A general strike in response to Greece’s rail disaster last month escalated into a clash between protesters and authorities yesterday, according to a report by AP News.
While there were no reports of injuries or arrests, gasoline bombs were thrown at the police cordon.
AP News says riot police responded to the “brief flare” that distributed the peaceful demonstrations with tear gas and sound grenades.
Protests were demonstrated across Greece, with the main protests held in the capital Athens and Thessaloniki where thousands chanted “this crime will not be forgotten” as they reached a police cordon outside a private rail operator.
A spokeswoman for main leftist opposition party Syriza, told private Skai television during the protest, “This government has had four years to fix problems with the rail network, but instead of owning up to that responsibility, they are blaming everyone else”.
Hellenic Train Payments
The train responsible for the deaths of 57 people on Feb 28th, Hellenic Train, announced on Wednesday it will provide advance payments to the victim’s families, including those who passed and are injured.
The company said it would overpay 42,000 euros to the families of the passengers killed and 10,000 euros to the passengers injured and still being treated, while those who have been discharged will get a sum of 5,000 euros.
According to Ekathimerini, Hellenic Trains said the payments, “In no way constitutes an acceptance of liability on the part of the company,” and that the sums given “exceed the minimum obligations foreseen for rail companies by European Reguation 1371/2007 for the rights and obligations of passengers and railway lines.”
Source: AP News and Ekathimerini
