After 31 days of hunger strike N. Romanos will be granted the educational leaves to be able to follow his studies with the use of an electronic position surveillance device under the condition that he will follow 1/3 of the courses of the first semester via internet.

After 31 days of hunger strike the state had to kneel down in front of the struggle for freedom. This is not only a victory of one person against the state, but a breath of freedom for everyone who is standing up against this totalitarian regime.

10/12/2014
ReINFORM

Related Articles:
Hunger strike in Greece: for a breath of freedom
Nikos Romanos: Better Dead than Educated?
Reactie regering Samaras op Romanos is symptomatisch voor algemeen beleid

Source of featured image: omniatv.com  (NIKHTHΣ means WINNER)

Nikos Romanos’ name is closely tied to the equally well known Alexandros Grigoropoulos, the 15-year-old boy who was shot and killed by police officer Epaminondas Korkoneas in Athens, on December 6, 2008. Only 15 years of age himself, Romanos witnessed his best friend die in front of his eyes. The murder sparked weeks of nationwide rioting.

Several years later, Romanos was caught together with four of his comrades while trying to flee from a bank robbery in Velvento. Following their arrest they were beaten up under police custody to such extent that the photographs released by the police had to be overtly photoshopped to hide their injuries.

Nikos Romanos, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos, Giannis Mihailidis and Dimitris Politis openly stated that they are anarchists and revolutionaries. They were subsequently convicted on the charges of armed robbery, while the initial terrorism charges failed to stand in court. Many refer back to the speech delivered by the State Attorney Grigoris Peponis during the trial for the robbery in Velvento: “It is the first time I see a robbery in which they [the perpetrators] set the hostages free, while during the police chase, they did not use the heavy weapons they had, neither did they shoot the policemen, nor did they use the hostage as a human shield in order to escape.”

Last spring, while in prison, Nikos Romanos succeeded in passing the Greek entrance exams for university and was admitted to a faculty in Athens. Since September 2014, the beginning of the academic term, he has been eligible for educational furloughs (exit permits) to regularly attend classes.

The Ministry of Justice and the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias, wanted to award Romanos and other inmates for their academic success. However, Romanos, being an anarchist, refused to attend the ceremony as this would go against his principles. The rejection of this invitation from the head of state and the refusal to accept the €500 prize money resulted in a clearly vindictive denial, by the prison council, of Romanos’s application for prison furlough to attend classes.

Many believe this is part of a more generalized vengeful tactic of the state to those resisting the new prison system. The type-C prisons in Greece have some similarities with the F-type prisons in Turkey. They are intended for “dangerous criminals” and the “ideological enemies of the state,” which includes revolutionary, political and rebellious prisoners — as well as those who voice their protest against injustices in jail.

On Monday, November 10, 2014, with anarchy forever in his heart (as he wrote), Nikos Romanos commenced his hunger strike. He thereby reaffirmed his anarchist principles and explained his motivation in a statement that laid claim to his lawful entitlement to educational leave from prison.

In his own words:

In addition to being instruments of control and repression, laws are also used for maintenance of balances or what is otherwise called social contracts; they reflect socio-political correlations and partially form certain positions for the conduct of the social war.

This is why I want to make my choice as clear as possible: I am not defending their legitimacy — on the contrary, I use them as political blackmail to gain breaths of freedom from the devastating condition of incarceration.

On November 24, Romanos was transferred to the Athens General Hospital Gennimatas, where he remains — under strong police surveillance — to this day. His transfer was accompanied by an official document of the prison prosecutor, who audaciously stated that the hospital doctors bear responsibility for whatever happens to him, thus indirectly urging the hospital staff to enforce force-feeding.

Nikos Romanos’s physician, Pantelia (Lina) Vergopoulou, reported on November 28 that he is in critical condition, faced with life-threatening complications. His doctor warns that “it is no longer his health that is in danger, but his life,” given that “from one day to the next he may suffer a kidney or a heart failure.”

According to Romanos’ lawyer, Fragkiskos Ragkousis, Romanos has lost 17 kilos (over 35 pounds) and is now fighting for his life. With a heart rate of 170 bpm, Ragousis said that unless there is a change, cardiac arrest is considered “to be expected.” He also denounced the forced-feeding ordered by the district attorney director of the prison, stating that “this is equal to torture of the prisoner.”

During Romanos’ battle, other prisoners joined him as a sign of support and comradery. On November 17, anarchist prisoner Yannis Michailidis went on hunger strike as a sign of solidarity with the struggle of Nikos Romanos and as of November 28 he in turn also needed to be hospitalized in Piraeus general hospital Tzaneio, after he was diagnosed with bradycardia.

On November 30, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos and Dimitris Politis, anarchist prisoners and comrades of Romanos, released a statement saying that:

As a minimum token of solidarity with Nikos, we will also go on a hunger strike as of Monday December 1 — like comrade Yannis Michailidis, who is conducting a hunger strike since the 17th of November — until his claim is met. Together until the end, together until victory.

With fears that the health of the two initial hunger strikers may be imminently and irreversibly damaged, many solidarity actions have taken place both within Greece and in other parts of the world. Nikos’ comrades declared to stand by his side in his struggle and support every move he desires and must take to accompany his battle, and will support every expression of aggressive solidarity that is needed. Romanos also declared that “solidarity means attack” and added an interesting post scriptum: “To all the armchair ‘fighters’, the professional humanists, the ‘sensitive’ intellectuals and spiritual personages: I say to you good riddance in advance.”

Rather than defend the legitimacy of state laws, Nikos Romanos is using one of the few means of struggle at his disposal in a state of captivity: placing his body as a barricade to get a breath of freedom. All comrades stand firm and continue their hunger strike.

