Global Voices » Greek

Greece: Police Violence Against Immigrants on the Rise

Asteris Masouras — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:14:51 +0000

Greek social media has been in uproar over a video posted on Facebook and Twitter, showing police officers overtly abusing a detained immigrant in downtown Athens. The incident occured at the end of January 2012, whilst the exact location has not been confirmed.

Motorized police (DIAS in Greek) as well as people in plain clothes, brutalized the detainee, who didn't resist arrest, as the video shows clearly:

According to film director Nikos Soulis, who recorded the incident, the man was burning garbage, endangering the cars parked beside them:

@nikosoulis: @Louki_p he was burning garbage bags..parked cars were endangered. They did well to arrest him, but then what? Why?

Police launched an administrative review over the incident, but the witness stated on Facebook that he wasn't called to testify, although he submitted the video to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece. Administrative reviews, often ineffective, have been ordered in the past over similar incidents.

In response to a comment by the Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis (@chrisochoidis), on the occasion of the anniversary of the military coup of April 21, 1967, journalist Damian Mac Con Uladh (@damomac) urged the minister to take immediate action:

@chrisochoidis: Ακόμη και μια τραυματισμένη δημοκρατία είναι καλύτερη από καθόλου δημοκρατία.

@chrisochoidis: Even an injured democracy is better than no democracy.

@damomac: @chrisochoidis Minister, please assist in helping this “wounded democracy” by dismissing those cops who beat this man!

Although mainstream media mostly ignored the incident, reactions on social media were immediate and intense, and it was also publicized by activists abroad:

@teacherdude: No mention on Greek TV news of savage beating of immigrant in Athens by police caught on video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG4Cf1T8bR4 Hardly surprising.

@SykoFantiS: Υπάρχει κάποιος που πιστεύει ότι η ομάδες ΔΙΑΣ προσφέρουν έργο;

@SykoFantiS: Is there anyone who thinks that the DIAS teams are [serving and protecting]?

@v_emman: Αυτή δεν είναι αστυνομία, είναι συμμορία τραμπούκων. Ντρέπομαι για λογαριασμό σας. http://j.mp/Id5a2W @hellenicpolice

@v_emman: This isn't a police, it's a gang of thugs. I'm ashamed on your behalf. http://j.mp/Id5a2W @hellenicpolice

@libertarian: @hellenicpolice στο 4ο είχα δει να βάζουν κράνος σε κρατούμενο και να τον κλωτσάν στο κεφάλι.

@libertarian: @hellenicpolice I once saw a detainee fitted with a helmet and kicked on the head in the 4th precinct.

Numerous incidents of police violence against immigrants have been documented in the past, while in 2007, the publication of a video showing immigrants being abused in a police precinct caused an international furore. By August 2008, the Greek police had been convicted at least nine times by the European Court of Human Rights for incidents of abuse.

In its trial run, the Network to Record Incidents of Racist Violence recorded 63 incidents during the last 2 months of 2011, of which 18 are linked to police violence, and noted that “racist violence is spreading at a terrifying rate”. In a recent report, in view of the upcoming review of Greece by the United Nations' Committee Against Torture, international human rights NGO Human Rights Watch called the country's attempts to protect immigrants and vulnerable groups ”totally insufficient”, while in it's annual review for 2011, independent research network RED held up Greece as the most typical example of the outburst of racist violence and impunity in Europe.

During his previous tenure as Citizen Protection Minister, Mr. Chrisochoidis had committed to founding a bureau to address incidents of police abuse:

@chrisochoidis: .@asteris Περί ΓΑΠΑ: αναβαθμίστηκε η διερευνητική του δυνατότητα και αποκτά αυξημένη τυπική ισχύ καθώς θα κυρωθεί με νόμο και όχι με Π.Δ.

@chrisochoidis: .@asteris On GAPA [the bureau]: its investigative capacity has been upgraded, and it acquires increased formal power, as it will be ratified by law, rather than by presidential decree

The ‘Bureau tο Address Abuse Incidents' was founded by law [el] on March 2011, but has still to become operational. Greek NGO Hellenic League for Human Rights called [el] the legislative act “a clear setback” and “a much worse scenario” than what had originally been announced.

