under the name Commando Mauricio Morales) to Dimitris Chorianopoulos, ex-commander of the anti-terrorist police unit, while Mandylas (participant in Nadir, ex-squat in Thessaloniki) has denied all charges against him. As of June 4, 2014 both comrades stand trial in the special courtroom of Koridallos women’s prison, alongside the ten imprisoned members of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire. Andreas Tsavdaridis and Spyros Mandylas are accused of alleged participation in the CCF, attempted homicide of that ex-commander of the anti-terrorist force, and attempted explosion and possession of explosives (in connection to the same incendiary package mailing, action claimed in Greece as part of the “Phoenix Project”).
Greece: ‘War Communique’ of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire anarchist prisoners
Note of Contra Info:
In early January 2014, while on furlough, Christodoulos Xiros, convicted member of the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary organization 17 November (17Ν), did not voluntarily return to prison. The Greek police placed a huge bounty on his head, in addition to launching a series of raids in Athens and Thessaloniki at the homes of comrades.
After a year, on January 3rd, 2015, Christodoulos Xiros was spotted and recaptured near Anavyssos, Attica, without resisting his arrest. His ‘safe-house’ was extensively searched by antiterrorist cops who found firearms, explosives and other items inside, including a forged ID card with the photo of a young woman—whose real first name appears to be Angeliki. That same night, the 1st wing of Koridallos men’s prison was raided by state-security agents and the EKAM special suppressive antiterrorist unit, and a short time later two imprisoned members of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, Gerasimos Tsakalos and Christos Tsakalos, as well as two other incarcerated comrades accused of alleged participation in the same anarchist revolutionary organization, Andreas Tsavdaridis (who took responsibility for an incendiary package mailing by the FAI-IRF cell ‘Commando Mauricio Morales’) and Spyros Mandylas, were separated from the general prison population and moved to the dungeon cells of Koridallos women’s prison. The morale of the four prisoners remains strong.
Amid pre-election period, the state mechanisms have led a media-feeding frenzy, in search of individuals who may be linked to Christodoulos Xiros and/or CCF prisoners. The cops also raided houses in a couple of other Greek towns, and released the image of the woman pictured in that fake ID. What’s more, the police claimed to have found notes indicating a plan to assault Koridallos prisons in Athens, with the purpose of helping CCF members escape. In response to police reports about the ‘prevention of a terrorist attack’ relating to this prison escape case, the ten imprisoned members publicly sent their strength and solidarity to the unnamed persons who are wanted in connection to the escape plan in support of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire.
Below is the latest open letter of CCF comrades from Koridallos prisons.
WAR COMMUNIQUE
“First I shot him in the mouth to stop him talking crap;
then I shot him in the arm to stop him writing crap”
Jacques Mesrine on the kidnapping of a French journalist
The filthy war and the vulgarity of journalists as regards the case of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire intended prison escape have no end. They have been targeting comrade Angeliki, emotionally blackmailing her parents, and spreading vile lies about her alleged involvement as an intimate friend of the arrestee.
Angeliki is an intimate friend of insurgency, anarchy, freedom.
Struggle and anarchy would be the only feasible reality if there were more people like Angeliki.
SCUMBAGS SNITCHES JOURNALISTS – WE WILL TAKE REVENGE.
SOLIDARITY AND STRENGTH by any means possible to comrade Angeliki
and to all those wanted in connection to the same case.
