The French authorities have slowly been releasing some of the migrants detained in the early morning mass-raids in and around Calais yesterday. Far from being an action to break any people-smuggling rings as claimed, it now appears that it was merely an attempt at mass intimidation of those Afghans amongst the arrested.
The first person to be released from PAF Coquelles was a 16 year old Afghan, who said he had been pressured into accepting 1000 euros in return for agreeing to return to Afghanistan, despite the fact that he is a minor and has the right to remain in France under French law. There is speculation that those Afghans who continue to be held in Coquelles will not be released until they too have signed up to return to Afghanistan. It also appears that most of the migrants transported to Boulogne were released late yesterday afternoon and have walked the 6 hour 19 mile journey back to Calais.
In separate news Natacha Bouchart, the right-wing mayor of Calais, has called for the French army to be brought in to destroy the 'Jungles' in and around Calais, one and for all. This follows hot on the heels of her claim a couple of days ago that the 'problem' of the migrants in Northern France lies solely at Britain's door, claiming that asylum seekers in Britain lead some mythic easy life and that Britain should either sign up to Schengen or pay the estimated £12M that the Calais Chamber of Trade spend on port security each year (as if that is all spent on preventing migrants entering the port area).
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Mass Raids In The Calais Area
Early this morning, 2 days before the French Immigration Minister Eric Besson is due in town, a major police operation took place in the Calais area that saw nearly 300 police and CRS arrest some 200 undocumented migrants.
Police surrounded one of the major migrant squatter camps, known as 'Jungles', in Calais shortly after 07.00, arresting 150 migrants in an operation that ended at 10:30. A further 33 were arrested at motorway rest stops outside the city and 11 in the nearby town of Saint Omer. Most appear to have been taken to police stations in Calais, Boulogne and Lille as well as the detention centre at Coquelles.
The arrests were allegedly "an attempt to dismantle people trafficking networks. It's an operation to destabilise the networks and try to find the smugglers," according to Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart. However, it follows a week of almost constant attacks by police on the 'Jungles' in and around Calais, that saw regular tear gassing of the migrants' squats and arrest of their occupants.
Anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the situation will realise that the traffickers would not be in the Jungles at 7 o'clock in the morning - they do not live in the Jungles and most of the occupants would be asleep anyway after a night out trying to gain access to the lorries parked-up waiting to cross the Channel. This appears merely to be more of the same intimidation tactics that the police and CRS routinely use against the migrants. Except this time it is on a larger scale, no doubt in order to impress Besson in advance of his visit to Calais.
**The will be a No Border Camp in Calais from 23-29 June, jointly organised by the UK No Borders Network and activists from Northern France, Belgium and Holland, details of which will appear here in the run-up to the camp.**
Police surrounded one of the major migrant squatter camps, known as 'Jungles', in Calais shortly after 07.00, arresting 150 migrants in an operation that ended at 10:30. A further 33 were arrested at motorway rest stops outside the city and 11 in the nearby town of Saint Omer. Most appear to have been taken to police stations in Calais, Boulogne and Lille as well as the detention centre at Coquelles.
The arrests were allegedly "an attempt to dismantle people trafficking networks. It's an operation to destabilise the networks and try to find the smugglers," according to Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart. However, it follows a week of almost constant attacks by police on the 'Jungles' in and around Calais, that saw regular tear gassing of the migrants' squats and arrest of their occupants.
Anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the situation will realise that the traffickers would not be in the Jungles at 7 o'clock in the morning - they do not live in the Jungles and most of the occupants would be asleep anyway after a night out trying to gain access to the lorries parked-up waiting to cross the Channel. This appears merely to be more of the same intimidation tactics that the police and CRS routinely use against the migrants. Except this time it is on a larger scale, no doubt in order to impress Besson in advance of his visit to Calais.
**The will be a No Border Camp in Calais from 23-29 June, jointly organised by the UK No Borders Network and activists from Northern France, Belgium and Holland, details of which will appear here in the run-up to the camp.**
Monday, 20 April 2009
Italy-Malta Refugee Stand-Off Ends
The four day stand-off between Italian and Maltese authorities over the fate of 150 migrants, who included 2 pregnant women and who were stranded on a Turkish cargo vessel in the Mediterranean in stormy weather, is finally over. However, for the migrants themselves, their problems have only just begun.They were rescued off the Italian island of Lampedusa by the Turkish ship, the Pinar, last Thursday after having spent 6 days at sea in boats that were low on food and water and were in danger of sinking.
