Anarchists throw molotov cocktails on Greek embassy in Belgrade [Archive]

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Bandito

25th August 2009, 20:31

Story here:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/21803/

In the meantime, anarchist group called "Crni Ilija" claimed responsibility for the attack.
(http://inicijativa.org/tiki/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=2461)
Link is in serbian, because it's fresh news, and it hasn't been translated properly. It says that Belgrade anarchists demand release of their comrade Todoris Iliopulos, who was arrested during the demonstrations that occured in Greece last December. Belgrade anarchists joined solidarity with Todoris, along with comrades from around the world.
Todoris is still in prison, and he is on a huger strike for 46 days.

Bandito

25th August 2009, 20:32

"Anarchists" claim responsibility for attack on Greek embassy in Belgrade

25/08/2009 BELGRADE - A group of young men in Belgrade last night threw two Molotov cocktails at the Greek embassy building.
No one was hurt in the incident. One window was broken, while the flames caused minor damage to the facade. The interior of the building was not affected by the fire. Eyewitnesses said that five men carried out the attack. Afterwards, they split in two groups: one walked away from the scene, "another caught a cab".
On Tuesday afternoon, a group calling itself "Crni Ilija" (Black Ilija) announced it was taking responsibility for the attack.
According to their statement, "the Belgrade anarchists" are demanding that Thodoros Iliopoulos be freed, adding that he was arrested “during a peoples uprising in Greece in December of last year”. The statement emailed to Belgrade media stated that Iliopoulos has been on a hunger strike for 46 days demanding to be released.
They add that the "Belgrade anarchists" have decided to “join their comrades in Greece and the entire world, who are implementing actions of solidarity with Iliopoulos, and demanding that he be released”. “Because of this, members of our group attacked the Greek embassy in Belgrade with a Molotov cocktail. We will continue these activities until our comrade Iliopoulos is released,” the statement concludes.

bricolage

25th August 2009, 21:02

Other demonstrations took place in Moscow and Vilnius;

http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2009/08/24/76-at-the-dawn-of-the-international-solidarity-day-set-thodoros-free/#comments

25th August 2009, 23:45

There is a man in jail for more than a month, he is this close to death, he dont produces enough blood, he isnt fed, and state refuses to get him to a proper hospital, and all that people have to say is anarkkkism...:rolleyes:

Show some fucking respect!

The move of the Anarchists there is a symbolic thing to show solidarity with the man, and his struggle, and its plain stupid to compare terrorist actions and groups with a throwing of a molotov:rolleyes:
Im getting sick by some people here..A comrade is dying, and all you have to say, oh good anarkkkists blow their image, ohh anarkkkists do nothing etc..
This kind of disrespect wont be accepted..If you want to whine on Anarchists do it somewhere else.Things are serious here.End of story.

26th August 2009, 01:28

Cleaned the thread, split up offtopic posts to a new thread "Anarchism and Terrorism", and from now on, keep the thing going on topic.The topic isnt the damn molotov, but the man whos dying..

Jorge Miguel

26th August 2009, 01:44

No the topic is quite clearly -

"Anarchists throw molotov cocktails on Greek embassy in Belgrade"

26th August 2009, 01:50

No the topic is quite clearly -

"Anarchists throw molotov cocktails on Greek embassy in Belgrade"

Why the fuck was the molotov throwed?Have you even got in trouble read the rest of the story?Have you got any fucking idea who is the man that this things are taken under?Or you just read the title and you thought it would be ok to assume what you want?I fucking splitted you a thread to whine as much as you want about anarkkkism and you come back and post this idiotic post..But its obvious why you do it, because you are nothing more than a troll.Quit it now and for last fucking time, show some damn respect to a man who is dying.Unless if you dont care because he is an Anarkkkist.If you dont, just let us know...
Beside that, if you fucking continue derailling this thread, i will issue you more warning points..

Jorge Miguel

26th August 2009, 01:57

If you dont, just let us know...
You are hereby informed.

Charles Xavier

26th August 2009, 02:03

Why the hell is this kind of provocateur shit glorified? This was no doubt provoked by police agents.

What Would Durruti Do?

26th August 2009, 02:08

Why the hell is this kind of provocateur shit glorified? This was no doubt provoked by police agents.

Why do you say that?

Charles Xavier

26th August 2009, 02:10

Why do you say that?

Because this type of action doesn't serve anything but giving a carte blanche to the reactionary forces to bring in law and order.

What Would Durruti Do?

26th August 2009, 02:14

Because this type of action doesn't serve anything but giving a carte blanche to the reactionary forces to bring in law and order.

Even with this opinion, how does it show that police agents were behind it? If I lived anywhere near a greek embassy I would probably consider doing this myself and don't have a hard time believing any other anarchist would either. Now where's the evidence for police involvement?

26th August 2009, 02:34

Why the hell is this kind of provocateur shit glorified? This was no doubt provoked by police agents.

What a ridiculous post.Even more ridiculous from the one you edited out for asking the OP ban for supporting terrorist actions:rolleyes:(and guess who is blamed for witch hunts:rolleyes:).
You see conspiracies everywhere, the hole world is conspiracy against you, i dont know, cia is behind anything, but who knows, you might once again change completely your mind if your party does...
You make and weird statements that this was sure police provocation, an action of solidarity with an imprisoner, action of police agents...:rolleyes: Come on...

Because this type of action doesn't serve anything but giving a carte blanche to the reactionary forces to bring in law and order.

