From: "Tony Taylor" <tmtaylor-AT-grecian.net>
Subject: AUT: Anti War Demo, Chania, Crete
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 17:12:19 +0200


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


Dear All

Upwards of 2,500 people attended the rally and march held in the old town of
Xania [population around 60'000], which is situated in North-West Crete. The
gathering was popular and pluralist - according to opinion polls over 90% of
Greeks are opposed to Bush's proposed blood-bath. The town centre was
virtually closed down with some shops closing in solidarity for the day.

 The Greek Orthodox  Church was conspicuous by its presence with the
benevolently-faced Bishop of Xania speaking fom the platform. To his credit
he was brief and to the point. Indeed, apart from the irritation of being
blessed by him, I was no more fed up with him [allowing for my limited
greek] than many of those, who succeeded him, with their sadistic desire to
repeat at length more or less what the previous speaker has spewed forth. In
common with protest across the globe the march was made up of all manner of
folks from schools, community associations, trade unions and political
groupings, although interestingly nobody walked under the banner of either
of the 2 main political parties, PASOK [ Greek New Labour] or Nea Democratia
[Conservative Right]. Many individuals and families seemed to be there
'under their own steam'. This said, many followed the banners of what seem
to be the 2 major organising influences, either a Neighbourhood Forum
[predominantly PASOK?] or Thessaloniki 2003, which, to my eyes, seemed to be
a classic Stalinist front. With regard to the latter, whilst the Greek
Communist Party [KKE] has dwindled in importance compared to even 10 years
ago, it is able, especially with PASOK's shift to the Centre, to take up the
role of the state socialist party, its re-nationalisation programme spiced
with anti-imperialist and, in particular anti-American rhetoric. I fell in
line with a contingent of anarchists behind a banner, which roughly
translated meant 'The real enemy are our bosses at home and abroad'. The
demonstration was obviously good-natured and without real tension. There was
no opposition and the couple of police cars merely controlled the traffic.

Yet, in the case of Xania, this concensus might be broken dramatically.
Yesterday this possibility was to be gauged by the warm reception given to
those speakers, who invoked the slogan, 'Close The Base' and in the
circulation of a leaflet, supported by more than just the anarchists,
proposing a date for direct action. Xania is situated a few kilometres from
the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean and Souda bay, as it is
called, hosts on the one side the town's port and on the other a large NATO
base.  Its presence is a festering sore for many locals, despite its
contribution to the domestic economy. Dependent on the unfolding of events,
the issue of the base and its use by the USA in supporting military action
could push resistance and protest on to a new level. Souda could become the
focus for resistance by the forces of the anti-war movement far beyond even
Crete itself.

My thoughts should be treated with caution. I am not grounded sufficiently
in the social and political relations of this area, but I'll keep trying to
get a better grip on things. If there are any Greek/Mediterranean comrades
on any of the lists, their criticisms would be very welcome.

Yia sas

Tony Taylor


	name="winmail.dat"
	filename="winmail.dat"
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     --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---