THESSALONIKI: DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE WITH DIMINISHING

UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000086 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC GR SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE WITH DIMINISHING VIOLENCE REF: A. ATHENS 1656; B. ATHENS 1649; C. ATHENS 1643; D. THESSALONIKI 0085 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Anti-police, anti-government demonstrations continued in Thessaloniki the weekend beginning on Friday evening, December 12 and including the following Saturday and Sunday, but with only minor violence and damage. Aristotle University, which was seriously damaged by last week's riots, remains partially occupied by students. University of Macedonia expects anarchists to try to occupy the campus December 16. Two protests have been announced for December 16. Thessaloniki police are optimistic the demonstrations will end soon. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Demonstrations triggered by the December 6 police shooting of a 15-year old boy in Athens (refs) continued in Thessaloniki through December 14, though with decreasing numbers and violence. On the evening of Friday, December 12, about 1,000 demonstrators including anarchists, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Left) Party members and extreme leftists gathered at Kamara, the traditional starting place for marches in Thessaloniki and began a long march through the downtown area and western Thessaloniki. Violence was limited during the march with some minor arson and other damage, including to New Democracy and LAOS Party offices. ¶3. (U) On the afternoon of Saturday December 13, about 500 anarchists, SYRIZA members and students marched for almost three hours through downtown Thessaloniki, chanting anti-police and anti-government slogans. During the course of their march they vandalized the National Bank, the Metropolis Church (Thessaloniki's cathedral) and other property. The same evening, a small group of 30 anarchists damaged a professional sports arena before retreating to the nearby Aristotle University campus. Early Sunday morning, there were arson attacks against two Communist Party (KKE) offices, in the downtown and Old Town areas of Thessaloniki. Both offices suffered only minor damage. The same afternoon, about 100 students and anarchists participated in a peaceful "moto-protest" by riding motorcycles and bicycles through the city center. ¶4. (SBU) Two additional demonstrations have been announced for Tuesday, December 16, one at 10:00 and one at 12:00, both involving students, anarchists and left wing parties. The rector of the University of Macedonia told post December 15 he has received information that anarchists will attempt to "take over" the University on December 16. Until now the University has been relatively untouched by demonstrators, unlike nearby Aristotle University, where the law school, polytechnic school and several other departments were heavily damaged. Several buildings at Aristotle University are currently occupied by students protesting alleged police brutality and education reform. ¶5. (SBU) A senior police commander told us December 12 he believed violent demonstrations in Thessaloniki would end soon, as the protesters were running out of steam and the holidays approaching. He also reaffirmed the police would provide the Consulate all necessary additional security in the event of continued demonstrations. YEE