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Greece frees red terrorists, puts focus on Al Qaida

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, November 14, 2005

ATHENS — Greece has been reconciling with its longtime anti-American insurgency movement.

More than two years after it declared the end of left-wing terrorism, Greece has begun releasing insurgents convicted of sabotage and other offenses. Officials said the release comes as the Athens government has determined that Al Qaida and Islamic operatives pose the new threat to the country.

On Nov. 7, the only woman ever found guilty of terrorism offenses in Greece has been freed. Irene Athanassaki, who had been serving a 25-year sentence, was released by a five-member Appeals Court, Middle East Newsline reported.

Ms. Athanassaki personified Greece's new policy of making peace with the former left-wing insurgency. In 2004, she was sentenced to the maximum 25 years for her role in the Revolutionary Popular Struggle, or ELA. ELA has been deemed the oldest left-wing insurgency group in Greece.

The appeals court accepted Ms. Athanassaki's argument that she was no longer dangerous. In 2005, she was acquitted of charges that as an ELA operative, she was responsible for a series of bomb attacks on government buildings.

All six of the defendants in the second trial were acquitted. The court cited lack of evidence.

The left-wing insurgents released were convicted of crimes that took place in the 1980s. Many of them, such as Ms. Athanassaki, were now in their 50s and have pleaded to poor health.

In 2005, a Greek court released another ELA operative, Christos Tsigaridas, on grounds of poor health. Another colleague who attended Ms. Athanassaki's appeals hearing was Mihalis Kassimis, acquitted in two ELA trials.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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