EDUCATION BILL PASSES AMID VIOLENT PROTESTS

UNCLAS ATHENS 000534

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR
SUBJECT: EDUCATION BILL PASSES AMID VIOLENT PROTESTS



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The education bill passed by the Greek
parliament on March 8 is far from the sweeping constitutional
reform the Karamanlis government once sought. Rather than
providing for a systematic overhaul, it tinkers with the
existing state-funded university system. The bill makes no
provision for private educational institutions, which is the
domain of the separate Article XVI debate. The law provoked
violent protests, and more demonstrations are scheduled
today. Nevertheless, with the bill now law, the Karamanlis
government is determined to hold firm -- and there is no sign
that the protests have lessened Karamanlis' electoral lead
over opposition PASOK. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On March 8, with protesters literally outside the
Parliament, the Karamanlis government ratified a
controversial education bill by a vote of 164 to 117. The
bill, which attempts to reconcile diverse views on higher
education, is an effort to bring order to the traditionally
messy administration of universities. Its provisions include:

-- fixed semester length of 13 weeks (including any closure
for strikes and demonstrations);
-- merit-based promotion of teaching staff;
-- limitations on the length of time students would be
allowed to extend their course of study (to eliminate
"permanent" students from the rosters);
-- mandatory drafting of University by-laws;
-- obligatory financial and development plans to be issued
by universities every 4 years, for state review in order to
obtain government subsidies;
-- election of university rectors by universal student
suffrage.


3. (SBU) Unlike the government's earlier parliamentary effort
to amend the Constitution -- which would have introduced
non-state controlled, not-for-profit private education in
Greece -- this bill is limited to refining the existing
system. It touches only obliquely on one of the most
controversial issues: university "asylum." The new law will
allow for "asylum" to be lifted by a majority vote of the
university's Academic Council, in the presence of a public
prosecutor -- placing a cumbersome burden on authorities
seeking access.


4. (SBU) While far from radical, these measures, like earlier
debate over changing the constitution, provoked the worst day
of public violence in weeks of student demonstrations.
Hooded anarchists armed with fire bombs, planks, stones, and
steel balls attached themselves to the student protest rally,
surprising anti-riot police. For the first time, they also
moved against the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (just in front
of Parliament),painting insults on a Presidential Guard
shack, setting it ablaze, and forcing the honor guard to
retreat (which they had reportedly never done before,
including during the Axis occupation of Greece). Police
released tear gas, rounded up some forty individuals, and
arrested 11. Student organizers and academic staff
representatives denounced the police for allegedly
"indiscriminately attacking" their "peaceful" protest, and
demanded the resignation of the Minister of Public Order,
Vyron Polydoras.


5. (SBU) While the violent protests against the education
bill made headlines, a few peaceful protests specifically
targeted educational institutions with American affiliations,
which were not the subject of the legislation. Between 50
and 100 protesters organized by the communist party, KKE,
arrived at the campuses of each of the Hellenic-American
University, New York College, and Deree College. By all
reports the protests were conscientiously peaceful.
Protesters hung banners with language denouncing private
education, blocked entrance to the buildings, and voluntarily
disengaged before noon in order to join the larger
demonstration against the education bill.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: With five student demonstrations scheduled
for today, there is no sign that students and faculty are
prepared to accept the law as a fait accompli. The
Karamanlis government, however, appears equally determined to
hold out. There is still no indication that the protests are
significantly affecting New Democracy's electoral prospects.
Many Greeks recognize that educational reform is essential,
and are fed up with demonstrations that restrict access to
the city center two days a week. But if demonstrations
remain violent (or escalate),Karamanlis may well feel the
electoral impact.
COUNTRYMAN