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The 38 day hunger strike of 300 immigrants in Athens and Thessaloniki has turned into a main political issue. The crisis state of their health and the increasing possibility that some immigrants can lose their lives, prompted the first disagreements between members of the Greek government. 

"In no case should we reach the point to lose a human life," said in the parliament defense minister Evangelos Venizelos. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to preclude the possibility of mass legalization of immigrants. 

In response to a question by the leader of the far right party George Karadzaferis, the defense minister stressed that he "will exert every possible pressure on his colleagues regarding this matter, so that a possible death can be avoided at all costs." 

According to Evangelos Venizelos this would lead to events that may not have any positive impact on the country or on its democratic polity. 

"Try to avoid a death among the immigrants. I fear that even one death case can spark a great disturbance in the country or will be used as a gold chance provoke other events," warned Minister George Karadzaferis. 

However, another member of the Government rejected any possibility of mass legalization of immigrants. "The position of all of us is to help, but it should be made clear that it is not possible for a state to be blackmailed," said Justice Minister Haris Kastanidis and offer immigrants a grace period of one year. The strikers, however, rejected this proposal and said they will not give up on their request for a residence and work permits. 

The spokesperson of the radical left Panos Skourletis stressed that the situation of the starving immigrants is on the edge and that "the decision has to be made yesterday”. He quoted the statements by the Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the Minister of Yannis Ragusis and said that they are "strikingly heartless”. Yesterday the Internal Affairs Minister expressed regret over the continuation of the hunger strike and commented negatively on the "political leaders" who "hinder the dialogue between immigrants and authorities”. 

Yannis Ragousis once again excluded the possibility of mass legalization of immigrants and said that he had received complaints from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of infectious diseases. When doctors tried to enter the Ipatiya building and examine the immigrants, they were repelled with force by the activists and were forbidden to enter. 

The statements of the Minister of Internal Affairs and publications in the Greek press caused interference of the Athens prosecutor's office. The Prosecutor Eleni Raikou issued an order to conduct a preliminary investigation in order to establish the veracity of these allegations and the existence of violations. 

Particularly acute towards the "alleged", as he called them for solidarity towards immigrants, activists was government spokesman George Petalotis, who defined their actions as "immeasurably hypocritical”. 

Commenting on the statement of the doctor, who monitors the health of the immigrants, who said that "the government wants dead," George Petalotis invited "all who are supposed to support the immigrants to understand that they have no right to play neither with the lives of these people, nor with the country's international image." 

"The specific doctor is one of those who defend and support such acts and speak on behalf of the immigrants, without him doing anything similar." The government spokesman said that Greece respects the dignity right of immigrants and their right to hold a hunger strike, as decided. He also added, however, that what the government cannot resolve is "some people who are using the immigrants and prohibiting them from eating food and drinking water”.

 "Hospital management will receive orders to do what is necessary," was his comment on the statement of the director of medical services in Attica, who said that the activists had prevented the provision of food for the immigrants in public hospitals. 

In their statements the activists from the initiative of solidarity towards starving immigrants, compared the government spokesman with the leader of Libya. "As Muammar Gaddafi represents the revolution in his country as a conspiracy by Al Qaeda, Georgios Petalotis blames doctors and activists for the hunger strike of immigrants, because... they do not allow immigrants to eat." 

Today it was announced that 98 immigrants have been hospitalized. According to Dr. Thanassis Karambelis those released continue the hunger strike, but drink water on the recommendation of doctors. Seven immigrants have announced the initiation of a thirst strike. "After 38 days of hunger strike, the government does not hear us. From yesterday, us 7 started a thirst strike to death. Liability for our death will belong to the prime minister," says their message. 

With a call to the President of the Hellenic Parliament Filippos Petsalnikos, several dozen journalists, who support the protest of immigrants, made an approach. "We ask the parliament to intervene and find a fair solution to this problem. The immigrants said they are ready to engage in a constructive dialogue with the relevant departments on the basis of their already announced requests," states the petition of media representatives.