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.

What a day - Greek riot updates

What a day. I went back to the centre to see what was happening around the university campus I Thessaloniki as just when I thought everything was quiet and all the violence has ended I turned a corner right into a couple of platoons of riot police getting ready to retreat from stone throwing anarchist who'd left the university grounds.

I was fumbling about to figure out how to turn on the video camera my student had just lent me when my mobile rang and somebody at Sky news told me I'd be talking live. Yikees!!!! Then all hell seemed to break loose as the MAT (Greek riot police regrouped) and charged back by me. In the middle of giving an eyewitness account my truculent mobile died on me making for a dramatic effect, I guess.

Strangely, around the riot police were groups of masked men throwing stones into the university, something that did not seem to bother the cops next to them at all. I keep on hearing rumours members of the far right Xryse Aygh movement are getting involved but I can't confirm this.

I do however have video of the incidents around the university which I'm putting up on Youtube in a while.

Update



I managed to upload the video which shows the situation last night just outside the university next to the Genematas hospital. Notice the civilians wearing gas masks and throwing stones at the anarchists in the university just meters from where the riot police are standing.

In Patras, the port city near Athens thousands attacked rioters in the university grounds.

I just came across this video uploaded to ireport by my friend, Jay. It shows high school students demonstrating in he Analipsi district of East Thessaloniki yesterday. They are chanting, "Batsi gourouni, dolofoni", "cops, pigs, killers"

Media, media, media

I'm going to have to get myself a press agent. The phone has been going all day as Sky News, The Guardian, BBC and Les Observateurs have called asking for interviews and my opinions on what has been happening in Greece and why. Actually, I'm happy to do this as people need to have a different view to the official spin story taking shape.

And to think I've also put in full day at work .

Fame! I want to live forever.

Fame! I want to live forever., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.