Improving conditions in prisons

The new measures announced by Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis for improving conditions in Greek prisons will result in the gradual release of 5,500 inmates by April 2009, while the draft law will be tabled in Parliament for approval within the day, the justice ministry announced on Thursday. The inmate population will be reduced to 6,815 individuals from 12,315 today, thus settling the prison overcrowding problem, considering that the country?s correctional facilities are designed to hold a total of 8,243 inmates. Based on the new measures, a total of 1,740 inmates serving sentences of up to 5 years will be immediately released if they meet the terms outlined in the Penal Code, while nine individuals with severe health problems will also be among those whose prison sentences will be terminated effective immediately. A hunger strike in protest to overcrowding and poor living conditions was launched in all Greek prisons earlier in the month with the participation of thousands of inmates. Commenting on the draft bill, main opposition PASOK spokesman for domestic affairs Haris Kastanidis said the bill was inadequate and, in spite of containing some positive measures, could not address the problem as a whole. He pointed to a need for different kinds of measures that struck directly at the cause of the problem, which changes to the penal and judicial code. As an example, he cited article 282 that governed the way that suspects were remanded in custody.

Karamanlis: Economy a national cause

"What is at stake today is responsibility, and the clash between responsibility and irresponsibility would be the judge of society's choices," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis underlined on Wednesday, adding the political leader who can guide the country out of the explosive global financial crisis, and not those who mete out promises, is "useful". Addressing a meeting of his ruling New Democracy (ND) party's Parliamentary group in the senate chamber on the international financial crisis, Karamanlis accused the opposition of handing out improbable promises that have not even been calculated for cost, as well as of engaging in demagogy, toying with public opinion and verbosity. Some quarters, he said, refused to realise the criticality of the situation, obeying self-serving and petty political expediencies and engaging in demagogy and reactionism. Those quarters, he continued, claim that there is no financial crisis and that it was "an alibi" used by the government for political reasons, proving only that they cannot see what is going on in the world. In times of difficulty, everyone is judged by the cost he dares to assume, Karamanlis said. The premier stressed that there were no "ready recipes and solutions", adding that the crisis cannot be tackled with populism, but rather with a plan, a sense of responsibility and constant flexibility. Karamanlis further stressed that those who claimed that billions of euros were being "given away" to the banks, through the government's 28-billion-euro plan for fortification of the credit system were simply "lying", engaging in disinformation, and fighting the truth for self-serving petty political expediencies. Turning specifically to the international credit crisis, Karamanlis said that it was beyond every forecast, given that the conditions were changing day to day. The developments, intensity and duration of the crisis cannot be predicted, Karamanlis added. He stressed that, as recession was crossing the threshold into the eurozone, the economy has become a major national cause that concerns not only the government but also the political forces and the social partners in their entirety. The government, he continued, was confronting the crisis with realism and responsibility, while the government's plan focused on five aspects: Action for boosting liquidity and for reduction of the credit risks, support of the social strata with the greater need, shielding of employment, strengthening of the social protection network, and continuation of the reforms. Among the measures being taken by the government, Karamanlis particularly noted the tabling of the draft law for boosting the liquidity of the business concerns, and on its interventions for eliminating the fine print in bank transactions. The government was also reinforcing farmers and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMEs), he said, and stressed the activation of the loan guarantee fund for SMEs, the subsidisation of new farmers and the reduction of interest on farm loans. He also categorically stated that there would be no tax hikes, but rather a roll-back of expenditures, while adding that a heating oil subsidy would soon begin being given through the social solidarity fund. The government, Karamanlis said, had a comprehensive, realistic and responsible plan and was determined to take every necessary and feasible measure, but warned that it would not 'blow everything sky-high' for the sake of impressions. He called on the political forces, but also the social partners, to shoulder their share of the responsibility. Regarding the credit system, Karamanlis said that it must increase its cash flow to business concerns and reduce interest rates and its own profit margin, while the businesses, in turn, must accept a reduction in profits, in order to protect employment and avoid dismissals. Addressing himself to the opposition, Karamanlis warned that irresponsibility and populism, in the shadow of the global crisis, were assuming the dimensions of a severe threat to the country's course. In closing, Karamanlis stressed that the government was working to reduce the repercussions of the international crisis and for a better tomorrow, and was determined to convert this international challenge into a national opportunity.

Farmers and tobacco producers block national highways

Protesting farmers closed off on Wednesday the Rio - Antirrio national highway at the 79th km., and police were diverting traffic. Tobacco producers from Fthiotis prefecture closed off on Wednesday the Athens-Lamia national highway at the 210th kilometer, outside Lamia , forcing traffic to use bypasses while tobacco producers from Lokrida have blocked the same national highway at the 140th kilometer at the Atalanti interchange. Farmers are awaiting the outcome of negotiations in the EU on tobacco subsidies to prepare their next moves. The tobacco farmers are demanding continuation of EU subsidies for tobacco production, warning that if their demands aren't adopted by the EU, the losses will be immense, and losses to their family incomes will reach 83 percent by 2013

Gov't announces new measures for prisons

About two thirds of people convicted of drug-related offences will benefit from a draft bill projected to improve the country's correctional system, according to the justice ministry. The draft bill will be presented on Wednesday by Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis and includes arrangements meeting 14 out of the 16 demands made by inmates, as well as "new beneficial terms that the justice ministry has been preparing and examining for some time for users and people convicted in drug cases, people awaiting trial, financially weak detainees, etc." At the same time, as a result of "inaccurate allegations by certain circles" regarding the new arrangements, the Justice ministry clarified that on account of the new measures: -- All detainees and people convicted in general, for perpetrating misdemeanours, are released or pardoned from serving a sentence, provided that they have served a fifth of the sentence for a two-year conviction and a third of the sentence for a conviction of over two years. In such cases of release from prison, the payment of an amount of money to buy off the sentence is not anticipated. -- The possibility is anticipated for a prison sentence of up to five years for misdemeanours or felonies to be turned into a financial conviction (with a lumpsum implementation of the measure). The change takes place automatically. The same applies for cases of dealing in and selling drugs in which people have been convicted to sentences of up to five years. In cases where the defendant obiuously is unable to buy off his sentence, and in which case the price of release of release from prison has been set at three euros for every day of the outstanding sentence, the court may decrease the buyoff price to one euro a day. -- People convicted in drug-related cases in general are also subject to terms applying to all detainees, provided that they serve three fifths of their sentence instead of the current four fifths. An exception will only apply for those convicted of drug dealing by profession, particularly those dealing in a large quantity of drugs.

PM on real needs of financially weaker

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, speaking after meeting local officials in the city of Kozani on Saturday, said that the government is responding to the real needs of the financially weaker citizens with social sensitivity, seriousness and responsibility. Karamanlis presented the measures taken by the government to tackle the international economic crisis and that concern the national economy, as well as each household separately. The aim, as he said, is to decrease inter-bank interest rates and, consequently, to decrease interest rates for the loans and subsidies of businessmen. "We have exercised, we are exercising and we shall exercise every necessary intervention to achieve low interest rates and for the exclusion of abusive terms by banks," the prime minister said. As regards measures being taken by the government, he said that they will not burden Greek citizens but will secure 500 million euros for the Social Cohesion Fund and public investments. Karamanlis acknowledged that problems do exist that are being intensified by the economic crisis and said that the greatest one is unemployment. He pointed out at this point that through Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) programmes 50,000 new jobs will be created by the end of the year and another 140,000 new jobs in 2009. The prime minister also referred to issues concerning Western Macedonia, and the prefecture of Kozani in particular, and spoke analytically of projects that are already under way and of others that are being scheduled.