Greeks protest against Golden Dawn attack on Communists

Thousands of Greeks took to the streets of Athens on Friday to protest against a violent attack on Communist party members by black-shirted supporters of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party which left nine people in hospital with serious injuries.

In what was described as a murderous attack – and the most serious violence since the extremist group was elected to the country's parliament last year – about 50 men wielding crowbars and bats set upon leftists as they distributed posters in a working-class district of the capital late on Thursday.

In a statement KKE, the Communist party of Greece, said: "The way in which they acted and the weapons employed … are evidence of the murderous nature of the attack. Among the Golden Dawners, some of whom had covered their faces or wore helmets or [party] shirts, were their leaders, well-known fascists and thugs."

With the Communist party preparing to stage a youth festival in the coming days, Thursday's midnight assault comes amid mounting fears that the far right is trying to cultivate an atmosphere of civil war in Greece. Prominent members of the virulently anti-immigrant Golden Dawn have openly predicted that the debt-stricken country is heading towards civil war.

Dimitris Psarras, a writer who has chronicled Golden Dawn's rise over almost four decades since the collapse of military rule, said: "Their agenda, clearly, is to create a climate of civil war, a divide where people have to choose between leftists and rightists."

Psarras argues the attack in the dock-side district of Perama – a Communist stronghold where Golden Dawn has made considerable inroads in recent years on the back of anger over austerity measures – was indicative of that strategy.

"It was very well organised and the most serious incident yet," he told the Guardian. "They are no longer only targeting immigrants in the middle of the night. They are deliberately increasing tensions, expanding their agenda of hate, by going for leftists."

Earlier this year, the Muslim Association of Greece received a letter bearing the insignia of the group and an implicit threat that its members would be "slaughtered like chickens" unless they left the country. Marking the anniversary of the September 11 attacks this week, the party posted a vehemently antisemitic diatribe on its website denouncing "world Zionism [as] the architect of global terrorism".

Greece, whose political faultlines were entrenched by a bloody civil war in the wake of brutal Nazi occupation, is mired in a sixth year of recession that has seen poverty and unemployment soar as it navigates its worst crisis in modern times.

Recent opinion polls have shown that no other party has managed to capitalise on the growing levels of desperation and despair as effectively as Golden Dawn.

Surveys released by the pollsters Public Issue and Pulse in recent days confirmed that the extremists – who recently blasted people attending a "Greeks only" food handout with the official anthem of Nazi Germany – were the nation's fastest growing group and, at 13% and 15% respectively, its third biggest political force.

The main opposition party, the radical left Syriza, topped the ratings with 29% of support, marginally ahead of prime minister Antonis Samaras's centre-right New Democracy party. Many worry that Golden Dawn, which won 18 seats with almost 7% of the vote last June, will further boost its share of votes when local elections are held next year.

According to analysts, Thursday's attack demonstrates Golden Dawn's growing self-confidence and ability to spread its appeal. They point to the inroads the party is making into middle-class neighbourhoods of Athens.

With prominent clerics also voicing support for the group, commentators have begun to ask whether the ruling conservatives should join forces with Golden Dawn, whose views on issues of public order are strikingly similar.

"It is a particularly worrying turn of events that we should now have a debate suggesting that Golden Dawn be brought in from the cold," Psarras said. "Talk that it should end its isolation and link up with New Democracy is dangerous at a time when Greece is going from bad to worse."

Mainstream political parties – like foreign embassies – currently have no official contacts with Golden Dawn.

Leftists rallying near the spot where the attack took place called on authorities on Friday to "finally take action" and "erase" the fascist group.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/greeks-protest-golden-dawn-attack-communists

Here's a short report on the attack. Funny how this ominous flashback from a century ago gets no attention.


Eight hospitalized after Golden Dawn supporters attack Communist fly posters

http://photo.ekathimerini.com/kath/engs/img/NEWS/2013/09/kke_390_1309.jpg

Eight people were taken to the hospital after a group of Golden Dawn supporters attacked members of the Communist Party (KKE) as they were putting up posters in Perama, near Piraeus, late on Thursday.

Police said the incident occurred shortly before midnight, when a group of about 50 people armed with iron bars and wooden bats attacked the KKE supporters, who numbered about 30.

The Communist Party members had been fly posting on Dimokratias (Democracy) Avenue in Perama.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_13/09/2013_518513

Here, an eyewitness report, in Greek:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f_G1J7xlNE&feature=player_embedded

No arrests have been made, imagine that.

