GREECE: RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Tags

asylum, Balkans, border, European Union, exilés, Greece, human rights

On the occasion of a seminar organized on March 20 in Brussels, PICUM (Plate-forme for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants) publishes recommendations for a policy of the European Union in relation to the criminalization of exiles in Greece and violence against them, based on greater solidarity in the reception of asylum seekers and better respect for human rights, including at the border:

Recommendations to the European Union to urgently address criminilisation and violence against migrants in Greece

 

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GREECE : RETURNS AND ARRIVALS IN LESBOS

Tags

Balkans, border, exilés, Greece

Some information scattered, piecemeal, on arrivals of exiles in Lesbos, Greek island near the Turkish coast: 40 people on 28 February, 37 on March 1, 43 on March 2; 110 people on March 7; 80 on March 18 and 19 …

Some of them are taken to the new detention center near the village of Moria. It since last year replaces the old center of Pagani, where conditions were particularly unworth , closed in 2009 after a long struggle that had gathered exiles, international activists and residents of the island.

When the detention center is full, the newcomers are left on the street with no support from the authorities. To leave the island, to buy a boat ticket, you must be recorded by the police and holder of an order to leave Greek territory in a one-month period – the bureaucratic paradox is that to travel in Greece you need a document ordering you to leave the country.

http://goo.gl/maps/6Kgco

A blog chronicling the exiles held in Lesvos: http://lesvos.w2eu.net

A group of activists and exiles who participated in the struggle of 2009 returned to Lesbos last October. They published a brochure in German, English and Greek on this experience, that can be found here: http://lesvos.w2eu.net/files/2014/02/Lesvos2013-Screen-DS.pdf

 

GREECE: THE REFORM OF THE CODE OF IMMIGRATION

Tags

Balkans, exilés, Greece, human rights, immigration

In Le Courrier des Balkans, an article on the reform of immigration code that situates the debate on the amendment promoting impunity for abuses by security forces (in French):

http://balkans.courriers.info/article24491.html

Also in French on Okeanews website :

http://www.okeanews.fr/20140326-grece-amendement-honte-racisme#axzz2xLEj6oZk

 

GREECE: REACTION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Tags

Balkans, exilés, Greece, human rights

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe has responded today to the proposed amendment that would punish expelling foreigners whose complaint against the police would be closed without further action, requesting its removal :

http://on.fb.me/1gphOxQ

“I am seriously concerned about the introduction by the government of the amendment to Article 19 of the draft immigration code which would allow deportation following the rejection of any migrant’s complaint that they have been victim of racist or other unlawful violence by law enforcement officers.

This amendment is ill-advised and should not be adopted. In effect, it shifts the burden of proof onto the migrant complainants and introduces one more ground for deporting migrants who may have been subjected to unlawful violence but have been unable to substantiate their claims.

The amendment would also foster impunity, since, most likely, migrants will avoid reporting instances of ill-treatment and law enforcement officers would feel shielded for this kind of serious misconduct.

Moreover, I do not see the need for such a provision, because any false criminal complaint can already be sanctioned under the existing legislation. I therefore call on the Greek Parliament to reject this amendment, and adopt instead an immigration code which will strengthen, instead of weakening, the human rights of migrant victims of racist or other unlawful violence.

I also reiterate my call to the Greek government to establish an independent and efficient complaint mechanism covering the activities of all law enforcement authorities in order to eliminate impunity for serious human rights violations and strengthen the rule of law.”

 

GREECE: INTERNATIONAL CALL – NOT TO VOTE FOR AMENDMENT RACIST

Tags

Balkans, exilés, Greece, human rights

On the occasion of a legislative debate, the government proposes an amendment providing to deport foreigners filing a complaint against the police or coastguard if the complaint is dismissed. When serious cases of violence against exiles are emerging, a way to ensure the impunity of the security forces.

An appeal and a petition:

Why this is important

We wish to declare our deepest concern. While impunity of racist violence remains a persistent problem in Greece, the Greek government not only refrains from addressing it, but is proceeding to institutionalize it, and furthermore to penalize its victims! Last week it submitted to parliament an amendment to the country’s Immigration Code that mandates the deportation of immigrants who accuse state employees of using violence against them, in case their claims are officially rejected. It is hair-raising: this provision is a deterrent, punishing not the aggressors but the victims.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Greek_Minister_of_Interior_Mr_Y_Michelakis_Restore_article_19_without_the_racist_amendment_in_any_form/

BULGARIA: PUSH-BACKS AT THE BORDER

Tags

Balkans, border, Bulgaria, exilés, human rights

Push-backs of exiles to the Greek border have been amply documented by NGOs in recent months (here, here and here).

Backflow at the Bulgarian borders (http://goo.gl/maps/LSSKQ) are less. The issue is the subject of a blog post bordermonitoring last November, using examples at the border Bulgarian – Greek, also incorporating the deterrence policy implemented by the Bulgarian government against exiles might want to enter its territory :

http://bordermonitoringbulgaria.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/is-bulgaria-violating-the-non-refoulement-principle/

BULGARIA: A JUDGMENT OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Tags

Balkans, Bulgaria, exilés, human rights

On 13 May 2003, a Sudanese person is attacked in the street in Sofia, treated “dirty negro” and pursued with a knife by two skinheads.

Bulgarian courts did not accept the racist motive of the attack. The European Court of Human Rights considers that there be a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning inhuman and degrading treatment, which requires punish the perpetrators of such treatment, and Article 14 concerning discrimination, among other ethnic and racial.

A presentation in English here: http://www.ecre.org/component/downloads/downloads/865.html

and the press release of the European Court of Human Rights (in English).

GREECE: NEW SHIPWRECK

Tags

Balkans, border, exilés, Greece

A boat carrying eight exiles sank between the Turkish town of Bodrum and the Greek island of Kos. Three people were rescued, four bodies were found and one person is still missing.

http://goo.gl/maps/AztCI

Information in English on :

http://infomobile.w2eu.net/2014/03/18/another-refugee-boat-in-distress-between-bodrum-and-kos/

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-342407-boat-carrying-8-migrants-sinks.html

 

GREECE: NEW SHIPWRECK NEAR LESBOS

Tags

Balkans, border, exilés, Greece

A small boat carrying five exiles sank last night close to the island of Lesbos, near the Turkish coast. Seven passengers died and two were not found.

In English in the Greek press:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_18/03/2014_538248

http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.home&id=1813

WELCOME TO EUROPE

Tags

Balkans, Europe, exilés, Greece, information, solidarity, struggle

During summer 2009, a long struggle united together exiles, inside and outside the Pagani detention center on the Greek island of Lesbos, and Greek and international activists. It resulted in the closure of the most critisised Greek detention center at that time.

This common dynamic has also led to longer-term projects. For example a website for the exiles on their way to or in Europe in four languages ​​(Arabic, English, Farsi and French), and providing information on the situation in different European countries, access to rights, difficulties, as well as contacts:

http://w2eu.info/

Various information brochures are also available: http://w2eu.info/pritings.en.html 

Born of the same struggle , information tours to different places where exiles in Greece , and an information site with , about and for exiles in Greece:

http://infomobile.w2eu.net/

Participants in the struggle of 2009 are also returned to Lesbos last October, to meet people, local activists and exiles who arrive again. They have been particularly involved in the welcome center PIKPA managed by local volunteers :

http://lesvos.w2eu.net/