GREECE

A IS FOR ANARCHY: A rally in the town of Amfissa, northwest of , during a 2010 trial for two people accused of the fatal shooting of a teenager. REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis Economic crisis and a sense of helplessness are driving extremism – and it is not just on the right Inside ’s violent new anarchist groups

By Renee Maltezou and Deepa Babington ATHENS, Aug, 14 2013

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ot far from the Athenian ruins where was born more Nthan 2,500 years ago, young anar- chists intent on toppling Greece’s political system run a cafe where the beer is cheap and the artwork features police cars set on fire. At first glance K*Vox, started a year ago by anarchists who occupied a shut- tered building, looks like any other cafe in the bohemian Athens neighbourhood of Exarchia. But inside posters show gun- toting guerrilla fighters and the symbol of anarchy – a circle with an A. On a recent summer day, as the cafe was abuzz with chatter about two anarchists detained by police, a man barged in shout- ing that help was needed at a store attacked by far-right activists. Such extremists have been regularly blamed for the rise in street attacks during Greece’s economic crisis, though they deny perpetrating such acts. FLAG DAY: Self-styled anarchists fight the police in Athens in 2007. While anarchists have long existed “Isn’t it time for a revolution?” a 34-year- in Greece, the economic crisis has spawned a raft of new groups . REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis old anarchist watching the cafe scene said as he rolled a cigarette. “It’s now or never. If we don’t do something now, nothing will Isn’t it time for a revolution? Twenty minutes later, a bomb with at ever change.” It’s now or never. least 1 kg of dynamite exploded under a Most media coverage of political radi- BMW car used by Maria Stefi, the director cals in Greece has focused on the far-right 34-yearold anarchist of a high-security prison in Athens where Golden Dawn party, which has risen to suspected anarchist guerrillas are being as much as 14 percent in voting polls af- held. The explosion destroyed the car and ter winning support with free food hand- but certain groups have few qualms about smashed windows in nearby buildings; Stefi, outs for and fierce anti-immigrant using violence. Six years of recession have who was not in the vehicle, was unharmed. rhetoric. But the country’s economic crisis fuelled a new wave of left-wing militancy, A day later an anarchist group called the is also driving extremism on the left. according to officials, anarchists and court Conspiracy of Fire Cells claimed responsi- As Greece’s economy has declined, an- testimony. bility for the bomb. The blast was one of a archist groups that aim to topple the po- Many “see it as an alternative political series of attacks this year that have jangled litical system, saying it serves the interests voice,” said Mary Bossis, a University of nerves in Athens, including an explosion only of the rich, have attracted growing Piraeus professor and one of Greece’s fore- in a shopping mall, a drive-by shooting at public support. most experts on left-wing militancy. “They an office used by Prime Minister Antonis “In the past it used to be more of a youth are not marginal anymore.” Samaras and several gas canister explosions movement,” said the cafe customer who, like outside the homes or offices of politicians NOT A HOAX other anarchists interviewed, declined to and journalists. give his name. “Now you see anarchists who In the early hours of June 7, two Greek There were 527 arson and bomb attacks are 40, 50 or even 60 years old – not just news organisations received a call warning in 2012 and 254 in the first six months of 20-year olds like it was a few decades ago.” that a bomb would soon go off in the resi- this year, police data show. Security and po- Many self-proclaimed anarchists – the dential Athens neighbourhood of Dafni. lice officials blame most of the attacks on an- word stems from the Greek “anarchia” or “This is not a hoax,” the caller said before archist or leftist “anti-establishment” groups. absence of authority – say they are pacifist, hanging up. The numbers compare with 542 arson

