par 1979DICA le 23 juin 2011
From: RT
It has been a month since Constitution Square (Syntagma Square), where the Greek Parliament sits, turned into a site of public protest against the government.
It's crowded as if it were a busy afternoon, despite the late hours -- although the local citizens assure me that tonight there are much fewer people than usual.
I'm further assured that nonetheless next week they're going to teach the government and the parliament a new lesson by means of more street protests and strikes.
"Hundreds of people come out, and they are just ordinary Greek citizens, nothing like anarchists or anti-globalists, and neither are they any kind of professional protesters -- these are the people of Greece. We are sick and tired of being misrepresented as a nation of loiterers and chair-warmers who are simply after other peoples' money," says a young man who is busy taking care of the thirsty riot dog named Sausage (Loukanikos) -- famous for its almost ubiquitous presence during every major protest in Greece. "That's an outstanding dog. He's always with the people and always against the police."
Sausage is probably the most famous dog of the Greek riots. There are thousands and thousands of his photos and video shoots. He is always in the front rows of protesters, and he lives in Constitution Square.
Outside the fence that was fitted around the parliament to cut off the public, people take turns to deliver their speeches. They are no politicians. They are working people of various professions who come here after a day of work. Everyone I ask confirms that, "We work during the day and come here in the evening to express our fury to those sitting behind this fence and pretending they're working hard. They have a fun job indeed -- getting the IMF and EU money and spending it on military contracts while cutting pensions and wages of the people who do the real work."
Ten days ago, people formed a live chain around the parliament building and kept the MPs inside until the police arrived to help the politicians out.
"Do you know how it started?" asks Helena who seems to know everyone in the square. "There were three lads discussing things in the internet forums, one was 16 and two others still younger. They were bugged by many reports saying that the Greeks just cannot act as decisively as the Spanish, and they spread a call to come out on a protest among everyone they knew. The very next day, hundreds of people came out, and two days later there were thousands. And these teenagers got scared and deleted their messages. And people thought that it was done by the police or intelligence agencies. And that sent hundreds of thousands into the streets, you see?"
There is no sign of anti-globalists. Musician Theos explains, "They keep to themselves, they stay in their district and do not mingle. They claimed our protests had no agenda. The anarchists show up once in a while to start up an occasional fight with the far-rightists. Police take advantage of this sending in their agents disguised as anarchists so that they could throw a Molotov bomb to give the police an excuse to use tear gas against the protesters. We already caught some of the moles, dressed as anarchists but with a police ID in their pocket."
A revolution in Greece would be impossible without the Church. "There have been no public statements from the Church, but our bishops sent off priests to be with the protesters, and everyone knows about it." This is the explanation I got when I noticed a massive figure in a black robe with a cross. This is one of the most prominent priests. During the clashes with the police he was here holding up the revolution banner.
"He comes from the South where people consider themselves to be direct descendants of the Spartans. He was holding a white banner with a blue cross and mottos "Victory or Death" and "With the Shield or On the Shield," but the fact is that they, people from the South, have always considered themselves free. So basically it's only a question of "Victory or Death," comments a reporter who comes to do shoots in the square every day.
An elderly barefoot man approaches us while we talk. Hearing that I'm from Russia he gives me a gift of a hand knitted cross saying, "It's from a very famous women's monastery. Keep it safe. Russian people have always been appreciative of such gifts."
Ajoutée par OurNeedToAwaken le 26 juin 2011
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