ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 August 2012 when compared to the statistics for previous months in 2012 or to statistics for respective months in 2011. Hellenic Police Force has attributed this decrease to the operation 'Xenios Zeus' and the later accomplished Fence in Evros. Still, these statistics should also be compared to respective statistics for the rest of the country's front lines during the same period. Arrests of illegal migrants at the Greek-turkish land borders, on a monthly basis for the years 2011-2012 JAN FEB MAR APR ΜΑY JUN JUL AUG OCT ΝΟV DEC 6339 SEP T 7052 2011 2156 1650 2035 2891 3775 3689 5941 9626 6018 3802 2012 2864 2213 2569 3731 4501 4963 6914 2172 216 137 71 82 Source: Hellenic Police Force. In terms of political controversies, operation 'Xenios Zeus' has sustained severe critique (20.08.2012) from the opposition (SYRIZA), which has been speaking of a “lasting pogrom”116. It is noteworthy that the Chairman of DIMAR, the left wing of the Government of National Responsibility, during an interview beginning September 2012, referred to operations 'Xenios Zeus' as an example of him being informed on a very short notice117. In regional Greece, in the aftermath of the operation in Patras, a rally was organized by the Movement for Defending Migrants' and Refugees' Rights. During the same period a rise of violence acts against aliens was observed, leading to the statement of the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, that in case these actions were ascertained as having a racist motive, he would see into proposing a draft law to the Ministry of Justice, so that the racist motive would be considered as an aggravating condition118. The rise of assaults against foreigners, including tourists of Asian or African origin, had an international impact119 resulting in the adoption of the P.D. 132/2012 “Establishment of Departments and Offices 116 http://www.syriza.gr/%CE%B4%CE%AE%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CF%8E%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%83%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BC-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7/ 117 http://www.dimokratikiaristera.gr/epikairotita/synentefkseis/3663-synentefksi-tou-proedrou-tisdimar-foti-kouveli-stin-efimerida-kathimerini-tis-kyriakis-kai-to-dimosiografo-konstantino-zoyla. For the stance of DIMAR and PASOK see also Interview of the Minister of Public Order and Citizen protection, Mr N. Dendias, at SKAI TV morning magazine 'First Line', 06.08.2012, (http://www.mopocp.gov.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=&perform=view&id=4324&Itemid=551 ) 118 Realnews, 19.8.2012 (http://www.mopocp.gov.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=&perform=view&id=4332&Itemid=551 ) 119 Indicatively it is cited the US Embassy Athens Greece, Security Message for US citizens: Safety and Security in Greece, 16.11.2012 (http://photos.state.gov/libraries/greece/38517/uscitizens/sec_message_greece.pdf). Relevant acts are reported in MPs questions (q 1476/10-9-2012, q. 4468/28-11-2012), in specialized Newsheets (MigrationNewsheet July 2012, November 2012), whereas specific recommendations are being addressed to the responsible authorities in the Report of the Racist Violence Recording Network (Οct. 2012) (http://www.unhcr.gr/fileadmin/Greece/News/2012/pr/ConclusionsOctober2012EN.pdf) 45