Footage proving – once again – that cops and fascists in Greece work together

   FROM www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2010/09/29/381-footage-proving-once-again-that-cops-and-fascists-in-greece-work-together/

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The news-portal tvxs.gr has uploaded the short clipping below: here, we see members of the neo-nazi organization Golden Dawn (Chrisi Augi). According to the testimony of the person who shot the footage, the neo-nazis arrived in the area of Larissis Station (in central Athens) on September 22, at about 10pm, transported there by the police van shown in the video. This person started shooting after the neo-nazis had gotten off the van; they chanted anti-migrant slogans and sang the greek national anthem. Moments later, they re-enter the van, followed by police. A few minutes later they re-exited; the police withdrew and the neo-nazis held a demonstration. According to information received by tvxs.gr, on the same night migrants were attacked in the area.

Supermarket raid
Two armed robbers made off with about 50,000 euros in cash on Saturday after holding up a supermarket in the southern Athens neighborhood of Palaio Faliro. The robbery took place at about 1.30 p.m., when the suspects forced security guards, who were transferring a sack containing the cash to a waiting truck, to hand over the money at gunpoint. greek news papers..

Midnight attack with Molotov cocktails at riot squad

cops!

First registration: Saturday, September 25, 2010, 4:30

Attack! with about 10 coctails molotof!unleashed

unknown to 1:30 in the morning, when the riot squad.

A group  of Pepole threw Molotov cocktails at riot cops!

who were at the junction of Hippocrates and Navarino in

the area of Exarchia, Athens, and then gon!

INSURRECTION IN ALIKARNASSOS PRISONS (CRETE) AGAINST THE NEW VENGEFUL PRISON REGIME

16th september

 The prisoners denied to go back to their cells until their demands were met. They ask for the abolishment of the undignified and humiliating searches that happen everyday in their personal space that sometimes lead to the same people being searched 3-4 times a week after the first ones found nothing. The insufficient meals which are served at the same times but with much smaller portions (half a plate of spaghetti), the revolting sanitary conditions with cockroaches jumping out of everywhere, the unjustified set up disciplinaries as oppressive measures that for a month now have been imposed by the new sergeant Teggas have as the only target the physical and ethical extermination of those imprisoned in them.


 The enslaved prison guards who execute vengeful orders themselves, with the justification of searching the cell they throw everything on the floor (sheets, personal belongings and food and coffees) create their own responsibility and will answer for that.



A motorbike demo of about 50 people arrived outside the prisons in solidarity shortly after to support the prisoners however they can.



THE DAYS OF INSURRECTION ARE NEAR

Video..Man throws shoe at Greek prime minister

 A man threw his shoe at Prime Minister George Papandreou

It was an exotic new
A man threw his shoe at Prime Minister GeorgeGeorge Papandreou as he visited kiosks an international trade fair on Saturday, September 11 in Thessaloniki, but it widely missed its mark and the man was pinned down by security guards.
The man, in his 60s, was placed in a police car and detained by police.
Witnesses at the scene said the man was part of a protest group and the action was planned.
Papandreou, surrounded by security and media, had opened the international fair, where he was set to give a speech in the evening on the state of the economy.
They also arrested as well as the doctor's daughter with a fifteen-year-old,

In addition to a farmer named Stavros Vitalis, were accompanied at the time, but they announced later in the release of three detainees.

In a statement to the Greek media, he said Bravazeres He is a member of a new organization called the "National Front"

And protesting against government policies.

Bravazeres described what he had done "a political act against the policies of the Government's austerity"

He warned that "many will follow suit," refused to reveal the number that successfully recruited in the front to do so.

