The statement below was issued a few hours ago by the anarchist squat of Skaramanga and Patision in Athens.
The murderers “mourn” their victims
(Regarding today’s tragic death of 3 people)
The enormous strike demonstration which took place today, 5th of May turned into a social outflow of rage. At least 200,000 people of all ages took to the streets (employees and unemployed, in the public and private sector, locals and migrants) attempting, over many hours and in consecutive waves, to surround and to take over the Parliament. The forces of repression came out in full force, to play their familiar role – that is, of the protection of the political and financial authorities. The clashes were hours long and extensive. The political system and its institutions reached a nadir.
However, in the midst of all this, a tragic event that no words can possibly describe took place: 3 people died from infusions at the branch of Marfin Bank on Stadiou Avenue, which was set ablaze.
The state and the entire journalistic riff-raff, without any shame toward the dead or their close ones, spoke from the very first moment about some “murderer-hooded up youths”, trying to take advantage of the event, in order to calm the wave of social rage that had erupted and to recover their authority that had been torn apart; to impose once again a police occupation of the streets, to wipe out sources of social resistance and disobedience against state terrorism and capitalist barbarity. For this reason, during the last few hours the police forces have been marching through the center of Athens, they have conducted hundreds of detentions and they raided – with shootings and stun-grenades – the anarchist occupation “space of united multiform action” on Zaimi street and the “migrant haunt” on Tsamadou Street, causing extensive damage (both these places are in the Exarcheia neighbourhood of Athens). At the same time the threat of a violent police eviction is hanging over the rest of the self-organised spaces (occupations and haunts) after the Prime-ministerial speech which referred to soon-to-come raids for the arrest of the “murderers”.
The governors, governmental officials, their political personnel, the TV-mouthpieces and the salaried hack writers attempt in this way to purify their regime and the criminalise the anarchists and every unpatronised voice of struggle. As if there would ever be the slightest of chances that whoever attacked the bank (provided the official scenario stands) would possibly know there were people inside, and that they would torch it alight regardless. They seem to confuse the people in struggle for themselves: them who without any hesitation hand over the entire society to the deepest pillage and enslaving, who order their praetorians to attack without hesitation and to aim and shoot to kill, them who have lead three people to suicide in the past week alone, due to financial debts.
The truth is that the real murderer, the real instigator of today’s tragic death of 3 people is “mister” Vgenopoulos, who used the usual employers’ blackmailing (the threat of sacking) and forced his employees to work in the branches of his bank during a day of strike – and even in a branch like the one of Stadiou Avenue, where the strike’s demonstration would pass through. Such blackmailing is known only too well by anyone experiencing the terrorism of salaried slavery on an everyday level. We are awaiting to see what excuses Vgenopoulos will come up with for the relatives of the victims and for the society as a whole – this ultra-capitalist now hinted by some centers of power as the next prime minister in a future “national unity government” that could follow the expected, complete collapse of the political system.
If an unprecedented strike can ever be a murderer…
If an unprecedented demonstration, in an unprecedented crisis, can ever be a murderer…
If open social spaces that are alive and public can ever be murderers…
If the state can impose a curfew and attack demonstrators under the pretext of arresting murderers…
If Vgenopoulos can detain his employees inside a bank – that is, a primary social enemy and target for demonstrators…
…it is because authority, this serial murderer, wants to slaughter upon its birth a revolt which questions the supposed solution of an even harsher attack on society, of an even larger pillage by capital, of an even thirstier sucking of our blood.
…it is because the future of the revolt does not include politicians and bosses, police and mass media.
… it is because behind their much-advertised “only” solution, there is a solution that does not speak of development rates and unemployment but rather, it speaks of solidarity, self-organising and human relationships.
When asking who are the murderers of life, of freedom, of dignity, the ferments of authority and capital, they and their tuft hunters only need to take a look at their own selves. Today and every day.
