ATHENS: Greece vowed Wednesday to bring in a raft of measures following the deadly fires near Athens as the family of an elderly victim filed a complaint of “negligent homicide” against the authorities.
Ten days after wildfires ravaged coastal towns — claiming at least 93 lives — the government announced it would speed up the destruction of 3,000 illegal constructions around the Greek capital as well as “reorganizing” civil defense and “improving protection.”
Relatives of a man in his seventies who died lodged the “negligent homicide” complaint against the head of the civil defense, the prefect of Attica, the mayor of Marathon and “anyone responsible” for firefighters or police.
Environment minister Georges Stathakis said a string of legal and financial measures would “accelerate” the destruction of around 2,500 illegal constuctions in forests and around 700 on the coast as the government tries to manage opposition criticism and the anger of victims.
Meanwhile, authorities will “develop the prevention of forest fires,” and “strengthen the controls” against walls and barriers that illegally block access to the seaside, said Socratis Famellos, Stathakis’s deputy.
And interior minister Panis Skourletis announced a “reorganization of the civil defense service,” which has faced criticism from experts and the media.
Authorities and experts have blamed the loss of life and extensive damage to property — particularly in Mati, east of Athens — on strong winds and the chaotic urban planning in the pine forest area.
Many of the victims were trapped by the flames as they tried to reach the beaches because of a lack of evacuation planning and no access to the sea.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he assumed “political responsibility” for the tragedy but rejected accusations of a botched response.
The government has also announced a package of support measures for victims, including compensation and help with tax and banking amounting to 40 million euros.
Greece vows to speed up destruction of illegal property after wildfires
Greece vows to speed up destruction of illegal property after wildfires
- Ten days after wildfires ravaged coastal towns — claiming at least 93 lives — the government announced it would speed up the destruction of 3,000 illegal constructions
- Relatives of a man in his seventies who died lodged a “negligent homicide” complaint against the head of the civil defense
Danish veterans stage protest outside US Embassy
COPENHAGEN: Hundreds of Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside US troops, staged a silent protest Saturday outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Trump administration’s threats to take over Greenland and belittling their combat contributions.
“Denmark has always stood side by side with the USA — and we have showed up in the world’s crisis zones when the USA has asked us to. We feel let down and ridiculed by the Trump Administration, which is deliberately disregarding Denmark’s combat side by side with the USA,” Danish Veterans & Veteran Support said in a statement.
“Words cannot describe how much it hurts us that Denmark’s contributions and sacrifices in the fight for democracy, peace and freedom are being forgotten in the White House,” it said.
Veterans first gathered at a monument honoring fallen Danish service members then began marching to the nearby US Embassy, where they will observe five minutes of silence — one each for Denmark’s army, air force, navy, emergency management agency and police.
Danish veterans are furious at how the White House rhetoric disregards the right to self-determination of Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark. They also strongly object to Trump’s claim that Denmark is incapable of protecting the West’s security interests in the Arctic.
Forty-four Danish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, the highest per capita death toll among coalition forces. Eight more died in Iraq.
Tensions were further inflamed Tuesday when 44 Danish flags — one for every Danish soldier killed in Afghanistan — that had been placed in front of the embassy were removed by embassy staff.
The State Department later said that, as a general rule, guard staff remove items left behind following demonstrations and other “legitimate exercises of free speech.” The flags were returned to those who left them, it said.
