The Greek people recognize the persecution of Golden Dawn for what it is: a blatant attempt to crush Greek nationalism.
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| Throngs of supporters cheered Nick Michaloliakos, the leader of the Golden Dawn, as he was led under armed guard into a Greek courthouse to face bogus charges that his party is a criminal organization |
By Pete Papaherakles
The witch-hunt against the populist political
party, the Golden Dawn, continues in
Greece as the government and the mass
media relentlessly portray an image of the
Golden Dawn as a criminal terrorist organization
with mercenary cells, weapons hoards hidden all
over Greece and a mystery money-man secretly financing
them.
Almost universally, major TV newscasters in Greece conducted a smear campaign against the Golden Dawn. The printmedia featured 20-page exposes on how a “hate-filled Nazi terror group” grew out of control due to Greece’s debt crisis woes and how they should have been stopped long ago.
Footage of Hitler speeches and goose-stepping Nazis was shown by media outlets as well as centerspread pictures of Golden Dawnmembers inmilitary garb with huge swastikas in the background.
Across the country, Greek police carried out a Soviet-style shakedown of Golden Dawn offices and members’ homes in the hope of finding some hidden weapons cache or any other incriminating evidence to use against partymembers. In one case a rubber pellet toy rifle was portrayed as a lethal assault rifle.
All this was coupled with “testimony” from an anonymous witness with his back turned to the camera and a garbled voice telling tales of having been a former member of a secret network of Golden Dawn’s mercenary squads. He, of course, didn’t kill anyone, but the others did, yet he has no names, no dates, no places, no specific victims or crime details.
The Mega TV channel, which is an enemy of Golden Dawn, offered a free home, car and new identity to anyone who will testify against the Golden Dawn in some sort of “witness protection” fantasy program.
On Oct. 8, AFP spoke with Eleni Zaroulia, the wife of Golden Dawn’s imprisoned leader, Nikos Michaloliakos. Mrs. Zaroulia is one of the 18 Golden Dawn members of Parliament.
“All this media frenzy is having no effect on the people of Greece,” she told this reporter. “If anything, it’s actually working to our favor. Haven’t you seen the latest polls?” She was referring to several polls that have been aired over the last two days that contradict the media’s allegations that Golden Dawn support has plummeted to 6% since the arrests of Golden Dawn leaders over allegations that they were somehow involved in the murder of a “rapper.” Two major polls of 43,000 and 50,000 people respectively revealed that Golden Dawn’s support has actually increased to 19%, elevating the party to second place. The second poll showed the Golden Dawnmaintaining a solid 15% support. But when informally asked who they would vote for if elections were held next week, 39% of respondents said the Golden Dawn, placing them well into first place with the two leading parties getting ameager 18% and 11%. The same poll also revealed that the majority of respondents believed that the persecution of the Golden Dawn was politically motivated and not due to criminal activity.
“This was confirmed by several experts,” said Mrs. Zaroulia, “and even the former Justice Minister, Antonis Roupakiotis, who resigned only a few months ago, said last week that the Golden Dawn crackdown was ordered from abroad.”
In an interview with Skai TV, Roupakiotis revealed that “Jewish-American and Greek-American organizations were coming to Greece to [push for the arrest of] Golden Dawn.
Obviously, the prime minister had to tell them something.” Although a leftist, Roupakiotis, who was also chairman of the Athens Bar Association, did not allow political differences to get in the way of telling the truth. He said the operation against Golden Dawn was orchestrated in view of the prime minister’s trip to the United States.
“We’re undertaking the EU presidency starting in January and there was pressure from the [European] Commission to do something about Golden Dawn,” he said, noting that commission members were concerned Greece had not enacted any of the type of anti-racist measures and statutes banning
Almost universally, major TV newscasters in Greece conducted a smear campaign against the Golden Dawn. The printmedia featured 20-page exposes on how a “hate-filled Nazi terror group” grew out of control due to Greece’s debt crisis woes and how they should have been stopped long ago.
Footage of Hitler speeches and goose-stepping Nazis was shown by media outlets as well as centerspread pictures of Golden Dawnmembers inmilitary garb with huge swastikas in the background.
Across the country, Greek police carried out a Soviet-style shakedown of Golden Dawn offices and members’ homes in the hope of finding some hidden weapons cache or any other incriminating evidence to use against partymembers. In one case a rubber pellet toy rifle was portrayed as a lethal assault rifle.
All this was coupled with “testimony” from an anonymous witness with his back turned to the camera and a garbled voice telling tales of having been a former member of a secret network of Golden Dawn’s mercenary squads. He, of course, didn’t kill anyone, but the others did, yet he has no names, no dates, no places, no specific victims or crime details.