Minor violent incidents mar premiere of Thessaloniki International Fair in northern Greece September 12th, THESSALONIKI, Greece, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — Thousands of Greek demonstrators protested against government austerity measures in the center of the northern city Thessaloniki on Saturday afternoon under draconian security measures, as minor violent incidents have already marred the premiere of the 75th Thessaloniki International Fair. More than 4,500 policemen were on increased alert around the conference center, where Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is due to deliver a keynote speech on his government’s economic policy shortly, as tension in the area rose. Holding banners with slogans like “We are not for sale” and “No to EU and International Monetary Fund,” demonstrators from all over the country participated in the rallies organized by labor unions, with minor scuffles with police reported. Earlier on Saturday noon a Greek doctor who was believed to be a member of a far Right group attempted to throw a shoe at Papandreou, shouting that his government betrayed Greek people and served the interests of bankers. The man was apprehended by the premier’s bodyguards and sent to a local police station, along with his 15-year-old daughter and a 55-year-old friend. According to Greek media reports, the doctor had called on citizens of Thessaloniki through his website to ” welcome Papandreou with their old shoes.” Later on Saturday afternoon, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) President Constantinos Michalos was attacked by a group of protesting truck drivers as he entered a Thessaloniki hotel for the General Assembly of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece. He was punched on the face, but was not seriously injured and participated in the meeting as scheduled. Michalos, who supports the government’s plan to liberalize the freight truck sector, which is a “closed” market in Greece, denounced the attack. “Such efforts will not stop reforms,” said Michalos, as unionists of the truck owners, who operate with state licenses for decades in Greece and object to a government plan to open up the sector, announced a new strike next week. Also on Saturday a small group of teachers occupied for a while the Greek Finance Ministry’s kiosk at the trade fair venue, chanting slogans against cutbacks on salaries and a freeze on hiring more teachers. “We will safeguard democracy. We will safeguard citizens’ right to demonstrate, but also it is the duty of the whole society to safeguard people’s lives and properties. And we will do that,” said Greek Citizens’ Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis.

Breakout from central precinct

Three policemen have been suspended after a mass breakout from the holding cells at the Omonia police station in central Athens, one of the city’s busiest.
According to authorities, at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, 13 prisoners who were in the same cell all complained that they were feeling unwell and needed to be transferred to a hospital. However, when the two special guards who were on duty entered the cell to help the suspects, they were attacked.
The guards managed to capture three prisoners just outside the cell. Another two were caught as they tried to exit the police station. One more was re-arrested in the Omonia area. However, the other seven – four Palestinians, two Iraqis and an Afghan – escaped.
The on-duty officer and the two special guards were suspended pending an internal investigation.

release of 50.000 minks in Kastoria North of Greece

29august

Kastoria is a city North west of greece . The city of Kastoria has a history and it was famous  and rich cause of the furs …
Last night activists release  50.000 minks from a “farm”
However lots of people  criticize that action saying that minks can’t live free : they can’t eat , they cant drink water and soon they all going to die cause they just can’t survive by they own .
My opinion is : even if only one make it , it is a nice action plus it really send a message to any new business man who  want to start that kind of business...

1. The mink farm owner was on television looking terribly worried, trying with trembling voice and stammering to describe the financial loss he suffered. A damage coming up to one million euroes. What is moral I thought is measured with money…- profit. That he is by force enslaving living beings abusing them and killing them in the most attrocious way in order to take their skin and make money, this did not matter to him. It is accepted by society, the law is on his side, and therefore this attrocious act is moral. Whereas the animal lovers who broke into his establishment with the inention of freeing the enslaved creatures are by the established standards, criminals. How long will profit be the criterion of morality? How long will laws support profit makers and disregard human and animal life especially, when it comes to making money? I look forward to a society, which would condemn such acts and send to prison a person like the mink farm owner for abusing , torturing animals and disrespecting their rights to life and freedom.

ANARCHIST SLOGANS IN SANTORINI ISLAND IN GREECE SOLIDARITY TO THE IMMIGRANTS! AND AGAINST TO THE FASCIST!AND COPS!

ANAΡΧΙΚΑ ΣΥΝΘΗΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΟ ΕΠΑΡΧΕΙΟ WATCH THE VIDEO!
Uploaded by neasantorinis. - News videos hot off the press.

santorini under attack by anarchists (it was about time)

LAst night in the famous island of santorini some state buildings were under attack with spays and colors .The town hall  a bank and an office 4 the public .
the local press says it is a shock 4 them and that a group of anarchists did it…
yea dudes ur so smart there , I thought it was batman but maybe ur right .
Anyhow that island is like no1 toutists destination , very expensive and lots of people working there without any insurance .