The Cells will always stand by you…
Conspiracy of Cells of Fire Prisoners Cell
Olga Ekonomidou
Giorgos Polidoros
Michalis Nikolopoulos
Giorgos Nikolopoulos
Gerasimos Tsakalos
Christos Tsakalos
Haris Hadjimihelakis
Damiano Bolano
Theofilos Mavropoulos
Panagiotis Argirou
Translated from Greek from Asirmatista (January 7th, 2015)
Koridallos prison, Athens: Sentences in the Velventos double robbery case
On Wednesday, October 1st, 2014, the Koridallos prison court in Athens found anarchist prisoners Yannis Michailidis, Nikos Romanos, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos and Dimitris Politis (who have claimed political responsibility for the double armed robbery in Velventos, Kozani) as well as Fivos Harisis and Argyris Ntalios (who have denied all charges) guilty of:
– committing robbery while masked or disguised (except Dimitris Politis, who was convicted as an accessory),
– aggravated possession of firearms (for the guns used in the double expropriation),
– aggravated vehicle theft (for the car of the dentist-hostage used as getaway vehicle).
The final prison sentences against the six comrades are:
Yannis Michailidis: 16 years, 4 months and 10 days.
Nikos Romanos: 15 years and 10 months.
Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos, Fivos Harisis, Argyris Ntalios: 15 years and 11 months.
Dimitris Politis: 11 years and 5 months.
Finally, as proposed earlier by the prosecutor, the court acquitted all of the accused of alleged involvement in the CCF urban guerrilla group. However, there are other trial court cases underway that include the exact same accusation against the anarchist comrades.
Koridallos prisons: Sentences in the trial for the bank robbery in Pyrgetos (Larissa)
see previous trial updates here
On July 17th, 2014, the Koridallos prison court in Athens found anarchists Grigoris Sarafoudis and Yannis Naxakis guilty, and convicted both of them to:
– 10 years for robbery with concealed physical characteristics,
– 6 years for participation in a terrorist organization (i.e. they were sentenced for alleged membership in the CCF),
– 5 years for aggravated car theft,
– 2 years for simple possession of firearms.
The aggregate sentence against each comrade is 16 years imprisonment.
Appendix to an aborted debate on anonymity and attack
A debate is the in-depth exploration of a certain question through the confrontation between two or more sides, each one with their own position. Unlike those who think that debates are to be avoided as to not provoke divisions, we think that they have to be nourished. Because the goal of a debate is not to declare a winner before whom all have to bend the knee, but to enrich the conscience of each one. Debates clarify the ideas. The enunciation of and the confrontation between different ideas – a debate is exactly this! – elucidates the dusky parts and indicates the weak points of these ideas. This helps everybody, nobody excluded. It helps all of the sides who are participating in the ideas to refine, correct or reinforce their own ideas. And it helps everyone who assists to the debate, who will make a choice on which side to be (be it the one side, the other side, or neither of the sides discussing).
The history of the anarchist movement is full of debates. All were useful, even if sometimes they were painful. But its history is also full of lacking debates, different ideas which were never confronted, leaving everybody to their own initial certainties (or doubts). Was this for the better, since in this way sterile polemics have been avoided? According to us, no, it was for the worse, because in this way fertile discussions were prevented.
One of this lacking debates is about the use or not of acronyms, representing real organizations, claiming the direct actions against dominion. It seems to us that this debate, although important, was aborted on the moment it was born.
On an international level, one of the openings towards such a debate was proposed by the Letter to the anarchist galaxy which appeared at the end of 2011. This letter was a presentation of the ideas in favor of anonymity and against the use of organizational and claiming acronyms. It also spoke about the insurrectional perspectives, the notion of informality and the multiplicity of attack.
Exactly a year later, in November 2012, at the occasion of the international anarchist gathering in Zurich, the anarchists of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire spread a text in which they presented the reasons in favor of using organizational acronyms and the reasons against anonymity. This text also presented some more general ideas about the anarchist intervention, like the relation towards “intermediary struggles” or the formation of urban guerilla groups. Good. Starting from different ideas, each of the sides made their own presentation. To launch the debate, the only thing still lacking was to confront these different ideas. And this is what for example the anarchists who in August 2013 spread a text called Anonymity in which they take explicitly as a starting point the writings of the CCF to criticize and to reply. Continue reading Appendix to an aborted debate on anonymity and attack
Athens, Greece: Conviction of anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou
On February 7th, 2014 anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou was sentenced to 25 years in prison, although he has denied all charges from the start. A three-member bench reached a majority opinion (instead of a unanimous verdict) at the trial court in Athens.
