Last Friday, Greeks all around the world remembered and protested the Tempi rail disaster and the government corruption at its root. Member of DiEM25 Groningen Collective, Charalampos Tsoumpas, joined the protest in Groningen, Netherlands, and shared his thoughts 

Friday was a day of big sorrow and grief in my home country, Greece. Two years ago there was a horrific train crash that killed 57 people and traumatised hundreds physically and psychologically.

However, this was not an accident but an event that was caused by the intentional diversion of funding of the governments minimising services and staff. More than that, one of the trains, as much evidence shows, was transporting illegal highly flammable dissolvers (used to illegally dissolve gasoline) which initiated a massive fireball due to which many people who had survived the crash, were burnt alive with their voices being heard on 112 recordings crying due to lack of oxygen minutes before their devastating death. 

Groningen demonstration

I only joined the demonstration in Groningen for about 30 minutes because I was with my young kids. I was impressed with the number of the mostly young Greek community that I saw being present. There were perhaps 200 to 300 people. It was on a Friday at 18:00 so what I missed was the many young families that live in the north of the Netherlands. Still, there was a very powerful and emotional vibe with several resonating speeches. I felt the emotions of anger and solidarity shared by the people. The feeling of disgust was not only about this horrible incident, but also due to the underlying causes that made it happen which are the primary reasons that so many Greeks have emigrated and don’t see any way of returning, as much as they may love their country.

The people must fight back against the corrupt Greek government

Throughout these last two years, the government together with the justice system (which they appoint) and many others, have systematically and intentionally destroyed a lot of evidence and try to avoid any blame. It is therefore the sorrow and grief greatly more devastating to most Greeks that feel so helpless in changing such corrupted political and judicial systems. 

Ancient Greece was the birth of democracy that makes us Greeks so proud of – I only hope that my fellow Greeks who still remain back home can be strong enough to bring back a true democracy that one day we will be proud again.

Do you live in or around Groningen and want to join the Groningen Collective? Click here to join the Telegram chat for new members and you will be onboarded as soon as possible.

Do you want to be informed of DiEM25's actions? Sign up here