The rise of the far right in Europe

[Ephilant]

It has emerged today that the vendors in Rafina, who's stalls were destroyed by the GD raids last weekend, all had legal, valid licenses, fully paid for, and all people working the stalls were legal immigrants....
This spells serious trouble for the GD thugs who carried out the raids, including their MPs who admitted to being in charge of this "operation".

It also looks like the authorities are finally clamping down on GD. Not only has the police protection for all their MPs (except the Fuhrer) been withdrawn, the new chief of police is by law bound to protect their offices. He has now used this legal requirement to dispatch about 10 officers to the GD headquarters, but while they are there, every visitor trying to get in is stopped and asked for their ID, which is copied. This is an obvious attempt to get some sort of database going with names, addresses etc of the GD members. They take their "protection" duties very seriously, and patrol inside the building as well, disrupting meetings, conversations, phone calls etc. This, according to GD is "unacceptable" and "prevents the party from doing its duties".
the party has taken out an injuction against the police, which, if successful, will almost certainly be interpreted as absolving the police force of their protection duty, leaving the offices wide open to left wing "hit squads". Interesting times ahead...

[Ephilant]

Last night, GD managed to sink to an even lower low than last week-end.

A Greek taxi driver walked into a barber shop, owned by a Pakistani (LEGAL immigrant) for a shave and a haircut. He was stopped by 2 maked men wearing the rather tell-tale Chrysi Avgi T-shirts, who ordered him to go and have the service in a Greek owned establishment.
The taxi driver told them where to go and tried to push his way into the shop. He got stabbed for his "refusal to obey orders and support Greece". Then, the attackers emptied a few petrol cans on the shop floor and burned the place out.
According to the Pakistani owner, they had come in the day before and given him 24 hours to close up and leave the country, or they would burn him out.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeftsUqo4do&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeftsUqo4do&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

The Mayor of Rafina, where the heroes of GD trashed a few market stalls and their owners declared today that every one of the people attacked was not only legally in the country, they all had fully paid up, legal licenses to operate on the market.

It would seem that the "struggle for Greece" has now escalated from fighting illegal immigrants to fighting any immigrant.

[Ephilant]

If a beard were all it took to make a philosopher, then a bearded goat could emulate Plato, according to the criticism leveled against self-styled philosophers by Lucian, who, born in Syria, would surely never have been granted a certificate of Greekness by the gene police of neofascist political party Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn). However, according to sarcastic Lucian wit, if a plush mustache and long hair were all it took to make a general on a par with Karaiskakis, then the Golden Dawn MP who “liberated” the open-air market at Mesolongi from the grips of the ultimate enemies of the state would be a better general than Karaiskakis himself as, alone, he faced the enemy’s troops, which were armed to the teeth with plastic toys, fly-swatters, T-shirts and whatever else street vendors keep in their arsenals. As far as the other Golden Dawn MP who “liberated” Rafina while paying homage to the Virgin Mary is concerned, well heaven help us.

This fascist phenomenon -- one manifestation of which is the wave of attacks by terrorists who enjoy parliamentary immunity against migrants (who are guilty because of the color of their skin) and people who express a different opinion -- is just as serious as the country’s economic predicament. If we expect this battle to be fought on our behalf by outsiders or a public order minister, we will lose and be lost. The same will happen if we do not look at the truth straight on and admit that the packs of men in black are not unnatural, but that their existence proves how much we have failed as parents, as educators, as political parties, as a Parliament and as a democracy. There is nothing strange about the wild growth of neofascism in ground that for years was sown (by TV, the Internet, Church officials and political leaders) with the seeds of God-given superiority, ill-bred and anti-social egotism, disregard for others, machismo and bigotry.

The neofacist phenomenon is a child of society and it is society’s duty to do something about it.

In Mesolongi there was a woman who had the nerve to tell off the Golden Dawn raiders. They could have beat her up, of course, but she wasn’t well known, like Liana Kanelli or Rena Dourou, two politicians who were assaulted on live TV by another Golden Dawn MP. The lady was not afraid. Maybe she had seen the plaque at the entrance to the city, which reads: “Every free man is a citizen of Mesolongi.” Knowing that those who are frightened are not truly free, she stood up against them, proving that the most important immunity the hit squads enjoy is not that granted by Parliament, but that of society.

by Pantelis Boukalas

This appeared in today's Ekathimerini. It marks a distinct change in attitude towards CA by the Greek Press. Bearing in mind that Ekathimerini cannot really be seen as being anything else but a right-wing publication (to what degree of right-wing is open to interpretation), this kind of opinion put forward by this paper is a major step in the right direction.