Tasos Theofilou was acquitted of severe charges in relation to “formation of and membership in a terrorist organization” (i.e. his alleged involvement in the urban guerrilla group Conspiracy of Cells of Fire), as well as possession of explosives and ordnance (these charges were also dropped, since the judges ruled that he was never a member of the CCF), forgery of five identification cards, use of a firearm, and two attempted homicides.
However he was found guilty of two felony charges: participating in a robbery with his physical characteristics covered, and being an abettor in manslaughter committed in a calm mental state. He was also convicted of three misdemeanors: carrying a firearm, repeatedly forging (accusation relating to vehicles of the robbers), and accepting proceeds of crime (the getaway car of the robbers).
In other words, the court decided that supposedly Theofilou (without being a member of the CCF or another organization) participated in the bank robbery on Paros Island in August 2012, but he was not the one who killed Dimitris Michas (the citizen who attempted to prevent the robbers’ escape). According to one of his defense lawyers, this is a decision taken on the basis of one and only indication (a controversial DNA sample on a hat which one of the robbers allegedly dropped). At least the imposition of life imprisonment was prevented, as he was not convicted of intentional manslaughter…
Many facts of the case and evidence presented to the court argued in favor of his acquittal (e.g. none of the eyewitnesses recognized Theofilou during the trial). Nevertheless, as had happened in the case of anarchist prisoner Babis Tsilianidis, also in this proceeding the defendant was adjudged to be guilty solely on the basis of DNA, which was allegedly found on a mobile object.
The court of first instance imposed: 16 years for abetting manslaughter, 15 years for committing robbery, 3 years for committing forgery, 2 years for carrying a firearm (plus a fine of 5,000 euros), and 2 years for accepting proceeds of crime; total: 38 years. The aggregate sentence is 25 years in prison. The comrade has the right to appeal against his conviction, but the appeal has no suspensive effect; that is, he must remain in prison until his next trial in the court of appeals (but in the meantime he can request that his prison sentence be suspended).
FULL ACQUITTAL AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF COMRADE TASOS THEOFILOU.
Athens: Court ordered that anarchist Kostas Sakkas be released on bail
On January 21st, 2014 Kostas Sakkas was granted conditional release. Α monetary bail of 5,000 euros was imposed against him in addition to existing restrictive conditions.
Koridallos prison, Athens: Open letter of Gerasimos Tsakalos concerning attempted charges against Kostas Sakkas in the CCF case (20.1.2014)
Ever since the escape of urban guerrilla fighter Christodoulos Xiros,* the anti-terrorist force, that promotes itself as the police elite of Power, has unleashed a witch-hunt in an attempt to get revenge and restore their wounded prestige.
In parallel, the mainstream media as if they were the exclusive proprietors and manufacturers of truth consolidate their falsehood through a communicational war against our organization. This time the journalists’ propaganda opted to display us as “mafia guys”, “prison leaders”, “doorkeepers”, exploiting an act of self-redress —the beating of slanderer Y.Naxakis— as well as a couple of texts of his comrades which are exposing situations and facts, thus making them available to any prospective enemy —cops, judges, journalists. We won’t talk more about this issue; from now on acts will do the talking if necessary.
Within this context, on January 16th** we were informed that Kostas Sakkas was rearrested, accused in the Halandri case on the basis of fingerprints found in trash bags.
From the very first moment we have made it clear in every way and every tone that none of the individuals arrested for alleged involvement in the CCF, those who never claimed responsibility for participation, have ANY KIND of relation with the organization and our practices. We have stated this fact in courts, we have written the same in texts, and most importantly, it’s evident because of the distinct paths, values and convictions that we have chosen, which contrast with the choices of most of them.
So, we find ourselves back in a period of intensive anti-terrorism campaign against the CCF.
