By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
ATHENS, Greece – On Thursday, police in riot gear fired tear gas and charged culture ministry workers who had barricaded themselves within the gates at the Acropolis in protest over unpaid wages.
A court order was issued saying protesters were obstructing access to the iconic site, and the police arrived to remove the protesters. The police sawed through the fence and sprayed journalists, who were there to cover the event, with pepper spray to clear them out of the way. Images then show police chasing the workers around the monument, with some workers grabbing onto the fence to prevent their expulsion from the site. The Acropolis did not open after the removal of the protesters because long-term workers went on strike in solidarity.
The protesting workers claim they are owed five million euros from unpaid salaries over the course of the last two years. They were also protesting the imminent layoff of 320 culture ministry workers at the end of October, when their contracts expire.
According to the AFP, Telemachos Hytiris, Deputy Culture Minister, offered to speak with the protesters, but the prospect of permanent contracts are not guaranteed. “Thousands of short-term workers have been laid off until now, the law applies to all,” he said.
The protest at the Acropolis is one of many other staged protests over the recent months due to the austerity measures the Greek government has enacted in order to reduce severe debt. Greece barely managed to avoid national bankruptcy last spring, and the EU and IMF provided a rescue loan. As a result, they are monitoring the measures Greece is taking to reduce spending.
According to the AP, “authorities are particularly sensitive to protests at the Acropolis, which is seen as an emblem of ancient democracy, particularly as the country largely relies on tourism for revenue.”
George Petalotis, a government spokesman, said, “This is not just an issue of damage to Greek tourism, particularly under the current, difficult circumstances. It is also an issue of respect for this outstanding monument.”
The protesters have said they felt they had no other choice than to protest at the historic site since the government has ignored a series of court rulings in their favor. Ioanna Maraveli, a union representative, asked. “If we are breaking the law by keeping the site closed, is it not also against the law for (the government) to leave us unpaid?”
For more information, please see:
AFP – Greek riot police break up Acropolis protest – 14 October 2010
AP – Riot police, protesters clash at Acropolis – 14 October 2010
BBC – Greek police storm Acropolis protesters – 14 October 2010
