NEWS IN ENGLISH 04/12/2014
The battered demonstrators who were arrested during clashes with the police following the solidarity march to Nickos Romanos were taken once again to court, accused of felony. They are to remain in custody in the police headquarters until tomorrow, while their attorneys say they have been framed in order to conceal police arbitrariness.
Supporters of Nickos Romanos have occupied the offices of the Greek Federation of Workers (GSEE) in the center of Athens. Among the various initiatives undertaken in solidarity to the four hunger strikers, two women prisoners in Lasithi Crete have abstained from meals, while two more inmates have declared their intention to start a hunger strike from tomorrow. Numerous announcements and resolutions are issued daily in favor of Romanos. Several public buildings such as town halls and universities are occupied people who are protesting for his unfair treatment and are blaming the government for callousness, authoritarianism and manipulation of justice.
In an attempt to wash his hands of the case the Minister of JusticeHaralambos Athanasiou is bringing to Parliament an amendment allowing prison inmates to study via distance learning methods, however the young man’s parents accuse him of hypocrisy as it is known that the discussion of the 2015 budget cannot be interrupted, while the Minister of Education will be absent until Sunday. Furthermore, as the professors of the Athens Technological Institute pointed out, there are inconsistencies between the rough plan suggested by the Minister of Justice and the way the Technological Institute is organised, as well as the equipment it possesses. In the meantime Frangiscos Ragousis, lawyer of Romanos appealed to the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court today for revocation of the judicial decree. Protests will continue tomorrow in Athens, Thessalonica and other cities, including Barcelona.
Demonstrations are banned in the center of Athens by General Police Director on Friday and Saturday due to the visit of Turkish PM Davutoglu from 6am on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.
The fact that Saturday 6th of December is also the anniversary of the death of his friend Alexis Grigoropoulos, who was shot by two policemen in 2008, is not officially mentioned. However it is estimated that a police force of about 7,000 men will be in the streets.
European Commissioner of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos stated that, in the case of the Syrian refugees in Greece there is a legislative gap as, although they are encouraged to seek asylum in Greece, they cannot be forced to do so. He said that the Greek authorities had provided them with humanitarian aid such as food and healthcare when in fact these people have had to rely on charity. He also referred to the obligation of Greece to list and to fingerprint all those who enter the country. Meanwhile a delegation of the Syrians who have been protesting for days in Syntagma square appealed to the Municipal Council of Athens, continuing the effort to find some response to their requests.
PM Antonis Samaras denied once more the likelihood of premature elections, although early Presidential Elections seem to be a convenient way out for the coalition government, while amending the Constitution remains to be addressed. Secretary general of the Communist Party Dimitris Katsumbas estimates that there will be general elections around March. Leader of the main opposition party SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras declared that the moment the government and the troika will be held accountable for the misery they have caused to the Greek people is approaching, after meeting the leadership of the International Labour Organization in Geneva.
Serious problems in the area of Evros caused by the heavy downpours of the last 24 hours. Authorities are in a state of alarm as the level of the water in river Evros has raised near Ormeni. Search is under way for the location of the 49-year old police officer who was in a fishing boat near the outfall of the river. Villages have been flooded and there are problems in local roads between Didimotixo and Orestiada.
The timely turnout of people prevented the power cut in the ERA radio station of Volos. Power supply was restored in ERA in Chania which will soon be in full operation.
Athens ProsecutorIlias Zagoreoshas addressed criminal charges against 16 suspects in relation to corruption in football. The criminal charges include the formation and direction of a criminal organization, fraud, extortion, bribery and inciting bodily harm. According to the prosecutor’s investigation, the criminal organization fixed matches, appointed specific referees to games in order to affect match outcomes and controlled the relegation of football teams to the various divisions. Amongst the 16 suspects are 4 officers at the Greek Football Federation (EPO), 2 from the Central Refereeing Committee (KED) and 3 referees. No names have yet been revealed.
WEATHER
Heavy rainfall and storms are expected in west, central and northern Greece, especially after noon, with temperatures ranging from 10C-15C. Wind velocity is expected to reach 4 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered clouds and local showers in the eastern parts with temperatures between 11C-19C. In Attiki clouds with limited visibility in the early hours and conditions allowing dust transport.