το Γραφείο δεν θα είναι ανεξάρτητος φορέας όπως αρχικά είχε δηλώσει ο Μιχ. Χρυσοχοϊδης και είχε ακολουθήσει μάλιστα και η ανάλογη ηλεκτρονική διαβούλευση, αλλά αυτό που το νέο σχέδιο νόμου προβλέπει είναι μια τριμελής επιτροπή [δικαστικών]. Η επιτροπή αυτή, όπως διευκρινίστηκε δεν θα έχει καμία δυνατότητα διερεύνησης της καταγγελίας αλλά θα κρίνει μόνο αν η καταγγελία θα είναι παραδεκτή, παρεμποδίζοντας ουσιαστικά την ποινική διερεύνηση.

The Bureau will not be an independent agency, as Michalis Chrysochoidis had originally stated, and as the online public consultation had specified, but what the new bill provides for is a tripartite [judiciary] committee. This committee, as clarified, will have no capacity to investigate complaints, but only to rule on whether they are acceptable, essentially inhibiting criminal investigation.

Over 2,400 members have joined a Facebook group [el] created after the brutal crackdown of protests at Syntagma Square, Athens, on June 28-29, 2011, in order to collect documentation on police violence, whilst almost 15,000 members have joined an older Facebook Cause titled ‘Stop Greek police brutality', created on the day after the police killing of 15-year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos.

Global Voices author Asteris Masouras collaborated in researching and writing this article.

Greece: Rise of Neo-Nazi Group ‘Golden Dawn'

Veroniki Krikoni — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:13:10 +0000

Facebook group ‘Leme OCHI sti Chrysi Avgi‘ (We say NO to Golden Dawn) [el] already has more than 11,000 likes. Created on December 2011, the anti-fascist group declares that “Fascism is gangrene, either you rip it off or it kills you”. Group members try to persuade people not to vote for Greek neo-Nazi party Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) in forthcoming May 6, 2012, General Greek elections. Sofia Ignatidou in a Guardian article states that “Greeks shouldn't let their despair drive them to supporting the dangerous and opportunistic far-right party”.

Greece: Public Speech Controversies

Veroniki Krikoni — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:56:34 +0000

Before the May 6, 2012, General Election in Greece, Friday 4 was the last day political parties could organize public speeches and rallies. Heavy criticism was levelled at PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos's choice to give a public speech at Syntagma Square in Athens, center of anti-government and anti-austerity mass citizen protests so far. Netizens on Twitter mocked [el, en] the political party for its “audacity to hold a public speech” and the low audience turnout, criticizing also the presence of Pakistani immigrants, reportedly paid or forced to swing green flags in favor of PASOK.

Greece: General Elections on Twitter

Veroniki Krikoni — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:55:06 +0000

Under hashtags like #grelections, #electionsgr and #ekloges12, Greek netizens share their opinions, feelings and related media about the forthcoming general elections in Greece on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

Greece: Google Doodle for Filmmaker Theodoros Angelopoulos

Veroniki Krikoni — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:01:52 +0000

Google paid tribute to the 77th birthday of the late Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer Theodoros Angelopoulos by releasing a doodle on April 27, 2012, depicting him behind a camera. Angelopoulos died in January, when he was hit by a motorcycle at Drapetsona (Port Piraeus, Greece) during the shooting of his latest movie ‘The Other Sea'.

Egypt: The Other Homeland

Veroniki Krikoni — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:00:12 +0000

Al Jazeera World broadcasts a small film entitled “Egypt:The Other Homeland”, narrating the history of the once thriving Greek community in Egypt through personal interviews and archive material. At the beginning of the 20th century,there were about 200,000 Greeks in Egypt. Today, the Greek community there has approximately 1,000 members.

