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Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

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Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby Tim Drayton » Sun May 07, 2017 8:08 am

Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Panayiotis Kleovoulou, a Limassol-based lawyer, and Antonis Pieridis, also from Limassol, both associated with far-right political movements, were arrested on Saturday in connection with an attack by some 20 black-clad and hooded men against a gathering of left-wing organisations at Limassol’s technical university the previous night.

Early on Saturday, warrants for the arrest of Kleovoulou, 57, and Pieridis, 52, who were identified by eye-witnesses as they had no hoods on, were secured by police.

Both men openly subscribe to far-right politics and have run for office on nationalist platforms – Kleovoulou for MEP with Elam in 2014 and Pieridis for MP in 2011 with Edik, a far-right movement that has since disbanded.

Speaking to MegaOne TV channel’s online news portal TVOneNews on Saturday, Klevoulou said that he had been at the event but had nothing to do with any violence.

He said he didn’t know who the hooded men were, and claimed that a group of anarchists attacked first.

The 20-strong group carried wooden clubs and threw stones at the event’s attendees, slightly injuring four.

Eye-witness reports suggest that after the thugs dispersed following the arrival of the police, Kleovoulou stayed behind and continued to harass the attendees.
Around 100 people were attending the event, organised by the group We Want a Federation, which focused on the Left’s role in reunification and partition.

In a statement, left-wing activist group Granazi, one of the Tepak event’s organisers, said police had been informed of the event but took no precautionary measures.

Earlier, police had denied being informed of the planned event ahead of time.

“We called the Limassol police ourselves on Thursday morning and informed them of the event, and they assured us police would be present as early as 6:30pm,” a spokesperson for Granazi told the Sunday Mail.

“But the attack started at 6:50 and police did not show up until after it was over.”

In the statement, Granazi also attacked Justice minister Ionas Nicolaou, who has variously been accused of taking no or little action to curb incidents involving far-right organisations or people.

Granazi also released a short mobile-phone video taken during the attack.

In it, black-clad, hooded, and club-wielding men try to enter the venue while shouting expletives at attendees.

Also at the receiving end of criticism for not doing enough to address such incidents was President Nicos Anastasiades, who condemned the violence and called for investigation into the Tepak incident.

“Peace in our country requires dialogue,” he tweeted on Saturday.

“I condemn violence and attacks by hooded men. I ask for the speedy investigation of the Tepak affair.”

Political parties also condemned the incident, with Akel organising an anti-fascist protest on Saturday night “as a first step”.

“This is yet another incident involving an attack by fascists over the Cyprus problem, which should alarm every reasonable citizen in this country,” the party said.

“We call on the government to react and stop looking the other way. Experience has proven that hesitation and ambivalence in addressing fascism, nationalism, and the far-right, lead to big problems and tragedies, from which our people are still suffering.”

In a statement, Diko also condemned the attack, saying such incidents “hurt democracy and the freedom of expression”.

“We call on society to isolate these elements, and the state to act appropriately to bring those responsible to justice,” the party said.

Socialist Edek said such incidents “create unnecessary tension and division”.

“These actions may provide those who want no change in our strategy with arguments,” the party said.

The Green party also condemned the incident, saying they had been victims to similar attacks in the past.


http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/05/06/far-r ... pak-event/
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Re: Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby supporttheunderdog » Mon May 08, 2017 11:20 am

A shocking state of affairs and not the first time this has happened. I recall Kuru confessed to taking part in that. Thug!

The last time the Police Chief got sacked for alleged mishandling. If the allegations about police response (or lack thereof) here are true, perhaps a few more heads should roll.

I hope the police can find out who the hooded thugs were.

I saw BTW that ELAM's Limassol Premises got trashed, which I also condemn. Not that I support those thugish Feltchers of the Golden Dawn Bum boys, but that I deplore all political violence. I hope the police catch the perps of this too.

There are however comments elsewhere that only a window was broken and a few chairs overturned, and left wind violence is not a major phenomenon, and questions are being asked about exactly who did it... As said I hope the police catch the people who did it....
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Re: Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby Tim Drayton » Mon May 08, 2017 11:55 am

To go off on a slight tangent, I was talking to somebody a couple of days ago whose work brings them into close contact with the police, and he says that the police in Cyprus are absolutely overwhelmed nowadays. So, do not expect too much of them.
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Re: Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby supporttheunderdog » Mon May 08, 2017 12:35 pm

Despite the Lallas' of this world - I met him socially several times, was at his wedding (and funeral) - I suspect that many if not most of the police are conscientious in how they do things but with the changes in Cyprus over that last few years are not able to keep up. I do not think it helps that for many years there has been general low level disregard for the law, evidenced by bad parking on pavements, double yellows, jumping red-lights, etc, no helmets on motocyclists, underage kids on motorbikes, and (for traffic offences) an outdated system of service and enforcement of penalties, and this may have crept up a bit.

Now I think we are seeing more frequent and more serious crimes but I doubt the police establishment has changed to keep up. The last time I was in an office in the central police station it looked very shabby, if not overcrowded which I do not think helps.
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Re: Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby Tim Drayton » Mon May 08, 2017 12:50 pm

Burglaries are now endemic in our area. If you are not aware of this, you should be. (On a tangent again, I know.)
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Re: Condemnation of right-wing attack on Tepak event

Postby supporttheunderdog » Mon May 08, 2017 3:09 pm

The "burglars" we get are various local moggies coming in to steal food.

I will however let the wife know to tighten up on security.... not that we have much worth nicking....
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