The frequent appearances of Dimitris Koufontinas have sparked fears of a return to extremist violence before this year's elections, the Financial Times writes, referring to the permits obtained by the 17N executor, but also the walk he had taken in the center of Athens.
Noting that the 17N executor has never expressed remorse, FT points out that Koufontina has been given five licenses in the last year. "Although his latest request for leave has been rejected, his increased appearances in recent months have sparked fears of a return to extremist violence ahead of this year's election," the report said.
Referring to Koufontinas' walk in the center of Athens on January 2, a counter-terrorism expert told the FT: "He was sending a message that he is here and that he is still a devoted revolutionary. And his recent lenient treatment by the Ministry of Justice "plays" well with parts of the SYRIZA electoral base ".
"The government has the power to block the license, but its tolerance of Mr. Koufontina is seen by some as a 'game' with the hardline left-wing voters who were alienated when Mr Tsipras agreed to years of disastrous austerity after his 2015 election victory. "in exchange for a third bailout," the Financial Times reported.
Former high-ranking police officers and counter-terrorism experts also fear that extremist groups could cause unrest in the election campaign, the report said. "This government is unusually tolerant of (anti-authoritarian) groups, perhaps because top SYRIZA figures began their political careers as student activists involved in street violence," said a former police officer.
On his recent walk, Koufontinas was accompanied by a leading member of the Rubicon, the report notes, noting that it is an anarchist group that regularly vandalizes government buildings, foreign embassies and corporate offices, and that its members are rarely arrested. Asked about the Koufontina-Rubicon relations, an official of the Ministry of Civil Protection replied to the FT that these are just rumors and nothing more.
"These groups now see Koufontina as a revolutionary hero and in the case of Rubicon, as their mentor," a former police officer told the FT. The article also refers to the bombing of the SKAI building and the taking of responsibility by OLA. "OLA is trying to recreate an ideological basis for political violence. And Koufontinas is part of that. It is a symbol of revolutionary consistency, "said Brady Kiesling, a former US diplomat who has written a book about 17N and other Greek terrorist groups. The FT notes that although ALL seems to be imitating the 17N's operational style with sporadic attacks on carefully selected targets, it has not attempted assassination.
But fears of extremist attacks remain, the FT concludes. "Violence has been a political tool for a far-left minority for decades and has been tolerated, to some extent, by politicians. "Unfortunately, it is not clear what will be needed to eradicate it by democratic means," said the anti-terrorism expert.
Source: iefimerida.gr