HANDS OFF FREE SOCIAL SPACES
IT IS THE STATE AND THE CAPITALISTS WHO ARE THE MURDERERS, TERRORISTS AND CRIMINALS
EVERYONE TO THE STREETS
REVOLT
from the open assembly of the evening of 5/5/2010
48 Comments
All the newspapers says it was 20000 people not 200000 as it says in this article.
…and all the newspapers take their info STRAIGHT from the police.
The crowd in Athens today was enormous – if not 200, at least 100,000, but so difficult to estimate such big crowds… and so irrelevant, after the death of these three people.
Amongst you ‘greek anarchists’ there exist people who justify violence and call for acts like burning banks (or the offices of ‘Tiresias’, for that matter). Who have been saying that such acts can be justified in “some cases”, when they are “symbolic”, when they target capitalism and its symbols. And supporters of such “symbolic actions” have been increasingly vocal after December ’08. Any visitor can just browse this blog and read your previous posts – scripta manent.
If these 3 people had not been killed today, you would be feauturing pictures of the burnt bank on your blog. Along with triumphant slogans, trying to convince the world that the ‘collapse of capitalism’ is imminent and that it will start from Greece. Along with a the description of a little chat you had with a taxi driver, on your way to your friend’s house, to prove your point.
But this time 3 people have been killed.
They were killed because the bank was set on fire. Because someone thought: “Let’s do something symbolic”.
And he/she did it – a person set the bank on fire; neither capitalism, nor its management.
When Kougias is defending the cop who murdered a 15-year old boy, his arguments are pathetic. When you try to change the subject (“translate this, instead of thinking about the anarchists’ stance on violence and what this stance has caused”) your arguments are pathetic. You are using plain-old shyster tricks, Kougias’ tricks.
Never mind, we got it. Korkoneas never apologised for Grigoropoulos’ murder. The unknown hooded person who set 3 people on fire will never apologise for their murder.
PS1: Let’s see how much time this comment stays up!
PS2: The above is my personal opinion; I’m not brainwashed by Papandreou, the media or anyone else. And I don’t think anyone has the right to call me brainwashed, just because they happen to disagree with me.
PS3: I hate anonymity; but I don’t want to reveal my identity to people who might one day “symbolically” beat me or burn me, just because they happen to disagree with me.
I agree, macho riotporn will not a changed world make,and yet…it has it’s time and place. Do you not think that it was ‘symbolic’ that Vgenopoulos kept his banks open, and threatened his employees with dismissal like some feudal lord? How much business was he expecting to conduct during a general strike? This is proof that the markets are God and demand blood sacrifices. “Trapped in a burning bank”, isn’t that Greece, and the Global Economy now?
@someone from Greece:
First, your comment is going nowhere, don’t worry – and no-one asked you to reveal your identity either.
Second, you do make some very valid points. Of course what has happened today is absolutely horrific. There is no way of telling what scenario stands, but if it is what you describe above (i.e. if these were no agent provocateurs – and it will take a long, long time before we can tell this with certainty) then it would mean there is tons to reflect on and apologies, together with a strategy rethink are an absolute minimum.
Can this happen on a night when a police/media pogrom is lashed out? Of course not.
As for people “symbolically beating or burning you because they disagree with you” – sorry, but you are just fantasizing there.
A. (one of this blog’s contributors, speaking in personal capacity)
…but, to ask the people behind this blog to apologise on behalf of the unknown hooded person – that is also very much of a Kougias trick, don’t you think?
I speak as someone who has walked the streets with these same hooded youth many times over and today i am starting to lose it…can i any longer identify with a space, with these people, who can be directly responsible for the death of 3 people and still try to use this event for their own political dogma…to continue blindly to cry for how their right as the ‘opressed’ is the only right…without pause for thought? without self questioning and the dignity to admit wrong, carelessness or fanaticism? Its a dangerous line we are treading
Hi folks,
I Would like to have permission to translate this text to portuguese. Brazilian anticapitalist left should know better what’s going on on greece!
Please send me an email on it!
Congratulations and keep fighting against opression, injustice and all failed institutions that support them!
it goes without saying, you are more than welcome to translate the text, I’m sure the authors or the translator wouldn’t mind at all
Oh, so fast.