Italy initially refused to accept responsibility for the rescued migrants as the Italian authorities claimed the migrants were picked up in Malta's search and rescue area. Malta, who have a long running dispute with the EU, and in particular Italy, over the number of migrants that they routinely have to deal with*, in turn washed its hands of responsibility for the migrants, insisting that under international conventions the migrants should be landed at the nearest safe point i.e Italy. [see map]
In response the Italian government softened its stance and the Italian coastguard delivered drinking water to the Pinar and announced plans to deliver hot meals via helicopter, which subsequently thwarted by bad weather and high seas. Some of the migrants suffering from hypothermia and other medical issues were also evacuated by helicopter to Lampedusa.
Yesterday the Italian authorities agreed to allow the ship to dock and release the migrants into Italian custody on Sicily, where they were taken to detention centres. Most, if not all, will now suffer the fate of of the refugees who have already made it to Italy under their own steam: endless shunting between internment camps around an unwelcoming Italy, till they can be forcibly returned to their countries of origin, if those countries can in fact be established. If not, they will languish in the Italian detention system, where many have committed suicide in recent years rather than suffer the indignity of prolonged incarceration with little or no hope for release or the chance to move on to a European country willing to accept them. [Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
* Malta is a very reluctant host to many thousands of destitute migrants from Africa, none of whom set out from their home countries with Malta in their sights. Having set out from the Libyan coast with few navigation aids but heading for Italy, they end up landing at Malta or get into trouble at sea and have to be rescued by Maltese coastguards. Many of the migrants then have to spend upwards of 18 months in the crowded and unsanitary conditions of the Maltese detention centres before being returned to Africa. [see: 6, 7]
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Delit De Solidarité Demonstrations
There were demonstration in 80 French towns yesterday to oppose the 'delit de solidarité' laws which means that anyone who provides ‘help’ to undocumented migrants can be prosecuted. The demonstrations were called by a coalition of associations including Emmaüs, La Cimade, Secours Catholique and France Terre d’Asile
As well as fixing the shameful target of 27,000 deportations for 2009, the French government has also fixed targets or quotas of 5,000 arrests of people who ‘help’ undocumented migrants.
Currently the law prescribes a punishment of five years in prison and €30,000 for “anyone who, by direct or indirect help, facilitates or tries to facilitate the entry, the circulation or the unlawful residence of a foreigner in France.” This law is particularly relevant to those who help migrants in and around Calais.
While the French government has denied that anyone has been prosecuted for the ‘delit de solidarité' and claim that these laws are aimed at ‘passeurs’ (people smugglers). Yet there is a deliberate obscurity in the law that allows many people who have shown solidarity for sans papiers to be arrested and accused of the ‘delit’ (a 'middle level' crime in France) of helping people in an irregular situation.
Some French people, especially in Calais, have been fined for helping migrants, providing them with a roof or for trying to defend migrants against Police harrassment and violence. The recent Marie-Noëlle Guès, Monique Pouille and Jean-Claude Lenoir cases are prime examples, where there simple act of being present at police actions led to charges of ‘outrage’ (disrespect) against Police officers.
There have also been attempts by the police to suggest to the press that some of those arrested in Calais have been involved in people smuggling and so to criminalize the local people attempts to support migrants.
The Police now do not hesitate to enter peoples homes to search for undocumented migrants and the practice is becoming more widespread. In Marseille last month police raided a charity for homeless people looking for undocumented migrants and arrested the manager.
The demonstrations come on top of a call to abolish the 'délit de solidarité' proposed by the Socialists, which will be debated at the National Assembly at the end of the month.
As well as fixing the shameful target of 27,000 deportations for 2009, the French government has also fixed targets or quotas of 5,000 arrests of people who ‘help’ undocumented migrants.
Currently the law prescribes a punishment of five years in prison and €30,000 for “anyone who, by direct or indirect help, facilitates or tries to facilitate the entry, the circulation or the unlawful residence of a foreigner in France.” This law is particularly relevant to those who help migrants in and around Calais.
While the French government has denied that anyone has been prosecuted for the ‘delit de solidarité' and claim that these laws are aimed at ‘passeurs’ (people smugglers). Yet there is a deliberate obscurity in the law that allows many people who have shown solidarity for sans papiers to be arrested and accused of the ‘delit’ (a 'middle level' crime in France) of helping people in an irregular situation.
Some French people, especially in Calais, have been fined for helping migrants, providing them with a roof or for trying to defend migrants against Police harrassment and violence. The recent Marie-Noëlle Guès, Monique Pouille and Jean-Claude Lenoir cases are prime examples, where there simple act of being present at police actions led to charges of ‘outrage’ (disrespect) against Police officers.
