Greek journalists say media freedom in Greece is sliding under the heavy-handedness of riot police during street anti-austerity demonstrations. Apart from reportedly firing tear-gas and flash-bang grenades against elderly people, parents holding their children, medical teams and Athens subway personnel, anti-riot police appear to deliberately attack Greek and foreign journalists and news photographers.
According to research carried out by the Greek Union of Photojournalists, 46 percent of photo-reporters have been mal-handled by the police during fieldwork the last year, resulting in three separate cases of hospitalization, the most recent that of Greek journalist Manolis Kypraios who lost his hearing permanently when police threw a flash-bang grenade on his head.
The spate of police violence against media professionals began last year during the summer occupation of Constitution Sq. by civilian protesters, continued in the October two-day general strike and has come without warning in almost every other public protest over the last few months, affecting the work of Greek and global media professionals.
Journalists say that Greek police is using tear gas and flash-bang grenades of military specification, against all protocols.
Despite governmental assurances that investigations be launched to shed light on the attacks, little has been done towards isolating and prosecuting the police officers who violate Greek and international protocols of ethical handling of civilians and media employees.
While the financial and social crisis in Greece deepens, the police announced its intention to rent out police officers for 30 Euros per hour. It has been called a desperate attempt to find money while the country is still reeling from tough austerity cuts to secure a $170 billion bailout from the EU.
After the news conference, journalists staged a protest outside the prime ministerial mansion, while the Greek Prime Minister prepares for his televised address to the nation, announcing the dissolution of the government and the upcoming elections on May 6th.
The secretary general of the Greek Union of Photojournalists Xristina Zaxopoulou observes that Athenian streets are the most dangerous in Europe for reporters, more so than war-zones, occasionally. (PressTv)
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