The “Anarchist Crouch” (Sispirosi Anarchikon) group issued the following statement only hours after the death of the bank employees on Wednesday in Athens. A rough translation follows, as part of our effort to put together some of the responses by anarchists to that day’s tragic events – OL.
The just uprising of 120,000 demonstrators, the raid on parliament of tens of thousands of enraged people neither has, nor could it have anything to do with the para-statist gang which murdered three people at Marfin bank and attempted to do the same at the Ianos Bookstore.
“In the muds, sky, you are reflected”
First of all we want to make clear that our rage is indescribable; not only for the para-statist gang responsible for the death of three people, two women – one in fact four-months pregnant – and one man, but also for the riff-raff of politicians and journalists who were quick to link the just uprising of hundreds of thousands in Athens and other cities with this heinous murder.
And yet the truth cannot be erased. An enraged river of demonstrators surrounded Parliament and kept trying to invade it for hours, giving tough battles with the forces of repression. This fact cannot be hidden, nor can it be buried under the tons of mud which the panic-ridden state employees try to throw; these sad party-leaders of every colour and the “select” administrators of “journalism”. Even the TV footage, which they were commentating on with near-blanched faces, stand as indisputable witness of all the shocking things that took place for hours – either at the steps leading to the courtyard of the parliament, in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or at Amalias avenue and the wider Sintagma area.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators were attempting to break through the ring of the repression forces, while the demonstration in its entirety was supporting their attempts by refusing to abandon the area which was been flooded with tear-gas. People of all ages with or without their faces covered were shaking the area with the slogan “burn, burn the Parliamentary brothel” – a slogan that a few years ago would only be mouthed by anarchists. As for the anarchists themselves, yes, they were among all those who sent a loud message to the local employees of the IMF and the EU, as well as their notorious bosses.
This is the Balkans and there’s no messing about around here. People over here still know how to struggle, to rise up, to bleed in order to keep even a hope alive for what they believe to be just. The neck of the disobedient of the greek territory has proven to be rather sensitive to the statist yoke; their disobedience grafts every revolt, every social clash.
International media are once again recording an uprising in the greek territory at a crucial “moment” for the bosses of the EU – and beyond. They are afraid that the fiery message which was once again transmitted will pass down the fire to other nuclei, which might slowly turn into blaze. The european south, which is presented as incapable of being “adjusted”, is attempted to be put into “plater”, to be forced to obey by any means possible.
Let us welcome their new plans then. Let’s assure them that the whip will not be enough to turn us passive and incapable of raising our heads. They should have no doubt that their bed-time stories and doctrines of “national survival”, “patriotism”, “national emergency” and the rest have worn off log ago.
As for us, we do not for a moment forget that we have every reason to cut the knife to the bone. To do everything to ensure authority’s wounds stay open. Bankruptcy is all theirs; we don’t have, nor will we ever have anything to share with those who suck the lives of people, the people who now refuse the crumbs they were offered until yesterday. As for those who are still irresolute, those who will pragmatically take a stance because the fate reserved for them by the system of domination and exploitation is now miserable, we can only welcome them.
Finally we will repeat once again that anarchists in struggle have nothing to do with any sad gang. They participate in social struggles premising first and foremost the morality, altruism and self-denial. They do not aim at gaining financial or other benefits. They do not raise the slogan of “steal, break, grab” as their flag. They despise and never crowd with anyone who might want to dominate, by revolutionary or other means. They despise any credentials claimed by the supposedly enlightened avant-guards and they turn their back, without a second thought, to the movements’ majorities, which nevertheless seem so few and tiny…
The 5th of May will undoubtedly be recorded in the most stark of ways into the history of social struggles. We would like to think that the sorrowful event of the assassination of three people will also comprise a “swan song” for all those who attempt to bound social practices – promoting, from the position of the mandate’s recipient, these various para-statist gangs, regardless of the cloaks these might wear.
