THESSALONIKI: ANNUAL NOVEMBER 17 DEMONSTRATION CONTINUES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000083

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/ICI/PII, DS/OP/EUR, EUR/SE, EUR/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: ANNUAL NOVEMBER 17 DEMONSTRATION CONTINUES
PEACEFUL TREND AS AUTHORITIES STAND UP TO ANARCHISTS

REF: THESSALONIKI 64


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of
the Polytechnic students' uprising against the military junta in
Greece, two peaceful demonstrations took place in downtown
Thessaloniki on Monday November 17, 2008. The absence of
serious violence continues a trend in recent years of more
robust police presence and willingness of university officials
to confront self-styled anarchists who exploit the campus'
traditional "asylum" status. A senior university administrator
told post that anarchist groups are toning down violence in
order to preserve their once-unchallenged access to the campus,
where they can avoid police and carry out a range of illegal
activities. There were no injuries and no arrests. END SUMMARY

LOCAL AUTHORITIES COOPERATE TO DISCOURAGE VIOLENCE


2. (U) At 17:00 on November 17, approximately 8,000
demonstrators in two groups, including members of the (PAME)
Labor Union, Communist party (KKE),Left wing parties, Reformed
communists (SYN),students, teachers and a group of the
"anti-dominant movement" gathered in front of the Polytechnic
School at the Aristotle University campus and marched with
banners through the city's main streets. The two groups passed
by the Consulate about 30 minutes apart (18:30 and 19:00 hours.)
Each remained for about 10 minutes shouting anti-American
slogans (e.g. "Americans, Killers of the People;" "The greatest
hide-out for terrorists is the American Embassy;" "Polytechnic
is Alive, Keep Americans Out;" "Imperialism is the enemy;"
"They've killed Lambraki-Bologianni Killers of the People
Americans"). Both groups departed peacefully and returned to
the university campus from where they dispersed without causing
any serious problems.


3. (U) The Consulate closed at 15:00 as a precaution and there
were no incidents outside the Consulate building. The police
were well prepared and protected the Consulate building
effectively. Three police divisions were deployed around the
building and two police buses with a fire brigade closed off the
street in back of the Consulate. The main entrance of the
building was closed by a large roll down metal gate. Local TV
crews covered the event. Police reported that there were no
arrests and no injuries during the demonstrations. (Note:
During the 2007 November 17 demonstrations there were some 5000
demonstrators, one arrest, no injuries. End note) Smaller
peaceful demonstrations took place in many Northern Greece
cities.


4. (U) Unlike in past years, demonstrators refrained (for the
second consecutive year) from breaking store windows, throwing
Molotov cocktails and clashing with police. Post contacts
attribute the decline in violence to an increasingly robust
police presence and the willingness of prosecutors and Aristotle
University officials to challenge self-styled anarchists who
exploit the campus "asylum" status. In the past, anarchists
often threw Molotov cocktails at police, then hid on campus,
which has traditionally been off-limits to police. Recently,
prosecutors have declared that such violence is a felony and
therefore justifies hot pursuit by police on campus. University
officials, who have traditionally resisted police entry on
campus under any circumstances, have in the past two years
openly accepted the right of police to enter the campus in
pursuit of violent anarchists.

ANARCHISTS POLICING THEMSELVES TO PROTECT CAMPUS ASYLUM?


5. (SBU) A senior University official told us on November 18
that so-called anarchists have taken note of the hardened stance
of local authorities and begun to restrain themselves in order
not to invite a more general police crackdown on their
activities. According to the official, the anarchists have for
many years sold narcotics and pursued a range of other illegal
crimes on campus, without fear of police intervention. He
claimed that during this year's November 17 demonstrations, one
group of anarchists stopped another, smaller group of anarchists
from throwing Molotov cocktails on the edge of the University so
as not to provoke police into entering their campus
"safe-haven."


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The second consecutive year of generally
peaceful demonstrations to mark the anniversary of November 17
reflects continued progress by local authorities against violent
anarchists. Good police preparation and cooperation between the
police, the District Attorney's office and University officials
contributed to the peaceful outcome. Reports that anarchists
may be restraining themselves, albeit for the wrong reasons, are
also encouraging (if true). A recent spate of arson attacks and

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other acts of vandalism against ATMs, banks, party offices and
other public facilities in Thessaloniki unconnected to the
November 17 demonstrations underscores, however, that police
have more work ahead. END COMMENT
YEE