The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-05-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] GSEE on 24-Hour Strike

01 May 2008 10:00:00 (Last updated: 01 May 2008 18:05:50)

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌNA

Celebrating the International Workers Day on 1 May, Greeces two major trade unions, GSEE and ADEDY, have scheduled a demonstration at the Pedion tou Areos, central Athens, at 11pm and then a march towards the Finance Ministry. "We are on strike because we are pretending to the safeguard of our social and working rights and to promote changes in the policy which favours inequalities, poverty, austerity and costliness", GSEE states in its announcement. The All Workers Militant Front (PAME), on the other hand, will hold a separate one at the Syntagma Square half an hour earlier. There will be no OSE (Hellenic Railways) services, as well, apart from those facilitating social needs. Therefore, passengers are advised to call 1110 for information.

Mass Media Services

More specifically, Piraeus Electric Railways (ISAP) buses, tram and suburban train routes are conducted normally. Metro will be open until 19:00 while trolley services will be available to passengers from 7:30 until the end of the night shift.

The participation of the OSPA (Federation of Civil Aviation Unions) employees in the 24-hour strike will also disrupt flights, as there will be only one Olympic Airlines flight per destination and per country. Finally, ships will remain docked at the Piraeus port, due to the 24-hour strike of the maritime workers.

The organization of Urban Transport of Thessaloniki (O.A.S.TH) services will operate with security personnel. Only two central and one ring bus lane will be available to passengers.

Political Messages

On the occasion of May Day celebration, political parties addressed messages.

New Democracy spoke of "the necessity to fight against poverty, unemployment and the safeguard of citizens progress".

PASOK calls on all citizens to join the fight for a fair society and a powerful Greece.

KKE also sent a fight invitation calling on people to oppose the two big political parties of Greece.

Popular Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) states that it will support the social fights.

SYNASPISMOS calls for fights for a society of freedom-equality-justice-solidarity and for a world of no discriminations and exploitation.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[02] May Day Honored Around the World

01 May 2008 12:33:00 (Last updated: 01 May 2008 17:55:08)

Sources: NET, ANA, MNA

Million of people around the world are protesting today against unemployment and poverty and are asking for better working conditions, Clashes are reported in Turkey and Germany. In Moscow, in the Red Square the situation is calm now, but the center of Istanbul turned into a battlefield today. In Asia May Day celebration sends messages of despair of people who are deprived of rice as its price has doubled along with the cost of other basic foods.

Protestations and Clashes

Turkish riot police fired water cannon and tear gas in clashes with crowds who gathered for an outlawed May Day rally in central Istanbul on Thursday. Trade union stated that they will do whatever possible in order to honour the 37 people who were shot by an unknown gunman in May Day demonstrations in Taksim Square in 1977.Thousands of police were stationed in the centre of Turkeys largest city to block access to its main Taksim Square after three trade union confederations pledged to mobilise up to 500,000 people in defiance of an official ban. About 20.000 policemen are in alert for May Day celebration. Amnesty International called on the Turkish authorities to be restrained.

In Germany the last day of April was fiery. Incidents were reported in Berlin and Nirenberg but the situation in Hamburg was worse. The cultural center of Rote Zora city turned into a battlefield. Police barricades were burned and shop windows were broken. And this was only the start of the fights between far right-wing supporters and their opponents in the streets of S. Germany.

In Moscow, working May 1st was honored by many people who gathered in the Red Square. First the governmental wing of United Russia arrived, an hour later the Communist Party as well as trade unions and nationalists joined the crowd.

In Philippines, thousand of protestors crammed in the streets of Manila at the occasion of May Day celebration in order to protest and to ask for better salaries in a time when inflation has caused rises in food prices. Protestors threw empty sacks which were full of rice in the past shouting that they are deprived of rice the price of which has doubled within the last month.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[03] New Public Transport Fares

The new changes to public transport ticket prices came into effect today. The 80-cent ticket that can be used on all modes of transport was introduced. Reduced tickets cost 50 cents. This means that one way bus, tram, trolley, metro, electric railway and suburban railway tickets are being banned. Passengers will have the opportunity today to use the 80-cent ticket for one and half hour. Prices of cards for unlimited travel will be reduced. Passengers can still use their previous cards until August 21. It must be noted that the 80-cent ticket will rise to 1 Euro in January 2009.

