Statement of the Mediterranean Anarchist Meeting on October
2015 in Greece (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
The Mediterranean Anarchist Meeting took place in Greece, on October 9 till 18, with the
participation of hundreds of comrades. These 10 days included actions and events in
Athens,Thessaloniki,Patras, Herakleion and Rethymno, while the peak was the 3days meeting
in Chania. The meeting was organized by the "Three Bridges" Anarchist Campaign of
Internationalist Solidarity, which consists of local co-ordinations and initiatives of
seven cities of Greece, with the support of IFA-IAF,International of Anarchist
Federations. The groups, federations and collectives that participated, contributed in the
financial funding of the meeting. ---- A 3 day of open events took place in Athens
(9-11/10), including discussions on matters such as the current situation in Balkans and
the place of revolutionary movement, the content of action and the forms of anarchist
organization today in the Mediterranean countries, as well as the timeliness of anarchist
ideas. Furthermore, an open intervention against the machines of war, nationalism and
fascism took place, during the 3-day, in the area of Thisio, as well as a concert in
solidarity with prisoner fighters, in cooperation with the "Fund of Solidarity with
Prisoners and Persecuted Fighters".
The 4days Balkan Anarchist Meeting was held in Thessaloniki (11-14/10), with the
participation of hundreds of comrades from Balkan countries. During that meeting, the
chance was given to highlight matters such as antifascism, antimilitarism,
antinationalism, as well as the social resistances and self-organization structures in
different Balkan countries like Slovenia, Romania and Serbia, while the matter of
management of migration routes in Balkan Peninsula was considered as extremely significant.
An event was held in Patras (14/10) about the "NO TAV" struggle in northeastern Italy and
the struggle of inhabitants of northeastern Chalkidiki against gold and copper mines.
Another event was held in Herakleion (14/10) about the EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones),
energy and geopolitics, while another event was held in Rethymno (15/10) about the
movement, organization and resistance in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.
Additionally, the "Three Bridges" Campaign was present in marches that were organized in
Athens, Thessaloniki and Rethymno, in the impact of the murders of fighters in Turkey.
Two significant open events took place in Chania (16-18/10):
The first concerned the struggle for democratic confederationalism in Kurdish regions of
north Syria and southeastern Turkey.
The second dealt with the in-war situation in the wide area of Ukraine and the role of
current internationalist movement concerning the developments there.
A demonstration and march of Internationalist Solidarity was held in the streets of
Chania. Over 300 people from 17 countries took part in the march.
We met there in order to discuss, exchange experiences, concerns, opinions.
We met to build bridges between our resistances, to connect our struggles, to bring our
peoples a step closer.
We met to demonstrate that we make an opposition by presenting a world of solidarity
amongst people, against the brutality inflicted by states, capitalism,nationalism, racism
and religious fundamentalism.
We met to openly declare our own proposition of libertarian confederationalism of free
municipalities and historical geographical regions, against the imposed by national states
and hegemonic powers, departmentalization of land and sea.
We met to bring dignity, social liberation and anarchy a step closer.
Comrades from Portugal to Turkey and USA to Iceland, Germany and Sweden. Let this meeting
be a bridge of communication, constantly broadening, to find another solid basis on the
African coast of Mediterranean sea.
During the 3day peak of the Mediterranean Anarchist Meeting in Chania, Crete, in the
historical crossroad of Eastern Mediterranean, we created new paths of collaboration and
solidarity . Members of groups, regional federations, federations of territorial range,
libertarian syndicates, other collective forms, configured a discussion frame to promote
in action the Anarchist Internationalist Solidarity.
The frame includes:
The direct cooperation and solidarity in struggles and forms of resistance which take
place in the Balkan Peninsula today, as well as throughout the Mediterranean Basin.
A suggestion for a new meeting in the beginning of April 2016, in the purpose of
formulating a Balkan Anarchist Front, which will include federations, assemblies,
initiatives from the Anarchist Balkan area, using the "Three Bridges" Campaign valuable
organizing experiences, which was completed as the M.A.M ended.
An expression of interest, until the next meeting, by federations, groups, assemblies from
the countries of the Mediterranean, for a similar Mediterranean Front of Struggle.
An invitation to comrades from Northern Europe and Northern America, for similar meetings
that could possibly be held there.
Furthermore, it is important to report the efforts to suppress and interrupt the
organization of the Mediterranean Anarchist Meeting.
Referring to specific incidents such as:
Member of the Anarchist Campaign-3 Bridges was thoroughly searched by the police, that
conducted physical search as well as had the comrade's car searched, in the middle of a
busy road in the Centre of Athens, a few hours before the Athenean 3Day event (11/10) was
completed.
People who took part in the 3Day Athenean events were stopped and asked for their ID
cards, on the last day of the events.
Comrades and co-fighters who arrived in Chania on the same flight were thoroughly searched
by the police, using both physical and luggage control, in Chania police headquarters.
With the pretext of finding 2 empty shells in their baggage, the greek police authority
arrested a lawyer from Turkey, and the prosecutor charged her with a misdemeanor according
to the gun laws.
These incidents show that the Greek state, still ,even after the coalition of SYRIZA-ANEL,
have not changed their strategy concerning significant matters of foreign affairs
politics, following exactly their predecessors, but continue to unfold plans of
suppression and machinations against any open movement effort that tries to bring
neighboring people's struggles closer, just like before.
The Mediterranean Anarchist Meeting is just another step in the everyday actions and
presence of anarchists in the places were they live and work, attempting to formulate,
along with everyone who resists and tries to create forms of organization from below, a
world of dignity and freedom.
Returning to our hometowns, each one of us, feel stronger and more certain that life
worths fighting for.
Solidarity is our weapon.
Chania, 18 October 2015
http://3gefires.org/en/statement-mediterranean-anarchist-meeting
