March 3, 2021
The anxious appeals are constantly increasing to respect the right of Dimitris Koufontinas, and as his health continues to deteriorate. Thousands of citizens demonstrated in downtown Athens denouncing the government’s overthrow of the prisoner. Demonstration of a fist by the government spokesman with countdown. Osteoporotic reaction of I. Kurtovic to S. Nikolaou.
Every hour that passes is vital to the life of Dimitris Koufontinas, who is now going through day 53 of hunger strike and day 8 of thirst strike while denying the process of recovering from unconsciousness.
As it became known on Monday evening, the doctor examined him and found that the potassium level is very low. This can lead to serious heart problems, with all that can mean for his life.
Government intransigence
With the visible possibility that our country will be the first person to die of a hunger strike, the government, with lies and distortions, decides to give up its responsibilities by insisting on an uncompromising stance.
In a question from “Ef.Syn.” Government spokesman Aristotle Peloni pointed out why the request to the central transfer committee was not answered as usual within a few days reply by Sofia Nikolaou.
In her cynical and intolerant position during the briefing of the political editors (01/03), the new government spokeswoman essentially refused to answer the question about the camera chosen by her government for the return of the detainee to his previous internment camp, in Korydallos, such as he demands it.
The government, through its representative, reiterated its false account of the case, claiming that Dim. Koufontinas seeks preferential treatment outside of the law, that he wanted to risk his life to blackmail the government, and that he never went to court despite the legal order allowed him.
In fact, he claimed that “the blackmailing of polyisovite does not affect the vast majority of Greek society, which has other problems,” but “a small majority that agrees with SYRIZA”.
I. Kurtovic replies to S. Nikolaou
At the same time that the government spokeswoman was doing a fist show, the secretary general showed great study and quick reflexes. Anti-crime policy, of course, not to accelerate a decision by the KEM so that Dimitris Koufontinas does not die, but to answer his lawyer Ioanna Kurtovic in detail and even look for misinformation!
I. Kurtovic’s response to S. Nikolaou was not long in coming and it was amazing.
Ms. Kurtovic launched a direct attack on S. Nikolaou, stressing that state institutions and those in public office “must not insult, slander or use their office to falsify the truth, silence the media and any disagreement to suppress.”
Regarding the question of the appeal to the judiciary, Ms. Kurtovic stated that “they are calling us to go to court, knowing that it is not possible because the conditions are not met and they have made sure that this is not possible. ”
The entire government “waged a war against a prisoner and insulted him for reaching the extremes of life fueled by his own vengeful violence,” concluded D. Koufontina’s lawyer.
The wave of solidarity grows
Despite the brutal repression of the past few days, thousands of citizens came out in central Athens on Monday afternoon and denounced the government’s overthrow of Dimitris Koufontinas.
With the basic slogan “No hunger strike dead” and a banner they demonstrated peacefully and at the same time that the government is deaf to the just request of the hunger striker to be taken to Korydallos prison.
Lawyers, student associations, parties from the extra-parliamentary left and collectives from the anti-authoritarian area took part in the meeting. Among the slogans that caught the eye were “Long live Dimitris Koufontinas, Victory Now on Hunger Strike” and the older slogan “Mitsotaki Bastard”, which was tried in July 1965 against the father of the current Prime Minister.
The rally turned into a march during which Syntagma protesters landed in Omonia.
“To rethink their uncompromising stance”
The Prisoners’ Rights Initiative, at the last minute, calls upon the Secretary General, Justice Ministers and the Justice Department, as well as the government leadership, to put an end to the crowns of the fight against so-called lawlessness and by taking their responsibility to answer the just plea of the hunger and thirst striker to satisfy immediately, that is, to apply more or less the abortion law that they themselves passed three months ago.
Open letter from medical students at the University of Crete
to the President of the Republic
Dear Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou,
As a group of medical students at the University of Crete, we ask for your support and immediate intervention in the unprecedented situation that has arisen in the Koufontina case. D. Koufontinas’ serious crimes are indisputable and for these acts he has already been convicted by the judiciary. Once a prisoner’s sentence has been properly served, he must be treated in accordance with the law in the same way as other prisoners. The state is obliged to be fair even in the face of an unrepentant murderer.
