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View Full Version : cops/nazi's vs roma riots in athens



Sasha
19th June 2012, 03:05
Riots break out in Ano Liosia, NW Athens (http://blog.occupiedlondon.org/2012/06/18/riots-break-out-in-ano-liosia-nw-athens/)

Monday, June 18, 2012
The district of Ano Liosia, in NW Athens, has a large Roma population; the community’s relationship with the police has often been tense: last year, a DIAS motorcycle policeman ran over and killed (http://blog.occupiedlondon.org/2011/01/05/462-policeman-of-the-dias-motorcycle-force-runs-over-and-kills-6-year-old-girl/) a 6-year old Roma girl.
On Sunday, one DIAS policeman died and another was seriously injured after crashing into a van driven by a Roma man. Both sides claim that the others violated a STOP sign.
What has followed since is partly unclear: it is confirmed that the police conducted a large operation in the Roma camp, supposedly in response to the traffic accident, but essentially harassing the camp’s residents. There are also still unconfirmed by very strong leads that the Golden Dawn held a gathering in Ano Liosia tonight, insulting and provoking the locals.
The local Roma have reacted, took to the streets, set a bus on fire (confirmed) and shot toward the police, injuring up to six of them (number unconfirmed). It appears that the situation has calmed down for the time being.
More information as it comes.



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revolt
19th June 2012, 03:06
good luck to the Roma.

Art Vandelay
19th June 2012, 07:32
I wonder if this will be an isolated incident, or if we are really seeing developments that could lead to a civil war.

Tamerlane
19th June 2012, 14:01
No fucking around, then. Shots fired at police? Six of them injured?

The Roma don't fuck about, then. I doubt the police will be up to stirring up a hornet's nest there. I'm sure the neo-Nazis will get what's coming to them, too, if they show up there again.

The Douche
19th June 2012, 15:06
No fucking around, then. Shots fired at police? Six of them injured?

The Roma don't fuck about, then. I doubt the police will be up to stirring up a hornet's nest there. I'm sure the neo-Nazis will get what's coming to them, too, if they show up there again.

Except that the police and nazis are better armed and better organized than the Roma, and the police and nazis have the protection of the law.

Tamerlane
19th June 2012, 16:01
No doubt about being better armed and better organised, but if Ano Liosia is a Roma stronghold(if), then I doubt that the cops will be willing to wade into that swamp. A show of force - sure, as that raid may have been, but not a protracted campaign. Unless, of course, the new government (if there will be such a thing) puts the political pressure on them. Now the Golden Dawn might be stupid brutes willing to go brawling in neighbourhoods with large Roma populations, but I don't think Greek police are stupid enough(as much as I hope they might be) to open up some sort of protracted front in a neighbourhood far from the center of Athens with a large Roma population.

God knows that they have their hands full keeping people from storming the Parliament and tear-gassing demonstrators in Syntagma Square.