Thousands protest against gold mines in Thessaloniki

From EnetEnglish

Thousands of people marched to Thessaloniki’s city hall on Saturday morning in a protest staged by the Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and Thrace Coordinating Committees against gold-mining activities.

Halkidiki residents and representatives of groups opposed to mining on Friday also held a demonstration in the village of Ierissos, where clashes had broken out the day before.

Syriza MP Zoi Konstantopoulou addressed demonstrators in Ierissos, reaffirming the party’s opposition to Hellas Gold’s mining activities.

On Friday Thessaloniki’s appeals court prosecutor arranged a meeting between Ierissos residents and police representatives in order to defuse tension following Thursday’s incidents.

Residents said that they reacted to the strong police presence and that they are not going to impede police investigations for the Skouries arson case.

Central Macedonia’s police chief said that police forces acted legally. The three sides agreed to keep an open line of communication between police, residents and the prosecutor’s office.

AMNA, EnetEnglish