AGGRIEVED relatives of the Helios air crash victims were yesterday turned away from the gates of the Presidential Palace, after the President refused to see them.
A large group reached the Presidential Palace demanding “a word” with President Tassos Papadopoulos.
The demo of more than 50 relatives wanted an explanation as to why the President was not releasing a report into the accident.
A probe was completed last year after dozens of hearings before a committee of inquiry presided by former Supreme Court judge Panayiotis Kallis.
The probe is a separate inquiry to the fact-finding report into the accident produced by Greek experts. Without naming names, that report cited pilot error as the primary cause, but went on to say that operational deficiencies at Helios were a latent reason for the disaster.
But whereas most expected the Kallis report to be made public – or at least given to the interested parties – that has yet to happen.
The worst aviation disaster in Cypriot history took place on August 14, 2005, when a Boeing 737 jet bound for Athens from Larnaca crashed in Grammatikos, Greece killing all 121 people on board.
The Kallis report has since been placed in the care of the Cabinet, and appears to have been deemed classified, despite the fact the actual committee hearings were open.
The relatives say the report is crucial to lawsuits they intend to file in Greece against plane manufacturers Boeing.
Moreover, the two-year deadline by which to file a civil suit is fast approaching.
The official argument is apparently that releasing the report now might jeopardise an ongoing police investigation into the accident.
The criminal investigation is said to rely heavily on the Kallis report.
On May 17, lawyers representing the relatives sent Papadopoulos a letter asking for the report.
But yesterday, relatives received word from the Presidential Palace that the letter had not been received.
It was the last straw for frustrated relatives, who took the news as yet another sign that authorities are indifferent to their plight.
At around noon, a discreet police force tried to stop relatives from going past the front gates of the Presidential Palace, but they barged through anyway.
The demo came to a stop outside the inner gates leading to the President’s residence, where negotiations began with security officers.
Dressed in black, many of the kin were carrying pictures of their loved ones lost in the crash. Others held up banners demanding justice.
One banner featured a copy of a letter by the President, in the wake of the accident, pledging that the guilty would be brought to justice.
It soon became clear, however, that the President – who was at the Palace presiding over a Cabinet meeting – would not see them.
Under the noon heat, tempers began to fray.
“For two years they haven’t got it straight. If they can’t mete out justice, we’ll do it for them. An eye for an eye!” cried one animated man as newsmen swarmed around.
“Murderers!” shouted another.
“You’ve been mocking us for too long. What the hell do they mean, they haven’t got our letter?”
Other than a little bit of shoving at the main entrance, the demo passed without incident.
“We want him [the President] to look us in the eye!” screamed a woman in tears.
“Do you know what it feels like to walk into your child’s empty bedroom every day? Can anyone understand our pain?”
Around 1pm, the Under-Secretary to the President showed up, but angry relatives flat-out refused to talk with an emissary, insisting that they see Papadopoulos in person.
Realising that would not happen, they trekked back outside the gates, where they staged an impromptu sit-down, cutting off the avenue adjacent to the Palace.
The demo fizzled out after about 15 minutes, with the relatives heading back to their cars in disgust.
Nicolas Yiasoumis, who heads the relatives’ committee, told the Mail later yesterday they had re-sent their request for the Kallis report by fax.
“This time they told us they received it,” said Kallis.
The committee would give the President a few days to reply, he added.
Asked what they would do if they were again given the runaround, Yiasoumis said: “We’ll see how it goes.”
