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Journalist Stavros Theodorakis said on the national radio that his show "Protagonists" on Mega TV devoted to the recent tragedy of illegal immigrants near Farmakonisi has received a ban from airing. He called this "an unacceptable act of censorship". District Attorney of Kos Antigoni Stamoleka justified his decision with the investigation which is still continuing.

"No legal and constitutional provision in the country gives similar powers to the investigator of a case", said Theodorakis. "We are witnessing how some people are exceeding their powers, a fact which is happening at the expense of democracy. This needs to be addressed.

www.tanea.gr

Theodorakis emphasized that "The show will undoubtedly be broadcast. This is our decision, and the decision of the TV channel. Despite the prosecutor's order, the show will be aired as usual on Tuesday."

The case of the preventive ban from airing the show came after journalist Popi Christodoulou was arrested yesterday by the State Security Service. She had uploaded the Official Gazette on her website with a published decision, which provides the port police the powers of the anti-terrorist services.

On this occasion, the Governing Council of editors of daily newspapers in Athens decided at yesterday's meeting to take protest measures before the ministers of justice, public order and the Navy.

Stavros Theodorakis recounted his experiences and thoughts during the investigation of the case for Ta Nea newspaper.

"While looking at the sea in the small plane to Leros, I was thinking about those who sank in an attempt to enter Europe.

Last year, at least 70 immigrants died in the Aegean Sea. We are talking about reported cases alone, since there are many who have sunk without anyone knowing about it. In the last 18 months, rescue ships of the port police rescued 3,500 people. 7 wrecks a day. And on the Turkish coast there are thousands who are waiting to dive into the waters and get to ... Europe.

How many? Just think about the fact that in the last year, before the barrier was built in the Evros region, 55,000 immigrants crossed the border. Who are those who want to come here? These are victims of the endless war in Afghanistan, frustrated by the Arab Spring, refugees from Syria, etc.

I have a friend from Afghanistan, who occasionally tells me what is happening. "Life goes on as usual, but suddenly one day a Taliban points a gun at you. You do not know whether he wants to take your money or whether this is because of your religion. You do not know why he thinks that you are an enemy. The only thing you know is that you must take your family and leave - sell whatever you can, collect as much money as you can and go to Europe."

Istanbul is the centre of traffickers; afterwards you are sent to Izmir. 3,000 euro per person? 4,000 euro per person? Dollars? Euro? It is according to the occasion. If you are poor you can pay less, as long as you agree to sail on one of the rusty ships. This is what happened with the 27 immigrants at Farmakonisi. Some of them had waited for five months, others for 2. Finally, slave traders found a 20 -year-old Syrian, who had only 400 euro, and made him a captain and told him to go to Greece on Sunday evening, 19 January. The boat broke down shortly before Farmakonisi. The sea winds were in the range of 6 on the Beaufort scale and the waves were 2 metres high. 11 people drowned, 16 were rescued," said Theodorakis.

www.naftemporiki.gr

Meanwhile a 33-year-old Bulgarian has been arrested. He is a trafficker who drove 17 illegal immigrants in a van. He was discovered during an inspection in Iasmos, Rhodopes, while trying to transfer 12 Afghans, 4 Syrians and a citizen of Bangladesh. The trafficker took them near Evros and tried to transfer them to Thessaloniki. His van was confiscated and the Bulgarian will be taken to the District Attorney of the Rhodopes region.