There have also been attempts by the police to suggest to the press that some of those arrested in Calais have been involved in people smuggling and so to criminalize the local people attempts to support migrants.
The Police now do not hesitate to enter peoples homes to search for undocumented migrants and the practice is becoming more widespread. In Marseille last month police raided a charity for homeless people looking for undocumented migrants and arrested the manager.
The demonstrations come on top of a call to abolish the 'délit de solidarité' proposed by the Socialists, which will be debated at the National Assembly at the end of the month.
Criminalised For Daring To Film The Police
Marie-Noëlle Guès is well known to the police in Calais as 'the journalist'. Outside of school hours (she is a teacher) she has been a regular on the streets of Calais since 2004, filming and monitoring the actions of the CRS and Border police against the migrants in the area.
In October 2007 she came across 2 Eritreans who had just been released from the Coquelles detention centre. They asked her to translate a document they had just been issued with. It turned out to be a deportation notice and she offered to go with them to the Lille Administrative Tribunal to help them challenge the order.
They subsequently stopped to talk to a number of other migrants, when a van-load of CRS turned up to 'check papers' and generally harass the migrants. Marie-Noëlle then tried to film the pursuit and arrest of some migrants who tried to flee the scene but was asked to move on by the police. She continued to surreptitiously film as she challenged the CRS's right to both prevent her from filming and to arrest the 2 Eritreans who had only been released from custody 4 hours before.
Eventually the police realised that Marie-Noëlle was still filming and violently arrested her. Handcuffing her and putting her in the back of their van, one radioed HQ that they had "arrested the journalist". She was held in custody for 24 hours and charged with contempt and 'rebellion'.
At her trial on 23 April 2008, the prosecution presented testimony from the CRS and the owner of the café the arrest occurred outside and asked for a 3 month prison sentence, but Marie-Noëlle was acquitted. The CRS and state prosecutor appealed the decision.
At the appeal hearing on 2 April 2009, the judge refused to view the film taken during the incident, which refutes the café-owner's version of events, and convicted Marie-Noëlle. Her sentence was to pay €4 per day for 90 days (€360) or a day in prison for each €4 unpaid, plus €100 per 'outraged' and 'attacked' CRS officer, €3-400 in prosecution legal costs.
Donations can be sent to a support fund at:
la Mouette Enragée
B.P 403
62 2206 Boulogne-Sur-Mer Cedex
France
The video taken by Marie-Noëlle at the incident can be seen at: wat.tv
In October 2007 she came across 2 Eritreans who had just been released from the Coquelles detention centre. They asked her to translate a document they had just been issued with. It turned out to be a deportation notice and she offered to go with them to the Lille Administrative Tribunal to help them challenge the order.
They subsequently stopped to talk to a number of other migrants, when a van-load of CRS turned up to 'check papers' and generally harass the migrants. Marie-Noëlle then tried to film the pursuit and arrest of some migrants who tried to flee the scene but was asked to move on by the police. She continued to surreptitiously film as she challenged the CRS's right to both prevent her from filming and to arrest the 2 Eritreans who had only been released from custody 4 hours before.
Eventually the police realised that Marie-Noëlle was still filming and violently arrested her. Handcuffing her and putting her in the back of their van, one radioed HQ that they had "arrested the journalist". She was held in custody for 24 hours and charged with contempt and 'rebellion'.
At her trial on 23 April 2008, the prosecution presented testimony from the CRS and the owner of the café the arrest occurred outside and asked for a 3 month prison sentence, but Marie-Noëlle was acquitted. The CRS and state prosecutor appealed the decision.
At the appeal hearing on 2 April 2009, the judge refused to view the film taken during the incident, which refutes the café-owner's version of events, and convicted Marie-Noëlle. Her sentence was to pay €4 per day for 90 days (€360) or a day in prison for each €4 unpaid, plus €100 per 'outraged' and 'attacked' CRS officer, €3-400 in prosecution legal costs.
Donations can be sent to a support fund at:
la Mouette Enragée
B.P 403
62 2206 Boulogne-Sur-Mer Cedex
France
The video taken by Marie-Noëlle at the incident can be seen at: wat.tv
Monday, 6 April 2009
18 Deaths A Year In U.S. Immigration Prisons
More than 90 prisoners held in immigrant detention centres have died in the past five years, the New York Times reports today, as revealed in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) document labelled "List of Detainee Deaths since October 2003." The record was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, part of an ongoing investigation of deaths in immigrant prisons.
According to the Times, 32 of the 92 deaths occurred at jails run by private companies, including "at least 18" at facilities run by the notorious Corrections Corporation of America, the largest private prison company in the country.