Cut down worker strikes, they give a state to bring law and order, dont make revolution, this will force reactionary forces to bring in law and order.Do you know how ridiculously you sound?
For over 2 molotovs who broked a window, and a youth organization took responsibility for it, for solidarity with the man?
And again, even after my requests of respect to the man, those idiotics posts are still made, you derail this thread, and even when you are been given a new thread to freely discuss the thing, you prefer troll this thread, why?I know why.Just to piss off Fuserg and have things to whine about, and hopefully he will give you the slightest chance to start a thread on recall ;):wub:

manic expression

26th August 2009, 02:38

While there is no way of knowing if it was the work of police agents, some of the pro-propaganda of the deed posters here would do well to remember that such activities have oftentimes been connected with police infiltration. IIRC, at least some part of the protests against the Stryker vehicles (in the NW US) was one very recent case of this. The statement made was not so outlandish.

n0thing

26th August 2009, 02:51

Cleaned the thread, split up offtopic posts to a new thread "Anarchism and Terrorism", and from now on, keep the thing going on topic.The topic isnt the damn molotov, but the man whos dying..
Uh, why did you split my post? All I said was that their actions are ineffectual.

26th August 2009, 02:57

Uh, why did you split my post? All I said was that their actions are ineffectual.

I know and i agree with you, though i tried to leave this thread just for solidarity with our comrade who is dying, and your post was fitting to both threads.Though i can see that people cant understand the fact that a man is dying and they will just keep derailing this thread..

manic expression

26th August 2009, 03:14

I'm sorry for getting into this in multiple places. However, the title of the thread makes clear that the molotovs are a very big part of this discussion, and are likely the biggest reason the topic got posted. This is not just a solidarity thread, and pretending otherwise is selective and incorrect. Talking about the nature of the tactics is very much on-topic.

Bandito

26th August 2009, 08:48

Even more ridiculous from the one you edited out for asking the OP ban for supporting terrorist actionshttp://www.revleft.com/vb/../revleft/smilies/001_rolleyes.gif
And the OP is not even an anarchist...:)

Seriously, for some people : first you do something, and than criticize actions like this. Police job?
http://intensities.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/i-want-to-believe.jpg

Devrim

26th August 2009, 09:18

I'm sorry for getting into this in multiple places. However, the title of the thread makes clear that the molotovs are a very big part of this discussion, and are likely the biggest reason the topic got posted.

I agree with this. I think the thread was split purely because one of the mods didn't like what was being said. It is a pretty bad way to stamp on discussion.

As for the events themselves, I personally get the feeling that people going out and throwing molotovs is not likely to have a positive influence in the case of a man who is denying throwing a molotov. I really can't see it having any positive effects whatsoever.

In addition on a more general topic, I think that the whole thing of going on hunger strike is extremely badly thought out. In the last wave of hunger strikes we had in Turkey over one hundred deaths, which to be honest, I am sure the state didn't shed too many tears about. I think that it is something that maybe deserves a seperate discussion.

Of course there are lots of things that can be done for comrades in prision in other countries, like writing letters, collecting money to help support dependents/pay legal fees etc... They probably aren't as exciting as throwing molotovs though.

Devrim

Bilan

26th August 2009, 09:42

Why the hell is this kind of provocateur shit glorified? This was no doubt provoked by police agents.

Stop posting. Seriously. Stupid.

The Bear

26th August 2009, 11:42

Bitter Ashes

26th August 2009, 11:46

I only heard about this guy's hunger strike a couple of days ago. I'm absolutly disgusted with the mainstream media. Right now they're all running the stories that compassion is unwarranted in the criminal justice system and that we dont go far enough, by going on about Biggs and the Lockerbie bomber bieng released (albiet, the hero's welcome did annoy me too) and yet there's not been a single word about this guy's hunger strike. In all likelihood, he's going to die in jail way before his time, in the next few days and where the compassion there? An OAP who killed hundreds and devestated a Scottish town is shown compassion when he's told he has months to live, yet what should be a healthy man in his 30's is going to die in the next few days most likely and it could be stopped. Not only to give him freedom in his last days, but also to give him another 30, 40, maybe even 50 or more years of life and the world's media is turning a blind eye.

It's not even as if Greece is somehow not reported on. The news of the wildfires out there is all over the news. But of course, to the bourgeois, the loss of Athenian buisnesses is far more important than the death of Mr Iliopulos and indeed reporting on his plight would be counter productive to them.

Bastable

26th August 2009, 12:04

26th August 2009, 14:08

fuserg is just being opressive and , does whatever he wants and u cant stop it

so shut up or stink , think like fuserg does , or dont think at all , ur posts will be removed if u dont show respect !

and what we wrote about action being ineffective has 100% to do something with topic ! stupid **** !

:rolleyes:You are not around even a month...:rolleyes:.

agree with this. I think the thread was split purely because one of the mods didn't like what was being said. It is a pretty bad way to stamp on discussion.

There is a thread in CC were i clearly said many times that i agreed with lots of what people were saying, and just gaved them a new thread to keep this thread as a simple solidarity thread with Thodoris(the man dying).I cant see how i stamp on discussion when i give a new thread.:confused:

manic expression

26th August 2009, 14:36

:rolleyes:You are not around even a month...:rolleyes:.

It ain't hard to tell.

There is a thread in CC were i clearly said many times that i agreed with lots of what people were saying, and just gaved them a new thread to keep this thread as a simple solidarity thread with Thodoris(the man dying).I cant see how i stamp on discussion when i give a new thread.:confused:

This thread isn't just about solidarity: that much is clear by the title, the links posted, the original post and the discussion of the molotovs that's already on this thread (again). And even if it was "simple solidarity" (which would violate ANY definition of forthright leftist discussion) RevLeft members are still well within their rights to discuss the tactics related to the incident.

