Winter update

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Winter  on Lesvos, the weather has taken a turn for the worst. In Moria, the main camp on the island, many people—among them recent arrivals—live in tents with little protection from the cold and rain due to a shortage of … Continue reading →

How many more deaths in Europe?

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2018 and things haven’t changed, Europes borders keep being as deadly as in the previous years.
So far this year, 2160 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea – 2 weeks ago, it was 2063. The emergency is still on. It’s time to react.

Right in front of our door, people are dying:
just some examples…
– On the 12th of November, a boat on the way to Lesvos capsized, two men managed to swim to shore in Dikili but 6 people died and 4 are missing.
– Two months ago (08/10/2018) nine dead bodies were found and dozens of people are missing. The boat was trying to reach Lesvos.
– Also on the way to Lesvos, 6 people, including three babies, drowned on the 29/06/18. – May 14, Babakale
– Turkey (just up north of Lesvos): 7 people died in a shipwreck.

This tragedy isn’t an accident, this is the result of European migration policies, set up since the Schengen deal in 1985. Strengthening borders and tracking and deporting people stops them from entering Europe legally, and forces them to use perilous routes instead.

The European Fortress also set up policies to externalize the borders and repel as much as possible. The EU injects millions of euros into projects to prevent migration into European territory, no matter if it supports dictatorial regimes. Indeed, on the 35 « priority countries » for the externalization of borders, all are known for abusing human rights and half of these countries have an authoritarian or dictatorial government.

It’s time to understand that the more money Europe give to train and equip armies from Turkey, Libya, Sudan…, the more people will try to flee those countries. For those who survived a dangerous journey and finally arrived to Lesvos, the island becomes not a place to find safety but even worse, a place to slowly die. Lesvos is a prison for them, as they can’t go forward because of European policy, and can’t go back to their country of origin, because they would be persecuted, enslaved or killed. We stand in solidarity with migrants everyday, not only when UN celebrates the « International Day of Human Rights ».

– Stop spending millions to kill people
– Stop supporting dictatorial governments
– Stop Dublin Regulations – Stop deportation
– Stop concentrating people in hotspots

Displaced People Displaced again.

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After heavy fights last Friday in Moria, All the Kurds left Moria fearing their safety inside the infamous detention centre was greatly at risk. Mostly families with children and a small group of single men, tried to get to safer locations. They where cattled by the Police for several hours in de burning sun. Then they went into Mytillini to sleep in parks. A number of volunteers came to their aid, not only to provide basic needs, but also the local Antifa to protect people from potential threats.

After no solution was found that a smaller group went to Pikpa, and a bigger group tried to get to Karatepe, the Muncipality run “family camp”. That was not possible,so they where transferred to Stage 2, a transit centre. Then yesterday they where removed from the UNCHR run facility and are currently residing at Humans4Humanities, a grass-roots NGO that is, like Pikpa, over capcity and in no way has the infrastructure to deal with such large numbers of people. Currently there are still 350 people residing in Pikpa.

The authorities of Lesvos have once again shown their incompetence in dealing with life-threatening situations. The Kurds, fleeing from war and discrimination, find themselves facing much of the same treatment on this Island. The police and supposed authorities did nothing to stop the violence in Moria. Instead of finding a solution themselves they drop all the people on the grass-roots NGO’s so that they don’t have to worry about the situation. We cannot trust goverment institutions to safeguard the lives of people for whom they have shown total indifference in past, present and also the future.

No Border Kitchen and One Happy Family has been providing food for Pikpa since the onset of the situation, because no one else had the means to do so. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pikpa, volunteers and migrants that are trying their best to care for the people displaced again in search of safety.

For now we wait. A number of residents of Moria have said the Kurds are no longer welcome, and made a number of very colourful threats for the case when they would come back. But the current situation is also not sustainable, and the Authorities keep silent.