The cops have “randomly” discovered, after 4.5 years, fingerprints of K.Sakkas on a trash bag with residues of an explosive device associated with the CCF case. But the cops themselves know the truth; it just doesn’t serve the purpose of their planning.
The truth is that K.Sakkas neither had nor could ever have any kind of relation with the CCF. His only link to this whole story is the former friendly connection with me personally —as this is anyway known to both the police and the judicial authorities.
Therefore, the reason why fingerprints of the specific individual were found on trash bags —if indeed they ever were found— is that I had personally used these plastic bags, when I took them from the common home where both K.Sakkas and I lived as housemates. So, it is very likely that he could have touched one of these bags, since they were kept in a shared space of that home. Continue reading Koridallos prison, Athens: Open letter of Gerasimos Tsakalos concerning attempted charges against Kostas Sakkas in the CCF case (20.1.2014)
Athens – 11 November 2013: Trial of anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou in the court of appeals on Loukareos street
Short description of the case by comrades in solidarity:
On 18 August 2012, at 11am, anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou was kidnapped by the anti-terrorist force from Kerameikos Square in central Athens. After being handcuffed and black-hooded by cops, he was brought to the police headquarters in Athens, where his DNA sample was taken by force and he was accused of involvement in the robbery of Alpha Bank on Paros Island (which had occurred few days earlier), and the fatal injury of a citizen who attempted to prevent the robbers’ escape. He was also charged with participation in the revolutionary organization Conspiracy of Cells of Fire. The anti-terrorist force used their most common tactic: they claimed that someone made an “anonymous phone call” to the police few days after the bank robbery, presenting Tasos Theofilou as one of the perpetrators, and this is what led to his arrest…
The comrade has refused all charges from the first moment. He has defended himself saying that the only thing implicating him in the incidents on Paros is a DNA sample from a mobile object (a hat) allegedly found outside of the bank, which in no way implies his own presence in the robbery scene. He has also challenged the validity of collection and analysis procedure for the particular DNA sample. As for the accusation of his involvement in the CCF, in the first text he published after his arrest the comrade stated that it would be impossible to be a CCF member because of huge political disagreements with the organization, clarifying that he recognizes of course that they share a common place in the camp of those who act hostilely toward the old world. This false allegation is based on matters related to the operation-fiasco of December 2010, when six anarchists were arrested for participation in an “unknown terrorist organization,” charges which were later incorporated in the CCF case (two of the six arrestees were acquitted of all charges by decree). In particular, according to the testimony of an anti-terrorist cop, comrade Tasos Theofilou is considered a CCF member because of his comradely and friendly relationship with anarchist Kostas Sakkas (who also denies being a member of this revolutionary organization). Additionally, Tasos Theofilou is portrayed as having provided counter-surveillance measures in the region of Agrinio to another anarchist accused in the same case (Giorgos Karagiannidis), a fact that he denies categorically, explaining that he saw the particular comrade for the first time only in pictures released by the cops after the December 2010 arrests.
The main accusations (among others) that Tasos Theofilou is facing in court are:
1-Formation of and membership in a terrorist organization (CCF)
2-Intentional manslaughter
3-Double attempted serial homicide
4-Armed joint-venture robbery
5-Manufacture, supply and possession of explosives
Solidarity to Tasos Theofilou
Athens: Responsibility claim for explosive attack on vehicle of the Koridallos prisons director, in the district of Dafni, on June 7th, 2013
PHOENIX PROJECT
Freedom for anarchists of praxis incarcerated in Italy
i. ‘Return of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire from the ashes’
Only in those moments when our tension for freedom is rejoined with practice do we truly manage to live anarchy, here and now. Unfortunately the dream we carry in our hearts is too great to avoid the risk of finding ourselves up against the monstrous wall of authority raised in defense of the State and Capital. When we really put our life in play, inevitably we end up confronting the hardness there is in the struggle: death and prison.