So yeah, the guy who's been here a month gets it far more than you do. Isn't it funny how that works?

bricolage

26th August 2009, 23:37

Thirty-one year old Thodoris Iliopoulos is the last prisoner of the December 2008 Greek revolt. He has been in pre-trial detention for more than eight months after his arrest on December 18th in downtown Athens.

Thodoris has been charged with felonies on the sole basis of witness accounts of the two riot police who arrested him; this is the only ’evidence’. He went on hunger strike on July 10 demanding his immediate release, after the renewal of his detention for another six months.

Today (August 26), he is in the 48th day of hunger strike and irreversible damage or even death are immediate dangers according to his doctors.

The pre-trial detention of Thodoris Iliopoulos is a punishment, an imprisonment without trial. It is an attempt of the Greek government under Karamanlis, already politically responsible for the murder of the 15 years old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman on December 6th, 2008, to bring Iliopoulos to his physical and psychological limits and finding in him a target for its revanchist rage against the December revolt. It is also an attempt to present the social struggles as criminal behavior and to construct an ever mightier police state as part of their solution to the current capitalist crisis.
In this case of unjustifiable, arbitrary and revanchist detention even after 48 days of hunger strike, it is where our solidarity is needed the most.

We demand the immediate release of Thodoris Iliopoulos
We demand the withdrawal of all charges against him
We demand the withdrawal of all charges against the participants in the December revolt
We call for actions of solidarity with Thodoris Iliopoulos in Greece and internationally. http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1708

Revy

27th August 2009, 11:50

To paraphrase Trotsky, we're going to break a good many dishes and upset a good many apple carts before communism is firmly established.

But then again....it's probably futile to throw a Trotsky quote into this flamewar between Stalinists and anarchists.:cool:

Eat the Rich

27th August 2009, 13:01

I am in solidarity with comrade Iliopoulos.
But I think that the methods of individual terrorism, are first of all ineffective and second of all counter-productive. I don't see why this would be disrespectful for Iliopoulos, ie giving an opinion on what's the most effective way to release him.

I would suggest mass action, as well as fliering etc. in order to get the support of the public opinion. This is the most effective way.

The Ungovernable Farce

27th August 2009, 17:10

I'm seeing rumours Thodoris has now been released, can anyone confirm this? Brilliant news if it's true.

27th August 2009, 17:12

I'm seeing rumours Thodoris has now been released, can anyone confirm this? Brilliant news if it's true.

Yes he is released!With some few conditions, as getting to a police station every 15 days, and he cant leave the country.Beside that, yeah, brilliant news.Was a huge success.

The Ungovernable Farce

27th August 2009, 17:44

Yeah, it's just made it onto our indymedia (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/08/436948.html):

Theodoros Iliopoulos is free after 49 days of hunger strike. He was arrested in December and detained with fabricated molotov-throwing charges. His innocence was defended by witnesses, but the only witness reports considered by the “justice” authorities were those of two police officers. He went on hunger strike on 10 July and for more than a month the authorities refused to provide him with proper medical support at a public hospital and instead kept him in the under-funded and under-equipped prison’s medical room. He was hospitalized into the Sotiria Hospital only a few days ago.

Anarchist comrades in Greece and abroad quickly mobilised in solidarity, and later leftist and communist political parties also made announcements in his support. As the voices demanding his release were becoming more and more, and as his case was being picked up by progressive media (due to massive protests and other solidarity actions that couldn’t be left unreported) the government couldn’t ignore the protests anymore and set him free at last. Considering his hunger strike went on for 49 days, it makes you think what would happen had there been no solidarity movement...

Free, but with a few conditions: he isn’t allowed to disembark from the country and every bi-weekly period he should report to the local police station. He was set free without the need for bail payment.

Comrades in Greece had planned a solidarity march, which will go on as planned.

It should be made clear that Theodoros Iliopoulos won thanks to his determination and to the Greek and international solidarity movement in his support.

Meanwhile, in Naxos, a small island in Greece, immigrants went on hunger strike today to protest about the denial of their human rights. The social war continues...

Thanks to everyone who supported Theodoros Iliopoulos. Solidarity is our weapon!
:star::thumbup::reda:

Colonello Buendia

27th August 2009, 18:06

SOlidarity with Thodoris, no man should be held as a political prisoner, BUT the thread is about a bunch of anarchists molotov-ing the Greek embassy.... an action that in my view does nothing to help Thodoris*. for my views on violent protests and rioting pleases refer to my sig.

Fuser has a point in saying that this probably shouldn't become about tactics, it should remain analysis of the incident in question with the relevant context.

*By harassing the Greek state apparatus in the name of the poor lad these anarchists merely increasing the negative stigma forced on anarchism as an ideology in practice. it also hardens the greek resolve to keep the man imprisoned. Look at the UK with Bobby Sans.

Sasha

27th August 2009, 18:13

Eastside Revolt

27th August 2009, 18:48

Why the hell is this kind of provocateur shit glorified? This was no doubt provoked by police agents.

It's interesting how authoritarians often immediately assume the position that the state is all powerful and can't and shouldn't be attacked.

Sasha

27th August 2009, 18:58

where does some remarks in this thread remind me of again? oh yeah that was it:
"Every person must submit to the authorities for the existing authorities are instituted by God, consequently anyone who rebels is resisting a divine institution and those who so resist have themselves to thank for the punishment they will receive - for Government has no terrors for good behaviour. You wish to have no fear of the authorities? Then contribute to do right and you will have their approval for they are God's agents working for your good."

fuck you bunch of morons, you remind me of those idiots who accused an famous dutch resistance fightster that her underground activities where wrong because armed resistance against the nazi's "caused" retaliation attacks on the populace.
your on a very slipery slope here because your essentialy blaiming the victim here. whats next, women are not alowed to fight back at rape because they might get killed?

