Refugees fleeing from persecution are dying at sea

http://www.everyonegroup.com/EveryOne/MainPage/Entries/2011/4/16_African_refugees._To_perish_at_sea%2C_abandoned_by_everybody.html

 

Tripoli, April 15th, 2011. In the era of super fast means of transport, stealth aircraft, satellites, computers and major human rights projects, refugees fleeing from persecution are dying at sea, ignored by the rest of the world.

When the vessel of a group of sub-Saharan migrants is in trouble due to an engine fault - or the boat is taking in water -  the ships of the "civilized" world sail past them, helicopters fly over their heads, but nobody comes to their aid. This is the world we live in. These are our times. 

This is the testimony of Abu Kurk, an Ethiopian and survivor of the shipwreck in the waters off Libya last March in which 63 Eritreans and Ethiopians lost their lives. Our thanks go to Emiliano Bos, the journalist who interviewed the survivor, and Father Mussie Zerai.

Saturday, April 16, 2011, by EveryOne Group

African refugees. To perish at sea, abandoned by everybody

Welcome To Europe expresses its joy over the vindication of the hunger strikers' demands

http://w2eu.net/2011/03/14/our-statement-about-the-end-of-the-hunger-strike/

Welcome To Europe expresses its joy over the vindication of the hunger strikers' demands on day 44. We have followed and supported the hunger strike closely, and often we feared for the hunger strikers' lives. Our relief given the successful conclusion cannot be expressed appropriately.

The results of the struggle are of extreme importance, especially as they have been achieved under ever harsher conditions. The fact that the possibility to obtain a residence permit will affect all migrants in Greece points to the general nature of the struggle. The political symbolism of the travel permits that will be given should not be underestimated: it allows for free movement across the walls of Europe, and contributes to making the dream of a common social and political space uniting the Mediterranean and providing freedom of movement within more concrete.

As the promises of the government have yet to be put into law and action, we declare that we will continue to follow the developments very closely. Should the need arise to take further action, we will be at the side of our brothers, sisters and friends.

The hunger strikers' struggle for political and social rights is a big step within a new cycle of struggles for the inclusion of migrants into the European societies. It is part of a process towards a great transformation, that will lead to a Europe without borders and fences.

**
network welcome to europe

http://w2eu.net           blog
http://w2eu.info          independent information for migrants coming to europe

http://w2eu.net/2011/03/14/our-statement-about-the-end-of-the-hunger-strike/

Welcome To Europe expresses its joy over the vindication of the hunger strikers' demands on day 44. We have followed and supported the hunger strike closely, and often we feared for the hunger strikers' lives. Our relief given the successful conclusion cannot be expressed appropriately.

The results of the struggle are of extreme importance, especially as they have been achieved under ever harsher conditions. The fact that the possibility to obtain a residence permit will affect all migrants in Greece points to the general nature of the struggle. The political symbolism of the travel permits that will be given should not be underestimated: it allows for free movement across the walls of Europe, and contributes to making the dream of a common social and political space uniting the Mediterranean and providing freedom of movement within more concrete.

As the promises of the government have yet to be put into law and action, we declare that we will continue to follow the developments very closely. Should the need arise to take further action, we will be at the side of our brothers, sisters and friends.

The hunger strikers' struggle for political and social rights is a big step within a new cycle of struggles for the inclusion of migrants into the European societies. It is part of a process towards a great transformation, that will lead to a Europe without borders and fences.

**
network welcome to europe

http://w2eu.net           blog
http://w2eu.info          independent information for migrants coming to europe

The struggle is complete. With the documents in hand and our heads up high, we return to our homes and our work vindicated, after 44 days on hunger strike.
The struggle continues. The announcements for an 8-year limit and the increase of work credit as prerequisites for the issuing and renewal of residence permits must become law immediately.
The struggle is the only option. The struggle against the daily exploitation and racism’s walls, the struggles for the legalisation of all migrants with no prerequisites, for equal rights between local and foreign workers, for a life with values and dignity, these are our next steps. Together with the anti-racist and migrant movement we will walk along this difficult path, the path of struggle.
The struggle unites us. With the documents in hand and the head up high we salute and wish farewell to everyone who supports us. To the people in solidarity in Greece and all other countries in the world, the doctors and their colleagues, all who stood by our side in these days of the hunger strike, in all days when our lives and our deaths demanded vindication and freedom.
See you at the struggles!
-         Protest gathering, Monday 14/03, at the Ypatia building
-         Protest gathering, Monday 14/03, 7pm at the Piraeus port (Agios Dionisios)

