“Anything is possible, strong social movements can change everything. That’s what we learned once again, through the experiences of our Alarmphone project and in an incredible year of successful struggles for freedom of movement”...
Find the Kompass-Newsletter for December15/January16 with hints to a lot of transnational projects and in three languages with photos by the following links and in full text in english attached:
english version:
french version:
german version:
best regards,
hagen
Kompass – AntiRa – Newsletter Nr. 45 - December 2015/January 2016
Action Day 18 December 2015 +++ Moving on – One Year Alarmphone +++ Idomeni and the Balkan Route +++ Beyond Welcome: Socio-Political Offensive? +++ Asylum Laws tightened +++ Oury Jalloh-Demo 7 January 2016 in Dessau +++ Commemoration Day from Rabat to Berlin 6 February 2016 +++ Blockupy Conference 5 to 7 February 2016 in Berlin +++ New Journal and Film by Afrique-Europe-Interact +++ Reviews: Refugee Demo Hamburg, Occupation of Sudanese Embassy; School Strike Berlin, 10 Years of Youth without Borders +++ Previews: End of February 2016 Refugee Meeting in Hamburg; Transnational Social Strike Action Day on 1 March 2016+++
Dear Friends!
“Anything is possible, strong social movements can change everything. That’s what we learned once again, through the experiences of our Alarmphone project and in an incredible year of successful struggles for freedom of movement”. These are the first sentences of the introduction to the brochure ‘Moving on - One Year Alarmphone’ (see below), which documents the impressive stories and developments from the entire Mediterranean of this truly historical year. In 2015 the external borders of Fortress Europe were more than ever being demolished, at first the massive crossings of the Aegean extended into breakthroughs along the Balkan Route, followed by corridors into the very centres of the EU. Along the entire route ‘Welcome’ initiatives were spontaneously established and later on evolved into permanent support structures. To be sure: in September the ‘long summer of migration’ reached its dynamic zenith and now is increasingly being confronted by ‘a winter of reaction’. But even in mid-December the numbers of arrivals in the Aegean are comparatively high, with thousands of people still moving every day through the (controlled) corridor to the north. The most recent struggles at the Greek-Macedonian border moreover show (see below), that the Balkan Route remains a hard-won space. It is far from clear how things will develop there in the forthcoming weeks and then in the spring of 2016, when in all probability the numbers of refugees will start increasing again…
We mentioned it in our last two issues as the main challenge and are therefore more than delighted that in many places the necessity of a ‘Beyond Welcome’ is increasingly being elaborated; that at conferences and in seminars the discussions and first practical activities focus on how to develop common social struggles that go beyond the ‘Welcome’ initiatives. An example is the heading ‘Frankfurt for All – Solidarity City’ of a statement from Rhine-Main concerning the International Day of Human Rights (see below). The squatting of a house on the same day for the Shelter Project in Frankfurt may at first have failed, but then in Göttingen and later also in Cologne the self-organised appropriation of housing could be maintained (see below). In early February Blockupy invites people to a conference in Berlin at which, among other things, the possibilities for a socio-political offensive will be investigated jointly with the new citizens. And when these initiatives increase in dynamism, the ambitious call for an action day ‘towards a transnational social strike’ on 1 March 2016 might be well-timed: “We call up all ‘precarity’ workers, migrants and refugees, activists, autonomous groups and unions to turn 1 March 2016 into a day of decentralised and coordinated actions and strikes, by disturbing the regular production and reproduction procedures, by creating an exchange between different labour realities and by making the often hidden conditions of exploitation visible, as well as by attacking the border regime and those institutions that are responsible for this management of mobility and precarity” (see below).
In this sense we already wish you all a very good start of the new year.
In solidarity,
the Kompass team
Information and meeting dates December 2015/January 2016
18.12.2015 – Global Day of Action for the Rights of Migrants in Berlin, Athens, Tunis, Kita, Sokodé ....
“Open the borders! Migrate to live, not die!
‘Open the borders’ is the plea yelled by men, women, and children who are standing in Idomeni, at the border between Greece and Macedonia, who are currently on a hunger strike. Their protest represents what many other thousands of people are demanding, as they are stopped in their migration along the borders of all four corners of the world. (…)”
Joint Call-up in multiple languages under http://globalmigrantsaction.org
Berlin: come to the memorial for the dead of European border politics
Friday Dec. 18th 3:00pm before the representation of the European commision
For the international day of migration on Dec. 18th, we're taking our anger and grief for inhumane asylum and migration politics to the streets. We're making a statement against deadly politics at the outer borders and within the EU. Against stricter asylum laws in Germany!
We want to lay out candles and flowers for visible symbolism, but above all, we want to be loud!
Against war and exploitation!
For freedom of mobility! For the right to remain! Equal rights for all!
