“We once again express our deepest solidarity to the families of the deceased and the injured, sincerely hoping that the truth will be revealed and justice will be served for the victims, so that the same path taken for our own tragedy is not repeated”. Tempi Tragedy: Message of solidarity from the Association of Bereaved Families of the Mati Fire was stated by the Association of Bereaved Families and Burn Victims of the 23rd of July 2018 in East Attica.
This message was issued in light of the gatherings marking the 2nd anniversary of the Tempi tragedy.
The association also noted, “It would not be appropriate at this time for us to participate as an organised group in the protests on 28/2, to avoid any implications or suspicions of exploiting the timing of this tragic event.”
The Full Statement:
“On the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the Tempi tragedy, our Association members once again express our utmost solidarity with the families of the deceased and the injured, hoping wholeheartedly that the truth will come to light and that justice will be served for the victims, preventing a repetition of the course taken in our own tragedy.
However, the polarisation that has emerged in recent days leads us to believe that it would not be appropriate to attend the protests on 28/2 as an organised group, to prevent any implications or suspicions of exploiting the timing of this event.
We also request due respect from those who, citing our 104+ deceased and 57 burn victims, are calling on residents of the areas affected by the deadly fire of 2018 to participate in the gatherings.
The tragic anniversary of the loss of 57 innocent lives coincides with the conclusion of the trial in the Court of Appeal in Athens, marking a significant point in our ongoing struggle for justice for our 104+ deceased and 57 burn victims. During this time, we must focus on the testimonies of the last three defendants and the upcoming Prosecutor’s proposal.
We have been fighting since day one, not only to classify the crime as a felony (and not a misdemeanour) but also against the narrative that “we are to blame for getting burned,” which was cunningly propagated without adequate media coverage. This is in stark contrast to other similar pending cases where the crime’s cover-up has not been communicated!
Our stance, maintained for nearly seven years, is well-known. We stand by every parent who lost their child, every relative who lost a loved one, and every injured person who endured and continues to endure that tragic day. We continue to fight for truth and justice in every crime rooted in the chronic pathologies of our state, condemning any attempt at cover-up or distraction from the truth.
We stand in solidarity with those fighting for justice for their victims, even though our journey has been lonely and challenging. Acknowledging that we cannot control any other variables, we observe the events unfolding around us and strive to act towards our common goals with RESPECT and DISCRETION in honour of the lost victims, those still fighting, and everyone involved.”
In response to the devastating wildfires in Mati, Greece, in which 103 people died, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in Greek history in July 2018, Melbourne’s Greek Media Group, 3XY Radio Hellas and TA NEA Newspaper organised a radiothon to support the victims. The group swiftly initiated the fundraiser, enabling the local Greek community to contribute donations through accounts set up at the Bank of Sydney and Delphi Bank. The funds over, $600,000, were managed with transparency, ensuring direct assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
