Freedom for Alfredo Bonnano and Christos Stratigopoulos imprisoned in Greece!

Its been over a month now that two anarchists- Alfredo Bonnano and Christos
Stratigopoulos had been arrested in Greece following bank robbery. Much had been
written about it already, so there is no point in reminding everyone what this case
is about (for those that don't know please find links below the text). Needless to
say those anarchist comrades need our solidarity and support now. Especially 72
years old Bonnano is in grave danger due to his health problems and extremely bad
conditions he is kept in Amfissa prison. We encourage all kinds of solidarity with
them, but ina a meantime there is a simple thing that everybody can do. Below you
will find example of a protest letter than can be e-mailed to different Greek
institutions here and in Greece. Whilst we are under no illusion that this will get
them released, nevertheless that's something that can improve their condition for
now and show Greek authorities that they are not forgotten and they will not succeed
in burying them alive in one of the worst Greek prisons.

Anarchist Solidarity

some background on the case:

Greetings from Greece

They're old things, from another century. Two anarchists get arrested after a bank
job. The first robbed it, gun in hand. They say the second helped him, holding the
money. It happened in a small Greek village, this past October 1. And so? There are
things that happen. And then that is a far away country, with an incomprehensible
and untranslatable language. Who do you want to be interested in it? The robber is
Christos Stratigopulos, already arrested and convicted here in Italy fifteen years
ago on a similar charge. The penalty served, he returned to Greece. Remembered by a
few, unknown to most. But the other one arrested is Italian; it is Alfredo Bonanno.
Yes, precisely him; who hasn't heard his name? In its own small way, the news has
gone quickly around the world, revived by many press agencies: "one of the major
theorists of insurrectionalist anarchism", "among the major ideologues of anarchy",
"anarchist activist and writer", "international fugitive anarchist robber",
"theorist of revolutionary violence", has ended up behind bars again. The promoters
of antiterrorism, both Greek and Italian, have rushed in, ready to exploit the juicy
occasion. The elements for concocting a fine theorem are all there: a country in
which there are still fires blazing after the great insurrectionary conflagration
that flared up last December, a Greek anarchist active in the movement, a foreign
anarchist known for his subversive theories who travelled around the country holding
meetings, a bank robbed.
Christos has taken full responsibility for the act, caused by economic problems,
denying Alfredo's involvement. But, clearly, the judge didn't believe him. So both
are still in jail. The first, because he dared to reach out a hand toward wealth
rather than resign himself to dying in misery. What's more, he is an anarchist. The
second, because... because... because maybe he helped his comrade. And, for sure, he
is an anarchist. And that's enough.
They are old things, from another century. Two anarchists get arrested after a bank
job. Outside, solidarity is organized. Funds start to be collected; initiatives are
prepared. But that's not all. In Athens, the two prisoners get explosive greetings
from the group Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire, which had just disturbed the
crowning of the new Greek premier. In Villejuif, France, someone renders their
homage by smashing the windows of the local offices of the Socialist Party. One of
the beauties of anarchy is that it doesn't recognize borders. And in Italy? Bah,
here it has been limited to communicating the news, faithfully and coldly reporting
the journalists' poisons. No comment. The drafters of daily virtual communiqués say
nothing. The tenders of militant gardens fall silent. The little strategists of the
new alliances hush up. The movement has now become a community, and anyone who
doesn't share its rules and language doesn't exist. He is nameless. In the rush to
follow the masses, have individuals been forgotten? Perhaps it's better this way.
Better a sincere silence, if in the face of such an act, one no longer knows what to
say, than hypocritical chatter about solidarity. Let's leave that to the Stalinist
annoyances and other ruins. Or to a few third millennium fascists, who on one of
their forums rendered "honor" to the two arrested anarchists.
They are old things, from another century. Two anarchists get arrested after a bank
job. The first is 46-years-old, the second 72. Whether guilty or innocent, for them
being anarchists doesn't even have the excuse of being an infantile disorder of
extremism. Stubborn as they are, they haven't understood that now is the time to
ride the wave of social movements, to defend who knows what in front of places of
power, to act as social workers for the damned of the earth. No, they haven't
understood this. The dream that they have in their hearts is much too big to adapt
itself to the tick-tock of modern times.
No pardon, no pity.
Good-bye, beautiful Lugano.

