Sunday 7 December 2008

For Queen and Country (Except, We Have No Queen)...

It is a fact that I love many countries around the world, in some of which I should like to live and others where I should like to spend a great deal of time. However, I have often stated, following these musings, that Greece is the only place I will ever truly feel at home. However, events such as transpired tonight, are valid reasons why I would maybe abandon this place once and for all... someday.

Tonight, at 20:50, a 15 (or, according to some reports, 16)-year-old boy was shot to death in Exarchia District, at the corner of Koletti and Mesologgiou St., by an armed Special Unit Officer, triggering massive riots in downtown Athens, Salonika, Komotini, Ioannina and Herakleion (Crete). According to the police report and official statement, the shooting was a result of the two officers, passing through the neighborhood in a police car, being assaulted by a group of thirty anarchist/leftist young men. One officer responded with a flash (again, according to others, smoke) grenade and the other delivered three shots, resulting in the killing of the boy. "They have been suspended, along with the Chief of Exarcheia Police Dpt. and are facing inquiry as we speak, with the presence of the D.A.'s office". We'll just have to wait and see what will come out of it (if anything). Interior Minister and administratively liable, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, delivered his resignation to the Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, a resignation which was not accepted.

The actual news of the killing reached me while in a friend's house at Pagrati and when I finally took the road home in a cab, around 05:30, downtown was closed off, the streets were near empty and no public transportation could be seen anywhere. Earlier that night, a friend invited at the same house was late because of a pickpocket, caught red-handed by his would-be victim, having to wait for the Metro officers to take him away.

This second incident mentioned here, is of course insignificant by comparison to the killing, which, beyond riots by protesters and wanton violence (car and store arson at Sygrou Ave. and in and around Exarcheia mainly) by people who do not really care anything about the actual events, will have enormous repercussions, as the already disliked government will have to face the consequences of the police's actions and neighborhoods infested with violent and criminal elements professing to be "anarchists" (for some of them, believe me, I know first-hand that it's just a feeble excuse) will become even more dangerous and wanton destruction more common.

Events have been covered all over the Greek blogosphere and newspaper sites, as well as BBC, where you can see a video segment of the now ongoing events.

"For Queen and Country", "To Serve and Protect", "A License to Kill". think I see a pattern there. Don't you?

Saturday Bloody Saturday and Now It's Dawning Sunday

Speedgrapher

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe we'd be better off this beautiful and peaceful country, ne?
Events like this sadden me and make me mad :(

Skauld Skauksson said...

We will be out for some milk+ with the buddies... We will be getting ready for some ultra violence!!!

Nai... anarxikoi... Gamw tous kwlotrampoukous skatompaxalous pantws eidous kai parata3hs!!! Giati den pane sta kwlompatsika na ta kanoune kalokairina gamw??? Giati prepei ka8e fora na ginetai o idios anapotelesmatikos xamos? Kai panw ap' ola... Giati se ayth thn 3ekwliasmenh xwra exei to dikaiwma o ka8enas komple3ikos kavlwmenos na oploforei kai na dra ypo thn kalypsh stolhs kai e3ousias, th stigmh pou oi ormones tou exoun katabalei thn perioxh opou yparxei ayth h axrhsth maza lipous kai nerou? Stroumfakia, xrysavgites, "anarxikoi" kai xouligkania... oloi sto idio kazani me skata... Pswfos se olous! Kreas!

Speedgrapher said...

Agreed, on both counts :s

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Skauld Skauksson said...

Ahaaa! Then, we WILL be out for some milk+... We WILL really be getting ready for some ultra violence!!! :P