Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-01-03

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Time for bold and just decisions

[02] Five arrested for ill-treatment of detainee

[03] Gov't on ill-treatment

[01] PM: Time for bold and just decisions

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou expressed his wish for the new year, namely, for 2010 to usher in "major, bold and just decisions, major changes and reversals."

The premier, in a message released on Thursday, stressed that "a difficult year ended and a new one came. We will welcome it with optimism and hope; with the expectation and belief that it will be a better year for all, for Greece and for Greek citizens. 2009 left our country in the midst of a turning point; beyond the problems in the economy we have experienced our country's depreciation; of democratic institutions, in our production chain and a depreciation of the social state. These problems did not appear from nowhere. Despite our country's progress in recent decades, only on a few occasions have we taken the trouble, or even attempted, to face the huge and long-standing problems in the country ... Today we are called on to give a battle for our lost credibility."

"In 2010 we will together take the first step. the most crucial step. I deeply believe in our abilities, in the Greek people's significant reserves of creativeness," Papandreou said, expressing his best wishes.

[02] Five arrested for ill-treatment of detainee

Apart from torturing the detainee for an insignificant reason to make him reveal his actions, in order to cover up their own action they prepared a file of proceedings with the false accusation that the 30-year-old had attempted to escape.

The arrested policemen were brought before a public prosecutor early on Saturday and have been suspended from their duties, pending an investigation, for penal offences and disciplinary misconduct that entails dismissal.

[03] Gov't on ill-treatment

"On New Year's Eve, a foreign detainee at the Acropolis Police Station was turned into a boxing sack by some inhuman and unscrupulous policemen. According to all the available information, after being tortured and beaten up, he was taken to hospital where he is being treated for his wounds," the minister said.

"We are determined to protect the citizen effectively, placing absolute respect for human rights and the showing of responsibility and professionalism before lawlessness, high-handedness and violence, from wherever it may come. We shall not make any discounts in our mission to guarantee the security and the freedoms of every fellow man of ours," he added.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article