The list of detainee deaths, available here, charts prisoners' names, dates of birth, the facilities where they were held or died, and whether or not an autopsy was performed. The "Cause of Death" field lists everything from AIDS to heart disease, suggesting that many of the prisoners likely suffered from medical neglect. A number committed suicide; "hanging" is listed as the cause of death for six prisoners.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Europe's Externalised Immigration Controls Results In Mass Drowning
Over 500 migrants are likely to have drowned crossing the Mediterranean from Libya as two boats sank and a third is still missing. The Libyan authorities put responsibility on strong winds rather than on the border regime they are implementing on behalf of Italy and European governments and paid for by the taxpayers of Italy and of the European Union.
"On 29 March 2009, 30 km from the Libyan coast, there was one of the largest shipwrecks in the history of immigration into Europe: out of three boats that set off from Libya, two sank and the third disappeared.
"Provisional figures refer to 23 survivors, 21 corpses recovered and over 500 disappeared people, undoubtedly swallowed up by the Channel of Sicily. As always happens for this sort of events, information is opaque and often contradictory. At first, the Libyan press agency limited itself to announcing that a majority of the migrants were Egyptian and that the three vessels had set off from the port of Sid Belal Janzur, with a total of 257 people on board. As for the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM), two days later, on 31 March, it announced that the number of victims from the three boats was estimated at 300. In Italy (the passengers’ destination), the press switched between repetition of the news from Libya and reports that the 257 people referred to were all on one of the three boats: which, if it were revealed to be true, would throw up a far more appalling estimate of the total number of people who have disappeared.
"Beyond these hideous estimates, the statements from Libya are shocking, as they explain away this tragedy as the consequence of a very strong wind that was prevalent at the time. Rather, should responsibility for this slaughter not be attributed to the European Union, which promises 20 million Euros to the Libyan state in exchange for its co-operation in the fight against "irregular" immigration ? Or to Italy, which has been signing various "friendship agreements" that include migration clauses with this dictatorship since 2000 ? And also to Libya, which, like its neighbours in the Maghreb, use migrants as an exchange currency to obtain a privileged position in international negotiations ?
"It is feared that the authorities’ reaction to this new tragedy will, once again, be to exploit these dramatic events without regard for the real causes that push migrants to take on deadly risks to reach Europe, in order to justify a hardening of controls.
"On this portion of the maritime borders, the effects of the Italian policy to externalise patrolling operations along the Libyan coasts are also to be feared, as they will only result in an increase in the number of tragedies at sea and of the instances in which people who are returned are placed at risk in the country not governed by the rule of law that is Libya."
[from Migreurop press release]
"On 29 March 2009, 30 km from the Libyan coast, there was one of the largest shipwrecks in the history of immigration into Europe: out of three boats that set off from Libya, two sank and the third disappeared.
"Provisional figures refer to 23 survivors, 21 corpses recovered and over 500 disappeared people, undoubtedly swallowed up by the Channel of Sicily. As always happens for this sort of events, information is opaque and often contradictory. At first, the Libyan press agency limited itself to announcing that a majority of the migrants were Egyptian and that the three vessels had set off from the port of Sid Belal Janzur, with a total of 257 people on board. As for the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM), two days later, on 31 March, it announced that the number of victims from the three boats was estimated at 300. In Italy (the passengers’ destination), the press switched between repetition of the news from Libya and reports that the 257 people referred to were all on one of the three boats: which, if it were revealed to be true, would throw up a far more appalling estimate of the total number of people who have disappeared.
"Beyond these hideous estimates, the statements from Libya are shocking, as they explain away this tragedy as the consequence of a very strong wind that was prevalent at the time. Rather, should responsibility for this slaughter not be attributed to the European Union, which promises 20 million Euros to the Libyan state in exchange for its co-operation in the fight against "irregular" immigration ? Or to Italy, which has been signing various "friendship agreements" that include migration clauses with this dictatorship since 2000 ? And also to Libya, which, like its neighbours in the Maghreb, use migrants as an exchange currency to obtain a privileged position in international negotiations ?
"It is feared that the authorities’ reaction to this new tragedy will, once again, be to exploit these dramatic events without regard for the real causes that push migrants to take on deadly risks to reach Europe, in order to justify a hardening of controls.
"On this portion of the maritime borders, the effects of the Italian policy to externalise patrolling operations along the Libyan coasts are also to be feared, as they will only result in an increase in the number of tragedies at sea and of the instances in which people who are returned are placed at risk in the country not governed by the rule of law that is Libya."
[from Migreurop press release]
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