Today, the woman’s holiday in Greece was dedicated to Konstantina Kouneva. The citizens of Mushato municipality in Athens organized a bazaar and concerts, the funds from which will go for helping the Bulgarian family.
On the woman’s day, a demonstration was organized by the International Women’s Network, the Africans Union, the United Women Immigrants, the Bulgarian Cultural Center and others, who reached the hospital where Konstantina is being taken care of.
Today, supporting Kouneva will have a more holiday spirit, if it is even possible. But because March 8th is the holiday of the mother and the working woman, this is why Konstantina turned into a symbol of a dedicated mother and a fighting worker.
Because of the special feeling this day has, the citizens of Moshato organized a day of bazaars and concerts. The bazaar was in front of the municipality in Moshato – sale of different objects, toys, books and from noon on, at the same place, the concerts started. Many bands performed and one of them was the Bulgarian folklore formation “Rodina” (Homeland). Fans of the worldwide famous band “Stomp” also performed – the percussion instruments band from the Polytechnic Department of the Athenian University. Actually, the holiday, which was dedicated to Konstantina started before noon with a children’s play “The red thread.” During the night many famous bands will play for Konstantina – “Xainides,” Fivos Delivorias, Rodes, and Spiridoula, who will attract a big audience and with they performance they will spread around what happened to Konstantina Kouneva among the younger people who are not so interested with older people’s problems.
The important thing is that for the first time in Greece, a foreigner takes thousands of people out on the streets and discloses ancient labor conditions for emigrants. Konstantina Kouneva’s story did not only enter into all Greek tabloids on first page, but also into all international news. She provoked an avalanche of letters from Italy, England, and whole Europe, addressed to Konstantina by unknown people, who are showing her that she is not alone.
“Justice for Konstantina Kouneva and her colleagues” says a slogan published in a French newspaper “Liberation.” Hundreds of electronic signatures stay under this text – famous, not famous, Greeks, French, English, etc. “Not only cars and banks are burnt in Athens. There is one woman burnt with vitriol because she was brave enough to stand against the ancient labor conditions, which were imposed on her,” says the text, which tells in details Konstantina’s story. “We are expressing our anger from evil act and our worry for the lack of willingness from the police to solve the case,” say the ones who have given their signatures.
One month before the attack, in an interview for a Belgian photographer, Jaki Delor, Kouneva herself says that: In my country the working right was a mandatory class in school. Before I came here, I search for the Greek working right and I found out that I would not be protected by the law here as I would be in Bulgaria.”
And until demonstrations are continuing, Konstantina’s mother is always next to her – scared for her child’s health. “The crime was very well organized,” says Mrs. Elena Decheva – Konstantina’s mother and adds: “at least after all that evil, which found us, people understood about the awful labor conditions here.”
Until now, Konstantina has had three plastic surgeries and two other. The doctors say that she will need one more year to recover. She does not give up though and sends her message for the holiday: “Let all nations come back to their own traditions, in order to rediscover happiness.”