Photojournalists Union of Greece [PUG]
The Photojournalists Union of Greece impeach the new barbarian and unprovoked attack of MAT(1) against the colleagues who covered yesterday's gathering in Syntagma(2), andtoday's gathering; this time victim was also the chairman of PUG Marios Lolos, sent tohospital with “traumatic brain injury by truncheon, which needs surgical intervention”! Let usremind you: this is not the first time targeting the chairman of PUG, on 15/12/10 he got hitfrom behind on the head by MAT, while he was doing his job. Our Union had then draw theattention of Ministers “take your responsibilities, because we predict mourning victims.”!We also have to underline repeatedly targeting on Information, against assurances of Minister of Interior to representatives of PUG on our meeting last July, having same facts back then “political and ELAS(3) leaderships are concentrated on protection of democratic rights andtreating information of people sector with respect and will make sure journalist will work freely”The systematic and recurrent attacks against people of Press, during their work,trespassing fundamental human rights, may not consider random; even in good faith personwould conclude “these are attacks on Free Press by conscious, this is an effort to terrorize journalists”.Furthermore, we have to notice that there is absolutely no progress on such cases in the past; Our colleague reporter Manolis Kipreos, who got permanent disability. Dozens of namedcomplaints by colleagues and Unions for provocative and violent behaviour of police (for example against colleague Tatiana Bolari) got on the side by common procedure of EDE(4).Afterwards our Union will come together with other Unions and Federations of Unionsof Press sector in Greece and abroad, in order to protect Free Press; We will stand against actsthat undermine Democracy; trying to put us into situations and regimes of the past, that our people have paid heavily, that have gone away irreversibly.
Athens, 05/04/2012
notes by translator, not the Union:
1.
MAT is the riot police in Greece
2.
Syntagma is the THE square of Athens, in front of Greek Parliament
3.
ELAS is acronym of Greek Police, do not confuse it with HELLAS=Greece
4.
EDE is interior investigating. Cops judging cops!