this is a picture of the town hall and I think it looks nice like that .
I ve been to santorini and I remember all the time I was saying to my self
shit we must burn this stupid island from east till west . my l idea has to do with the people there couse the make lots of money and they forgot how to be humans , how to talk nice , how to be friendly .They only care 4 money , money and nothing else . yea ok this is happening everywhere u gonna tell me …not that much , in santorini it is really bad .
whatever , well done comrades !
we are everywhere
ps: I also remember that it was full of cameras that island like u are in London down town …
burn , smash , and destroy the symbols of this rotten world .
a pic from http://athens.indymedia.org

anarchists attack more than once per day in greece

We have had more than 430 attacks this year in Greece against TARGETS of capitalism. Most of them made by anarchists.
Anarchists are aiming and shooting. DIRECT ACTIONS. A real WAR .
More or less nobody is getting hurt, I mean even Revolutionary Struggle Maziotis and Roupa, who are like public enemy no1, did not kill anyone.
The Revolutionary Sect only killed 2 times and we had another one police officer dead with the letter bomb from a new group that don't have a name yet as they said …Those dudes send a letter bomb to the "Greek Civil Protection" Minister Mihalis Chrisohoidis, who has been really cruel and violent. (They say he is drunk all the time and he takes cocaine) anyhow it is like 3 dead people.
we should find out how many the US did and how many they killed … we gonna look like school kids after that. Whatever, we have more than one attack everyday in Greece, from east to west. We have the island of Crete which is really big in the east and west Thesaloniki is the second biggest city. After that we have Patra, Larissa, Volos, Trikala, Irakleio, Chania, Xanthi, Ioannina, Mitilini, Agrinio, Alexandroypoli - everywhere actions of solidarity all the time here with firebombs againsts banks and security cars and political premises.
Of course each time a proclamation explains the reason for the attack .
Solidarity with all our comrades in Greece. The only way there will ever be change for the better is if people step up and take action. The capitalist system is digging its own grave but the only way we can be sure the system will end is if we do things to end it.

Trikala city , Greece , we are everywhere

3 AUGUST 2010

• 30  comrades today protest outside the jails in trikala in an action of solidarity to the prisoners who do hanger strike couse the sutuation in that prison and probobly to all the prisons are really bad .After  the jail the comrades protest in the city .The city of trikala in northwestern in  Greece and  has like 50.ooo people who live there

• comrades in Trikala again, invade into a politician office ( member of the goverment ) and did some spray on the walls .The name of the “Revolutionary Sect “was written on the walls with the a on circle !(sehta -Σεχτα)

pic from athens indymedia

Robbed Branch of the National Bank .Shootout with police and port authorities there at 8:00 am on Alonissos. manhunt  A launched  by the police.

Two men burst into a branch the National Bank, armed with automatic weapons, taking, according to preliminary information, one million euros.
The policemen who were aware of the robbery, attempted to prevent two men during their escape and capture them.
The perpetrators trying to escape on a motorbike fell and were approached by men of the Coast Guard, who fired on them without any success.
Those, however, escaped by shooting at police and a man of the Coast Guard, who took part in the effort to arrest them.
Then, with another motorbike the men went to the bay, where the third accomplice waited pilot small boat which boarded and sped off !. police conduct extensive research on the island, while mobilizing forces at the Coast Guard in the Northern Sporades, island in Greece trying to  arrest the bank robbers who escaped with inflatables.

GENERAL LOGAL NEWS FROM ATHENS FROM MEDIA...

Precinct escape
Two officers suspended after eight migrants break out
Two policemen stationed at the precinct of Palaio Faliro, south of Athens, were suspended yesterday after eight detainees escaped from their cells by pulling out the bars of their windows. Of the eight men, four Palestinians, two Afghans and an Algerian had been due for deportation. The eighth, a Pakistani, had been detained on drug dealing charges. Officers later traced two of the Palestinians. The two officers on duty at the time of the group escape have been charged with neglect.

Bomb hoax
An unidentified female caller phoned in a bomb threat to the police on Saturday evening, warning that an explosive device would detonate at the Parliament building in central Athens at exactly 8 p.m. Police cordoned off and searched the area after receiving the call at 7.42 p.m. but found no suspicious device. The woman had telephoned the police’s 100 emergency telephone number.

The announcement for the police to bank robbery in Piraeus
In Piraeus, were arrested by police-three (3) nationals, aged 33, 43 and 24 years respectively, accused of "robbery", "threat",
"unlawful detention" and a violation of the Law on Arms.
Particular, 23/08/2010 and 12:28 hours on the headquarters of the General Police Directorate of Attica was informed that the

