Press Release,Watch The Med Alarm Phone against Left-to-die cases at Sea‏

»Our project is no solution, but an emergency intervention«

Press Release, 8^th of October 2014

Watch The Med Alarm Phone against Left-to-die cases at Sea

A Transnational Network alerts as of the 10^th of October 2014 in cases of Distress and Push-backs

The Mediterranean Sea in 2014 remains a mass grave for refugees and migrants. In the first nine months of the year there have been more than 3.000 registered deaths. In the last years, nowhere else in the world have more people died when fleeing. Nonetheless, the responsible EU committees decided on the 27^th of August 2014 to retract the Italian maritime rescue operation Mare Nostrum and to gradually replace it with Frontex-deterrence in the coastal waters of the EU. This predetermines that the mass dying in the Mediterranean Sea will take on even graver dimensions.

A transnational network of human rights activists cannot stand this unacceptable situation any longer. Since the end of September, in Tunis, Palermo, Strasbourg, Vienna, Berlin and several other cities, about 50 activists have been testing a collective emergency phone for boat-people. The Alarm Phone operates day and night with a multilingual team on standby. It will cover calls from the migration routes in the Central Mediterranean, in the Aegean Sea and between Morocco and Spain. The Watch The Med Alarm Phone cannot itself carry out rescue operations but will raise the alarm if such operations are delayed or even denied altogether.

»We understand ourselves as a pilot project. After a first period we will evaluate our experiences with the phone and decide how to improve to intervene against human rights violations at sea«, says Karim S., a Syrian refugee who had to experience an illegal push-back himself in the Aegean when fleeing in 2013 and who joins the Alarm Phone from Hamburg. The phone number will be activated on the 10th of October and announced and circulated amongst migrants and refugees in important transit-countries in Northern Africa as well as in Turkey. 

»We are convinced that the deadly border-regime must be stopped«, activist Lisa B. describes the objectives of the network. »However, as long as it does exist, at least the utmost must be done to rescue. When we notice that these rescue operations do not take place, we will try to exert immediate public pressure.«

The Alarm Phone is supported by organizations on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The call has been signed by prominent figures, including the French philosopher Étienne Balibar and the Nobel laureate for literature Elfriede Jelinek, but also by a survivor of the shipwreck of the 11^th of October 2013 and by self-organisations of migrants and relatives in Morocco, Tunisia and Greece.

You can find the call for the »Watch The Med Alarm Phone« in seven languages, a list of all signees, as well as all up-to-date information and reportshere.

Please find the Call to the »Watch The Med Alarm Phone« in seven languages, the list of signees, as well as up-to-date information on the following website: www.watchthemed.net/

 The call in several languages:

AR نداء - DE Aufruf  - FR Appel - GR Κάλεσμά - IT Appello - SP llamamiento

For the Alarm Phone please find the FAQ here.

For the deadly delays in rescue operations, please see the exemplary case from the 11^th of October 2013 where more than 200 boat-people drowned:Shipwreck 11th of October 2013.

-- 
Helmut Dietrich
Watch The Med / Forschungsgesellschaft Flucht und Migration e.V.
Gneisenaustr. 2a
D-10961 Berlin
wtm-alarm-phone@antira.info
0049 - (0)176 358 77 605

URGENT : Belgium : Haren : communiqué de presse - persmededeling - press Release

                                Les habitants de 'Liberté champêtre'

Depuis samedi 10 août 2014, des opposants à la construction du plus grand complexe carcéral du pays occupent les dernières terres agricoles de la ville de Bruxelles.

Le 17 avril 2014, les patatistes, lutte paysanne, le comité de Haren (habitants) et des bénévoles locaux ont lancé la protestation sur place.

•  La présence d'espèces animales et végétales protégées sur le site ;

•  La lutte contre l'urbanisation intensive ;

•  Le souci des harenois de préserver l'un des derniers espaces naturels de        leur village et de Bruxelles-ville elle-même, avec leurs sentiers ;

•  La lutte contre l'enfermement cacéral ;

•  Le souci de relocaliser l'agriculture ;

•  Le souci de l'autonomie alimentaire ;

•  La lutte contre l'enfermement pénitentiaire et la répression ;

... ne sont que quelques unes des luttes qui nous unissent ici à cet endroit

Nous faisons appel à tout le monde pour nous soutenir sur place et dans le futur nous organiserons diverses activités.

                                         

                              De bewoners van 'Landelijke vrijheid'

Sinds Zaterdag 10 Augustus 2014 houden tegenstanders van het grootste gevangenis complex van het land, het toekomstig mogelijk bouwterrein (landbouwgrond van Brussel Stad) bezet.

17 april werd al de eerste spade gestoken door de patatisten, steun aan de boerenstrijd, het comite van Haren (bewoners) en lokale vrijwilligers.

•  De aanwezigheid van beschermde planten en dieren op de site ;

•  De strijd tegen de intensieve verstedelijking ;

•  De wil en de noodzaak voor de Harenaren om een van hun en 

   Brusselse laatste open groene landbouw-en natuurruimtes, en hun                  wandelwegen, te vrijwaren ;

• De noodzaak van lokale landbouw ;

• De noodzaak van voedselautonomie ;

• De strijd tegen de penitentiaire vrijheidsberoving en tegen repressie ;

... zijn slechts enkele van de strijdpunten die ons hier op deze plek vereningen.

We roepen iedereen dan ook op ons protest te komen versterken en organiseren in de toekomst diverse activitetein.

                                          

                               The habitants of 'Landly Freedom'

Since Saturday 10th Augustus 2014, opposites of Belgian largest penitential complex occupy agricultural land of Brussels City, at the place where the prison in planned.

The first steps where taken at 17th April 2014 during a protest from patatistes, farmers fight, the local committee of inhabitants and other locals.

• The presence of protected plants and animals at the site ;

• The fight against intensive urbanisation ;

• The want and need from the people of Haren to protect one of the 

   last agricultural and green nature spaces of Brussels City, including 

   their beloved small pathes;

• The need for local agriculture ;

• The need for food autonomy ;

• The fight against imprisonment and repression ;

... these are just a few causes that bind us here at this place 'Landly freedom'.

We launch a call to all to join us and enforce us and we are organizing in the future multiple activities.

                                               

(en) Germany, FAU, Press Release: Beautiful green world of work? Waste of money!

Rally on June 27: For better work in the B?ll Foundation ---- The basic trade union FAU 
Berlin calls for tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at a rally in front of the green Heinrich B?ll 
Foundation (HBS) on. The conflict has been brewing for over a year. For years, the HBS had 
organized the event reconstruction and the catering in their rooms on illegal temporary 
work. Meanwhile, the HBS was convicted in a case brought by the FAU process to deal with 
the colleagues concerned directly (Labour Court Berlin, 05.09.2013). Similar lawsuits are 
pending with the support of Verdi against the Federal Foundation for the Jewish Museum in 
Berlin; in both cases the workers were employed by the same subcontractors. ---- After the 
Berlin Labor Court has now, in the case of HBS fixed, precise conditions for the won 
appointments (03/20/2014), the Green Foundation has recently decided to appeal and to 
submit the dispute to the length. Thus, the publicly-funded Foundation will again spend a 
minimum of four-figure sum of taxpayers 'money for the legal fight against workers' rights.

The reason for the rally at 27.06. is the start of the congress "New generation 
construction contract" in the HBS. Just because the colleagues concerned rather belong to 
a younger generation than most of the HBS-workers, the question arises whether the green 
idea of a "new generation contract" is such that the younger work in temporary work and 
outsourcing.

For still sets the HBS - now apparently without breaking the law - on temporary work and 
therefore pay some colleagues clearly worse than others. Moreover, the HBS up in a sort 
Zerm?rbungsstrategie against the union active employees and FAU members. To operate two of 
the three Erstkl?ger, unlike earlier, without meaningful employment in a remote location - 
for just over two hours per week. Furthermore, four out of seven plaintive HBS employees 
received a total of six warnings in recent months. All this is not acceptable from a trade 
union perspective.

The complete call the FAU Berlin to the rally on 27 June, including the demands of the 
trade union base, is located on 
https://berlin.fau.org/news/kundgebung-am-27-juni-schluss-mit-den-schikanen-fuer-bessere-arbeitsbedingungen-in-der-heinrich-boell-stiftung. 


Berlin the 06.26.2014
-
Press secretary of the FAU Berlin
Andreas F?rster (Deputy)

E-mail: faub-presse@fau.org

Mobile: 0151 633 750 32

Web: http://berlin.fau.org/presse

[Migreurop] FRONTEXIT:Règlement Frontex 16 Avril - Communiqué de Presse/ Frontex regulation 16 April - Press release FR/ENG

(english below)

[FR] Règlement sur la surveillance maritime par Frontex:

des vies en jeu aux frontières de l’Europe

Communiqué de presse - 14 avril 2014

Ce 16 avril 2014, le Parlement européen est amené à voter un règlement sur la surveillance maritime par l’agence européenne de coopération pour les frontières extérieures (Frontex). Mais il n’y a pas de quoi se réjouir, car « surveiller » n’est pas « veiller sur ». L’agence Frontex n’est en effet pas mandatée pour sauver des vies mais pour intercepter des migrants.

Ne nous leurrons pas. S’il présente certaines avancées, ce règlement ne mettra pas fin aux naufrages et aux violations des droits humains. Car « surveiller » et « protéger » ne se reposent pas sur les mêmes bases : les interceptions de Frontex visent à stopper les migrants et potentiellement à les renvoyer dans leur pays de provenance, mais pas à améliorer leur sort. Et cela en dépit des obligations internationales qui pèsent sur les Etats membres de l’UE en matière de protection des réfugiés et de droits fondamentaux.

Ainsi, le Parlement a introduit dans le règlement une définition du « non-refoulement » - principe fondamental du droit des réfugiés - selon laquelle il est interdit de renvoyer un migrant dans un pays où il court le risque de subir la peine de mort, la torture, des persécutions, ou autres traitements inhumains et dégradants ainsi que des menaces sur sa vie et sa liberté. Mais pour évaluer ce risque, Frontex s’appuiera uniquement sur des sources gouvernementales et européennes et consignera ses conclusions dans des documents non publics, donc difficilement contestables. L’Agence devra également tenir compte de l’existence d’accords, de projets entre l’UE, ses Etats membres et les pays extérieurs à l’UE pour faire cette évaluation. Or, l’objectif de l’UE est, depuis de nombreuses années, de faire de la « coopération » avec les pays tiers une justification pour externaliser la gestion des migrants afin qu’ils n’atteignent pas les territoires européens. Cette « coopération » n’empêche pas les violations des droits des migrants par ces Etats. Ainsi, la Libye, le Maroc, la Turquie ou l’Ukraine deviennent aveuglement des pays « sûrs » vers lesquels les migrants peuvent être renvoyés.

De plus, le règlement prévoit que si les personnes sont interpellées en haute mer ou dans la zone contiguë d’un Etat membre, Frontex pourra les renvoyer - accord avec l'UE ou non - vers le pays d’où elles sont parties et ce, avec de très faibles garanties et au mépris de la jurisprudence de la Cour européenne des droits de l’Homme qui consacre le droit au recours effectif (1). En filigrane se profilent de nombreuses questions quant au pouvoir des Etats membres d’opérer dans les eaux territoriales de leurs voisins, voire sur leur territoire directement, tout en respectant des « normes au moins équivalentes à celle des lois européennes » comme le suggère le règlement. Comment s’assurera-t-on que les Etats respectent ces normes en matière de protection et de non-refoulement ? Quelle juridiction sera compétente pour apprécier qu'elles le sont ?

Le développement des relations avec les pays tiers est toujours présenté comme la solution à tous les problèmes de l’immigration dite « clandestine » vers l’Europe, et il est demandé à Frontex d’en devenir un des acteurs centraux. Une façon de laisser l'Agence mettre en œuvre, sous couvert d’une « coopération technique » aseptisée et qui échappe au contrôle du Parlement européen, une politique répressive sans précédent.

Dans ce contexte, le sauvetage n'est qu'une anecdote. Le règlement prévoit une procédure obligeant l’agence à prévenir les autorités de sauvetage compétentes. C’est un minimum, déjà prévu par le droit maritime international. Le règlement n’ajoute rien à ce qui est déjà en vigueur.

Le seul moyen de faire cesser l'hécatombe à nos frontières serait de changer radicalement le paradigme actuel et d’organiser enfin l’accueil des personnes en demande de migration ou de protection.

Ce texte ne transformera pas Frontex - dont la mission principale est le contrôle et la surveillance des frontières extérieures de l’Union européenne - en agence de sauvetage. Pire : il porte le risque de refoulements en mer et de nouveaux naufrages. Comment, dans ce contexte, continuer à croire et à investir dans Frontex ?

---

(1) Selon la Cour européenne des droits de l’Homme, la notion de « recours effectif » au sens de l’article 13 combiné avec l’article 3 (protection contre les traitements inhumains ou dégradants) requiert, d’une part, « un examen indépendant et rigoureux » de tout grief soulevé par une personne se trouvant dans une telle situation, aux termes duquel « il existe des motifs sérieux de croire à l’existence d’un risque réel de traitements contraires à l’article 3 » et, d’autre part, « la possibilité de faire surseoir à l’exécution de la mesure litigieuse » (Cour EDH 23 février 2012 HIRSI JAMAA ET AUTRES c. Italie en Grande Chambre, § 198).

[EN] Regulation on the maritime surveillance by Frontex:

lives in danger at the external borders of Europe

Press release - 14 april 2014

On the 16th of April, the European Parliament will vote on the proposal for a Regulation on the maritime surveillance by the European agency for the coordination of the cooperation at the external borders (Frontex). There is no reason to celebrate: Frontex’ mandate is to intercept migrants, not to save lives.

Let us be clear. Although it contains certain enhancements, the regulation will not end shipwrecks and human rights violations. For “surveillance” and “protection” do not rest on the same bases: interceptions by Frontex aim at stopping migrants and potentially to send them back to their country of origin, but not to better their situation. This, in spite of international obligations of the EU Member States regarding protection of refugees and human rights.

The Parliament has introduced in the regulation a definition of non-refoulement – basic principle of Refugee Law according to which it is forbidden to send a person to a country where s/he risks facing death penalty, torture, persecutions or inhumane or degrading treatments or threats to her/his life of liberty. But to assess this risk, Frontex will only use governmental and European sources and will not publish its conclusions, which therefore will not be submitted to debate. The Agency will also have to take into account the existence of agreements and projects between the EU, its Members States and third countries in order to make such assessments. But the aim of the EU, for many years, is to “cooperate” with third countries to externalize migration control and prevent migrants from reaching Europe. This “cooperation” does not prevent human rights violations by these third countries. Libya, Morocco, Turkey or Ukraine for example are blindly seen as safe countries where migrants can be sent.

Furthermore, the regulation foresees the possibility to send persons intercepted at high sea or in the contiguous zone of a Member State’s territorial waters back to the country from which they departed, regardless of whether there is an agreement between the EU and this country. This with low guarantees and with no regard for the European Court for Human Rights jurisprudence which consecrates the right to an effective remedy (1) This also raises many questions regarding the capacity of States to operate in their neighbours’ territorial waters or territories while respecting standards at least as high as European ones as the regulation suggests. How will one guarantee that States will respect these standards in matter of protection and non-refoulement? Which jurisdiction will be competent to appreciate this ?

The development of relationships with third-countries is always seen as the solution to all problems of so-called clandestine immigration and Frontex is asked to play a key role in this respect. This is a way of letting the Agency implement an unprecedented and repressive policy which, while pretending to be only technical, escapes any scrutiny by the European Parliament.

In this context, saving lives is just a detail. The regulation foresees a binding procedure for the Agency to inform the competent rescue authorities:  this is a minimum already foreseen by existing international maritime law. The regulation therefore does not add anything to existing rules.

The only way to stop the slaughter at our borders would be to radically change the current paradigm  and at last to organise  ways of hosting  persons in search of migration or protection.

This text will not transform Frontex – the mission of which is to control EU’s external borders – into a rescue agency. Worse: it bears the risk for push backs at seas and for further shipwrecks. How can one, in this context, continue to believe and invest in Frontex?

---

 (1) According to the European Court for Human Rights, the notion of “effective remedy” within the meaning of Article 13 taken in conjunction with Article 3 requires, firstly, “independent and rigorous scrutiny” of any complaint made by a person in such a situation, where “there exist substantial grounds for fearing a real risk of treatment contrary to Article 3” and, secondly, “the possibility of suspending the implementation of the measure impugned”.

 

PRESS RELEASE,MYTILINI – PIKPA‏

http://lesvos.w2eu.net/2012/12/15/mytilini-14-12-12-press-release/

Mytilini, 14.12.12: PRESS RELEASE
Posted on December 15, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

MYTILINI – PIKPA
THREE WEEKS SINCE THE OPENING AND WE STILL WAIT FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO 
COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM OF WHAT THEY PROMISED

In the last weeks we have seen again refugees arriving on Mytilini who 
due to lacking infrastructures of reception on the island are piled up 
in miserable detention cells or if these were absolutely overcrowded 
they found provisory shelter in parks, squares and public places until 
the moment when the inhabitants of the island attempted to find another 
solution for them.

Three weeks ago new arriving homeless refugees were firstly transferred 
to the childrens’ summer camp of PIKPA Mytilini.

The transfer was a result of the pressure of the local society and the 
worsening weather conditions which followed and which could have had 
tragic consequences for the lives of the homeless refugees.

The Network of organisations and civilians “the village of all-together” 
and a great section of the local society took the responsibility and 
committed itself to support the functioning of this first open reception 
centre from the very moment of its birth.
The authorities from their side committed themselves to ease the 
functioning of the centre.
What did they really promise? Two things:

1. Firstly and mainly they committed themselves to convincing the 
Ministry of Citizen Protection and Public Order to proceed with fastened 
procedures in registering the refugees and giving them administrative 
deportation orders (so called «white paper») in order to relieve PIKPA 
but also the detention cells of the police that are completely unsuitable.
It was from the very first moment clear that without staff, funding and 
in view of the wave of arrivals on the island, PIKPA could only offer a 
short-term solution (2-3 days) of dignified reception.
2. The second commitment that was taken by the First Reception Service 
of the Ministry of Citizen Protection and Public Order, was to 
contribute to the catering and the provision of basic needs that from 
the first moment until now are provided by volunteer citizens of 
Mytilene, the Church and the University.
Where would the Ministry find the funding (that should reach us in 
material and not in monetary form)? From European funds which the 
Service has for exactly this scope and which it has not used until now.
The municipality of Lesvos and the Prefecture of the North Aegean 
recognized that what we are asking for is really needed, constituting 
prerequisites for the viability of the project and the non-exhaustion of 
local resources that are offered with so much generosity to the fellow 
people in times of crisis. They promised to do whatever was in their 
hands to help immediately.

Three weeks later refugees – including many small children and even 
newborns with urgent needs – continue arriving at PIKPA being in a very 
bad state suffering from the cold and rain.

Three weeks later volunteers continue offering exceeding their powers 
and not simply substituting the state but ultimately acting within a 
huge gap created by the state apparatus in this area, which threatens 
the refugees, the people who choose to stand beside them but also the 
whole of our society, thus contributing decisively to the development of 
fascist formations.

Three weeks later the police directory blocked by instructions from the 
Ministry throws the ball of the responsibility for the care of these 
people and their safe stay to us – even for an unspecified period of 
time. Desperate we rush to meet the growing needs while authorities 
continue to apply the same cumbersome bureaucratic practices.

Only that neither the refugees’ lives nor the efforts of our fellow 
citizens who have taken immediate action in this desperate situation 
which has been created by the deadheartedness of the state apparatus can 
be encountered with bureaucracy.

In this moment where the citizens are supporting an effective solution, 
the authorities have to finally respond openly. Will they support the 
effort or will they insist on an absurd, inadequate policy measure of a 
criminal indifference and on the continuance of the degrading and 
inhuman detention and misery of people who first of all require would 
protection.

We remind them: You don’t have the refugees in front of your eyes as 
they have been a few weeks ago when they were sleeping in front of the 
theatre of the municipality of the town. Now they are here with us and 
we demand you to respect our efforts, our investment of time, our offer 
but first of all our decision not to allow people arriving in our home 
to get into this misery, to be exposed to the racist violence and 
fascism that is threatening all of us. We have stood solidary to our 
fellow people and we will not stop doing everything that is in our hands.

If you don’t decide to take the needed measures in order to protect the 
– until now – successful effort of PIKPA, our effort will be in danger 
and its’ end might be inevitable.

We will not risk the lives of the refugees nor the effort of so many of 
our fellow citizens. We therefore want to clear towards all directions 
that we will leave PIKPA within ten days if our demands that we 
expressed from the very beginning for the continuance of our effort are 
not answered. We are drawn to this decision with a feeling of 
responsibility and respect towards the refugees who will have us by 
their sides in any way.

You will find yourselves again confronted with the old problem, again 
testing your humanity. In this case you should be ready to take on your 
responsibilities towards all of us but mainly to find solutions for this 
new humanitarian crisis that your deadheartedness will produce once more.

“The village of all-together”

lesvos.w2eu@yahoo.gr

Bron : Marily

Press release of the United African Women Organisation,Greece‏

Published on October 3, 2012
http://infomobile.w2eu.net/
Press release of the United African Women Organisation, Greece

We women, involved in United African Women Organization, Greece, express our deep concern, protest and anger for any type of clean – up actions that are in progress in the centre of Athens and other Greek regions.

Manny of us, years ago, have taken the road of exile, had in mind a distant country, Greece, where people honoured and respected the “stranger” as a holy person. Than, we became this “stranger” and during our evening classes, after work, we learned that there is an old god, to assist us in the difficult struggle for survival: the “Xenios Zeus.”

Today we hear that the old god he changed his mind and doesn’t want to protect us anymore.

We have always tried to build bridges between immigrant communities and the Greek society.
To seek what unites us, rather than what divides us and to highlight it.

To struggle with the Greeks, both men and women against poverty, absurdity as a single, dynamic community that claims their lawful rights.

In spite of those who cut the bridges, we want to continue to fight for the natural right of every person to safety, dignity and peaceful coexistence.

Each “sweep” that was preceded, allegedly as a clean-up, (like people are garbage and need to be swept). we women of Africa who live in Greece, want to turn it into a sweep against hate speech, pogroms, violence and fascist beliefs.

We do not want to defeat racism.
We do not want to loose all hope.
We do not want to start again from scratch a fight that should have been finished.

Bron :

http://www.africanwomen.gr/
africanwοmen@yahoo.com

PRESS RELEASE- Tragedy in Aegean Sea on 6 Sept 2012‏

http://www.multeci.org.tr/?p=886

Bron : katerina tsapopoulou

Spain: A step backward in the right to health care for all

Version française ci-dessous
Versión en español a continuación


Brussels, 31 August 2012

PRESS RELEASE


On 20 April 2012, the Spanish government adopted the Royal Decree Act 16/2012 amending the Foreigners Act, which would deny access to essential and preventive health care services for undocumented migrants. This new law, which takes effect on 1 September 2012, will leave only emergency care, maternity and child care accessible free of charge.