I’m working on it.
See ya.
Now Exarchia is under fascist cops attac and need our solidarity. Does anybody could spray informations about local benefit accounts (e.g. anarchist black cross, anarchist squat, cafes, books shops attacked at the moment) or do you have other ideas for useful support.
At the moment a lot of us are forced to pay our damned taxes for holding capitalism in greece, but we forget our comrades. Hope, you can understand my intention….
@Someone from Greece:
Until we find out exactly what happened there is no way for us to come to a specific conclusion about this specific event.
However, as for your general point about anarchists that advocate violence, none of those people would have advocated the burning of that bank.
People make mistakes, and yes, mistakes involving violence are the most costly. But what’s the alternative? You can’t fight oppression with peace. Negotiating with a party who is in a much greater position of power than you are, will never solve anything.
I agree with your comment and Maria’s view about this blog being overly propagandised. If the employee’s statement is correct, then the bank employers are partly to blame – but only partly. If the fire was indeed caused by anarchists, the first thing to do is to come out and apologise, say sorry, we made a mistake.
And anarchists should at least acknowledge that their actions can cause such things, rather than brushing off all responsibility.
But this does not mean the anarchist position is “wrong” or “evil”, as I tried to argue above. Violence will result in costly mistakes, but it must be used.
“And anarchists should at least acknowledge that their actions can cause such things”
of course, i should qualify this with “violent anarchists”. not all anarchists advocate violence.
“none of those people would have advocated the burning of that bank.”
and i should qualify this with “if they’d known there were still people inside it”.
The global capitalist system is killing the planet & all life on it. Thousands of working class people (in greece & everywhere) are killed by capitalism every year. This will continue until it is stopped. The death of three people is tragic. But so is the death of millions from the cancers, stress, workplace accidents, wars, etc. that are the byproduct of capitalism. Confronting & destroying capitalism, the state & industrial civilisation means revolution. Revolution means civil war. Civil war means suffering for innocents. But unless we destroy this insane system our children & grandchildren will be massacred in a global ecological holocaust. I support the insurrectionary movement & I support the burning of banks.
The violence of the oppressed is always considered horrific because the state claims a monopoly on violence.
A comment was deleted, along with one responding to it.
We do not usually delete comments on the blog – we will be making an exception, however, for anyone not respecting the fact that three people died in Athens yesterday.
-OL.
It is indeed very sad that the loss of innocent life occurred yesterday. Heartfelt commiserations to their friends and families.
Let this not obscure the fact that the Greek government is attempting to take from the working classes and give to the banks in Germany and France. From todays financial headlines:
Commerzbank of Germany returns to profit.
BNP Paribas First-Quarter Profit Rises 47%.
Societe Generale, France’s second-largest bank profit beats analysts’ estimates.
The “Greek bailout” is nothing more than a scam designed to avoid these and other banks from having to take losses. Instead, the losses are to be taken by the Greek people.
About the numbers of the demonstrators: in Athens 200000 is maybe a conservative view. In Thessaloniki, this was the largest demonstration people in my age (27) ever remember, can’t make an exact assumption (tens of thousand). In Thessaloniki the demonstrations went 2 times around the central streets of the city, smashing banks, companies etc. At the ministry of North Greece, demonstrators tried to occupy the building, but generalised clashes with the police erupted and a extended use of chemical gases took place by the police. The clashes had a result of 27 detentions. At night, a solidarity demonstration took place again in the city. 2 of the detentions remain under arrest and are today going to the court, where a solidarity gathering is called. The rest are set free. At 18.00 another demonstration is called.
No one involved in the general strike action wanted to kill bystanders. The purpose of anarchism is to take actions to save lives.
The bank management knew that. They also knew that the bank should have been shut down, and that if their employees got hurt, anarchists would be blamed. Can anyone doubt that they are capable of deliberately putting their employees in harm’s way, of being willing to sacrifice their employees lives? EMPLOYERS do this EVERY DAY. This is the nature of capitalism.