Bank located at the intersection of University and Heroes Trikoupis was robbery. Immediately there is a general mobilization of all
police forces that existed in the region, Direct Action, groups DI.AS. and Security, which rushed to the spot.
At that time, the Bank came running two (2) persons, one (1) of them armed, which, after a chase, arrested. Within the branch was
one (1) even an armed offender who was holding about eighteen (18) hostages employees and customers of the Bank, with the
threat pistol and two (2) grenade.
Immediately put into effect the special project for the hostage-taking and point police arrived to block the area, as well as
negotiators of the Greek police, who came in contact with the offender and akrovolistikan and I took special forces.
After negotiations, more than two (2) hours of the perpetrator was convinced to leave original fourteen (14) people, customers and
employees of the branch. Negotiations continued until 15.00 hours, when it surrendered.
In possession of the three perpetrators were found and seized the following:
Two (2) hand grenades
One (1) gun TOKAREV
One (1) 22 mm gun
Three (3) pulets boxes
Seventeen (17) Cartridges
Questioning is conducted by the Sub Prosecution of Crimes against life and property, and examined their involvement in other criminal acts.

Greek bank robber wanted in Cyprus

August 24, 2010

ONE OF three men arrested following the storming of a National Bank of Greece branch in Athens yesterday (see page 10)  is wanted by the Cyprus police in connection with the murder of Michalis Kakathymis in Limassol last year.
According to police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos, a European arrest warrant is currently pending for one of the three arrested in the failed bank robbery in Greece which temporarily involved a hostage crisis. He said Cyprus police awaited an official briefing from the Greek police as to whether and when the arrest warrant will be executed and extradition procedures started, given that the man in question was arrested in Athens in a serious case of robbery.
A trial has already begun against five suspects believed to be involved in the murder of former cabaret owner Kakathymis in Limassol last year. The five suspects face a number of charges, though until now, the alleged shooter, a 33-year-old Greek Pontian Constantinos Michaelides, had remained at large.

The 2010 SS Act in Greece

Copyleft 2010 Contra Info link

The new ‘Social Security’ Act imposed by the IMF-EU-ECB ‘troika’ and the Greek government: A brief description of the most significant recent changes (August 2010)

Layoffs – Compensations – Overtime

• They increased the limit layoffs (from today’s 2%) to 5% per month, and up to 30 employees regarding companies which are staffed with more than 150 workers. Companies with 21 to 150 employees may now lay off up to 6 persons per month, while companies with less than 20 workers have no limit layoffs.

• They reduced the allowances due to redundancy.

For employees who have been working 2 to 12 months, a one-month notice by the employer is now considered sufficient before their dismissal, in order to receive a reduced compensation.

They gradually enforce six-month notice before dismissal in the case of an employee who has fulfilled over 20 years of labor and, as a result, smaller compensation.

Allowances will be paid in installments to redundant! The initial amount will be given on the day of dismissal, while the remainder will be paid in bi-monthly installments. Unless the amount remaining for the full payment of compensation is not lower, each of these installments will be equal to at least two-month wages.

• They reduced overtime allowances and worsened the excessive-work conditions.

Those who work 40 hours a week may not refuse to work 5 hours overtime per week.

Those who work 6 days a week are now forced to work up to 8 hours overtime per week, if so requested by their employer.

In fact, the eight-hour day officially becomes nine- or ten-hour day. Even worse, the Minister for Employment, after an Opinion by the Supreme Council for Employment, will have the right to grant permission to the private and the broader public sectors to impose additional overtime than the above!

Salaries – Benefits

• Employers are now entitled to give 84% of the minimum daily wage or salary to young people under the age of 25 who enter the labor market for the first time. In addition, employers now have the privilege to gain portion of the contributions of these workers by the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED).

Things are even worse for young people 15-18 years old, as the new Act provides ‘special apprenticeship contracts’ of one-year duration. For one-year wage slavery, youngsters shall receive 70% of the minimum daily wage or salary. Unprotected by labor legislation – with the exception of provisions for health care and social security – the younger workers will endure an actual slavery regime.

• They eliminate the 13th and 14th salary in the wider public sector.

Those with gross earnings of more than €3,000 (nearly €2,000 net income) will not get Easter and Christmas bonuses nor vacation allowances.

Employees below this threshold may receive €250 Easter bonus, €250 vacation allowance, and €500 Christmas bonus…

• They enforce extra 8% reduction of benefits and allowances in the narrow public sector.

They abolish all benefits of public servants who have gross earnings exceeding €3,000.

In the case of the wider public sector – where benefits are not provided – the salaries and allowances fell by extra 3%.

• They cut the last installment of the Social Solidarity Benefit for 2010!
  They are examining its short-term abolition!

