Anarchism in Greece

 Protests marking killing of police teenager draw thousands across Greece

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is on Monday to meet the parents of Nikos Romanos, the convicted bank robber and anarchist who has been on hunger strike for more than three weeks in protest at the authorities’ refusal to grant him leave from prison to attend Athens Technical College.

Thousands of protesters are gathering in central Athens to mark the sixth anniversary of the fatal police shooting of an unarmed teenager in the Greek capital that led to widespread rioting, while clashes have broken out between demonstrators and police in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Amid growing tension over the ongoing hunger strike by anarchist and convicted bank robber Nikos Romanos, a demonstration Saturday marking the sixth anniversary of the fatal police shooting of teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos in central Athens was expected to be held under a heavy police presence.

An Athens court has turned down a request by anarchist and convicted bank robber Nikos Romanos for a furlough to study at a technical college.

Romanos, 21, has been on hunger strike since November 10 after authorities rejected his application for an educational leave since he passed a university entry exam earlier this year. He is currently hospitalized at an Athens clinic.

Twelve people were arrested and 31 briefly detained late Tuesday after a protest march in support of anarchist and convicted robber Nikos Romanos, in central Athens, erupted into violence, police said.

Education Minister Andreas Loverdos has declared himself in favor of prisoners being allowed to study as anarchist and convicted bank robber Nikos Romanos enters a fourth week of hunger strike in protest at being prevented from being granted leave to study at a technical college.

Greeks commemorated on November 17 the 41st anniversary of the 1973 Athens Polytechnic Uprising with demonstrations in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and most major cities.

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The Greek Police said on Friday that they have ordered an urgent investigation into reports that police officers injured a photojournalist during clashes in central Athens on Thursday that broke out amid rising tension ahead of the November 17 anniversary of a student uprising repressed by the military.

Students and police forces clashed on Thursday evening following demonstrations against the decision to close down all higher educational institutions in the Greek capital.

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