The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-05-01

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Two Separate Demonstrations May Day Celebrations

Sources: NET

May Day was celebrated this year in Greece with separate demonstrations. GSEE (Greek General Confederation of Labour), ADEDY (Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Unions) and the Athens Labour Centre held a demonstration at Pedion tou Areos and then staged a rally towards the Parliament. PAME (All Workers Militant Front) members gathered at Ethniki Antistasi Square and then rallied to the US Embassy. Separate demonstrations were also held in Thessaloniki. The local Labour Centre and Civil Servant Unions staged a rally from Aristotelous Square to the Monument of the Tobacco Worker, while PAME members gathered at the Venizelos Statue and then followed a separate route to end up at the Monument of the Tobacco Worker. Social security, changes in labour relations and the issue with Iran became the focus of demonstrations.

Patision and Kodrigtonos streets remained closed due to demonstrations, while Alexandras Avenue remained closed from Moustoxidi street onwards and Panepistimiou street all the way to Syntagma square.

GSEE, ADEDY and EKA submitted a resolution to Parliament, while early in the morning the presidents of the three bodies laid wreaths at the Monument of the Executed in Kaisariani.

In its May Day message, GSEE spoke of a mass participation in demonstrations and noted workers' fights will continue at a more intensive pace, thus stressing the need for unity.

ND Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis stressed the Government "focuses on simple people, who work hard to solve the many and great problems of unemployment."

Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che Guevara, participated in PAME's demonstration and stressed the need for solidarity and unity among the people.

Minor incidents were reported when a small group of protestors wrote sings outside a bank branch in Thessaloniki, while others smashed the front of the North Greece Industries Association facilities on Tsimiski street.

Political Messages

In his message, the Prime Minister stressed that "May Day coincided this year with a time of concern and search of answers to the new challenges." Mr Karamanlis added, "Our decision is to radically deal with the root of problems and continue with changes and reforms."

PASOK noted, "The 120th May Day anniversary finds the world faced with the threat of war, creating a climate against peace and raising concerns and insecurity among the people."

On its part, KKE called workers and the youth to join forces with the labour class of the world. "It is time the labour class felt and showed its true power to those who take advantage of it and to the parties that serve exploiters," read the relevant announcement. SYN said in an announcement, "We support workers' fights to stamp out unemployment, which mainly affects weak social classes. We support the fight for the protection of trade unionist rights and collective labour contracts against government authoritarianism."

Work Stoppages

Meanwhile, blue buses and trolley buses will not be performing any routes from 22:00 until the end of the shift, while the electric railway and the metro will remain closed from 21:00 until the end of the shift.

In Thessaloniki, urban buses did not perform any routes from 12:00 to 16:00, ships remained docked from 08:00 to 12:00, while the National Centre for Emergency Medical Care (EKAV) only responded to emergency calls.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] From Easter and May Day Holidays Last of the Holidaymakers Return

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Vacations are over for the lucky ones, who prolonged their Easter holidays until May Day. The Traffic Police are on alert as of Monday morning for the safe return of excursionists. Traffic has been increasing since noon on both national highways, while drivers are advised to be very careful, because of the adverse weather conditions and local rainfalls. A pile-up of 10 cars was reported in Kakia Skala due to speeding, while an extra lane might be given for those returning to Athens, if so is deemed necessary. To facilitate drivers, trucks have been banned from circulating on national highways from 15:00 to 23:00.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Rallies and Demonstrations May Day Around the World

By Athina Saloustrou

May Day is celebrated around the world with rallies and demonstrations. Violent clashes broke out between policemen and young protestors in Berlin. Some thousand people gathered at the heart of the German capital on the eve of May Day, while some two thousand policemen dealt with rioters using teargases and proceeding with arrests. Many of the protestors were injured. Although May Day is not celebrated in the USA, some 12 million immigrants decided to abstain from work today, thus opposing to George Bushs immigration Bill. Riots and arrests marred May Day celebrations in Istanbul.

In Indonesia, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Jakarta. Singing and dancing, the demonstrators protested over the Government's plan to revise labour legislation. Authorities took strict security measures and dozens of policemen were deployed around the Parliament to prevent protestors from entering the building.

Dozens of rallies were staged all day in the Philippines. Members of trade unions and supporters of former president Estrada staged a rally towards the Presidential Mansion.

The Finns chose a more original way to celebrate the May Day anniversary. Events at the heart of Helsinki reminded more of a party. They were colorful, spectacular and were joined by many tourists.

In Turkey, on the other hand, things were rougher. The police arrested some twenty left protestors, who were celebrating May Day at a part of Istanbul, were demonstrations are forbidden.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Found in Wild Geese New H5N1 Case in China

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: AFP

China announced Monday the discovery of a bird flu outbreak amongst wild migratory geese in the nation's northwestern Qinghai province, the agriculture ministry said. Veterinary experts confirmed that a dead bar-headed goose found in Gangcha county was carrying the H5N1 strain of the bird flu, the ministry said in a report on its website. Qinghai agricultural authorities have taken disinfection and quarantine measures in the area where the dead goose was found on April 23, it said. Local tests confirmed on Saturday that the goose had fallen victim to avian influenza, it said. On Thursday last week, China reported its 18th case of human bird flu, an eight-year-old girl in the southwestern province of Sichuan who is being treated at hospital. Twelve of the previous human cases reported by China have died, including a migrant worker in the central city of Wuhan last week. Two others died in March. The latest human cases have come despite no reports of fresh outbreaks among poultry since late February, a trend which has worried World Health Organization officials. The lack of warning is troublesome for China as it is not able to detect outbreaks before humans are infected. A series of bird flu outbreaks occurred in Qinghai province in May 2005, killing over 1,000 birds in the region's mountainous lakes that are located along a major Asian migratory route.

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