situation in Greece?

[ashaman1324]

i haven't heard much at all about greece either on the boards, tv, or google lately, anybody have an idea whats going on and/ or links?

P.S. i'm pretty sure politics is the place for this

[Omi]

Last Friday there were some mass actions, but at the moment there is a lot of organizing and other work being done, in so called popular meetings. Almost every neighbourhood in every big city these meetings are present, dealing with the future of the movement that has emerged since december.

[Mather]

Last Friday there were some mass actions, but at the moment there is a lot of organizing and other work being done, in so called popular meetings. Almost every neighbourhood in every big city these meetings are present, dealing with the future of the movement that has emerged since december.


It's good news to hear that there is still momemtom behind the new movement that has grown in Greece. The mass media and the TV no longer report on this at all, giving people the impression that nothing is happening and that there is no movement behind the recent struggle in Greece.

Have any new ideas or changes come up in the recent discussions being held?

[Omi]

I don't know to much, a few friends of mine went and visited greece right during the aftermath of the intense riots, a few riots and demonstrations here and there. But the problem was they are dutch, and not everyone in Greece speaks english very well, so communication was a bit of a problem, so any real info? I don't know. But I hope we can expect some more of the greeks in the future. I heard within a few weeks other mass actions are planned, so who knows?:)

[optimist]

tommorow in athens a students demonstration will take place,and in astakos ,alittle port in west greece, a mass gathering also.from astakos u.s. army wanted toship a large amount of ammunition to israel but due to peoples reaction they postponed it yesterday.nevertheless a lot of people will gather tommorow there as a warning to greek government.in 17/1 in larissa it's the trial of 20 people ,17 of them under 18y.o.,who were arrested during the demonstrations after alexis killing,and were charged as terrorists.only larissa's prosecutor use the antiterrorists-law against demonstrators and for that people from all greece will gather outside the court showing solidarity for the arrested.overall a lot of things happens all over greece ,for gaza ,for kuneva,for the arrested people,using as bases the occupational buildings,but because the numbers of people are not large,and because there is no violence the media dont show any of this.

[Mather]

I don't know to much, a few friends of mine went and visited greece right during the aftermath of the intense riots, a few riots and demonstrations here and there. But the problem was they are dutch, and not everyone in Greece speaks english very well, so communication was a bit of a problem, so any real info? I don't know. But I hope we can expect some more of the greeks in the future. I heard within a few weeks other mass actions are planned, so who knows?


Thanks anyway, hopefully this new movement has the potential to grow in size and militancy.

The anarchist movement in Greece (both legal groups and insurrectionists) seems to be well organised, active and in relation to other European anarchist groups, larger.

It would be good for anarchists across Europe, both groups and individuals, to link up and share ideas and tactics with the Greek anarchists, who look like we could learn a few things from.

[Skin_HeadBanger]

Thanks anyway, hopefully this new movement has the potential to grow in size and militancy.

The anarchist movement in Greece (both legal groups and insurrectionists) seems to be well organised, active and in relation to other European anarchist groups, larger.

It would be good for anarchists across Europe, both groups and individuals, to link up and share ideas and tactics with the Greek anarchists, who look like we could learn a few things from.

For them to all link up would be the best thing they could do. Unite and win!

[Circle E Society]

Thanks anyway, hopefully this new movement has the potential to grow in size and militancy.

The anarchist movement in Greece (both legal groups and insurrectionists) seems to be well organised, active and in relation to other European anarchist groups, larger.

It would be good for anarchists across Europe, both groups and individuals, to link up and share ideas and tactics with the Greek anarchists, who look like we could learn a few things from.

Yeah and it can be a potluck... European anarchists just like Greece have a history of having perfectly fine tactics I mean paris a few years ago, Spain has an obvious tradition. Although I will admit that Greece has always been openly militant but to my understanding from folks ive discussed this with a lot of it comes from their culture. The words of some friends an comrades anarchists and norms alike Greeks do not obey traffic laws, wait in lines, or take ANY shit and thats just the normal ones.

