Greece, Communication from the self-organized initiative for
refugees in the Mars field (gr) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
The self-organized Solidarity Initiative for Refugees in Pedion touAreos as decided in the
Assembly Tuesday, August 11, 2015, suspended Monday, August 17 the actions of groups in
aftoschediokataflismo the Champ de Mars. --- A meeting of solidarity with refugees we were
from the first days to Areos Park. In the face of the Field refugees found those hit by
the "war on terror" and the civil wars that followed him, those trying to escape
theocracies like "Islamic State", of poverty and hunger. ---- They are those who when
arriving at the borders of Europe face the military operations of FRONTEX and the national
border guards, fences from Evros as Kale and migrant camps, which are increasing across
the EU. ---- Hundreds of political and economic refugees who were, for almost a month,
retreat to Areos Park did not intend to stay there, but the main and primary need was to
reach their destination, whatever that is.
Found stranded at the internal borders of Europe under terrible conditions without
infrastructure, without basic medical care and without the minimum conditions of hygiene,
to a place where forced methodically by the Greek state and other "undesirables" such as
drug addicts and homeless.
In these survival issues and basic human dignity were called as active social beings
immediately give our collective response. We were there understanding each and every one
of us that the position of any refugee and immigrant could be us - not because we are some
kind of special or professional solidarity, nor because we build careers photographed
political left and right. What we managed was a result of the mobilization of hundreds of
solidarity cooperating on the basis of practical solidarity and self-organization, away
from the logic of philanthropy and volunteerism, and the treatment of refugees as a
problem to be managed.
Since the first meeting of the self-organized initiative Solidarity, from which emerged
working groups to meet the different needs of refugees and the daily actions of solidarity
to Areos Park, hundreds of people with bags in hand constantly arrived until the street
Tsamadou Street in Exarcheia (coordination area and organization of the Initiative) to
assist the project. Dozens coordination efforts throughout Greece by collectives, hangouts
and squats, but also individual people who framed the effort, sending relief items, toys,
clothes, money and everything else had, even from their savings.
The working groups created were:
1) Food Group. They consisted of about 15 people on a rolling basis and preparing three
meals a day for 400-600 people, in collaboration with the Health Group which gave dietary
guidelines based on the epidemiological profile of the population of the Mars Field. At
the same time, contributed to feeding many collective and solidarity kitchens.
2) Distribution Group. Packaged and was distributing daily meals, took care of the
adequacy of water and plumbing informed on new arrivals to Areos Park and took care of
their housing in tents. Each task team involved on a permanent basis 10 to 20 people.
3) Warehouse Group. He undertook the collection and classification of all the food,
hygiene and consumables arriving constantly in Tsamadou. The group participated daily 4-6
people.
4) Health Group. Launched after the call of self-organized Solidarity Initiative, from
self-organized health structure and framed immediately apoallilengyous / s, health
professionals and non. Operated daily at Areos Park in two shifts, consisting of 5-7
people per shift, integral part of which was Afghan interpreters. Facing at least 70 daily
incidents and managing the pharmacy was located in Tsamadou.
5) Garment Group. He undertook the collection and sorting of clothes arriving constantly
in Tsamadou. The group participated daily 5-10 people.
6) Group Cleaning. They consisted of 10-20 people and operate in two shifts daily,
assuming the cleaning area, working with refugees residing in him. The members responded
effectively to the lack of any infrastructure sanitary, shower set up, repaired the only
two taps in space and carried disinfection.
7) Counter Group. He took the unmediated information about actions of the self-organized
initiative of Solidarity and publicizing the daily needs of refugees in social media.
Moreover, organized the press conference on August 5, when was the first depiction of the
situation to Areos Park and formulating the positions of the Initiative. The group
comprised 7 people.
8) Children's Creative Group. He took over the distribution of toys and stationery
gathered in Tsamadou alongside creative activities for children to Areos Park. Cleaned the
playground next to the makeshift camp where 4-6 times a week organized games and
activities for children of refugees, many times the contribution solidarity creative
teams. They consisted of 5-8 people per shift.
