DEMONSTRATIONS DIMINISH IN THESSALONIKI

UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000090 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC GR SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATIONS DIMINISH IN THESSALONIKI REF: ATHENS 1656, ATHENS 1649, ATHENS 1643, THESSALONIKI 0085 ¶1. SUMMARY: Demonstrations continued to diminish during the weekend of December 20 and 21 in Thessaloniki with only minor incidents and no violence. No additional demonstrations are scheduled until January 7, 2009 when a general demonstration of teachers and students is planned. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On Saturday, December 20, a small group of anti-government demonstrators took over the Olympion Theater complex in Aristotle Square in the heart of Thessaloniki. The Olympion hosts Thessaloniki's annual international film festival. The group occupied the premises for about six hours and replaced two scheduled movie showings with their own film selections. Police took no action and the group caused no damage. They left late on Saturday evening. Nearby the Olympion, a small group of protestors threw food at Thessaloniki Mayor Papageoropoulos who was in Aristotle Square participating in an event for handicapped children. ¶3. Several other "occupations" took place during the weekend. On Saturday, four different radio station studios were taken over for brief periods of time by small groups of anti-government demonstrators. Radio stations Zoo, Star FM, Ellinikos and Plus were all occupied briefly without violence or damage. On Sunday, a church in the Ano Poli section of Thessaloniki was taken over by a group who forced the priest and parishioners to leave and then held meetings at the church for more than two hours after which they left without causing any damage. ¶4. Police have told post that no additional demonstrations are planned until January 7, 2009 when teachers and students plan a general rally in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki police have consistently and effectively communicated with post about planned and unplanned rallies during the recent incidents. YEE