Dimitris Koufodinas’ life in danger, after 50 days of hunger strike in Greek jail
The danger to see the first victim of hunger strike in Europe on 21th century is ante portas.
Dimitris Koufodinas is serving 11 times life sentence plus 25 years after he was convicted as a member of the Revolutionary Organization November 17th (17N). The 17N was active in Greece since 1975 and until 2002, when it has been dismantled by the Greek authorities in collaboration with US and British officers. It has been the one between others organisations that have been born during the Greek dictatorship and after its collapse. The dictatorship has been supported by the USA in all possible ways.
The first appearance of 17N was in 1975, in this context, with the shooting of the CIA chief for Southeast Europe. Since then, breaking up the 17N has been a fundamental US demand, with great pressure on all Greek governments. In 1989, a Greek politician and journalist, Pavlos Bakogiannis, fell victim of the organization. He was brother-in-law of the current Prime Minister, husband of his sister, Dora Bakogianni ex Ministry of foreign Affairs, and father of the present-day Mayor of Athens.
Dimitris Koufodinas surrendered in 2002, during the 17N dismantle researches. He declared that he was a member of the organization and he assumed political responsibility for its actions. He did not defend himself nor did he testify against any of his co-defendants. But during the Court audiences he referred to the moving causes of the 17N actions and because of this, he has been convicted for the most of them. This stance of him was appreciated by a notable part of people in the Greek society, even being very hostile to the lethal activity of the organisation.
