Mati Wildfire

The horror, pain, and irrationality of the Mati fire should become a springboard for a restart of the state and of a flexible civil protection authority that will not used for political skirmishes.

This case involves the victims of the negligence of the state and of its failure to effectively manage one of the biggest natural disasters in our recent history.

The 102 dead in the Mati wildfire were never forgotten by their their loved ones, nor by those who saw the fire raging all night in live broadcasts and then saw the anguish of survivors.

Some were negligent, some proved incompetent or unable to meet the challenge, some stood by as onlookers as the fire spread, “like Xerxes” as the investigating magistrate’s report stated.

The government and SYRIZA are preoccupied with arguing even as the residents of Mati grapple with the invisible threat under their feet – the asbestos that remains on dozens of properties.

There are responsibilities for the extent of the tragedy, and on top of those responsibilitities one must add the responsibilities of the perpetual crime that one has witnessed over the last year.

Suffice it to say that the list of areas that pose an increased fire risk has not been updated since 1984.

What firefighting plan can be implemented when firefighting patrol cars are parked due to lack of personnel, as a related report confirms?

Greek Police and Fire Service officials have also been charged in the case, as has a 65-year-old man who was responsible for starting the initial fire in Daou Pentelis.

'It is the least indication of gratitude and honour toward these people from the Greek state, as they are an example to be emulated due to their self-sacrifice and their contribution to society,' said Interior Minister Alexis Haritsis.

There have been complaints by the fire-stricken in Mati, Attica, that after the assurances of ministers that there will be a full restoration of the area, there has been radio silence.

A government which is not ashamed and afraid when confronted with mourning lacks political culture.

A broad majority in a plenary session of the European Parliament approved a resolution to support the fire-ravaged area of Mati, Attica, with EU funding.

Former Fire Service deputy chief Andrianos Gourbatsis has sent an open letter to Citizen’s Protection Minister Olga Gerovasili and Deputy Minister Katerina Papakosta requesting that the ministry launch an administrative investigation of the Mati wildfire.

Under the law, only parliament and not the judiciary can probe the criminal responsibility of ministers, who are also granted an exceptionally short statute of limitations, almost always leading to their evading prosecution.

A government that had social services at the top of its agenda, would have been the first to tend to the relief of the fire-stricken and would have made sure that their tragedy will not be forgotten