Further activities are planned in Greece, Italy, Croatia, Tunisia as well as in Mali and Togo. For the last two places, the following brief announcements:
In Mali on Dec. 19th in Kita (180 km west of the capital Bamako) a memorial action for Malian migrants has been taking place. Since the beginning of the year in the MEditerranean sea at least 184 deaths have occurred. At least 75 families as well as representatives from Balandougou will participate who have lost loved ones. From this small city alone, 30 young people lost their lives in boat accidents in the mid-Mediterranean (which has caused more than 1200 deaths). In Togo the Association of Deported Togos (ATE) in Sokode (northern part of the country) will carry out two activities: the first is several hours' conference time devoted to the situation of deportation. At the end of the conference a demonstration for the rights of migrants and refugees will take place. Further info: http://afrique-europe-interact.net/1406-0-18122015-Aktionen-in-Mali-und-Togo.html
'Moving on - one year alarm phone‘
Under this title, a brochure in English about emergency telephones for refugees will be published at the end of December. Seehttp://alarmphone.org/en/. Over 1000 emergencies from all regions of the Mediterranean have been included this first year with the Hotline Project. At the beginning of next year this documentation should also be available in a German translation.
Eidomeni and the Balkan route
As of Nov. 18, 2015, refugees without proof that they're from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who travel to Macedonia and further destinations will be denied entry. As a result thousands were blocked and for several weeks protests took place at the MAcedonian borders. bordermonitoring.eu enables reading of the Liveticker documenting activity.
One of the information sources was the Bus Project of moving Europe: http://moving-europe.org/
It will be supported by medico international, who were present when the police interrupted the protests and blockades and made the following interview public: http://moving-europe.org/2015/12/09/schlepper-sind-wieder-im-geschaeft/
In brief, Moving Europe will release a second film clip for the 'disputed route' as well as the mission of the Bus Project. The Bus will next be underway in the Balkans.
Further information: http://grenzenloskochenhannover.blogsport.de/2015/11/27/nach-der-nacht-unruhen-in-indomeni/
And worth suggestion is an interactive map of the UNHCR, which shows the official number of people who have crossed whichever border along the Balkan route.
More than 80% of the refugees and migrators who crossed the Aegaen via little boats come from the three mentioned countries of origin and use the „controlled save“ way to Germany and Scandinavia. There are more than a thousand people per day, on Dec. 15 even more than 5000, who are making their way north from Piraeus...
Beyond Welcome: Social political Attack?
As it was mentioned before there are more and more approaches for overlapping social struggles. The declaration of Frankfurt für Alle (Frankfurt for all) is an example:
In Göttingen there has been a successful occupation already on 5 November:
and in Cologne on 11 Dezember 2015:
In Bremen a group of refugees and non-refugees issued an ultimatum to the city: http://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/bremen-politik-wirtschaft_artikel,-Fluechtlingshelfer-stellen-Ultimatum-_arid,1257193.html
and organized on 4 December a demonstration with 300 people along empty houses.
Finally Blockupy: from 5 to 7 February Blockupy invites to Berlin for the Ratschlag, “The social question is open – summer of migration, pressure to make savings and the struggle for a social infrastructure for all?” is one focus. The introducing evening event is dedicated to “Welcome within the innerst of the regime of crisis”. The invitation with the first programm will be published soon: https://blockupy.org
Tightening of Asylum Law
Athough the new law couldn't be implemented as fast as planned – already end of 2015, the pen-pushers are still at work to make pressure for more deportation and deterrence.
Pro Asyl is summarizing: “Refused in summary proceedings: Second asylum package undermine the constitutional state; summary proceedings in special reception centres, complicated family reunifications for subsidiary protected persons, deportations of tramatized and ill ones. The new asylum package means more massive cuts into the rights of refugees.”
More here:
Conference of Interior Minister in Koblenz beginning December: New announcement of deportations to Afghanistan...
Refugee Council for Lower Saxony summarizes:
“Interior Minister demand the BAMF to make faster asylum decisions – and causes procedural delay because of stepping back to bureaucratic case-by-case decisions.
The Conference of Interior Minister (IMK) override the massive critique from refugee and human rights organisations (i.a. Swiss refugee assistance) and follow the opinion of de Maizière (Minister of the Interior) to allow deportations to “safe regions” of Afghanistan. This happens after a ten years moratorium and the opposed vote of the Foreign Office. Except from the deportation stop has been until now only criminals.
There will be “binding agreements with the Afghan government, UNHCR and IOM”. Obviously the red-red and red-green ruled federal states agreed to the draft resolution – a notice about a differing vote can't be found in the protocol of the resolution at IMK.”
The whole text here:
Oury Jalloh-Demo on 7 January 2016 in Dessau
Not least because of the TATORT on 11 October 2015 it's probably that the public recognation gained ground that the burnt asylum seeker Oury Jalloh was murdered on 7 January 2015 in a police cell in Dessau. Because of this there will be again a memorial demonstration on 7 January 2016 (main station, 2pm).
Memorial Day 6 February in Rabat, Ceuta, Strasbourg, Barcelona, Berlin ...
«Stop the war on migrants - No world without migration»
In remembrance of killing at least 15 migrants through the Spanish border police near the enclave Ceuta in 2014 there will be coordinated actions in several cities in Morocco and Europe on 6 February. Appeal follows soon.
