Giorgos Karatzaferis - leader of Greece's far right LAOS party

Karatzaferis was speaking in Thessaloniki this afternoon. As head of the far right LAOS party he has spearheaded a campaign for mainstream legitimacy with regular appearances on TV chat shows and the like. The party was one of the few to make any gains during the recent European parliamentary elections, draining votes from the unpopular conservative New Democracy party. However, like so many politicians of his ilk he has more than a few skeletons in the closet, as this 2007 article from the Greek national daily, Kathimerini points out.

By Takis Kambylis - Kathimerini

“First of all, I am not a Jew. Can the prime minister say that of himself? Secondly, I am not a communist. Can Mr Karamanlis say that?” asked LAOS leader Giorgos Karatzaferis, speaking in Corinth on May 28, 2002. “Thirdly, I am not a homosexual. There aren’t many who can say that,” he added. He was not widely quoted at the time, but Karatzaferis is given to making remarks of a similar nature, and had in the past made reference to a grandfather of then Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Aaron Avouris.

Anti-Semitism has long been the LAOS leader’s favorite subject. Long before he founded LAOS, when he was still a parliamentary deputy for the New Democracy party, he had founded Nea Elpida (New Hope), something between a non-profit

firm and a political party, through which he made overtures to the extreme right-wing Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) and its “worthy fighters.”

Greek police fail to learn lessons of December

Just hours after the shooting of 15 year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos by a police officer in the Exarchia district of central Athens, hundreds started violent protests that would last for weeks and cost the country billions of euros in damages. Despite the ferocity of the response to the killing it seems that the Greek authorities have yet to appreciate the potential for backlash created by accusations of police violence. One of the major driving forces behind the December riots, the worst in modern Greek history was the conviction that the officer involved would not be punished.

In the latest case the recently formed Delta motorcycle unit stand accused of using excessive force in the arrest of a 27 year old man last week in Exarchia. According to report in today's national daily, Eleutherotypia the unnamed man was detained and beaten by several police officer who left him with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Afterwards he and four others who had also been detained were tied to a tree.

The official police report states that the detainee had been stopped during a routine check and arrested for carrying explosive materials, GBH and resisting arrest. Throughout most of last Thursday night police and youth clashed in a series of running skirmishes in the area.

As the article in Eleutherotypia points out it is a standard police tactic in such cases to charge victims of police violence with serious crime in order to justify their treatment. In a similar case in November 2007, Cypriot student, Augustinos Dimitrios whose brutal beating was captured on live TV was charged with resisting arrest.

Similarly, the police officers charged with the killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos in December first stated that they had acted in self defence after allegedly being attacked by a group of stone throwing youths, including Alexandros. Despite the appearance of amateur video footage the following day which contradicted the official version of events the authorities insisted on sticking with the officer's discredited account for weeks.

The Greek police force has routinely been the object of critical attention by organisations such as UNHCR, the European Union, Amnesty International and other human rights groups. In both 2005 and 2008 the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) roundly condemned the Greek authorities for turning a blind eye to the violent treatment of prisoners and suspects by prison and police officers (click here to see report).

Naming the dead

Naming the dead, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek forest fighters remember colleagues lost over the last few years. They were protesting outside the 74th International Trade Fair for better conditions and an end to the system where they are fired every year only to be rehired the following summer.

Unfortunately, not everyone was moved by their plight, the police who only yesterday were saying that they, too were the victims of government indifference and whim, edgily fingered their riot shields and batons, ready to employ tear gas should the protest advance any further and so spoil the PM's PR gig.

Video by Argos.

Greek PM's arrival in Thessaloniki met with mass protests

Greek PM's arrival in Thessaloniki met with mass protests, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The arrival of the Greek prime minister, Costas Karamanlis in the northern port city of Thessaloniki was met with demonstrations by trade union, political parties and other groups unhappy with the ruling conservative government.

Under the watchful eye of thousands of riot police protesters marched through the centre of Greece's second city. Although there were a few minor clashes between anti-authoritarian groups and the police the event passed off peacefully.

Following last week's announcement by the prime minister the country is set to go to the polls next month just two years after the re-election of New Democracy. A failing economy, rising unemployment and a series of corruption scandals have eaten away at the government's electoral base.

However, political analysts are still divided over whether the main opposition party PASOK will be able to form a majority government and secure the necessary 3/5 of parliamentary seats needed to elect a president in March. Failing that the country will once again go to the polls.

For video of the demonstration check out Piazzo del Popolo's one.

Massive protests greet Greek PM | Demotix.com

Amidst draconian security measures Greek prime minister arrived in the country's second city, Thessaloniki to give his annual state of the nation address.

