Greek riot police on duty during commemoration of nation's entry into the Second World War

On the front line in the Austerity Wars - Greece

A Greek childhood.

The video was taken last night during a march to mark the 4th anniversary of the murder of 15 year old Greek teen, Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer in central Athens. The killing set in motion a wave of protests and clashes which last for over a month.

www.flickr.com/photos/teacherdudebbq2/sets/72157610963947...

I found the video disturbing considering that these same riot police units who stopped to tussle the little kid's hair had spend the morning attacking high school pupils who'd held their own protest march.

Welcome to Athens

Welcome to Athens, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Dedicated to the Greek riot police who have done so much lately to promote Athens as a premier tourist destination.

Greek riot police storm Los Indignados encampment - Thessaloniki, Greece

Tense stand off between Greek protesters and riot police in Thessaloniki, Greece, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Following a series of clashes between riot police protecting a far right rally and anti-racist groups, several platoons of riot police also attacked the encampment of Greece's Los indignados movement in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. Using pepper spray and flash grenades to disperse those present the police were eventually forced to retreat after camp organisers formed a human shield between themselves and angry demonstrators.

www.demotix.com/news/734924/greek-riot-police-attack-los-...

Video here of a second attack from Asteris.

Greek riot police clash with protesters during Independence Day parade

Greek riot police clash with protesters during Independence Day parade, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Protesters unhappy with with austerity measures and Greece's involvement in Nato's Libyan campaign demonstrated during the annual independence day parades leading to the intervention of riot police .

www.demotix.com/news/635506/greek-independence-celebratio...

Photographs and video from Greek anti-government march on 23rd February 2011 - Thessaloniki.

More pictures and video from the marches that accompanied the general strike last week. The person taking the video was also attacked by police officers who often employed batons and tear gas indiscriminately to break up the march. In addition to this the riot police also made extensive use of military grade ordinance which is intended for special forces anti-terrorist operations in the form of the N591 stun grenade. This is the third occasion (I've witnessed this in the last year alone. See here and here for the previous two instances).



At 8 mins 20 sec you can see footage of the police attacking the camera operator as they tried to film the arrest of a demonstrator. I also saw uniformed officers clubbing marchers on Tsimiski Street who had not been involved in any acts of violence and clearly posed them no threat.

The video was originally posted on the We Are Change Greece website which has a description of the events shown in Greek and English.

Another video from the Antipliroforisi (Anti-misinformation) site from the same demo showing police using tear gas, flash greandes and motorcycles to stampede demonstrators along the main street in Thessaloniki.

Greek politicians shun public appearances without police protection

Mayor of Thessaloniki attending education conference under watchful eye of Greek riot police, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

It's perhaps a stark indication of how threatened Greek politicians feel that Anna Diamantopoulou's (minister for education) presence on the future of university education required the attendence of nearly 100 police officer and secret service members.

Despite press announcements that the conference woud be open to the public, the authorities refused entry to anyone without an invitaion, including university students who wished to take part in the discussions about their future.

How to turn a problem into a crisis - Greek riot police storm the Acropolis

Today Greek riot police entered the grounds of the Acropolis this morning in order to expel protesting employees who were demonstrating over delays in payment of wages stretching back two years. In response the government sent in riot police units who used batons, shields and tear gas indiscriminately, attacking reporters covering the story as well as protesters (video from Skai News here - incident is 16 minutes in).

Junior minister for culture, Telemaxos Hiteris, speaking on Skai News defended the actions of the police saying that "the law was the law and 30 employees could not be allowed to close down the Acropolis."The permanent members of staff have gone on strike in support of colleagues on short term contracts.

What has happened is a minor industrial dispute involving a few dozen employees has through the violent intervention of the police been turned into a story which has gone global with yet more images of police officers clashing with demonstrators inside Greece's most familiar landmark. Once again the authorities have mixed indifference, incompetence and violent over reaction into a volatile cocktail which confirms many Greek's worst opinion of the government (One Greek Twitter user said the "we really do have a junta).

Instead of negotiation and discussion batons and tear gas were used so inflaming a tense situation and sending the message to the outside world that Greece is racked by violent confrontation. Of course, this is not the case but by providing such images the authorities are doing everything in their power to promote this idea.

Riot police go into action - Thessaloniki, Greece

Riot police go into action - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

It seems that virtually every single demonstration, march or protest is accompanied by at least three platoons of fully armed riot police. Even the conservative press have been talking about Thessaloniki resembling an "city under siege" and "an armed camp". While there are situations when passionate protest can spill over into violence the use of riot police at every single public gathering is hardly compatible with modern democratic instituitions.

Greek riot police use military stun grenades against demonstrators

Greek riot police use military stun grenades against demonstrators, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek riot police used stun grenades designed for use by special forces in anti-terrorist situations to break up protests outside the ex-ministry of Macedonia and Thrace in the northern city of Thessaloniki yesterday May 5 2010.

