“The possible continuation of our stay and our participation in the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry, would legitimize the previously adopted decision of the majority, to acquit those responsible for the crime of Tempe, where 57 young people lost their lives and 180 were injured Greek citizens. We do not consent to the cover-up of a national crime of this magnitude,” the SYRIZA MPs who participate in the commission of inquiry for “the investigation of the crime of Tempe” emphasize in their statement.

Specifically, they state:

“With a full sense of responsibility the four members of the Commission of Inquiry “to investigate the crime of Tempe and all aspects related to it” we have decided to withdraw from the Commission of Inquiry.

Our action was absolutely necessary given that we were treated by the Bureau of the Commission and by its members, appointed by the New Democracy, in an absolutely anti-institutional, insulting and discrediting manner at the expense of the effort to ascertain the truth and assign blame.

In addition, the reasons that forced our departure:

1. The rejection of our request for the examination of essential witnesses who would contribute significantly to the establishment of the causes of the crime of Tempes, such as for example the examination of K. Gennidounias – pr. President of OSE Drivers – who sent K. Karamanlis, known to the Greek people, an extra-judicial letter, warning him of a great risk of a fatal accident. As well as F. Tsalidis – pr. CEO TRAINOSE – who in his letter to K. Karamanlis warned of the possibility of a serious accident or of Chr. Triantopoulou – pr. Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, who gave an order to K. Agorastos for the search at the scene of the crime.

2. The rejection of our request for an examination of the special experts appointed by the State and the relatives of the victims, in order to enlighten the Commission on the causes of the explosion and the fire that followed after the collision of the trains.

3. From the beginning of the work of the Investigative Committee, it was requested that the criminal case file be filed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Appeals of Larisa. Despite the fact that today the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry are gradually closing, the relevant file has not yet been sent, a necessary condition for the Commission to come to safe conclusions. Also, the request of SYRIZA and the relatives of the victims, to suspend the Commission’s work until the Parliament receives the criminal case file, was rejected.

4. The defiant rejection by the majority of the request to send the statement of K. Karamanlis to the competent Prosecutor to investigate any perjury.

The possible continuation of our stay and our participation in the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry, would legitimize the previously adopted decision of the majority, to acquit those responsible for the crime of Tempe, where 57 young people lost their lives and 180 Greeks were injured citizens. We do not consent to the cover-up of such a national crime.”