solidarity with Alfredo
solidarity with Alfredo Bonanno and Christos Stratigopoulos
(9th of october 2009)
the anarchists Alfredo and Christos are in prison of Amfissa - greece.
Christos is accused for armed robbery and Alfredo for complicity.
The lawyers made a request for Alfredo because of his health conditions to
keep him under house detention.
The two comrades can receive post at:TZAMALA 3 33100 AMFISSA GREECE
To finance the solidarity campaign for the two, solidarity concerts are
organised in Greece and elsewhere. People who are interested to get more
information or to support the solidarity fund raising can write to the
following email address:
smolikas2 [at] gmail.gr
Revolutionary solidarity with Alfredo and Christos and all the people who
struggle against the world of prisons and banks.
anarchists from Greece and elsewhere
translated from cettesemaine:
http://cettesemaine.free.fr/spip/article.php3?id_article=2598

SAMPLE LETTER (you are welcome to write your own)

We write to you concerning the case of Alfredo Bonnano and Christos Stratigopoulos,
held in prison in Amfissa. It came to our attention that they are held in outrageous
conditions, in "facility" thats is infected with rats and lice, with no access to
running water, with 50 people in same cell. Prison of Amfissa, as you should know,
doesn't even met your own standards and should be immediately closed. On top of
that, 72 years old Alfredo Bonnano has serious health problems and should be
immediately released. His continuous imprisonment simply proves that yo uwant to
exact revenge on well known anarchist and you are prepared to put men in conditions
that are dangerous not only to their health, but also to their lives.
If you persist on keeping Amfissa prison open and holding our comrades and anybody
else in this outrageous conditions, you should know that it will not go unnoticed as
you were most likely hoping.
Freedom for Alfredo Bonnano and Christos Stratigopoulos! Close Amfissa prison now!

Consulate General of Greece in London, England (UK)
1a Holland Park
London, W11 3TP
City: London
Phone: (004420) 72293850
Fax: (004420) 72297221
Web Site: http://www.greekembassy.org.uk <http://www.greekembassy.org.uk/>
Email: political@greekembassy.org.uk
Email: consulategeneral@greekembassy.org.uk
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Belfast
Hurst House, 15-19 Corporation Square, Belfast BT1 3AJ, Northern Ireland
City: Belfast
Phone: (02890) 242242
Fax: (02890) 235776
Email: info@mfewings.com
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Birmingham
229 Hagley Road , Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9RP, United Kingdom
City: Birmingham
Phone: (0044121) 4543369
Fax: (0044121) 4562722
Email: hagleycourt@aol.com
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Edinburgh
12 Queens Crescent EH9 2 AZ, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
City: Edinburgh
Phone: (0044131) 6205496
Email: melpo@blueyonder.co.uk
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Gibraltar
Imossi House, Ste 1C, 1/5 Irish Town, P.O. Box 167, Gibraltar
City: Gibraltar
Phone: (00350) 73500
Fax: (00350) 73550
Email: james@imossi.gib.gi
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Glasgow
1 Kirklee Quadrant, Glasgow G12 OTR, United Kingdom
City: Glasgow
Phone: (0044141) 3340360
Fax: (0044141) 3340360
Honorary Consulate in Leeds
8 Street Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 2ET, United Kingdom
City: Leeds
Phone: (0044113) 2262672
Fax: (0044113) 2262672
Honorary Consulate of Greece in Southampton
64 Wilton Gardens, Southampton SO15 7QR, United Kingdom
City: Southampton
Phone: (00442380) 788060
Fax: (0044870) 7424752
Email: Greek-Consulate@nt1world.com