Κατάληψη του Παύλου Μελά - θεσσαλονίκη

Κατάληψη του Παύλου Μελά - θεσσαλονίκη, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I was there when after a meeting people decided to tear down the fence surrounding the Pavlou Mela army camp in Thessaloniki, partly to stop one of the city's last remaining open areas being turned into a concrete tomb, partly to forstall any effort by the government in Athens to turn it into an internment camp for immigrants.

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.

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

Protesters occupy Greek TV station

A group of 20 students occupied the state run NET TV channel in Athens yesterday in protest against the killing of 15 year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos by a police officer eleven days ago. Holding up a banner which said, "Stop Watching. Everyone on the Streets" they interrupted the station's broadcast of prime minister, Kostas Karamanlis's speech in parliament.

This is another is series of demonstrations which have swept Greece in the wake of the killing and have put the present administration on the defensive. Hundreds of schools and campuses throughout Greece remain under occupation and protest marches have taken place daily in many cities. Although the violent scenes witnessed last week have died down young people's feeling of anger at the police and the present econmic situation hasn't diminished.



On its site NET channel said that;

"Disrupting any concept of democratic dialogue, a group of young people stormed state television ERT studio at noon while the new bulleting was aired. They managed to interrupt the regular program, putting at risk body integrity of employees, to air their slogans. State Television ERT chairman, Hristos Panagopoulos denounced the action of the particular group, noting that they had not identified themselves even in the text they tried to distribute in the corridors. Mr. Panagopoulos stressed that they were not students but unknown people, who do not respect freedom and democracy. They were not an organized group but sneaked into the state television premises, adding that they blocked both himself and journalists responsible for the news bulletin. "

It should be noted that the state run media has long been accused by opposition parties of pro government bias in its coverage of domestic politics. The opposition PASOK party rerpresentative, Tilimaxhos Hitiris accused NET of being a "propaganda mechanism".

Monday's high school student demonstration outside the central police headquarters in Athens which was violently broken by when the police used batons and tear gas to drive demonstrators back. Whilst scenes of police attacking teenagers were shown on many private TV stations the state run channels showed earlier scenes of students presenting officers with flowers.

ΚΑΛΛΙΟ ΛΟΥΦΑΔΟΡΟΣ ΠΑΡΑ ΣΗΜΑΙΟΦΟΡΟΣ

ΚΑΛΛΙΟ ΛΟΥΦΑΔΟΡΟΣ ΠΑΡΑ ΣΗΜΑΙΟΦΟΡΟΣ, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Roughly translated; Better to be a layabout than the best student in the class (who carries the flag in the school parade).

Over 350 schools throughout Greece were occupied by students for three weeks protesting the present poor conditions and lack of books and teachers. In Thessaloniki they want to end the present practice of "double shifts" in which two schools are housed in the same building, one working in the morning, one in the afternoon.