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Simon here. Sorry it all went quiet after our release: we needed a bit of time to sort ourselves out, medically and mentally. The situation at the moment is as follows:
Myself, Fernando and Carlos are required to stay in Greece until thetrial. The three other greek men have returned to live with their families. Kastro is still in Greece too. As far as I know there have been no medical problems for any of the hunger strikers.
We have had no news about when the court date could be. There will be a general election in Greece on March 7th, and so it is unlikely there will be any announcement on a possible court date before then. And then there is the Olympics in Athens... so as you can imagine
the authorities have other things on their mind at the moment.
It is entirely possible we will be forced to remain in Greece until the trial date, which could be this time next year. We will make further applications to leave Greece until the trial, but our hopes are not high at the moment. I had made repeated attempt to gain permission to leave the country to see my dad (who was seriously ill with leukemia) before
Christmas, but the court in Thessaloniki was not interested. They waited until he died just before New Year, and THEN allowed me to go home to attend the funeral for fifteen days. I did this and duly returned.
The funds that have been raised by everyone's hard work so far are being held onto to cover the substantial legal costs for when the total of 29 people charged as a result of the Thessaloniki events finally come to trial. While the lawyers are working for free,
making applications to the courts requires fees to be paid to the judiciary.
So while we're here we are visiting groups that supported us throughout
the imprisonment, and trying to make the best of a bad situation. We are staying with
supporters, and I'm looking for work. But my Greek is very poor (OK, I'm trying!) so its not easy to find anything. Its tough enough for Greek people!
Recently a few of the 7 attended a trial of two comrades in Katerini (who were unanimously
acquitted) to gain experience of the legal process in action. (Its pretty similar to the UK, really, but with a bit more shouting).
We really appreciate everything that everyone has done and continue to do. I stay in touch with what is happening in the UK though indymedia, and there are so many great people here to help us.
Thanks again.
Simon C
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Good to hear from you
12.02.2004 00:04
All the best from Cardiff, G.
Col. Buendia
e-mail:
buendia at lyco.co.uk
Likewise
12.02.2004 01:05
Take care - and stay struggling!
In resistance to the totality! X
An Other
all the best
12.02.2004 02:19
Good luck with finding work and for the trial.
We were all sorry to hear about your father.
If there is anything we can do, just get in touch.
Stay safe
with Love and Rage
WMA
west midlands anarchists
e-mail:
wmanarchists@mail.com
Homepage:
http://www.wmanarchists.org
Message
12.02.2004 11:18
your determination was amazing, and I'm glad to hear you've suffered no permanent harm from the hunger strike. We were really concerned in Manchester, and some of us came down to the London embassy pickets.
Do you want any materials to help you learn Greek (CDs/Books)? I've got some you could have, and I guess it may not be so easy to get English ones out there...
If so e-mail me:
In any case, keep truckin'.
JT
e-mail:
squatticus@hotmail.com
Respect.
12.02.2004 17:23
I was only wondering the other day,what the latest on your situ was.
Great to hear you and the others are recovering.
Peace and Solidarity.
Greenlantern
thanks simon, to you and the others
14.02.2004 01:48
thanks for your letter. Very sorry about your Dad. Want you to know that the determination of all of you was very very empowering, for me personally and I think also for a wider political environment. Admitted, I was sceptical about the hungerstrike. But something created an amazing wave of solidarity, sometimes just a few people visible at a demo, sometimes a crowded benefit, sometimes an avalanche of updates on imc uk, flows of information, concern, "love & rage", for months. I think this has to do with yours and the others stance.
so thanks - you have actually helped "the movement".
i.
i
dictionary
16.02.2004 14:14
if you need I found a small Greek/Englisch dictionary.
The other Greek books I have are only in German and Greek.
- sorry to hear about your Dad.
Petra from Germany - at the moment in Greece
Petra
e-mail:
petra_stoll@web.de
How exactly did you struggle against the G8?
16.10.2004 23:41
By smashing small corner shops whose owners were just ordinary people?
By putting on fire cars of passing-by citizens?
What an activist!
):PPPPPP
Dionisis F.