The passion for freedom is stronger than all prisons!

Danai Limneou is an activist in the anti-authoritarian/anarchist movement in Greece.

Source of the article: http://roarmag.org/2014/12/hunger-strike-romanos-anarchist/

Source of the featured image: Dromografos

We, Professors, teachers and staff of Dutch Universities, reply to the call of our academic colleagues in Gaza and condemn in the strongest terms Israel’s excessive and brutal violence against the population in Gaza.

Since the beginning of Israel’s military operation, 1814 people were killed of which at least 1312 were civilians, 214 women and 408 children. 8265 people are wounded, 457.000 internally displaced and the entire 1.8 million population of Gaza has restricted or no access to health care, clean water and sanitary facilities. Israeli bombing and accompanied ground offensive damaged or completely destroyed 9765 houses, 141 schools, 2, universities, 24 health facilities and the only power plant in Gaza.

This cannot be justified as ‘self-defence’ and instead concerns collective punishment of a civilian population, excessive force, and severe and ongoing violation of the most basic human rights of the people in Gaza.

In congruence with statements of colleagues from Israel, the United Kingdom and other places , we, Professors, teachers and staff of Dutch Universities, call for an immediate and unconditional cease fire, for the immediate and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance and for Dutch political representatives and the International community to strongly condemn the ongoing and above mentioned violations of human rights by Israel.

Professors, teachers and staff of Dutch Universities and colleges who signed the statement above:

