A large protest rally against the deadly train collision that cost the lives of 57 people at Tempi, central Greece, concluded at the headquarters of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) in the Metaxourgio neighborhood of central Athens on Sunday afternoon.
The collision of a passenger train going north to Thessaloniki with a freight train coming south on the same line on February 28 killed 57 people, many of them college students, and injured dozens of others.
Participants in the rally called for an in-depth investigation in the collision, saying that all those who were responsible for the accident from negligence should be brought to justice. “This crime will not be forgotten” was a common rallying point among the participants. Protesters also called for safer public transportation and for an end to privatization that puts profits over lives.
The rally had been called by union federations in Greece and included several sectors, from civil administration to private entities, doctors at public hospitals, schools of all levels, archaeologists, train employees, and members of Athens and Piraeus’ labor centers.
Participants were called to participate in the 24-hour strike called on Thursday (March 16) called by private-sector GSEE federation and public-sector ADEDY, including a rally scheduled in Athens at 12:00 noon the same day.
Similar protests were held on Sunday in several Greek cities including Thessaloniki and Lamia on the mainland, and Iraklio and Chania on Crete.
Incidents
Four people were rounded up for questioning by Greek police on Sunday afternoon.
Hellenic Police said that in another case, limited incidents broke out around 14:00 on Sunday at Karaiskaki Square in Metaxourgio, at the end of the rally, when a group of people damaged a bank branch. They then threw rocks and other objects at police, who responded with teargas.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA