Subject: [co] Trial against Greek CO Nikos Kranikas
Sender: owner-co-list@katto.kaapeli.fi
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 17:41:41 +0100 (MET)
Dear friends,
Nikos Karanikas, conscientious objector from Greece, is facing a new trail for desertion, he has hid in the underground instead of going to the army. Greece has adopted a new law recongnizing the right to conscientious objection last year, it is force since January 1998. THIS TRIAL IS A SCANDAL and we try to put some pressure on the Greek authorities. So: if you want to support our campaign against criminal prosecution of Greek COs, send similar letters to the Minister of Defense.
Brussels, 9 March 1998
The Minister of Defense
Akis Tsouchatsopoulos
Athens
Fax: 0030-1-644.3832
Open letter concerning the trial against Nikos Karanikas
Dear Sir,
Please let us express our concern over the announcement of new trial against Nikos Karanikas that will take place next Tuesday, 10 March 1998, in Thessaloniki.
Nikos Karanikas was sentenced to one year imprisonment in December 1995 because of his conscientious objection to military service. However he refused to begin to serve this sentence and also to present himself to the army and had to hide in the underground. Even now that a new law is in force recognizing conscientious objection and introducing an alternative civilian service in Greece, Nikos Karanikas is still considered as deserter and therefore has to face this new trial.
We would like to recall the resolution of the European Parliament to the Report on the Respect for Human Rights in the EU of 17 February 1998, where the European Parliament calls on Greece to liberate those from alternative service, who have objected before the new law went into force and to give full amnesty to all conscientious objectors in the past.
Also in regard to possible future trials and problems that might occur to conscientious objectors from the past years in the transition period, we would like to underline the importance of this resolution and call for moderate regulations.
Sincerely,
The European Bureau for Conscientous Objection
EUROPEAN BUREAU FOR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
Rue van Elewyck 35 - straat - 1050 Brussels - Belgium
tel.: +32 (0) 2.648.5220 - fax +32.2.6400774 -
email: ebco@club.innet.be
florian.gommel@brussels.blackbox.at
WEB: http://www.club.innet.be/~ind2088/EBCO
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