Greek proffessional soldier refuses to deploy to Iraq by Committee for Solidarity with Soldiers, Greec Saturday May 10, 2003 at 03:02 PM |
antiwargr@yahoo.gr |
The acts of resistance against the unlawful occupation of Iraq become more and more in the Greek army. For the first time, a Greek PROFESSIONAL soldier declares publicly that he refuses to deploy to Iraq.
Seaman
Apprentice George Monastiriotis, 23 years old, a professional soldier who has a 5
years contract with the Hellenic Navy, refused to embark on the battleship
"NAVARINO" (he is a member of its crew) that will be sailing for the
Persian Gulf in a few days. He also declared his immediate resignation from the
Hellenic Navy. Although the battleship "NAVARINO" will be in the
Persian Gulf for the needs of the operation "Enduring Freedom" that
officially has nothing to do with the occupation of Iraq, it will actually
support the occupying forces. The navy has not responded to the declaration of the 23-year-old Seaman
Apprentice, yet. However he faces the threat of being court martialled. His full statement is presented below: "STATEMENT
OF REFUSAL Acting on the basis of my
conscience, I refuse to take part or contribute by any means in the relentless
slaughter of the Iraqi people. I refuse to take part in a war that is not ended
as even now after its official end people and among them many children are
being killed. Even if this war is officially finished, many more are to come, as
war is necessary for the expansion of the dominance of the ruling powers. I
declare my immediate resignation from the Hellenic Navy, which is a mechanism
that promotes inhuman practices through orders and hierarchy and acts as a means
of extortion and repression of the movement and the uprisings of the people. My
refusal is also the minimal act of solidarity to the Iraqi people and to the
peaceful sentiments of the Greek people. " You can send him messages of
support at his email: You can also send messages of
support for him to the
iro9@hotmail.com
Hellenic Navy Staff: contact@hellenicnavy.gr