WHY NOT SAY SO LONG THAT THERE HAS BEEN VIOLENCE AGAINST THE MINORITY?

The video to "egerthito" to journalists at the offices of Golden Dawn after the elections went around the internet and aired by TV channels. But a little research on youtube enough to find other video starring members of the ASE In one of them breaking into a dictionary presentation, organized by a minority party, the Rainbow.The tvxs.gr speaks with Paul Voskopoulos, a member of OT for the incident and other attacks that accepted his party and himself personally.

By Catherine Alamanou

* The Rainbow (the OT) is the party that, according to his texts, represent the minority ethnic Macedonians in northern Greece and demands recognition of the Greek state the rights that international law gives every minority. Operates mainly in northern Greece and its headquarters are located in Florina. On October 20, 2005 the ECHRunanimously condemned Greece for violation of Articles 6 (for the duration of criminal proceedings) and 11 (right of association) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The conviction involved the arson of the OT office in Florina, the removal by police of bilingual plaque naming the party and the court case that followed the incident.

Here is the interview:

Have you in the past targeted extreme nationalist elements. When did this story?

He started once appeared any form of expression and minority consciousness activist minority effects, ie from early 1990 onwards.In September 1995, with arson and destruction of the Rainbow office in Florina suspension because of a double name, was the first time the threats were specific actions anymore. After that incident forms are sympathetic to the Golden Dawn publishing speeches about the fact that the police took down the sign and the burning of offices.Furthermore, to add that in Florina become normal by Chrysafgites parades. Displayed their flags, shouting slogans and throwing notices when they write: "Hangman in Skopje", etc.. These began in 1990 but after the incident of 1995 was more common this phenomenon.

Do you think that was involved in the arson of the Athens office of the OT?

The 99% I believe, given the positive reactions after the incident were also some people who were among the assembled beneath the desks. They, therefore, probably came from neighboring towns and was organized in ASE

Give parades before the ASE What exactly do these?

Whether by car or foot march in neighborhoods with Greek flags and flags of the Golden Dawn and usually end up in the Officers' Club at Florina. Stop there and say the national anthem. The tragedy is that parades normally accompanied by the police. In the villages they go with the excuse that they want to lay wreaths at statues of Macedon.

Do you say that parades in villages in order to terrorize the residents?

Yes, I think clearly for this reason they do. In fact the way the military parade march reminiscent. Course and shout slogans and indicating to individuals. For me I've heard the slogan "Voskopoulos will die."

The next extreme reaction to what you remember?

Is 2004 the Congress party in Thessaloniki in 2009 and the presentation of the Greco-MPA dictionary in Athens.

In 2004 what happened?

Initially we tried to do by the Court in Edessa, but failed because of threats to accept the owners of the halls. Edessa became even parade normally did event to celebrate that we are left to make the Congress. Participated LA.OS executives and members of the ASE I remember I was a speaker and Mr. Velopoulos.So we decided to make the Conference in Thessaloniki in the hotel room. Once word came that was to become the Congress began publications on challenges from Skopje to Thessaloniki. When we went in the morning we saw that there is presence of police and riot police and people focused.

Those who were clustered think belonged to any political party?

Was known, LA.OS, stochikoi, Chrysafgites. Definitely wanted to get inside and the police tried to repel them even with tear gas.

For the presentation of the Dictionary in 2009, in which members of the Athens invaded recently projected a TV channel the video. First it was this dictionary?

The dictionary was an initiative of former political refugee, the Vasco Karatzas, who died before he left us as a kind of legacy that the dictionary was written. The publishing house "Zora" in collaboration with the Culture and Housing Makedonikou using the Block proceeded to the Greek version of the dictionary-MPA.

How do you consider the fact that while the Greek media often presents you as a threat to Greece suddenly aired a television channel that was attacked by the ASE?

The wretched is that while there were reports in the days egerthito from all channels, when the incident had been to the dictionary in 2009 was the only reference for 1.5 minutes in the press SKY. Now, after two years went to the video Star, apparently because there was too catchy and so the egerthito Mrs. Stefanidou view it. The other issue is the way they talked about the issue, presented as if the dictionary from Arieanous. They talked for some ellinoslaviko dictionary. Not even told who made the presentation. Did not report the Rainbow, a minority party, he did. In fact I heard that they said that the dictionary subsidized by the Greek state! That is not true.

What was the presentation of the Dictionary?

There were some police officers out when we entered the room even though we had not requested any protection. Sometime while we begin, members of the ASE go inside shouting to go all out, throwing things and swearing. Apparently the police who were out had not gone and saw them enter. When they entered, as shown in the video next to the MP now ATHEX Panayiotaros was another who did move with the helmet that held toward the speaker and kept him Panagiotarea. Well, I am surprised Mr. Evangelatos the interview took from Panagiotarea and Kasidiari to broadcast. They say that there have been violent incidents and when they answered the way that it is not reported to the video with the dictionary. Perhaps it is ideologically close to the Athens? Legitimizes them in this way, embellish their actions. I wonder, does not searched more before the documents on the internet? Many journalists work in full consistency with extremists on minority issues, especially as regards the Macedonians minority in Greece. From some one actually applaud the way they operate Chrysafgites on minority issues and another part that does not know. It is measured toes journalists who meet the minimum of journalistic ethics and human rights activists. This is also the history of egerthito. Why not say so long that there has been violence against the minority? Avoid the devil as the incense. For them we Skopjans or agents or nonexistent.

Do you accept personal attack?

In late 1990 he was attacked on a main road in Florina I spent an afternoon coffee. Three people were thrown to me and said "from this path will not pass." I had to leave behind. One grabbed by the collar and hit me in the face and spat on the other. This is a former general secretary LA.OS in Florina and the other is Mr. Rosa, a former deputy mayor, who participates in parades of CA, is the one who spit. Filed a complaint against them and they have been vindicated as a document from the hospital where I went after the beating. The prosecutor suggested acquitted because it was supposed political tensions but there was a medical report and the judge sentenced them. -

Also read: An evening with "Rainbow"
  http://www.iospress.gr/mikro1997/mikro19970517.htm