[C. Flower]

Last night, GD managed to sink to an even lower low than last week-end.

A Greek taxi driver walked into a barber shop, owned by a Pakistani (LEGAL immigrant) for a shave and a haircut. He was stopped by 2 maked men wearing the rather tell-tale Chrysi Avgi T-shirts, who ordered him to go and have the service in a Greek owned establishment.
The taxi driver told them where to go and tried to push his way into the shop. He got stabbed for his "refusal to obey orders and support Greece". Then, the attackers emptied a few petrol cans on the shop floor and burned the place out.
According to the Pakistani owner, they had come in the day before and given him 24 hours to close up and leave the country, or they would burn him out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pefts...layer_embedded

The Mayor of Rafina, where the heroes of GD trashed a few market stalls and their owners declared today that every one of the people attacked was not only legally in the country, they all had fully paid up, legal licenses to operate on the market.

It would seem that the "struggle for Greece" has now escalated from fighting illegal immigrants to fighting any immigrant.

Where are the defence groups ??

Has no-one done anything to organise ? The Unions ? KKE ? Anarchists ?
Anti-fascist hippies ?

Gentle disapproval is not going to drive the fascists off the streets, or protect immigrants and trade unionists.

[Ephilant]

well then,

the guy with the circle around his head is non-other than the policeman assigned to "protect" the CA MP Barbarousis, on the left. He was caught on camera enthousiastically taking part in the illegal actions committed by the CA bully boys last week-end.
The woman in the picture is the stall holder who told them where to go and stood her ground. Good on her!

The policeman has been suspended with immediate effect, without pay, and is on his way to a dishonourable discharge from the force. He will also be prosecuted for partaking in illegal activities while on duty. For that, he could be looking at 4 years.

Has no-one done anything to organise ? The Unions ? KKE ? Anarchists ?

Working on it. I am convinced that this total clampdown on CA and more importantly the dismantling of their police protection as the Greek way of preparing the ground for more direct "treatment" to come.
there was already an arson attack on the head office in Athens, which did some damage. Not enough by far, but it is just after the holidays and the boys are a little rusty...

[fluffybiscuits]

well then,

the guy with the circle around his head is non-other than the policeman assigned to "protect" the CA MP Barbarousis, on the left. He was caught on camera enthousiastically taking part in the illegal actions committed by the CA bully boys last week-end.
The woman in the picture is the stall holder who told them where to go and stood her ground. Good on her!

The policeman has been suspended with immediate effect, without pay, and is on his way to a dishonourable discharge from the force. He will also be prosecuted for partaking in illegal activities while on duty. For that, he could be looking at 4 years.


Working on it. I am convinced that this total clampdown on CA and more importantly the dismantling of their police protection as the Greek way of preparing the ground for more direct "treatment" to come.
there was already an arson attack on the head office in Athens, which did some damage. Not enough by far, but it is just after the holidays and the boys are a little rusty...

They must be preparing for more actions now against GD and the rest of the fascists causing trouble. Very heartening to see the woman stand up for herself against these thugs intent on harassing her.

Just spotted this for reading later..


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...olitical-party

[Ephilant]

Wonder what the boys and girls of GD have to say about this one? As predicted, the pantofla is on the other foot.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w...09/2012_461010

Not nice for the 29 people involved though. Like the immigrants in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras, they are only trying to find a better life for themselves. Something their home country cannot provide for...

[Ephilant]

. Very heartening to see the woman stand up for herself against these thugs intent on harassing her.

Indeed. good on her. And, she is not the only one. a 58 year old stall holder in Mesolongi not only refused to play ball with the scumbags who came and demanded to see her credentials and license, she reported them to the local prosecutor.
The guys were picked up immediately, an emergency sitting of the court was held, and both of them got 8 months in the cell for usurping authority. They were done in by their own video, intended to be posted on the XA website as bragging material.
According to the sentence, they will do the 8 months, no early release.

