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Ten civil wars in the anarchist space outline the history of revolutionary violence in Greece and draw the attention of the Greek police. Conflicts, splits and a series of public critical comments continuously form the new reality of armed anarchist organizations. The statement of the organization "Military People's Revolutionary Forces" on Tuesday evening, which criticizes the opinion of anarchists about the murder of two members of Golden Dawn on 1 November 2013 in Neo Iraklio, as well as the recantation of detained anarchists in Korydallos prison are just one more episode in the continuous infighting among anarchists.

In its proclamation, the organization "Military People's Revolutionary Forces" condemns statements of many anarchist centres which dispute the appropriateness and outcome of the double murder. As noted: "In the last 20 years, each armed revolutionary activity has been calumniated both by the left and some anarchists who talk about "provocations", "dark centres," etc., in this way revealing their actual role which is to sow defeatism, pretend to be victims and help the efforts of the state to isolate and suppress revolutionaries who have chosen the armed struggle. In this sense, the entire crowd of "fighters" starting from the official Left, the Communist Party and SYRIZA, Antarsia, but mostly some anarchists, does us a great honour."

The split in ELA (Revolutionary People's Struggle)

www.iefimerida.gr

Such conflicts have continuously occurred in the past. Their first outcome was the creation of the organization "17 November" in 1974 by former members of ELA who preferred to continue with bloody armed attacks, and not just bomb attacks. Until then, the parent organization of armed violence in Greece acted. ELA and "17 November" have acted together only during the murder of policeman Petros Babalis.

In the period 1980-1985, there were two other splits from ELA and the organization "October 80" was created, which works by blowing up shopping centres in downtown Athens. Another organisation was also created - "Anti-state struggle", which organized robberies and murders. Its leader was Christos Tsoutsouvis who was killed in May 1985 in a shootout with the police at Gizi. Blowing up stores caused disagreement of members of "17 November". A proclamation of a ghost-organization regarding the murder of American officer George Tsantes and his Greek driver in 1983 reads: "Contrary to claims by certain Exarcheia clowns, aimed at justifying their inaction, that a single execution cannot change everything, since imperialism will replace the man immediately, these actions are creating tremendous difficulties and obstacles for the American imperialism and their multiplication will result in its complete paralysis in our country."

There were similar splits and new armed groups were created in the period 1988-1990, as well as in the late 1990s.

Recent conflicts

There were splits among anarchists in the last five years, too and the most significant cases came after the death of three employees of the branch of Marfin Bank on Stadiou Street. The branch was blown up by anarchists in May 2010. Anarchists have transferred the responsibility among various organizations. The case with active anarchist Nikos Maziotis, who disappeared with his partner Paula Roupa in the summer of 2012 is similar. On the occasion of the testimony in the case of the People's Revolutionary Struggle, the anarchist spoke of "humiliation by Maziotis", while Maziotis himself said "We are used to being thrown mud at instead of being given political arguments."

Nikos Maziotis, picture www.tovima.gr

One of the biggest conflicts of armed organizations during the last months was among the 20 accused of being members of the "Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei". Many of them claim that they are involved in another "armed group", while others believe that the arrested members of the "Nuclei" are mobsters. Previously arrested members of the organization denied having any connection with those arrested for the robbery in Velvendo and the robbery of the café in Nea Philadelphia in 2013. These conflicts have resulted in fights among the arrested anarchists and their former comrades in Korydallos prison. These conflicts have been reshaping the map of armed organizations in recent months.

The arrested for the robbery in Velvendo. "Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei" denied that they are members of the organization, picture www.imerisia.gr