Greece – fascism is celebrating. Norway bears heavy co-responsibility

Orientering 1. May 1968

For a year fascism has prevailed in Greece. 21. April 1968, the Colonel Junta sits more firmly in the saddle than it did after 21. April 1967. Not because the Greek people have joined. The tranquility that prevails in Greece is the tranquility that in dictatorial states is based on raw power, on soldiers, on weapons and terror. Some of the regime's opponents have been released from prisons. a. The world-renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis and Andreas Papandreou, equally world-renowned and prominent official in Kennedy's administration. These are not sacrifices on the altar of democracy and humanism, but attempts to create alibi abroad. Those circles outside Greece who, for military and economic reasons, are investing in the fascist junta, want the most obscene blemishes removed. The release of Papandreou also has another and significant side: the junta would sooner or later be forced to bring Papandreou to trial following the fabricated charges in the so-called Aspida case. Especially after the main witnesses in the case fled abroad and revealed that their testimonies were released under pressure, the trial would end with scandal for the junta.

Prison and torture. Thousands are still imprisoned, probably about 10 000. The regime's numbers were 2000, yet stated it before 21. April that 3000 was granted amnesty (Persons with judges under 6 months). Former bourgeois prime ministers Georgis Papandreou and Kanellopoulos are under house arrest in Athens, all really radical politicians. leaders and supporters of SF's fraternity party, EDA, are still tempting a miserable existence in the concentration camps on the islands of Yaros, Leros, etc. to keep locked up. Daily, these prisoners are subjected to, according to Amnesty International, sexual torture, electric shock treatment, nail extraction, pumping of water into the victims until they are soft enough to give up.

Referendum now – a farce. The junta announces a referendum this fall on a new constitution. A referendum in these circumstances is a farce, and of course there is no constitution that provides the basis for democracy. The fascist junta shall set the conditions for political activity, assess the persons and parties and their rights. Will the junta succeed with this tactic to the outside world?

In my first article after the visit to Athens last August, I wrote, among other things:

"Whether it is a lasting or short-lived dictatorship of the present type, conservative and liberal politicians will be released from prisons. Greece will probably, perhaps soon, return to such "democratic conditions" as in the period from 1949 to the closer 60 years, with thousands of political prisoners, at Yaros and in other camps. Will the world opinion again be silent? Will most of those who today are genuinely hurt by the conditions in Greece settle for "it has gotten better in Greece even though it does not have our form of democracy"? To remain at ease with the United States deciding at any time the degree of democracy and freedom in countries around the world. ”

NATO and the United States are holding the regime up. This issue has not become less relevant. Western "democracy" is about to conquer Greece as effectively as it is to defeat Truman doctrine and US troops in 1949. I expect the regime would decorate the dictatorship's facade more than it has. It has proved unnecessary. The NATO Council bluntly refuses to discuss the situation in Greece. No "interference with internal matters". Whether there are fascist conditions is indifferent to the NATO that boasts that it is a protection of democracy and freedom.

There is talk of Norway's efforts for Greece. The only thing Norway has done is to participate in an action through the Council of Europe. Finally, after nine months of fascism, the Council of Europe gave the regime a deadline for 1. January 1969, allegedly to reintroduce parliamentarism. In reality, it gave the junta time to fortify the dictatorship. Greece is a NATO member as before, with all rights, and on Greek national day 25. In March, the US government declared it pleased with developments in Greece and announced that arms deliveries would be resumed in full. Together with West Germany (and also foreign
Minister Willy Brandt cries crocodile tears over the death of Greek democracy) gave the United States $ 2 billion in arms from the April coup to the end of 1967. The commander of NATO's Southern Command, US Admiral Horatio Rivero, invited the men of the junta to dinner, stating that Greece had never been such a trusting and stable alliance partner. Quite in line with the statement Dean Rusk already delivered on 29.4, that is, eight days after the coup: "I am happy to state that Greece will continue to provide a strong support for NATO."

Foreign investment flows into the country. Foreign capital flows to the country to a much greater extent than ever before, not only from the United States, but from a number of European countries, especially Germany, but also from Sweden – the country that has, after all, taken the clearest stand against the junta. Capital owners see the benefit of investing in a country where weapons create "stability" and are also aware that their investments ensure this stability. The World Bank, which has never helped Greece before, has now granted a larger loan to protest, among other things. a. from Andreas Papandreou.

The role of the CIA. Shortly after the coup, the facts were sufficient to establish that the CIA had played a dominant role. It soon became known that not only the CIA, but also the US government was familiar with and sympathized with the plan for another coup, from King Constantine and his generals. It has long been a fact that the Colonel coup only came the King / General coup in the sale. The latter was to be implemented in conjunction with the planned elections 28. May 1967, but much indicates that it may have already arrived at the opening of the election campaign 23. April, that is, just two days after the colonel struck.

Johnson fully informed about the coup. For a long time, the CIA's operations were barely conceded by NATO supporters. As the facts have been put on the table, it has had to be acknowledged that the CIA runs an extensive international game. But still, the American has been acquitted
government by pointing out that the CIA operates on its own. There is no doubt that the CIA has very free hands, but it is still a state of the US state, an integral and officially supported part of the US apparatus – and the major repulsions by the CIA such as the invasion of Cuba, were first made by permission of the President (Kennedy).

That's how it happened in Greece, too. Not only the CIA, but also the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defense in Washington were informed of the colonel's coup. American economics professor Steven Rousseas has written a book ("The Death of Democracy – Greece and the American Conscience") and talks here, among other things, about a top-level meeting on the initiative of President Johnson's special adviser on security policy issues, Walt Rostow. The President must therefore have been fully informed. Rousseas writes that both of the planned coups were discussed (ie before any coup was implemented), and that the United States took an active part in the preparation of the colonel coup. Rousseas also emphasizes previously known facts about the US Embassy's operations and the fact that the US Sixth Fleet anchored in Athens when the coup began and remained until it was completed and secured.

What about Aase Lionæs? Fascism has come to power and is held in power in a European country in 1968 with the help of NATO and the dominant country, USA. The fascist regime has maintained its position in NATO, while arms aid and foreign investment have increased and reached greater heights than ever before under more democratic regimes in Greece. This should be something of a cross for those who, for technical reasons, have to show concern for the Greek people, who are also engaged in comitology work for Greece, but at the same time consider Norway's continued membership in NATO as the biggest political issue at home. A debate on Greece today is unthinkable without a debate on the US and NATO. An effort for the Greek people is unthinkable without a fight against the leading circles of the United States and NATO who had and are responsible for the repression.

Norway and other democracies showed resentment when democracy was crushed in Spain. Our relationship today is worse. We are allied with fascism and the forces that created it and hold it in power. Norway bears a direct and heavy co-responsibility for the tragedy day by day.

Norwegian politicians receive Greeks like Andreas Papandreou and Melina Mercouri, giving alibi and publicity. But how long can they act with two faces?

Follow editor Truls Lie on X(twitter) or Telegram