Nicola Gai, Italian comrade accused in the Olga Cell-FAI case [May 2013]
The Conspiracy of Cells of Fire-FAI/IRF in collaboration with comrades from the Consciousness Gangs, honouring our old and timeless friendship, blew up the private car of the female director of Koridallos men’s prisons, Maria Stefi, as a display of genuine solidarity with our ten imprisoned brothers and sister, Giorgos P., Olga, Gerasimos, Christos, Michalis, Giorgos, Haris, Theofilos, Panagiotis, Damiano, that have taken responsibility for their participation in the Conspiracy.
After almost two years of silence throughout the Greek territory, the CCF returns. Maintaining a common front with the Consciousness Gangs, the FAI cells (‘Antifascist Front’, ‘Unscathed Cell of Vengeance’, ‘Lone Wolf Cell’, etc.) and the Sect of Revolutionaries, we support and strengthen the international conspiracy of the Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front.
The bomb we placed at the vehicle of the director of Koridallos prisons is the first drops before the storm. Or, as it was written in the last communiqué by the CCF against the Greek minister of Justice… Continue reading Athens: Responsibility claim for explosive attack on vehicle of the Koridallos prisons director, in the district of Dafni, on June 7th, 2013
Athens – 10 June 2013: First day of the trial against comrade Tasos Theofilou
In August 2012, Tasos Theofilou was arrested in Athens and remanded on grave charges. He is accused of an armed bank robbery on Paros Island that happened previously that summer, and resulted to the fatal shooting of a citizen who attempted to stop the robbers on their escape. In addition, he is implicated in the case against the urban guerrilla group Conspiracy of Cells of Fire. The comrade explicitly denies all charges.
The trial of anarchist-communist Tasos Theofilou will start Monday, June 10th, 2013, by 9am, at the 3rd three-member felony court of appeals (Efeteio) on Loukareos street in Athens.
You may read some thoughts of the comrade ahead of the court proceeding in Greek, English, Spanish.
Athens: Anarchist Kostas Sakkas on hunger strike from the 4th of June 2013
On Tuesday, June 4th, at 18.30, comrades call for a political discussion at the Athens Polytechnic School, in the Gini building, towards organizing solidarity actions for hunger striker Kostas Sakkas. There will also be telephone communication with the comrade, who will speak directly from Koridallos prison.
Kostas is an anarchist prisoner that currently stands two trials underway against the R.O. CCF, although he has denied his participation in the same anarchist urban guerrilla group from the moment of his arrest (December 2010.). The comrade has been kept in pretrial incarceration 30 months already. Recently, the State prolonged his pretrial incarceration for another 6 months (and applied the same measure against anarchist Gerasimos Tsakalos, admitted member of the R.O. CCF).
Anarchist Kostas Sakkas is on hunger strike from the 4th of June 2013 protesting the extension of his pre-trial detention, and demanding his immediate release from prison.
Athens: A short update about anarchist revolutionary Theofilos Mavropoulos
Two trials against the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire are currently taking place in the special courtroom of Koridallos women’s prison. Theofilos Mavropoulos is one of the accused persons in both trials underway against the same organization.
In the 1st session of the fourth CCF trial, Theofilos Mavropoulos clarified that, “as I have stated in a previous court proceeding and in older communiqués, I have stood next to the comrades of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire as an anarchist solidarian but without being a member of the Conspiracy myself…”. Then, he declared before the judges that from April 5th, 2013 he accedes to the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, claiming also his affinity with the Informal Anarchist Federation.
In other words, Theofilos Mavropoulos joins the organization on the inside. So, from now on, the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire will be recorded as having 10 imprisoned members: Haris Hadjimihelakis (who was arrested in 2009), Panagiotis Argirou and Gerasimos Tsakalos (arrested in 2010), Michalis Nikolopoulos (arrested in January 2011), Olga Ekonomidou, Giorgos Polidoros, Christos Tsakalos, Damiano Bolano and Giorgos Nikolopoulos (arrested in March 2011), as well as Theofilos Mavropoulos (arrested in May 2011).
