Greeks Flood Syntagma Sq. To Protest Corruption And Injustice!
Jan 26, 2025
ALSO IN ASTORIA, A LIVELY DEMONSTRATION IN ATHENS SQUARE!!
A Sea of People in Syntagma Square and All Over Greece To Protest Corruption And Injustice!!!
Mitsotakis’ government is terrified!!
By Nick Stamatakis
Hundreds of thousands of Greeks flooded Syntagma Square in a massive protest rally over the tragedy in Tempi, where a horrific train accident left dozens dead and injured. Citizens, filled with anger and grief, demand justice, transparency, and accountability from those responsible. The popular indignation flared up after revelations about chronic problems in infrastructure, deficiencies in security systems, and negligence that appear to have contributed to the fatal collision.
The turnout for the demonstrations exceeded all expectations, with participation including people of all ages and social classes. From students and families to workers and retirees, citizens united in a peaceful but dynamic presence, holding banners with messages such as “It’s not an accident, it’s a crime” and “Never again”. Many banners also bore the names of the victims, highlighting the personal dimension of the tragedy.
During the rallies, speeches were heard from representatives of the victims’ families, union members, students, and activists, while silent marches with candles and flowers were held. One of the most moving moments was when the crowd observed a minute of silence in memory of the dead.
At the same time, social anger is directed at the political system, accusing it of indifference, mismanagement, and the inability to prevent such disasters. The protesters demand a full investigation into the case, accountability and immediate measures for transport safety. Many emphasize the need for substantial change and not just temporary fixes.
The reactions were not limited to Athens. In cities such as Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa, similar marches were organized with equally large participation. The coordination of the demonstrations was mainly through social networks, with the platforms functioning as a means of organizing and exchanging information.
These mass mobilizations brought to the forefront a more general demand for accountability and transparency, highlighting the need for a society that does not compromise with negligence and callousness. The people seem tired of promises without results, demanding actions that will ensure that such tragedies will not be repeated.
Overall, the sea of people in Syntagma and in other cities is resounding proof that society is not going to be silent. Citizens demand the truth and a safer future for all, with the Tempi tragedy serving as a tragic reminder of what is at stake when responsibility is neglected.
Published at www.helleniscope.com
Hundreds of Thousands Rally Across Greece Demanding Justice for Tempi Tragedy
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in cities across Greece, united in their call for justice following the tragic Tempi train collision. In one of the largest demonstrations in recent memory, protesters filled city squares, including Athens’ iconic Syntagma Square, as well as public spaces in 97 other cities nationwide. The movement extended beyond Greece’s borders, with solidarity rallies held in 13 international cities, all rallying under the poignant slogan, “I Have No Oxygen.”
The protests reflected the nation’s collective grief and outrage over the February 28, 2023 tragedy, which claimed 57 lives. As more details about the incident emerge, including allegations of negligence and a potential cover-up, the demands for accountability and systemic reform have only grown louder. These massive demonstrations have become a powerful expression of a society that refuses to let the victims’ voices go unheard.
Continue reading atwww.dnews.gr
Search for Tempi Prosecutor’s Son Continues; No New Leads
Jan 4, 2025
The search for 39-year-old Vasilis Kalogirou, son of the prosecutor involved in the high-profile Tempi case, has entered its fourth day with no significant breakthroughs. Rescue teams, including the Fire Department and the 8th EMAK (the Fire Department’s Special Disaster Response Unit), based in Larissa, are combing the length of the Pinios River near where he was last sighted with drones, trained dogs, and specialized equipment.
Prominent private investigator George Tsoukalis, assisting with the search alongside his team, has described the case as one of the most perplexing he has encountered. “We are facing a case with a high degree of difficulty, as there is no solid starting point,” Tsoukalis stated during an interview. He emphasized that Kalogirou led a structured and problem-free life, making his sudden disappearance all the more mysterious. “It is encouraging that extensive efforts are underway, and many witnesses have come forward since the disappearance was announced,” he added.
Continue reading at www.tovima.com
Tempi train crash
On 28 February 2023, a head-on collision occurred between two trains south of the Tempe Valley in Greece, about halfway between the Greek villages of Tempi and Evangelismos in the Thessaly region. The collision, involving the InterCity 62 (IC62) passenger train and an intermodal freight train, killed at least 57 people, with an official number of 342 passengers and 10 onboard railway staff on the passenger train and 2 staff on the freight train totalling 354 people on both trains. It is the deadliest rail disaster in Greek history. It was discovered that the IC62 passenger train had been allowed to proceed on the wrong track and pass signals at danger despite the presence of the freight train on the same stretch of track.
Vigils, angry protests, and clashes with the police occurred throughout Greece following the crash. Beginning on 2 March 2023, railway workers of Hellenic Train and the Athens Metro went on strike to protest the dangers related to the crash. Following the crash, Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned, taking responsibility for the crash and for his failure to bring Greek railways to 21st-century standards; he was reelected, after applying just two weeks after the incident.
Continue reading at en.wikipedia.org
The Austerity Train Wreck
If human error is to blame for the deadly train collision in Greece on February 28, the responsibility ultimately lies with those who devised, defended, and promoted the economic doctrines underpinning the austerity policies that were imposed on the country in the 2010s. Without those polices, this tragedy never would have happened.
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AUSTIN – In a flash, the savage destruction of Greece foretold in 2015 (and before) is back in the news, owing to a grisly tragedy on one of Europe’s smallest railroad systems. On February 28, a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train traveling in the opposite direction on the same track, resulting in the obliteration of the lighter, faster passenger train.
According to The Guardian, “the trains were traveling on what appears to be a well-maintained stretch of electrified mainline.” Take a moment to let the irrelevance of that observation sink in. We are talking about a head-on collision. Of course it wasn’t the track. Was it a “tragic human error,” then, as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis quickly announced? The stationmaster at Larissa has been arrested and faces a long prison term. How convenient that there is someone to blame. Who was the stationmaster? Journalist Dimitris Konstantakopoulos reports that he “was a 60-year-old man of limited experience, alone in a position of great responsibility.” The New York Times adds that he had only six months of training. Why were humans involved at all? Apparently, automated systems to prevent two trains from approaching each other on the same track were not installed. And why not? Evidently, such things are expensive. They add to costs without contributing to revenues. To ensure that such safeguards are in place, the firm hand of regulation must override the profit motive. Worse, Konstantakopoulos reports that, according to a former director of the Trainose company, “The last system of tele-management of the railways was deactivated in 2020.” Since then, the former director “stopped traveling by train.” Worse still, The New York Timesnotes, “Rail workers say the traffic lights were always red because of years of technical failures. Workers were left to warn one another of oncoming trains only by walkie-talkie.” And the president of the train drivers’ association told the BBC, “Neither the indicators, nor the traffic lights, nor the electronic traffic control work.”
Continue reading at www.defenddemocracy.press