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ACTION EUR-12
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 EURE-00 CU-02 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-03
H-01 INR-05 L-01 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 RSC-01 PRS-01
SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 FBO-02 SY-04 OPR-01 NIC-01 PER-01
SCS-02 SCA-01 SCCT-01 OMB-01 A-01 SSO-00 OC-01 CCO-00
IO-04 /076 W
--------------------- 054430
P 311015Z OCT 74
FM AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2133
INFO AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE THESSALONIKI 691
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: PINS, SCUL, ASEC, GR
SUBJECT: CYPRIOT STUDENT DEMONSTRATION OCTOBER 30
1. SUMMARY: APPROX 1200-1500 THESS UNIV STUDENTS (PRESS
ERRONEOUSLY REPORTS 2000), ORGANIZED BY LOCAL CYPRIOT STUDENT
GROUP PROBABLY WITH COMMUNIST BACKING, DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE
CONGEN FOR 40 MINUTES BEGINNING AT 1730 OCTOBER 30. DEMON-
STRATION PEACEFUL, BUT STRONGLY ANTI-AMERICAN. STUDENTS
DISPERSED PEACEABLY AFTER DELIVERING PETITION TO CONGEN.
END SUMMARY.
2. DEMONSTRATION WELL-ORGANIZED AND PUBLICIZED BY PRINTED
HANDBILLS PUT OUT BY CYPRIOT STUDENTS. GATHERING ALSO
INCLUDED MANY GREEK STUDENTS AND SPRINKLING OF PALESTINIANS.
GROUP MET AT ABOUT 1500 AT UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY BUILDING FOR
RALLY AND SPEECHES. LATTER INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL
UNIVERSITY FACULTIES AND FROM PASOK PARTY AND UNITED LEFT.
(ABOUT 100 STUDENTS WITHDREW FROM MEETING DURING SPEECH
BY COMMUNIST REPRESENTATIVE.) SPEAKERS PRAISED 48-HOUR
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HUNGER STRIKE JUST CONCLUDED HERE BY 38 CYPRIOT STUDENTS,
AND PLAYED TAPES OF TWO MAKARIOS MESSAGES TO CYPRIOT PEOPLE.
3. AFTER LEAVING UNIV, GROUP DEMONSTRATED BRIEFLY OUTSIDE
GAROUFALIAS PARTY HEADQUARTERS AND USIS, WHICH HAD CLOSED
FOR THE DAY, ARRIVING AT CONGEN AT APPROX 1730. CONGEN HAD
ALSO CLOSED AT ITS NORMAL TIME HALF HOUR BEFORE AND MOST
GREEK EMPLOYEES HAD LEFT PREMISES. STUDENTS, MANY SITTING
IN STREET, REMAINED HERE ABOUT 40 MINUTES. BUILDING WELL
PROTECTED BY 300-400 POLICE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
AND OTHER OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES.
4. PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF DEMONSTRATORS' ATTENTION APPEARED
TO BE U.S. FLAG FLYING FROM CONGEN OVER MAIN WATERFRONT
BOULEVARD. WHETHER COIOCIDENTALLY OR BY DESIGN PROTEST
GROUP ARRIVED MINUTES BEFORE SCHEDULED TIME TO LOWER FLAG
AT SUNSET, AND IMMEDIATELY SET UP MAIN CHANT OF DEMONSTRATION
"DOWN WITH FLAG OF MURDERS". SHORT TIME BEFORE WE HAD IGNORED
SUGGESTION OF POLICE OFFICER TO GUARD RECEPTIONIST THAT
FLAG BE LOWERED BEFORE ARRIVAL PROTESTORS "TO AVOID PROVOCATION".
FLAG ON STAFF AT THIRD FLOOR BALCONY WAS INACCESSIBLE TO
DEMONSTRATORS AND WAS NOT LOWERED UNTIL GROUP HAD LEFT.
SUBSEQUENTLY, THESSALONIKI POLICE CHIEF BRIG STAVROPOULOS
TELEPHONED ME TO INQUIRE CONCERNING BUILDING OCCUPANTS
(HE WAS INFORMED ALL WAS WELL AND THANKED FOR HIS EFFICIENT
COOPERATION), AND VOLUNTEERED THAT HE HAD NOT SUGGESTED
FLAG BE TAKEN DOWN.
5. OTHER SLOGANS AND CHANTS INCLUDED "GREECE, CYPRUS,
PALESTINE", "EOKA B - TREASON", "MURDERER AMERICANS",
"KILL KISSINGER", AND "GIVE JUNTA TO CYPRIOTS". PLACARDS
INCLUDED "EOKA B LIVES IN ATHENS - PUNISH THEM", "DOWN WITH
FASCISM AND IMPERIALISM", AND "TURKISH UNITS OUT OF CYPRUS".
MAJOR SLOGANS AND COVERAGE OF DEMONSTRATION CARRIED IN ALL
LOCAL PAPERS OCTOBER 31.
6. AT CONCLUDION OF DEMONSTRATION, STUDENTS PRESENTED
FOLLOWING HANDWRITTEN PETITION TO CONGEN: "RESOLUTION OF
CYPRIOT STUDENT RALLY CALLING FOR SOLIDARITY WITH GREEK
STUDENT BROTHERS.
1. NO US INTERVENTION FOR ILLEGITIMATE SOLUTION ON CYPRUS
ISSUE, AND
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2. BY RESPECTING PRINCIPALS OF UN CHARTER, YOU RESPECT
YOUR OWN PEOPLE.
NOTE: PETITION APPARENTLY WRITTEN IN HASTE AND THIRD DEMAND
NOT COMPLETED.
7. DEMONSTRATION ABOVE OCCURED AT TIME OF CONTINUING MEETINGS
HERE TO ORGANIZE STUDENT ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 9.
GENERAL MEETINGS WERE HELD AT EACH FACULTY OCTOBER 29,
ALTHOUGH THOSE AT DENTISTRY AND HIGHER INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
WERE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF TELEPHONED BOMB THREATS FROM
ANONYMOUS CALLERS.;
BRENNEN
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