As reported by Greek media, messages released by various political forces highlighted the sacrifices made during the struggle against the military Junta and drew lessons for contemporary challenges. Government figures typically underscored the strength and resilience of Greece's democratic institutions since the restoration of civilian rule in 1974. Opposition parties, such as SYRIZA and PASOK, focused on honoring the resistance fighters and stressed the importance of actively defending democratic rights and freedoms against any perceived erosion or threat in the present day.
The common thread running through the commemorations was the solemn vow of "never again" – a commitment to ensuring that Greece never repeats the dark chapter of the military regime that suspended civil liberties and brutally suppressed dissent.
The messages
Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK, articulated a common sentiment, declaring the coup reversed Greece's progress by decades, culminating tragically in the Cyprus catastrophe. He paid tribute to those who sacrificed for freedom against the "foreign-serving" regime, asserting that "collective memory is a vigilant guardian of democratic institutions and human rights."
SYRIZA echoed this, framing the anniversary as a stark reminder of the duty to protect democracy. They described the coup not as an isolated event but as the grim outcome of post-Civil War intolerance and authoritarianism, leading to years of oppression and the betrayal of Cyprus. Honoring the resistance fighters and victims, SYRIZA stressed that democratic values demand constant struggle, particularly amid the resurgence of the far-right, fascism, and contemporary threats like the erosion of the rule of law and "techno-fascism."
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) offered a class analysis, positing the colonels served the bourgeois state apparatus and US/NATO interests, viewing the dictatorship as a shift in the form of capitalist power that ultimately led to the Cyprus tragedy. They highlighted the pivotal role and sacrifices of communists in the anti-dictatorship struggle.
Nea Aristera denounced the junta as a US-blessed "regime of terror," cautioning against historical revisionism and nostalgists seeking to whitewash the era's brutality – the exiles, torture, and deaths. They underlined the critical, ongoing fight of memory against oblivion and democracy against authoritarianism.
Historical Background: The Rise and Fall of the Junta
The 1967 coup, known as the "Regime of the Colonels," did not occur in a vacuum. It emerged from a significant political turmoil in Greece during the mid-1960s, often called the "Apostasia." Weak coalition governments, friction between the young King Constantine II and the popularly elected Prime Minister George Papandreou (senior), and deep societal divisions exacerbated by Cold War tensions created an atmosphere of instability.
Anti-communist sentiment ran high within the Hellenic Armed Forces, particularly among mid-ranking officers. It was fueled by memories of the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) and encouraged by elements within NATO and the US concerned about potential left-wing influence. Fearing an impending election victory by the Centre Union party, possibly reliant on leftist support, a group of colonels led by Georgios Papadopoulos, Stylianos Pattakos, and Nikolaos Makarezos launched a pre-emptive strike.
In the early hours of April 21, 1967, under the guise of a meticulously planned NATO contingency plan codenamed "Prometheus," tanks rolled into Athens. Key locations were seized, communications were cut, and leading politicians, including Prime Minister Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, were arrested. King Constantine II initially, albeit reluctantly, legitimized the coup but later attempted a failed counter-coup in December 1967, forcing him into exile.
The ensuing seven years were marked by authoritarian rule. The constitution was suspended, political parties were banned, and censorship was strictly enforced. Thousands of political opponents – communists, socialists, liberals, artists, intellectuals, and even some royalists – were arrested, imprisoned without trial, and subjected to torture, often in notorious island detention centers like Yaros and Leros. Military courts handed down harsh sentences, and a pervasive climate of fear silenced opposition.
Resistance, though initially suppressed, gradually grew. The defining moment came in November 1973 with the Athens Polytechnic uprising. Students occupied the university, demanding an end to the dictatorship. The regime responded with overwhelming force, sending a tank crashing through the university gates, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. While the uprising was brutally crushed, it irrevocably damaged the Junta's image both domestically and internationally.
The final blow came in July 1974. To achieve Enosis (union with Greece), the Greek Junta backed a coup against Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios III. This action triggered Turkey's invasion of northern Cyprus. Facing military humiliation, international condemnation, and the potential for full-scale war with Turkey, the Greek army leadership crumbled. Senior officers called upon exiled conservative politician Konstantinos Karamanlis to return and form a government, marking the end of the dictatorship and the beginning of the "Metapolitefsi" – Greece's transition back to democracy.
Fifty-seven years later, the memory of the Junta serves as a powerful reminder of the price of lost freedom and the continuous effort required to uphold democratic principles.
Photo: ERT