Wanted Man

27th August 2009, 19:31

Urgh. I don't necessarily support such an action. But the responses by some people here are really hysterical. In the context of the situation in Greece, it's not a surprising reaction and it doesn't make anyone a "cop". Maybe throwing a molotov does more harm than good in the end, that will have to be seen. But two things that definitely do damage:

1) denouncing solidarity with political prisoners.
2) going around accusing people of being state agents.

27th August 2009, 21:43

As for the events themselves, I personally get the feeling that people going out and throwing molotovs is not likely to have a positive influence in the case of a man who is denying throwing a molotov. I really can't see it having any positive effects whatsoever.

I am not going to condemn people who let their tempers flare, especially if they truly feel compelled to do so by someone on hunger strike close to death.

In addition on a more general topic, I think that the whole thing of going on hunger strike is extremely badly thought out. In the last wave of hunger strikes we had in Turkey over one hundred deaths, which to be honest, I am sure the state didn't shed too many tears about. I think that it is something that maybe deserves a seperate discussion.

It's not about whether the state sheds tears or not, do they do that when they shoot 15 year olds for no reason in fits of rage? No. However, Grig being killed and now because this man is hunger-striking because he's had enough, by the proletariat showing solidarity, is having an effect on several states (you remember the mass multinational rioting that followed in 08 and early 09 right).

Are you going to condemn the Iranian hunger strikers in London too? Their families being slaughtered in Iraq drove them to do it and they seem serious, I wouldn't condemn such actions as they obviously mean that much to the person in question, that they are willing to let their body consume itself.

Of course there are lots of things that can be done for comrades in prision in other countries, like writing letters, collecting money to help support dependents/pay legal fees etc... They probably aren't as exciting as throwing molotovs though.

Devrim

I would agree with this, it doesn't seem to be emphasised enough.

PRC-UTE

28th August 2009, 00:57

Yes he is released!With some few conditions, as getting to a police station every 15 days, and he cant leave the country.Beside that, yeah, brilliant news.Was a huge success.

music to my ears :)

this man will need continued support from his comrades. a hunger strike like that ravages the body sadly.

28th August 2009, 13:19

music to my ears :)

this man will need continued support from his comrades. a hunger strike like that ravages the body sadly.

Most definitely, though the news are good, he will need good health treatment for some time to get well..
He was released yesterday morning, but there was already a solidarity riot organized in Athens for the noon, but even after his release the parade still happened in solidarity and for giving the man more power to overpass any health issues, but for support for any political prisoner anywhere too.

Ravachol

1st September 2009, 22:28

some insurectionists show solidarity with an other insurectionist charged with trowing/building molotovs by trowing some molotovs againtst an closed embassy.

seems like an perfectly aceptable and logical thing to do and got nothing to do with terrorism or other bulshit terms trown around here.

Obviously this has nothing to do with terrorism, the term is overrated anyway.
Assymetric warfare and irregular military operations are just as 'acceptable' as regular military operations.

First of all, actions in a revolutionary context shouldn't be judged by who the actors are but by their methods, reasoning and their targets.
If one upholds the monopoly of state (or federal-) violence, one must automatically reject revolutionary struggle since one assumes the legimitimacy of the holder of the monopoly of violence.

Now I for one, as an anarchist, don't oppose the concept of a monopoly on violence, since it would be desirable for the overarching anarchist federation to hold this monopoly in a democratic way, we wouldn't want crime and vigilantism to run amok.

The problem is that for this monopoly to be legit the aquisation and execution of this monopoly must be legit.

First of all, the organ currently holding this monopoly, the state (although this is becoming less and less the case, with privatised military and police units, something even worse in my eyes), being the successor of feodalist constructions, aquired this monopoly in a non-democratic and tyrannic way.

Secondly the state, in this case the bourgoise state, is a transcedent inherently opressive, non-democratic organ, hence limiting execution of force and violence to a limited group on a non-democratic basis.

Thirdly, the execution of this monopoly, although in some cases serving popular interest, largely serves bourgoise interest.

Hence, any revolutionary challenging the legitimacy of the state (whether they are Marxist-Leninists/Maoists/etc challenging this incarnation of the state or whether they are Anarchists challenging the concept of the state as a construct is irrelevant in this matter) must also reject it's monopoly on violence.

Hence, this invalidates the argument of permanent non-violence.
That being said, violence in itself is indeed not very democratic.
The problem is that it is usually exercised from a pragmatic point of view rather than purely ideological.
Even most elements within the state security services whom I suspect are currently reading this would most likely agree with the necessity of revolutionary violence during the french revolution and the American war of independence, both violent challenges to imperialist and feodalist rule and their monopoly on violence and both widely celebrated amongst liberals, moderate conservatives and the left alike.

Now I do not think this Molotov attack was very wise from a tactical point of view, simply because I do not think it will achieve the goals it is supposed to achieve: persuade the greek government to treat the captive comrade better or set him free.

This does not however, in any way, mean that this attack invalidates the entire solidarity struggle with our comrade.
Those claiming this is terrorism or that this action invalidates the struggle are either reactionaries seeking to confirm the legitimacy of the bourgoise state's monopoly on violence or simpletons thinking a single molotov attack in Belgrade negates all other actions everywhere.

As for the state infiltration argument: Yes it could be the work of an agent-provocateur, but that goes for virtually every action.
Agent-Provocateurs do not only commit violence, they spread false flyers, they spread rumors, they persude people to obtain weapons,etc.
There are many actions most critics of this 'attack' would applaud that could be the work of an Agent-Provocateur.

