The Socialist Unity Party and Struggle-La Lucha newspaper in the U.S. send solidarity and support to Greek political prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas. Since 2002, Koufontinas has been imprisoned for his role in the Revolutionary Organization 17 November. For over 40 years, Koufontinas and his comrades have struggled for workers’ liberation and socialism in Greece.
During his time in prison, Koufontinas has waged four hunger strikes in the hopes of improving horrific prison conditions. Greek authorities are attempting to move Koufontinas to a “hard prison” as retribution for his politics. This “hard prison” will no doubt include solitary confinement and torture. In response to this draconian measure, Dimitris is again on hunger strike.
The struggle of Dimitrus Koufontinas against capitalist greed and for the working class is our struggle as well. The SUP and Struggle-La Lucha stand in unflinching solidarity and send revolutionary love to Dimitris in his ongoing fight against political repression.
February 12, 2021
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Friday, February 12, 2021: International day of solidarity with the hunger strike of Dimitris Koufontinas
Call by the Solidarity Assembly with Dimitris Koufontinas
At the end of last December, the Greek government approved a reform of the national penitentiary system that, in addition to other measures that worsen prison conditions, establishes that those convicted of terrorism cannot access “rural prisons,” more “open” institutions to which long-term prisoners have access. The approval of this law has led to the immediate transfer of political prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas from the rural prison of Kassevitia.
Dimitris is a comrade convicted for participating in the Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N), in prison since 2002. The new set of laws stipulates that inmates in rural prisons are reclassified and then transferred to the last prison they were in. In Dimitris’s case it should have been the Athenian prison of Korydallos. However, the prison administration decided to transfer him, manipulating the transfer papers, to Domokos prison. Although there are no differentiated circuits in Greece, in recent years, the prison administration has turned Domokos into a “hard” prison.
Such a punitive transfer is aimed at striking a comrade who has always struggled: as a free man, in courtrooms, in prison. Since his capture he has participated in numerous protests and has been on four hunger strikes. This repressive maneuver is not only aimed at annihilating Dimitris Koufontinas, but also forms part of the Greek state’s repressive project: crushing the most radical and combative parts of society to avoid the possibility of future conflicts.
Faced with the transfer, Dimitris Koufontinas decided to strive once again, using his body as a weapon of last resort. Since January 8, he has begun a hunger strike, which will continue indefinitely until he is transferred to Korydallos prison. As the strike continues, the comrade is in a critical and precarious condition in Lamia hospital: according to the doctors he could collapse at any moment.
During the strike there were many initiatives and solidarity actions throughout Greece and beyond: protests, demos, wall writings, banners, actions against multiple objectives (politicians, banks, post offices, etc.). But time is running out and now we think extra efforts are needed.
Dimitris’s struggle is also the struggle of each of us. The creation and expansion of international ties is as crucial as ever, so we are calling for an INTERNATIONAL day of solidarity and action on FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12 to support Dimitris Koufontinas.
THE DEMANDS OF THE HUNGER STRIKE MUST BE IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON
Athens, February 7, 2021
Source: Anti-Imperialist Front
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