Athens’ Syntagma Square transformed into a sea of solidarity Sunday evening as thousands gathered to support Panos Routsis, a grieving father on his seventh day of hunger strike demanding answers about his son's death in the Tempe rail disaster.
Routsis, whose 22-year-old son Denis was among the victims of what many Greeks call "the crime of Tempe," has taken this desperate measure, seeking permission to exhume his son's body to determine the actual cause of death. The massive crowd filling the square outside Parliament held signs reading "I have no oxygen," "We are with you," and "Tempe, 57 souls," creating an atmosphere both peaceful and emotionally charged.
The gathering, which forced authorities to partially close Amalias Avenue to traffic, saw supporters approaching Routsis individually to offer words of encouragement and leave written messages of support. Similar solidarity demonstrations took place simultaneously in Thessaloniki, where citizens and relatives of other victims joined the protest.
In an emotional address to the crowd, Routsis expressed his frustration with authorities' refusal to grant exhumation permits. "Today we're talking about the most outrageous part of this case. They won't give us permission for exhumations. They won't let us search for the truth, to find evidence, to reveal what really happened that night," he declared, his voice carrying across the packed square.
"What are they afraid of? What are they trying to hide? If everything happened as they say, why are they preventing us from even exercising our right to investigate?" Routsis questioned, drawing supportive chants from the crowd demanding justice.
The bereaved father's words grew more forceful as he continued: "Denis, like the other children, cannot speak. We are their voice, and they won't even let us defend them. We won't let them burn the truth. Those who prevent the exhumations are complicit in the crime. We won't stop; we will continue."
The demonstration saw particularly poignant moments when the names of all victims were read aloud, with the crowd responding "murdered" after each name, sending shivers through those present. The heavy police presence monitored the peaceful but deeply emotional gathering as unions, associations, and civic organizations answered the call for solidarity.
Parents of other Tempe victims stood alongside Routsis, united in their demand for transparency and justice. The collective frustration with what protesters perceive as the government's and judiciary's inflexible stance has reignited public anger over the handling of the tragedy.
Routsis vowed to continue his hunger strike "until the end," maintaining his position that uncovering the truth about his son's death is worth any personal sacrifice.
About the Tempe Train Disaster
The Tempe rail disaster occurred on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train near Tempe, Greece, killing 57 people, mostly young students returning from a long weekend. The crash, Greece's deadliest rail accident, sparked nationwide protests and calls for accountability regarding the country's railway safety standards. The tragedy exposed severe deficiencies in Greece's rail infrastructure and safety systems, leading to demands for justice that continue to resonate throughout Greek society, as evidenced by ongoing protests and actions, such as Routsis's hunger strike.
Photo: Efimerida ton Syntakton