Greece: Abbot Released Over Ecclesiastical Real-Estate Scandal

Veroniki Krikoni — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:22:13 +0000

Mixed online reactions have met the news that Elder Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi monastery on Greece's Mount Athos, who was implicated in a scandal arranging land swaps between Vatopedi and the state, has been released from jail after only four months of detention. The scandal cost the Greek government millions of euros.

The court's decision defines as the release penalty [el] 300,000 euro and includes restrictions regarding Elder Ephraim leaving both the country and Mount Athos.

Elder Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi monastery in Mount Athos. Profile picture from Twitter account @GerontasEfraim.

Abbot Ephraim had been jailed on December 2011, pending trial for alleged fraud and embezzlement. The infamous Vatopedi real-estate scandal in 2008 meant high-value state property was traded for less valuable land held by Vatopedi, in a deal with the New Democracy government of previous Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Abbot Ephraim, as a person of the Church, is respected and “worshipped” by many faithful Christian believers, who all this time have expressed their solidarity and support through social media, as this page on Facebook, this blog [website is currently down] and the Twitter account @GerontasEfraim [no longer existing] demonstrate. Following is a video [el] by YouTube user GeronNektarios, that shows the warm greeting of Ephraim outside Korydallos jail in 2011, where people were shouting “Axios!” [He is worthy!].

However, the fact that he, as the head of Vatopaidi monastery, was implicated in such a political, social and economical scandal has brought forth turmoil and a real outcry from the public.

This scandal underlined the firm bonds between the Orthodox Church of Greece and the Greek state and is another argument for those who demand, firstly, the distinction between state and religion and, secondly, the taxation of the Church, as its properties are exempt from the recent austerity measures.

The Russian Orthodox church and country's President Vladimir Putin, had reportedly lobbied the Greek government to reconsider the imprisonment of Abbot Ephraim. The Russian Federation Embassy in Athens tweeted [el]:

@RFEmbassyGr: Στο Άγιο όρος έφτασε χθες το βράδυ ο Εφραίμ, όπου του επιφύλαξαν θερμή υποδοχή στο λιμανάκι των Καρυών οι μοναχοί sportdog.gr/article/95683/…

@RFEmbassyGr: Yesterday evening Ephraim arrived at Mt. Athos, where he was warmly greeted by monks at Karyes port sportdog.gr/article/95683/…

Here are some bitter reactions from Twitter [el]:

@eddie_kappa: Έχουμε μια “δικαιοσύνη” που αποφυλακίζει τον Εφραίμ και θεωρεί τροχαίο ατύχημα τη δολοφονική επίθεση του δελτά πάνω σε διαδηλώτρια.

@eddie_kappa: We have a “justice” that gets Ephraim out of jail and considers the murder attack of a special forces police officer against a woman protester as a road accident.

@FragileAlex: Θερμή υποδοχή για τον Εφραίμ στο Άγιο Όρος! Δεν είναι δα και ο πρώτος απατεώνας που χαίρει εκτίμησης… Βρίθει ο τόπος.

@FragileAlex: Warm greeting of Ephraim at Mt. Athos! After all, he isn't the first crook that enjoys esteem…Whole country is full.

@eVaN_GiAn: Σε ένα λεπτο βρήκε τα 300.000€ ο Εφραίμ για την εγγύηση του. Αυτο ως απάντηση σε όσους λένε ότι περνάει κρίση ο κτηματομεσιτικός τομέας

@eVaN_GiAn: Ephraim found 300.000 euros for release penalty in a minute. This is the answer to those claiming that real-estate market is on crisis.

@Mythodea_g: @eVaN_GiAn είχε το θεό μαζί του

@Mythodea_g: He had God on his side.

@Moggoloss: Και την 90η μέρα εμφανίζεται ο Θεός στον Εφραίμ και ρωτάει: Πως μπορω να σε βοηθήσω τέκνο μου; Παντοδύναμε χρειάζομαι 300.000€. Και Εγένετο.

@Moggoloss: And by the 90th day, God appears in front of Ephraim and asks: How could I help you, my child? Almighty God, I need 300,000 euro. And thus it happened.