1. Paul Aarts, Docent internationale betrekkingen, Politicologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
2. Ibtissam Abaaziz, Promovendus, Erasmus Universiteit
3. Dr. Maria Jose de Abreu, Sociologie & Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
4. Dr. Tjitske Akkerman, Afdeling Politicologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
5. Donya Alinejad, Docent Amsterdam University College en promovenda, Sociaal en culturele antropologie, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
6. Anika Altaf, Promovenda, Universiteit van Amsterdam
7. Dr. Juan M. Amaya-Castro, Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
8. Apostolos Andrikopoulos, Promovendus sociologie en Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
9. Dr. Miriyam Aouragh, (Dutch Academic) University of Westminster (Oxford, UK)
10. Nora Asrami, P.hd, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
11. Fatiha Azzarhouni, Docent & programma manager, Universiteit Leiden
12. Dr. Grietje Baars, (Dutch Academic) Law, City University London
13. Dr. Saskia Baas, International Relations, Amsterdam University College
14. M. Babur, Programme Manager Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
15. Tullio Bagnoli, Promovendus, SRON – Netherlands Space Research Institute
16. Dr. Ellen Bal, Afdeling Sociale en Culturele Antropologie, Vrije Universiteit
17. Dr. Sruti Bala, Assistant Professor, Theatre Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
18. Dr. Markus Balkenhol, Universiteit Utrecht/Meertens Instituut
19. Dr. Maarten Bavinck, Universiteit van Amsterdam
20. Marie Beauchamps Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, Universiteit van Amsterdam
21. Drs. Tineke Bennema, Universiteit Tilburg
22. Dr. Lidewyde Berckmoes, Postdoc researcher, Maastricht University
23. Filippo Bertoni, Promovendus, Universiteit van Amsterdam
24. Dr. Jess Bier, Postdoctoral Fellow (Onderzoeker), Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
25. Prof.dr. Rutgerd Boelens, Wageningen Universiteit en Universiteit van Amsterdam
26. Drs. Judith van den Boogert, Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
27. Lisa Bossenbroek, Promovendus, Universiteit Wageningen
28. Che Brandes-Tuka, (Dutch academic) Promovendus, Global Center for Advanced Studies
29. Dr. Pepijn Brandon, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
30. Dr. Christian Bröer, Afdeling Sociologie & Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
31. Kim Bruggeman, MA, Docent Visuele Cultuur Hogeschool van Amsterdam,
32. Jelle Bruinsma, (Dutch academic) History, Durham University
33. Dr. Bram Büscher, Associate Professor , International Institute of Social Studies
34. Prof. dr. S.I. Cohen, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
35. Francesco Colona, Promovenda, AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
36. Gianmaria Colpani, Promovenda, Media & Culture Studies (Gender Studies), Utrecht University
37. Dr Benoit S.Y. Crutzen, Dept of economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus Universiteit
38. Dr. Martijn Dekker, ASW & Conflict Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
39. Amanda Delgado, Promovenda of Linguistic, Universiteit Leiden
40. Stefania Donzelli, Promovenda, International Institute of Social Studies
41. Drs. Brian Droop, Economie & Bedrijfskunde, Universiteit van Amsterdam
42. Prof.dr. John Dugard, Emeritus professor of law, Leiden
43. Prof.dr. Jan Willem Duyvendak, hoogleraar sociologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
44. Ian Sebastiaan Eliëns, MSc, Promovendus, Institute of Physics, Universiteit van Amsterdam
45. Saskia ter Ellen, Promovenda, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
46. Johannes von Engelhardt, MSc, Promovendus en docent Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
47. Dr. Karwan Fatah-Black, Instituut voor Geschiedenis, Universiteit Leiden
48. Annemarie van Geel, MPhil, FFTR, Islamstudies, Radboud University Nijmegen
49. Prof.dr. Halleh Ghorashi, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
50. Dr. Alana Gillespie, Affiliated researcher, ICON Universiteit Utrecht
51. Mariana Gkliati, Promovenda, Leiden University
52. Prof.dr. Marlies Glasius, Department of Politics, Universiteit van Amsterdam
53. Dr. Erella Grassiani, Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
54. Dorine Greshof, Docent Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
55. Stine Grinna, Promovenda, Universiteit van Amsterdam
56. Dr. Stella Gryllia, Postdoctoral researcher LUCL, Leiden University
57. Dr. Leo de Haan, Hoogleraar Ontwikkelingsstudies, International Institute of Social Studies
58. Dr. Rob Hagendijk, Universitair Hoofd Docent afdeling politicologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
59. Mustafa Hekimoglu, Promovendus Econometrics Institute, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
60. Laura Henderson, Promovenda Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
61. Dr. Silke Heumann, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
62. Lukas Hoex Docent, Instituut voor Interdisciplinaire Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
63. Ali Honari, Researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam University Amsterdam
64. Shu Yi (Nina) Huang, Promovenda, of Gender Studies, Humanity ,Utrecht University
65. Drs. Hafez Ismaili m’Hamdi, Promovendus Erasmus MC en universitair docent cultuur filosofie Universiteit Leiden
66. Gijsbert van Iterson Scholten, Promovendus Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & docent University Amsterdam
67. Peyman Jafari, Promovendus Leiden Universiteit
68. Dr. N. Jafari, Resident Neurology Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam
69. Itandehui Jansen, Universiteit Leiden
70. Marenne Mei Jansen, Promovenda, Amsterdam Centre for Conflict Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
71. Vanessa de Jesus, Promovenda & Ph.D vertegenwoordiger AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
72. Drs. Shivant Jhagroe, Faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
73. Dr. Anne de Jong, Conflict Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
74. Prof.emer.Dr. E.J. Jonkman, klin. neurofysioloog (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
75. Drs. Reza Kartosen-Wong, Promovendus Amsterdam School of Communication Research, Universiteit van Amsterdam
76. Bahar Kaya, Exchange Coördinator, Universiteit van Amsterdam
77. Dr. A.D.N. (Toon) Kerkhoff, Assistant professor Bestuurskunde, Universiteit Leiden
78. Loes Keysers, Staff Unit International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
79. Dr. Kate Kirk, Assistant Professor Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam University Amsterdam
80. Dr. Shifra Kisch, Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research Universiteit van Amsterdam
81. Dr Anouk de Koning, Antropologie en Ontwikkelingsstudies, Radboud Universiteit
82. Dr. Stasja Koot, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
83. Dr. Froukje Krijtenburg, Afdeling Sociale en Culturele Antropologie, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
84. Dr. Hans de Kruijk, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
85. Dr. Rudi Künzel, Historicus, Universiteit van Amsterdam
86. Milagros Sosa Landeo, Promovendus, Water Resources Management University
87. Jiraporn Laocharoenwong, Promovendus, AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
88. Dr. ir. Y.P.B. (Yves) van Leynseele, AISSR & lecturer Human Geography, Planning and International Development Studies
89. Dr. Mieke Lopes Cardozo, Universiteit van Amsterdam
90. Simone Lovera-Bilderbeek, gast onderzoeker, AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
91. Maja Lovrenovic, Promovenda, Culturele Antropologie Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam University
92. Dr. Arnold Lubbers, Book & Manuscript Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
93. Dr. M.E. Maeckelbergh, Cultural Anthropology, Leiden University
94. Michael Marchman, Lecturer, Cultural Geography & Study Adviser, Universiteit Wageningen
95. Dr. Vivienne Matthies-Boon, Politicologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
96. Tracian Meikle, Promovendus AISSR, GPIO, Universiteit van Amsterdam
97. Drs. Sander Mensink, Docent Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
98. Paul Mepschen, Promovendus Sociologie en Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
99. Prof.dr. Michael Merry, Universiteit van Amsterdam
100. Dr. Eva Midden, assistant professor, Utrecht University
101. Irena Mikolajun, Academic staff, Erasmus School of Economics
102. Violeta Misheva, Promovenda, Erasmus Universiteit RotterdamRotterdam
103. Prof. dr. Annelies Moors, Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
104. Lela Mosemghvdlishvili, Promovenda & docent, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
105. Dr. J.C. Muis, Afdeling Sociologie, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
106. Esther van Munster, Congres & Mediacenter Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
107. Dr. Ton van Naerssen, Retired associate professor human geography RU
108. Joyce Neys, Promovenda, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, EUR
109. Marjan Nijborg Promovenda, Universiteit van Amsterdam
110. Aysu Okbay, Institution Promovenda, Erasmus School of Economics
111. Dr. Domitilla Olivieri, Humanities, Utrecht University
112. Gezina Oorthuys, studieadviseur Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
113. Merijn Oudenampsen, Promovendus Tilburg Universiteit
114. Dr. Polly Pallister-Wilkins, Political science, Universiteit van Amsterdam
115. Dr. Dimitris Pavlopoulos, Assistant Professor Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
116. Dr. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Associate Professor, International Institute of Social Studies
117. Prof.dr. R. Peters, Universiteit van Amsterdam
118. Prof.dr.ir. J.D. (Jan Douwe) van der Ploeg, Wageningen Universiteit
119. Margriet Poppema, Senior Lecturer International Development Studies University of Amsterdam
120. Prof.dr. Mattijs van de Port, Culturele Antropologie, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam en Universiteit van Amsterdam
121. Prof.dr. Jan Pronk, International Institutes of Social Studies, The Hague
122. Zameer Razack, (Dutch academic), Postgraduate Researcher, Bournemouth University
123. Dr. Marina de Regt, Afdeling Sociale en Culturele Antropologie Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
124. Prof.dr. Louk de la Rive Box, Faculteit cultuur en maatschappijwetenschappen, Universiteit Maastricht
125. Dr. Roberto Rocco, assistant professor at the Delft University of Technology
126. Dr. M. van Rossum, Docent Universiteit Leiden
127. Dr. Mirjam A.F. Ros-Tonen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
128. Dr. Dik Roth, Universitair docent, Wageningen Universiteit
129. Jaap Rothuizen, MSc, Faculteit der Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica Universiteit van Amsterdam
130. Dr. Maria Rusca, Senior Lecturer in Water Governance, UNESCO-IHE
131. Rosanne Salimi, Docent Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
132. Yatun Sastramidjaja, Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
133. Dr. Mirko Tobias Schäfer, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University
134. Drs. J.W.P. Schnerr, econoom Universiteit van Amsterdam en ziekenhuisbestuurde (gepensioneerd)
135. Joeri Scholtens, MSc, Promovendus, Universiteit van Amsterdam
136. Drs. Patricia Schor, Utrecht University
137. Menno van Setten, MSc, Promovendus Universiteit Utrecht
138. Zara Sharif, Promovenda, Tinbergen Institute, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
139. Aggeliki Sifaki, PhD, Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Utrecht University
140. Dr. Stephanie Simon, Lecturer and Researcher, Universiteit van Amsterdam
141. Jasmijn Slootjes, Promovenda (PhD candidate) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
142. Wilma Smeets, Medewerker onderwijssecretariaat, Universiteit van Amsterdam
143. Ir. Hermen Smit, Docent/Onderzoeker River Basin Governance UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
144. Katusha Sol Docent Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
145. Dr. Olga Sooudi, Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
146. Prof.dr. Irene van Staveren, hoogleraar economie, Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus Universiteit
147. Mikki Stelder, MA,Promovendus, Universiteit van Amsterdam
148. Dr. Jan Willem Stutje Historicus, Universiteit Gent
149. Nozomi Takahashi, Biotechnology. University of Nijmegen (currently University, Belgium)
150. Margaret Tali, Researcher en Promovenda, Universiteit van Amsterdam
151. Karolien van Teijlingen, Promovenda, CEDLA, Universiteit van Amsterdam
152. Annisa Triyanti, M.Sc,Promovenda in AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
153. Bertus Tulleners, Docent, Instituut voor Interdisciplinaire Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
154. Dr. Ineke van der Valk, Fac. Maatschappij en Gedragswetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam
155. Dr. Piia Varis, Tilburg University
156. Prof.dr. Kees (CG) van der Veer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam en Transcend Peace University (Basel)
157. Dr. Imrat Verhoeven, afdeling politicologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
158. Dr. Hebe Verrest, Universiteit van Amsterdam
159. Sanderien Verstappen, Promovenda Universiteit van Amsterdam
160. Marloes Vlind, Msc, docent Sociologie Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
161. Else Vogel, Promovenda antropologie aan de universiteit van Amsterdam
162. Lior Volinz, Promovendus, AISSR, Universiteit van Amsterdam
163. Dr. Doro Wiese, Comparative Literature and Gender Studies, Universiteit Utrecht
164. Mandy de Wilde, Promovenda Afdeling Sociologie en Antropologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam
165. Dr. Mariëtt Willems, Neuroloog ErasmusMC Rotterdam
166. Fleur Wirtz, Docent Sociologie, Vrije universiteit Amsterdam
167. M.C. Wittendorp, Ph.D, Docent Medische biologie, Hogeschool Leiden
168. Prof.emer.Dr. W.G. Wolters, emeritus hoogleraar economische antropologie, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen,
169. Taylan Yenilmez, Promovendus, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Department of Economic
170. Mohammed Zarouali, Docent Eurocollege, Rotterdam
171. Marius A. Zoican, Mphil, Promovendus, Finance Department, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
172. Christel Zwaga, Education Service Centre, Universiteit van Amsterdam
173. Prof.dr. Margreet Z. Zwarteveen, Professor Water Governance, Universiteit van Amsterdam
174. Prof.dr. Evert van der Zweerde, Hoogleraar Politieke filosofie, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

