The Greek coastguard's account of the events surrounding last month's fatal migrant boat sinking, in which up to 600 people perished, is now further called into question by new information.
According to two survivors, the coastguard pressured them to call out the nine Egyptians on board as traffickers, as reported by BBC News.
The Greek coastguard's version is further called into question by a fresh video showing the overcrowded boat capsized at sea. When it was taken, the boat was reportedly traveling on a "steady course."
New Records Show Significant Inconsistencies
The official Greek coastguard story had already been disputed, but now court records reveal significant inconsistencies between survivors' witness accounts taken by the coastguards and the direct evidence afterward given to a judge.
Following the rescue of another group of migrants by the coast guard, a translator has also stepped forward to share his testimony of a people-smuggling probe from the previous year. He talks about how the coast guard threatened witnesses to that occurrence. Before the matter could go to trial, it was dismissed.
The disclosures prompt new inquiries about how the Greek government responds to catastrophes. The Greek government and the coast guard both denied our requests for interviews and made no comments.
Nine Egyptian men were arrested and accused of manslaughter and human smuggling shortly after the 14 June disaster. However, two disaster survivors claim that after proposing that the coastguards might have been to blame for the tragedy, migrants were bullied and silenced by Greek officials.
Two Survivors Reveal What "Truly" Happened
For the past month, claims have been made that the fishing boat was towed by the coast guard using a rope, which is what ultimately led to its sinking. That is exactly what happened, according to the two survivors interviewed in Athens. Before being rescued by the coastguard, the men said they spent two hours in the sea.
When the survivors arrived on land at Kalamata, they allege that the coastguard ordered them to "shut up" when they began discussing how the Greek government was to blame for the catastrophe.
According to survivors, those who were saved were told to be thankful they hadn't perished. None of the five survivors who made initial comments mentioned the coastguard attempting to tow the migrant boat with a rope. However, they all revealed that there had been an unsuccessful attempt to tow it a few days later, in front of a court.
After originally denying employing one, the Greek coastguard later recanted and acknowledged its use. However, it claimed that the attempt was just made to board the ship and examine the situation. This was at least two hours before the fishing boat capsized, according to the report.
Read also: Greece: At Least 79 Migrants Dead After Overcrowded Fishing Boat Capsized
More Fatalities & Mistreatment
There are currently 82 verified deaths from the sinking, but the UN believes there may have been an additional 500 fatalities.
The charged Egyptian males, according to the Greek authorities, are a member of a smuggling ring and were recognized by other travelers. If they are found guilty, they might receive a life sentence.
Some survivors claim that some of the nine accused mistreated the passengers, although other testimonies indicate that some of them were actually trying to assist.
While a Greek Supreme Criminal Court deputy prosecutor is looking into the matter, pleas for a global, impartial investigation-including those from the UN-have so far gone unanswered. The European Commission has expressed confidence in the Greek inquiry.
