Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga on Monday rejected theories that the destructive fires that have engulfed Greece and claimed 63 lives in the past days constitute an "asymmetrical threat" and pinned the blame on land policy.During a press conference, Papariga reported the conclusion of KKE's Political Bureau that the government's attempt to present the tragedy in terms of "new order imperialist dogma of asymmetrical threats" sought to "terrorise the people so as to divert their reaction in the wrong direction, both during the electoral contest and afterward".
Regarding the cause of the fires, she said that these had not arisen suddenly but were created over many years by a series of reactionary laws and measures taken by the governments of the ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK parties.
According to Papariga, the road to the present inferno was opened by a policy that commercialised forests, rewarded land grabbers, undermined prevention and created huge deficits in equipment and facilities for fire-fighting and forest protection services, culminating in the revision of the Constitution and especially article 24 for the protection of forests.
"We are faced with an organised plan, whether this existed beforehand or arose on the way," Papariga claimed, adding that the profits from arson primarily benefited large economic interests whose "appetite is opened by land commercialisation".
She also turned her fire on the government for failing to put up an effective, organised response that might have mitigated the repercussions of the disaster, through prevention and forest protection measures.
Regarding PASOK, she said the main opposition of seeking only to cover up its own responsibility and to benefit from the justified popular displeasure at the polls, while she lambasted the left-wing Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) for "failing to display political autonomy" during the crisis and supporting PASOK.
Listing KKE's proposals for the aftermath of the fires, Papariga called for a full and in-depth listing of the destruction wrought and the areas burnt, without any changes in land use, full compensation to farmers for lost crops and livestock, one year's exemption from insurance contributions and taxes and a freeze on loan payments, full compensation for burnt homes and farm infrastructure, detailed and binding plans for reforestation, free housing for fire victims in nearby hotels, immediate hiring for vacant positions in the fire brigade, forestry services and national health service with permanent rather than seasonal staff and work to limit subsequent damage from erosion, flooding etc.
IS IT REALLY CREDIBLE THAT PEOPLE PAID BY PROPERTY SPECULATORS SET THESE 200+ FIRES DELIBERATELY?....IS IT A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OR A CONSPIRACY THEORY?? WHAT DO YOU THINK?...HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.....
