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Posted by greydogg, 99GetSmart
My friend received the following letter from a friend in Greece:
Friends,
I am sending links to an article about important developments in Greece below ( its in Greek! ). I am also sending a quick summary/comment about the developments.
Potentially explosive proposals from ( municipal electrical workers ) GENOP/DEH leader Nikos Fotopoulos to the union federations in Greece calling for mass occupations ( including ministries, airports, ports, public sector offices, transportation, banks and tax offices ) and a political general strike by the workers and to bring down the government gains traction among broad sections of the union movement!
The proposals are light years ahead of SYRIZA & KKE political leaderships who have not called for anything other than 24-hour “protests” and ineffective parliamentary denunciations of the Samaras government ( Nea Democratia, PASOK, DHMAR ) against the most savage attack on living standards against working people since the Nazi occupation in the ’40s.
There is real pressure from below for the workers movement to defeat the government which seems to be coming apart with PASOK’s further sinking and splitting, huge scandals about the billions deposited by MPs in Switzerland. This is on the heels of the successes of the Portuguese workers forcing the Coelho governrment to retreat and the explosive movements and general strikes in Spain!
Fotopoulos is quoted in the media as having said that what is needed now is “audacity and more audacity” ( “tolmi” in Greek ) and for bringing the country at a standstill starting Monday October 8th. Large sections of transport workers, university workers, healthcare and public sector unions had already complained against the pointless ”protest general strikes” and have called for more effective action.
The new mood of militancy ( which -if successful- will spread across Europe especially in Spain and Portugal as well as Italy and France where there is a deepening radicalization ) was brought to a head in the last 2 days by the militant protest of shipyard workers ( Skaramaga ) who unpaid for 6 months and facing complete devastation attempted to occupy the steps of the Ministry of Defense before clashing with riot police leading to injuries and hundreds of arrests.
I sent clips of the protest yesterday where hand-to-hand fighting took place between the workers and the police in a development that shook the government ( including the European capitalists ).
Ironically, Angela Merkel is scheduled to visit Greece soon in a move that could actually pour oil ( not olive oil … gasoline ) to the proverbial fire.
The European masters ( and their local tsirakia ) have forgotten WHO they are fucking with. The Greek workers organized an unprecedented general strike and mass protests under Nazi machine guns during the occupation in Athens, and the most successful mass resistance movement in Europe, liberating large parts of the country from the Nazis and their collaborators. Let’s not forget the amazing Squares movement of millions that threatened the rulers last year or the massive youth revolt of 2008 after the murder of Grigoropoulos (which forced the police to disappear from the streets.)
This was the reason why the Greek ruling class always needed a police state and parakratos ( of which Chrysi Avgi / Golden Dawn is the latest re-incarnation ) in order to impose its will.
Maybe the conservative functionaries ( kareklokentavroi) of the union federation ( GSEE ), and the stale leaders of the left political parties will contain this deepening radicalization for the time being. But there is a volcano preparing to erupt in Greece soon that will bring this Quisling government tumbling down. The effects will be felt all the way across the world.
READ the article in Greek @ http://www.xekinima.org/arthra/view/article/mia-seira-kladoi-stoys-rythmoys-ton-protaseon-tis-genop/
10 Comments
Another very important diary in a superb series of posts, GREYDOG.
I hope that many members of THIS community might come to read what you share, for it might be an invaluable (and I am certain it is) learning experience were they to do so.
You are providing us insights from some of the “hottest” places in the world, and the “fire” that is mentioned WILL be facing this nation and, at some point, the people of this nation, including the vanguard of those who would understand at FDL, well ought to consider that the fire, at some “next time”, WILL be here. It would be wise to see how other peoples deal with that fire, for we might find both hints and inspiration in their concerted actions and conscience.
Recommended in the hope that this ready “resource” might be made use of.
Thank you, GREYDOG, as always.
Your work, and the on-the-scene work of others, which you thoughtfully share with us, is VERY much appreciated.
DW
What they are doing to Greece, they have been doing to us in slow motion, and will soon be doing to us more swiftly, regardless of whom we elect.
Perhaps we can learn how to govern ourselves in these times from our oldest brother, the cradle of democracy. Perhaps solidarity regardless of nationality is key.
Recommended. I have been following each of your diaries–thanks for the on-the-spot insights you’ve been providing.
Another fan here (for the flames as much as of you!). Thanks Greydog, and more important, THANK YOU GREECE!! Recommended.
I, too, have been following your posts, GREYDOG, though I don’t always comment. Thank you again for an excellent sharing of what is happening in Greece. I am not surprised – dismayed – but not surprised. And more need to know of these things, imho.
rec’d
Recc’d. And I don’t blame the Greeks one bit. They’ve been more than patient.
“Beware the wrath of the patient man.”
–Chinese proverb(I think)
Thank you for the update.
It’s October 8th.
The only way the Greek people will survive if they actually do this.
The whole country must be brought to a stand-still: a nation-wide protest and labor stopping everything.
The country belongs to all of the Greek people and not just the few rich Greeks or the bought-off politicians.
Iceland’s example is their only hope.
“Maybe the conservative functionaries ( kareklokentavroi) of the union federation ( GSEE ), and the stale leaders of the left political parties will contain this deepening radicalization for the time being.”
That’s their, ie. the politicians and bought union leaders, job: ie. to contain and delay it.
That’s what all union leadership, including Trumka and the CTU leadership, is for.
But if you stop everything, only then will they listen. ONLY THEN!
They are sociopaths. They don’t care. They will let Greek families and children slowly die, while starving on the streets. How do I know? BECAUSE THEY’RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW! This is happening right now in Greece, and to a lesser, but still substantial, it’s happening here in the US of A.
There is no reasoning with sociopaths. They consider reasoning and “talk” a weakness. And when they see weakness, they strike. They can’t help it. It’s in their nature.
They will continue to do mass violence, impoverishing families and whole countries to the point of dying slowly while starving on the streets. This is violence on a massive scale. All over the world. The only choice is to defend yourself. Or else they will continue. How do I know? THEY’RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE WORLD: MASSIVE UNRELENTING VIOLENCE, WITHOUT MERCY OR COMPASSION.
This is crimes against humanity to a level well beyond Hitler himself (and no I’m not exaggerating – Hitler never was able to enact his fascism worldwide, but these sociopaths have).
The support for Greece from FDL readers is much appreciated. StopCartel is broadcasting LIVE from Athens now @ http://www.livestream.com/stopcarteltvgr
Bad news from Greece. Fifteen people arrested in Athens says they were subjected to what their lawyer describes as an Abu Ghraib-style humiliation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/09/greek-antifascist-protesters-torture-police