New newspaper and film of Afrique-Europe-Interact
The transnational network Afrique-Europe-Interact published a new 4-page newspaper which be enclosed to the nationwide edition of “taz” in December 2015. Topics are the EU discourse about migration reasons, land struggle in Mal, Burkina Faso and Guinea and the current situation of refugees in Germany. The newspaper can be ordered by nolagerbremen@yahoo.de, a PDF can be found here: http://afrique-europe-interact.net/1408-0-taz-Beilage-12-2015.html
Movie about Burkina Faso (flight reasons):
The talk about flight reasons is on everybody's lips at present. But rarely it is spoken about the origin countries from migrants and refugees. The recently published movie “Revolution with bare hands” of Hans-Georg Eberl and Moussa Ouédraogo is pointed out. It tells about the successful overthrow of the long-term dictator Blaise Compaoré last year in Burkina Faso. More infos about the movie: http://afrique-europe-interact.net/1410-0-Film-Mit-bloen-Hnden.html
Review:
Refugee manifestation in Hamburg Nov 18th 2015
Despite heavy rains and grey cold at the “refugees welcome means equal rights for everybody” manifestation there were more than 5.000 people according to the police and 7. - 9.000 people according to the organizers. The majority of people were refugees mainly from Afghanistan protesting against their imminent deportation. Other participants included Roma and members of “Lampedusa in Hamburg” as well as supporters from the main station showing many colourful flags. See the photos:
Occupation of Sudanese Embassy on Nov 19th 2015
On November 19th Sudanese refugees occupied the embassy of Sudan in Berlin. As in February this year they protested against the Al-Basher regime and demanded his extradition to the International Criminal Court in The Hague where he is wanted for crimes against humanity.
The embassy's occupants further demand that the Federal Government of Germany ceases all economic contact and aids with Sudan and to grant asylum to all Sudanese refugees.
This is remarkable against the backdrop of EU being in talks with Al-Basher and the dictators of South Sudan and Eritrea. In the so called Khartoum process EU wants to gain the cooperation of these countries in prohibiting the flight of people from Africa.
Occupants declaration:
Photos here: http://www.umbruch-bildarchiv.de/bildarchiv/ereignis/191115sudanesische_botschaft_besetzt.html
Pupil's strike in Berlin on Nov 19th 2015
About 3.000 pupils took part in the renewed pupil's strike on Nov. 19th 2015. The motto was: School strike – Against racism; whether PEGIDA or state - burning homes are the harvest of what they have sown!
Call and more you can find here:
JoG against IMK in Koblenz
First of all: Congratulations to Jugendliche ohne Grenzen (JoG) for:
10 years of self-organisation, 10 years of political work, 10 years of participation, 10 years of fighting for Bleiberecht, freedom of movement and children's rights!
From the press release of JoG, Dec 3rd 2015:
10 Jahre Selbstorganisierung, 10 Jahre politische Arbeit, 10 Jahre Partizipation, 10 Jahre Kampf um Bleiberecht, Bewegungsfreiheit und Kinderrechte!
Aus der Pressemitteilung von JoG vom 03.12.2015:
Ulbig,, Saxony's minister of the interior, becomes minister of deportation 2015
During a gala by the refugee initiative Jugendlichen Ohne Grenzen (JoG) on Dec 3rd 2015 in Koblenz Markus Ulbig (CDU) was voted minister of deportation.
This negative award is given to Saxony's minister of the interior to highlight his inconsistent actions against racist attacks and agitation as well as the constantly high number of deportation in Saxony.
You can find more here:
2. International human smugglers and traffickers congress in Munich
As a part of the three days Open Border Congress of the Kammerspiele in Munich from October 16th-18th the international human smugglers and traffickers congress (ISS) received a huge media echo.
In various panels experts took a look at the history, practice and criminalisation of escape assistance.
The next day during a gala the prize “Golden Lisa” named after Lisa Fittko was awarded in three categories by the ISS. Maria Eitz was awarded for her life work because she has saved many children's lives. In the category “innovative” the campaignRefugee Air was awarded for their demand for humanitarian travel routes. The collective Erszebeth Szabo was also awarded with the “Golden Lisa” for their action about organising means of transport for refugees on the way from Budapest to Vienna.
The next day during a gala the prize “Golden Lisa” named after Lisa Fittko was awarded in three categories by the ISS. Maria Eitz was awarded for her life work because she has saved many children's lives. In the category “innovative” the campaignRefugee Air was awarded for their demand for humanitarian travel routes. The collective Erszebeth Szabo was also awarded with the “Golden Lisa” for their action about organising means of transport for refugees on the way from Budapest to Vienna.
More background information in the recommended article in the magazine Hinterland:
Preview:
Refugee Meeting in Hamburg in the end of February 2016:
The preparations are in full swing. From February 26th til 28th there will be a big conference in Hamburg.
contact: conference.hamburg@riseup.net
Action day transnational social strike on March 1st 2016
As already mentioned in the introduction the mobilisation for a transnational action day has already begun. Motto: "24 hours without us! Call for a March 1st against the border regime and precarisation. For a transnational strike!
The English call and very soon also the German you can find here: