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Concerns about co-operation between the police and parastatal elements

30 June 2011 / 18:06:39  GRReporter
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Confusion and anger caused the video Alter TV showed, on which two men with covered faces approached the police ranks in front of the Parliament during the yesterday's heavy clashes. Then the video showed how the policemen took them to the courtyard of the National Assembly in a very peaceful manner.

The Minister of Citizens Protection Christos Papoutsis ordered an investigation, but police officers said, "This happened the day before yesterday and the men are members of the trade union of employees in the trolley transport ETEL, who were attacked by anarchists in a cafe on Syntagma Square and released by the police. However, we are investigating any other possibility."

According to some commentators, however, the men are members of parastatal formations, which get among the participants in the protests and involve in destruction and fighting with police to chase peaceful demonstrators or in other words, to eliminate the social responses. They confirmed from the union that the muscular man from the video, holding an iron rod, is a former board member of the organization.

As zougla.gr reported, Apostolis Soukaras is currently an active trade unionist, although he has resigned five months ago and he is known for his unruly behaviour and his links with far-right groups. The head of the union himself has mentioned that Soukaras is associated with the Apollo's Might magazine, which publishes texts of far-right content.

Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of Athens Eleni Raykou requested Alter TV to submit the video to the authorities to be able to order a pre-trial investigation.

Late last night, the Greek police carried large amounts of chemical gases from Thessaloniki after it had sprayed a lot of them during the clashes on Syntagma Square. Senior officers said for To Vima, "The tension and especially the duration of the clashes on Wednesday were unprecedented for the policemen that reached their limits. We transferred significant police forces from the country in recent days. Increased use of chemical gases was the only way to deal with those who caused the riots. We could not catch them because anarchists mixed up with the discontented citizens and there was a great danger of bloodshed."

Athens radio stations informed late in the afternoon that police forces had sprayed gas in the subway station at Syntagma Square, where volunteers had made a "field" medical centre. They gave first aid to the hundreds of gas steamed citizens and others who had injuries from hits and burns.

To their appeal that they needed antiseptic products and bandages, oxygen and creams for treatment of burns responded the union of pharmacists. Later that evening, its chairman said that when he had to repeat the delivery the policemen told him they would not allow him to return. Today, he called the prosecution authorities to investigate the quantities and composition of the gases sprayed yesterday. According to the chairman of the union of doctors, they could exacerbate existing diseases and cause serious breathing problems, premature abortion in pregnant women, cancer and even death in certain cases.

The police claim, "The police forces have not used chemical gas against the entrance to the subway. Furthermore, we were in touch with the subway management and did not receive information about the presence of injured citizens there. Anyway, they told us that subway was running and all who wanted could use it to move to other areas."

 

Tags: SocietyPoliceParastatal formationsAsphyxiating gasesSubwayWounded
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