Nightmare at Thermopylae

http://icantrelaxingreece.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/thermopylae-golden-dawn.jpg?w=610&h=285
The neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn had organized a real spectacle of nationalistic kitsch which was reminiscent of the ceremonies with lighted torches, bonfires, etc. of the famous American racist Ku Klux Klan.

Mobilizing the local organizations in Greece and on the occasion of the anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae, Golden Dawn was able to gather at the monument of Leonidas hundreds of its supporters who had performed the military-type ceremony exactly with typical commands, torches, summoning of the dead, laying of wreaths, etc.

Particularly impressive are the videos uploaded by the organization on its official website. They show how dozens of members of the youth’s organization of Golden Dawn are forming the typical Greek meander ornament with their bodies, holding in their hands lighted torches which, according to the official version of the far-right party, are “the symbol of the souls of the heroes”.

The ceremony took place to the sounds of drums and military commands with references to ancient Greek texts. It ended with Golden Dawn’s anthem (which, by the way, says “we, the young men, we are Spartans”) and members of the party lit fireworks.

(Read the full report on GR Reporter’s website: http://www.grreporter.info/en/nightmare_thermopylae/9961)

http://icantrelaxingreece.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/nightmare-at-thermopylae/

This is a bit of commentary from the previous source:




"Thousands" according to The Guardian took to the streets in Athens to protest the brutal attack by Nazis against KKE activists earlier this week.

There are growing fears that the Nazi party, with full support of the weak bourgeois government and the European (EU) and Imperial (NATO) authorities, are trying to stir up a civil war type of conflict, conflict in which they have the upper hand because they have already taken effective control of the police and are influential in the Army's officialdom (not among the soldiers however, who are recruits).

Much as in Italy in the 1920s, the only way out of this situation is active popular self-defense, because the government is not willing nor probably able anymore to control the Nazis, which are going out of control and may well stage a coup of some sort unless the Working Class is ready to fight them.

An electoral exit to the Greek impasse may well be out of reach because, even if there are elections and the Radical Left wins, how are they going to keep control of a state apparatus so deeply penetrated by Nazi terrorists? There is urgent need, and not just in Greece but also elsewhere in Europe, to get ready to fight against fascism by all means necessary.

This is a statement from KKE, via Google Translator. (nothing on English language site yet)



MASS PARTICIPATION IN CONCENTRATION
Perama Apostomotiki popular response to the murderous attack chrysafgiton against members of the KKE and KNE (PHOTO - VIDEO - AUDIO)
Published: Fri, 13/09/2013 - 19:56
Last Updated: Sat, 14/09/2013 - 11:15
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..Watch videos with cues from the course that was one of the largest demonstrations in recent years in ergatoupoli Perama Apostomotiki answer gave the people of Perama with a big, really massive concentration in trampoukiki murderous onslaught of fascist Golden Dawn against communists Thursday evening. Number of workers, the unemployed, young people, lay people toil sided with the KKE and KNE one of the largest demonstrations in recent years in ergatoupoli of Perama. In gathering attended by a delegation of the CC of KKE , led by Costas Paraskeva, a member of the Politburo of the CC and CR Attica Secretary of the Communist Party, and Theodore Chion , Secretary of the CC of KNE .

The collection was started by the Heroes Square where an exposé by Vangelis Maroupa , Secretary of the Sector Organisation of Piraeus Attica CR KKE (SEE HERE EXCERPT FROM THE SPEECH) . Among other noted: "The Communist Party did not hesitate and would not hesitate to devote all his forces in the struggle for the right of the people, the fascists what to say? (...) Csaba lost wages in the shops of the night. The people of Perama not afraid bully "and added:" The movement has the power, so they can not stand anywhere, not to fit the place, out of the working people's neighborhoods, outside schools and faculties ( ...) The Communist Party does not "folded" never, nor will "fold" now. We will continue on the road we have mapped for the working people's power, "she said amongst other V. Maroupas.