Look at Massey Energy and BP in the US. Massey Energy was cited for mine safety violations continuously. They sneered at the regulations, and refused to put safety controls in place. They didn’t give a DAMN about the lives of their faithful employees. Now, over 30 miners are dead, suffocated or burned to death underground. BP operated an offshore drilling rig without adhering to safety standards. When it blew up, their employees were blown to bits. People’s lives throughout the entire Gulf region have been ruined, along with a precious ecosystem and all its animals. The suffering caused by this massive oil spill is beyond measure.
These corporations — and ALL corporations — refuse to even protect their own employees. They are victimizing entire regions for ugly profit. Every day. They lie, cheat, connive, manipulate, steal and kill — for profit. They are the world’s greatest Criminal syndicates, and banks enable them to thrive. Banks are parasites that feed off the work and sweat of everyday people.
BANKS AND CORPORATIONS — and their GOVERNMENT FLUNKIES AND WHORES KILLED THOSE 3 BANK EMPLOYEES. They will continue to kill UNLESS STOPPED.
Also, need to say that the clashes were not conducted only by anarchists, but by the largest part of the demonstrators
It is easy to blame the anarchists as they are always closely associated with such attacks. It is easy to blame the aspirations of anarchists as if people completely absorb it into the being. These people are still individuals, with individual responsiblity. It is easy to say that somehow this is reflective of the aspirations of anarchists. Anarchists in Athens will be sickened to think that somehow there actions were partly responsible for these deaths. I would say that the time for this continual ritual of attack these banks and shops is over. What do they achieve apart from fetishize the source of power. Capitalism doesn’t exists because it has shiny shop front windows, it exists because it disciplines and exploits our time and labour – this is the only impact we can have is to generalise the revolt, not generalise the breaking of windows.
@AL Maybe you’re right. But the fact remains that the measures are just announced, haven’t even been voted in the parliament, and haven’t of course yet affected the population… And still so many people are enraged, so many people came out to the streets. It’s maybe the largest number of people, with such militant spirit, that came out at the same time in all the cities of the country, after the years of the dictatorship. I don’t want to be pessimist, but images as yesterday’s are just a drop in the ocean of what is going to happen. I don’t like it, nor support it, but it smells like this was just a beginning…
“ADMIN wrote:
A comment was deleted, along with one responding to it.
We do not usually delete comments on the blog – we will be making an exception, however, for any comment that is not respecting the fact that three people died in Athens yesterday.
-OL.”
Witness accounts say that the rioters were saying things like “Go Fuck yourselves, you should not have come to work today” to the people in the burning bank yesterday. Deleting a comment that is disrespectful to their deaths is a step in the right direction. How about condemning the rioters that caused the deaths of three innocent people? That would also be quite respectful.
@ IQ Above 60:
Turn off your TV, it really is brainwashing you. We were on the streets yesterday: if a single person had shouted such a thing, they would have been lynched by the demonstrators – we all know what the bosses’ terrorism is about.
@ADMIN: I guess that it is all lies then eh?
The whole thing was a set up. Those people did not really die, they were actors. Is that what you are saying?
Why can’t you say that you categorically condemn the acts of the rioters that caused this? Does it matter who they were? Or do you support the harming of anyone who is in the way of any protests you have against the bosses, whether they are innocent or not is irrelevant to you?
BTW: isn’t deleting any comment against the principles of Anarchism? It’s authoritarian isn’t it?
Greetings from the USA.
This is tragic. I feel physically sick, for the deaths of those 3, for the enormous pain that whoever threw that molotov is probably feeling right now, and for whatever harm this does to the blossoming hope that is your struggle, comrades in Greece.
What I really want to say, more than anything, is that I trust you all to do what is right and to do what is best… we are still behind you.
What you have is not worth giving up. You are fighting this ugly system and winning. You are one of the lights in a dark world for me, and for many others I talk to.
