By Athena Karsera
A MEETING between the Defence Minister and Pyrga residents yesterday prevented further demonstrations at the Kalo Chorio firing range. Diko deputy Marios Matsakis had on Thursday threatened to enter the range again yesterday in protest at a National Guard blunder that on Tuesday sent a shower of flares on to nearby Pyrga village.
Demonstrating against the mistake, Matsakis on Wednesday accompanied several Pyrga residents into the firing range, disrupting army exercises.
Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos retaliated by ordering that anyone disrupting National Guard exercises in the future be arrested, but Matsakis laughed off the threat.
At yesterdays meeting in Pyrga, Hasikos assured the residents and the town council that further measures to protect them and their property had been taken. He also agreed to a request that a fire engine be on hand every time an exercise was held at the firing range.
On the strength of hos comments, the council decided not to intervene in the military exercises taking place yesterday and today.
If the National Guard made no further errors over the two days, the council said, they would have no objection to the firing range continuing at its present location. But if mistakes did occur, the council said that they would take “dynamic action”.
Hasikos said he now considered the matter closed, and Matsakis, who also attended the meeting, said the Minister had shown understanding for the residents’ plight.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros yesterday published a letter it said was sent to Hasikos by Attorney-general Alecos Markides, who said Matsakis could be arrested if he insisted on demonstrating at the range.
“The Attorney-general suggested that if Matsakis went on to the firing range, he should be removed and action should be taken to prevent him repeating the action. If however, he perseveres, then the authorities should make a regular arrest.”
While deputies are immune from imprisonment for crimes warranting a sentence of five years or less, the newspaper said preventing a military exercise is punishable by a six-year sentence.
Markides’ letter said that the law stipulates that anyone who “approaches, inspects, photographs, prepares drawings of, goes into or out of any restricted area, is guilty of a criminal offence and will be imprisoned for six years”.
The paper said the letter continued: “In accordance with Article 83 of the Constitution, a deputy cannot be persecuted, arrested or imprisoned, but this does not apply to an offence warranting a sentence of five years and over, if the implicated party is apprehended while committing the crime.”
