Greece holds parade under tight security
Source: Agencies |
March 26, 2012, Monday
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THOUSANDS of police cordoned off streets across central Athens yesterday as a military parade to mark Independence Day was held under unprecedented security measures for fear of anti-austerity protests.
For the first time, the public was banned from a large part of the route, including the area in front of Parliament from where politicians and other officials will watch the march.
Police, including hundreds in riot gear, cordoned off streets leading to the parade route, allowing only access to those with special invitation. Low-hanging fruit from bitter orange trees that line the city's pavements had been picked ahead of the march - apparently to prevent them from being thrown by protesters. The oranges, which are inedible except if made into jam, have become a favorite projectile during demonstrations.
Usually, there are thousands of people lining the main streets of central Athens to watch the military parade, which marks Greece's uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
But public anger has grown as the government has imposed yet more spending cuts and tax hikes during a severe financial crisis. On another national day last October, the country's figurehead president was heckled and a similar parade called off due to protests.
Since then, politicians have frequently fallen victim to angry groups shouting insults or throwing yogurt or eggs at them during public appearances across the country.
As yesterday's ceremonies started with President Karolos Papoulias laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a military band playing the national anthem, a group of a dozen people at the bottom of Syntagma Square across a main street from the legislative building chanted "Traitors."
They were quickly surrounded by riot police and gradually dispersed, with the parade ending without further incident.
"Look at what we've come to," said Nikolas Blezas, one of the protesters, holding up a picture of one of Greece's revolution heroes. "It's as if we are living under who knows what kind of regime. I can't take it."
Police said 27 people were detained in Athens and three were arrested, one for carrying a flare and two for throwing eggs at a student parade in the seaside suburb of Glyfada. The country's wounded war veterans boycotted this year's parade for the first time, objecting to austerity measures.
For the first time, the public was banned from a large part of the route, including the area in front of Parliament from where politicians and other officials will watch the march.
Police, including hundreds in riot gear, cordoned off streets leading to the parade route, allowing only access to those with special invitation. Low-hanging fruit from bitter orange trees that line the city's pavements had been picked ahead of the march - apparently to prevent them from being thrown by protesters. The oranges, which are inedible except if made into jam, have become a favorite projectile during demonstrations.
Usually, there are thousands of people lining the main streets of central Athens to watch the military parade, which marks Greece's uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
But public anger has grown as the government has imposed yet more spending cuts and tax hikes during a severe financial crisis. On another national day last October, the country's figurehead president was heckled and a similar parade called off due to protests.
Since then, politicians have frequently fallen victim to angry groups shouting insults or throwing yogurt or eggs at them during public appearances across the country.
As yesterday's ceremonies started with President Karolos Papoulias laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a military band playing the national anthem, a group of a dozen people at the bottom of Syntagma Square across a main street from the legislative building chanted "Traitors."
They were quickly surrounded by riot police and gradually dispersed, with the parade ending without further incident.
"Look at what we've come to," said Nikolas Blezas, one of the protesters, holding up a picture of one of Greece's revolution heroes. "It's as if we are living under who knows what kind of regime. I can't take it."
Police said 27 people were detained in Athens and three were arrested, one for carrying a flare and two for throwing eggs at a student parade in the seaside suburb of Glyfada. The country's wounded war veterans boycotted this year's parade for the first time, objecting to austerity measures.
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