Greek police send crime victims to neo-Nazi 'protectors'

Guardian (UK) ^ | Friday 28 September 2012 14.32 | Helena Smith in Athens

[DeaconBenjamin]

Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party increasingly assumes the role of law enforcement on the streets of the bankrupt country, with mounting evidence that police direct Athenians to seek help from the neo-Nazi group.

A growing number of Greek crime victims have come to see the party, whose symbol bears an uncanny resemblance to the swastika, as a "protector".

One victim of crime, an eloquent US-trained civil servant, told the Guardian of her family's shock at being referred to the party when her mother recently called the police following an incident involving Albanian immigrants in their downtown apartment block.

"They immediately said if it's an issue with immigrants go to Golden Dawn," said the 38-year-old. "If the police and official mechanism can't deliver and there is no recourse to justice, then you have to turn to other maverick solutions."

Other Greeks with similar experiences said the far-rightists were simply doing the job of a defunct state. "Nature hates vacuums and Golden Dawn is just filling a vacuum that no other party is addressing," one woman lamented. "It gives 'little people' a sense that they can survive, that they are safe in their own homes."

Parliamentary legitimacy appears only to have emboldened the extremists. In recent weeks racially-motivated attacks have proliferated. Immigrants fear roaming the streets at night following a spate of attacks by black-clad men on motorbikes. Street vendors from Africa and Asia have been targeted.

"For a lot of people in poorer neighbourhoods we are liberators," crowed Yiannis Lagos, one of 18 MPs. "The state does nothing," he told a TV chat show, adding that Golden Dawn was the only party that was helping Greeks. Through an expansive social outreach programme, which includes services to the elderly in crime-ridden areas, the group regularly distributes food and clothes to the needy.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Informal privatization? No doubt the police are more limited in their tactics than the Golden Dawn vigilantes.

[Shadow44]

I read somewhere that the Golden Dawn attracted a lot of votes from Greek policemen. I forget how much, but it was at least 20%, but I want to say closer to 40%.

[SampleMan]

Fascists made the trains run on time.

I have startled a few libs by commenting that although I much prefer a Constitutionally limited democratic republic, if they were hell bent on a totalitarian state, then I was planning on being in charge of it.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The liberal parties of Greece have essentially collapsed because they refuse to do what must be done to restore their country. They are so ideologically rigid that they neglect the people, instead reinforcing defeat at every opportunity while bowing and scraping to Europe.

The extreme right, on the other hand, has a clear focus on two issues: law & order and the expulsion of parasitic foreigners. They have wisely steered clear of the economic morass, and are accomplishing “government efficiency”.

This is a simple ratio of what is promised compared with what is delivered. Since they only promise two things, it is easy to meet these goals. Restore greater law & order and drive immigrants out.

This also implies that they are gaining ground politically, because the public adores government efficiency.

[DeaconBenjamin]

I read somewhere that they were the only party that strongly objected to the police being forced to stand by and fire tear gas as they were hit with Molotov cocktails. I do not know whether that report is true.

[Irenic]

*shrug*

Rahm welcomes help from Farrakahn, ignores anti-Semitic remarks
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/13996951-418/rahm-welcomes-help-from-farrakahn-ignores-anti-semitic-remarks.html

[Hardraade]

You’ll be startled how identical these folks are to islamics on the issues. This could be straight from Tehran, or Cairo, or Gaza demonstrations in London.

Vintage stuff from Solar General:

http://junipersec.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/time-for-nazis/

[peeps36]

Albanian immigrants really means moslum immigrants. There are two Jew hating groups fighting each other in Greece. I would get out of Europe asap if I was a Jewish person. They will be looking for a scapegoat when the corrupt EU implodes.