STRUGGLE INITIATIVE THESSALONIKI 2003

on the way to Thessaloniki...

Press release, May 2003

www.thessaloniki2003.gr
 salonica_2003@yahoo.com
Tel. ++30-6973-727674
Tel./Fax ++30-2310-270082

1. EU-Summit in Thessaloniki next June
2. May Day 2003
3. Olympic Games - Athens 2004
4. General Assembly in Thessaloniki
5. Caravan to Thessaloniki attacked
6. The murder of Carlo Giuliani is still free!


1. EU-Summit in Thessaloniki next June
The next EU- Summit in Thessaloniki can be blocked! Thousands of demonstrators are planning to come from all over Europe!
The EU summit will take place in the Porto Carras Hotel (100 km from Thessaloniki), from 20th to 22nd June 2003. This is a small resort in Halkidiki, a three-legged peninsula in North Greece without any movement tradition. The Greek presidency has chosen this place in order to avoid disturbances by demonstrators and activists.
The EU gathers the governments the 15 of the richest industrialized countries in Europe and in the world and imposes a world order which benefits an enormously rich minority to the detriment of a huge majority of enslaved and oppressed individuals. We believe that between human beings, there should exist relationships other than that of the market, of domination, alienation and exploitation. Pollution, the waste of natural resources and differences in wealth are ever more catastrophic. Capitalistic globalization translates into a degradation of living and work conditions and an increase in social control. The bosses are on the offensive with the destruction of public services, attacks on labour rights, job precariousness, flexibility, layoffs and the dismantlement of social rights (welfare, pensions etc.).
This capitalist system cannot be reformed as it inevitably leads to these effects. The break with capitalism is, in our opinion, the only possible way to prevent a human and ecological economic catastrophe.

2. May Day 2003
THESSALONIKI, Greece- Thousands of People demonstrated (01.05.2003) in the town streets against the European Union, the War and governments' policies about labour and financial matters. Only a few people attended the official Trade Union (GSEE)'s marching on Aristotelous Square. More people get involved in the preparations for next June in Thessaloniki, where the EU-Summit 2003 is going to be held. Please contact us for more information about participating in the Great Marching against the EU-leadership on Saturday 21, June. Great demonstrations in Athens, Patras, Ioannina and much more in the country.

3. Olympic Games - Athens 2004
On Wednesday 7, May TEI students of EAAK and other left and independent groups interrupted a workshop about Olympics Games taking place next year in Athens. Leaflets, music and political criticism sent a message that people do not want to see the environment being destroyed. We believe that between human beings, there should exist relationships other than that of the market, of domination, alienation and exploitation. Pollution, the waste of natural resources and differences in wealth are ever more catastrophic. The Olympic Games have nothing to do with the ideas of peace, friendship and cooperation. They have to do with repression, destruction of public services, job precariousness, flexibility, and the dismantlement of social rights.

4. General Assembly in Thessaloniki
STRUGGLE INITIATIVE THESSALONIKI 2003
Sunday 18, Ìay 2003, 11.00, University ïf Macedonia, Thessaloniki
It is going to be discussed the final action program, the International Camping against Capitalism-Imperialism, the contacts in other lands and the mobilization of people participating in the Great Demonstration, etc.

5. Caravan to Thessaloniki attacked
Solidarity caravan traveling to Thessaloniki in order to participate in the mobilizations against the EU-Summit was attacked on Tuesday 6, May in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. During the manifestation in front of the IOM office (one of the biggest refugee hunters), police forced the demonstrators to leave the place because they were illegal to be there. Leaflets, banners and parols against the refugee' politics are illegal! 4 people are still in jail. The police said, the arrested people will be accused by disturbance of public order. Struggle Initiative Thessaloniki sends them solidarity feelings and waits for them in Thessaloniki to fight together this repression system of capitalism.

6. The murder of Carlo Giuliani is still free!
In the afternoon of May 5th a sense of indignation took over Genoa and the rest of Italy, as the Italian judge Elena Daloisio decided to close the enquire against Mario Placanica, the policeman of the paramilitary police force (Carabinieri) who shot Carlo Giuliani - the young protester at the G8 summit of Genoa 2001. The official reasons why this murder won't be prosecuted are because the policeman was allegedly defending himself, and also, under the article 53 of the Italian criminal code, this is a case of "legitimate use of weapons". This will possibly constitute a dangerous legal escape for any member of the security forces that in future similar situations may commit "legalised" murder because of "acting on duty". The closure of the case will not only put an end to the investigation around the murder of Giuliani but it will also mean that the responsibilities of those who were in charge of public order in Piazza Alimonda will be ignored. At the same time, it could also become a touchstone to the remaining open cases against those responsible for the repression, illegal detentions, beatings and torture that took place during and after the anti-G8 demonstrations of Genoa 2001.