North Aegean Region on strike, as local islanders clash with police

The North Aegean Region and its municipalities have called for a general strike on Wednesday, which comes amid clashes that broke out on the islands of Lesvos and Chios, where residents tried to prevent the arrival of riot police and excavating machines to be used to build new migrant detention camps.

The decision was announced by North Aegean regional governor Kostas Moutzouris at a meeting held in Mytilini, where they also announced the establishment of a Coordination Body for addressing the situation on the islands.

"The barbarous and extremely aggressive government action to send riot police to the islands of Lesvos and Chios to impose their violent transformation into new prisons, in defiance to the will and dignity of the islanders," said the Governor.

The announcement also condemned the "attacks against defenseless civilians and the blocking of the roads".

Police fired teargas to disperse the crowds that gathered early on Tuesday to try to prevent officers from disembarking from government-chartered ferries.

On Lesvos, protesters set fire to bins and used municipal rubbish trucks to try to block the port area.

Local officials said police on Chios also used teargas and flash grenades. At least three people were taken to hospital and treated for breathing difficulties caused by the extensive use of teargas.

The region and the municipalities have invited all the residents of Lesvos to gather in Sappho Square on Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm and afterward to move towards the Karavas area."It is a day of shame for all and mostly for those who ordered these actions. It is a shame for the islanders to be beaten and to suffer from tear gas. Not even the junta did these things," Moutzouris said.

*Images courtesy of INTIME NEWS and Lesvos Post