THESSALONIKI: UNIVERSITIES BLAME GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000050

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: UNIVERSITIES BLAME GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL
PARTIES FOR VIOLENT STUDENT PROTESTS

REF: ATHENS 778


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 6, the heads of Greece's
universities called for the creation of an "Education Committee"
comprising representatives of all political parties, following
violent student protests at Thessaloniki's two largest
universities. Political leaders have condemned the incident,
but disagree on who is responsible and what should be done to
prevent a re-occurrence. University administrators fault the
government and political parties for provoking incidents in
which protesters roughed up the Rector of Aristotle University
and two University guards and forcibly detained the University
of Macedonia Rector and members of the Deans' Council in a
campus conference room for eight hours. The violent incidents
have at least temporarily turned public opinion against the
protesters, but prospects for controversial government-proposed
university reforms such as recognition of degrees from private,
non-profit universities remain dim. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) On June 6, the Rectors of Greece's universities
reacted to violent student protests at Thessaloniki's two
largest universities by calling for the creation of an
"Education Committee" composed of representatives of all
political parties. The proposal reflected statements by
Thessaloniki university administrators that the GoG and all
political parties shared responsibility for provoking student
anger. Political leaders condemned the incidents and blamed each
other for being the instigators, without proposing remedies.
One department head faulted the GoG for inadequate prior
consultation with students on reforms. (Note: the Parliament
passed a law in March that altered student voting rights in
elections of rectors and required universities to submit a
four-year plan and annual reports to parliament. In late May,
the government failed to muster the required majority in
Parliament to amend the constitution to allow recognition of
private non-profit universities - reftel. End note).


3. (SBU) On May 29, a group of students forced their way into
the Deans' Council meeting at Aristotle University in
Thessaloniki (Greece's largest university) to protest education
reforms. The protesters physically assaulted the head of the
University, Rector Anastasios Manthos, who was hospitalized with
a mild concussion. On May 31, protesters attacked two security
guards at Aristotle University, sending them to the hospital
with multiple injuries. A previously unknown anarchist group
calling itself "Anarchists Against General Security" claimed
responsibility. The group said the victims were "an extension
of the police" and therefore in violation of the so-called
"asylum" law prohibiting police from entering universities.
Rector Manthos told us from his hospital bed May 30 he believed
the incident would backfire against the protesters and reforms
would continue.


4. (SBU) University officials accused the police of failing to
aid the Aristotle University guards despite repeated phone calls
for help. Media reported that police refused to enter the
campus without a warrant from a prosecutor, but a senior police
official told post that the university had not called for help.
Thessaloniki Prosecutor Floridis suggested publicly that both
the police and university officials shared in the blame. He
noted that he had issued a blanket authorization to the police
in November 2006 to intervene on campus in response to such
crimes, and that the university should issue a similar general
authorization (rather than reacting on a case by case basis).


5. (U) On June 4, a group of 50 students physically prevented
the Rector and members of the Deans' Council of the University
of Macedonia (Thessaloniki's second largest university) from
exiting the conference room in which the Council had just
approved the school's four-year financial plan (required by the
latest reform law). The students demanded that the Deans revoke
their decision and hand over the minutes of the meeting. The
Deans resisted but suffered the indignity (and discomfort) of
being forcibly confined to the conference room for eight hours
by protesters.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Almost all Greeks agree the students and
anarchists in Thessaloniki went too far in beating up a
well-respected rector and two unarmed campus guards, but there
has been little discussion of how to prevent a recurrence, e.g.
by amending or clarifying the "asylum" law that restricts police

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from entering campus. In the absence of such measures, a small
group of politically active students continues to wield
inordinate influence over the reform process and any
negotiation, and appears to be able to dictate terms for the
functioning of Greece's public universities. The proposed
"Education Committee" is unlikely to resolve the deep hostility
between students, administrators and the government. Tensions
may flare again later this month during elections of department
chairs. Embassy Athens and CG Thessaloniki will continue to
urge the GoG to stay the course towards long overdue educational
reforms, including finding means to allow the recognition of
private non-profit universities such as the American College of
Greece, and the American College of Thessaloniki. END COMMENT
YEE