A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

Police surround No Borders centre in Calais.

No Borders | 06.02.2010 20:24 | Migration

Police have surrounded the new No Borders centre in Calais and are demanding that no migrants are allowed to sleep overnight.

A warehouse in Calais, rented by No Borders, opened today to offer to migrants a dry, partially heated space with cooking, toilet and washing facilities.

At approximately 5pm, a small police presence attempted to block access by the migrants. This was not successful and a large number broke through shouting "Freedom, No Borders, No Nations".

At 6pm, most of the migrants left to attend the twice daily NGO food distribution. During this period, the police took the opportunity to blockade all three access roads to the No Borders centre.

At 7pm, a large number of migrants and other activists collected outside the blockades on two fronts. Aided by people from within the police lines, both groups successfully breached the blockades and entered the centre. A large contingent of CRS police has arrived but currently remain in their vans on a nearby street.

The police are demanding that no migrant, excepting children, are allowed to sleep in the centre overnight. No Borders is very clear, Noone is illegal, Freedom to move, Freedom to stay. The No Borders centre welcomes migrants to stay overnight if they choose.

No Borders

Additions

cops baton charge warehouse

07.02.2010 12:30

*Sunday 7th February

About 12.30 French time today everyone was in the No Borders/Kronstadt warehouse, chilling out, when police came to surround the building. People were told they can leave the building, but couldn’t return for lunch. Police say this is an ‘Order from the council’.

The response from the 100 or so people in the building was ‘fine, then we won’t leave’. A phone call to someone in the building described the situation as “everyone seemed to understand our political stance. Eventually some people tried to leave, and discovered that all the surrounding roads had been blocked by police. Then riots cops charged us several times, hitting out with batons. A friend got whacked on the mouth while lying on the floor – we managed to find a way out and are on our way to hospital now. One of the undercover cops, calling himself Msr Buzin, said that anyone can leave, but can’t return for to eat. They are effectively starving people out of the building”

There are still about 100 people inside, mainly Pashtun. Local French journalists are around, but no British press.

If anyone can pass this on to UK press that would be good.

Also more help on the ground appreciated

calaisolidarity
Homepage: http://www.calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

Please get there if you can...

06.02.2010 22:52

Also send what you can.

anon

Illegal police action

07.02.2010 07:54

If you own or rent a property, you have the right to invite whoever you want into the property. These people have been invited.
It's funny how international laws regarding restricting the movements of migrants are so strongly upheld, yet basic property laws are not. Fuck the cops, they're still the same bunch of fascist bastards they've always been.

Anon

police storm no borders warehouse in calais

07.02.2010 17:10

Despite being told there were no migrants left inside the building, which was the case, riot police this afternoon stormed the No Borders Kronstradt warehouse in Calais, smashing glass door and rounding up all the activists there, who were taken to cop shop. Now all been released.

Providing a space to self-organise, rest, talk, write, read, eat and drink will not be tolerated by the french state, but we won't stop offering this space.

Come and help us keep this space going...