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Outbreak of three-day protests. Eleven arrested so far

10 February 2012 / 16:02:22  GRReporter
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Stones, Molotov cocktails and tear gas once again covered Syntagma Square in Athens, as a natural continuation of the protests started by the union of private sector employees GSEE and the union of public sector employees ADEDY. They have announced a new 48-hour strike against signing the second bailout agreement that will bring cuts of salaries and pensions to the levels before Greece’s accession to the eurozone. Protest marches were not as numerous as in the previous days, but the participants were equally angry.
 
The protest march of trade unions began at the University of Athens at 12 noon with the familiar posters: "Troika out!", "We do not want the Memorandum". Meanwhile, the trade union organization of the Greek Communist Party PAME gathered in Omonia Square and chanted similar slogans. The two protest processions met for a moment and then, the members of PAME headed to the buildings of the Ministries of Employment, Health and Finance, and the trade unionists from the other two organizations went to the Parliament building. There, numerous cordons of riot forces equipped with safety goggles, shields, batons and tear gas dispensers were awaiting them. Members of anarchist organizations, watching the protest and waiting for the right moment for action, were among the protesters.

After about two hours of escalating tensions, the first clash between police and anarchists erupted down the square between the Ministry of Finance and Filelinon Street. The first Molotov cocktails exploded followed by a rain of stones. The police responded with a counterattack and tear gas but failed to disperse the crowd. Groups of people ran to the scene of the collision. Elderly people shouted from the back rows, "Who do you guard - those who robbed us!", "Shame on you!". Several attacks followed and the police broke up the group on Filelinon Street. Two young boys were arrested. While the riot forces were taking them out of the crowd, one of the boys shouted, "Help, do not leave them!".

Police seized 11 people, six of whom were arrested for assaulting police officers.

After half an hour, the protest dispersed promising that the discontented will return in the square during the weekend. On Sunday, the National Assembly should adopt the basic measures that will be implemented in order for Greece to receive the bailout. Trade unions will call a protest meeting during the weekend too to give voice to the refusal to accept the new programme. Addressing the media, the union of employees in the private sector stated that the people should rise up "to resist the neoliberal whirlwind of the Troika which is taking the people and the country to bankruptcy and destruction."

Tags: SocietyProtestsAthensTear gas
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