[rebelmouse]

of course, whole south europe don't respect rules. German's language part of europe and north people are totally different. when people become anarchists, they don't change themselves so much about rules and methods of fight. I think only Latin America (and some parts of asia) is similar with south europe about methods of fight against authorities.
but, if you want info about situation in greece, you can read this:
occupiedlondon.org/blog/ (I think it is blog of someone from greece, very good update of situation)
libcom.org/tags/greece-unrest (here are crowd of articles about riot in greece)
directactiongr.blogspot.com (DA news from Greece)

(stupid rule about 25 posts in order to publish links)

[optimist]

why you think is good that a lot of greeks dont obey traffic laws,drive drunk,dont stay in lines??that shows that they dont care about the others not that they are "anarchists".they dont stay in lines because they think ''im npt stupid like the others to wait i walk first and i bully anyone who objects".every year hundrends died in car accidents,most times they are victims of "anarchistdrivers" ,who thinks "i drive as i want and if the police catch me i have a relative/friend in the police and he will save me".this is not anarchism this is hardcore individualism(i think this is the right word).the same attitude is the average cops attitude also.if you hanging out in exarchia,if you dont have the right look,if you are immigrant you are in trouble.if you are a mafia bully ,no problem do what you want they turn the other way.this is not the law,cops dont obey them ,so what must i do admire them??this is one of the causes of kids revolt.if they dont use the corrupt mechanisms they wont have a future.it is a situation of who you know and not who you are.

[Black Sheep]

The situation is leading to elections most probably.The governing party had reorganizing of the ministries leaders, (yawn).

In addition all the past events indicate and propagandize the 'need' for more suppression, stronger police,limitation of social rights and freedom, etc.

After the shooting of Alexis we can recognize the following:
-the police held a defensive stance at the MASSIVE everyday riots and incidents.
-the media pictured a situation of chaos and anarchy (in the negative meaning)
-many provocateurs,undercover cops did their job well
-the university sanctuary is being questioned again
-recent acts off terrorism,looting and abductions are being thrown to our faces thorugh the TV all the time
-turkish challenges and violation of the airspace and sea borders of greece, with the nationalists screaming about 'those damn turks'

Lots of Reichstags fires,things are starting to look like a greek 9/11, i just hope that the greeks will resist and reject any patriot act that might come.
And i am optimistic that we will, we have lots of experience. :)

[Wake Up]

Last Friday there were some mass actions, but at the moment there is a lot of organizing and other work being done, in so called popular meetings. Almost every neighbourhood in every big city these meetings are present, dealing with the future of the movement that has emerged since december.

Does this mean that anarchists are attempting to consolidate and send out a clear message to people who didn't understand the real anger behind the riots, the people who may have been alienated? (thats not a criticism of the riots which obviously have my total support)

If so then I think that is the best thing that could realistically happen. Too often anarchists don't follow up the destruction with something constructive and it all slips away.

[Mather]

Does this mean that anarchists are attempting to consolidate and send out a clear message to people who didn't understand the real anger behind the riots, the people who may have been alienated? (thats not a criticism of the riots which obviously have my total support)

If so then I think that is the best thing that could realistically happen. Too often anarchists don't follow up the destruction with something constructive and it all slips away.


Agreed. There is nothing wrong with direct action and acts of sabotage/destruction, provided that they can be backed up with a decent and coherent message.

The bourgeois and corporate mass media will never cast the struggle of anarchists, revolutionaries and working class and poor people in a positive way. The aim should not be to lower our levels of militancy and action in some futile attempt to 'win over' the bourgeois media, that will never happen. What we can do is to put our own message across, every time an action is carried out, so that we can counter the misinformation of the bourgeois media.

[Circle E Society]

why you think is good that a lot of greeks dont obey traffic laws,drive drunk,dont stay in lines??that shows that they dont care about the others not that they are "anarchists".they dont stay in lines because they think ''im npt stupid like the others to wait i walk first and i bully anyone who objects".every year hundrends died in car accidents,most times they are victims of "anarchistdrivers" ,who thinks "i drive as i want and if the police catch me i have a relative/friend in the police and he will save me".this is not anarchism this is hardcore individualism(i think this is the right word).the same attitude is the average cops attitude also.if you hanging out in exarchia,if you dont have the right look,if you are immigrant you are in trouble.if you are a mafia bully ,no problem do what you want they turn the other way.this is not the law,cops dont obey them ,so what must i do admire them??this is one of the causes of kids revolt.if they dont use the corrupt mechanisms they wont have a future.it is a situation of who you know and not who you are.

I never said those were anarchist attitudes cause certainly I would agree with you but what I AM saying is it is in their culture to disobey mores and folkways and regardless of whether or not it is individualist it is there none the less. I was simply pointing that out not saying that that's some form of statement about those facts making someone an Anarchist. If it came off as such I appologize.