The 300 migrant hunger strikers

http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com

The hunger strike of the three-hundred migrant workers has ended. The struggle for a world of equality, solidarity and freedom continues – GREVA E URISË E 300 EMIGRANTËVE PUNËTORË PËRFUNDOJ. LUFTA PËR NJË JETË ME BARAZI, SOLIDARITET DHE LIRI VAZHDONالإضراب عن الطعام من ٣٠٠ العمال المهاجرين فرغ النضال لعالم حرا وسويا مستمر

Μαρτίου 10, 2011

On January 25th, 2011 three-hundred migrants in Athens and Thessaloniki commenced a fierce hunger strike, claiming the most basic things: equal rights with the local workers and the legalization of all migrants living, working and moving across the country.

44 days later and after more than 100 strikers were hospitalized with serious health issues, the state was forced to drop its intransigent attitude along with previous threats of deportation of the strikers and to negotiate officially with them, meeting a significant part of their demands:


Decrease of the required residence time of migrants in the country in order to submit applications for residence permits to 8 years, down from 12 years before (this applies to every single migrant living in the Greek territory)
Decrease of the required work credits to 120, from 200 before (same as for local workers)
Decrease of the work credits required for insurance cover to 50, from 80 before (this applies to all workers, local and migrant)

For the three-hundred hunger strikers in particular, the allowance has been given for them to indefinitely renew their 6-month “state of tolerance” status until the time when they reach the time and conditions to receive a residence permit. During that time they will be allowed to travel freely to and from their country of origin. The three-hundred migrant strikers risked their lives not on the basis of individualistic or utilitarian motives but for a collective right, in a struggle that asserted rights concerning the dignity of the entire working class. This hunger strike is a social struggle against the illegality of all migrants, a struggle addressing the entire class of workers. It comes as a continuation of struggles of the recent past, from the farmer-migrants in Manoliada, Ilia and Skala, Lakonia to the strike of the fishermen-migrants in Michaniona, Thessaloniki. The struggle of the three-hundred migrant workers proves nothing is impossible.

If the three-hundred achieved this, imagine what thousands of migrants-workers-repressed can achieve together.

Assembly of solidarity of anarchists/anti-authoritarians/libertarians/comrades

The vindication of the 300 migrants hunger strikers is a hope for the whole society

Μαρτίου 9, 2011

Today’s government’s decision to meet part of the demands of the 300 migrants on hunger strike proves that the only lost struggle is the one that is not led. It also showed to all the
working people that the government of the E.U., I.M.F. and European Bank Memorandum is not invincible. The rigid militant spirit and broad social solidarity can bring tangible results.
It is obvious that it will take a long and hard struggle for lifting the Apartheid against foreign workers living in Greece and Europe. However, there should be no doubt
that the dedication of the 300 opened a new path of hope.
We would like to thank all those (and there were many …) that have supported this difficult struggle from the first days in the Law School until the hospitals. Thus, above all, we would like to respectfully welcome the 300 fighters of who the entire working class can be proud.
Athens
09/03/1911
Solidarity Initiative to the 300
migrants on hunger strike

The Hungerstrike is finnished !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!solidarity!!!

http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2011/03/09/535-migrant-hunger-strike-ends-in-huge-victory/

As it has just been announced, the hunger strike of the 300 migrant hunger strikers has just ended, following some key government concessions in meeting their demands. As it has been agreed:
- the time limit for application for permanent residence in the country is now dropped to eight years (down from twelve).
- work credit (ensima) are disconnected from the application for permanent residence.
- all three-hundred migrant hunger strikers will be allowed to apply for 6-month rolling permits until the reach the 8-year limit in order to gain permanent residence.
This is a huge victory on the side of the hunger strikers who now see the road paved for tens of thousands of people to be able to live in the country without the fear of being undocumented.

 The Hungerstrike is finnished !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
solidarity!!!

more later...........