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and bomb attacks over the 12 years from 1974-86, when Greece had a reputation for A brief timeline of widespread violence by leftwing militants, though attacks in that period had more European anarchism bloody results. Anarchist groups that have claimed responsibility for recent violent at- 1839: Frenchman Pierre-Joseph Proudhon tacks include the Lovers of Lawlessness, writes De la Celebration du Dimanche, Wild Freedom and Instigators of Social exploring social and political concepts Explosion, Gangs of Consciousness, Lonely surrounding poverty. Proudhon later Wolf, the Untouchable Cell of Revenge and described himself as an “anarchist” and most recently, Untamed Desires, which said became known as the “father of anarchism.” it was behind a parcel bomb sent in July to an association representing prosecutors. 1864: The International Workingman’s But the group that has become most Association is founded as an umbrella prominent since the economic crisis erupt- organisation of revolutionary political ed is the Conspiracy of Fire Cells (CFC), movements including anarchists. Although which is accused by police of carrying out the movement becomes dominated by about 150 criminal acts since 2009. Its Marxists, its Spanish associates are mostly bombs typically contain small amounts of anarchists. explosives packed into pressure cookers or similar containers. One such device ex- 1873: Spanish anarchists organise strikes ploded outside parliament in 2010, causing demanding an eight hour day. The minor damage but no injuries. authorities kill or arrest leading anarchists. Arrests of more than 30 suspected CFC FIRESTORM: A protester in Genoa during the members since 2009 and four trials since 1917: Anarchists participate in Russia’s 2001 G8 summit. Protesters torched cars and 2011 have failed to stem attacks by the February revolution overthrowing the tsar. smashed shop windows as riot police fired tear group, which analysts say epitomises the Most align with the Bolsheviks and assist gas and water cannons. REUTERS/Stefano newer generation of anarchists who come in the October Revolution that puts the Rellandini from wealthier families and care little about Bolsheviks in power. They are later purged ideology. Many are educated, disaffected during the Russian Civil War. youth who often describe themselves as the most prominent anarchist publications, “nihilist,” unlike the more Marxist-inspired 1921: Catalonian anarchists assassinate backing pacifism and nuclear disarmament. far-left militants of the past, analysts and Spanish Prime Minister Eduardo Dato on lawyers say. March 8 in Madrid. 2001: Protesters, including anarchists, The CFC’s loose, horizontal structure of converge on Genoa to disrupt a G8 summit. individual cells makes it hard to fight, of- 1936: Anarchist militias fight against the A protester, Carlo Giuliani, is killed in a ficials and lawyers say. Some liken the group fascist coup led by General Francisco violent confrontation with police. to the Hydra, the mythological serpent that Franco. They form a regional in grew two heads for each one cut off: “You Barcelona until they are suppressed by the 2011: Large numbers of left wing groups catch one but then more keep popping up,” Communist Party. join the Occupy movement protesting a former senior security official told Reuters. against social and economic inequality. One indication of the group’s philoso- 1948: An International Anarchist Congress Camps established in financial centres in phy is a 2011 pamphlet attributed by pros- is held in Paris to try to revive the movement Europe and the United States promote a ecutors to CFC members – and confirmed after its suppression under fascism. range of anti-capitalist ideologies including as a CFC document by a lawyer acting for a anarchism. CFC member – that was circulated on an- 1972: Grassroots Revolution magazine starts archist websites. It declares CFC members publication in Germany. It becomes one of By Jack Watling

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are “revolutionary anarchists” waging “ur- ban guerrilla warfare” against the state. The pamphlet says: “Everyone can learn and devise ways to steal cars and motor- cycles, fabricate licence plates and forge ID cards and official documents, expropri- ate goods and money, target-shoot and use firearms and explosives.” It encourages an- archists to employ easily obtainable items such as gasoline, jerry cans, and camping gas canisters for attacks, as well as time- bombs built using instructions from the Internet. A former senior security official said that in some ways CFC poses a bigger se- curity risk than other Greek militants such as Revolutionary Struggle (RS), an anar- chist group that emerged in 2003 declaring war on all forms of government and later protesting against austerity. Three self-proclaimed members of RS HOUSE: Police surround the “Lela Karagianni” building, a longtime Athens’ squat popular with anti- were arrested in 2010 and sentenced to jail establishment protesters and radical leftists, in January 2013. REUTERS/John Kolesidis in April this year. The authorities say the group, which blamed the capitalist system and corrupt politicians for plunging the The organisation consists confrontation with youths; but the death of country into crisis, and sought the support of very angry young people who Grigoropoulos, the son of a jeweller who of ordinary Greeks, has been dismantled. don’t have anything to hope for. grew up in the posh Athens neighbour- “Revolutionary Struggle ... didn’t have hood of Psychiko, triggered weeks of ri- any intent to kill,” the former security of- former senior security official on the oting. A policeman was later convicted of ficial said. “The Conspiracy of Fire Cells are Conspiracy of Fire Cells murder over the incident. wilder and more frivolous, they could have “Grigoropoulos’ killing was the cata- an accident.” lyst,” said the mother of a suspected CFC The CFC pamphlet says the group has police violence that is reported, Christos member now on trial in Athens. “They (the no interest in representing anyone or any Parthenis, a police spokesman, said in an anarchists) realised their strength, they felt class. The former security official added: emailed statement. He added that the po- they could bring change and that people “You should not underestimate that the lice are legally allowed to use force when a were on their side.” organisation consists of very angry young suspect resists arrest. Among those affected was Nikos people who don’t have anything to hope for.” Some ordinary people feel anarchists Romanos, a close friend of Grigoropoulos are the only effective front protecting ille- who was with him the night he was killed. THE CATALYST gal immigrants and leftists against Golden In February this year Romanos was ar- The CFC and other anarchists say they are Dawn, which has become the third most rested, along with three other suspects, for left with no choice but to fight a state that popular party and won seats in parliament robbing a bank. He declared he was an an- is repressive. In particular, they accuse the for the first time last year. archist, though he denies being part of an police force, which is widely seen as being For many younger Greek anarchists, armed group. sympathetic to Golden Dawn’s far-right the turning point came in 2008 when Public reaction to the case indicated activists, of brutality. police shot dead 15-year-old Alexandros the change in Greek attitudes. When it The police deny such accusations. Greek Grigoropoulos in Exarchia. Police said emerged that police had digitally altered police immediately investigate any case of the shooting was accidental after a verbal Romanos’ mugshot, and those of the other