Let us first say that the allegations made by politicians, for example that the doctors were responsible for D. Koufontinas’ result, are misleading and unfounded. In particular, according to the decisions of international medical conferences on medical ethics and human rights, but also the United Nations and Amnesty International, the obligation to feed is a human torture and does not mean a medical act against the patient’s will. Attempts are therefore being made to simplify the role of doctors by the state, which does not correspond to the reality of the medical role, but aims to shift responsibilities from the state to the medical community.
In these circumstances, as members of the medical community and active citizens, we must describe the role of the rule of law in responding to the legitimate request of any detainee, especially when their life is in danger. The state should not take revenge on someone who has already been finally convicted, defies their just demands, and essentially condemns them a second time. The end of a patient would not only be a failure of the state to respond to a crisis with a humanitarian axis, it would also be a severe blow to democracy. In the post-colonial era and in modern Europe, no hunger striker was allowed to die, and we would be ashamed of such a premiere.
We therefore appeal to you as President of the Republic to comply with D. Koufontinas’ request for fair treatment. Everything shows that it is now up to you to ensure the highest good of human life to open a window of hope aimed at improving the penitentiary system in Greece. Finally, we would like to express our support to the doctors who took care of him and decide to refuse his compulsory feeding.
Our attitude towards any inmate in a similar position would be the same regardless of their beliefs or criminal history.
Sincerely, sign
Avatziadis Panagiotis 4th year
Andreas Trapalis 3rd year
Anomerianaki Polyxeni 4th year
Vasilaki Maria 4th year
Velidakis Antonios 4th year
Vogiatzakis Charalambos 4th year
Vouis Theofilos 4th year
Yalepsou Chara 4th year
Giannakou Sotiroula 2nd year
Giannelou Penelope-Anna 4th year
Gaglu-Daniel Vassiliki 6th + year
Diamantakis Emmanouil 4th year
Dospras George 6th year
Erasmia Boulitsaki 6th year
Ilia Christina 4th year
Kandili Marina 5th year
Karapiperis Evangelos 6th year
Katiforis Athanasios 5th year
Katrinakis Dimitris 6th year
Katsenios Dimitris 6th year
Kikerakis Anastasios 4th year
Kokkinakis Ioannis 6th year
Kokkinovasilis Dimitris 6 ..
Kouloura Alexandra 4th year
Kourgiantaki Olga 2nd year
Kouroudi Theofano-Angeliki 4th year
Kyriakaki Flora 4th year
Loupasakis Manolis 5th year
Mathioudaki Maria 4th year
Makri Artemis-Maria 4th year
Mantouvalos Nikolaos 4th year
Mavridi Emmanuela 6th year
Melani Areti-Eliana 5th year
Michaliou Emmanuela 5th year
Bassuna Maria-Emmanuela 3rd year
Besiri Brigade 6th + year
Billiari Eleni 4th year
Boniakou Ioanna 4th year
Mytilene Dimitrios Orestis 4th year
Palyvos Nikos-Haris 4th year
Papadaki Evangelia – Iliana 4th year
Papadakis George 4th year
Papadakis George 4th year
Papadopoulou Emilia 6th + year
Papalexandraki Melina 5th year
Papamarkaki Victory 3rd year
Pelagia Kouklaki 5th year
Piperaki Aspasia 5th year
Portsaki Eliana 3rd year
Rovithi Erasmia 4th year
Rodi Maria 3rd year
Rousochatzakis Konstantinos 6th + year
Stavroulakis Andreas 1st year
Togalidou Maria 5th year
Triantoulis Nathanael-Nikiforos 6th year
Circus Georgia 5th year
Georgia Gabriela Fanaropoulou 6th year
Flouri Despina 5th year
Flora Houzouri 5th year
Fragonikolaki Michaela 5th year
Fradellou Maria-Irini 6th year
Hadjimichael Maria 6th year
Chatzistavrou Kalliopi 6th year
Houstoulaki Marina 4th year
Chrysovalantis Kotoulas 6th year
Psyllaki Anna 5th year
Published at newsbeezer.com / www.efsyn.gr
