Day of rage in Greece as more stringent cuts loom
With wages, pensions and healthcare under threat, protesters flood the streets of Athens
NATHALIE SAVARICAS
IndependentUK
THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2012
Police fired stun grenades and tear gas at protesters yesterday as tens of thousands poured into the streets of Athens as part of a nationwide strike to challenge a new round of austerity measures that are expected to cut wages, pensions and healthcare once again.
Dozens of youths, some masking their faces with helmets and T-shirts, hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at police who fired back in an effort to scatter the angry crowds around the parliament building. More than 50,000 people are believed to have participated in the mass walk-out in Athens alone.
Hospital doctors, pensioners, teachers and shopkeepers were among the demonstrators that participated in over 60 rallies throughout the debt-ridden country. Even the president of Greece’s police officers participated in the trade union march in Athens alongside uniformed colleagues from the fire department and coastguard.
“We don’t owe [money] to anyone, bring back what’s stolen,” was one of the chants that could be heard in Athens, echoing the violent resentment of many Greeks against politicians and their purported embroilment in tax evasion and corruption scandals.
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