The camps for refugees on the Greek borders are ready and waiting the green light by the EU to start operating

This is a translation of an Eleftherotypia article.   BOLD FONTS are ours….

clandestinenglish

Immigration war in the Aegean

by Giorgos Marnellos

The political managers of the Ministry of Interior have focused on the EU summit in one week from now, which will establish the guidelines along which the issue of illegal immigration, while preparing themselves for a hectic summer ball game in the Aegean and the Evros regions; in this game the ball to be thrown bback and forth is thousands of people.

It is almost certain that Libya and Turkey are among the countries which will be urged to implement the bilateral readmission agreements, which they have signed with Italy and Greece respectively. In particular, Turkey may need to assume formal responsibilities towatrds the EU and find itself in the position of receiving back thousands of immigrants who pass to Greece from the Evros border and the Aegean islands.

According to info available to the «Eleftherotypia», there have already been established under cooperation of the Ministries of Interior and National Defense a number of camps in the border line and the islands, which meet the basic requirements for the decent temporary stay of illegal immigrants before they are formally/legally or illegally returned back to Turkey. It has been estmated that these camps should have the possibility to approximately host three thousand people. immigrants will be taken there by different means immediately after their rescue or arrest in the border line with Turkey and they will remain there … until their cases are settled. Officials say that this period should not exceed 40 days for the camps to be able to temporarily accept the next wave of immigrants.

The Vice-Chairman of the European Commission Jacques Barrot will have the opportunity to see the situation for himself, since he is to tour the Aegean and the Evros region in the last two days of June.

Not in Aspropyrgos

Meanwhile, the idea of concentrating non-legal immigrants in the old NATO base in Aspropyrgos, which had never seriously preoccupied officials, is now formally abandoned. For practical reasons it has been decided to concentrate immigrants to be deported into camps or regional centers, and only those tp be expelled by air to remain at centers in the area of Attica. For example, currently the deportation of 240 Pakistanis has been scheduled.

Apart from the immigration war in the Aegean, the Police intends to use the opportunity of the slack summer months to evacuate the city of Athens from illegal immigrants. The transfer of the OKANA facilities [methadone services for heroine users] away from the district is also beleived to discourage foreign and domestic networks to pillage the area around it.

The center will be cleansed this summer, state officials claim, who take into account the commitments they have towards investors who have purchased properties occupied by immigrants at derisory prices.

However, according to ministry circles, the Deputy Interior Minister Ch. Markogiannakis will exchaust all possiblities for cooperation between political parties before the ministry goes on with the harsh public safety plans. So far, however, there has been reluctance vis-a-vis the ministry’s call of one month ago.  In the EU summit front it will be made clear whether Minister Pavlopoulos’ policy can have practical effects on the treatment of immigration flows in the Aegean .

Clashes and arrests around the Aghios Panteleimonas neighborhood in Athens…

riot police protecting hrysi avgi

sources: athens indymedia article; indy.gr article.

clandestinenglish

Yesterday afternoon anarchists and people in solidarity unlocked the playground at Aghios Panteleimonas, which had been sealed so that not to be used by the children of immigrant residents. The site was unlocked and people went inside to reclaim the playground in a neighborhood terrified by the interventions of fascists and extreme right residents. Texts were leafleted and discussions were held with the residents of the area.

[The Golden Dawn is primarily responsible for the mobilisation of extreme-right wing elements in the neighborhood of Aghios Panteleimonas, forming lightly armed “self-defense” groups purging immigrants from the area’s central square and attacking houses, burning down shops and community places of worship (mosques are illegal in Athens), smashing up public events, and targeting even the church of the parish, the largest in the country, which fell victim to fascist arson attack for providing support and supper for immigrants – see this post about it]

A group of fascists, chanting the Greek national hymn, along with their resident collaborators attacked the comrades verbally while the latter were leaving the place. The group of thugs attempted to approach the solidarity gathering but were repulsed, to find then refuge behind the riot police squad which suffocated the site with gases. A parent with his child remained in the area, resisted the right-wing thugs and refused to leave. The police arrested him ostensibly to ” protect him from the fascists” and led him to the Aghios Panteleimon police station .

The comrades left the place in an organized manner, taking it to the street for a solidarity march. About 150 meters from the Aghios Panteleimonas square in a narrow street leading to Patision Avenue a second riot police squad attacked the march. There were clashes with the riot squad and and the rest police forces which tried to encircle the lines of protestors. The latter entered then the ASOEE university building on Patision Aveue and the collisions ended.

Five protestors (apart from the parent) were arrested and were today to be brought to the Public Attorney- this will happen on Friday. Yesterday night people in solidarity were gathered outside the Police Headquarters in Athens were the arrestees were detained, and protested against the police provisionally refusing to allow them to see a lawyer.  The riot police assaulted those gathered in solidarity in front of the Athens courts today as well.

What follows is a view published in Uk indymedia.

Apartheid in the centre of Athens !!

It is unacceptable what is happening in St. Panteleimon play ground in the Centre of Athens. Not only is the most racist and xenophobic mood developed to the residents who often outraged by the degradation of their region, attack immigrants while they themselves are victims of neo-fascists organizations like Hrysi Avgi in fish cloudy water, but the fact that the official state acts against the law. The members of Hrysi Avgi with some local residents LOCKED a play ground for Children in the area , because the majority of the children there are immigrants !! During an attempt by anti racist organisations to reopen the Playground that was iligally locked, the police came to protect and help in fact the Neo NAZI organisation Hrysi Avgi..

Homepage: http://garizo.blogspot.com/2009/06/apartheid-in-centre-of-athens.html

Arslan Tayfun Özkök’s has been refused asylum… the threat of extradition is imminent…

source.  In-text link by clandestinenglish.

Athens, 4/6/2009

With summary procedures and on pretextual grounds the claim of ArslanTayfun Özkök for political asylum has been rejected.   The first instance decision was announced to him yesterday and a tight margin of 8 days was given to appeal the order.

It seems that the Greek government in this case demonstrates great haste and hurry to complete a summary case and  fulfill the request of the Turkish authorities for extraditing Arslan to Turkey – which is tantamount to sentencing him  if not to death, to incarceration for life  and subjecting him to the vengeful wrath of the Turkish law enforcement authorities.

The Network denounces any arrangements that could lead to the  extradition of Arslan Tayfun Özkök and calls for vigilance to prevent such a possibility.

No concessions and no human sacrifices on the altar of Greek-Turkish power equilibrium.

No to the extradition to Turkey

Arslan Tayfun Özkök should be released and granted political asylum now.

Network for Political and Social Rights – http://www.diktio.org