Environment

Athens residents clash with riot police over park

by Teacher Dude | January 28, 2009 at 02:36 am

252 views | 26 Recommendations | 4 comments

The move to bulldoze one of the last remaining parks in the Kypseli district of central Athens sparked off clashes between local residents and Greek riot police. Yesterday's decision by Athens mayor, Nikitis Kaklamanis to order the cutting down of 45 trees to start work on the construction of a car park led to day long confrontations and the use of flash grenades and tear gas by the authorities (see here for video from the tvxs.gr independent news agency).

The sudden start of construction was, according to Greek media sources designed to forstall any possible injunction by Athens courts over the controversial project. Despite having less green spaces than any other European capital the city of Athens sent in contractors to start clearing the area despite questions over the legality of the work . As a result the forestry commision of the Attiki district, which includes the Greek capital yesterday sued the city of Athens over the destruction of the park.

Athens mayor, Nikitis Kaklamnais, speaking to Skai TV station claimed that only three trees had been cut down and that the other 40 were being transplanted. However, eye witness accounts and pictures taking by local residents seems to cast doubt on the mayor's claims.

Yesterday evening protesters planted 45 sapling to replace the pine trees cut down during the day. Work resumed early this morning however, stopped after two hours amidst protests. Unconfirmed reports talk of the presence of members of Greece's ultra-right Chrysi Aygi party taking part in clashes with protesters early this morning, resulting in three residents including local council member, Kostas Lagos pressing charges after being assaulted.

Local residents have vowed to guard the site and prevent building work from continuing.

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Paschen

at 04:14 on January 28th, 2009

Good reporting Teacher Dude. I think it may be a good idea to link all your post covering this ongoing issue, since do not know that you have been following this for some time now. Since the beginning.

Amy Judd

at 09:54 on January 28th, 2009

Good for them - this is great.

Do you think it will make any difference?

harringtola

at 10:34 on January 28th, 2009

Amazing in this environmentally conscious global community. Does the EU not have directives on such destruction or trade offs?

Giorgos

at 22:42 on January 28th, 2009

I can appreciate the need for green and oxygen in this city, and I am all for it -like everyone else living here I suppose!-. However, I can also appreciate the arguement from the other side. Cars and parking places are very very limited in Athens and particularly in this specific area. (A local resident could drive around those blocks looking for a place to park for 10-20 minutes each time on average). One can easily see the polution effect from this...let alone nerves and patience....A three or four story underground parking place would resolve lots of issues in this part of the city. Now, if the authorities could combine the two, that is building the car park and then cover it with soil and plant trees or other green on top of it, we would have all parties satisfied. I do not know if and how this is feasible, but....it could be a start.