The problem is that divisions arising from their actions should not be allowed to drive a widge in any revolutionary movement, for that is one of their goals, even moreso than negative media attention.

Accusations of people or groups being state agents are very serious and should not be made without substantial evidence and most certainly they should not be spread around, for the fear of state agents alone does most of their work for them causing strife and divisions in ranks that are supposed to be tight.

For those who can read german (there are french and dutch translations on the website, the original is in italian from Diavolo in Corpo Nr.3): http://acorpsperdu.wikidot.com/was-ist-terrorismus

This of course, just being my humble opinion :D

Charles Xavier

2nd September 2009, 15:34

blank

2nd September 2009, 15:46

Not in an isolated way and not when its not necessary.

Like you would even know when it's necessary, you probably think it's only necessary come revolution time and we should let the police 'do their duty' in every other case.

And not vandalism like your crimethinc people ask for.

Crimethinc is a small group stuck firmly in the US that does some random stuff, they seem like the perfect group for you actually. They really have little to do with anarchists/the left outside of some small bits of the US.

On a side note why the hell were my posts in this thread deleted?

Because no one appreciates your replies, please don't bother posting anymore in this thread.

Charles Xavier

2nd September 2009, 16:39

blank

rebelmouse

6th September 2009, 21:31

there are changes in methods of fight of some anarchists in Serbia, they started attacks on ruling class and the state. Therefore I want to write one article about it. Because of conflicts among anarchists, some Serbian anarchist even don't publish information about arrests, so my article will explain situation. Because of people's resistance in Greece in December last year, after cops killed one anarchist teenager, police arrested there many people and some of them stayed in custody/detention even till now. One of arrested is Thodoros Iliopoulos. He started hungry strike in custody in order to make pressure on judge to let him to be free till the end of court process. Of course, authorities were arogant and continued with their repression so people understood that there must be made solidarity with arrested comrade.
Anarchists in Greece, and in other countries also, started to make actions and demonstrations of solidarity. August 24 was international day of solidarity and protests were held in Russia, Lithuania, San Francisco, London, Hamburg and Belgrade. It was mostly protest in front of Greek embassies and in Belgrade someone hit embassy with 2 molotov coctails during the night. August 28 was 48 days of hunger strike of Thodoros and that day he was free. I think judge let him to be free because Thodoros made so long hunger strike and because judge saw that state will get damage in the form of attacks if Thodoros stay in the prison. Beside it, Greek authorities published information that they will made new elections in October and judge decided that he will not have bad consequences if he liberate Thodoros who is not politically fit. It is possible that judge decided alone to liberate him but it is also possible that other state departments told him to do it.
Suma summarum, actions of solidarity contributed to liberation of Thodoros.

After attacks on Greek embassy in Belgrade, Serbian politicians made euphoria more than embassy about attack, and journalists jumped to put finger on someone. Medias got anonymous email, public statement, of anarchist group Crni Ilija (Black Iliya/Elijah) in which they took responsibility for attack and demanded liberation of Thodoros. The statement emailed to Belgrade media stated that Iliopoulos has been on a hunger strike for 46 days demanding to be released. They add that the "Belgrade anarchists" have decided to “join their comrades in Greece and the entire world, who are implementing actions of solidarity with Iliopoulos, and demanding that he be released”. “Because of this, members of our group attacked the Greek embassy in Belgrade with a Molotov cocktail. We will continue these activities until our comrade Iliopoulos is released,” the statement concludes.

After this explanation, journalists jumped to put finger on those who are well knows as anarchists. Rata participated in many TV political emissions and gave many interviews for newspapers, and now journalists blame him and people around him (anarcho-syndicalists). Beside journalists, secret agency surely activated its people among leftists who "gather information" and after 2-3 days police arrested several persons in violent way. I said to Rata to prepare lawyer and to have someone beside him whole days because in police they will torture him and if lawyer come earlier, police will have less time to torture him with aim to enforce statement (fabricate proof). In any case, Sept.3th, Rata, Tadej, Ivan, Sanja and Nikola were arrested and next day one more person. Rata is known to media as an anarchist, and Tadej as spokeperson and one of the main initiators of student demonstrations in 2006.
I suppose they were tortured in police station but it will be visible when arrested persons succeed to send us such information. Torturing has aim not only to fabricate proofs than also to create fear at arrested persons. Cops believe that they will stop people to break the law with beating, but it is the fact they never succeeded in it, so I believe they will not succeed this time also. They will just produce hate and readiness for revenge.

After they were arrested, judge decided to keep them in custody/detention next one month. He decided so because he has wish that they get tortured in custody, again with aim: to produce fear at them. What police started, it is continuing in custody. There, bigger criminals, who are yes-men when authorities are in question, torture small criminals in order to get privileges from administration of prison (privilege in Serbian custody is to get warm water for washing every evening; shower is 2x per week). So, those who kiss in ass prison administration will torture arrested comrades, in harmony with wishes of prison administration. Any torture which arrested anarchists experience in custody is direct responsibility of chef of secret agency and chef of prison (chef of acceptance department decide in which cell they will be sent, it means he organize wishes of chef of prison). In August 2009, chef of prison is Miroslav Micić, possibly very soon he will be changed because they found plastic gun at one prisoner (Legia, man who ordered killing of prime minister) and because he got and sold more times flats which he got from government. The last flat he got in the street Nedeljka Gvozdenovića in Belgrade block called Bežanijska Kosa. Chef of secret agency is Saša Vukadinović, former chef of police station in city Krusevac where people were tortured during police action "Sablja" in 2003 after killing of PM. After it, he was chef of prison department in Ministry of Justice like member of Democratic Party and in July last year he became chef of secret agency. His home and life is protected by secret agency but I believe people can organize demonstration in front of his home, and flat of Micić can be burned or he can be attacked. I don't think it will be happened after I read today public statement of anarcho-syndicalists where they said they don't support methods of Black Iliya.

