The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-05-11

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] May Day Strike

ERTonlines reporters are participating on the 24-hour strike called by ESIEA (Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers), on the occasion of the celebrations for May Day. As per the Unions decision, no newspapers will circulate on Wednesday, and no TV or radio news programmes will be broadcast. Furthermore, POSPERT (Panhellenic Federation of Employee Associations in the Radio and Television Sector) has announced a 3-hour work stoppage, commencing at 10am.

In addition, due to the 24-hour strike, buses, trams, the metro and the suburban railway will not operate, while trolley buses will proceed with a thee-hour work stoppage from 10am to 1pm. All ships will remain docked, while Olympic Airways will be performing one domestic route per destination and one flight per country. Furthermore, the courts will remain closed, while schools will open for two hours in the morning and will operate as per normal in the afternoon. Finally, public hospitals and ambulances will operate with emergency staff.

Workers Unions have organised rallies and demonstrations in all major Greek cities.

Related News:

Mobilizations for May Day

[02] At the Polytechnic School Greeks MPs Released

After many hours of negotiation talks, the two parliamentarians held hostage were finally released. The all-night thriller took place in Athens, as two PASOK MPs, Evangelos Venizelos and Christos Verelis, were being held hostage inside the building of the Athens Polytechnic School along with another 130 people, by a group of 300 young men. The incident was prompted by clashes that erupted between a group of young men and the MPs police escorts. One of the officers fired his gun and injured a 28-year-old man who was transferred to hospital, but his condition is not critical. In an announcement, the Polytechnic Schools Governing Body condemned the attack, mentioning that it brought back memories of "the practices during the military junta". Deputy Public Order Minister Mr Markogiannakis handled the matter on the part of the Government, while the Greek PM, Kostas Karamanlis, who is Bucharest, was being kept up-to-date on the situation. The Dean, Andreas Andreopoulos, and Education Minister Marietta Giannakou were in constant communication and announced that the issue of violating the University asylum was never raised. Despite the fact that ESIEA (Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers) has called a 24-hour strike, it gave permission to the Media to broadcast news on any developments on this matter. ERTonlines site was updated with news pertaining to this matter only.

Governing Body Condemns Attack

In an announcement issued in the early hours of the morning, the Polytechnic Schools Governing Body condemned the entry of armed men belonging to the MPs personal guard, as well as the firing of the gun, which resulted in the injury of the 28-year-old.

The announcement mentioned that it was by pure luck that there were no casualties.

"The fact that an injury was caused by a gun reminds everyone of the practices of the military junta. November 1973 was the last time that someone was injured in such a way within the grounds of the Polytechnic School," read the announcement.

It further mentioned, "We consider self-evident the fact that that the culprit of this murderous attack will be located and given an exemplary punishment."

"The massive turnout at the events for May Day will constitute the greatest response to this type of practices," concluded the announcement.

Young Man Injured by Bullet

According to police information, the incidents started when approximately 40 young men, who arrived at the School at about 9pm, attacked the bodyguards of Messrs Venizelos and Verelis, who were waiting by the politicians cars, inside the School grounds. It should be noted that the MPs, along with the 150 guests, were at the Polytechnic School for a book presentation.

The young men caused damages to the cars, by throwing chairs and rocks, and even hit the two police officers as they were trying to escape. At that time, one of the two officers, probably Mr Verelis driver, fired his gun in an effort to scare away the crowd and as a result injured a 28-year-old man in the leg.

The injured man was transferred to Laiko Hospital by ambulance and accompanied by the former MP Fevos Ioannidis. As per the medical report, it was a clean wound, while at the moment he is being hospitalized, under police guard.

Mr Verelis driver was transferred to the 401 military hospital.

Following the incident, the young men, along with some others who arrived at the Polytechnic School, started setting fire on rubbish bins, while they did not allow anyone present to exit the building.

Strong police forces arrived at the scene immediately, and threw teargases, but then withdrew to the nearby streets. It should be noted that both the Government and the Opposition are insisting that the University asylum in force should not be lifted.

A little while earlier, the young men issued an announcement, in which they mentioned the facts and the name of the man who injured the 28-year-old. It should be noted that Mr Verelis released the name of the officer, at the demand of the young men. The announcement also puts the blame on the MPs, who brought armed men within the Polytechnic School grounds. The young men signed the announcement with the name "Anarchist Comrades inside the Polytechnic School."

Their demands in order to leave the building and release the hostages was to announce the name of the officer who fired the shot, while they also wanted the Polytechnic School to issue an announcement describing and condemning the incident, allowing them at the same time to leave without repercussions.

As the Greek Public Order Minister, Giorgos Voulgarakis, is in Pakistan, the matter is being handled by Deputy Public Order Minister Christos Markogiannakis. The latter has asked the police not to proceed with any provocative actions, in order to settle the situation as peacefully as possible.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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