• They shrinked unemployment benefits; it’s now lower than 60% of the basic salary (instead of 80% of the final salary before unemployment).

• They reduce the number of social security funds to three by the year 2018 (IKA for employees, OAEE for freelancers, OGA for farmers).
  All public sector employees who will be hired from 1st March 2013 will also contribute to IKA (rather than the recent social fund of the public sector).

• They impose three-year freeze of wages and pensions in the wider public sector (until 2013).

There will be no increase in salaries and pensions as long as the Greek State is monitored by the IMF-EU-ECB ‘troika’.

The new measures are those of the first phase (2010 – May 2013) of the ‘bailout and austerity programme’. However, the freeze of wages and pensions can be extended if the close monitoring by the troika will continue in Greece!

As far as the private sector is concerned, the increase will be 1.5% for 2011, and 1.7% for 2012 – well below the official inflation rate!

Pensions

• The so-called ‘basic pension’ will reach… €360 per month (based on 2010 data)! This pension will be given for 12 months a year. Hence, they have abolished the 13th and 14th pensions in all social funds.

Those who receive a pension that does not exceed gross €2,500, will receive €200 Easter bonus, €200 summer allowance and €400 Christmas bonus (that is €800, instead of the former two additional pensions)… This money will be a retirement allowance, therefore in the future could be easily reduced or even eliminated.

• The State’s obligation to retirees is now limited to a pension of hunger.

The so-called ‘guaranteed pension’ for those who have reached 65 years old will be paid provided retirees meet certain income standards. In particular, social security members must have been residing at least 15 years in Greece, and during the preceding financial year their personal income should not exceed €5,040 or their family income should not exceed €10,080.

The height of the so-called ‘basic pension’ will be constantly changing, and it is not at all certain that in the future it will have the current purchasing power. It will be determined by the consumer price index, the evolution of gross national product and the economic situation of the social funds…

Any clause of the legislation in force today, which provided for increases in pensions or adjustments in a different way than mentioned, is being abolished from year 2014 under the new measures!

For those who wish to receive this pension of hunger before reaching 65 years old, the €360 will be cut by 0.5% for each month that remains until the age of 65. Therefore, if someone retires at the age of 60, he or she loses 30% of the retirement and will receive as basic pension €252 per month!

• The ‘proportional pension’ will be calculated from the pensionable earnings and the percentage of replacement.

Firstly, as already mentioned, the State no longer guarantees this pension.

Secondly, the pensionable earnings were formerly calculated based on the last year of labor, the last 2 years, and the 5 best of the last 10 years of labor. They will now be computed on the basis of all the years of contributions (all the years of labor). It is thus clear that the income listed for the pension’s calculation is lower. Meanwhile, the coefficient of readjustment, that is used arbitrarily by the State to calculate pensions, is reduced.

The second factor – after the pensionable earnings – which will be included when calculating pensions are the coefficients of replacement (the percentages by which pensionable earnings are multiplied in order to calculate the final pension), particularly for those who have contributed from 25 to 40 years in labor.

Previously, it reached 70% (80% in the public sector) of the average wage of the 5 best of the last 10 years of labor.

In order for a worker to ensure the same coefficient of the previous regime, he or she now has to work 3 to 5 years in addition. Even so, the worker will not receive the same pension, because it is very doubtful if he or she will have the same pensionable earnings.

Actually, from now on, all pensions will be calculated as determined in the private sector:
For 39 (instead of 40 years of contributions) the proportional pension (other than basic) falls to 55% of the pensionable earnings for the entire working life.
For 35 years of work the pension drops to 45%.
For 40 years it reaches 60%, disregarding the basic pension.

• Supplementary pensions will be formed according to the economic sustainability of each of the plucked social security funds.

The Boards of Directors of these social funds will determine, as of early 2012, the percentages of replacement.

From 2011, the State will not cover any deficit in supplementary funds. Wherever and whenever there is a deficit, pensions will ‘adapt’, that is they will slash!

• From 2011 and every two years, the National Actuarial Authority will plan and publish studies according to which pensions will be ‘redetermined:’ Nothing is ensured for workers, not even the amount of the minimum pension.

• The public sector’s pensions exceeding €1,400 will henceforth be subject to LAFKA tax, where LAFKA is ‘Solidarity Account for Social Security Agencies.’ This extra tax ranges from 3% to 10%, depending on the amount of pension.

