Greek PM promises to fight politically motivated violence
Greek Prime Minister Antoinis Samaras made a television appearance Tuesday in which he announced that the Greek Government will fight tirelessly against political violence and will not permit violent crimes to influence the country’s democratic order. Agence France-Presse reports that his remarks were made in response to the September murder of a human rights activist and singer by right-wing extremists and the subsequent murder of two members of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn last Friday in Athens.
"Under no circumstances will we permit violence to undermine democracy," Samaras said. He called on Greek citizens to remain united at a time when the country has not yet emerged from a serious economic crisis.
A group of 20-25 neo-Nazis and sympathizers of Golden Dawn assaulted hip-hop singer Pavlos Fisas and three of his friends on 18 September. The artist, who had participated in organizing concerts against Fascism and neo-Nazism, succumbed to the stab wounds inflicted upon him by one of the attackers.
Police want to prosecute the neo-Nazis involved, including Golden Dawn functionaries. Parliament has cancelled state financing of the party and stripped some of its MPs of immunity, and Greek authorities charged six Golden Dawn MPs with "criminal conspiracy" several weeks ago.
Last Friday another assault was perpetrated against three members of the ultra-right. Unidentified men on a motorcycle attacked them on the street, killing two of the right-wing extremists and seriously injuring a third.
Police say the crime was well-planned and that have not yet managed to determine anything essential about the perpetrators. No one has taken responsibility for the crime, but the Greek media have begun speculating that the ultra-left might be behind the assault.
It is possible that Friday’s attack could have been revenge for the murder of Fisas by a Golden Dawn supporter. According to many commentators, there is a risk that violence in Greece could continue to escalate.
