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Heavy sentences for demonstrators against EU summit 2003

globalinfo.nl | 03.06.2008 09:05 | Saloniki Prisoner Support | Thessaloniki EU | Repression | World

On May 28 the judge sentenced seven demonstrators who had been arrested during the protests against the EU summit in Thessalonica, Greece in 2003.



The original in Dutch:  http://www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/1573/1/

On May 28 the judge sentenced seven demonstrators who had been arrested during the protests against the EU summit in Thessalonica, Greece in 2003.

That summit was the last one to be held in the country presiding the EU at that moment. Because of continuing protests, the EU decided to hold the meeting fixed in Brussels.

But in Thessalonica there were massive protests and there were fierce battles between police and demonstrators (see pictures here:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=122418).

Many people were arrested, and some were kept prisoner for a long time, even up to 5 months on the basis of severe accusations such as the possession of 'explosives'. At some of the confrontations with the police molotov cocktails were flying around, hence the accusation.

Some of the arrested went into a long hunger strike and were released awaiting the court case. Also it became clear that the police (just like with the protests against the G8 in Genoa in 2001) had been manipulating evidence (see links in this message, Dutch:  http://www.globalinfo.nl/content/view/275/30/). See this video-footage for instance:  http://www.nodo50.org/Salonica-2003-Video-que-demuestra.html

The court case against the 7 started on May 7 and on the 28th the sentences were declared. These are very dramatic: Sulaiman Dakduk (Kastro) was sentenced to 7 years in prison, as was Michalis Traikapis Simon Chapman was sentenced to 8 years and six months. All for amongst others the possession and/or use of 'explosives'. Fernando Perez was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months. Three other persecuted persons (Spiros Tsitsas, Dimitris Fliouras and Epaminontas Vasilias) were acquitted. The four persons who were sentenced will stay free for the time awaiting their appeal.

The court case did not get much coverage in activist media. A Spanish coverage of the court case can be found here:  http://diariodevurgos.com/dvwps/sentencia-para-los-acusados-en-el-proceso-salonica.php#more-1546

globalinfo.nl

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Inaccuracies

03.06.2008 14:49

Please add:

The sentences were suspended sentences. They are free because the convicted did not get a custodial sentence but instead had their sentences suspended on condition that they commit no further offences in Greece. This means that the police get their conviction and the accused their liberty.

supporter


I worry...

03.06.2008 19:01

I would thin suspended sentences are a serious matter, as the first time one is supected of crossing the road with red traffic lights s/he can be made to do the sentence...
True that with the State we are all living in an open air prison.

another supporter


are you sure

03.06.2008 19:46

Are you sure? because that would be good news of course. But in the Spanish article (the only longer one to be found about the case, except maybe in greek language) there is no mention of that (the word suspension there refers to the fact that will stay free pending the appeal. What's your source?

globalinfo


source

04.06.2008 08:06

Hi globalinfo,

The source is from one of the lawyers and one of those who were found guilty. For more info contact:  adminwombles@hotmail.co.uk

cheers

supporter

supporter