They will impose LAFKA tax for the sum of earnings in the case of pensions which exceed €1,400. The total reductions in current pensions range from about €500 a year (for a monthly pension of €1,400) to about €4,200 a year (for a monthly pension larger than €3,500).

• They revised the context of granting disability pensions.

Indicatively, a holder of a disability pension, according to the new Act will be entitled to 75% of the basic pension (€270!) if the percentage of disability ranges from 67 to 80%, and 50% of the basic pension (€180!) if the percentage of disability ranges from 50 to 67%.

• They increase the retirement age of women who work in the public sector, at 65 years gradually until the end of 2013.

In the public sector, the equalization of the retirement age for men and women (always increasing) will begin in 2011 with a three-year adjustment period.

Reduced pension can be granted at 60 years old (instead of 55, as was previously valid).

With regard to early retirement for men and women, 5 years of less labor lead to more than 30% reduction of pensions.

Under the new Act even the age limit of 65 years and generally the limits of the retirement age should not be taken as granted, since they will be ‘redefined by the change in life expectancy of the population’!

• For workers who shall enter the social security system from 31st December 2010, their pension is calculated in two ways:
  The first part is calculated according to the previous system for the years of contributions until the end of 2010.
  The second part, from 1st January 2011 until the date of retirement, will be calculated with the new, far most unfavorable conditions.
  In both cases, the final pension will be reduced up to 50% over the current system.

• Mothers with an under-age child or at least 3 children and 25 years of contributions, may not retire at the age of 50, as was previously valid.

After year 2013 this right is lost:
They may receive a reduced retirement at the age of 60 with more than 5,500 social security stamps, whereas until now they could retire at the age of 50.
In order to get full retirement, they will have to be 65 years old (provided that their child is still underage…) while until now they had the right to retire at their 60.
Women who haven’t reached 50 years old in 2012 but have completed 25 years of service, will have to work 5 more years in order to retire at the age of 55.
From 2013 men and women with 3 children or a child with at least 67% disability, will retire at 65, rather than 56 years as was the case before.
The mothers of 3 children may purchase up to 5 years of the so-called ‘notional time of social security‘. This means that each aspiring retiree will dearly pay her procreation.
Also, the new Act suspends the right of men and women with at least 3 children to retire regardless of age limit.

• The men that have entered the social security system before 1993 and have completed 35 years of full working experience, from 2012 will retire later than expected until now.Gradually from 2012 to 2015, they will be forced to work plus one semester per year.
  Thus, from 2015 they will retire with reduced pension at the age of 60 with 40 years of service, rather than at 58 with 35 years’ contributions, as was previously valid.

• They increase the minimum contribution period (of 35 years) to 40 years, gradually until 2013.

Hence, a retiree must have completed 40 years of contributions or have reached 65 years of age.

Up to 7 years of contributions will be recognized, if the years of military service, the period of absence due to illness or regular unemployment, the years of study, sabbatical or leave without pay, etc. will be purchased. This means that the employee is called to pay an expensive ‘notional time of social security.’

• The new SS Act contains cuts in the list of heavy and unhealthy occupations.

In addition, in the public sector the retirement age in these professions is increased gradually until 2013 (from 55) to 60 years for men and 58 years for women.

Here too there is total insecurity, since the new measures provide for the amendment of this list every 3 years!

• From year 2011, unless they are disabled or students, adult unmarried daughters will not be entitled to the pension of their deceased parents.

These pensions are reduced from what they were entitled so far, since the new Act puts strict income criteria. Their gross monthly income (except basic and supplementary pensions) must be less than 30 times the daily wage of an unskilled worker (recently €34). If this income is 30 to 40 times higher, they will receive 2/3 of the pension; if 40-50 times higher, 1/2; if 50-60 times higher, 1/4, while the pension is completely cut if they earn more than about €2,040 (60 times the minimum daily wage).