Greece: A Poem and a Song for Dimitris Christoulas

Asteris Masouras — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:34:22 +0000

“He has the touch of history / And white hair / Mister Dimitris”. On April 6, the anniversary of the German invasion in Greece during World War 2, Stamatis Kalogeropoulos posted a poem [el] and a song on his blog, Ποίηση κι Αφήγηση (Poetry and Narration), written in memory of 77-year old Dimitris Christoulas, whose public suicide on April 4 in Syntagma square, Athens, opposite the Greek parliament, shocked the country. In a note left behind (translations in several languages here), Christoulas accused the ”occupation government” of eliminating his right to a decent living.

Greece: #Police_Victims

Veroniki Krikoni — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:04:57 +0000

Following the serious injury of photojournalist Marios Lolos at Thursday evening's demonstrations in Athens, Greece, in memory of 77-year-old #Dimitris_Christoulas who committed suicide in Syntagma Square on April 4, Greek netizens have been posting the names of people who have suffered, been injured or killed by Greek police under the hashtag #police_victims.

Greece: Public Suicide of 77 Year Old Man in Athens Square

Veroniki Krikoni — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:01:16 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

All Greece was shocked this morning by the news that Dimitris Christoulas, aged 77, shot himself in the head around 9 am, in full view of passersby in Syntagma square, Athens, across from the Parliament building.

The man is reported to have been a retired pharmacist, who sold his pharmacy in 1994. Before the shot, he reportedly shouted that he “didn't want to leave any debts to his children”.

A Facebook event calls for a gathering to Syntagma square today evening: “Everyone at Syntagma. Let's not get used to death”.

Global Voices author Asteris Masouras has made a collection of posts and media on Storify.

Poster from a Facebook event for this evening in Syntagma square. It reads: "It wasn't a suicide. It was a murder. LET'S NOT GET USED TO DEATH."

Greek Twitter has been buzzing all day with mixed comments and reactions on this tragic event:

@YanniKouts: Suicide of a 77-year old man this morning in Syntagma Sq shocks #Greece. “It's the only way for a dignified end, I can't eat from garbage”.

User Arkoudos makes a wish for all those left behind [el]:

@arkoudos: Μακάρι να μη φύγεις. Μακάρι να μείνεις, να παλέψεις. Κι άλλο. Μακάρι.Μακάρι να μη ντρέπεσαι. Μακάρι να ντραπούμε, πρώτα, εμείς.

@arkoudos: Ι wish you didn't leave. I wish you stayed, to fight. More. I wish. I wish you didn't feel ashamed. I wish we will be the ones to get ashamed first.

User Magica underlines the shame both sides share on this controversial issue [el]:

@magicasland: ειναι ντροπή αυτο που κανει το κράτος στο λαό του. αλλά ειναι και ντροπή να αυτοκτονείς ενω επιβίωσε με πεισμα τόσος κοσμος επι κατοχής

@magicasland: It's a shame what the country does to its people, but it's also shame to commit suicide, while all these people stubbornly survived during the Nazi occupation [of World War Two]

Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece. Image by Flickr user YanniKouts (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

Online debate went political, apart from its unquestionable humanitarian aspect. Journalist Aris Chatzistefanou drew parallels to the Bouazizi suicide in Tunisia [el]:

@xstefanou: Η Ελλάδα έχει το δικό της Μπουαζίζι. Πρέπει να δείξει αν έχει και λαό ισάξιο της Τυνησίας και της Αιγύπτου η μόνο ψηφοφόρους ΠΑΣΟΚ -ΝΔ-ΛΑΟΣ.

@xstefanou: Greece has its own Bouazizi. It has to prove if its people is as worthy as Tunisia's and Egypt's, instead of having only voters of PASOK-ND-LAOS. [PASOK and ND have been the main political parties in Greece during the last two decades, LAOS is the prominent right-wing party].