You may also read the court statement by Theofilos Mavropoulos during the trial session of November 19th, 2012, here, translated by ‘This Is Our Job’.
Athens: ALF and Chaotics stormed the streets at night
In the early morning hours of Monday, February 18th, groups of comrades carried out coordinated attacks on various targets in the neighbourhoods of Athens, targets that represent different aspects of a reality that not only we do not perceive as given but instead we arrange for its destruction with all our hatred. Against the authoritarian tombstone of generalized social apathy, our projectuality becomes the chaos of direct action.
Uncompromising solidarity with the captured urban guerrillas of CCF, FAI-IRF, ALF, ELF and with all prosecuted and fugitive comrades. The actions we carried out are as follows: Continue reading Athens: ALF and Chaotics stormed the streets at night
Attica: Words of anarchist prisoner Nikos Romanos to comrades who gathered in solidarity outside the walls of Avlona youth prison
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 17th, approximately 70 comrades attended the scheduled solidarity gathering in front of Avlona prison, where Nikos Romanos has been locked up since February 11th. Four anti-riot squadrons guarded the prison gates the whole time. Comrades set up a sound system. So, when they managed to have telephone contact with Nikos, his words were heard everywhere loud and clear through the microphone. Also, for about five minutes there was eye contact with Nikos, and all of the gathered people erupted in screams and shouts. Below is a transcription of Nikos’ message to his solidarians.
Let me start by saying a few words about my case. From the first moment there was an effort to victimize us by concealing our own choices and presenting us as if we were some drifted youths. An effort launched by arrangers of state propaganda and continued by the reformist circles of leftist components such as the so-called ‘Anti-authoritarian Movement’ (Alpha Kappa/AK) and the ‘Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow’ (ANTARSYA). So, on the one hand all sorts of mainstream media have been sharpening the strategic towards the de-politicization of anarchist action, converting our choices into sobbing stories for tabloids, on the other hand the reformists of Alpha Kappa and ANTARSYA, without even saying a word about aggressive practices of struggle, have been sobbing their sad tales about us, contributing to our de-politicization.
To me, the sole fact that four armed anarchists were arrested without prior fight is a defeat that leaves no room for further victimization. Over many years, there has been a rich historical experience, a guerrilla tradition where revolutionaries fight to the end; a perception that promotes a genuine choice of conflict with Power; an option that has managed to shape important historical legacies of revolutionary struggle. Obviously, responsibility for this fact lies exclusively with us, the four arrestees. The reasons that prompted us to act in this manner were explained in the text we published on our case.
Therefore, as for tortures while in custody, it is obviously important to analyze the strategic intentions of Power against us. However, when this analysis tends to overlie the choices of struggle that led us to prison, then it merely reproduces a terror-frenzy perception without any revolutionary perspective. To me, an appropriate response to tortures and murders of comrades (without equalizing the different significance of each) is retaliation against the enemies of freedom; retaliation that is simultaneously connected with multiform anarchist action, thus creating permanent foci of resistance.
I will now try to convey my lived experience in such a way as to be understood by everyone. The psychic pain of subjugation and bloodless surrender cannot be compared to the beatings by cops. Beatings put you into a rage, while the other pain haunts you.
In closing, I would like to salute all the comrades who have actively supported us by distributing texts, setting up sound systems at gatherings, flyposting, organizing demonstrations, and setting targets on fire to warm our hearts.
Finally, I would like to send my unreserved solidarity to hunger striker Spyros Dravilas (prisoner in struggle at Domokos prison) and let you know that 37 individuals from Avlona prison declared their support with his fight for a breath of freedom.
Nikos Romanos
17.2.2013
Prison address: Nikos Romanos, Avlona Special Youth Detention Centre, 19011 Avlonas, Attica–Greece
Anarchist Nikos Romanos released another letter, denying any involvement in the action of the R.O. CCF; you can read it in English here.
