Source: Reuters / Montreal Gazette
ATHENS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Greece's largest police union has
threatened to issue arrest warrants for officials from the country's
European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders for demanding
deeply unpopular austerity measures.
In a letter obtained by
Reuters on Friday, the Federation of Greek Police accused the officials
of "...blackmail, covertly abolishing or eroding democracy and national
sovereignty" and said one target of its warrants would be the IMF's top
official for Greece, Poul Thomsen.
The threat is largely symbolic
since legal experts say a judge must first authorize such warrants, but
it shows the depth of anger against foreign lenders who have demanded
drastic wage and pension cuts in exchange for funds to keep Greece
afloat.
"Since you are continuing this destructive policy, we warn
you that you cannot make us fight against our brothers. We refuse to
stand against our parents, our brothers, our children or any citizen who
protests and demands a change of policy," said the union, which
represents more than two-thirds of Greek policemen.
"We warn you
that as legal representatives of Greek policemen, we will issue arrest
warrants for a series of legal violations ... such as blackmail,
covertly abolishing or eroding democracy and national sovereignty."
The
letter was also addressed to the European Central Bank's mission chief
in Greece, Klaus Masuch, and the former European Commission chief
inspector for Greece, Servaas Deroose.
Policemen have borne the
brunt of the anger of massed protesters who frequently march to
parliament and clash with police in riot gear. Chants of "Cops, pigs,
murderers!" are regularly hurled at policemen or scribbled on walls.
Thousands
turned out on Friday for the latest protest in Athens, this time
against new austerity measures that include a 22 percent cut in the
minimum wage.
A police union official said the threat to 'refuse
to stand against' fellow Greeks was a symbolic expression of solidarity
and did not mean police would halt their efforts to stop protests
getting out of hand.
