The military parade for the National Day of Greece, 25th of March, was held in Athens today with little attendance and without too much tension. Because of fear of recurrence of the incidents from the 28th of October in Thessaloniki last year, the security measures of the police were draconian.
Conversely, incidents thwarted the parade in Heraklion on the island of Crete, and there was considerable tension in Patras as well. In most Greek cities the parades were "sparsely attended", there were protests in many places, and low participation of politicians.
The military parade on Syntagma Square in the presence of the political and state leadership passed as yesterday parade of students with low attendance due to the draconian security measures.
At 11:15 pm, at the bottom of the square a group of about 50 people who had gathered and chanted slogans against politicians, was pushed by the riot control police forces to "Ermou" street without any more fighting.
The security measures typical for yesterday's student parade, which ended without any major problems, but also in the absence of citizens, were also in full swing today. Around 7,000 policemen were alerted throughout Athens. 25 people were taken to the police station until the end of the parade.
6 people at the police station after the parade in Thessaloniki
The student parade in Thessaloniki started with a 10-minute delay. Employees, officers, teachers, members of the left party SYRIZA and of the organizations of the extra-parliamentary Left party had gathered at the church St. Cyril and Methodius", near the stage of the officials and chanted slogans against the government and the memorandum.
Numerous policemen took positions in front of them and prevented them from continuing. Police security measures here were also draconian and citizens were not allowed to approach the floor of the officials at a distance of under 100 metres.
6 people were taken to the police station.
Citizens' participation was less than ever, and many students participating in the parade did not turn their heads towards the officials when passing in front of the grandstands.
Tension and tear gas in Patras
The situation in Patras was much more tense. Shortly before the beginning of the parade dozens of demonstrators who marched downtown, tried to get close to the fences placed by the police against the stand of the officials on "Trion Simahon" square.
Police forces for riot control used tear gas and some of the protesters threw bottles of water against the police officers. The demonstrators retreated, and the people sitting in the cafes in Agios Nikolaos ran away because it was impossible to breathe.
Ultimately, shortly after 12:00 o’clock the parade began without a government representative present. Meanwhile, demonstrators returned to Agios Nikolaos and chanted slogans against politicians.
In Heraklion on the island of Crete the parade failed - incidents in Chania and Rethymno
For the first time the parade in Heraklion was thwarted. After serious incidents and protests a meeting followed and the representative of the Crete Prefecture announced that due to the present circumstances and for the safety of pupils the parade was cancelled.
Minor incidents were registered in Chania. The parade was confined for the first time to a small part of "Andreas Papandreou" avenue, which was surrounded by major police forces. They did not allow the citizens to approach the officials from less than 150 metres. This triggered the reactions of the citizens because they were not allowed to watch the parade. There were some minor incidents, police used a limited amount of tear gas, some threw objects at the police, and three people were taken to the police station.
The parade in Rethymno started with a 45-minute delay due to a sitdown strike of dozens of citizens. Protesters gathered on the side of the officials and asked them to leave, although there was a podium by the decision of the municipality.
The Veria Police took preventatively to the police station 32 people before beginning of the parade. It turned out that some of the detainees have sticks and other similar items. According to the police their intention was to approach the podium of the officials.
Low participation also on the Ionian Islands
In the absence of a representative of the government and with increased police presence the parade on the island of Corfu took place, where a stand was not set because of the fear of accidents and there was only the Greek flag.
On the island of Zakynthos tension was created when representatives of the Nationalist Party "Golden Dawn" wanted to present a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. Police interference, however, prevented the occurrence of accidents.
On the island of Lefkada the student parade took place with low attendance of the public and with increased police presence. It was attended by the local government and the MP from PASOK Spyros Margelis.
Clashes with supporters of "Golden Dawn" in Kalamata
There was an incident after the end of the parade in Kalamata, when there was a misunderstanding between a group of citizens, supporters of "Golden Dawn" and another group of citizens supporting the Left party. The collision was put under control by the police forces.
Meanwhile, another group of supporters of the Left party who wanted to march chanting slogans, eventually passed after officials had already retreated, and after minor clashes with the police, who detained a lot of people.
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