In a statement (see WHOLE HERE) from the area of concentration, the Secretary of the CC of KNE Theodore Chion said among other things: "The planned, treacherous, murderous attack by bullies fascist Golden Dawn members of the Communist Party and members of the Syndicate Metal and Associations Zone proves yet again one thing: they're minions of the system, that it is aimed at the labor movement, his fights megaloergodosia and defend the interests of the capitalist system and therefore attack the vanguard of the working class and the working class movement, the communists. "

The Sotiris Poulikogiannis , president of the Syndicate Metal Piraeus, who was among those injured by the attack of the Nazis, he called ergatokosmo and popular families to isolate the fascist, neo-Nazi gang of the Golden Dawn (SEE THE ENTIRE STATEMENT HERE).

The slogans throughout the course through the streets of Perama falling rain: 'Come O people, not knuckle under to the KKE, resistance and struggle "while loudly heard and slogans that show the essence of the policy of fascist Golden Dawn: "You are the dogs of the bosses outside of Perama, city workers" and "The Chrysafgites beat the workers and the owners make their backs" (SEE HERE TO FORWARD PASSES IN THE STREETS OF PERAMATOS). Slogans flare up even more when the course passed within walking distance of the offices of the Nazis.

The murderous attack on Thursday night

During display panels on Thursday night, a group of 50 chrysafgiton cowardly fascists attacked with clubs, of which protruded tacks in 20 communists. The attack was a murderous, hit to kill, leading to 9 people in hospital, while caused damage and the car used by the workshop.

From the morning and throughout the day, was underway panexormisi around Perama, to inform workers and the youth of the city for the attack.

Communication on the subject issued by the Press Office of the CC .

The sectoral organizations of the Communist Party of Piraeus and Piraeus Prefecture Tour KNE, denouncing the murderous and cowardly attack by the fascists of the Golden Dawn, notes: " It is confirmed that the Golden Dawn is gang killer is sending hitting movement. 's no coincidence that with particular rabies banged members of the Communist Party who are executives of the union movement, such as the president of the Syndicate Metal Sotiris Poulikogianni.

Is further evidence that it is minions employers that operate on behalf of the bosses that are fanatics against militants class movement and especially towards the communists.

The particular "lads" as Pantazis, chief of the Golden Dawn in Perama, the Kastrinos and others recognized, made ​​no great feat. Communists and the people are not terrorists. We have terrified decades of the toughest anti-communists from them, will not terrify us a bunch of bullies.

The people today can and should be isolated. In ergatoupoli of Perama in working class neighborhoods of Piraeus has no business dirty FEET fascism.

Outside the fascists from Perama, outside the fascists from Piraeus. "

All the wounded came from hospitals that had been transferred, said talking on the radio in ALPHA, the Vangelis Maroupas , secretary of the KO experiment of KKE. Stated, inter alia, that the attack was aimed chrysafgiton communists and unionists Naval Zone, because their action is pioneering and spoil the soup contractors and operators. ( LISTEN HERE Interview with B. MAROUPA ).

Condemnation of the assassination

Their condemnation of the murderous attack chrysafgiton against members of the KKE and KNE express their announcements: The Federation of Builders Greece , the seafaring unions PEMEN - "STEFENSON" - PEEMAGEN - PEPRN - ESL / NAT , the Employees' Federation of Textile - clothing - Skin Greece , the Syndication Employees' Textile - clothing - Skin Attika , the builders syndicate Athens , the SETIP, the Syndicate Attica Municipalities, the Association of Merchants and Athens, the Hellenic Federation of Accountants, the Association of Athens Accountants, the Association of Accountants of Piraeus.

Also, the Environmental Association of Mountaineering and Nice , the Panhellenic Association Elaiourgosapounopoion - pomace - Sporelaiourgeion-Cosmetics and Detergents, the Labor Center of Piraeus, the Syndicate of Workers in Private Health Piraeus . The Labor Center Zakynthos in Zakynthos Hotel Employees Association , the Association of Workers in the financial Zakynthos , the Builders Association of Zakynthos, the Association of Private Sector Employees' Zakynthos and Women's Team Zakynthos . Even the builders syndicate Rethymno. Similarly, the Association of Merchants and Private Employees Piraeus , the Federation IKA pensioners , the unemployed Korydallou Commission, the Association of Medical Representatives of Western Crete.


