A massive turnout in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities across the country for the third anniversary of the deadly Tempi accident, with citizens responding to the call for a dynamic presence, expressing their anger and grief over the tragedy, while also sending messages of indignation to the political establishment.
With the central slogan “Their profits or our lives. It was not an accident, it was murder. We do not forget, we do not forgive,” the Association of Relatives of Tempi Victims, labor centers, ADEDY, unions, workers’ associations, student associations and other bodies have gathered in Syntagma Square demanding “real justice,” especially in view of the trial on 23/3 at the Three Member Court of Appeal for Felonies of Larissa, which was also mentioned by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his post on the black anniversary.
At Maximos Mansion there is concern, with attention focused on the streets and the size of the gatherings, but also on how the rallies will unfold, as they do not want incidents to occur. They are also focusing on the moves of Maria Karystianou, given that the new party she is launching is expected and is setting the political scene on fire.
However, in Athens and Thessaloniki there were detentions and arrests.
Syntagma flooded with people
“Real justice,” in view of the trial on 23 March, demand the citizens in Syntagma Square, where traffic regulations are in effect.
A one minute silence was observed in memory of the 57 victims, after which the crowd shouted “Immortal.”
“We demand justice, because there is no future, democracy, homeland without justice. We demand that full light be shed on the crime that cost so many innocent lives,” stressed in his speech the president of the Tempi Association, Pavlos Aslanidis.
Mr Aslanidis emphasized that the relatives will not compromise with ugliness and lies.
“We are all here to claim the right to travel safely. We will not allow anything to be forgotten until there is catharsis. We demand breath and truth,” he stressed characteristically.
Focusing on the judicial struggle of the relatives, he denounced the attempts at cover up that have taken place, while also referring to the actions regarding the exhumations of certain victims’ remains and the sending of genetic material to laboratories abroad.
Indeed, Mr Aslanidis, with personal attacks on Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis and on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated that he will persist until the end in the effort to find the truth, with the slogan “justice for the dead, justice for the relatives and our homeland.”
For his part, Vasilis Chatzicharalambous, who lost his son in the Tempi accident, stated in his speech among other things that “we grow with an absence that screams and opposite us we have promises and shifting of responsibilities. Three years later the wound has not closed because justice is delayed.”
“The exhumations must be carried out with respect and transparency and not turn our children into statistical figures,” stressed Mirela Rutsi, mother of Denis.
At Syntagma is also the former head of the Tempi victims’ association, Maria Karystianou.
Arrests and detentions
Meanwhile, the Hellenic Police proceeded to 128 detentions, of which three were converted into arrests for possession of flares, in the center of Athens.
In fact, in an arcade on Ermou Street, police officers located a bag containing improvised Molotov cocktails, 7 to 8 bottles of gasoline under preparation.
Koutsoumpas and Konstantopoulou at Syntagma
“The real vindication of our dead must go all the way, until the overthrow of this barbaric system, the overthrow of this rotten state and the political power that all of them serve,” declared from the rally at Syntagma for the three years since the Tempi crime the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas.
As he stated, “the real dilemma is ‘either their profits or our lives.’ This must permeate every thought of ours, every action of ours from now on.
The real vindication of our dead must go all the way, until the overthrow of this barbaric system, the overthrow of this rotten state and the political power that all of them serve.
With social alliance, with the united struggle of the people and the youth, with a strong KKE that will be at the forefront of this consistent struggle.”
Mr Koutsoumpas spoke with relatives of victims of the Tempi crime, among others with the president of the Association of Relatives Pavlos Aslanidis and Vasilis Chatzicharalambous.
At the rally at Syntagma for the third anniversary of the railway tragedy of Tempi was also the president of Plefsi Eleftherias, Zoi Konstantopoulou, stressing that “we fight for their vindication, for the truth, the punishment of the guilty, justice!”
In her post, Ms Konstantopoulou stated “Tempi 3 years later! We honor those whose lives were so violently taken!
We fight for their vindication, for the truth, the punishment of the guilty, justice!
We do not forget, we do not remain silent.
Today we are at Syntagma and in squares all over the country!