User Elikas seeks justice [el]:

@Elikas: Κάποια στιγμή πρέπει να δικαστούν και οι ηθικοί αυτουργοί για όλες αυτές τις αυτοκτονίες. Που στην πραγματικότητα είναι δολοφονίες.

@Elikas: Some time, the accomplices must go to the court for all these suicides. [These suicides] in fact are murders.

User Sara Firth criticizes the European methods for Greek rescue:

@SaraFirth_RT: Europes [sic] methods for 'saving Greece' are now literally killing the Greek people. The syntagma suicide should never have happened #greece

Athens News reports about a suicide note found on the victim, where reportedly he compared the present Greek government to wartime collaborationists:

The Tsolakoglou government has annihilated all traces for my survival. And since I cannot find justice, I cannot find another means to react besides putting a decent end [to my life], before I start searching the garbage for food.

Georgios Tsolakoglou was a Greek military officer who became the first prime minister of the Greek collaborationist government during the Axis Occupation in 1941-1942. The reference is obviously seen as a comparison between the wartime government and the current government of Lucas Papademos.

User PenelopeD10, mocking Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis for his decision last summer to oust tents protesters off Syntagma square, because it was a bad image for Athens tourists, says ironically [el]:

@PenelopeD10: Μη βγάλει κι άλλο φιρμάνι ο Καμίνης “απαγορεύονται οι αυτοκτονίες στο κέντρο γιατί βλάπτουν τον τουρισμό”…

@PenelopeD10: I wish Kaminis won't issue another decree “suicides forbidden in [Athens city] center because they harm tourism”…

Many also accused people that tried to politically exploit and use a simple person's death for politics or their own interests:

@dianalizia: shameless! karatzaferis opportunistically uses man's suicide this morning to criticize corrupt politicians & system (he is a part of)

@mindstripper: Οι δημοσιογράφοι πανηγυρίζουν, οι πολιτικοί παπαγαλίζουν κι εμείς στις εκλογές θα κάψουμε γι άλλη μία φορά τη χώρα. Καλό ταξίδι στον άνθρωπο

@mindstripper: Journalists triumph, politicians parrot and we will “burn” this country one more time at national elections. Farewell to this man

Apart from any political interpretation or exploitation of this tragic incident, user Serk01 brings on the simple truth of human existence [el]:

@serk01: κανε ενα βήμα ‘πισω' και σκέψου τι σημαίνει να αυτοκτονεί ενας ανθρωπος.

@serk01: Take a step back and think what it means that a human being commits suicide.

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

The number one cause for suicide is untreated depression. Depression is treatable and suicide is preventable. You can get help from confidential support lines for the suicidal and those in emotional crisis. Visit Befrienders.org to find a suicide prevention helpline in your country.

Greece: Folk Musician and Researcher, Domna Samiou, Dies at 84

Veroniki Krikoni — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:40:01 +0000

Grief and sorrow has been expressed by people in Greece and all over the world over the news of the death [el] of musician Domna Samiou, one of the most important and distinguished representatives of traditional Greek folk music. She died from leukemia on Sunday morning, March 11, 2012.

From her website we can read a personal narration of her childhood:

I was born in Kaisariani [neighborhood founded by Asia Minor refugees in Athens] in 1928. My parents were from Asia Minor. My mother came to Greece in 1922 with the refugees, alone. She left her village of Bayindir, and went to Smyrna. […] My father remained in Asia Minor as a prisoner, and arrived in Greece a year later, with the exchange of populations. In the beginning my mother, just as all the other refugees, lived in storehouses and schools. Later on they were given tents in Kaisariani. […] My memories from a very young age are of living in a shack. Each family got a shack, irrespective of how many members it had. One single room. […] You can imagine how much poverty there was. I remember that many times at home there was nothing to eat for dinner. Clothes? I remember that we would get shoes once a year, when we could afford it.

Domna Samiou. Image from her Facebook profile.

At age of 13, Domna had her first contact with Byzantine and folk music with musicologist and singer Simon Karas. During the 1970s, she started appearing in public along with Dionysis Savvopoulos, singing traditional Greek folk songs in their original form, as opposed to the more common commercialised style.

