Legal team 2003 consists of lawyers who wish to assist demonstrators in order to exert their right to demonstrate freely, as long as their manifestations have no racist or xenophobe content. Part of our aim
Legal team 2003 consists of lawyers who wish to assist demonstrators in order to exert
their right to demonstrate freely, as long as their manifestations have no racist or xenophobe
content. Part of our aim is to offer legal support to whoever may need it, as well as the
provision of consultative-informative material to all those who will demonstrate in
Thessaloniki on the occasion of the Summit Meeting (Conference) of EEC, which will take
place in June 2003.
During the days of demonstrations (13-21/06/2003) you can contact us in tel. 2310 24310
(5 lines)Thessaloniki:Legal advice team
The Legal Team’s website carries information and advice in Greek, German, French, Italian,
Turkish and English.
LEGAL TEAM FOR THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THESSALONIKI IN JUNE
2003
Basic principles / objectives
In view of the Thessalonica EU Summit of 2003 and fully aware of the intensity of
demonstrator repression in international rallies, we have created LEGAL TEAM 2003 the
objective of which is to cover the practical legal needs of the demonstrators that will arise
from the rallies. We are also fully aware that the legal needs of the aforesaid demonstrators
will end long after the conclusion of the demonstrations.
1. RECIPIENTS OF LEGAL AID
(A) In the first place, we offer legal assistance to all the victims of repression, during the
stage of arrest and detention at the police station (prior to legal action with an attorney’s
representation), as preliminary proceedings can often involve a brutal violation of
fundamental rights, physical integrity, and human dignity. The legal assistance is addressed to
whoever is in need of it, with the exception of those who demonstrate with a racist or
xenophobic attitude.
(B) Secondly, legal assistance can be offered during the preliminary hearing, main hearing
and Court hearing procedures. At this point, some limits should be set: we are not willing to
defend all those involved in criminal justice processes. [though we do not subscribe to an
established set of political beliefs or orientation, we are entitled to set certain conditions for
the supply of legal aid. We have, therefore, concluded that the demonstrators’ defence
should meet the following criteria:
B1. The adoption of a basic political stance in Court by the accused, in the sense that they
should not disparage political and social rights. According to the principles of this text, legal
aid is also provided to non-participants, who have been victims of the violence and
repression of the State (for example, in cases of forcing immigrants and homeless people out
of certain areas, prior to such summits, have been recorded).
B2. The accused should not denounce or aggravate the position of other demonstrators
involved in criminal offences. Legal assistance will be provided if the aggravating testimony
is held under coercive practices and the defendant evokes this when he gets an attorney.
Any member of the legal team can ask, during the defence procedure, to be replaced by
another member, for personal or conscientious reasons.
2. DOMAIN OF OPERATION
Our domain of operation can and should cover the following areas:
– Supply of information on the Greek legal system before and during demonstrations
– Supply of information on the Greek legal system, both to native and foreign demonstrators
(preparation of leaflets and websites, organizing events for the demonstrators, briefings
before the Summit).
– Assistance to foreign demonstrators who may face problems when crossing the border.
– Presence at police stations: spotting those arrested, escorting them to the prosecutor
– Defending those<