Mostly fair weather in Athens, temperatures between 13C -19C. Scattered clouds with gradual deterioration of the weather, local showers and possibly storms in Thessaloniki. Temperatures between 11C-14C. In the Thermaic Gulf occasionally strong eastern winds.
Supporters of Nickos Romanos have occupied the offices of the Greek Federation of Workers (GSEE) in the center of Athens. Among the various initiatives undertaken in solidarity to the four hunger strikers, two women prisoners in Lasithi Crete have abstained from meals, while two more inmates have declared their intention to start a hunger strike from tomorrow. Numerous announcements and resolutions are issued daily in favor of Romanos. Several public buildings such as town halls and universities are occupied people who are protesting for his unfair treatment and are blaming the government for callousness, authoritarianism and manipulation of justice.
In an attempt to wash his hands of the case the Minister of JusticeHaralambos Athanasiou is bringing to Parliament an amendment allowing prison inmates to study via distance learning methods, however the young man’s parents accuse him of hypocrisy as it is known that the discussion of the 2015 budget cannot be interrupted, while the Minister of Education will be absent until Sunday. Furthermore, as the professors of the Athens Technological Institute pointed out, there are inconsistencies between the rough plan suggested by the Minister of Justice and the way the Technological Institute is organised, as well as the equipment it possesses. In the meantime Frangiscos Ragousis, lawyer of Romanos appealed to the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court today for revocation of the judicial decree. Protests will continue tomorrow in Athens, Thessalonica and other cities, including Barcelona.
Demonstrations are banned in the center of Athens by General Police Director on Friday and Saturday due to the visit of Turkish PM Davutoglu from 6am on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.
The fact that Saturday 6th of December is also the anniversary of the death of his friend Alexis Grigoropoulos, who was shot by two policemen in 2008, is not officially mentioned. However it is estimated that a police force of about 7,000 men will be in the streets.
European Commissioner of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos stated that, in the case of the Syrian refugees in Greece there is a legislative gap as, although they are encouraged to seek asylum in Greece, they cannot be forced to do so. He said that the Greek authorities had provided them with humanitarian aid such as food and healthcare when in fact these people have had to rely on charity. He also referred to the obligation of Greece to list and to fingerprint all those who enter the country. Meanwhile a delegation of the Syrians who have been protesting for days in Syntagma square appealed to the Municipal Council of Athens, continuing the effort to find some response to their requests.
PM Antonis Samaras denied once more the likelihood of premature elections, although early Presidential Elections seem to be a convenient way out for the coalition government, while amending the Constitution remains to be addressed. Secretary general of the Communist Party Dimitris Katsumbas estimates that there will be general elections around March. Leader of the main opposition party SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras declared that the moment the government and the troika will be held accountable for the misery they have caused to the Greek people is approaching, after meeting the leadership of the International Labour Organization in Geneva.
Serious problems in the area of Evros caused by the heavy downpours of the last 24 hours. Authorities are in a state of alarm as the level of the water in river Evros has raised near Ormeni. Search is under way for the location of the 49-year old police officer who was in a fishing boat near the outfall of the river. Villages have been flooded and there are problems in local roads between Didimotixo and Orestiada.
The timely turnout of people prevented the power cut in the ERA radio station of Volos. Power supply was restored in ERA in Chania which will soon be in full operation.
Athens ProsecutorIlias Zagoreoshas addressed criminal charges against 16 suspects in relation to corruption in football. The criminal charges include the formation and direction of a criminal organization, fraud, extortion, bribery and inciting bodily harm. According to the prosecutor’s investigation, the criminal organization fixed matches, appointed specific referees to games in order to affect match outcomes and controlled the relegation of football teams to the various divisions. Amongst the 16 suspects are 4 officers at the Greek Football Federation (EPO), 2 from the Central Refereeing Committee (KED) and 3 referees. No names have yet been revealed.
WEATHER
Heavy rainfall and storms are expected in west, central and northern Greece, especially after noon, with temperatures ranging from 10C-15C. Wind velocity is expected to reach 4 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered clouds and local showers in the eastern parts with temperatures between 11C-19C. In Attiki clouds with limited visibility in the early hours and conditions allowing dust transport.
Mostly fair weather in Athens, temperatures between 13C -19C. Scattered clouds with gradual deterioration of the weather, local showers and possibly storms in Thessaloniki. Temperatures between 11C-14C. In the Thermaic Gulf occasionally strong eastern winds.