Pogrom night in Mytilini

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On the night of April 22nd, a group of 200-300 fascists attacked a group of residents of Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. The pogrom lasted all night, leaving dozens of those occupying the square injured. Ultimately police evacuated the square entirely.
At the beginning of last week a group of Moria’s residents moved out of the crowded state camp in the olive groves of Moria to Sappho Square, Mytilini’s main square. The group settled down there, occupying a part of the square day and night. There are many reasons for their protest, including the oversight and inadequacy of local organisations in providing medical care for a friend of theirs dying in hospital. And they protest more generally against the oppressive camp structures propped up by a number of NGOs. The protesters accused Eurorelief and MMS in particular, both of whom work in the prison-like structures of the camp. There were slogans against the UN, as well as fundamental demands for freedom of movement.
Change of scene: Every Sunday a military parade and flag ceremony takes place in Mytilini. The Greek flag on the town hall is raised by the military and nationalists. This Sunday fascists came from all over Greece. After the ceremony they make their way to Sappho Square. The police are already present at this time and form a line between the people on the square and the surrounding fascists. Around 9 p.m. the first attacks occur: from the ranks of the fascists, two torches and a barrage of stones are hurled at the protestors. The protestors stand their ground, having already started to prepare for the attacks during the parade. They form a circle, with women, children and the elderly protected in the middle. All the others, including a few dozen Greek and international supporters, are standing around the edges. People start to form a tent of blankets to protect themselves from the objects to throw.
Until just before 11 p.m. there is some peace and quiet. The group of fascists seems to calm down and decrease in size, and the police make negotiations with both groups. The occupiers want to stay, and the fascists make it clear that they want to drive them out. Reports from Moria camp, about an hour’s walk away, suggest that many people set out to provide support, but were stopped by police and driven back to camp. The camp was then locked down. Shortly thereafter there are new waves of attacks: Again, objects fly towards the people in the square. This time also firecrackers, and bins set alight, to break through the police rows. The attacks are shifting to the promenade. Occasionally there are small fights when fascists succeed in breaking through next to the police line.
Throughout the night there are many injuries, mainly from stones, bottles and firecrackers. Many unconscious people are carried away after being hit in the head by rocks. There are open wounds as well as eye and ear injuries. In nearby premises, people of solidarity are setting up an infirmary in which injuries are treated in a makeshift manner. Due to the riots, it takes a long time for the first ambulances to arrive. Thanks to the strong solidarity structures on the island, fortunately some doctors are quickly on the spot. Small groups of fascists sometimes make it very close to the temporary infirmary, so that the injured have to be evacuated from there in an emergency and distributed to other places.
Meanwhile the fascist mob has grown to several hundred people. Between the promenade and the square are two police buses that block the view. Behind it, the fascists continue throwing objects at the people who are
still on the square. Although many have been injured and would like to retaliate, the people in the square are not provoked, and take great care that nothing is thrown back. In view of the great danger and the hopeless situation, the people on the square remain admirably calm. Stoically they accept the attacks and try to sit out the night. Don’t go back to Moria! But where else?
In the centre of the circle, the situation is particularly awful. Under the tent the remaining women, children and old people endure. They can’t see what’s happening around them. Children scream while the fascists try to hit right in the middle of the circle. Again and again firecrackers
fall down between the ceilings, which offer good protection against the stones, and explode between people. Tear gas wafts repeatedly pass by and get stuck under the ceilings.
Individual groups of fascists try to get closer to the protesting people from all sides. Stones are thrown from the side at head level. There are constant attacks in which several dozens of projectiles fly over the bus at the same time. Among them massive stones, Molotov cocktails and big firecrackers. The fascists accept the dead.
The police maintain a spatial separation of the two groups for most of the night. But often there is only a row of policemen in between. The people in the square remain within throwing distance. At times the police use tear gas, pepper spray and truncheons to drive back the fascists. This gives some space for a short time, but no sustained attempt is made to keep the fascists at a distance. For a long time there have been far too few police officers present. Many are probably still busy stopping the people from Moria who have run off in support. Only at the end, with the evacuation of the square, do new buses with policemen arrive.
This night revealed the racist face of the Greek police.
At 4 o’clock the police drive the fascists far away again and keep them at a distance. At the same time, they begin to crowd people together on the square. Supporters are attacked with pepper spray. The remaining 130 people are closely surrounded by the police. When it becomes clear that they will not voluntarily board the buses provided, the police use pepper spray and physical violence. This leads to last bad scenes. The police beat the people, kick them, and drag them by their hair across the square.
After more than 8 hours of attacks by the fascists, the people are arrested and taken to prison by bus. It is still unclear whether and which charges will be brought. In addition, four Greek activists are also being taken away by the police. Most of the fascists, many of whom were not disguised, remain at large.

