MEP calls for jailed ‘Thessaloniki three’ to go free

By Martin Banks

Date: 13/11/03

THREE anti-globalization protestors, who were arrested at the Thessaloniki summit and have been in jail since, should be freed immediately, it was claimed this week.

Graphic designer Simon Chapman, 30, from Basildon, Essex, has been on hunger strike since 5 October, along with two Spaniards, Fernando Perez and Carlos Martin Martinez, also arrested at the 21 June summit in Greece. They have had three bail applications refused and are awaiting a fourth hearing next Thursday (20 November). If this fails, they could face up to 18 months in jail without trial.

The three, who vehemently protest their innocence, are charged with riot and explosives offences. They claim video evidence proves that police planted petrol bombs and other weapons on them.

Their case has been taken up by British Liberal MEP Sarah Ludford and campaign group Fair Trials Abroad.

For his own part, Chapman claims that after being overpowered with tear gas and beaten by police, officers removed his bag - which contained only water and clothes - and planted petrol bombs, an axe and a hammer inside.

His claims are apparently supported by film evidence taken from ET3, the Greek national TV news channel. A photograph from Reuters shows Chapman lying on the ground apparently being kicked by a policeman in riot gear.

British MEP Sarah Ludford and campaign group Fair Trials Abroad have called for three anti-globalisation protestors to be freed. The three, one Briton and two Spaniards, were arrested after protesting at the European Council in Thessaloniki, 19-20 June 2003.