It means they decided to adapt themselves in state repression with hope to make it softer instead to resist. Such mistake made anarchists before about 100 years and it didn’t bring them anything good: state arrested them and killed them even they distanced themselves from anarchists who used armed fight against the state and ruling class. It means they don’t have knowledge about technic of ruling which has as component: repression. Anarchists should be political educated, not only about anarchist theory than about “know your enemy”. Therefore anarchists should read books about Roman Empire and former revolutions where is very good described what authorities did to fuck people. In politics is so much done in history that nothing new can be imagined. Who knows political history he understand that repression must get the same answer, if our comrades are kidnapped and imprisoned by repressive departments of ruling class, we must do the same to ruling class. Of course, for such actions people must have tools (100 euro for gun - yes, it is so cheap in Serbia; car and abandoned house in the nature) and several people ready for such actions. In order to win enemy, people must be equal with enemy. In order to be equal with the state it is not necessary to have million members, it is enough to realize actions equal to police actions. When someone who is target of repression adapt himself in repression, instead to fight, he lost fight already and it is just question of time when authorities will torture him, kidnap, imprison and even maybe kill if he make resistance at kidnapping. Beside political history, anarchist history also showed that adapting in repression make the state to be a winner.
But back to things which are possible to expect from anarchists. As in the case of Thodoros, there should be done actions and demos of solidarity and in the same time lawyers should report publicly if there is torturing from the state. The aim should be to make pressure so the court could not make some big sentence far away from eyes of public. Tactic about Thodoros should be repeated although I think that prisoners should not make hunger strike because authorities don’t care so much for it and such strike makes big damage for organism. But it is their choice. So, it can be said that actions of solidarity will be done, in Serbia and abroad, with remind that comrades in custody experience everyday humiliation (cleaning of toilet, etc) and torturing (they are politically unfit, it is very possibly that administration of prison will organize that big criminals attack them). It is happening to all political prisoners all over the world, it is not case only in Serbia, it is common technic of ruling of capitalists and of state communists. As I said, the aim of torture is to produce fear.

I would add that charge made by prosecutor is mirror of misusing of position of authorities and it is mirror of dependence of justice department from politicians. If judge decide in harmony with charge, answer from anarchists should be serious and strong. Everything what anarchists experience in prison because of his decision, he should experience the same. Terrorism is when someone kills civilians and authorities started to name every act against authorities as terrorism. This was even not armed attack, authorities named Molotov cocktail as weapon, in that way they will say that firelighter is weapon. It is clear that police beat and kill civilians, military in the war also, but media are under control and terrorism is mentioned only when someone attacks authorities.
Changes in society are conditioned with polarization (conflict among people) and in order to be happened, for us anarchists, positive changes, we must become equal with enemy. We can’t be equal in fight if we are not ready to make actions against authorities, the same actions like they make against us. They kidnap us, we must kidnap them, their people torture us, we must torture those who gave order for it. If we don’t do so, history will be repeated: anarchist groups will be weakened and destroyed for next several decades until some new generations come.
I hope acting of Black Iliya will be continued, I hope next actions will be stronger and I hope people will look reality in eyes and find strength to resist to repression.
On the picture below (ups, I cannot publish picture, I have not 25 messages) you can see link toward website in English language asi.zsp.net.pl/free-the-anarchists/ where you can send email protest letter to authorities in Serbia with demand to set free arrested anarchists.
For the end, here are 2 statements of anarcho-syndicalists about arrests of comrades from their group (I bolded words which note their distancing from methods of group Blac Iliya):

We are informing you that members of the Union Confederation “Anarcho-syndicalist initiative”, Ratibor Trivunac (who is currently delegated to the duty of IWA-AIT General Secretary), Tadej Kurepa and Ivan Vulovic have been arrested today (September, 3rd) under the fabricated charges of “causing general public danger”, after they were forcefully taken in for interrogation by the police. It is yet unconfirmed if other comrades were arrested.
We are trying to get in contact with their lawyers and to establish what are the exact charges against them and their legal status. We will keep you informed of the developments.
The IWA Secretariat can be reached by usual email address and phone no.
IWA-AIT Secretariat,
Belgrade, 3rd September 2009

Sept. 5, 2009 - On September, 4th 2009 District Court in Belgrade decided that arrested members of ASI will be held for thirty days in detention. Our comrades are accused of an act of international terrorism.
Union Confederation “Anarcho-syndicalist Initiative” found out about the attack on Greek embassy, and of the organisation that took the responsibility for this act, through media.