Saturday 17th of March 12:00 @Safos Square Protest against the EU-Turkey deal.

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Broad Demonstration against the second anniversary of the EU-Turkey deal!
This Saturday the 17th of March 12:00 @Safos Square!

But this is not the only place where demonstrations will take place that day.
Don’t let the Anniversary go by unnoticed! Find your local initiatives and get to the streets!

With the anniversary of the EU-Turkey deal coming up, it will be two years since the European goverments signed this deal with the devil. The despot Edrogan keeps bombing Afrin while the Eu looks on, forcing even more people to flee their homes. They claim to represent fancy words “civilisation” and “democracy” but turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions, that they have an active part causing.

No More! #openthefuckingborders

Justice for The Moria 35!

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On the 18th of July 2017, prisoners in Moria held a peaceful protest outside of European Asylum Support Office. Their demand was simple: freedom of movement for everyone who has been trapped on the island for more than six months, and humane living conditions. All of the 35 people arrested and accused of crimes, seem to be chosen out of coincidence. They are also accused for exactly the same crimes. During the arrest, the police used more violence than needed including teargas. One of the accused refugees was taken to hospital where he had to stay for a week.

To give everyone a chance, Legal Center Lesbos is crowdfunding in order to be able to provide the legal support needed for the trials. They are running out of time, so HELP THEM HERE, NOW.

For more information: https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/maya-thomas-davis/on-lesvos-police-violence-crushes-refugees-resistance-justice-f

The Myth of Voluntary Deportations – “Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration” from Greece

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“Many people are literally broken by the unbearable living conditions in Europe’s refugee camps and by an asylum procedure lacking core standards of fairness to apply for IOM’s return programme… Once migrants have signed the agreement, IOM and other participating states and agencies seem to consider themselves discharged from the responsibility for the returnee’s well-being.

Many people signing up for the AVRR programme experience nothing close to a “safe and dignified” return. Before their return, they are treated as badly as deportees: transported in handcuffs, held in detention and affected by violence in the pre-removal centers. Back in their home countries, many returnees are again exposed to detention, exploitation and the persecution they fled from seeking safety and a decent life in Europe.”

Powerful piece from comrades at HarekAct border-monitoring, on the realities of the EU’s so-called “voluntary” returns programme.

VIOLENT CLASHES AND POLICE CRACKDOWN IN MORIA

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From Tuesday to Thursday this week there were once again violent clashes erupting between different groups inside of Moria camp. According to local news 15 people needed treatment in the hospital. As far as we know at least some of them were innocent bystanders. Furthermore several tents burned, leaving innocent people without shelter. We are still waiting for news if the injured will recover. The rumors that three people died in the hospital is not officially confirmed nor denied yet.

A huge police raid on Thursday followed this violence. Riot cops swarmed the camp and arrested several dozens people. Targeted were refugees with the second rejection on their asylum claim. Many arrested were brought to prison. We condemn this police action and we expect and fear that many will be held in prison until being forcefully deported back to into a horrible Turkish detention center.

It is time that the government takes responsibility. They create the conditions that fuel the recurring violence that every time endangers innocent people and gets families, children and other bystanders injured.

It is time to open the islands.

Stop deportations and freedom of movement for all!

Refugee in wheelchair deported to Turkey

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On Thursday December 14th 8 people were deported back to Turkey under EU-Turkey-Deal. Among them was one man in a wheelchair. Only two weeks ago another severly sick refugee that could not even walk by himself was forcefully deported back to Turkey, and prior to that two families with small children.
Maybe the deportation of the person in the wheelchair was legal. Maybe it could not have been stopped. But if it was legal is not the only question we need to ask ourselves.
The question we need to ask is HOW can it be legal?
How can obviously vulnerable refugees be sent back to an obviously unsafe country?
How will they be able to access decent medical care in a cramped and unhygienic detention center in Turkey?
What future will they have?
How did it happen that the EU politics and laws are so corrupt and inhuman that they allow the most vulnerable people to be sent to places where they will definitely NOT get the care they need and decent live that they deserve?

Stop deportations NOW!
Freedom of Movement for All!