I am reaching out to ask for your solidarity. We are a small group of volunteers who set out in early 2011, at the start of a worldwide wave of popular mobilizations, to create a free online space for independent news and critical analysis. Through our blog, *ROAR Magazine <http://roarmag.org/>*, we have been providing grassroots perspectives from the front-lines of the global struggle for autonomy and real democracy ever since.

So far, we have managed to cover all expenses for this project from our own pockets. More recently, however, our resources (time, personnel, money, website, servers, etc.) have struggled to keep up with the rapid growth of our readership and the great increase in high-quality submissions we receive from scholars, journalists and activists every day. If ROAR is to stay alive and evolve into a tireless advocate for social justice and democratic empowerment, we really need to develop a solid base of financial support.

Our goal for the coming year is to team up with the leading editorial designer Jeremy Leslie of magCulture, who has been referred to as “the godfather of independent publishing”, to transform ROAR from an activist blog into a proper online magazine for, by and about today’s movements. This is a collaborative project, fully independent from governments and corporations, and we need your help to make it happen.

We recently set up a crowdfunding campaign<http://igg.me/at/roarmag/x/2031731> to cover our basic expenses and develop ROAR into this exciting new direction. Your contribution, however small, will go directly towards the creation of a genuine grassroots alternative to the corporate media. We hope you will support us in this effort.

Thank you for your consideration!

In solidarity,

Jerome Roos
Founder, *ROAR Magazine*

P.S. For comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at jerome@roarmag.org. For article submissions, media inquiries or content-related suggestions, please send an email to editor@roarmag.org.