Firebomb attack at Turkish Consulate

A predawn firebomb attack on the Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki yesterday prompted contact between diplomats in Athens and Ankara, although authorities in the northern Greek city insisted that the Molotov cocktails were thrown at the police guards rather than at the building itself.
Police sources said that three men wearing motorcycle helmets approached the consulate, located on Aghiou Dimitriou Street in the city center, at about 4 a.m. From a distance, they started swearing at the two policemen who were standing guard outside the building. One of the three assailants allegedly shouted: “Pigs, we are going to burn you,” before two firebombs were thrown. One Molotov cocktail landed a few meters from the guards’ sentry post and set fire to a climbing ivy on the outer wall of the consulate; the other exploded in midair. Nobody was injured and no arrests were made.
Authorities are treating it as just another of the many firebomb attacks that take place in the northern city. Nevertheless, due to the sensitive nature of the matter, the Greek government was quick to condemn the incident “absolutely and categorically.”
“Acts like these, regardless of the motives involved, are unacceptable and are directed against Greece itself,” said government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis. “Our society has zero tolerance for such acts. Those responsible will be arrested and brought to justice.
“We express our sorrow to the Turkish government,” he added.
Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed the matter over the telephone. The Foreign Ministry said that Droutsas assured Davutoglu the matter was being investigated and everything was being done to catch the attackers.

Took the money and disappeared...

The amount of 23.860 EUR is the prey of an armed robbery that occurred this morning at the branch of the Agricultural Bank (ATE) in Nikiti Halkidiki.thessaloniki Greece

According to police, two unidentified persons wearing black helmets, stormed the bank and after threatening the staff and customers took an unknown amount and then fled with a large motorbike.

Police are continuing investigations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

ARMED ROOBERY IN KALAMARIA, THESSALONIKI, GREECE According to reports, while a member of staff was leaving the store, carrying a leather bag with money, he was approached by a stranger, who threatened him with a sledgehammer and a shotgun and took the bag. Then he fled by car, where his partner was waiting for him. The first figures talk about a smooth EUR 100,000.

SOLIDARITY AT TRIKALA PRISONS, GREECE

About 30 people gathered outside the prisons of Trikala and a march in the centre of the city was held yesterday aug 2nd in solidarity for the hunger strike initiated by prisoners about the appalling conditions of detention in prisons.

The gathering lasted one hour, many slogans were shouted and there was intense pulse. The cops didnt expect this at all, and we cought them off guard, so they were running around like crazy and the undercovers didnt know what to do.

We managed to get up to the entrance of the jail and the strength we took and gave the prisoners ment a lot for their struggle. They could here our slogans inside and sometimes they shouted back with their own slogans.
After the end of the intervention outside the prison we held a gathering and shared out leaflets for about an hour in the city centre and more specifically in Riga Ferraiou square. Then we marched through the city's main streets chanting slogans in solidarity with the hunger strikers, with our imprisoned comrades, slogans about the new robbery measures as well as several anticop and antifaschist ones. Slogans were writtten on many walls, e.g. in the town hall and the people's interest in asking and wanting to know about prison conditions in the hell holes of democracy was very hopefull.

SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON

Truck Drivers defiant despite conscription orders in Greece Lorry-drivers continue their strike, clash with riot police in Thessaloniki

The government decided to take down the

streets tanks army to break the strike by

truck owners for public use.

The government decided to take down the

streets  tanks and troops to break the

strike by truck owners for public use.

Will welcome as they deserve ... 30/7

Greek truckers' strike bites harder 30/7

The latest round of talks this morning between leaders of Greece's truck drivers associations and the government failed to find common ground and so the industrial action which is likely to see the country ground to a halt in the next few days is set to continue.

The dispute was the result of attempts by Athens to liberalise Greece's transport market by opening up the trucking profession to everyone with a heavy goods licence and so doing away with the existing permit system which has meant that like taxis, only those registered can operate.

On the one hand the opening up the profession is part of the IMF/EU/ECB process of making Greek products more competetive by reducing transport costs however, drivers associations argue that the sudden implementation of the system means that many of their members stand to lose hundreds of thousands of euros spent obtaining an operating licence.

Instead of petering out strike actions are set to escalate as Greek international truck drivers associations are also preparing to join the strike so threatening imports and exports to other EU countries.

The Greek media has been speculating on whether the government will be forced to bring in the army to make sure the country does not run out of fuel and other basic goods.