She became widely known to the Greek diaspora, as her songs were released in many European countries, in the USA and in Australia.

In 1981, she founded the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association, a non-profit organization, whose main aim is the preservation and dissemination of Greek traditional music. Its archive consists of various recordings of folk songs from every part of Greece made systematically by Domna Samiou for 40 years (1963-2000).

Ιn 2005, the then President of Greece Konstantinos Stefanopoulos awarded her a medal of honour.

Οn her Facebook page, hundreds of people have expressed their sadness and love for her music presence and contribution to traditional Greek folk music.

Αρτεμης Καξηρης (Artemis Kaxiris) [el]:

H ελλαδα ακομα φτωχοτερη.καλο ταξιδι

Greece is even poorer. Farewell

Vasw Karasmanoglou [el]:

ΜΟΛΙΣ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΙΔΗΣΗ….ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΠΟΛΥ ΟΔΥΝΗΡΟ,ΕΦΥΓΕ Η ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΟΤΕΡΗ ΕΡΜΗΝΕΥΤΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΣ ΜΑΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗΣ..ΚΑΛΟ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ…

Just read the news…Really painful, the last great singer of our traditional music has passed away…Farewell

Numerous feelings and thoughts were also shared via Twitter:

@GregPappas: RIP Domna Samiou. Thank you for helping to preserve an important part of our Greek musical heritage - at least for one more generation.

@eilerua75: @nikosofficiel RIP Domna Samiou, grande figure de la musique démotique. Je la découvre cette nuit à l'occasion de cette triste nouvelle…

@eilerua75: @nikosofficiel RIP Domna Samiou, great figure of folk music. I discovered her this night with the occasion of those sad news…

@alexiakovou: “Εφυγε” η προστατιδα της Ελληνικης παραδοσης, η μεγαλη Δομνα Σαμιου…αξιοσεβαστη και καλοψυχη,γεματη μουσικες απο ολη την Ελλαδα…

@alexiakovou: Great Domna Samiou, defender of Greek tradition, has passed away…respectable and soulful, full of music from all over Greece…

Some Twitter users stressed the fact that such an important figure of Greek culture had not become a pompous “celebrity” and younger generations may not have been aware of her music:

@PGS_ATH: Αυτοί που πραγματικά αγαπούν τον τόπο μας, μεγαλουργούν χωρίς φανφάρες, χωρίς προβολείς, χωρίς χωρίς χωρίς Καληνύχτα ΔΟΜΝΑ ΣΑΜΙΟΥ

@PGS_ATH: Those that really love our homeland thrive without pompous presence, without big stage lights, without without without… Good night DOMNA SAMIOU

@Zoe_fion: Πέθανε η Δομνα Σαμιου.Γι αυτο δεν λέτε τίποτα - λες κ όλοι γεννηθήκαμε με Etta James.Κρίμα..

@Zoe_fion: Domna Samiou died. That's why you say nothing. As if we were all supposed to be born and grow up with Etta James. What a pity.

Here is a video from her YouTube channel, showing her singing at Sydney in 1984. This traditional Greek song comes from East Thrace and Istanbul refugees and is entitled “Eche Geia, Panagia” (Farewell, Virgin Mary):

Greece: Athens, 1st African Film Festival

Veroniki Krikoni — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:28:50 +0000

The first African Film Festival will take place in Athens, Greece, from February 23 to 29, 2012, with the collaboration of various African countries' embassies and consulates. Twenty one films from Angola, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia will be screened. The event is hosted by the Greek Film Archive [el].

Greece: 13th International Guitar Festival in Volos

Veroniki Krikoni — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:41:25 +0000

On 18-19 February, 2012, the 13th International Guitar Winter Festival will take place [el] in Volos, Thessalia, with participants both in classical and electrical guitar competitions. The event's aim is to bring together guitarists of all ages from Greece and abroad to develop their musical skills and be united under their common passion, music.

