Tag Archive for 'sans-papiers'

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Statisticians and magicians

Statisticians and magicians
By Dimosthenis Papadatos – Anagnostopoulos
originally published in Greek in: Red Notebook

One out of five. These are the “illegals” that the Police discovered in the first 12 days of the (ongoing) “Zeus Xenios” sweep operation. And what does this ratio reveal to us?

First of all, the obvious: 6.344 persons were arbitrarily arrested, even though they legally reside in Greece and they have never committed any offence.
They were simply arrested because of the color of their skin – and probably on conviction that criminality does not exclusively apply to the “illegal” ones. In the end, those legally residing in the country are still aliens.
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Statement by the migrants of the Peiraiki Patraiki Factory

Statement by the migrants of the Peiraiki Patraiki Factory

We are very sad about the death of the 29-year-old. We give our condolences to his family and friends. We are angry and sad about the barbaric behavior of those who killed him. Such individuals are not representative for all immigrants.

We declare our solidarity with the victim’s family and we hope that the perpetrators will be punished according to Greek law. We hope that the political parties and organizations don’t turn this tragic incident against all immigrants, because what happened is the individual behavior of a few and doesn’t characterize us all.

We are against anyone who participates in this kind of bloodshed. We don’t want any deaths and killings. These were the reasons that forced us to leave our countries because this is what happens there. Bloodshed, humiliation, exploitation, abuse of people from dictatorial governments is what we have experienced back there and why we left. What we are looking for is asylum, peace, security and a friendly relationship with the local society. In Patras, once we arrived, we encountered respect, hospitality and the help of the people.

We do not agree with some people behaving like criminals killing or robbing. We reiterate our deep regret for what happened. What we write is our view and we would like it to be heard by the people, the victim’s family and friends. We want the society of Patras to understand that what happened does not represent us. We are humans and we are very sorry for what the perpetrators did leading to the victim’s death.

Ioannina, Greece: “Cleansing” operation against migrants

At around 7 AM GMT+2 on Saturday, May 26th, a large police contingent surrounded the building complex of the former Chatzikosta Hospital, located on central Papandreou Avenue in the city of Ioannina. This complex, apart from being a temporary home for migrants and refugees, is also were the Antiviosi squat is located.


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Greek doctors refuse to stop treating undocumented migrants

Hospital doctors announce decision to ignore the Ministry of Health directive and to continue treating undocumented migrants
Prior to the May 6th elections, the minister of health, Loverdos, announced undocumented migrants were to no longer receive any treatment in public hospitals in Greece. In response, hospital doctors issued, through their union body, the following statement

Doctors:

“We will treat undocumented migrants. No to Loverdos’ credentials to the [Nazis of the] Golden Dawn!”

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Agricultural workers in Manolada protest against exploitation

The exploitation and violence of agricultural farmers in Manolada against their migrant workers continues. On May 12, 2012 the workers of the strawberry harvest started a strike demanding higher wages now. The police supports the farmers with sweep operations arresting migrants in the area. On May 16, 2012, the third day of the workers strike the protests resulted again in the arrest of about 10 workers – mainly migrants.

greek news

Fotos of Amigdaleza detention centre

fotos by Yanis Lakos

Refugees in distress at sea in Kerkyra

On March 30th, 2012 17 sans-papiers from Afghanistan and Pakistan were found at distress at sea and transferred to Kerkyra. They had tried to cross from Albania to Italy as they said.

news in Greek

Small video-documentary about Patras and Igoumenitsa 2011 – by Gabriel Pecot

Watch the short documentary “Hellas-Hell” about Patras and Igoumenitsa (Spanish subs)

http://www.hellas-hell.eu/

Homeless refugees and migrants in Patras are being daily chased down by the police

They come every day in the early morning hours when we are sleeping. They hunt us through the buildings of the fabric. It is dark and there are wholes in the floor, cables and other things lying around. It is very dangerous to run. Some of us have fallen down from upper floors, others fall into the wholes. There are many people hurt. Broken legs and arms and worse. We don’t know where to go for sleeping without fear. There is no place without fear here.

M.A. broke his leg while being chased through the fabric by the police

M.A. from Sudan broke his leg on one of the daily chases by the police. He continues to live in the fabric under highly deplorable conditions and without any medicine. As for all the others there is no other place to go for him. It has become almost impossible to leave Patras towards Italy. In his condition he will not be able to try anymore from Patras. His friends help him to come out of the darkness of his room. Slowly he is moving forward. His leg has become infected. He has pain. But most of all he seems to be hopeless.

Every day I tried. I go to the “stop” (where the trucks stop) for many hours and I come back. Every day. It is very difficult here. Not human. We have no water, no electricity, no food… no nothing. We have to find food in the garbage to survive. I am very tired.

Once the police caught me in port and they threw me into the sea. Just like this! Without any reason. You know how cold it is? It was just to get me sick.

Life here is just about trying to leave and trying to live – not to die. Go to the trucks. Find food. Escape from police. Being beaten by police. Hospital. Prison. Walking back to Patras from the prisons – one day, two days… Deportation from Italy. It is a great misery but we have to try. This Greece is not a place to stay.

The homeless sans-papiers of Patras need support. Food, medication, sleeping-bags, clothes and most of all our solidarity – in practice and not only in words!

9-year-old girl and her grandfather lost in Evros

A young 9-year-old girl and her grandfather disappeared on the 29th of January together with nine other migrants while trying to cross the border in Evros. They got lost when they boat turned around and they fell into the very cold waters of the river.
A three year old boy and two men survived the accident and informed the Greek authorities about the loss of the others in the boat.
Following a police operation aimed at finding the missing persons seven were found, among them the parents of the three-year-old boy. Two persons are still missing. The little girl and her grandfather.

news in greek