[cyu]

if you want info about situation in greece, you can read this:
occupiedlondon.org/blog/ (I think it is blog of someone from greece, very good update of situation)
libcom.org/tags/greece-unrest (here are crowd of articles about riot in greece)
directactiongr.blogspot.com (DA news from Greece)

Thanks for the links - just what I was looking for!

[piet11111]

did they not occupy a tv station some time ago ?

they should keep doing that and bring out some real news to reach the people that are not involved yet.

[Black Sheep]

did they not occupy a tv station some time ago ?

they should keep doing that and bring out some real news to reach the people that are not involved yet.
Yeah,the public TV station, (and its director made an announcement later about those kids restricting his freedom) :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Unfortunately such events happened at the climax of the struggle, now things have died down.
Many universities have opened up again as well, mine too.

[KurtFF8]

It seems that while things have died down, not much has been "resolved" and that the leftist strongholds have just been reinforced by the current events (although, there was a new clash the other day (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7821657.stm)). There was even a police demonstration (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7832425.stm) recently which is showing that the outcome of this is still quite up in the air.

[Omi]

A CALL FROM GREECE
for a global day of solidarity actions on January 24th 2009


As a group of people who came from many countries and who took part in the
struggles in Greece over the past weeks, it is now clear to us that there
is no such thing as a "Greek problem", that the situation that sparked the
intense riots here is the same that the people are facing everywhere
abroad. The murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 6th was not the
source of this conflict, it only opened and made more clear a conflict
that was already ongoing not only here but everywhere around the planet.

In these unstable times, fearing the threat of a deeper, more global
movement of insurrection, the authorities have shown their weaknesses in
their protection of the dominant capitalist order. Through the enforcement
of anti-terrorist measures, tightening of social control, crackdown of
different areas of resistance, mass arrests, targeted assassinations, the
illusion of democracy is falling and the veil of social peace is starting
to burn.

The more the State is taking a defensive stance, the more it is time for
us to stop fearing its retaliation and to go on the offensive. It is not
the time to withdraw into fear, which would lead us further into a
dangerous social peace, but the right time for multiplying the offensives
and intensifying the struggle against capitalism and its State,
coordinated with the revolt that is happening here.

The core of these events being that we are in a state of war, the only way
to get through it is to assume it and to take the offensive even further.
That is why we are calling for a global day of actions on January 24th for
you to carry out and perpetuate the revolt, to increase the instability.
It is NOT a call for you to support the Greek people, but for you to take
action where you are.

The 24th of January will be a day of demonstrations and actions all around
greece in support of the prisoners fell in the hands of the system during
this struggle. Wherever you are, let's attack this system that is
oppressing us all !

I hope this message gets across, and many comrades will organize actions! So that the movement doesn't die down!

[Djehuti]

Real News: Inside the rebellion in Greece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cknzlqQvDzs

[KurtFF8]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbj6Y5imfU4c8Qx0G3w2hMmPn6ZwD95MGCDG1


Greece: Protests planned over US arms to Israel

4 days ago
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Left-wing opposition parties said Tuesday they will go ahead with a protest at a Greek port despite the U.S. decision not to use the facility for an arms shipment to Israel.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said plans for shipping U.S. arms to Israel had been changed to avoid Greece.
"I think the Greek government had some issue with the off-loading of some of that shipment in their country, and so we are finding alternative means of getting that entire shipment to its proper destination in Israel," Morrell said.
He declined to say what kind of arms were included in the shipment.
Greek opposition parties maintained the government objected to the shipment only after the issue was revealed in the local media, because it feared public opinion in Greece, which is broadly opposed to ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza.
Protests at the western Greek port of Astakos are planned for Wednesday and Thursday.

[ckaihatsu]

Im sending this out, because I think it gives a particularly interesting
and necessary example of how people become stirred up by the
material conditions that are around them and how that can launch
people into mobilizing and fighting back AS A CLASS.

Greece has been seeing major uprisings all over the country for the
last few weeks and there is no sign of them stopping anytime soon.

For me, Greece is a current example of the working class being
awakened, mobilized, and fighting back on a MASS SCALE.

Eveyone that is demonstrating might not have read the Communist
Manifesto, but everyone that is organizing DOES SEE that the capitalist
economy is in shambles, they see that the Greek "bailout" for the
capitalists did nothing for the masses, they do see that the wars on
the Palestinians and on Immigrants in Greece is tied to the war on
students and workers in Greece, and they are starting to see that
THEIR POWER in the streets, in work-place occupations, etc.

Greece, right now, is my inspiration. A better world is possible.