Greece: Parliament Votes in New Austerity Deal Amidst Riots

Veroniki Krikoni — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:38:38 +0000

As 200 out of 300 Greek deputies voted in favor of the new austerity deal “Memorandum 2″, these were some of the different scenes. Jimhellas provides his perspective [el] on yesterday's #12febgr huge citizen protest and massive police teargas repression in a post entitled “Mass murder attempt at #Syntagma, as I lived it”. Jenny Hauser made a Storyful collection of photos and tweets from clashes and fires in the center of Athens last night. NassosKappa shared on his Twitter a photo of the burning Attikon cinema in Stadiou Street. Vassilis Vlachos posted a photo on Facebook, depicting Greek MPs watching television at parliament cafe.

Greece: “I Signed the IMF Memorandum Without Having Read It”

Veroniki Krikoni — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:21:36 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

Shock and awe awaited Greek citizens on Monday January 23, 2012, when Louka Katseli, former minister of labour and social security (2010) and minister of economy, competitiveness and shipping (2009), revealed that she had had only three hours to read the IMF memorandum tackling the country's debt crisis.

Michalis Chrysochoidis, current minister for development, competitiveness and shipping and former minister of citizen protection, admitted on a morning television show interview [el] that he signed the IMF memorandum without having read it at all, arguing that “simply, he had other obligations during that time, as he was fighting against crime”:

Minister Manolis Chrysochoidis. Photo by Flickr user Piazza del Popolo (CC BY 2.0).

News spread quickly on the web reacting to the remarks, including extremely negative comments and derogatory insults from netizens, expressing their disdain for the political system, and mocking the minister's excuse.

Within one to two hours, the case became a world trending topic via the Twitter hashtag #de_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati (I didn't read the memorandum because…):

@northaura: Now whole twitter “parties” with the “I didn't read the Memorandum” statement of Min. Crysochoidis, in hashtag #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati

Global Voices Author and Editor Asteris Masouras (@asteris) made a Storify collection of various posts, photos and tweets. Below listed are some samples of Greek netizens' tweets and comments:

@agamemnon_st: Αφού δεν ήταν δουλειά σου να μελετάς το μνημόνιο και τους νόμους, γιατί ήσουν βουλευτής;

@agamemnon_st: Since it wasn't your job to study the memorandum and the laws, why were you a member of the Parliament?

George Kallis: den exeis tsipa epanw soy na valeis thylia sto laimo soy !!!! exete katastrepsi olh thn ellada me tis ypografesas

George Kallis: You are shameless, you should put a noose around your neck!!!! you have destroyed all Greece with your signatures

'The Dark Knight returns to fight crime on Athens' mean streets'. Image mocking Minister Chrysochoidis' statement. Photo via Twitpic by @Teacherdude.

@ngeor: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati I was elected to lead, not to read.

@Ovelikios: Δεν έχω διαβάσει το μνημόνιο αλλά έχω δει την ταινία

@Ovelikios: I haven't read the memorandum but I have seen the movie

@natachef: #de_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati δεν άνοιγε το attachment.

@natachef: #de_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati [I didn't read the memorandum because] mail attachment wouldn't open.

@Stathisgr: Mnimonio? LoL, Too busy beating protesters

@mpampaki: “Είχα να αντιμετωπίσω το έγκλημα. Ο Ρόμπιν είχε πυρετό κι ο Τζόκερ είχε απαγάγει το γιο του Επιθεωτητη Γκόρντον.”

@mpampaki: “I had to fight against crime. Robin was down with fever and [the] Joker had kidnapped the son of Commissioner Gordon”.

@nchrysoloras: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati μόνο ο Τσακ Νόρις έχει διαβάσει το Μνημόνιο

@nchrysoloras: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati [I didn't read the memorandum because] only Chuck Norris has read the Memorandum

Twitter user @mirsiniloizou posted: "and here, the photo of #didn't_read_memorandum_because". Photo shows "protagonists of the day" Ms. Katseli and Mr. Chrysochoidis.