•With releases denouncing the attack SYRIZA, PASOK, the Tourism Services, the Independent Greeks ANTARSYA, the Christian Republic, KEERFA and others.
Investigations by the Police

Meanwhile, in afferent persons proceeded yesterday the Police from Perama, research on the perpetrators of the murderous attack. By evening were identified 5-6 atoms, which sought for. Information indicates that bat with nails found at the scene of the attack, was found fingerprints of people who had been arrested earlier in Perama, an attack against immigrants had a shop in the auction nbspkeratsini.

http://www.902.gr/eidisi/politiki/26561/perama-apostomotiki-laiki-apantisi-sti-dolofoniki-epithesi-hrysaygiton#/0

I have re-read this and looked at some of the shit online. I do not see how this cannot become a civil war. The KKE cannot simply set back and allow its people to be killed and maimed. There will be no help from any kind of "authority", KKE are on their own. How can they not fight back? Passivism is a dead issue - completely useless. It looks as if the choices are fight or disband. I wish we could hear from Nikos...

I have re-read this and looked at some of the shit online. I do not see how this cannot become a civil war. The KKE cannot simply set back and allow its people to be killed and maimed. There will be no help from any kind of "authority", KKE are on their own. How can they not fight back? Passivism is a dead issue - completely useless. It looks as if the choices are fight or disband. I wish we could hear from Nikos...

Passivity is not an option but with the difference between GD and cops vanishing good options are few. Going on the offensive is out of the question, measures for self defense will likely be opposed by the police and government. Still they must defend themselves, but the support of the working class is their main defense.

support of the working class is their main defense.

This is true. Maybe the workers will rise up and crush the Nazi bastards...

Mass response to the fascist's attack

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vCshXYqAQTk/UjcELYh5qjI/AAAAAAAADfQ/9hru6ekjBLA/s576/perama-kinhtopoihsh-10.jpg

On Thursday evening the thuggish and murderous attack of the fascists of the Golden Dawn against communists met the resolute response of the people Perama (a working class district in Piraeus) with a big and massive demonstration.

As the KKE denounced, the underhand and murderous attack by the Golden Dawn’s members took place during the night of the 12th September in Perama against members and cadres of the KKE and KNE who were fly posting in order to propagandize the 39th festival of KNE-Odigitis. Nine people were injured by the murderous attack and were transported to the hospital, amongst them the President of the Metalworkers’ Trade Union of Piraeus, Sotiris Poulikogiannis, and other members of theUnion’s Board.

The way in which the attack unfolded and the tools that were used – they emerged from the surrounding streets with cars and motorcycles and attacked the members of KKE and KNE in an underhand way with iron bars and clubs around which they had attached sharp objects- proving the murderous character of the attack. The members of the Golden Dawn -some of them had their faces covered, others wore helmets or T-shirts of t Golden Dawn- were headed by well-known fascists and thugs in Perama.

The murderous attack that took place on Thursday proves the Nazi character of the Golden Dawn which permanently targets the KKE because it struggles for the overthrow of the rotten capitalist system that breeds and feeds fascism and Nazism.

The attack on the members of the KKE -amongst them were also cadres of the Metalworkers’ Trade Union of Piraeus and the unions of the ship-repair zone whose activity is a thorn in the side of the employers- proves their role as stooges of the system. The working people, the unemployed, the poor popular strata must decisively condemn and isolate the fascists of the Golden Dawn and their thuggish activity and struggle together with the KKE for the strengthening of the People’sAlliancein the workplaces and the neighborhoods.

Condemnation of the murderous attack

Dozens of trade unions, mass organizations and political parties in Greecehave condemned with their statements the murderous attack of the members of Golden Dawn. On Friday 13th of September masses of working people, unemployed, youth, people from the poor popular strata joined together with the KKE and KNE in one of the biggest demonstrations that has taken place in the working class district in recent years.

http://inter.kke.gr/en/articles/Mass-response-to-the-fascists-attack/

I hold that it is bad as far as we are concerned if a person, a political party, an army or a school is not attacked by the enemy, for in that case it would definitely mean that we have sunk to the level of the enemy. It is good if we are attacked by the enemy, since it proves that we have drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves. It is still better if the enemy attacks us wildly and paints us as utterly black and without a single virtue; it demonstrates that we have not only drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves but achieved a great deal in our work.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_32.htm

I hold that it is bad as far as we are concerned if a person, a political party, an army or a school is not attacked by the enemy, for in that case it would definitely mean that we have sunk to the level of the enemy. It is good if we are attacked by the enemy, since it proves that we have drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves. It is still better if the enemy attacks us wildly and paints us as utterly black and without a single virtue; it demonstrates that we have not only drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves but achieved a great deal in our work.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_32.htm

Great quotation, brother cakes, thanks for it.