show solidarity with refugees in Calais the 4th anniversary of Sangattes closur
Tom | 29.10.2006 16:31 | Anti-racism | Globalisation | History | Migration | London | South Coast
if you can please come and show some solidarity for refugees in Calais who continue to live rough in the streets , woods and on the beaches in Calais ; they face the prospect of another winter and continuing harrassment and brutality of the French (and now 200 British) police
We must not swallow the British an French government lie that they had resolved the refugee “problem” through the closure of the Red Cross centre at Sangatte .
We all know that this is a planet riven by war and violence , the nationalities of some of the victims of these conflicts who have been forced into destitution on the streets of Calais mostly speak for themselves Iraqis, Iranians, Afghans, Sudanese and Somalis as well as many other sadly familiar countries names.
The fact that refugees are driven to live in such horrific circumstances is a shame inflicted by the British and French governments that we must not let pass !
Far from achieving it stated aims the closure of Sangatte has severely worsened what was already a very serious humanitarian problem by driving its victims men, women and children into the streets and woods of Calais.
The situation in Calais and the surrounding region four years after Sangatte remains as shocking as ever as hundreds perhaps, even thousands are living in destitution in and around Calais as these pictures testify
http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-img-show?G_ID=G0000tZOTVUXbTjc&V_ID=&P_ID=&start=0&pagtotal=58
In an attempt to help prevent the victims of this situation from starving or falling victim to disease local people have at their own expense continued to distribute food twice a day. Everyday they too risk harassment and violence from the French police , incredibly if they show solidarity by housing a refugee they can face fines and even prison .
As Winter comes the refugees are once again faced with a battle of survival on the streets against extreme elements and the very real and ever present fear of Police brutality .
Now the French have been joined by 200 British Police . Surely this makes a mockery of Britains respect for asylum rights or human rights or our sometimes proud history of helping those fleeing conflict.
Sealing British borders to ensure that asylum seekers never reach Britain may reduce the asylum figures dramatically,but it drives refugees into a life of misery, clandestinity and illegality.
While new Labour attempts to satisfy the raving ignorance of the anti-migrant press and its fear-addled readership , scapegoating asylum seekers and allowing the right-wing press to demonise them as terrorists rather than the victims of terror which of course most are, This cynical, brutal prevention of refugees from finding a safe haven in this country is nothing short of a crime.
So come to Calais on the 14th of November and show your solidarity for the victims of war , persecution and poverty . Demand that the British government uphold their rights to come to Britain and respect their choice to claim asylum here
Lets not turn our back on these vulnerable destitute children women and men seeking our help !!
Tom
e-mail:
goldfish1967@hotmail.com
Additions
important correction demo date is wrong
29.10.2006 20:11
Tom