GREECE: FIRST OF THREE TRIALS OF OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE FORMER MILITARY DICTATORSHIP BEGINS IN THE MIDST OF TIGHT SECURITY.

Record ID: 1059096

  • Title: GREECE: FIRST OF THREE TRIALS OF OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE FORMER MILITARY DICTATORSHIP BEGINS IN THE MIDST OF TIGHT SECURITY.
  • Date: 26th July 1975
  • Summary: 1. SVs Relatives of junta leaders wait for visiting time in prison (3shots) 0.19 2. GV ZOOM OUT Prison 0.30 3. GV New courtroom & security men being instructed (4 shots) 0.58 4. SV Officers out of bus for court-material 1.10 5. GV Judges entering court, including defendents (6shots) 1.32 6. SV Newsmen watching closed circuit television transmission of court proceedings 1.54 TRANSCRIPT: "At the gates of an Athens prison the families of men about to go on trial wait patiently for visiting time. These are relatives of the 24 leaders of the junta accused of abolishing democratic government in Greece resulting in seven years of military dictatorship." "For security reasons, the possibility of demonstrations, or even kidnap or assassination attempts, the defendents in the treason trial have now been removed to a women's prison. "A new courtroom has been specially built for what is regarded in Greece as the most important of the trails taking place this summer. Among the defendents here was George Papadopoulos the former artillery colonel behind the 1967 coup. To guard and of course to protect the accused there will probably be as many armed policemen on duty in the courtroom as participant and obser???rs. There have been daily security b???fings. "The second major trial, the conspiracy trial, the court martial of another group of 21 officers, has already begun. They're brought to their court every day by bus. They too face a possible death sentence if they're found guilty by their judges of uniting for the purpose of mutiny earlier this year. Their ultimate aims, according to the prosecution, were to force the present government to outlaw the Communists, to take the Greek armed forces back into the military wing of NATO and to get the government to drop the charges against those now accused in the treason trial. The third hearing the so-called torture trial involving 32 officers of the security and armed forces, is due to start here next month. All these cases will be heard in public with elaborate arrangements for press coverage. Newsmen unable to get into court will follow the proceedings from closed circuit television monitors in ??? Athens hotel." Initials BJB/1840 This film is serviced with English commentary by BBC reporter Larry Harris which is transcribed overleaf. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th August 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Access Restrictions:This media cannot be downloaded as there may be copyright restrictions. Please contact us for more information
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVA5Q2RSI7OEL8G4ODJT22P6W28Y
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register