Of course, none of this will come by itself._
Athens, May 5th 2010
Anarchist Crouch
[Translators' note: in their last sentence, the authors use the ancient greek phrase “συν Αθηνά και χείρα κίνει – roughly translating as “waiting for the gods [Athena] in itself is not enough – you must put some effort yourself – or, in short, “nothing will come by itself”.
15 Comments
It seems awfully weak not to say that just because something we wish not to happen then happened that is is para-statists “regardless of the cloaks they wear”. All our abilities to resist without measure then become para-statist…
What? I did not understand this text. Who are the para-sgtatist gangs? And who are the “they” that, among other things, doesnt “aim at gaining financial or other benefits”? You mean that the anarchists who did this somehow does want these benefits? I dont get it.
i agree, this is a weak statement, it would be a lot better to morn the loss, take responsibility, and prepare the fight for tomorrow.
and one more thing…Occupied London…please do not act like mass media – presenting the same news over and over again.
I agree, it seems that dismissing the deaths by putting it down to some vague group of ‘para-statists’ is insufficient. Do they mean fascists, ag-provs, or vanguardist ‘riotpornstars’? If they mean the latter,those within their movement, then they need to have a coherant critique of their actions and tactics, rather than simply lumping them together with the forces of reaction. As they said themselves- ” none of this will come by itself…” It is vital these issues are sorted out because there are fractures appearing in the common front of the International bourgeoisie with a growing conflict between the political class and the financial sector, what is needed by the Greek movement is clarity, unity and concrete authentic communication, not ideological palliatives that sweep the issue aside.
Sofia Echo reports a ‘sit-in’ protest in Athens -anyone here with more info? Syntagma Square? Media in Greece on strike today, so…
Greek anarchists/ leftists use the term a lot and its non-translatable, I for one symphasize with the translator!
We describe as ‘para-statist’ (parakratikos) the member of far-right groups (such as Golden Dawn, Chrisi Augi) which, altough not officialy employed by the State, nevertheless do its dirty job when that is required. If this was indeed an act of agent provocateurs, then it would be “para-statists” like them who would have done it. If.
Fair enough, however, the tactics of using a fundamentally indiscriminate weapon -fire- and the predominance of insurrectionism still need self-critcism. Particularly if any single tactic is wide open to manipulation by said para-statist fascists on behalf of the secret services. (Although I understand from a recent post that it is usual for militants to clear buildings of people before torching them)?.
PARA-STATIST is a term used by the movement to cater to the conspiracy minded segment of the population. Use of such language is indicative of how weak the movement really is in Greece.
to IQ 61 (again):
“We describe as ‘para-statist’ (parakratikos) the member of far-right groups (such as Golden Dawn, Chrisi Augi)”
and yes, you are weak.. go now to the corner and cry.
“iq aove 60″ is a term used by capitalism to cater to the submissive minded segment of the population. Use of such language is indicative of how weak capitalism really is in Greece.
You Sphincter, you’re not really very good at what you do are you?
para-statist tugs,in this context, is a name given by some part of the anarchist movement to the “nihilistic” december’s pro-violent proletarian. The text of TPTG on libcom explain it well. But it also say that no one is sure of who threw the molotov because unmasked proles we’re screaming scab in front of the bank, just moment before the fire.
The text of TPTG is probably the best I’ve read on may 5th, even if I don’t agree with the conclusion. But so far was there any text published by the “insurrectionnairy” & “nihilistic” tendencies? Maybe it would be good to read what they have to say.
Then I stand by my post above(5) and gather from the TPTG text and others, that the Greek movement is beginning to self-reflect on current tactics and direction. This is a positive development no?.
in thessaloniki, this statement was placed in some central roads, but within few hours it was removed by other anarchists.
And if the crowds had succeeded in “burning the parliamentary brothel” and innocent caretakers had died in the parliament or the fire had spread – then what would you say?
Nobody has any reason to think that it was a ‘para-statist gang’ or permanent armed group which started the fire. Do the perpetrators become a ‘para-statist gang’ simply because they are unlucky enough that a tragedy happened this time?
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