Athens, June 25 – Members of the Occupied Prosfygika community announced the cessation of the hunger strike by Aristotelis Chantzis and Suzon Doppagne during a mobilization at Syntagma Square on Wednesday afternoon. The decision followed a resolution by the Athens Municipal Council, which called for the Region of Attica to halt the implementation of its program agreement and for the Prosfygika community to suspend the hunger strike.
Community Declares Victory, Vows Continued Struggle
“We will continue the struggle by other means,” the community stated, emphasizing that they consider the struggle “victorious, as a wave of resistance from below that managed to form a broad and expanded front against the politics of death.” This announcement signals a shift in tactics, with the community committed to pursuing their goals through alternative avenues.
Athens Municipal Council’s Resolution
Earlier in the day, the Athens Municipal Council approved by majority a resolution addressing the situation. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas confirmed the resolution in a post, stating that it urged the Region to cease its program agreement and the Prosfygika community to suspend the hunger strike. The resolution also proposed that both the Region and the Prosfygika community “take a step back and immediately proceed to an institutional dialogue with the participation of the Municipality, in order to find a commonly accepted solution.”
Mayor Doukas highlighted the priority of human life during these critical hours, noting that the “Athens Now” and “Open City” factions supported the resolution. He also called upon the government and the Region to respond to the proposal and initiate immediate dialogue with the Prosfygika community, with the involvement of the Municipality of Athens, to definitively end the tension. Political parties were also encouraged to contribute to finding a mutually acceptable solution.
Critical Health Condition of Hunger Striker
Hospital doctors treating Aristotelis Chantzis issued an announcement detailing his severe health condition. “The hunger striker is hospitalised due to acute Wernicke’s encephalopathy with diplopia and ataxic gait, while he also presents serious electrolyte disorders that predispose him to life-threatening arrhythmias,” the doctors stated. They further reported that his health remained “extremely critical, with very serious, persistent hypoglycaemic episodes, while due to a swallowing disorder caused by muscle weakness, he has experienced aspiration into the respiratory system and hypoxia. Generalised severe muscle weakness has also affected the respiratory muscles and the muscles of the face and eyes. He is being administered inhaled bronchodilators and oxygen via nasal cannula.”
This critical medical update underscored the urgency of the situation and likely played a significant role in the council’s decision and the community’s choice to end the hunger strike.
Background to the Dispute
The hunger strike and the subsequent resolution are rooted in a broader dispute concerning the Occupied Prosfygika community and the implementation of a program agreement by the Region of Attica. The community has been actively resisting policies they describe as the “politics of death,” advocating for their rights and seeking a resolution that addresses their concerns.
The Athens Municipal Council’s intervention represents a significant development, offering a path towards dialogue and a potential resolution to the long-standing tensions. The community’s decision to end the hunger strike, while declaring a victory, indicates a strategic shift towards engaging in negotiations and continuing their advocacy through different means.
The situation in Prosfygika has drawn attention to issues of civil rights and solidarity within Athens, with various factions and institutions now involved in seeking a resolution. The upcoming dialogue, with the participation of the Municipality, the Region, and the Prosfygika community, will be crucial in determining the future of the occupied community and addressing the underlying grievances.
Source: https://thepressproject.gr/prosfygika-hunger-strike-ends-after-athens-council-resolution/
