Downloaded by [82.28.181.28] at 02:36 18 February 2016 8 L. KARAMANIDOU Incidents of mistreatment by state agencies are referred to as ‘scant’ (MPO 2000, 23), ‘isolated’ or ‘individual’ ‘incidents’ (CERD 2009, 36; Government of Greece 2009, 12; MPO 2002), ‘very few’ (HP 2011a, 10848), ‘isolated cases’ (HRC 2011, 11) or, as stated in relation to the shooting of an Albanian migrant, an ‘unfortunate moment’ (HP 2001). The chronological spread of the narrative indicates not only its durability but also its employment by administrations of different political affiliations. Only the PASOK-led administration of 2009–2011 diverged from it by admitting the problematic nature of the unauthorized use of violence as a problem in parliamentary documents and ministry communications – although not in responses to international organizations. This departure from dominant narratives is attributable to both differentiation from the previous New Democracy (ND) government, criticized for its policies and practices towards migrants (CHR 2009; CPT 2009), and to plans at the time to reform the Greek police (HP 2009b, 2010). Outright denials also occur on occasion, both in relation to specific cases (HP 1998a, 2009c) and for what appears to be rhetorical purposes – for example, a minister alleged that the security forces ‘never mistreat’ migrants (HP 2008a). Dismissing allegations of mistreatment as untruthful emerges as a position adopted by government MPs and ministers in the 2014 debates on the codification of immigration law. In defence of a proposed – and later withdrawn – clause allowing the deportation of migrants considered to have made false allegations, the Minister of Justice stated that such allegations can be ‘lies’ that migrants are ‘taught by smugglers’ to say (HP 2014b, 9086), a belief echoed by several MPs of New Democracy, one of whom refered to ‘an industry of complaints against coastguards and police’ (HP 2014a, 9092, 9089, 2014b). Both outright denials and references to ‘isolated events’ are supported by claims of lack of evidence. Responding to allegations of mistreatment by CPT, the Ministry of Public Order stated that ‘[ … ] our country is being accused of maltreatment during arrest and interrogation with a series of generalisms (general and unclear allegations)’ which were ‘without any evidence’ (Government of Greece 2009, 13). In the extract above, noticeably sharper in tone than other government responses, the unfairness of such allegations is underlined by the emotive references to ‘our country’ as the recipient of such criticisms. Deflecting criticisms of police violence during operation Xenios Zeus, the Minister of Public Order similarly remarked that he did not know of ‘any policeman [sic] being sued by anybody with specific charges [of mistreatment]’ (MPOCP 2013a). The absence of formal complaints and reports is invoked to substantiate lack of evidence claims, and is legitimated by claims that appropriate systems are in place both at administrative (such as disciplinary procedures and Sworn Administrative inquiries within the police) and legal level, that investigations are conducted in an appropriate manner, and that officers are appropriately penalized if found at fault (CERD