The Mega TV channel, which is an enemy of Golden Dawn, offered a free home, car and new identity to anyone who will testify against the Golden Dawn in some sort of “witness protection” fantasy program.
On Oct. 8, AFP spoke with Eleni Zaroulia, the wife of Golden Dawn’s imprisoned leader, Nikos Michaloliakos. Mrs. Zaroulia is one of the 18 Golden Dawn members of Parliament.
“All this media frenzy is having no effect on the people of Greece,” she told this reporter. “If anything, it’s actually working to our favor. Haven’t you seen the latest polls?” She was referring to several polls that have been aired over the last two days that contradict the media’s allegations that Golden Dawn support has plummeted to 6% since the arrests of Golden Dawn leaders over allegations that they were somehow involved in the murder of a “rapper.” Two major polls of 43,000 and 50,000 people respectively revealed that Golden Dawn’s support has actually increased to 19%, elevating the party to second place. The second poll showed the Golden Dawnmaintaining a solid 15% support. But when informally asked who they would vote for if elections were held next week, 39% of respondents said the Golden Dawn, placing them well into first place with the two leading parties getting ameager 18% and 11%. The same poll also revealed that the majority of respondents believed that the persecution of the Golden Dawn was politically motivated and not due to criminal activity.
“This was confirmed by several experts,” said Mrs. Zaroulia, “and even the former Justice Minister, Antonis Roupakiotis, who resigned only a few months ago, said last week that the Golden Dawn crackdown was ordered from abroad.”
In an interview with Skai TV, Roupakiotis revealed that “Jewish-American and Greek-American organizations were coming to Greece to [push for the arrest of] Golden Dawn.
Obviously, the prime minister had to tell them something.” Although a leftist, Roupakiotis, who was also chairman of the Athens Bar Association, did not allow political differences to get in the way of telling the truth. He said the operation against Golden Dawn was orchestrated in view of the prime minister’s trip to the United States.
“We’re undertaking the EU presidency starting in January and there was pressure from the [European] Commission to do something about Golden Dawn,” he said, noting that commission members were concerned Greece had not enacted any of the type of anti-racist measures and statutes banning
so-called “Holocaust denial” that the EU demands
that its member nations implement.
Roupakiotis—who actually drafted an antiracismbill which failed in May—noted that Greece will be fined starting in January because no such bill has been approved. Now, according to Roupakiotis, the government is in a hurry to pass such a bill under orders from abroad.
It is significant to note that Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras just met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.
Eight of Samaras’s top ministers—including Deputy PrimeMinister Evangelos Venizelos and Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias—were also there.
Dendias is the man responsible for the arrests and persecution of Golden Dawn. Samaras publicly declared in Israel that “We will wipe out the Golden Dawn.”
Mrs. Zaroulia said that she gets an incredible amount of support from the people. “Everyone on the street comes up to me and tells me they are on our side and they don’t believe any of the lies against us,” she said. She added that she is in communicationwith her husband and he is in good spirits. “He knows that there is no case against himand that the people are behind him,” she said. AlthoughMrs. Zaroulia is convinced her husband will be released soon, she is not sure when that will happen. “He has not even formally been indicted yet,” she said. “The arraignment proceedings have still not taken place. . . . They won’t be able to keep himfor long,” she said. “They have produced nothing of substance to charge himwith, and his very arrest is illegal and unconstitutional.”
Roupakiotis—who actually drafted an antiracismbill which failed in May—noted that Greece will be fined starting in January because no such bill has been approved. Now, according to Roupakiotis, the government is in a hurry to pass such a bill under orders from abroad.
It is significant to note that Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras just met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.
Eight of Samaras’s top ministers—including Deputy PrimeMinister Evangelos Venizelos and Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias—were also there.
Dendias is the man responsible for the arrests and persecution of Golden Dawn. Samaras publicly declared in Israel that “We will wipe out the Golden Dawn.”
Mrs. Zaroulia said that she gets an incredible amount of support from the people. “Everyone on the street comes up to me and tells me they are on our side and they don’t believe any of the lies against us,” she said. She added that she is in communicationwith her husband and he is in good spirits. “He knows that there is no case against himand that the people are behind him,” she said. AlthoughMrs. Zaroulia is convinced her husband will be released soon, she is not sure when that will happen. “He has not even formally been indicted yet,” she said. “The arraignment proceedings have still not taken place. . . . They won’t be able to keep himfor long,” she said. “They have produced nothing of substance to charge himwith, and his very arrest is illegal and unconstitutional.”
Pete Papaherakles is a writer and political cartoonist for AFP. He is also AFP’s
outreach director. Pete is interested in getting AFP writers and editors on the podium
at patriotic events. Call him at 202-544-5977 to get AFP speakers at your event.
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