Turkish police and PKK officials in a boat of immigrants in Katakolo

The alarm was sounded by the State Security, as a boat of migrants that arrived in Katakolo, Ilia, was carrying 20 Turkish police officers, 10 PKK Kurds, academics, a member of parliament, and a journalist, all persecuted by the Erdogan regime in Turkey. The political refugees -since they are expected to apply for political asylum- came to Greece with the fishing boat "NEMO".

As reported by ilialive, which reveals the news, the presence of EYP executives among the Coast Guard in Katakolo for the second time, reveals that the Greek authorities are passing through a "sieve" the boats of migrants located in the Aegean and Ionian. It is not only the traffickers who are being investigated on each such vessel, but also the passengers who in many cases are citizens of Turkey.

Among the 65 passengers are 20 Turkish "Gulenist" police officers, as they say in their country, and 10 PKK Kurds, who wanted to flee to Italy and Europe with immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq (mostly of Kurdish origin).

The good knowledge of the Turkish language by the Harbor Master of Katakolo Dimitris Papailiou but also the penetrating investigation of the executives of EYP, revealed and brought to the fore those that hid many of the passengers of "NEMO". In contrast to other cases of "irregular immigrants" who they are looking for an almost "childish" projection with the victory sign - usually - in front of the lens, they are hiding… "No pictures" they are shouting, trying to communicate in fluent English.

One of the Turkish policemen reveals his identity. "We are from Turkey and we were police officers" and shows a photo on his cell phone with his uniform, wanting to prove that he is telling the truth. "We have to get out of here," he says almost desperately. People who "escaped" from the regime, leaving everything behind to save their lives.

Azad, a Kurdish journalist, was persecuted and imprisoned for three years by the regime, following the fate of other compatriots.

"Prison is tough. The Turkish authorities have nothing to do with those in Greece. I want to leave for any country I can communicate in English, to be able to continue my life. I wish I could get to Canada, but I can't. I have left my own people behind and I know I can not go back to see them, even when they are gone. But I can not stay in Turkey. "If I stay I will end up in prison again."
In Azad's mind are the events with Ocalan, the Kurdish leader, that the Greek government actually handed over to the Turks, something that angers him, as he says. "It was a huge mistake of Greece to betray Ocalan. We have a lot in common with Kurds and Greeks. The most important of all, the common enemy, the Turks. Their policy is not going to change even if Erdogan leaves. Any government will do the same.