Athens, correspondence - The trial of members of the Greek anarchist group of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire very nearly exploded from the first day, Monday, Jan. 17. The first day of hearings taking place in the prison of Korydallos, a suburb of Athens, was marked by many incidents before a judge who seemed very quickly overtaken by events.The nine defendants present, only two of which claim membership in this group that claimed responsibility for several bombings in early 2008, including sending parcel bombs to several embassies and European officials have asked that the public can freely access the hearing. They were surrounded by many friends who were shouting slogans at each recess, but they had to leave their ID at the entrance for them to be photocopied.
The court ensured that the copies would be destroyed, but nobody in the room was willing to believe. They also asked for the recording as happened in the trial group of 17 extreme left-November, authors of a series of deadly bombings. They were also protesting against the use of handcuffs on entering the room, so they are already in jail.
Initially, Judge Maria Mariellou seemed to prove them right before they announce that the State did not have the capability to record the proceedings and he had to leave his ID at the entrance in accordance with prison regulations. The defendants left the room. "This is a court not a prison," replied a lawyer, summing up all the contradictions of the procedure.
For safety reasons and according to anti-terrorism laws adopted by the Greek government since 2001, suspected members of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire are the subject of a special procedure before a court composed of judges only. Lawyers denounce "an exceptional justice." The judge is an icon in front of a Christ Pantocrator.
The attorney sits on the same bench that, a few meters. Nothing distinguishes prosecutors and headquarters. This is true of all trials in Greece. Before the court, a row of police officers faced the defendants. Another row separates them from the room. Over thirty policemen in the room, not counting officers in civilian clothes.
This omnipresence police weighs on debates that take place in a courtroom prefabricated in a prison yard. The accused are young. For the most part, they just go beyond their twenties. They protest loudly, but they spend most of their time to laugh together, to greet their comrades in the room.
Presented by the police as the group's leader, Haris Hatzimihelakis, 22, speaks loudly, but in a voice not always assured. When he sits down, he turned to friends of the public for their tongue out, laughing. The hearing was adjourned until Monday, January 24. The court will then respond to requests from defendants and their lawyers.
The trial of this new generation of Greek terrorists seems wrong committed. Alain Salles
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