Greece: Residents Revolt Against Financial Police

- On the island of Hydra, 40 miles from Athens, residents revolted against the "financial police' on Friday. The problem started during a routine inspection at a local seafood restaurant, when a financial police inspector found that several tables at the restaurant had not been issued a VAT receipt, as the law requires.

When the 55-year-old owner of the restaurant was asked to accompany the inspector to the police station, she fainted. When she came to, she asked to be taken to the hospital, citing health problems. She was transferred to a local hospital where she was guarded to prevent escape.

Meanwhile, the police prepared a case against the woman and arrested her 25-year-old son, who works at the restaurant. Seeing the young man in handcuffs angered several residents who began to protest outside the police station, demanding the young man's release.

By nightfall, 200 people had gathered and surrounded the police station. Some residents cut off the water and electricity to the building, effectively holding the police hostage. Protesters also blocked access to the port because they believed the police would try to transport the young man to Athens.

At 9 pm, when a Flying Dolphin docked at the port, protesters boarded the boat, looking for the young man, which resulted in a heated exchange with the crew. The Port Authorities intervened and escorted the protesters off the boat.

Meanwhile, 200 people continued to stand guard around the police station until the early morning when the Athens riot police arrived, in full gear, to rescue their captive colleagues. It was the first time rioting police have been dispatched to Hydra. The unarmed residents did not intervene with the rioting police. The police station was liberated.

The issue has been resolved by dispatching a second squad of rioting police to the island. The rioting police will now accompany the financial police inspectors on their rounds.

Riot police on Hydra:

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- In a recent statement, SYRIZA MP Manolis Glezos denounced the continued cover-up and fraud of the Greek government-of-the-regime.

Specifically, Mr. Glezos said, "For one year I complained publicly that the Municipal Council of Paros built 1,300 luxury homes owned by foreigners, which hired 750 workers online per day. The Greek Financial Crime Unit (SDOE) did not intervene. This is tax evasion in its most extreme form. Is it because the government glosses over issues like this, and then afterwards, decides to use Hydra-type campaigns?"

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- On Monday, the Greek Foreign Minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, reiterated that he is not expecting any substantial change to Germany's position regarding the terms of the Memorandum. At a meeting in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle remained adamantly against the issue of renegotiating the Faustian Pact. Avramopoulos noted that in the coming weeks, Greece will present a package of pre-cuts, in compliance with its commitments.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is scheduled to visit Berlin this week. Samaras stated that a third aid package is unlikely. Samaras is expected to request a two-year extension to the deadline when he meets with French and German leaders this week.