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three suspects, to hide bruises sustained during their arrest, the four quickly rose to near-hero status in many people’s eyes. Leftist commentators and blogs accused the police of heavy-handed tactics. Police denied that, saying the injuries stemmed from the suspects resisting arrest. Public sympathy was apparent when one alleged member of CFC, Costas Sakkas – who denies being a member of the group but says he is an anarchist – began a hun- ger strike in June to protest his 31-month detention without trial. Mainstream leftist parties and labour unions expressed out- rage at his plight. Some actors and lawyers threatened to go on hunger strike them- selves, while protesters briefly occupied tourism offices in Crete. In July, a judicial council ruled that Sakkas be released on bail for health rea- sons. He was banned from leaving Athens TO THE WALL: Graffiti across Athens often refers to the economic crisis and to living conditions and has to report to police authorities regu- in Greece. REUTERS/John Kolesidis larly, and still faces charges of being a mem- ber of the CFC. Support for anarchists was also evident “This government’s main principle is to in January when police raided a popular uphold the law. We no longer tolerate such squat in Athens frequented by anarchists. (violent anarchist) incidents or fail to act The raid brought 10,000 protesters on to like in the past. We have won many battles the streets. 527 Number of arson and bomb in the fight against terrorism.” At the same Law enforcement officials say they are time, he said, “politicians need to stop stok- just doing their job in cracking down on attacks in Greece in 2012 ing violence with inflammatory rhetoric.” anarchists. Parthenis, the police spokes- Source: Greek police Unlike other leftist guerrillas who have man, said in a statement that the force used their trials to make passionate state- does not “take measures against political ments about their aims and beliefs, CFC movements under any circumstance”, but claimed any attacks since its leaders were members have made clear they do not that anyone who takes part in groups that arrested in 2002, but the court remains busy. see the courts as legitimate – even mock- carry out bomb and arson attacks should “It’s not accidental that these trials ing judges as having “expressionless faces”, be prosecuted. against anarchist groups that police call ter- “well-fed bellies” and “fat salaries.” rorist are conducted in special conditions, They have responded to questions in TRIALS AND DEFIANCE special courts and before special judges,” said court with hostility and bored indifference. Suspected members of outlawed guerrilla Dimitris Katsaris, a lawyer for an anarchist “We know that you will sentence us groups that Greece considers “terrorist” or- who has denied involvement with guerrilla and we don’t care,” Christos Tsakalos, 34, ganisations are tried in a special court room. groups. “Everything is special in this case. a self-proclaimed member of the CFC It was set up inside an Athens prison a de- It’s the state that has declared war against told a judge in March while being tried cade ago to deal with the members of the freedom, not anarchists against the state.” on charges including membership in a deadly November 17 leftist guerrilla group, Greece’s public order ministry declined guerrilla group and attempted murder. who are now jailed in an underground to comment. A government official who “We want this to be over. We’ve told you wing reserved for them. That group has not spoke only on condition of anonymity said: we are members of the Conspiracy of Fire

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UPSWING: An immigrant in a park managed by leftists and local residents in the Exarchia district of Athens. REUTERS/John Kolesidis

Cells, so go ahead and convict us.” said the sentence was so short that he had Like other self-proclaimed CFC mem- been teased by his “comrades” for it. FOR MORE INFORMATION bers, he did not respond to any charges be- The CFC’s mood of defiance was Renee Maltezou, Reporter cause he refused to recognise the prosecut- summed up by Spyros Fitrakis, a lawyer [email protected] ing and investigating authorities. representing one self-proclaimed CFC Deepa Babington , Chief Correspondent, Tsakalos, who prosecutors say is a CFC member. He told Reuters: “We have en- Greece leader though the anarchist group denies it tered a new phase ... they’re rejecting the [email protected] has any leaders, was last year sentenced in basic structure of the democratic political Richard Woods, Senior Editor, Enterprise a separate trial over attacks claimed by the system we have as a country right now.” and Investigations, EMEA CFC. He was given seven years in prison [email protected] for participating in a “terrorist” group. In Editing by Richard Woods and Michael Williams, Global Enterprise Editor a statement published on the Internet, he Simon Robinson [email protected]

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