[...]


http://socialistworker.org/2009/01/16/next-wave-in-greece
The next wave in Greece

George Yorgos reports on the growing movement in Greece against police repression, and for workers' and students' rights.

January 16, 2009


THE DEMONSTRATIONS that rocked Greece at the end of last year resumed on January 9, picking up where they left off before the holidays with a militant march of 20,000 teachers and students in Athens.

The protests erupted last month after Athens police killed a young activist, Alexandros Grigoropoulos. After a wave of student occupations and huge street battles with police, Greek unions called a general strike December 10. A new wave of even bigger protests followed.

Despite the repression, the movement has continued to develop. Students were again the driving force in the January 9 demonstration, called in memory of Nikos Temponeras, a teacher who was murdered on that date in 1991 by right-wing thugs of the ruling New Democracy party. Temponeras was killed while defending his school's occupation in the protests that took down that government.

Today, students are once again out to topple another right-wing New Democracy government, this one run by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. After marching January 9, students and the teachers took over the center of Athens for more than four hours, demanding justice for Alexis, money for education, the disarming of police and the resignation of Karamanlis.

As has been the case in previous protests, police violently attacked the peaceful demonstration without any pretext. They arrested 80 protesters and 15 lawyers who appeared at the police headquarters to defend them.

The police reserved their most rabid attacks for members of the media who were trying to document the police brutality. This attack has outraged journalists and students--and breathed new life into the student movement right before general assemblies scheduled to decide their next actions.

The Karamanlis government has already tried to charge many arrested students with ridiculous crimes under the antiterrorist laws passed in 2001 and again before the Athens Olympics of 2004. The authorities are using this latest crackdown in the latest attempt to terrorize the student movement before it revives--and to send a message that the protests will not be tolerated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

BUT ALL this repression has been in vain, because the protests never really stopped.

The antiwar movement demonstrated against the murderous Israeli war on Gaza on numerous occasions during the holidays. The largest demonstration was January 3. Organized by the Coalition of the Radical Left and other left-wing organizations (with the exception of the Communist Party, which always has its own sectarian gatherings), some 20,000 protesters marched for nine miles in the rain, from the Greek parliament to the U.S. Embassy, and from there to the Israeli Embassy.

Outside the Israeli Embassy, protesters were met again with another vicious attack by riot police--this time with liberal use of tear gas newly purchased from Israel. (In the December protests, police had used up all of their arsenal, gassing us daily with more than 4,000 canisters of tear gas.)

The protesters were back on the streets January 10, this time protesting Israeli atrocities in the land operations in Gaza.

The following day, a couple thousand immigrants and their supporters responded to the call by the organization Deport Racism to protest the recent death of a 24-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant outside the Immigration Center in Athens. The young man was found beaten to his death in a nearby ditch. The murder was probably committed by cops or neo-Nazi thugs, who target immigrants waiting outside all night in long lines to register for asylum. It was the third such murder so far this year.

In this climate of continual protests, general assembly meetings have been called in universities across the country to decide the next steps for the movement. But the next round of occupations have already begun--this time carried out by workers in the mass media.

On January 10, a group of unionized media workers, along with opposition members in the leadership of the union, took over the offices of their union. They were protesting against both the working conditions they face and the treacherous role of the media in the recent youth demonstrations.

The leadership of the journalists' union, the Union of Athens Daily Press Editors (ESIEA, according to its initials in Greek), is one of the most corrupt and bankrupt in the eyes of its members. ESIEA officials are able to maintain control of the union leadership, thanks to collaboration between New Democracy and trade unionists in the center-left PASOK party, who act as partners with the big bosses in the media.

ESIEA has done nothing to oppose the medieval working conditions imposed by media employers and has gladly collaborated with the establishment in manipulating the truth about the recent protests, the attacks on immigrants and workers, and the campaign of intimidation against every person who dares to fight back.

The initiative of the media workers found an immediate response in the city of Volos, where workers took over the building of the historic labor council of that city (the first of its kind established in Greece). The Volos workers made similar demands of their bureaucratic union leadership.

In both occupations, workers hold open meetings every night to decide their daily actions. This mass participation is becoming a symbol for workers and students at a time many people radicalized by recent events are looking for ways to move the struggle forward.

As in the struggles of the 1960s, an escalation of the struggles can put profound change on the agenda--change that is badly needed by working people. At the same time, the struggle will underscore the need for a new, more radical left.

[Omi]

And some people on this forum still hold the belief that Greece is not in a state of potential revolution because the numbers are to low. The cuban revolution started with about 160 revolutionaries to...:cool: