Today in a press conference the Libyan refugee group "Hamburg in Lampedusa" issued the demand for a political solution and the recognition of their rights:‏

Donnerstag, 20. Juni 2013
Open letter to the regional Government of Hamburg and the Government of
the Federal Republic of Germany
Today in a press conference the Libyan refugee group "Hamburg in
Lampedusa" issued the demand for a political solution and the
recognition of their rights:


Open letter to the regional Government of Hamburg and the Government of
the Federal Republic of Germany

We, the war refugees from Libya, demand:

The right of residence according to § 23 „Right of Residence“ or another
juridical regulation that enables the right of residence

§ 23 is one of those juridical regulations that can be brought into
practise to enable a permanent right of residence for war refugees.
Other juridical regulations on the level of regional, federal or
European law as well allow a permanent right of resistance for war refugees.

We invite the regional government of Hamburg to start activities to
support this demand. In the name of human rights as well as humanitarian
and political responsibility it is the only serious way to find a
solution, if the regional government acts on all levels to bring forward
the implementation of one of these regulations.

§ 23 Grant of the right of residence by the superior regional
authorities; admittance according to extraordinary political interests

(1) The superior regional authorities may command the right of residence
to a special group of foreigners from a certain country according to
international law or due to humanitarian aspects under respect of the
political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. (...) To ensure
an equivalent regulation in all federal states this command needs to be
accepted by the Interior Ministry.

(2) The Interior Ministry is enabled to command the authorities for
Migration and Refugees to grant the right of residence to a special
group of foreigners from a certain country in accordance with the
superior authorities of the federal states, to protect political
interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. (…) Those who are affected
by this regulation got the right to achieve a residence permit or a
settlement permit. (...) The residence permit is a work permit in the
same time.


We are more than 300 war refugees from Libya and have been living on the
streets of Hamburg since the middle of April. Roundabout 55000 refugees
coming from Libya survived the forced escape and finally arrived at the
island of Lampedusa after crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

We are all victims of a war that had been escalated by NATO to a level
that only gave us the possibility to flee because of human rights
abuses, war crimes, bombardments and massacres. Most of us are born in
sub-Saharan countries and found shelter in Libya after we had been
fleeing because of political reasons or the de stability in our home
countries. In Libya we had work that provided ourselves, our families
and communities in our home countries.

Information about the situation in Libya after the beginning of the war:
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/gewalt-in-libyen-gaddafis-schwarze-soeldner-alles-nur-propaganda-1.1138509
und
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/menschenrechtsbericht-amnesty-wirft-libyschen-milizen-toedliche-folter-vor-a-815634.html
und
http://www.ag-friedensforschung.de/regionen/Libyen/un-bericht.html

We were not involved in the political and military conflict. We were
part of those civilians, NATO and EU were pretending to protect through
their intervention. We lost everything we had built up in Libya and all
our savings. We have seen many people dying in the war and on the way
across the Mediterranean Sea.

We lived spread over diverse facilities in Italy for roundabout two
years – in mass camps with thousands of people as well as in hotels
which had been rent by the authorities or on the streets. Our living
conditions were extremely dangerous for health and life. Sickness and
traumata could not be treated in an adequate way. New traumata were
caused through abuse and mistreatment, denied medical care, a lack of
food, as well as oppression and ignorance of the authorities.

In winter 2012/13 we were given identification papers witch guaranteed
us a humanitarian status. In the same time we were set on the street and
prompted and forced to leave Italy in the direction of northern Europe.
The authorities gave some of us up to 500 Euro. We were told that
nothing could be done for us, because there was no work or perspective
of providing us. Some were threatened with violence or to be put into
prison, if they would not leave the country. Under the administration of
the Italian authorities our situation was degrading. After the closure
of the camps and the ending of the accommodation nothing was left for us
only to die slowly or quickly in the streets.

The situation and the devastating circumstances in which refugees lived
in Italy is described in an expertise by the German NGO borderline e.V.,
written by Judith Gleitze in order of the administration court
Braunschweig. Since 2010 200 German administration courts decided that
deportations to Italy are against the law because every asylum seeker or
person that is in need of protection is endangered to be treated in a
humiliating and inhuman way.
http://www.borderline-europe.de/sites/default/files/readingtips/2012_12_02_Gutachten_Antworten_finale_anonym.pdf

This is the reason why we came to Hamburg. After the so called winter
program we are facing a dangerous and perilous situation again, because
we are forced to live on the streets.

We started to organize in the group „Lampedusa in Hamburg“, to be able
to achieve our rights. We are victims of a war in which several European
states were involved. We are victims of an European refugee policy, that
is not in tune with international and European human rights- and refugee
conventions.

All EU member states must take responsibility for the roundabout 55000
civilians that had been escaping from Libya to Europe during the war.
Italy gave a signal to show its state of emergency with its practise
against us refugees. We are not willing to be the cue ball of an inhuman
policy.

We, those who survived the war, and formed the group „Lampedusa in
Hamburg“, are not willing to let people push us from one disaster into
another, because this is no perspective for a living. Since we went into
public in May 2013, we witnessed a great wave of solidarity. Many people
and actors support our demands.

A permanent right of residence shall be granted to us, according to
international law and humanitarian aspects. § 23or any other regulation
on regional, federal or European level, that grants a special status to
war refugees, can be set into practise therefore. We address the
Government of Hamburg once again with this concrete appeal to enable it
to preserve the human rights and to follow its duty to protect
democratic values.

„Lampedusa in Hamburg“
Represented by:
Affo Tchassei: 0176-717 402 36
Anane Kofi Mark: 0152-170 045 94
Asuquo Udo: 0152 146 725 37