[fluffybiscuits]

Indeed. good on her. And, she is not the only one. a 58 year old stall holder in Mesolongi not only refused to play ball with the scumbags who came and demanded to see her credentials and license, she reported them to the local prosecutor.
The guys were picked up immediately, an emergency sitting of the court was held, and both of them got 8 months in the cell for usurping authority. They were done in by their own video, intended to be posted on the XA website as bragging material.
According to the sentence, they will do the 8 months, no early release.

Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves...

[Ephilant]

Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves...

Let's hope so, and bring on the rope, just in case...

Unconfirmed reports are coming in that the regional education authorities in Achaia have fired a primary school teacher in Patra who decided to teach the kids in his class about the virtues of GD, and sent them home with the message that the locla chapter would be a possible solution to the problems they have finding funding for the renovation of the school building.
the authorities have confirmed that they are investigation the guy, but have not confirmed any action taken (yet).

[fluffybiscuits]

Let's hope so, and bring on the rope, just in case...

Unconfirmed reports are coming in that the regional education authorities in Achaia have fired a primary school teacher in Patra who decided to teach the kids in his class about the virtues of GD, and sent them home with the message that the locla chapter would be a possible solution to the problems they have finding funding for the renovation of the school building.
the authorities have confirmed that they are investigation the guy, but have not confirmed any action taken (yet).

School is no place to indoctrinate kids with hatred. School teachers are there to teach, not preach political beliefs. One thing making a kid aware of a political belief but bullying them into it is another thing...

On another note the Dutch right wing has collapsed spectecularly. The left were only tipped to win a few seats but thanks to some crafty TV debating are doing a lot better now. Mark Rutte leader of the VVD is suring ahead in polls

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...ns-566732.html

The socialists in France , are we seeing the collapse of the far right at last?Are people coming to their senses?

[Ephilant]

Extremely happy to be able to report that the Supreme Court has overruled the Parliamentarian Immunity Joke and has issued notice that anybody, including Parliamentarians, caught breaking the law, will be subjected to that law, including arrest and imprisonment.

In the notice, the Supreme Court makes specific reference to

Recently, Greece observed the phenomenon of increasing attacks, use of violence and illegal checks on foreign immigrants. These actions concerned the llegal status of those attacked, their residence and their commercial activities and were illegally carried out by organized groups of citizens. Many times members of the Parliament participate in these actions.

The legislature really got enough of Chrysi Avgi when they sued the Minister of Citizen Protection and the Chief of Police for

slander, “perversion of institutions”, and “suppressing legal public actions” with the Supreme Court prosecutor. Among the charges it makes against the minister is that he is harbouring criminals – namely, the unlicensed street vendors targeted by the party.

So, now lets see how many of them will actually get arrested. With their police protection withdrawn, their immunity literally declared null and void, it does not leave them much room to manoeuvre, unless the police turns a blind eye...

[Ephilant]

And this is a reaction to the news on a Greek, English language blog:

Kspencer says:
September 18, 2012 at 6:24 pm

The EU says GD is not fashionable so they must be punished? Golden Dawn is the best thing to happen to Greece in decades. Every greek relative that I speak with is PRO GD. All my greek friends are PRO GD.
Sure. It’s so easy today to call a person or a group, “racist”.
The word has lost its meaning. Here in the states the black and hispanic filth have ruined our country.
If Greece eliminates the GD, there will never be hope and the monkeys will win.
Btw, nothing turns my stomach more than anti GD greek citizens.

Nice.

I hasten to add that the blogger in question does not in any way support this idiocy, but does now and again publish some of these comments, just as a reminder that they are still out there. This, by the way, is one of the milder ones...

[Holly]

Should this thread be renamed The Rise of the Far Right in Greece, I wonder.

[Ephilant]

Should this thread be renamed The Rise of the Far Right in Greece, I wonder.

Unfortunately we do indeed seem to be at the fore-front of this rather unsavoury bit of history in the making. However, I can't really comment on the happenings elsewhere, other than knowing they are unfortunately happening. Others, closer to source, should maybe start writing about their experiences as well, and we would all benefit from at least a glimpse of the larger picture.
The silence of others is not going to be my silence. This is something a little too close to the bone on a personal level, and the more people know about it, the better the chances are to stop it before it gets out of hand, again.