A LETTER FROM GEORGE KARAKASIAN, HOSTAGE OF THE STATE IN CYPRUS

This letter from George Karakasian reached us clandestinely from prison.

(All his books and letters have been confiscated, and mail with comrades has been stopped.)

I have been a hostage in the prisons of the Cypriot State since August 27 2002. The court convicted me with a seven months sentence because I rebelled, offering my solidarity to the fighting people of Palestine, but also, and mainly, because I didn’t regret hitting a cop, my class enemy. I admitted all the charges that the protectors and accomplices of the zionist murderers accused me of. In my ‘defence’ I said that the charges against me were questionable and completely ridiculous. The attempt to knock off a cop’s hat had been interpreted by the media as ‘continuous punching’ using artificial video repetition and false testimonies of the police.

Of course the attempt to slander, twisting and misrepresenting the events that took place on the 18 April outside the blood-drenched villa of the zionist scum, does not end here. During a period of social unrest marked by international mobilization against the baneful slaughter by the dominators which is continually intensifying (Afghanistan, Middle East and Iraq), the TV and radio represented the actions of anarchists and other fighting people as ‘shameful episodes’.

As well as persecuting rebels the Cypriot State imports Israeli systems of surveillance and has even provided a stadium for the Israeli team to play football in so as to maintain perfect diplomatic relations with the bloodthirsty State of Israel.

In my ‘defence’ in court (27/08/02) I said the following: ‘The police concocted this machination, adding maximum charges against me in order to vilify me as much as possible. The cops are the henchmen of the State, authority and zionism. I declare with full responsibility that I am against the State and every kind of authority. Concerning the ‘beating ‘ of the police chief, I do not see that I acted wrongly nor do I ask for the leniency of the court’.

The judge executioner, surprised at first, mentioned that this could not be called an ‘defence’ or was a defence in quotation marks. Then, furious, he had me remanded in custody until the day of the verdict (September 4) bearing in mind the report of the social welfare office.

4/09/02. Before pronouncing sentence the judge, on reading the interview that I gave to the social worker, said: ‘In his interview the accused expresses his ideology since he stated that he struggles for a society with equality and solidarity, without nations or classes.’ Before the judge could finish his sentence I raised my fist towards his hated bench, then towards the public to face my comrades who had fought with me, intending in this way to assure everyone in the courtroom, and also all those who every day sink further into the swamp of apathy and illusions, THAT CONSENSUS WITH THE TERRORIST STATE WILL NEVER EXIST

Finally I would like to give my solidarity to comrade Sotiris Marangos who is being tried for the same events and to all those who rebel everywhere in the world.

George Karaksaian

Central Prison of Cyprus,

Wing 2B 6523, Nicosia, Cyprus.

George’s imprisonment is a consequence of events that occurred at a demonstration outside the home of the Israeli ambassador in Nicosia, Cyprus. The occasion was a party the latter had decided to throw for local politicians and businessmen to celebrate the anniversary of the bloodthirsty State of Israel. Many people, including anarchists, were angry about this celebration of the genocide of the Palestinian people.

A number of arrests were made and particular repression was meted out to the anarchists as they did not attempt to defend their actions, underlining their solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle against the Israeli project of annihilation. George was severely beaten that night and taken to hospital. The next day his file was nowhere to be found. He was later sentenced to 7 month’s prison during which time his mail has been censured and all his personal belongings (books, letters, etc) have been confiscated.

Repression against anarchists and sympathisers in Cyprus does not stop here. Following a flyposting expedition a comrade was dragged away handcuffed from outside the anarchist meeting place, taken to the cop station and repeatedly beaten to the extent that the cops themselves took him to hospital. This however did not prevent them recommencing the beating upon their return. He was released, bruised and bleeding next day.

Anarchist comrade Sotiris Marangos is currently on trial in Nicosia court, under the same judge Papamichael who sentenced George - for which he received instant promotion - with similar charges. The next hearing has been set for December 5^th.

Here is the text of a poster that has been flyposted in various towns of Cyprus.

SOLIDARITY WITH ANARCHIST SOTIRIS MARANGOS

Who was arrested following a demonstration outside the Israeli ambassador’s home on 18/04/02 where he gave his unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people and is presently on trial, the next hearing being set for 5/12/02.

The crime is the distortion of the facts that night by the media.

The crime was the brutal beating of demonstrators by the cops.

The crime is the racist court and distribution of justice that could be the envy of any junta.

The crime is the existence of prisons which confirms enforced terrorism by the State.

THE CRIME IS THE TRIAL OF ANY SOCIAL REBEL.

SOLIDARITY IN THE REBELLION AGAINST THE EXISTANT!

DESTROY ALL PRISONS!