Dear friends and colleagues,

I am reaching out to ask for your solidarity. We are a small group of
volunteers who set out in early 2011, at the start of a worldwide wave of
popular mobilizations, to create a free online space for independent news
and critical analysis. Through our blog, *ROAR Magazine
<http://roarmag.org/>*, we have been providing grassroots perspectives from
the front-lines of the global struggle for autonomy and real democracy ever
since.

So far, we have managed to cover all expenses for this project from our own
pockets. More recently, however, our resources (time, personnel, money,
website, servers, etc.) have struggled to keep up with the rapid growth of
our readership and the great increase in high-quality submissions we
receive from scholars, journalists and activists every day. If ROAR is to
stay alive and evolve into a tireless advocate for social justice and
democratic empowerment, we really need to develop a solid base of financial
support.

Our goal for the coming year is to team up with the leading editorial
designer Jeremy Leslie of magCulture, who has been referred to as "the
godfather of independent publishing", to transform ROAR from an activist
blog into a proper online magazine for, by and about today's movements.
This is a collaborative project, fully independent from governments and
corporations, and we need your help to make it happen.

We recently set up a crowdfunding
campaign<http://igg.me/at/roarmag/x/2031731> to
cover our basic expenses and develop ROAR into this exciting new direction.
Your contribution, however small, will go directly towards the creation of
a genuine grassroots alternative to the corporate media. We hope you will
support us in this effort.

Thank you for your consideration!

In solidarity,

Jerome Roos
Founder, *ROAR Magazine*

P.S. For comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at
jerome@roarmag.org. For article submissions, media inquiries or
content-related suggestions, please send an email to editor@roarmag.org.

Following our last action on November 9^th for Skouries international day, we are extending our scope to build a network on mutual struggles taking place all over the world. El Dorado Gold Co. is involved in mining activities in Greece, Romania, Turkey, China, Brazil and Canada among others.

The evening will include:

• screenings of short documentaries and presentation of the case of Skouries providing an insight of the related economic, environmental and social outrage
• live streaming via Skype with people from Skouries [Greece], Rosia Montana [Romania] and solidarity groups who are going to provide a closer look into their struggles
• presentation from SOMO; an independent, non-profit research and networking organization that investigates multinational corporations and the consequences of their activities for people and the environment around the world

Large scale extracting activities threaten to destroy a forest of incredible beauty and ecological value in Halkidiki, North Greece. El Dorado Gold Co, with open support from the Greek state and private interest groups, is involved in an immense mining project that will alter the character of the entire region.

The social movement of protest and resistance to these destructive plans has suffered terrible state repression, police violence, prosecutions, imprisonments, defamation, muzzling and criminalization.

With the help of SOMO we will look into the status of El Dorado Gold Co. regarding the violation of human rights, the environmental law infringement and the cash flows through mailbox and offshore companies.

Introducing the available research tools, we aim to create a platform that can take on this research and strengthen the links between all the involved actors.

If you are interested you are welcome to join this cause and contribute with new ideas.

The evening will start with a collective kitchen at 17:30 and will end with open bar.

Place: Joe’s garage

Pretoriusstraat 43hs, 1092 EZ, Amsterdam.

The plot

For an unknown reason, counter-terrorism services took over the case of the robbery. Few days later, Tasos Theofilou, an anarcho-communist, got arrested.

Counter-terrorism services claim that they were led to Tasos Theofilou, after an anonymous call they received, during which somebody mentioned that one of the culprits of the armed robbery in Paros was named Tasos, who is involved in terrorism. Additionally, the anonymous caller also mentioned where Tasos Theofilou used to live.

Few days later, counter-terrorism services claimed that they received a new phone call, from the same anonymous person, during which they were told where Tasos Theofilou was at that time. The funny thing about this story, is that counter-terrorism services claim that they don’t have number identification.

Plainclothes policemen detained Tasos Theofilou and in order to justify the violent fingerprinting and DNA sampling, they accused him with vagrancy and resisting arrest

Counter-terrorism services claimed that a hat was dropped from the culprit of the robbery, which had DNA on it that matched Tasos’ DNA. In the last few years, every anarchist that gets arrested, he is accused automatically of being a member in the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire.

Usually, the process of DNA matching can only prove the acquittal and not the guilt of someone. As an example, DNA from the skin of a person can only prove that this DNA does not belong to millions of people, but it can’t prove 100% the identity of the person that it came from.

Despite all these, in the case of Tasos Theofilou, it is really strange that fact that

1) no other DNA was found on the hat.

2) a scarf and a cell phone was dropped from the culprit of the robbery, but there wasn’t any DNA of Tasos Theofilou.

3) there wasn’t any fingerprint at the crime scene, despite the fact that the culprit touched objects inside the bank that cannot be moved, without any gloves.

4) counter-terrorism services gave out photos of the robbery, where the culprit appeared on the photos, could match the characteristics of millions of people, but not Tasos Theofilou.

The criminalization of personal relationships

The second section of accusations that Tasos Theofilou is facing, is about his impending participation in the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, an accusation we see pretty often imputed when it comes to anarchist prisoners.

Counter-terrorism services claimed that Tasos Theofilou looked like a person that could be a member of CCF. So, this accusation is based only in policemen’s guessings.

In other words…

If you are an anarchist, you have guns and you are automatically a member of CCF.

If you are an anarchist and you have friends who are members of CCF then you are a member too.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it?

The greek Media

Greek media,  started contributing to the lies of the counter-terrorism services by calling Tasos Theofilou a murder and a member of the Conspirancy of Cells of Fire. All these vulgar accusations by the media occured not just before his trial, but even before any charges against him were laid.

