Dienstag, 19. April 2011

Refugees fleeing from persecution are dying at sea

 
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

Montag, 14. März 2011

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

Sonntag, 13. März 2011

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

Freitag, 11. März 2011

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

Donnerstag, 10. März 2011

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

Mittwoch, 9. März 2011

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


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...........

solidarity aktion in Berlin 8.3.

solidarity aktion in berlin 8.3.



solidarity aktion in berlin 8.3.

Montag, 7. März 2011

URGENT: The government threatens the hunger strikers that they will be evicted if they don't all agree to be transferred to hospitals.

URGENT: The government threatens the hunger strikers that they will be evicted if they don't all agree to be transferred to hospitals.

About an hour ago (shortly before 2pm on Monday, March 7), on the 42nd day of the hunger strike of  the 300 migrant workers, the Ministry of Health sent a representative to the hunger strikers staying in the front yard and corridors of the Ypatia mansion in Athens.

In its message to the strikers, the Ministry of Health states that “their limits of patience and understanding have been exhausted” and that they ask “with no further delay, that all hunger strikers be transferred to NHS hospitals in Athens (…) so that danger to their health and to their life is avoided.” The text ends in a warning: “We ask the migrants who are staying at Ypatia to cooperate with the ambulance staff so that they are transferred without further delay. We ask the people who accompany them and support their struggle, to not only refrain for obstructing the procedure, but to make every possible effort to persuade all migrants to be transferred to public hospitals.”

In other words, under the pretext that they are interested in the hunger strikers’ health condition, the government is prepared to send the police to force the migrant hunger strikers out of the building. This is the first step towards forceful feeding by the hospital staff, i.e. towards breaking the hunger strike with an order by a public prosecutor.

The hunger strikers have already decided that they are not leaving the building without a residency permit.

Sonntag, 6. März 2011

300: A brief chronicle of the hunger strike, through the texts of the hunger strikers and the solidarity initiatives in Athens and Thessaloniki

300: A brief chronicle of the hunger strike, through the texts of the hunger strikers and the solidarity initiatives in Athens and Thessaloniki

The 300 hunger strikers begin their hunger strike in Athens and Thessaloniki (25 JANUARY 2011) and formulate their demands: REGULARIZATION and EQUAL RIGHTS for ALL IMMIGRANTS LIVING AND WORKING HERE
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/statement-of-the-300-migrant-workers-on-hunger-strike-from-25-january-2011/

People in solidarity respond with an analysis of the recent crisis and explain why it is essential to support the migrants’ demands:
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/text-for-the-press-conference-with-the-doctors/

What the hunger strikers said when the government wanted to change the location of the strike (an empty University building) after the strike had already started (27 January):
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/press-release-decision-of-the-assembly-of-migrants-on-hunger-strike/

THE GREEK STATE TORTURES HUNGER STRIKERS, explains the Solidarity Initiative (27 January) after a series
of meaningless negotiations with the government and false promises that they will be relocated somewhere better:
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/thursday-january-27-the-greek-state-tortures-hunger-strikers/

Despite the hardships, the hunger strikers declare that they are determined to continue (29 January):
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/announcement-to-the-society/

The hunger strikers’ message to the assembly of the City Council in Thessaloniki, which later voted in full support of the strike (12 February):
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/message-by-the-assembly-of-fifty-hunger-strikers-in-thessaloniki-to-the-mayor-and-the-members-of-the-city-council/


Intellectuals (Noam Chomsky, Emmanuel Wallerstein, Eduardo Galeano, Slavoj Zizek, Alain Badiou, Naomi Klein), immigrants’ and worker organizations from all over the world express their solidarity with the hunger strikers:
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/solidarity-with-the-300-migrant-workers-on-hunger-strike-in-greece/
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/a%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%B3%CF%8D%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-slavoj-zizek-%CE%BA%CF%8E%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%B4%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B6%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B1/

The hunger strikers’ specific demands (21 February)

http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/hunger-strikers%E2%80%99-assembly-decision-2102/

Meanwhile their health is deteriorating (22 February)
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/medical-report-22nd-february-2011/

The government, through Minister Ragoussis, repeats its position that “there will be no regularisations” and the Solidarity Initiative with the strikers respond:
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/an-answer-to-ragkousis-statements/

