Police and Migrants Clash on Greek Border

Hundreds of refugees were injured during a clash with FYROM (Macedonia) police along the Greek border on April 10, Euronews reports. According to eyewitness accounts, FYROM police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants who tried to cross the border into FYROM. Proto Thema reports that tension mounted the night of April 9, when fliers written in Arabic were distributed in the refugee camp, enticing the migrants to gather and storm the border. Ekathimerini states that many people, including children, suffered from injuries and respiratory problems during attacks the following  day.

The Greek government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) condemned the attacks. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused FYROM of “shaming Europe by firing tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants.” “This is a great shame for European culture and for countries who want to be part of it,” he added.

According to Ekathimerini, the Foreign Ministry of FYROM responded by saying that its security forces “acted with the greatest possible restraint, sense of duty and professionalism in order to deal with the violent protests.” Furthermore, they also raised the issue of trespassing national borders. Proto Thema holds that the rubber bullets and the tear gas were fired inside Greek territory by FYROM police, which were also deployed within the Greek side of the border.

However, even Greek authorities admit that FYROM police did not trespass the Greek border while repelling the migrants, IEfimerida reports. Even though videos show the FYROM police operating on the Greek side of the fence, Greek authorities added that the fence is a few meters within the territory of FYROM.

Tension could escalate as the borders remain closed and the plight of the stranded migrants continues. As CNN Greece reports, Greek Ambassador in FYROM Mr. Theocharis Lalakos said that violence cannot, under any case, resolve the issue and asked for FYROM’s authorities to show restraint, vigilance, and responsibility.

Note: An abbreviated version of this article appears in print.