Thousands Demand Justice in Tempi Protests Across Greece

Tensions flared at Syntagma Square during a protest over the Tempi tragedy, with police firing stun grenades after a small groupwhich cut off from the main protesters started hurling molotov cocktails.The clashes occurred in front of the Parliament, around Syntagma Square, and on the square itself, resulting in some arressts.

According to police sources, shortly before 2 p.m., groups of individuals broke away from the main gathering and attacked police officers on the lower side of Syntagma Square and in other streets in central Athens.

Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across Greece, demanding justice for the 57 victims of a train crash at Tempi, central Greece on February 28, 2023, as well as accountability for those implicated directly or indirectly in the tragic accident.

Holding up placards and signs with “I can’t breathe” or “Justice” on them, Greek citizens flocked to Syntagma Square in front of the country’s Parliament to express their anger about what many claim was a cover-up in the course of the investigations to determine the culpable parties.

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, was another focal point of the protests, with the crowd growing larger. There are reportedly over 180 locations across Greece, and abroad where demonstrations are taking place.

Large crowds have also gathered in the cities of Heraklion, Crete, Patra in the Peloponnese, and the capital of Evia Chalkida.
The crowd is voicing strong anti-government sentiments, with many accusing the Mitsotakis administration of a “cover-up” and expressing outrage at its handling of the situation.

Maria Karystianou, the main organizer and mother of one of the 57 victims in the tragic crash, addressed the huge crowd at Syntagma Square: “We watched them point their fingers at us, wondering why we do not grieve silently, why we don’t wear black, why we are not confined, slowly dying. We still hear them questioning where we find the strength to breathe, to live, to fight,” said Maria Karystianou, who lost her daughter in the Tempi tragedy, speaking at the rally in Syntagma Square.

Meanwhile, political leaders have also condemned the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis accusing his administration of neglect. In a Facebook post, the leader of PASOK-Movement for Change noted that during the recent parliamentary debate, he raised the issue in light of the demonstrations. However, he pointed out, “Mr. Mitsotakis did not feel the need to respond—not to me, but to the Greek citizens. Of course, I did not expect anything different. After all, he was the one who hastened to draw his own ‘conclusions’ immediately after the tragedy.”

Androulakis emphasized that “citizens are disillusioned. The crisis of trust in institutions is escalating because, in a series of cases, with the Tempi tragedy being the most notable, it has become apparent that the distinction between the executive branch and the judiciary is eroding.”

“The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, will attend today’s rally regarding the Tempi tragedy, held in Eleftherias Square in Serres,” the KKE stated in an announcement.

SYRIZA announced that following the conclusion of its Central Committee meeting, all its members will head to Syntagma Square.

On Feb. 28, 2023, a passenger train packed with students collided head-on with a freight train just before midnight on a line linking Athens with Greece’s second city Thessaloniki.

The crash was seen as the result of a wider neglect of public services following a decade-long financial crisis.

Source: tovima.com