Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

stockholmer

(3,751 posts)
Wed Apr 4, 2012, 09:45 AM Apr 2012

Man Commits Suicide In Broad Daylight On Athens' Syntagma Square To Protest "Occupation Government"

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/man-commits-suicide-broad-daylight-athens-syntagma-square-protest-occupation-government

The Arabian Spring started after the self-immolation http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/self-immolation-leads-to-massive-protests-in-tunisia-1.334934 of a 26 year old fruit vendor in Tunisia to protest a life he could no longer live. Will the European Summer set off with a suicide as well? News are crossing that a few hours ago, a 77 year old Greek has killed himself in broad daylight on Athens' symbolic and inappropriately named Syntagma square to protest the "occupier government" and not wanting to be a burden to his child. As Kathimerini reports, "an elderly man committed suicide on Friday morning in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of Parliament. Some reports said witnesses claimed the man shouted "I don't want to leave debts to my children," before he shot himself in the head.

snip



Keep Talking Greece has more on the tragedy: http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2012/04/04/athens-elderly-man-commits-suicide-at-syntagma-square/

It was short before 9 o’ clock in the morning when stunned passers-by heard a gunshot and saw a man falling dead. Right there, next to a flowerbed, behind the biggest tree of the park, at the entrance of the Metro at Syntagma Square, near the stairs leading to the Greek parliament, in the heart of Athens. The elderly man, estimated around his 60?s, put the gun on his head and pulled the trigger. A single bullet to give an end to a life of despair.




The sound of the gunshot froze the people walking at the square, during the morning rush hour. Police and ambulance rushed to the spot, his corpse has been taken to the morgue. Up to this hour there is no police statement about the identity of the man. Some Greek media quoted an eye-witness claiming the man shouted “I don’t want to leave debts to my children.” Other eye-witnesses claimed, the man said nothing before pulling the trigger. Latest information has it that the man was 77 years old, according to his Identity Card.

A tragedy with unknown motives, a shocking act to end the day at its start… Suicides saw a dramatic increase during the last three years of deep economic crisis. According to Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection, the suicides and attempted suicides saw a sharp rise of 22.5% since 2009. A total of 1,727 recorded suicide death and attempted suicide incidents have occurred nationwide since the Greek recession began in 2009. The number of suicides and attempted suicides jumped from 507 in 2009 to 622 in 2010, marking a 22.5 percent increase, and to 598 in the last year up to until December 10, 2011.


snip
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Man Commits Suicide In Broad Daylight On Athens' Syntagma Square To Protest "Occupation Government" (Original Post) stockholmer Apr 2012 OP
Du rec. Nt xchrom Apr 2012 #1
Oh my, this is SO sad. People need to start paying attention to what the average people are going Ecumenist Apr 2012 #2

Ecumenist

(6,086 posts)
2. Oh my, this is SO sad. People need to start paying attention to what the average people are going
Wed Apr 4, 2012, 09:50 AM
Apr 2012

through. Oh good Lord, this is so tragic. That poor man. Probably worked hard all his life and felt he had nothing to show for it.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Man Commits Suicide In Br...