'Why I'm demonstrating in Athens?'

CITIZEN JOURNALISM
By Premesh Chandran

ATHENS, Greece - An 18 year old student explains why the students are protesting against the govt.

"The riots in Athens, Greece ... started on Saturday, after the police shot a 15 year old (in a confrontation between a group of kids and the police). The boy died and the coroner has ruled it as homicide.

Since Saturday there have been daily rioting (burning of cars, buildings and confrontations with police). It's happening about 1km from where we are staying, mainly around the Parliament house, the police headquarters, the Supreme Court. The students are camped out in their university campus, which the police are not allowed to enter. They've been preparing Molotov cocktails during the day and going up against the police in the night.

But apart from the affected areas, life goes on, Streets are busy, people moving around as normal, with the occasional police and ambulance spotted. Yesterday, Roby (from Seapa) and I walked down to the Parliament house where the next 'attack' was planned. Full of riot police, "fire engines" etc, similar to Malaysian FRU. Although we could hear the crowd getting closer, the police seemed relatively calm; I suppose they know the routine."

Premesh Chandran, CEO of Malaysiakini is attending the Global Forum on Media Development, in Athens, Greece.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Athens
• Greece
• Vox pop
• citizen journalism
• premesh
• chandran
• malaysiakini

[harez666]

Power to the people!

[maximilianforte]

A video that has an interview with the protesters? This actually is very unique...the mainstream media only show scenes of action, terrible narration, and interviews with authorities.

[SatounoKumo]

aksioprepestatoi kai oi dyo.kamia fora thn istoria thn aisthanesai xwris na boreis na thn afhghtheis.kai pote na mhn mathei oti egine to 73 , to oti katevhke stus dromus to 10 tha einai katakthsh ths...legit interview mate, cheers ;)

[Chemgreece]

you are their little bitches their slaves they still your money we rise to take them back and you laugh along..laugh little jerk laugh you make them happier the politicians and the capitalist..FOR THOSE WHO ARE MEN AND WORK HONESTLY I AM TELLING RISE WITH US..WORKING PEOPLE UNITE AND BRING THIS SCUMS DOWN

[Chemgreece]

@benjaros2 yeah we should just follow what europeans do like for example UK that hasn't declared a general strike FOR DECATES and the capitalistst and the politician do whatever they want with your brainwashed minds..when they gather to plan their policies they laugh at you for not rising

[Theyallfloatdownhere]

@Cuosht86 Funny you said bank.

[MrBobiras]

Ποιοι να μας πετάξουν έξω από την ΕΕ ρε αρχίδι; Που θα μας πεις και κωμικό έθνος! Μπαστάρδι, εσύ αλλοδαπός είσαι; Γιατί βλέπω στο κανάλι σου έχεις σαν χώρα την Ελλάδα..

[aram831]

reply to "Cousht86"

[aram831]

your stupid. you're sooo caught up in the system. politics have really taken affect in your pathetic suppressed mind in which the government has brain washed. im not saying school is bad, your ideas have good intention; obvious,, but one must take charge for hope will never arise unless 'action' is taken place because our 'hope' that we wish for the economy to improve we never be resolved... just look at the way the U.S. capitalism system is set. i hope you understand and concisely know whatsup

[Cuosht86]

"we're trying to fix the system"??

do you really think things change by burning cars and smashing people's shops? things get better by going to university, getting a degree, than borrowing some money from a bank and opening a company, an activity..

anarchy and criminality doesn't lead anywhere, i'm sorry.

[majortom51970]

Eipa egw "dhmokratia"? Ayto einai mia afhrhmenh ennoia. Exoume koinobouleytikh dhmokratia (parliamentary republic). Dystyxws sta ellhnika den exoume lexh gia to "republic" kai kanoume kataxrhsh tou "dhmokratia" poy den einai politeyma, alla ena idaniko. Ayto dhmiourhei ennoiologikes sygxyseis