El Greco
Summer worshipper
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2003
- Messages
- 17,735
So we boarded the subway and headed towards the Syntagma Square. That particular station was closed, so we had to get out at the next station and walk to Syntagma. As soon as we got out at the Monastiraki station, the smell of tear gas was everywhere. Although it was still 19:00, we saw a lot of people coming from the direction of Syntagma. Monastiraki square was full.
We started walking in the opposite direction from the people coming down. Everywhere there are people with masks (some very advanced ones, too), bottles of water and antacid suspension all over their faces. The crowd is really representative of all Greeks: You can see 15 year-old girls together with 80 year old granpas who walk with great difficulty. Many famous (and rich) Athenians have said they will be there (I saw a famous model myself). Everybody is present.
200-300 meters before the square, we find ourselves in the middle of a conflict between 100-200 hooded guys and the police. There is a roadblock on fire on the street. The hooded guys throw stones and everything else they can get their hands on to the police. The police throw them back. Suddenly, a tear-gas grenade explodes 10 meters from us. We have no masks, no protection for the eyes. We feel a terrible burn and we start running towards the square. BTW, if by a terrible mistake on your part you ever find yourself in the middle of such a confrontation, do not be a fool and run towards the police. You will be risking your life. You have to run towards the guys who throw stones, they will not hurt any civilian.
When we arrive at the Syntagma Square, people who were driven away by the tear gas have started gathering again. As we approach the parliament, there are so many people that it is diffcult to walk among them. Finally we reach the "frontline", were people are standing face to face opposite the police. Many talk to them, and some of them try to respond. The theme is mostly the same: They call them traitors and they urge them to choose on whose side they are going to be. They remind them that they have taken an oath to protect the constitution, and right now the constitution is being breached.
It is a very interesting thing to see: Young girls, some even very smartly dressed, opposing the SWAT unit men. 80-year olds with Maalox on their face. Houswives swaying assorted kitchenware. Three girls have big drums and make a lot of noise. There is smoke everywhere, and you can hear explosions and sirens of ambulances trying to find their way through the many roadblocks on fire.
Suddenly they throw tear gasses again. Without any provocation, they just want to keep the front of the parliament as uncrowded as possible. There were many older demonstrators earlier, but now most of them have left; they can't stand the tear gas and being chased by the police.
We go for a walk in the nearby streets. There are battles between demonstrators and the police everywhere. A few blocks down, a building is burning. Many stores (especially banks) are being destroyed. Everywhere there are guys smashing things trying to find something to throw to the police.
Unlike other times, the loud slogans are few. Now it's more like a disorganized uproar. I hear many conversations. Some talk about bringing their hunting guns. Others suggest that the demonstrations should become decentralized and people should focus on the houses and the properties of the parliament members. There is one guy who is holding a banner with alleged names and addresses of SWAT team policemen. Someone else is talking about driving a tanker full of propane in the parliament.
The demonstrators may disagree with each other on almost everything, but all of them agree on one thing: The decisions that the parliament is about to make tonight, are extremely important for the future of the country and as such, should only be made after general elections or a referendum. Right now we have a prime minister and a government that they were not elected by the Greek people. Everyone agrees that right now there is a dictatorship in Greece. Many say that those who will vote for the austerity plan tonight should be lynched.
This was nothing like what I've experienced before. I am sure that the lives of many politicians will be in danger during the next months.
We started walking in the opposite direction from the people coming down. Everywhere there are people with masks (some very advanced ones, too), bottles of water and antacid suspension all over their faces. The crowd is really representative of all Greeks: You can see 15 year-old girls together with 80 year old granpas who walk with great difficulty. Many famous (and rich) Athenians have said they will be there (I saw a famous model myself). Everybody is present.
200-300 meters before the square, we find ourselves in the middle of a conflict between 100-200 hooded guys and the police. There is a roadblock on fire on the street. The hooded guys throw stones and everything else they can get their hands on to the police. The police throw them back. Suddenly, a tear-gas grenade explodes 10 meters from us. We have no masks, no protection for the eyes. We feel a terrible burn and we start running towards the square. BTW, if by a terrible mistake on your part you ever find yourself in the middle of such a confrontation, do not be a fool and run towards the police. You will be risking your life. You have to run towards the guys who throw stones, they will not hurt any civilian.
When we arrive at the Syntagma Square, people who were driven away by the tear gas have started gathering again. As we approach the parliament, there are so many people that it is diffcult to walk among them. Finally we reach the "frontline", were people are standing face to face opposite the police. Many talk to them, and some of them try to respond. The theme is mostly the same: They call them traitors and they urge them to choose on whose side they are going to be. They remind them that they have taken an oath to protect the constitution, and right now the constitution is being breached.
It is a very interesting thing to see: Young girls, some even very smartly dressed, opposing the SWAT unit men. 80-year olds with Maalox on their face. Houswives swaying assorted kitchenware. Three girls have big drums and make a lot of noise. There is smoke everywhere, and you can hear explosions and sirens of ambulances trying to find their way through the many roadblocks on fire.
Suddenly they throw tear gasses again. Without any provocation, they just want to keep the front of the parliament as uncrowded as possible. There were many older demonstrators earlier, but now most of them have left; they can't stand the tear gas and being chased by the police.
We go for a walk in the nearby streets. There are battles between demonstrators and the police everywhere. A few blocks down, a building is burning. Many stores (especially banks) are being destroyed. Everywhere there are guys smashing things trying to find something to throw to the police.
Unlike other times, the loud slogans are few. Now it's more like a disorganized uproar. I hear many conversations. Some talk about bringing their hunting guns. Others suggest that the demonstrations should become decentralized and people should focus on the houses and the properties of the parliament members. There is one guy who is holding a banner with alleged names and addresses of SWAT team policemen. Someone else is talking about driving a tanker full of propane in the parliament.
The demonstrators may disagree with each other on almost everything, but all of them agree on one thing: The decisions that the parliament is about to make tonight, are extremely important for the future of the country and as such, should only be made after general elections or a referendum. Right now we have a prime minister and a government that they were not elected by the Greek people. Everyone agrees that right now there is a dictatorship in Greece. Many say that those who will vote for the austerity plan tonight should be lynched.
This was nothing like what I've experienced before. I am sure that the lives of many politicians will be in danger during the next months.
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