"Greece, at the moment, is part of Israeli foreign policy"

Mihalis Kritsotakis, elected member from Heraklion, takes a stand, Canada Kayak to Gaza breaks Greek blockade

By Miles Howe; July 2, 2011 - Halifax Media Co-op
http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/greece-moment-part-israeli...

[See also the Media Co-op's Dispatches from the Tahrir as Halifax Media Co-op journalist Miles Howe sails with the Canadian Boat to Gaza and will be reporting regularly from the Tahrir.]

Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece -- Credit the Canadian Boat to Gaza for stepping into the Greek political ring. Today, as the Tahrir remains unable to leave the port of Agios Nikolaos, the CBG secured the assistance of an ally within Greek politics.

Mihalis Kritsotakis, representative from Heraklion, the main seat on the island of Crete, paid a visit to the locked-down Tahrir.

"Why in this situation do we break between Greeks and Palestinians, and Arabs? That has been (constant) for many, many years. And why do we go against the feeling of the Greek people?" said Kritsotakis through an interpreter.

As it is the weekend, Kritsotakis' value as an ally within the embattled Greek parliament will reveal itself on Monday. He comes representing the 'Coalition of the Radical Left', a 9-seat coalition within parliament. In a press conference held with the en-bannered Tahrir as a backdrop, Kritsotakis promised to raise the issue in parliament, and will also encourage all the mayors of Crete townships to 'support the Gaza movement'.

Kritsotakis then led a group of activists through the streets of Agios Nikolaos, where their protests are quickly becoming a daily occurrence. Agios Nikolaos, a town that is very much attached to the tourist dollar, may well want to let the Tahrir sail sooner rather than later, as activists chanting and dancing in the streets for a free Gaza is not necessarily part of everyone's sun-bleached, 4-star tourist experience. Already luxury yachts and catamarans are emptying out of the port where the Tahrir is stranded.

Kritsotakis' march again ended in front of the harbour police station, where he demanded to know why the Tahrir was not allowed to sail. No genuine answer was forthcoming.

--

In lighter news, never let it be said that those aboard the Tahrir have lost their sense of humour. With Krisotakis aboard the Tahrir for a media-soaked walk through the boat, suddenly the Tahrir started up her engines. Everyone's attention was then directed to the mouth of the harbour, where Nicholas Wallwork, from Australia, and Bob Lovelace, from the Ardoch Algonquin Nation, had silently stationed themselves in a kayak.

As the Tahrir's engines revved, the pair symbolically paddled their way out of the harbour, and headed towards the open sea. Wallwork carried a bag filled with the medicines that the Tahrir carries as her cargo, between his legs. Harbour authorities, which now include a 24 hour, multi-person guard, and an enlarged detail of soldier-esque individuals during the day, were momentarily flustered, and a heated walkie-talkie session ensued.

As day turns to evening, spirits remain high aboard the Tahrir. There are enough supplies on board for an extended hold-out, and the all-important word begins to reach the activists of international actions of solidarity via the Tahrir's satellite connection.