In Exile 1970-1974
by Guy Wagner and Asteris Koutoulas
Based on Ole Wahl Olsen
Structure and pictures: Guy Wagner
1970
13.04. Servan-Schreiber had been in Greece making representations on behalf of members of the »Democratic Defence« league who had been condemned, when he suddenly had the unexpected chance of getting Theodorakis out, but the junta kept Mikis' wife and his children as hostages.
Theodorakis' name had been on a list of 322 prisoners whom the junta
was intending to free on its third anniversary in power, 21 April 1970.
This was doubtless an attempt to influence the ministers of the Council
of Europe who were to meet on 15 April in Strasbourg to decide whether
the 1,200 page report of the Human Rights Commission on the use of torture
in Greek prisons should be published. Seventeen member countries approved
publication of the report in spite of the junta's efforts to bribe delegates.
Theodorakis left Le Bourget airport in an ambulance, and Servan-Schreiber
read a statement he had drafted in the aircraft: »I still cannot
understand that I am a free man. A few hours ago I was completely isolated.
Now, after three tragic years, I can breathe free air again. But the taste
of freedom is still bitter, for I have left my wife and two little children
in Athens, and many of my comrades are still suffering. The fact that
I am here this evening is due to international solidarity and many European
friends.« 
Myrto, Margarita and Yorgos Theodorakis as hostages of the junta
11.05. Myrto Theodorakis and the two children, Margarita
and Yorgos, arrive in Paris while Theodorakis is speaking at
a public meeting in the Salle de la Mutualité and starting
his anti-junta-campaign. They had managed to escape from the Greek
police with the help of French friends. For more than twenty hours they
had fought storms and seasickness in a small boat before landing safe
and sound in Sicily.
October: Theodorakis starts a series of world tours, and
his concerts become the expression of his »declaration of war«
on the colonels. He meets Salvador Allende in Chile and conceives the
project of a work based on the »Canto General« by Pablo
Neruda.
Theodorakis becomes the symbol of the Greek Resistance.
1971
February Theodorakis founds the National Council of Resistance
EAS. He wants to include all anti-dictatorial forces, from the royalists
to the communists, but Andreas Papandreou refuses to involve the
royalists. Theodorakis breaks with him.
02.05. EAS has its first meeting in Düsseldorf.
1972
05.03. Theodorakis leaves the Interior Communist Party.
New concert tours. 
Theodorakis with Melina Mercouri in Paris, 1970
1973
01.06. The royalist Greek Marine opposes the government, and Papadopoulos
abolishes the Monarchy by a plebiscite.
29.08. Papadopoulos becomes President of the Hellenic Republic.
Amnesty.
11.09. Putsch in Chile. Salvador Allende is killed. Dictatorship
of General Pinochet. Death of Pablo Neruda (24.9.).
17.11. The revolt of the students at the Polytechnic High
School is brutally repressed. Papadopoulos imposes martial law.
25.11. Ioannides throws over Papadopoulos, and General Ghizikis
becomes Head of State. Curfew in effect.
1974
15.07. The Junta in Athens organises a putsch on Cyprus. Failed
assassination attempt on President Makarios III, who flees to London.
20.07. Invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish
Army. This is the end for the Greek Junta! 
Mikis and Myrto Theodorakis in London, 1972
23.07. Karamanlis is called back from exile in Paris to
form a civil government. 
The Tragedy of the Greek Cypriots
© Guy Wagner & Asteris Koutoulas, 1996-2002.
All pictures © FILIKI & Mikis Theodorakis