With 3000 extra police officers on the streets including 60 platoons of heavily armed riot police the ruling New Democracy party were taking no chances.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest a wide range of issues. firefighters, teachers, students, anarchists, cleaners and trade unionists marched through the centre of Thessaloniki under the watchful eye of thousands of police officers.

The nation will go to the polls on the 4th October following the decision last week by the prime minister to call snap elections just two years after being re-elected.

Massive protests greet Greek PM | Demotix.com

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Greek police march in protest ahead of PM's keynote speech

Greek police march ahead of PM's keynote speech, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"Members of Greece's police force and other emergency services took to the streets of the country's second city to demand better pay and conditions from the government.

Even as the Greek prime minister was arriving in Thessaloniki for perhaps the most important speech of his career police officers, fire fighters and members of the coast guard demonstrated in the streets.

The city is bracing itself for a wave of marches and protests that are expected to accompany Costas Karamanlis's keynote speech during the annual international Thessaloniki trade fair after recently announced snap elections for the 4th October."

Demotix.com

Apparently, the police think that their contributions to Greek society have gone unrewarded. Don't ask me I'm biased.

Happy birthday Asteris!!! - Chronia Polla

Yesterday was a full day with lessons to go to, protests to cover and parties to attend. The highlight of the day was Asteris's party which attracted the creme de la creme of the Greek language blogosphere. Anyone who is anyone on Twitter, blogs etc was there. Also it was great once again to see all the people whose work I follow on the net in real life. There was plenty of laughter, ribbing, gossip, dancing and plain ol' fun, which put paid to that tired old cliche that us bloggers write about life as we do not have one our own. Pictures can be found here.

I just spent the last few minutes catching up on everyone's via Twitter and once again it reinforces my belief that social media is all about being social, allowing us to connect with others in ways that were not possible beforehand. In a city as big as Thessaloniki it would be very difficult otherwise to meet and keep in contact with so many like minded people without the internet.

Portraits by Lydia

Portrait by Lydia, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Not bad for a 10 year old with a 5mp point and shoot. Then again, if you got an eye then it doesn't matter what camera you use.

Lydia the photographer

Lydia the photographer, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Picture from the bomb attack in Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki - A small explosive device was planted here, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The bomb was planted behind a defunct telephone junction box outside the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace and went off early this morning, one hour after a larger device exploded outside Athens stock exchange.

Unlike the explosion in the capital the one here resulted in just a few smashed windows and no injuries. However, I'm sure a few egos were bruised as the security in the city had been stepped up recently in anticipation of the visit by the prime minister to open the annual trade fair. Though quite how the police hope to fight terrorism by endlessly drinking coffee, looking tough on street corners (mirror shades are de rigueur) and zooming up and down the main streets on motorbikes is beyond me.

On the other hand, the forensics guys work quickly here as there was no sign of any activity around the site when I went there midday.

I was asked to talk about what I had seen and give my impressions on was happening by the BBC World Service yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0042c1d#synopsis

Greek prime minster announces national elections for October

Show me the money, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

After weeks of speculation over when the next general elections will take place, Kostas Karamanlis finally announced that the country will go to the polls in October.

This means that they economy really is in dire straits as no sane person would call for elections just weeks after devastating fires and with the ruling New Democracy party mired in a series of corruption scandals, Obviously, the PM thought that it is better to bite the bullet now rather than wait till next year when who knows what terrible economic news is going to come to light.

Close Pagani Now - stencils

Feel free to download these stencils and use as you see fit. For more on the Pagani immigrant detention centre (Mytilini, Greece) check out these news stories and the No Borders Lesvos 2009 site. For latest developments here is their Twitter page.

"GENEVA (Reuters) - More than 850 people including 200 unaccompanied children are being held in shocking conditions at a detention centre for illegal immigrants on the Greek island of Lesvos, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday.

"The report on the centre at Pagani adds to concern already expressed by UNHCR about Greece's treatment of migrants.

UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said commission staff had visited the centre, which has a capacity of 250 to 300, earlier this week. Most detainees were from Afghanistan, he said.

"The UNHCR staff described the condition of the centre as unacceptable," he told a briefing.

"One room houses over 150 women and 50 babies, many suffering from illness related to the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the centre," he said."

Reuters

Noborder vs. Coast Guard

"On the 29th of August, it was noborders action day against the practices of the coast guard and their support by the European Border Agency Frontex. At present, Frontex is here in Lesvos with one ship. We have already managed to drive them away once, today, they retreated to the open sea and set anchor there. It was obvious that they couldn't deal with a decent challenge, they seem to prefer to hunt migrants at night.

Check http://lesvos09.antira.info/2009/08/l... for a detailed report and background info."