Andonis Georgiadis, congreeman of the extreme right party LAOS demanded to re-instal mines in the area of Evros in order to stop migration.
Close the borders so that nobody enters. Some years ago we had mine fields. It was declared as not acceptable. We took them out. I would say, we should put them back. With big signs warning the ones who want to enter that there are mines. If we want to protect our country!
Athens, 28th of September 2011
Terror and Fear in the Open Sea
In the open sea close to Zakynthos a group of 65 Afghan and Iraqi-Kurdish refugees experienced days of terror and fear when they were trying to reach the Italian shore. They were in serious danger of death by drowning and starvation when their boat went into distress. Among them were many children and families. One of them lost his life, while trying to save himself by swimming. Two others took their last breaths in the hospital, following their rescue after 11 days on the open sea.
refugees in an overcrowded boat trying to find a safe haven
This incident is not rare but it is a tough reality with many victims. Many boats in distress, many deaths at the borders – and the European governments are well aware of it.
Following this tragedy some of the survivors returned to Athens, among them a single father with his two small kids (4-6 years old) in his arms, searching for some corner on the squares and streets of Athens. In their hands the deportation order, which the police authorities gave them without asking where they will go or what they will eat. Nobody asked them if they need protection or if they want to claim asylum.
Respectfully,
Against the repressive measures of the authorities who in the most violent way show their “law and order” approach towards the issue of migration in Patras:
Press Release by the solidarity group in Patras (in English)
The police reacted to the denouncing press release by stating that if there were incidents of police violence against migrants then the solidarity group should file charges against them at the public prosecutor. Meanwhile the authorities are well aware of how difficult this is. However, only documented migrants can file charges while most of the refugees and migrants in Patras are in transit and without legal residence permits. The few among them with valid papers are often too afraid of taking legal measures against the authorities. Another difficulty arises from the long duration of judicial proceedings. Most of the migrant victims and witnesses leave Greece before the date of the court case is reached.
T. Skordelis is one of the three fascists charged before the court for the violent attack on and Afghan refugee that occurred on the 16th of September. This is video is a collection of video material on her fascist involvement.
On Friday, September 23, a small boat that was trying to get to Italy carrying 65 Kurds and Afghans sans-papiers, broke 90 miles southwest of the island of Zakynthos. When port police reached the vessel only 32 immigrants were aboard. A helicopter participating in the rescue operation managed to save 30 immigrants that have fallen in the sea. Late in the afternoon, the same helicopter discovered the bodies of 3 sans-papiers who drowned at sea.
May 2011: greek news video of fascists attacking a migrants shop leaving behind a huge destruction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBhU8vTJ7M0&feature=related
We demand from the Greek authorities to react on and punish the continuing racist and fascist attacks
NO MORE SILENCE!
For more information see a greek documentary from 2009 on the fascist group golden dawn (in Greek)
part 1
Continue reading ‘Horrible video: greek fascist from the “golden dawn” publishes proudly material showing his assaults on the civil society’
Human Rights Watch published today, on the 21st of September 2011 a report about the Frontex operation in Evros underlining the international responsibility on the human rights violations against sans-papiers and asylum seekers in the detention centres of the region.
paranoiex securitex frontex
Frontex reacted immediately with a press release:
FRONTEX’S REACTION TO HRW REPORT
Warsaw, 21 September 2011 – Frontex welcomes the revised report of HRW and is satisfied to note that its comments on the original draft were taken on board. The report now highlights an issue, which we agree, is of great importance.
A Frontexian in Evros
In the recent days repeated racist attacks take place in various neighbourhoods of Athens.
Yesterday, 17th of September the court case against
Friday night (September 16), 2 Afghan immigrants were attacked outside their home. When they saw a group of thugs approaching, scared they tried to run away but did not manage to escape. The gangs attacked them leaving one stabbed! The victim suffered two wounds, one next to the heart and another one just below. One person was arrested but the rest of the fascist gangs escaped and continued their attacks at St. Panteleimonas square beating up another Afghan. The arrested facist was brought to the court on Saturday 17th of September. The court was postponed for three days.
indymedia
Continue reading ‘racist attacks in athens continue’
Will there be again border guards at the internal EU borders? France and Denmark have temporarily recovered their border control guards. Now the EU-commission has made a proposal for the reintroduction of internal border controls under specific circumstances and preconditions.
According to the proposal of the 16th of September, decisions on the reintroduction of internal border controls at specific European borders should be made by the commission in the near future and not by the member states themselves. Germany, Spain and France already announced their disagreement. While the commission wants to hinder the solo of EU-member states, these insist on the national sovereignty rights.
Continue reading ‘Debate about reintroduction of internal border controls in the EU: The EU-Commission wants to take the decisions itself’