The hunger strikers’ health is in danger:
http://allilmap.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/text-for-the-press-conference-with-the-doctors/
Announcement of the hunger strikers (March 4, 2011)
The hunger strike has been going on for 40 days now and the clock is ticking. (PRESS RELEASE MARCH 5, 2011)
It is high time the hunger strikers’ demands were met before it is too late.

http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/a-brief-chronicle-of-the-hunger-strike-through-the-texts-of-the-hunger-strikers-and-the-solidarity-initiatives-in-athens-and-thessaloniki/

Samstag, 5. März 2011

Hassan talks about the lies the newspaper NEA wrote about him




Samstag, 5. März 2011
Hassan talks about the lies the newspaper NEA wrote about him



I want to say something about what the newspaper TA NEA wrote about me,showing a picture of me with a wrong name.
We the hungerstrikers take all decisions on our own in our plenum and nobody is telling us what to do.
A hungertsriker has no reasons to go for a walk, since he has to take care of himself and his health condition.

Hassan

Announcement of the hunger strikers to society (4/3)




Announcement-response to the government’s 
proposal, 
after the meeting (of the immigrants-workers 

hunger strikers) with the ministers:

1. We hunger strikers, from the places of our strike in Athens and
Thessaloniki and from hospitals, unanimously reject the government’s
proposal for a regime
of tolerance, because it does not respond to our claim for legalization with
freedom of movement, work-based renewal and all other rights that legal
immigrants have in Greece and Europe.

2. We reject the request of the minister of Health to transfer
all Athens’ hunger strikers to hospitals due to weather conditions’
worsening.
As we have done for 39 days with cold and floods, we continue
the hunger strike in Hypatia building (Patission Ave, and Ipirou Str.),
and of course those who are in critical condition will be transfered
to hospitals under our doctors’s orders.

3. We stress once again that the nationwide hunger strike is our struggle,
that we take the decisions on all issues, and we demand the lies
and slander to be stopped.

The 300 hunger strikers in Athens and Thessaloniki, 4 March 2011
hungerstrike300.espivblogs.net

Donnerstag, 3. März 2011

Hamburg-Stop frontex in the mediteranean and Solidarity greetings to the 300 hunerstrikers in Greece

STOP HERMES-so that everyone can arive safely!
no war against refugees.

solidarity for the 300 hungertsrikers in Greece!


many people habe arived in germany who have had to cross Greece they wish specially strongly much strength and a good end for their fight to the hungertsrikers

this kid will be able to say later that it was from the frist begining against any frontex activities

call me!

today 98 hungerstrikers in hospitals!!!

today 98 hungerstrikers in hospitals!!!

Mittwoch, 2. März 2011

Dozens of Greek Migrants Hospitalized During 37 Days of Hunger Strike



video made by wbjourdan

Song written bei one of the hungerstrikers-today 78 in hospitals



2/3/2011 – 78 hunger strikers in hospitals
Μαρτίου 2, 2011

78 hunger strikers in hospitals


Last night, March 1, at least 78 immigrants hunger strikers were in hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki. The medical team responsible to support the hunger strikers decided the transfer to the hospitals because the hunger strikers were suffering from:

a) imminent acute renal failure (that is reversible if treated promptly),

b) severe dehydration with electrolyte deficiencies,

c) cardiac arrhythmias,

d) several other medical problems.

In several hospitals police «visited» the doctors and asked the Ids and data about the medical condition of the hunger strikers. When doctors refused to give any information about their patients, police have written down the names of the doctors. Such incidents in hospitals were taking place in Greece only during the period of the dictatorship.

Yesterday morning, riot police attempted to prevent a press conference in front of the parliament. Several trade unionists, intellectuals, artists and antiracist activists (among them the writer Vassilis Alexakis) were hit and pushed violently by the policemen. ( Photo ).

Dienstag, 1. März 2011

35 day of hungerstrike of the 300 migrants today. 42 migrants already in hospitals.

video interview three days ago with one of the hungerstrikers who has been in germany .
we wish Elktif and all others to stay strong !
 show solidarity!

