Civil organizations from Crete will hold a three-day occupation of the NATO military base in the north-western part of the island within the pan-Hellenic weekly protest against the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons in the Mediterranean Sea.
The members of the coordinating body of the protesters argue that this will prevent from leaving the base the ships that will participate in the destruction of the chemical weapons by the experimental hydrolysis method in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the information available so far, 520 tons of chemical weapons will be destroyed by hydrolysis in the Mediterranean. The method is described as follows: chemical compounds decompose on contact with hot water, being subsequently treated with caustic soda. Sources indicate that the particular process has been developed by the Pentagon, but it has never been used in a real operation.
Protesters from the island will participate in the pan-Hellenic protest rally that will take place on 11 July, and the occupation of the base will be held from 19-21 July.
They called the pan-Hellenic federation of maritime workers and the workers' centres in Crete and other regions to actively participate in the protest by going on warning strikes. In parallel, they turned to fishermen and owners of all types of vessels, calling them to participate in the blockade of the naval base.
According to the announcement of the protest coordinators, they also intend to hold a protest in the sea. The plan is for small ships and boats to approach the US vessel "Cape Ray", on board of which the chemical weapons will be destroyed.
The protesters also intend to request a meeting between representatives of organizations and mayors of municipalities in Crete and the ambassadors of Russia and the United States, and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
