We will never stop wondering
I am sickened by the decision of a court judge to release Vassilis Xeros, despite his 25-year sentence for participating in, among other felonies, the murders of Constantinos Peratikos and Brigadier Stephen Saunders.
I grew up unwittingly knowing more about death than about life, with constant wonderment over the concept of terrorism and trying to understand its supporters. It became obvious to me that Greeks, historically and even more so today, are attracted by or often resort to violence. I believed, though, that the correlation between violence and authority was more complex than that presented by the present-day Indignant movement. I believed that violence is incited from many different directions, that it does not just stem from those in authority, but also from those who have none and who covet it.
The release of Xeros, however, has robbed me of the opportunity (or the innocence, to put it more correctly) to support this view, hasn?t it?
The anarchist website Indymedia wrote, ?Happy Freedom, Vassili,? and called for ?Freedom to Savvas Xeros? and for him to receive immediate medical treatment. Of course, the victims of both have no right to good health, maybe not even to respect in death. They will be forever robbed of fundamental human liberties, of their freedom. Their kith and kin, us, also remain unfree, forever robbed of the right of a parent to be with his or her child, of the right to feel their love. But, thankfully, this non-liberty affects just a few of us. But what of the freedom of society, of its right to non-violence — is anyone concerned about that? In this day and age, is there anyone who believes that the release of a convicted terrorist is as inexplicable as his actions?
Certainly not the judge, who based on his judgment, his training or some instinct, decided on the exemplary or reformatory reduction of Xeros?s sentence by 17 years.
So, happy freedom to the victimizers. Or, better yet, happy hunting. The rest of us will keep wondering. This is all the victims are ultimately allowed.
* M.V., who wishes to remain anonymous, is a member of the anti-terrorist group Os Edo (No More), which represents relatives of the victims of terrorism.
