Taking a Stand Police Rise with their People #OccupyPolice
Taking a Stand Greek Police Rise with their People#OccupyPolice
ATHENS | Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:10am EST
Article Via (Reuters) – Greece’s largest police union has threatened to issue arrest warrants for officials from the country’s European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders for demanding deeply unpopular austerity measures.
In a letter obtained by Reuters Friday, the Federation of Greek Police accused the officials of “…blackmail, covertly abolishing or eroding democracy and national sovereignty” and said one target of its warrants would be the IMF’s top official for Greece, Poul Thomsen.
The threat is largely symbolic since legal experts say a judge must first authorize such warrants, but it shows the depth of anger against foreign lenders who have demanded drastic wage and pension cuts in exchange for funds to keep Greece afloat.
“Since you are continuing this destructive policy, we warn you that you cannot make us fight against our brothers. We refuse to stand against our parents, our brothers, our children or any citizen who protests and demands a change of policy,” said the union, which represents more than two-thirds of Greek policemen.
“We warn you that as legal representatives of Greek policemen, we will issue arrest warrants for a series of legal violations … such as blackmail, covertly abolishing or eroding democracy and national sovereignty.”
The letter was also addressed to the European Central Bank’s mission chief in Greece, Klaus Masuch, and the former European Commission chief inspector for Greece, Servaas Deroose.
Policemen have borne the brunt of the anger of massed protesters who frequently march to parliament and clash with police in riot gear. Chants of “Cops, pigs, murderers!” are regularly hurled at policemen or scribbled on walls.
Thousands turned out Friday for the latest protest in Athens, this time against new austerity measures that include a 22 percent cut in the minimum wage.
A police union official said the threat to ‘refuse to stand against’ fellow Greeks was a symbolic expression of solidarity and did not mean police would halt their efforts to stop protests getting out of hand.
If they enforced bank regulations like they do park rules, we wouldn't be in this mess
Quote:“Since you are continuing this destructive policy, we warn you that you cannot make us fight against our brothers. We refuse to stand against our parents, our brothers, our children or any citizen who protests and demands a change of policy,” said the union, which represents more than two-thirds of Greek policemen.
“We warn you that as legal representatives of Greek policemen, we will issue arrest warrants for a series of legal violations … such as blackmail, covertly abolishing or eroding democracy and national sovereignty.”
I hope I am alive the day our Police issue the same kind of statement.
I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
Quoting UpSheRises:I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
Most likely because they heard on the news that the movement is people with no jobs, who never shower, and are just criminals.
Then they end up thinking the best path forward is getting rid of them.
If they enforced bank regulations like they do park rules, we wouldn't be in this mess
Quoting UpSheRises:I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
If socialism isn't working there (or anywhere else for that matter), what makes democrats so sure it will work here? What's going on in Greece is a result of the country having more takers than contributors, and deciding to cut back on what the government provides and putting it on the individual.
Quoting MoonlightDancer:
Quoting UpSheRises:I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
If socialism isn't working there (or anywhere else for that matter), what makes democrats so sure it will work here? What's going on in Greece is a result of the country having more takers than contributors, and deciding to cut back on what the government provides and putting it on the individual.
Who is asking for Socialism?
Or are you referring to our school, police, and firefighters etc.?
I am pretty sure Democrats are not trying to change our current Republic system. But either way. I applaud their Police force for standing up with the people.
If they enforced bank regulations like they do park rules, we wouldn't be in this mess
Greece has no money. Things have to be cut period. You cannot indefinitely support a country when a large percentage isn't contributing to the government's coffers.
Quoting MoonlightDancer:
Quoting UpSheRises:
I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
If socialism isn't working there (or anywhere else for that matter), what makes democrats so sure it will work here? What's going on in Greece is a result of the country having more takers than contributors, and deciding to cut back on what the government provides and putting it on the individual.
Democrats aren't proposing socialism so i'm not sure what your'e talking about.
Quoting MoonlightDancer:
Quoting UpSheRises:
I'm sad for Greece. I wonder, if austerity measures aren't helping at all there, why are republicans so sure they'll help things here?
If socialism isn't working there (or anywhere else for that matter), what makes democrats so sure it will work here? What's going on in Greece is a result of the country having more takers than contributors, and deciding to cut back on what the government provides and putting it on the individual.
Greece isn't socialist...for the last 10 year they've been ruled by an extremely conservative party and even when the socialist party took power it continued to cut social programs just like it's predecessors.
Their industries are privately owned and they have one of the lowest minimum wages in all of Europe. They didn't go broke because of social programs, they went broke because nobody paid their taxes. Read a newspaper for crying out loud...you find all kinds of relevant information.
The US should be looking at Greece as a learning experience so we don't end up in the same shoes....
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