GREEK LEFTISTS PROTEST DEADLY FOREST FIRES
09.5.07 - Leído 47 veces. Enviar esta notaLefteris Papadimas
About 2,000 Greek leftists marched through Athens on Tuesday chanting slogans against the the conservative government’s handling of deadly forest fires
ATHENS, Greece; September 5, 2007.- Carrying banners reading “Government of arsonists, stop them” the protesters marched from the central Athens University building to parliament.
“We want to stop the criminal politics that put the profits of rogue developers above human life and the environment,” said Thanassis Kourkoulas, 37, a teacher.
Many Greeks believe the fires were set by rogue developers trying to make way for new construction in forest land, taking advantage of the lack of a land registry and clear zoning laws.
It was the second major rally against the recent forest fires that killed 64 people.
Last Wednesday, more than 8,000 people dressed in black held a silent protest in central Athens’ Syndagma Square.
Tuesday’s rally, apitaliz by labour confederations and leftist groups, was noisy, with marchers waving banners and loudspeakers blaring slogans such as “We had enough”.
The unprecedented forest fires, which started on Aug. 24 and lasted 10 days, have left thousands homeless, destroyed whole villages and turned thousands of acres of forest to ashes.
The conservative government has faced intense criticism for its handling of the crisis, only weeks before facing a snap parliamentary election.
“We are here to show our anger at the government for its non-existent policy in protecting forests,” said Sotiris Martolis, 54, a teacher. “The policies of both main parties create the conditions for arsonists to burn our forests.”
The ruling New Democracy party swept to power in 2004, ending 11 straight years of socialist rule. The two parties have ruled Greece since the country’s return to democracy in 1974.
Although the conservatives have been accused of incompetence, the socialists opposition appear unable to apitalize on the criticism ahead of the Sept. 16 vote.
Smaller parties such as the Communists (KKE) and the Left Coalition, which participated in the protest march, are seen gaining support, according to opinion polls.
(Reuters)
Enlaces Relacionados