 Jul 29 2010

Truck drivers carrying fuel stand their ground and continue their strike against the austerity measures despite the government calling a civil conscription on them

The fuel carrying truck drivers strike which started on Monday in response to a special "reform", part and parcel of the austerity measures, that will see individual ownership abolished and replaced by large firms, has been the first strike crisis facing the greek government after the signing of the EU-IMF structural adjustment agreement. As a result of the strike at the moment of writing all but a few gas stations across the country stand dry and shut, with serious problems caused in boat and bus transport as well as in individual car transport at the peak of the summer exodus from the cities. The strike is believed to be hampering the tourist industry which has reported a virtual freeze on reservations from abroad.
The government's response to the strike has been to call the truck drivers for dialogue on the condition they stop the strike. The truck drivers refusal to attend such onerous negotiations led yesterday evening the PM to announce a civil conscription of the drivers and their trucks, an authoritarian administrative measure equivalent to forced labour in pain of prison. The truck drivers response has been defiant: last night after the announcement of civil conscription drivers pulled their trucks to blockade the oil refineries of Thessaloniki and Aspropyrgos (Athens), while at the moment of writing a demo outside the Ministry of Transport is forming in protest to the authoritarian administrative decision. Faced with resistance the government has not yet used force to force conscription with truck-driver reps announcing: "We continue. Let them take us to prison. We have nothing to more to lose. If the government thinks that after two days of strike it can move to such measures instead choosing dialogue, it carries all responsibility" .
The response of the Left to the crisis has been bitter. The KKE (Communist Party) asked in Parliament if the government intends to reopen exile-island concentration camps for dissidents, while the Radical Left Coalition has called the conscription a "July coup d' etat" and the government policy "colonialist". Civil conscription of workers has occurred again under the Republic at least three times, in 1979 (bank workers), 1986 (airspace control officers) and 2006 (dock-workers).

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Jul 29 2010 13:40

Update: The truck driver demo outside the Ministry of Transport in Athens was attacked earlier today by riot police forces shooting tear gas against the protesters. According to mainstream news the lack of fuel has already led to problems of delivering supplies to supermarkets across the country. The government is yet to implement civil conscription which could really derail the situation. According to the news at the moment less than 5 gas stations in greater Athens hold fuel.

Journalist shot dead outside his house ATHENS GREECE

Journalist Sokratis Giolias was shot dead at 5.20 am this morning, in front of his house in the area of Ilioupoli.
According to the information that has been confirmed until this time, one of the assailants - the police estimates that they were two or three - rang Giolias' doorbell and told him that his car was being stolen. When Giolias arrived at the front door of his apartment building, the assailants killed him with 6 bullets at least. Police has reportedly collected more than 20 calibers from the scene of the crime.
Police believe the assailants escaped the scene with a stolen car which was found burned a few hours later, not far of the area of the crime.
Giolias was 37 years old and currently working at the Proto Thema radio station. He was also linked as one of the creators of the blog "Troktiko".The murder of journalist Socratis Giolias has been linked to terror group Revolutionary Sect following ballistic tests on cartridges collected from the crime scene.

Giolias, 37, was riddled with bullets outside his home in Ilioupolis by unidentified individuals in the early hours of Monday morning.

The ambush killing was quickly condemned by the country's political leaders.

"Democracy and freedom of speech cannot be muzzled, terrorised or threatened," government spokesman George Petalotis said, adding that the authorities have already taken action to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. GREEK MEDIA...

What planet does the BBC correspondent in Athens live on?

He writes: A Greek investigative journalist has been shot dead outside his home in Athens.

Right, newsflash for you, mr. Brabandt: Giolias was not an “investigative journalist”. In fact, he was not even a journalist (he was not part of the Athens journalists’ union, he did not have a press pass). But regardless of this, his blog, troktiko, was and remains a well-known website feeding info straight from the police HQ and from fascist groups.
 

Starting Monday, July 19, prisoners detained in Saint Paul's hospital, Korydallos prisons in Athens, will abstain from prison food.

On Monday, July 19, prisoners will start refusing food with a demand to address and solve the problem of prolonged detention of people with chronic and incurable diseases who, due to their state of health, should have their sentences reduced.

The human ''dump", as the prisoners of this institution call it themselves, is simply tragic, as we have also heard from comrade Simos Seisidis presently being held there. People with disabilities, strokes, fatal diseases are thrown into this vile, dirty environment full of shortcomings.

The Secretary for prison policy visited some time ago, and stated that the matter would be resolved by a legislative bill in February or March. Naturally, he was telling lies.

The prisoners themselves, in their statement to the Minister and the media say:''powerless to react differently, anyway lacking our health, we are offering what is left of our lives to sacrifice them to your inhuman indifference, not because we hope you will change, but because we refuse to live like beasts, like waste from a system and society without humanity, ethics or honour.
So, from Monday, July 19, all those who are able to will abstain from food and all medication and treatment, as a last sign of dignity and self-respect. ..''

Our comrade Simos Seisidis will participate in this mobilization.