Significant was the contribution of Afghan interpreters, without whose help it would not
be possible the work of groups that acted to Areos Park.
All groups were coordinated through frequent meetings in the small garden Tsamadou and had
horizontally and anti-hierarchically structure. The political principle of parity in
decision and execution of the decisions adopted and the relationships between the groups,
and it became clear from the start and above all in practice the role of all groups were
equally pivotal to achieving the objectives of the meeting. The groups formed a tight and
cohesive chain, constantly interacting with each other and cooperating closely everyday.
Solidarity was throughout the period of operation of the Initiative to Areos Park given
both to the refugees and among people who framed groups. The project of self-organization
incarnated in Tsamadou and Field and is the guide on how groups of people may meet for the
first time can provide solutions to critical survival issues.
We know that the state and political institutions are those that cause migratory flows and
expel hundreds of thousands of people into refugees. In no case the solidarity movement
does not intend to replace (or work with) the state and its structures. We require,
however, be fully implemented international conventions on human rights, as co-decided and
countersigned by the states themselves. We demand that all people have the same rights and
freedoms, without exception policies, within or outside the European borders.
Addressing the government against the makeshift camp to Areos Park was criminal and
remains such to all entrance and exit points refugees. The total state and local and
regional institutions as well as NGO -related armodiotiton- deafeningly absent from Areos
Park or restricted in communication sensationalism minimum practical utility moves
refugees. There were few times when these organizations and state structures appeared for
a short time in the field, providing scarce and sometimes inadequate food and poor health
services. Always, however, accompanied by cameras and photographers.
Examples are the distribution of a single meal of the Municipality of Athens (and even
nutritionally inadequate), the absence of adequate toilets to meet the needs of the
population and their badly cleaned by the Region of Attica, as well as fragmented presence
KEELPNO , sometimes without doctors and medicines. The media, consistent in their role
proevallan falsely the presence of these institutions in the field, aiming at permanent
misinformation of citizens, accompanied by the racist cries and attempts to terrorize
society, in order to preserve the hostile climate towards refugees.
Lately made by government officials attempted approach to the Solidarity Initiative, aimed
at alleged cooperation and transfer them technognosiaspros. These attempts revealed the
government's intention to continue the situation to Areos Park and reliefs showed the
criminal political game. In no case the self-organized solidarity is not affiliated with
kratosoute accepts played political games in the back. With this in mind, the Assembly of
the Initiative Tuesday, August 11 decided to announce the suspension of operations of its
structures to Areos Park Monday, August 17th.
We believe that our communication pushed to the state apparatus, who reluctantly forced to
expedite processes to provide "a solution" before Monday, August 17. The solution adopted,
the Olive, which refugees are informed by the government just two hours before the
transfer, it remains to assess political and humanitarian. In the case of the transfer of
refugees from Areos Park in Eleonas we decided not to intervene, as always our priority
are the desires and needs of refugees, as expressed freely by themselves. Eventually,
Elaionas transferred 171 of 450 (and up) refugees who were Sunday morning to Areos Park.
We closely monitor developments in Eleonas and we are ready to intervene whenever and
however needed. Moreover, as a self-organized initiative we continue to support the
actions of solidarity at the entrance gates and exit of refugees, where the State
intervenes primarily repressive and certainly not towards the protection of human life and
dignity. The material of solidarity gathered in the street Tsamadou send to Kos, Leros,
Lesvos, Samos, the Idomeni and elsewhere. Furthermore, we are constantly alert, always
here Yan intervene.
Since that granted by the Member refugees escaping from war and economic misery in their
country is drowning in the waters of the Mediterranean and the modern concentration camps,
we stand firmly beside them with our gun direct action, solidarity and self-organization .
We remain as individuals and Initiative on hand to actively tackle racism and non
-thesmiko and ekfasismo society.
SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON OF PEOPLES
Self-organized Solidarity Initiative for Refugees to Areos Park