We use this opportunity to remind the public once again that these methods of individual political struggle are not methods of anarcho-syndicalism, quite the contrary – we proclaim our political positions publicly and through our work we seek to bring masses to the syndicalist movement and all the libertarian and progressive organisations.
Wanting to brutally suppress its fierce critics the state, through its mechanism of repression, acts with banal logic and maps as suspects those who explicitly stated their libertarian beliefs, and by their imprisonment ends the case and gives a false picture of its efficiency to the public.
Unscrupulous actions of regime’s organs can be observed from the first moments of arrest, unlawful searches of their apartments, intimidations of their families to extreme charges of international terrorism.
Given the fact that we do not support the acts of now famous anarchist group “Crni Ilija” (Black Iliya) we still cannot characterise what happened as “international terrorism”, because terrorism, by definition, entails threats to the lives of civilians, whereas in this case no one was even hurt and only symbolic material damage was done.
It is clear that this state produced farce is just one way of intimidating anyone who decides to point out the injustice and hopelessness of contemporary society.
In times of general social numbness individuals reach for the most unbelievable, sometimes even self-destructive, actions in order to break through the media blockade and to put their case in the centre of attention – let us remember the workers who cut off and eat their own fingers, or, for example, the unlucky, distressed man who threatened to activate a hand grenade in the building of the Presidency of Serbia – that is, trying to shed some light on their problems in a broader social space.
Lets not allow them to persuade us that one symbolic act of solidarity, even if expressed in a certainly ill manner, together with any other act of rebellion of those who are left with no rights should be treated as an antisocial act and an act of terrorism.
We express solidarity with the arrested comrades and their families and demand the truth about this case!
FREEDOM FOR ANARCHO-SYNDICALISTS!
ANARCHO-SYNDICALIST INITIATIVE

bricolage

10th September 2009, 13:51

Serbian Embassy (London) 28 Belgrave Square, LONDON SW1X 8QB.

SOLIDARITY WITH SERBIAN ANARCHO-SYNDICALISTS.

Six anarchists have been arrested in Belgrade following an attack on the Greek Embassy in April 24. The attack was claimed by a previously unknown group, and was said to be in solidarity with the recent uprising against the Greek state.

Those arrested deny all knowledge of the group and the attack, and believe that this is an attempt to criminalise the growing Serbian anarchist movement. The activists are members of the Serbian section of the International Workers’ Association.

They have been remanded in custody for 30 days while the Serbian state prepares its case. If convicted, these activists face long prison sentences.

SUPPORT OUR SERBIAN COMRADES!

PICKET THE SERBIAN EMBASSY

28 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8QB
(near Hyde Park Corner & Knightsbridge tube stations)
Friday, September 11th, Noon – 2pm

Bring banners, flags, placards, loudspeakers.

10th September 2009, 19:49

rebelmouse

12th September 2009, 22:12

Vienna -At Friday, Sept.11, second time was organized demo with about 30 people with aim to demonstrate against arrest of anarchists in Belgrade. With banners, flags, paroles, protesters came to Serbian embassy. Embassy stayed closed, cops were in front of thedoor and no one from embassy had courrage to come out. They didn't answer on interfon also. Letter of protest was not given because of such istuation, it will be faxed. About 800 leaflets are given to the people on the streets, in German's and English. Demos will be organized againa and again, until our comrades are free. Stop to political repression and state terrorism! Solidarity is our weapon!

London – Comrades gave leaflet to inform people about situation:
http://www.solfed.org.uk/serbian-embassy-leaflet.pdf
and demonstrated in front of embassy: http://asi.zsp.net.pl/protest-in-london/

Melbourne - Open letter to Serbian embassy in Australia:
http://asi.zsp.net.pl/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/melbourne.pdf

Portugal - In Lissabon, at Sept.7, delegation of IWA gave protest letter to Serbian embassy and there was talking with employees in embassy.

In Warsawa was given leaflets to the people on the streets.

There will be demo in Zagreb/Croatia at Monday at noon.

Until now is sent about 2600 protest emails to Serbian politicians and police.

Slovenia - Thursday was demo in Ljubljana also:
http://asi.zsp.net.pl/demonstration-in-ljubljana/ (http://asi.zsp.net.pl/demonstration-in-ljubljana/)

Bratislava - On Monday, September 7th 2009, Priama akcia-Bratislava (IWA-AIT) organised a solidarity action in front of Serbian embassy in Bratislava.
Around 10 people gathered to meet with the ambassador and express their discontent with actions of Serbian authorities. The ambassador was not at the embassy. We told an employee of the embassy that we want him to make official record of the protest and to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade. We were told to put our protest letters in the mailbox and that they would deal with them. The whole conversation was conducted via the intercom at the embassy gate...
After the conversation with the voice from inside the embassy, one of the two to four "undercover" cops who was close to the protesters all the time (by the way, one cop or embassy employee filmed or took pictures of us via his cell phone:)) showed us his “diplomatic police” ID and asked people to identify themselves. We refused and after a short exchange about police competences we left without identifying ourselves. The cop said, however, that in that case he’d call the police.
Police harassment
We went down the street and after some 150 metres we saw a police car going our way. We didn't want to be harassed again, so we turned to a city park (forest) and split into two groups. Within several seconds one of the groups of four people was approached by some 5-7 cops, who wanted to control our IDs. In the forest. The ID control took around 10-15 minutes and of course it was a targeted control as police didn't control other passers-by. The original reason that the police came up with was "searching for a wanted or missing person". In the end the policeman said that people's ID information would be stored in some sort of a police system, so in case something happens around, the people could be asked to witness. Never mind the "wanted or missing person"... Let's hope nothing happens in the forest today.
The solidarity starts just now
Despite this crazy police harassment, the protest letters were delivered to the embassy. The solidarity campaign is just at the beginning and won't cease until people imprisoned in Serbia are freed and the charges dropped.
An attack on anarchosyndicalists is an attack on every struggling worker.
Solidarity to arrested comrades in Serbia!

Priama akcia - Bratislava
IWA/AIT Slovakia

Belgrade: Professors Send Open Letter in Defense of Arrested
A group of professors from the University of Belgrade together with other people from the world of culture sent an open letter expressing concern over the announcement that the six people arrested in Belgrade will be charged with international terrorism.
The professors criticize the “political background of the double standards” applied in this case. However they pointed out that this doesn’t been they support the act of vandalism at the Greek Embassy.
The signatorees referred to protests on 21 February 2008, years after the declaration of independence by Kosovo. Then the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade was substantially damaged by fire and one person was killed. Nobody was accused of a serious crime in this case.
In contrast, the Serbian state authorities characterize damaging a window with the help of two petrol bombs which failed to ignite as an act of “international terrorism”.
The signatorees say that the Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia needs to be updated. They also mention the criminal responsibility of those who committed genocide and war crimes.
The teachers and public figures have expressed concern about the different positions law enforcement has taken on the two cases and with the current government policy efforts to improve their rating with the nationalist wing of the electorate: “This has the effect of fostering and strengthening the chauvinistic and extreme-right tendencies of our society.”

Искра

13th September 2009, 01:43

On Monday there's action in Zagreb, Croatia.

Devrim

13th September 2009, 17:48

Sorry to come back to this a bit late. I have been a bit tied up recently, but I wanted to comment on it further.

As for the events themselves, I personally get the feeling that people going out and throwing molotovs is not likely to have a positive influence in the case of a man who is denying throwing a molotov. I really can't see it having any positive effects whatsoever. I am not going to condemn people who let their tempers flare, especially if they truly feel compelled to do so by someone on hunger strike close to death.

I don't think that it is about condemning them. The people who committed these actions are not 'international terrorists' as they have been called, and are trying to show solidarity with their comrades. That is not something to be criticised. However, in my opinion there actions were not productive, and as we have seen have resulted in other anarchist militants who were not involved in these actions being arrested.

Sometimes people make terrible mistakes in the class struggle. One massive example that I remember from when I lived in the UK was when two miners, Dean Hancock and Russell Shankland killed a taxi driver by dropping a block of concrete from a moterway bridge. Should these people have been defended? In my opinion absolutely. Should their actions have been criticsied? Yes, I think so. The same applies here.

In addition on a more general topic, I think that the whole thing of going on hunger strike is extremely badly thought out. In the last wave of hunger strikes we had in Turkey over one hundred deaths, which to be honest, I am sure the state didn't shed too many tears about. I think that it is something that maybe deserves a seperate discussion. It's not about whether the state sheds tears or not, do they do that when they shoot 15 year olds for no reason in fits of rage? No. However, Grig being killed and now because this man is hunger-striking because he's had enough, by the proletariat showing solidarity, is having an effect on several states (you remember the mass multinational rioting that followed in 08 and early 09 right).

Are you going to condemn the Iranian hunger strikers in London too? Their families being slaughtered in Iraq drove them to do it and they seem serious, I wouldn't condemn such actions as they obviously mean that much to the person in question, that they are willing to let their body consume itself.

When I said that "the state didn't shed too many tears" what I actually meant was that the state is probably happy that these people are dying. Do I condemn hunger strikers? No. Do I question the wisdom of what they are doing? Yes, I don't think it is effective and I think it is tied up in a really negative 'martyrdom cult' type menatlity on the left, which has more in common with religion than communist politics.

Devrim

Искра

15th September 2009, 00:47

http://libcom.org/news/zagreb-solidarity-action-serbian-anarchists-14092009

Zagreb: Solidarity action with Serbian anarchists

On Monday, the 14th of September of 2009., a protest of solidarity with the arrested Serbian anarchists took place. The protest was organised by the „Stop the repression!“ campaign initiated by The Network of Anarcho-Syndicalists (MASA).

The beginning of the protest took place at the Petar Preradovic Square with the gathering of approximately 30 people. Since the protest was reported to the police, quite a number of police officers were present. The protesters marched through the street of Ilica towards the British Square carrying the banner that said: „Stop the repression! Freedom for the Anarcho-Syndicalists!“ and those words were accompanied with the picture of the caged snow owl. The snow owl that is actually the logo of Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), now caged, became the symbol of this campaign on the international level. While the protesters approached the British Square, some of them have been distributing leaflets to people passing by. All the leaflets were distributed even before we reached the British Square.

On the British Square our official statement was read, it was the same statement as the one on the leaflets. After that, our unexpected visitors, a folk band of squatters from Belgium, played for us one of their songs.But, since they were not planned, the police didn't allow them to perform more than just one song.

After the performans had been completed, three of our delegates, accompanied by two police officers, went by bus to the Serbian Embassy, where they put the protest letter and the leaflet into the letter-box.

The letter to the Serbian Embassy

Respected ambassador!
With this letter we protest against the arrest, harassment and the media lynch of five of our fellows and friends: Tadej Kurepa, Ivan Vulović, Sanja Đokić, Ratibor Trivunacchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/icons/icon_offline.png and Nikola Mitrović. The majority of them are the members of The Anarcho-Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), the Serbian section of The International Workingmen's Association (IWA). They are accused for throwing two molotov cocktails on the Greek Embassy in Belgrade, on te 25th of August of 2009., and they are being charged for the criminal act of international terrorism. Although there are no evidence and no proof whatsoever that they commited that act , that did not prevent the media from writing about the accused as if they are proven to be guilty. This kind of behavior is deliberate and it has as its goal the ruination of ASI's reputation and the criminalization of ASI's syndical work. Except that, the state of Serbia would this way inaugurate a new praxis of punishing everybody who may present a threat to it, and who fight for a more just and more humane society, for a society that above all respects the human life, and not the needs of profit. The „Stop the repression!“ initiative strongly condemns this kind of behavior and demands the immediate release of the imprisoned anarchists.

If our demands won't be respected, we shall continue with the pressure through the media and with further actions of solidarity, as well as our comrades throughout the world.

„Stop the repression!“ initiative