Ticket for all Modes of Transport More Expensive, Cards Cheaper

A ticket valid for one month that can be used on the entire public transport network will cost 35 euros, instead of 38, from today. The price of a monthly pass for buses and trolley buses will be reduced from 17.50 to 15 euros. A monthly travel card for metro will cost 30 euros and a monthly ISAP travel card 25 euros.

Yearly cards will cost cheaper from January 1st 2009 with the precondition that passengers have already been provided with the cards. Prices for yearly cards will be:

For buses, trolleys and trams 150 euros from 175 For ISAP 250 euros For Metro 300 and For all Modes of Transportation 350 euros from 380

It must be noted that fines for passengers who have not been provided with tickets will be 60 times up the tickets price.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Austria: Investigation to the Dungeon-Prison

By

Austria is still shocked by the case of the Austrian engineer who has confessed to fathering seven children by raping his own daughter and keeping them captive in the cellar.

During the 24 years that Josef F kept his daughter Elisabeth locked up in a windowless cellar underneath the house where he lived an outwardly blameless life with his wife Rosemarie, the 73-year-old is said to have fathered the birth of children now 19, 18, 16, 14, 11, and 5.

Police conducted investigation exploring the network of rooms where they say Elisabeth was first imprisoned on August 28 1984, aged 19, after being drugged and handcuffed by her father. The tiny entrance was concealed in a workshop in a public part of the cellar.

Yet more clues point to third-party involvement. The door to the dungeon - which had received building permission as a nuclear fallout shelter - weighed 300kg (660lb) and could only have been hinged into position with the help of someone else. Mr Fritzl, moreover, went on several holidays, including at least one three-week stay in Thailand, leaving Elisabeth and her children in the cellar.

In addition, police authorities are also investigating the case of a 17 years old girl who was murdered in a small hotel where the Fritzl family was staying in 1986. The girl disappeared and found later dead after she had been sexually abused.

As far as the children are concerned physiologists say that it is very difficult for them to learn to live normally. More specifically, they must learn to live from the start as they are not familiar with the feeling of breathing air and they have not developed the sense of smelling. The 5 years old boy has more chances to claim his right for a better future.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[05] Abdullah Gul Visits FYROM

Sources: ANA, MNA

President of Turkey Abdullah Gul is visiting today FYROM after invitation sent by FYROM president Branko Crvenkovski at the sight of the 15th Meeting of Central European Leaders. The presidents of the two countries will sign a bilateral agreement for the precaution, limitation and the handling of the consequences from the environmental destruction. After the signature the two presidents will proceed to announcements.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[06] KKE Delegation Visits Cuba

A Greek Communist Party, KKE, delegation headed by General Secretary Aleka Papariga arrived in Cuba on Tuesday following an invitation by the Cuban Communist Party to attend May Day celebrations in Havana.

Within the framework of the visit that will last until May 4, the Greek delegation will have meetings with Cuban government and Communist Party officials, visit educational institutions and research centers and meet with workers.

[07] Patrol Attacked with Stones

By

A police patrol was attacked with stones, yesterday Wednesday in Harilaou Trikoupi St. near PASOK offices. This is the fourth attack against police forces in this area during the last days. Earlier today 4 unidentified men broke the window of GSEE trade union Working Institute.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[08] Bus Accident in Egypt

By

Sources: ANA, MNA

An emergency official says that eight people have been killed and 2o have been injured after a bus carrying dozens of Canadian and European tourists overturned in Egypts Sinai peninsula and caught fire. The bus was carrying around 40 tourists from Canada, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine. Issa says it was completely burned in the accident Thursday. It headed from the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheik to the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Seven people were killed and 20 wounded, many of them with severe burns.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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