Justice is a personal matter for all of us!”
In Thessaloniki
A large crowd also gathered in Thessaloniki, where the Hellenic Police proceeded to 21 detentions and 5 arrests.
Thousands gathered at the Courts Square and the statue of Venizelos on Egnatia Street, while Traffic Police implemented traffic regulations.
Regarding the operation of the metro, the stations “New Railway Station,” “Demokratias,” “Venizelou,” “Agia Sofia,” “Sintrivani” and “Panepistimio” have remained closed since 10 in the morning.
In Larissa
Memorial events and strike protest gatherings also took place in Larissa today, with the participation of relatives of the victims, organizations and citizens.
The central gathering is being held in the Central Square of Larissa.
At 13:00 a trisagion service was held at the site of the collision in Tempi, in the presence of relatives of the victims and citizens who wished to pay tribute, while wreaths and flowers have been laid.
At 19:00 a large concert dedicated to the memory of the victims is scheduled in Larissa.
Nationwide mobilizations and strikes
The day is characterized as a day of nationwide mobilizations and strikes, with unions and labor centers having declared 24 hour strike actions and gatherings in Athens, Thessaloniki and in 90 cities, as well as in 25 abroad.
Due to the anniversary events in memory of the victims, no train routes are operating, ships remain docked in ports, while actors and air traffic controllers, as well as transport workers, are participating in the mobilizations.
In Athens there are changes in the Metro and Tram, while Buses and Trolleybuses operate normally, although there is the possibility that drivers may strike individually, participating in the 24 hour strike announced by the GSEE and the Athens Labor Center.
Specifically, Metro Lines 2 and 3 operate from 9 in the morning on Saturday 28/2 and throughout the day, while the late night operation of the Lines on Saturday night will also take place normally.
Metro routes to and from the Airport operate normally from 9 in the morning on Saturday and for the rest of the day.
However, by order of the Hellenic Police, the Metro stations “Syntagma” and “Panepistimio” are closed from the start of service at 9 in the morning and trains pass through them without stopping.
In detail, Metro Line 1 (ISAP) “Kifisia Piraeus” operates from 9 in the morning until 21:00, while the last trains will depart:
from Kifisia and Piraeus at 20:35,
from Monastiraki to Kifisia at 20:51 and to Piraeus at 21:09,
from Omonia to Kifisia at 20:54 and to Piraeus at 21:07,
from Attiki to Kifisia at 20:59 and to Piraeus at 21:02.
Tram circulation started gradually at 9:30 in the morning and vehicles will gradually begin to be withdrawn from service at 19:00. The late night operation of the Tram on Saturday night will not take place.
Specifically, the first and last routes on the Tram are as follows:
Tram Line 7:
the first train departed from Asklepieio Voulas at 09:29 and the last at 19:14,
the first train departed from Akti Poseidonos at 09:56 and the last at 19:41 and
the last train will depart from Akti Poseidonos to 2nd Agios Kosmas at 20:19.
Tram Line 6:
the first train departed at 09:22 and the last at 19:34,
the first train departed from Fix at 10:01 and the last at 20:13.
Tram Lines 6 and 7 with transfer at Pikrodafni:
the first train departed from Fix to Asklepieio Voulas at 10:01 and the last at 19:37,
the first train departed from Asklepieio Voulas to Fix at 09:29 and the last at 19:00,
the first train departed from Akti Poseidonos to Fix at 09:56 and the last at 18:56,
the first train departed from Fix to Akti Poseidonos at 10:01 and the last at 19:01.
Traffic regulations in Athens
Emergency traffic regulations are in effect in the wider area of central Athens, due to the gatherings marking 3 years since the deadly railway accident in Tempi.
According to the Hellenic Police, traffic regulations are implemented gradually and depending on prevailing conditions.
Already, according to Traffic Police, vehicle circulation has been stopped on Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, while depending on conditions additional measures are expected to be implemented.
Drivers are called upon, for their better service and to avoid additional traffic problems, to avoid passing through and parking their vehicles in the wider road network of central Athens and to follow the instructions of traffic officers.
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