Athens: Solidarians’ update on the health condition of CCF member Panagiotis Argirou
Today, January 15th, doctors at the Thriassio hospital stopped treating anarchist comrade Panagiotis Argirou with the narcotic medication which kept him sedated. He has not yet regained full consciousness, but his first reactions are promising for his health improvement. Strength to our comrade.
Athens: Brief update on the injured anarchist comrade Panagiotis Argirou
According to a Greek summary of the 19th CCF trial session in the special court of Koridallos prisons (14.1.2013), CCF member Panagiotis Argirou is still hospitalized in intensive care unit. We salute the anarchists of praxis, from Greece to Indonesia, who have expressed their solidarity to Panagiotis with all their strength.
Constant original updates on the CCF trial
in English by Actforfreedomnow/boubourAs
Athens: One more person arrested and accused of participation in the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire
Solidarian comrades report that on January 11th, 2013 a 25-year-old woman was arrested for participation in the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire —that is, according to the allegations and scenarios of the Greek antiterrorist unit. Furthermore, she is accused of unlawful receipt, possession, transportation and concealment of firearms. The regime’s media were immediately ordered by the police to spread that her genetic material was supposedly traced on weapons which were found buried in the Polytechnic University campus in Zografou in November 2011 (the 29-year-old man who was arrested just a few days ago is also threatened with the same charges).
NO ONE FACING PROSECUTION IS ALONE
SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON
Update, January 23rd: It was confirmed that both arrestees have not been remanded in custody. However, they received restrictive terms and await trial.
Corinth, Greece: Another person arrested and accused of participation in the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire
According to a report by solidarians, on January 9th, 2013 a 29-year-old man was arrested in the city of Corinth for participation in the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire. What the authorities displayed/discovered as incriminating evidence was an alleged fingerprint found in the house of Volos two years ago and, moreover, on a mobile object! The 29-year-old man will be examined by a special investigator on January 10th.
NO PROSECUTED MUST BE LEFT ALONE; SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON.
Athens: Surgery once again for CCF member Panagiotis Argirou
As solidarians report, in the afternoon of the 4th of January Panagiotis underwent another surgery to remove the second hematoma on his head, which was caused by his fall and could not be controlled with medication. During the previous night (3/1), his health situation presented complications, so the hematoma had to be removed surgically. Following this operation, the next few days will be once again critical for the anarchist comrade.
More info as it comes.
Athens: Update on the health condition of CCF member Panagiotis Argirou
On January 3rd, solidarians reported that the injured comrade Panagiotis Argirou is still hospitalized in critical condition.
In the evening of Tuesday, January 1st, anarchist Panagiotis Argirou was moved unconscious to the infirmary of Koridallos men’s prison with the help of the rest of imprisoned members of the R.O. Conspiracy of Cells of Fire. The comrade had lost consciousness shortly after he had fallen out of the bunk bed of their prison cell.
Soon thereafter, he was transferred from the infirmary of Koridallos prison into Tzaneio hospital in Piraeus, where he was diagnosed with two hematomas on the head. In the early hours of Wednesday, January 2nd, Panagiotis underwent surgery. One hematoma was removed surgically, while doctors anticipate that the other hematoma will be absorbed by the body on its own.
On Wednesday noon, Panagiotis was admitted to the intensive care unit of Thriassio hospital in Elefsina, where he will remain in a medically induced coma until the following week. The doctors who are treating him consider the next two days (4-5/1) crucial for his recovery.
More info as it comes.
Athens: CCF member Panagiotis Argirou reportedly injured in prison and hospitalized
After phone conversation with a relative of anarchist Panagiotis Argirou, solidarians reported that the comrade fell out of the bunk bed at night, on January 1st, and gradually began to lose consciousness. He was evacuated from Koridallos prisons to Tzaneio hospital in Piraeus, and he might need to be admitted to another hospital soon. His injury appears to be quite severe, with bruises on the head.
More info as it comes.