In order to creat of a monstrous profile of Tasos Theofilou, media started calling his house a bomb lab and at the same time they kept posting photos of him worn down by insomnia. Greek media also used a blog of T.T where he used to write fiction stories, that were presented like real stories that actually happened.

The case of Tasos Theofilou is being used even politically till now, since he used to have “friends” on his facebook page who “belonged” to the SYRIZA party. Tasos Theofilou during an interview claims that this plot that was set up against him can only be based on media and believes that if media didn’t exist, he wouldn’t even be arrested at the first place.

The trial

After a 5 month postponing, on Monday 11/11/2013  the trial of Tasos Theofilou will take place in Athens, where there will be also a gathering of people in solidarity with T.T. at 09:00

On twitter: Hashtag #Free_TassiosThita   the twitter account of Tasos Theofilou is @TassiosThita

Original article from @_Giant_

Ahmet Yüksel and Erdğan Çakır are facing the danger of extradition in Germany and France respectively and Hasan Biber and Mehmet Yayla in Turkey. All of them have asked for a political asylum. For Ahmet Yüksel and Erdğan Çakır arrest warrants are issued for pending decisions regarding their solidarity actions for Turkish people.

These political prisoners were arrested in 30/7/2013 after a police raid in the offices of solidarity committee for Turkish and Kurdish political prisoners.

Solidarity Committee for Turkish and Kurdish political prisoners, is organizing days of solidarity action and distributes information materials about the 4 political prisoners and their extraditions. Authorities respond to their mobilization with prosecutions and detentions. In the last 24 hours, 7 solidaritarians have been detained at least three times with the accusation of “Environmental pollution”.

Düzgün Yüksel, as a lawyer back in Turkey, he used to take over murder and human rights cases, as a result he was targeted by fascists and he immigrated in Germany. In Germany, with accusations including democratic activities such as the 1^st of May protest, organization of concerts, solidarity actions for political prisoners, distribution of information materials, he was arrested and kept as prisoner in solitary confinement for 4 years. Due to the unsanitary conditions of solitary confinement he got sick and then paroled. In order to not get arrested again in Germany, he immigrated in Greece, asking for a political asylum, but got arrested and his extradition back in Germany was decided. In Germany he will be sentenced to 3 more years in solitary confinement. Ahmet Düzgün Yüksel, in order to stop this injustice against him, is on a hunger strike to the death since 24/9.

Erdoğan Çakır, is a worker in France and has been a rebel for 36 years. He was sentenced to prison for 7 years, because he took part in democratic activities such as the organization of concerts with  the band “yorum”, selling political magazines and going for camping on summer. In order to not serve the 7 year sentence, he immigrated in Greece. When he came to Greece, he was arrested and his extradition to France was decided. Erdoğan Çakır in order to stop this injustice against him, is on a hunger strike to the death since 24/9.

Hasan Biber, was arrested in 30/7/2013. He was a president of a trade union, and because of his syndicalist activities in Turkey, he’s been arrested many times in the past. On September 26, his trial took place at the court of Piraeus, where his extradition to Turkey was decided. Hasan Biber’s file included also an official document of USA. USA asked Greece for every information they have about Hasan Biber, Mehmet Yayla and the rebel from Turkey Bulut Yayla, who was abducted, not long ago, in front of many people in Athens, and then handed over the fascist Turkish Government that asked FBI to take part in the interrogation of the arrestees. This document proves that Greece has handed over even her justice to USA. Today, the decision of Hasan Biber’s extradition is in other words, the validation of his execution in Turkey.

Hasan Biber stated that: “Fascism is not a threat just for our country, but for the countries near Turkey as well. Especially Greece. Your ships, your airplanes, are being harassed. Greek people are underestimated. We are fighting against all these things. And for this reason, I believe that this decision is unjust.” and announced he is going on a hunger strike to death.

Mehmet Yayla was arrested in 30/7/2013. USA asked from Greece every single information they have about him. He started a hunger strike in 29^th of Septemper in solidarity with his comrades’ struggles.

 

http://omniatv.com/blog/3756-few-words-about-the-political-prisoners-from-turkey

 9 / 11 / 2013

Halkidiki is a peninsula of Northern Greece, with a very diverse, biologically important natural landscape, combining mountainous primordial forests with beautiful coastline. Part of it belongs to NATURA 2000 network and is protected by international conventions. Halkidiki’s landscape is also of historically and culturally precious as it is the mother land of Aristotle the philosopher (384 BC).

Mining in the area goes back 2500 years. But today, as well as back then, locals are depended on nature, as the 80% of main activities are farming, fishing, animal husbandry, forestry and tourism. People of Halkidiki have been active against the destruction of their land since the 50’s but it was not until their recent fights when thy caught international attention.

All started in 2003, when a big political scandal broke out. The Canadian company TVXgold owning at the time the assets of Cassandra mines, transferred them by law to the Greek state for 11 million €. They were sold the same day to Hellas Gold S.A without any prior assessment nor an open competition. The minerals deposits alone were worth 12 billion $. For this action, EU fined Greece with 15, 3 million €.

Today, Hellas Gold S.A is owned 95 % by the Canadian Eldorado Gold Corporation which is based in The Netherlands as a letterbox company and 5 % by G. Bobolas, the powerful Greek media and construction persona. According to the Greek constitution, the owner has full possession of the minerals while the state requires no royalties. In 2012 and despite a broad reaction from the scientific community against the accuracy of the official Environmental Impact Assessment, deforestation begun and full scale mining activities set off.

Even in 2011, residents of the nearby villages and later people throughout Greece, have started a heroic fight to protect their right to health, safety and jobs and to safeguard their natural environment. The TROIKA driven Greek state, obsessed with promoting its hilarious “success story” plan is rushing out to close their mouths. Riot police suppressed violently all demonstrations first in Skouries area and later all around the villages. Old and young attacked with tear gas and rubber bullets, peacefully protesting women dragged down and hit, DNA samples were taken by force, houses illegally broke and entered by the police. Basic human rights were  suppressed again and again with the compliments of the Greek state.

Most of the mainstream Greek media has openly supported Eldorado Gold Co and G. Bobolas by propagating in favor of its savior investment for the Greek local economy and against the “extremist” social struggle. Despite the efforts of the state to suppress any authentic expression of the struggling people, recently including charging them for “forming a criminal organization” – the same charge addressed to the neo – Nazi Golden Dawn and even prosecuting and imprisoning 4 of them, the Halkidiki movement is more alive than ever. In September 2013, verifying the fears of the ones rising concerns about environmental threats, drinking water around the mine of Skouries has been considered inappropriate for consumption due to high concentrations of Arsenic. Additionally, a minor toxic wastes accident warns that environmental regulations around mining activities might as well not be followed.

We raise our voice with all those in Roumania, Spain, Finland. N. Ireland, Bulgaria, Sweden, Turkey and in many other anti mining movements in Latin America, Africa and rest of the world, that a success story cannot involve industrialization of the region at the expense of all other means of production and increase of social dependency on a multinational corporation. Halkidiki’s struggle is our struggle for standing up to one’s believes, for safeguarding social protests, for protecting the constitutional rights of the citizens.

Halkidiki is reaching out to you. Inform yourself and go – engage.

Together we are stronger!

ReINFORM

“Gold is our land, gold is our water, gold is the mountain and our beautiful village”

Last December, the eviction of Villa Amalias brought ten thousand people to the streets of Athens.  A social centre, a radical base, venue for alternate culture, community resoure and base for anti-fascist activity was unceremoniously evicted.  This eviction of a popular, central and well utilised social space was followed by multiple other attacks and raids on occupied community facilities throughout Greece, under the cloak of combatting “lawlessness“, all the while the Golden Dawn with the collusion of the police were engaged in urban terrorism.  Empros was also targetted at the same time as the eviction of Villa Amalias, although managed to survive with only its water system being removed.

Thoughout the year the attacks on social centres and squats have continued throughout Greece. Multiple evictions have followed.  This month however the police have turned their attention from the overtly political social centres to medical and cultural solidarity projects.  At the start of the month four medical solidarity centres have been raided, depite the dire state of healthcare in Greece, and the difficulty of undocumented peoples safely receiving treatment including treatment for injuries sustained by the street violence that targets them.

Yesterday, the Empros Theatre was raided with two arrests, and actor and a director who were rehersing a future performance.  Empros has been a cornerstone of the radical movement against austerity.  One of the most progressive organisations I’ve encountered in Greece it attracted international attention from radical theatre companies, writers and musicians who need space.  The internationalism saw it host several festivals of minority culture within Athens, its feminism  and its solidarity with LGBTQ causes saw several events aimed at breaking down the rigidity of gender within the movement.

Empros released a statement following the raid.

Today, October 30 2013, police officers from the Acropolis police station arrested two young actors who were holding rehearsals at the free self-managed EMBROS Theater. The two arrested actors were led to the prosecutor, where they were charged with the breaching of seals, disrupting domestic peace, and repeatedly occupying a public building. They are currently detained, and will be tried tomorrow 31/10/2013 with a flagrante process.

For the last two years, EMBROS has been functioning as a non-commodified cultural and social space in the sensitive area of Psyrri, in the center of Athens. The action of today’s arrest is undeniably part of a bigger scheme of a political wipe-out of “lawlessness”, in other words of the freedom of expression, of social solidarity, of self-management and the creation of culture outside the norms of the vulgar market. The attack on EMBROS, a few days after the invasion of social infirmaries, and perhaps a few days before the threatened raid of the occupied ERT public television-radio station, leaves no doubt about the intentions of a government which appears determined to “redeem itself” of all kinds of social solidarity, after having already dismantled state structures.

Statement (extract): Empros Theatre, 30/10/13

Raoul Vaneigem, the Philosopher and writer associated with the French situationist movement, author of “The Revolution of Everyday Life” gave a talk at Empros the night before the raid and arrests.  He made this statement.

When a government represses the freedom of art and the freedom of expression, it no longer has he right to appropriate the name of democracy, it becomes the expression of totalitarianism which is legal for you to fight against. The arrest of the members of EMBROS Theater reveals the intention of an obscurantism incompatible with the right we all have to education and culture. It remains for each of us to show opposition and to promote cultural spaces as spaces which need to be saved from the mafia companies of the privatization, the influence and the empire of the commodity.

That night the assembly of Empros marched from the theatre to the Acropolis Police Station, today, there was a gathering for the first hearing for the director and actor arrested to show them support and resistance towards authoritarianism of power.   There was a good crowd gathered at the police station including those who were less heavily associated with Empros yet who wished to offer it solidarity.  As a space which had been associated with the marginalised, it reached out beyond the narrow confines of “politics” and material conditions to the ideological structures which shapes peoples lives.  As a theatre it was a space where assumptions were challenged and people were shown viewable, semi-tangable insight into a different reality from the one in which they are steeped, encouraging them to look beyond conditions, but to the ideas that perpetuated those conditions.

And thats why its especially poigniant that a woman who turned up to support the theatre, heard the statement “look, the cops and security here, the whole court system here are prostitutes”.

This is a country where the sex industry operates with free abandon.  Where women, primarily Eastern European were paraded on television as drug riddled and diseased, yet where in a country which is facing starvation, the sex industry is booming.  Where immigrant women find themselves stuck in survival situations and where Greek women are under pressure to find additional income to maintain their homes and keep their heads above water.  Many women find themselves drawn to an expanding industry, at a time when the economy is contracting, and a shift manifested by the diversion of income towards the sexual interest of (primarily) cis white males.

Transgender folk find themselves in a situation where they cannot have identification under the real names or gender, but instead must continually officially present as their birth name and gender, obtaining a job, a flat, an electrictity bill becomes a challenge in a country where the bureaucracy seems ever intricate and never ending, not to mention the police harassment and the consequent revealing of their transgender status as soon as their papers are produced.    The health system in Greece is creaking, marginalised parts of the population with specific health needs are deprioritised as the crisis reaches clinics and hospitals.  The medical solidarity centres that may have acted as support and provision are raided and closed.  Trans women are in a particularly acute situation, with both the status of the outcast and the generalised pressure on women; the sex industry provides a deeply unsafe safety net.

It is no surprise that the feminist and queer movement found a home in Empros, as art challenges hegemonic ideas; equally the stereotype of the struggling artist making ends meet by providing “company” is not unfounded.  Creative people live precarious lives even under the best of circumstances, and in times of crisis, precarity can turn to scarcity all too quickly.

Revolutions, when they erupt, appear to the elites and the establishment to be sudden and unexpected. This is because the real work of revolutionary ferment and consciousness is unseen by the mainstream society, noticed only after it has largely been completed. Throughout history, those who have sought radical change have always had to first discredit the ideas used to prop up ruling elites and construct alternative ideas for society, ideas often embodied in a utopian revolutionary myth.

Our Invisible Revolution

Until Greece can cast off the shackles of sexism and racism, that saw a section of society drawn towards the Golden Dawn, as a virile hero rising from the chaos, the revolution we want, the revolution we need will be ever distant.  EMPROS continues, necessary now more than ever.  To claim public space and challenge the ideas constraining the people, to let them imagine other futures and to be able to view other realities and other perspectives.

The programme at Empros (Ρήγα Παλαμήδη 2, Ψυρρή) ) continues despite the raid with

31st October
21:00 Blood Enemies by Arkas , Buffonata

1st November
18:30 Persians by Aeschylus , Tsiritsantsoule
21:00 The accidental death of an anarchist (and some other subversive ) by Dario Fo , Engineers of cheap Melodrama

2nd November
21.00 Interrogation of Peter Weiss , Facta non Verba

9th November 2013

International Action Day Against Gold Mines in Halkidiki

What is at Stake

Halkidiki, the birthplace of the ancient philosopher Aristotle, is a place of such great natural beauty that, every year, it is flooded by tourists from all over the world. In the western part of Halkidiki lies the primeval forest of Skouries. A few years ago the multinational gold mining company Eldorado Gold settled in Skouries and with the backing of powerful domestic private interests has begun large-scale mining activities. Thus, the irreversible destruction of the ecosystem of Skouries and the contamination of soil and groundwater with heavy metals throughout western Halkidiki has already started.

When Injustice Becomes Law

We are residents of Halkidiki. We are fishermen, farmers, stockmen, beekeepers, entrepreneurs and scientists, everyday people like all of you who cherish and protect our land. A few years ago, when we requested information on gold mining in our area from state authorities, we only encountered silence from their part. Afterwards, when we requested a public debate to be conducted on the issue, state authorities repeatedly postponed it until they infinitely deferred it. When we turned to independent scientific and academic institutions to find out the potential impacts of mining on our lives, we were informed that the consequences were going to be irreparable for both our ecosystems and local economy. When we appealed to justice, competent courts proceeded to review only the legality of mining permits, without ruling on the essence of the matter and the ensuing destruction. When we protested against the mining, the police forces took over acting as an occupation army in our region, spreading violence and terrorizing us and our children. When, in August 2013, it was officially announced that the water in the local Neohori village is not potable due to toxic level concentration of arsenic, the State did not examine possible connections between this incident and the presence of Eldorado Gold drillings at a short distance from the village water resources. When, recently, EU institutions looked into state backing to the ‘investment’, the European Court of Justice condemned Greece for having illegally financially supported mining companies in Halkidiki with millions of Euros, and thus the state’s dubious involvement in this “investment” was undeniably proven.  Today, when we attempt to hike in the forest of Skouries or harvest our beehives we encounter control checks from Eldorado Gold’s armed men who deny us access thus restricting our freedom of movement. And now the Greek State is characterizing our movement as terrorist, equating our actions with the criminal violence of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, sending to prison four locals and launching dozens of prosecutions against other locals active in our struggles, thus institutionalizing and legitimizing the violence and injustice against us.

Then, Resistance Becomes a Duty

We, who issue this call, are residents of Halkidiki and citizens of Greece in solidarity to Halkidiki. For three years now we have taken to the streets to protest against what is happening in Skouries. We are not merely demonstrating for our rights but for life itself, for our own and our children’s future. We stand in solidarity to everyone who fights for life, equality, freedom, and dignity. The criminalization and repression of the struggles of social movements who support basic freedoms is the only reaction left to a panicky system of power. It is our duty to raise our voice and protect those who resist the arbitrariness of power. We believe that united we have the power.

On November 9th we call for simultaneous protests, events or actions around the world to stop all imprisonment and persecution against us and to immediately cease the mining of gold in Halkidiki. Our struggle has reached a critical point. Now we need you all.

#saveskouries

 9th November 2013: Skouries Calling Out To Greece And All The World