Greece is da word - occupations ! : Melbourne Indymedia

STUDENT MARCHES IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI 17/1/2007

National marches were organised by many student associations in Athens and Thessaloniki, where more than 270 faculties are occupied by students, protesting against the revision of the constitutional article 16, introducing the establishment of private universities. Mainly however, is undertaken the subordination of academic stupidity to the enterprising and economic plannings, as well as the intensification of student subjugation through more demanding schedules, imposition of maximum time of studies, additional academic expenses etc.

The course in Athens, began around 14:00, with attendance of more than 15.000 demonstrators. A bit earlier there was an attack with molotov cocktails against riot-policemen who blockaded some streets around the techical university, while in the morning a CCTV camera was set on fire outside the techical university. Reaching to the march's ending some groups of demonstrators, burned 5 government and diplomatic vehicles, 2 CCTV cameras, and clashed with the police. Later the afternoon, many demonstrators went to the techical university, wich is occupied by anarchist groups in solidarity to the 3 detainees of May 6th (2 of them are on a hunger strike)-for more info click here: http://www.geocities.com/anarcores/grammata . Cops tried to attack the occupied building but were forced to recede, while 2-3 riot policemen caught fire!

In Thessaloniki, more than 3.000 persons demonstrated, after a calling of student associations in the techical university, at 18:00, towards the ministry of Macedonia & Thrace. Groups of demonstrators broke in and set fire to the commercial bank near the ministry, a subsidiary of Piraeus bank, and a McDonalds, as well as 2 CCTV cameras. There were also conflicts between cops and demonstrators by the university area, when the police tried to attack the demo. No arrest was made anyway

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Persistent anarchist attacks in Greece force new police attention

Monday, January 22 2007 @ 05:15 PM PST

Greek law enforcement leaders, alarmed by renewed outbreaks of anarchist violence, met Monday seeking ways to end increasingly frequent firebombings and vandalism in the country's two largest cities. The country's police chief met with the head of the Supreme Court after a prosecutor last Friday ordered an investigation into the violence and why police had failed to make any arrests. The meeting followed further attacks in Thessaloniki, with assailants early Monday throwing firebombs at a bank and outside a university building. Nobody was hurt.

ATHENS, Greece: Greek law enforcement leaders, alarmed by renewed outbreaks of anarchist violence, met Monday seeking ways to end increasingly frequent firebombings and vandalism in the country's two largest cities.

The country's police chief met with the head of the Supreme Court after a prosecutor last Friday ordered an investigation into the violence and why police had failed to make any arrests.

The meeting followed further attacks in Thessaloniki, with assailants early Monday throwing firebombs at a bank and outside a university building. Nobody was hurt.

Although the firebombings rarely cause injuries, the almost nightly hit-and-run attacks against banks, government offices and other targets come at a time of increased concern over the possible return of domestic terrorism. On Jan. 12, assailants fired a rocketed propelled grenade into the U.S. Embassy building, in the boldest attack in Greece by suspected farleft militants in years.

Police Chief Anastasios Dimoshakis, who met with the head of the Supreme Court and its chief prosecutor, denied his force was using heavy-handed tactics.

"The Greek police have no vendetta against the citizens ... the police are not part of the problem, they are part of the solution," he said.

He added that last year, some 140 anarchists had been arrested and another 650 detained in Athens and Thessaloniki after violent incidents.

Jarred by the demonstrations and violence, the conservative government has twice delayed action on its long-touted university reform to permit private universities in Greece, even though the main Socialist opposition supports the changes, which require a constitutional amendment.

The sight of youths on foot, their faces obscured by masks, prowling the streets in unruly packs and wreaking nightly havoc is menacing but also familiar. Self-styled anarchists have been around in Athens and Thessaloniki for more than 20 years and now have reappeared with a vengeance.

Thanos Veremis, head of the national council for education, an advisory body, said these individuals were taking advantage of anti-government protests to cause trouble.

"(It's) a predictable reaction of the minority that would rather not see any changes," he said in an interview.

The extremists "have nothing to do with university, but fall in with the demonstrations and usually make the entire affair more dramatic, at the expense of shopkeepers and policemen."

Two anarchists awaiting trial in prison near Athens have been on hunger strike for more than a month over allegedly forced police confessions last May. Last fall, a Cypriot student in Thessaloniki was hospitalized after a police beating that was shown on national television. The government, up for re-election next year, wants to avoid accusations of tolerating excessive policing.

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros on Monday said anarchist violence faced determined political opposition. "There is no doubt that the parliamentary parties condemn ... these acts of violence, which are not compatible with the workings of our democracy."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/22/europe/EU-GEN-Greeces-Mean-Streets.php