After the intense criticism, Chrysochoidis published the following Facebook status update (original text in Greek here):

I want to clarify and confirm my point. Yes, I repeat that I didn't read the memorandum. I didn't deal with either the text or the procedures of “supposedly” negotiations. This wasn't declared with pride. Even more, I don;t say this in order to shirk responsibilities. On the contrary. I consider this as one of the biggest errors of my political career; because I appreciated wrongly those critical moments and I was preoccupied with the minor issue, my work as a minister, instead of the major one, my responsibility as a member of the country's leadership. I said that to stress how much everyone has to change. We used to trust every leader, every prime minister; to vote in the Parliament and to agree in the government. Those times belong to the past and this model faded. What is needed is collectivity, personal responsibility and contribution. […]

During last year, the government and members of parliament have been the target of heavy criticism for their acceptance of the IMF memorandum and their inaction against the socio-economic crisis of the country, which has urged many of them to defend their beliefs and political actions.

Another “disclaimer statement” was made on October 2011 by former PASOK MP Thomas Rompopoulos, who argued [el] during a radio show broadcast: “Nobody had the time to read the Memorandum, neither I did nor anybody did; We authorized [Minister for Economy at the time] Papakonstantinou to sign for it. It was a matter of trust”:

In addition to the bold accusations Minister Chrysochoidis himself received, many netizens via social media have also criticized the general political scene, but also the “blindness” of they themselves, who have been conniving with the politicians' foul actions:

Panagiotis Giannoudis: Ζήτω η Βουλή των Ελλήνων!

Panagiotis Giannoudis: Hooray to the Greek Parliament!

@helena_chari: greece doesn't need weapons of mass destruction; it's got its politicians

dangler69: Τελικά το διάβασε και κανένας; Ίσως εκείνοι που διαγράφηκαν.

dangler69: Finally, did anyone at least read it? Maybe those who were removed from the Parliament.

@Dr_Troy: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati ” και που με περιγελούν τώρα, αρκετοί απ' αυτούς θα με ξαναψηφίσουν. Ξεχνάνε γρήγορα, βλέπεις…

@Dr_Troy: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati [I didn't read the memorandum because] even if they mock me now, many of them will vote for me again. They forget quickly, you see… #bitter_truth

@cpil: Ενώ όλοι εσείς, το διαβάσατε το μνημόνιο.

@cpil: Have you read the memorandum yourselves?

@MilitaryRaiden: Όλοι πέφτουμε από τα σύννεφα με ομολογία ανικανότητος Χρυσοχοΐδη αλλά όχι με τη διατήρηση δικαιώματος ψήφου των ηλιθίων που το εξέλεξαν.

@MilitaryRaiden: Everybody is surprised by Chrysochoidis' confession of impotence, but not by the fact that the stupid ones that elected him still hold their voting rights.

@tgeorgakopoulos: Σσσσ, ακούς; Κάνε ησυχία -ακούς; Είναι ο ήχος 299 εκτυπωτών σε γραφεία βουλευτών. Τυπώνουν το μνημόνιο.

@tgeorgakopoulos: Sssshh, listen! Silence, can you hear that? It's the sound of 299 printers at MPs' offices. They are printing the memorandum.

@sVathis: Οι έλληνες ανέκαθεν δεν διάβαζαν user manuals

@sVathis: Greeks never read user manuals

Finally, during the following day, user Arkoudos concludes bitterly, reflecting the saddest part of Greek economical and social crisis [el]:

@arkoudos: Δεν σας πληρωσα το χαρατσι της ΔΕΗ;Αχχ χιλια συγνωμη,*δεν το ειχα διαβασει*,ειχα παει να ικετευσω για δουλεια,για να εχουμε να φαμε το βραδυ

@arkoudos: Didn't I pay you for the extra tax of DEI (Public Power Corporation of Greece)? Ohhh, so sorry, *hadn't read it*, I had gone to beg for a job, to have some food to eat at dinner

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.