Sonntag, 27. Februar 2011

35 day of the hungerstrike: 28.2.11








 Ministery of Labour occupied by solidarity groups

In Athens solidarity groups have just occupied the Ministery of Labour in Athens to protest against the unwillinness of the greek goverment to fullfill the requests for legalisation of the 300 migrant hungerstrikers who are today in the 35 day of hungerstrike.In the building of the ministery for Labour  in december 2010 a desperate ägyptian migrant killed himself jumping form the 3 flour. the solidarity groups call for a gathering at 14 o´clock in the Platia Korai, infront of the ministery.
solidarity!

Κατάληψη τώρα του Υπουργείου Εργασίας στην πλατεία Κοραή – κάλεσμα σε συγκέντρωση σήμερα 28/2, 2μμ, 


ministerium


ministerium jetzt

 

Ο δίκαιος αγώνας των 300 μεταναστών-εργατώναπεργών πείνας είναι και δικός μας αγώνας!

Εδώ και 35 μέρες, σε Αθήνα και Θεσσαλονίκη, 300 μετανάστες εργάτες έχουν ξεκινήσει μια σκληρή απεργία πείνας. Διεκδικούν ίσα δικαιώματα με τους ντόπιους συναδέλφους τους και τη νομιμοποίηση όλων των μεταναστών και των μεταναστριών που ζουν, εργάζονται και μετακινούνται στη χώρα.
Επιθυμώντας να διαχύσουμε το πνεύμα αυτού του αγώνα στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, καταλαμβάνουμε τις υπηρεσίες του Υπουργείου Εργασίας στην πλατεία Κοραή. Πρόκειται για το κτίριο όπου το Δεκέμβριο του 2010 ο αιγύπτιος μετανάστης εργάτης Emand Aziz, δουλεύοντας ανασφάλιστος και μέρα Κυριακή

16 hungerstrikers are today in different Hospitals in Athens .Police tries to get their names!

On the 34 day of hungerstrike 16 people are brought to several hospitals in Athens,The police uses the opurtunity to get the names of the Hungerstrikers.Two Hospitals Red Cross and Flemming are refusing to give the names.The police requests the names of the Doctors!

be solidar! act now against the repression!

Montag, 21. Februar 2011

The 300 hunger strikers

28th day on hunger strike-
February 22, 2011
For us, legalisation is neither a generic nor an abstract slogan. We don’t want proposals to be heard without us. For us legalisation means many and very specific things. Between those, first and foremost:
The issuing – since we are entitled to it – of a proper residence and labour permit to us, the 300 hunger strikers, who demand what should be a given for everyone by putting our lives on the line
As well as:
- that residence permits are no longer connected to work credits
- that all who lost their permits because of the above reason are legalised again
- the vindication of everyone whose application was rejected in 2005, after their application submission had been accepted and after they were forced to pay thousands of euros each
- the establishment of a permanent and open procedure for complete legalisation, which will process applications constantly
- the abandonment of any idea of criminalising any of our comrades in solidarity with us, who have been called as suspects of committing criminal acts by the authorities
And many more…
Anyone who wants to seriously engage with our strike and avoid a humanitarian crisis in Greece, should officially and directly contact us and whatever discussion must be focused on meeting the above demands.
Every human is worth a dignified life and labour
The hunger strike shall win
Athens – Thessaloniki
21-2-2011  /  28th day on hunger strike
The 300 hunger strikers
 

Mittwoch, 16. Februar 2011

Pagani today with growing tomatoes .

But the future for refugees is unknown
Tomatos growing on the prison doors the best sign that the prison is now a useful friendly place. Aslong as the doors dont get openne

the prison doesn´t exist because we wanted it so! w2eu.

tomatos waiting to be picked up.


no more fences! after a defencing action summer 2010.


it is not the blood that makes you be brothers and sisters



container used by the medical stuff and last year by Frontex.


freedom of movement and AZADI!






the cells still are full of beds.....


and the greek Police is publishing new vacancies for 81 Psychologists,  Sociologists and Translators for Farsi , Urdu Pashto and Arabic for 6 months starting July 2011. The job is to translate and work with future deportees preparing the documents and the interviews before the deportation.
The work will take place in Athens, Lesvos,Chios, Samos Orestiada and Axaia, in deportation prisons.
sounds like a hot summer is aproaching!


no border!
freedom of movement!
w2eu!