Press Release for tomorrow's demonstration at the Dáil in support of the Thessaloniki 7

international | anti-capitalism | press release

Monday November 24, 2003 13:03

by Irish Supporters of the Thessaloniki 7

086 177 0439

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Monday Nov 24th – 11:00am

Killian Elliott, spokesperson for the Irish Supporters of the Thessaloniki 7, stated this morning that “starting tomorrow, Tuesday the 25th of November, we will stage a 24 hour fast outside the Greek Embassy in Dublin. This action is in solidarity with five of the seven who are currently on prolonged hunger strike.

We will assemble at the Dáil at midday, and deliver a letter to Brian Cowen TD & Dick Roche TD. We are calling on the Irish Government to demand the immediate rehabilitation and release of the prisoners, who were arrested at street demonstrations in June of this year in Thessaloniki, during the Greek EU Presidency.”

The demonstrators will then march to the Greek Embassy on Upper Pembroke Street, where they will maintain a 24 hour vigil without food.

Ireland's presidency term of the EU begins in just over a month, and the Irish group are pleading that the Irish, Greek, and European State authorities take immediate action to ensure that these people do not die.

They believe that Ireland should take the initiative now a month before the presidency begins, and demand a Europe of justice, freedom, and equality for all.

They also maintain that the prisoners have been consistently denied their civil, legal, and human rights by the Greek state. In the case of Simon Chapman, video evidence exists that proves beyond a doubt that he was framed by the Greek Police. The other prisoners allege they have been subjected to horrific ill treatment by the Police and Prison authorities. All seven have so far had 3 bail appeals rejected by the prosecutor, who has refused to look at the video and photographic evidence.

If they are not guaranteed their immediate release and rehabilitation then it is likely they will die in the prison hospitals they are currently being held in. As of this morning, the hunger strikers have gone without food for:

Suleiman Dakduk Castro: 65 days
Fernando Perez: 51 days
Carlos Martin Martinez: 51 days
Simon Chapman: 51 days
Spiros Tsitsas: 48 days

Bobby Sands, the Maze/H-Blocks hunger striker, died after 66 days. It is extremely rare for anyone to survive longer than 70 days without food.

Irish Supporters of the Thessaloniki 7

Ends

Other media coverage of the case:

The BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/3228364.stm
The UK Independent: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=466104
The Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2003/11/21/wchap21.xml&sSheet=/global/2003/11/21/home.html
Kathemerini (English Language Greek Paper syndicated to the International Herald Tribune): http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_100036_21/11/2003_36546
UK Independent Media Centre: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/10/279741.html

Background information:

Free Simon Chapman Campaign: http://www.freesimonchapman.org/ (with links to the video evidence proving he was set up by the Greek Police – filmed by a Greek TV News station)