Samaras: The protection of citizens is a prerequisite for Democracy

The citizens’ security as a condition for economic development was put forward by ND leader Antonis Samaras who presented today “the twelve steps for the safety of citizens and tackling illegal immigration”.

“The safety of citizens is a precondition for democracy; no free city exists if it cannot protect its citizens from fear. Without security fear dominates, which constitutes the dissolution of democracy. That is a fact known well to the people of Athens, St. Panteleimon, Patras and other cities”, mentioned Mr. Samaras. “Until a few years ago, the opinion that policing is a bad thing was the dominant one, but now that policing is eliminated crime is simple, organized and rampant. No one can be free when they fear for their family due to promiscuity and crime”.

There is also the economic dimension, said Mr. Samaras, because without security there can be no development and black market deals are booming. There can be no organized production when someone turns away businesses, closes down ports etc. “Safety is the most fundamental prerequisite for development. For decades we have been straying from the right path”.

He then presented the twelve steps for the consolidation of security:

- Change the law to arrest and convict an offender to introduce laws in effect in Europe. There are currently masked individuals caught and released and they are released due to doubts, and caught again, carrying Molotov cocktails, claiming that police officers planted them. Photography and filming during such episodes should be allowed, even to protect citizens.

- Policing methods that do not endanger human lives. Dealing with violent people like the black block is completely different from everyone else who is protesting.

- Use of water-carrying vehicles during protests

- Bring back police officers in neighborhoods 1) to release police from bureaucratic procedures, 2) unify mechanized police forces, and 3) have helicopters for filming events.

- Consolidate and reinforce the headquarters against organized crime, which usually has many faces. There is an issue here with the involvement of police officers.

- Change the whole way of dealing with crime. Clemency has led to impunity. Those found guilty should stay in prison long enough.

- Relieve the pressure on prisons.

- Illegal alien convicts should be deported

- Put already prepared prison facilities in operation immediately
 
- Change the whole prison code, break up illegal organizations

- Combat so-called low-level crime, which is the forerunner of major crime. Remove drug users from places in cities which they have occupied.

- There should be a national security doctrine which begins with threats against public safety and reach preventive mechanisms in the long-term.

Illegal immigration.

Regarding illegal immigration, the ND president stated that it is not only economic immigrants, but also people who have committed crimes and enter the country illegally.

- Better guarding of borders with physical barriers such as the fences in Evros and use of technology like infrared cameras which notify authorities. Better cooperation with FRONTEX is a must.

- Creation of accommodation centers where those crossing the borders and arrested for crimes will be channeled through.

- Europe-wide initiative by the European south for a single asylum policy and a single policy of repatriation of illegal immigrants. The EU should clarify things with Turkey. Set it as a term in the negotiations between Turkey and the EU.

- Strike against illegal trade, which is the main way that illegal immigrants make their living. We declare a war against black markets, which daily kill the legal trade even more.

- Asylum procedures will be expedited but accommodation centers will have better conditions.

Samaras committed to the immediate abolition of the Ragousis law, which made the country a magnet for illegal immigrants. Those caught will be repatriated, and those willing will be encouraged.

In closing, Mr. Samaras mentioned recent cases of vigilantism. He reported SYRIZA, stating that it wants to do the exact opposite from what society wants, that SYRIZA requests the disarmament of the police and proposes that immigrants bring their families. At the same time, they promise to give them travel documents with a result that not only will he try to push immigrants to Europe, but Greeks as well, after Europeans react by changing the Schengen treaty. It seems that SYRIZA does not only want us to leave the euro, but also the wider European sector. He added that SYRIZA is opposed to the measures proposed by ND and the uncovering of hooded troublemakers. “Greece has come under attack from illegal immigrants, we will stop that. We ask for society’s support to make Greece a country of security and Democracy”.