What happens now? I don’t know the situation. Do people need to see that you are not callous, that you are not fanatics, and that you all mourn for the deaths of workers the same as you mourn for the deaths of anarchists? You know that you must not allow the state to use this tragedy for their ends, to stop you from struggling, to stop you from destroying their precious property, etc. You have to keep going and keep fighting… but the state will try to use this to drive a divide between you and the non-anarchist working people. And the further you get from the people, the less chance you have of revolution. The people need to see that you’re on their side. Don’t let the state ever make that divide…
I don’t know how much the words of someone so distant from your struggle can possibly matter, but I offer them for whatever they’re worth.
Once again, we’re still with you.
Love, and solidarity.
@COYOTE Very nicely put. I am not an Anarchist, but I am very interested in finding out if the values you have put forth in your message are common to the so-called Anarchist movements here in Greece. I hear many excuses and conspiracy theories surrounding yesterdays events, I have yet to see anyone here from the movement earnestly reach out to the families of the victims.
@IQ above 60:
one last time, although you seem to be a troll.
Of course people died. THIS is what is a lie, that
“the rioters were saying things like “Go Fuck yourselves, you should not have come to work today” to the people in the burning bank yesterday”.
Labelling now? Is that the excuse you are going to use to avoid answering my questions? I am giving you a chance to be frank about your intentions.
so, what’s your question?
First let me make it clear my solidarity with the people of Greece and the strikes, marches and riots. I have no sympathy with bourgeois press and their lies. I just make one plea – attack the ruling class. Workplaces generally have workers in them. I suggest action against parliament, police, the rich… but not workplaces. A symbolic action against a bank building does not hurt the rich at all – they are covered by insurance, the police and the media lies. Go for them directly.
@ADMIN: My question was: “Why can’t you say that you categorically condemn the acts of the rioters that caused this? Does it matter who they were? Or do you support the harming of anyone who is in the way of any protests you have against the bosses, whether they are innocent or not is irrelevant to you?”
Of course we are against such acts. It goes without saying.
It does not matter who it was. It does matter that, unlike what you hear on the mainstream media, there is absolutely no indication that people knew there were workers in the building. Whoever did it, did not intend to kill.
Coverage in Czech language: http://www.jaime.cz/node/146
@admin
How long will this right-wing troll [IQ under 0] dominate the thread? Obviously, a person advocating complete passivity, who has never spoken out for anything [Alexis, the countless victims of police brutality, workplace "accidents", corruption, social injustice, environmental degradation and kleptocracy], feels entitled to interrogate the readers of the blog…We ‘ve been fighting for years for those issues, we do not need a lesson in solidarity from a right-winger addicted to TV and tabloids, if not a cop (in mentality;if not in reality). The evening ahead of us is difficult, as there are more marches tonight; can we keep the thread open for people who have some constructive to say?
Please do not publish, if you do not think it is fit…think it is fit…
There is too much pathology on this site. It’s pretty damned scary, but I take solace in the clarity of the fact we are dealing with a lunatic fringe.
“Whoever did it, did not intend to kill.”
No, I’m confused…. I remember someone saying something about “agent provocateurs”, something like that.
“There is too much pathology on this site.” Ah, yes, that old chestnut, the employment of psychology for political ends, thanks for the collective diagnosis!
Aren’t these rather boring and obvious attempts to “Intoxicate” the debates on this and other threads,(under a variety of soubriquets IQ>60 etc.) more than just some ignorant ex-pat? More like some odious little state employee doing his very best to put noses out of joint. So please let’s all just ignore the little fart…
Not a psychologist, but I understand pathology when I see it. It couldn’t be any clearer. Having said that, if it can be contained by venting on threads like this, I’m all for it. In Greece, that was obviously not the case.
Nothing is proven about the firebombing as yet. How irrational are you to prejudge a situation? Why not psychopathologise the logic of the Banking Sector or the distribution of wealth? Or the logic of impoverishing an entire population with austerity measures that they simply cannot bear while their government buys warships and cuts public health service? Or the beatings and torture handed out by those ‘guardians of freedom’ the Police? IQ>60 twat by another name-Shall ignore your response -Fuck off and go back to monitoring Daily Mail article Comments, you unctuous, post-graduate hollow vessel.