"The Grenade Hand Stun N580 and Grenade Hand
Stun Multi’s N582, N591 and N592 are diversionary
assault grenades, designed for use in confined
spaces by Special Forces during hostage release.
Noise and candela levels induce disorientation in
any persons within the effective range."

Chemring Defense

Greek riot police about to use pepper spray against protesters outside town hall - Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek riot police about to use pepper spray against protesters outside town hall - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The riot police were used to break up a protest outside the town hall in Thessaloniki last week. Despite a pledge by the Minister for Protection of the Citizen (obviously, 1984 is not required reading for those who renamed the ministry) that the police would not be allowed to use chemical weapons such as tear gas and pepper spray they employed both liberally on the peaceful demonstration..

That, like some many other promise made by the recently elected PASOK administration seems to have gone out of the window. With the economic crisis set to worsen and austerity measures unprecedented in modern Greek history on the table this is just the beginning. As a speaker at a rally I attended today pointed out the war reparations which played a pivotal role in the economic collapse that brought down the Weimar republic amounted to 2.5% of GNP (the Wiki article on WWI reparations quotes a figure of 4-7%). Greece is being asked to devote 12.5% of its GNP to servicing its debt payments. There is no way any government can last with such a noose around its neck.

"Hi, we're from the IMF. We've come to read the meter."

"Hi, we're from the IMF. We've come to read the meter.", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek riot police forced to retreat

Greek riot police forced to retreat, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken during the general strike in Thessaloniki, Greece. Riot police units attempted to divide the strikers' march into two, meeting fierce resistance which forced them to withdraw.

Greek general strike - riot police attempt to split protest march in two

Greek general strike - riot police attempt to split protest march in two, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"Greece's largest trade unions managed to bring much of the country to a halt with strikes in both the private and public sector. In the northern port city of Thessaloniki approximately 10,000 people took to the streets in protest against the government's recently announced austerity package. Thessaloniki, Greece. 07/03/2010.

Although mainly peaceful there were some clashes when riot police units attempted to split the march in two, provoking a reaction by members of the teachers' union who attempted to block the move. The police answered with tear gas but quickly withdrew after coming under a hail of rocks thrown by other demonstrators."

More pictures on Demotix.com

Greek protesters charge gates of ministry building - Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek protesters charge gates of ministry building - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In what is shaping up to be a clash between the entire labour movement and the Greek government, thousands took to the streets today to march in the protests against prime minister's Giorgos Papandreou's new economic package which sees widespread cuts in public sector services and pay cuts for civil servants. In addition a number of raises in VAT and indirect taxes have sparked off a wave of anger and demonstrations. Thessaloniki, Greece. 05/03/2010.

In today's marches organised by the PAME trade union confederation, demonstrators shouted “Give us back our stolen money” a reference to the widerspread belief that much of the country's 300 billion euro debt as been pocketed by mainstream politicians and those with close economic ties to Greece's two main ruling parties, New Democracy and PASOK which have governed since 1974.

Riot police used tear gas and pepper spray when protesters belonging to a coalition of left wing parties and groups attempted to bring down the main gate at the entrance to the ex – ministry of Macedonia and Thrace in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. About a dozen of the demonstrators managed to enter the ground of the government building to stage a symbolic occupation.

More picture here on Demotix.com

"Let them throw all their cannonballs let all their strongmen come" - December by the Waterboys

Greek riot police get ready to attack, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

L’État c’est Moi

BEATEN FOR TAKING THIS PICTURE, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Just found out my case against the cops that beat me for taking pictures of them during a peaceful demo was thrown out of court due to insufficient evidence. Obviously, five eye witnesses, video, photographs and a 10 page medical report are not enough. Next time I'll make sure I ask the b@stards their names.

Well, this is no more than to be expected, these guys have carte blanche (get out of jail free card for those not familiar with French) as far as the courts are concerned. Actually, I owe these guys a debt of thanks since the are the ones who really helped crystallise my political world view and turned a hobby into something more meaningful.

For more details on the case click here.

Greek police turn blind eye when far right attacks anti - racist demo in Athens

Picture from Indymedia

During the course of yesterday's anti - racism march in Athens members of far right groups posing as "concerned citizens" were filmed and photographed carrying clubs and attempting to throw Molotov cocktails at demonstrators. All this while the riot police (MAT) walked alongside them and made no attempt to intervene.

Picture from the Eleutherotypia newspaper.

"Η ειρηνική πορεία, που είχε ξεκινήσει από την Ομόνοια, δέχτηκε τα... πυρά των διμοιριών των ΜΑΤ, που μαζί με «αγανακτισμένους πολίτες» από την περιοχή του Αγίου Παντελεήμονα είχαν κάνει φράγμα με τα σώματά τους, προκειμένου να απαγορεύσουν σε αναρχικούς-αντιεξουσιαστές, αλληλέγγυους στους μετανάστες να φτάσουν στον τελικό τους προορισμό. "

Ελευθεροτυπία