Anti - government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece

Anti - government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Thousands of students and other groups took to the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki yesterday to protest the present Greek government and its policies.

The government has announced that it has decided on a policy of zero tolerence in dealing with Greece's recent wave of unrest and the change in the ruling New Democracy party's change in tactics was seen in a more aggresive stance on the part of the MAT (Greek riot police) on Friday.

However, the change has proved to be less effective than hoped for as most of the arrests carried out the Athens authorities turned out to be lawyers acting as volunteer legal advisors to those taking part in yesterday's march. The 18 lawyers have filed a suit against deputy minister for law and order, after the head of the riot squad that detained them said that he was carrying out a "political decision", according a report on the Greek TV station Skai's, web site.

In addition the Athenian union of newspaper correspondents (ESIEA) have officially complained to the ministry of law and order over the beating of journalists and other members of the media by the police during yesterday's march.

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/greek-protests-resume-after-holiday-lull

Also the independent Greek news agency tvxs.gr posted video of riot police intimidating innocent citizens after the march. If you fast forward to 9 mins you'll see them harrassing a senior citizen who dared to question their authority.

Mixed reactions to the protests in Greece

Mixed reactions to the protests in Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

A smartly dressed woman , shopping bags around her waiting at the bus stop claps and cheers masked protesters marching by. The man next to her shouts out "Shame, shame on you"

Taken during a protest march in Thessaloniki, Greece last week.

Greek protesters occupy National Theatre, Athens

Picture by Dr Jack

Just minutes after the curtains went up, demonstrators seized the stage of the National Theatre, Athens and read out a prepared statement demanding the immediate release of all those arrested in the recent events following the killing of Greek teenager, Alexis Grigoropulos by police two weeks ago. The protesters also called upon the audience to join them in the streets shouting", Turn off your cell phones, turn on your conscience."

The performance of Roberto Succo by Bernard -Marie Koltes was cancelled in a gesture of solidarity by actors and theatre staff with the young protesters.

In addition a massive protest concert was held yesterday outside the Athens univesity campus where thousands watched 64 groups and singers perform until early hours of Saturday morning.

NowPublic

Tags: protests | World | Occupation | athens | demo | sit-in | 13. Greece | griots | greek riots | national theatre | alexis grigoropoulos

Following the news from Athens via Twitter

I'm currently following what is happening with the massive demonstration in Athens via Twitter. It seems a good source for the latest updates from people on the spot. Most of it is in Greek, however, if you look in the sidebar there is a translation into English option to help.

Just look up the griot tag in Twitter.

Greek protesters unfurl banners from the Acropolis

"ATHENS — Student protesters evaded security guards at the Acropolis on Wednesday and unfurled two giant pink banners over a wall near the Parthenon to rally support for continued demonstrations against the government."

Picture and article from the New York Times today

Good to see that protesters have got more media savvy. As PR stunts go this has to be one of the best I've seen in a long while.

Anti-government demos - Thessaloniki 2008

Anti-government demos - Thessaloniki 008, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greece hit by massive strikes

Greece was hit today by a a wave of stoppages which effectively paralysed the country.  Journalists, teachers, air traffic controllers and many other unions staged the action in order to protest against the economic policies of the current conservative New Democracy government and to express their dissatisfaction  with the Prime Minster, Kostas Karamanlis's recent record on issues such as pension reforms.

The move by the Greek government to inject 28 billion Euros into the country's banking sector has also fuelled an angry response by  people facing failing public services and ever growing unemployment. In addition the latest economic scandal involving a Greek Orthodox monastery in allegedly illegal land deals with the New Democracy administration has merely added to the Prime Minister's woes.

According to the main opposition party PASOK, the Vatopedi monastery land swap scandal is the 45th such case in the current government's 54 month in power.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | protests | World | STRIKES | New Democracy | Kostas Karamanlis | vetpoedi

Anti-government demo - Thessaloniki

Anti-government demo - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

It takes a particular kind of political genius to build a coalition that includes groups as disparate as air stewardesses and anarcho-syndicalists, firemen and ecologists, cops and communists. However, Greek prime minister, Kostas Karamanlis has indeed united all these people, however, all in opposition to his scandal - ridden government which seems incapable of getting through a week without one embarrassing revelation or another.

Dodgy land deals, suspicious financial transactions in business, even vote rigging in parliament are just some of the charges the conservative New Democracy party has faced in the 12 months since it was re-elected.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/greek-pm-under-siege