To clarify, although IQ>60 expressed support for my comment, I have absolutely no support for theirs.
Obviously I assume that Greeks understand the Greek situation better than I do, watching from afar. I also support anarchists in firebombing and destroying the property of the ruling class.
I only admitted that I fear the State is trying to drive a divide between the anarchists and other workers, for anyone who may not have been planning their strategy around this possibility yet.
Once again, Solidarity from the ‘States.
Three people are dead. It is simple pathology, or perhaps psychopathology. We would be guessing since neithr of us are qualified to make the distinction. However, we can easily conclude there is a great deal of psychological damage in Greece. The wildness and tone of your posts, as well as some others, indicates damage here as well.
I/We multiply myself/ourselves, I/We repeat myself/ourselves, I/We are not qualified to make distinctions but I/We shall. I/We am/are damaged by my love of cod-psychology, and the wild masturbatory nature My/Our amateur mass diagnoses of social and political situations. I/We can charge by the hour, no discounts for Anarchists.
At first, I had no idea what you were talking about. I admit I was slow in coming around. I had never posted on this site before; in fact, I had never heard of it. On another local European site, some one posted the below in obvious derison:
“They” murdered them, not us.
http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/…-their-victims/
Report abusive posts or users
Having read the semi-articulate article and having lived in Greece for 20+ years, I felt compelled to comment. I’ve no idea of what IQ has posted before, but my guess is he is spot on.
I’m a Buddhist belonging to SGI-Uk. I used to be involved in direct action. It never achieved anything even when it felt like we had ‘won’.
For there ever to be peace in the world the hearts of every individual need to change. Then the system with naturally and inevitably change! Otherwise, when any ‘revolution’ has taken place, more greedy, power-hungry people will take control.
To Anonymous in repsonse to @Someone from Greece. YOU CAN FIGHT VIOLENCE WITH PEACE! Ghandi did it! mandela did it! King did it! Now SGI, Daisaku Ikeda and 13000000+ Buddhists do it worldwide. If you don’t already know about this, please learn! World peace WILL be achieved! Absolutely, without a doubt!
People do not need to die! How can peace ever BE achieved through violence?! It would be like ‘buying a way out of capitalism!’
This post as well as some others from Libcom and Occupied London about the current class struggles in Greece are reproduced on our own Blog of Information on Class Struggles (http://gcinfos.canalblog.com/).
We also published a new review in Greek:
ΚΟΜΜΟΥΝΙΣΜΟΣ Νο3 (Απριλιοσ 2010) – Κεντρικό Όργανο στα ελληνικά της ΔΚΟ
http://gci-icg.org/greek/kommounismos3.pdf
Η ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΣΕ ΚΡΙΣΗ. ΑΣ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΟΥΜΕ!!
Σχόλια ενάντια στη δικτατορία της οικονομίας
Για την λατρεια τησ εργασιασ
Αξιοποίηση/Αποαξιοποίηση
@MadeinBolton
A strong argument can be made that Gandhi, Mandela and King would not have achieved what they achieved without others, fighting for the same goals, using violence. The state will bend to the demands of the nonviolent movement if it fears the ramifications of more generalized violent rebellion.
Also, many would argue that the “hearts of individuals” are neither the root of the problem nor the starting point for solutions. The problem with capitalism is not that we are deeply flawed and violent at heart – it is that capitalism forces good people to choose between an ethical course of action and one that will allow them and their families to survive and live in comfort.
The major problem with violence is that it can alienate a movement, and make that movement incapable of a direct confrontation with the state – think of all the students massacred by the machine guns of the state in Tiananmen Square or Mexico in 68. A movement with deep popular roots cannot be murdered – the state would lose it’s legitimacy and face generalized revolt. However, a pacifist movement cannot gain ground – the movement will only generalize if it can win ground, and it cannot win ground if it does not fight – or if there are not others fighting on the same side. Power only takes a back step in the face of more power.
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