Following criticisms by civil society, regional governments and medical professionals, the Minister of Health, Ms. Ana Mato, decided that primary health care services will be available to undocumented migrants on condition that they adhere to a system of financial contribution similar to private insurance amounting to a monthly fee of EUR 59.20 for those under 65 years of age and up to EUR 155.40 for those over that age. Such fees are unaffordable for many irregular migrants.
Initially, the government had justified the adoption of the Royal Decree Act because of the need to reduce public spending in the midst of a severe economic crisis. However, the Minister of Health recently changed position and stated that the new law is not motivated by economic reasons but is about applying European regulations and the conclusions of the Court of Auditors by ensuring “the principle of reciprocity” when Spaniards travel abroad and “to curb health tourism”
The implementation of the Royal Decree will have serious implications, violating Spain’s European and international human rights obligations. It is foreseen that public health policy will be undermined by an increase in government expenditure, as emergency care is more expensive than preventive health care.
The provision of health care is left to the autonomous regions. Catalonia, Andalucía, Asturias, Canaries and the Basque country have announced they will not apply the law. Other regions have announced they will try to find ways to continue to provide care to undocumented migrants.
Through joint initiatives, coalitions of NGOs have opposed the amendment, stating the additional burden on civil society organizations. Some organizations have also stated that the Royal Decree will further exclude undocumented migrants from society and encourage a culture of discrimination and exclusion by reinforcing socio-economic inequalities.
Medical professionals have voiced their objections, stating that the new law will violate their professional code of conduct, as they have taken oaths to provide medical assistance to those who need it.
Deploring the situation, Michele LeVoy, PICUM Director, stated that “especially in time of crisis, the protection and defence of human rights means protecting and upholding the fundamental values on which European society is founded. A regression of fundamental rights can never be justified”.
On the day before this big step backward in the right to health care for all, we want to reaffirm our strong condemnation of this policy change and our support to the Spanish NGOs and health care professionals who are opposing it.
PICUM calls for health care to be once again accessible to all without discrimination and regardless of one’s immigration status. The right to health is universal and fundamental as upheld by European and international human rights laws and must be preserved to ensure the well-being of all those residing in Europe, with or without regular residence status.
To reinforce its position, PICUM has also signed a press release published by eleven Spanish NGOs. You can read it here (only available in Spanish)

For more information, please contact: Nicola Flamigni, Communications Officer
Tel: +32 2 210 17 80, Email: nicola@picum.org

----------------------------------------------FRANCAIS-----------------------------------------------

Bruxelles, 31 août 2012

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Espagne: Un pas en arrière pour le droit à la santé pour tous

Le 20 avril 2012, le gouvernement espagnol a adopté l’arrêté 16/2012 modifiant la loi sur les étrangers qui refuse l'accès aux services de soins essentiels et préventifs pour les migrants sans-papiers. Cette nouvelle loi, qui entrera en vigueur le 1er septembre 2012, ne donnera l’accès gratuit qu’aux soins d'urgence, de maternité et pédiatriques.
Suite aux critiques de la société civile, les gouvernements régionaux et professionnels de la santé, la ministre de la Santé, Mme Ana Mato, a décidé que les services de soins de santé primaires seraient disponibles pour les migrants en situation irrégulière, à condition qu'ils adhèrent à un système de contribution financière similaire à une assurance privée à un tarif mensuel de EUR 59,20 pour les moins de 65 ans et jusqu'à EUR 155,40 pour les personnes plus âgées. Ces frais sont inabordables pour de nombreux migrants en situation irrégulière.
Initialement, le gouvernement avait justifié l'adoption de l’arrêté royal en raison de la nécessité de réduire les dépenses publiques en plein crise économique. Toutefois, le ministre de la santé a récemment changé de position et a déclaré que la nouvelle loi n'est pas motivée par des raisons économiques mais afin d’appliquer la réglementation européenne et les conclusions de la Cour des comptes pour assurer le respect du « principe de réciprocité » quand les Espagnols voyagent à l'étranger et pour « combattre le tourisme médical »
La mise en œuvre de l'arrêté royal aura des conséquences graves telles que la violation des obligations internationales et européennes de l'Espagne relatifs aux droits. Il est prévu que la politique de santé publique sera compromise suite à une augmentation des dépenses publiques, car les soins d'urgence sont plus coûteux que les soins de santé préventifs.
La prestation de soins de santé fait partie des pouvoirs des régions autonomes. Ainsi, l’Asturies la Catalogne, l’Andalousie, les Canaries, et le pays Basque ont annoncé qu'ils n'appliqueront pas la loi. D'autres régions ont annoncé qu'ils vont essayer de trouver des moyens de continuer à fournir des soins aux migrants sans-papiers.
Au travers d’initiatives conjointes, des coalitions d’ONG se sont opposées à l’amendement de la loi, notant le fardeau supplémentaire qui serait mis sur les organisations de la société civile. Certaines organisations ont aussi déclarés que l’arrêté royal exclura d’avantages les migrants sans-papiers de la société et encouragera une culture de discrimination et d'exclusion en renforçant les inégalités socio-économiques.
Des professionnels de la santé ont fait part de leurs objections, affirmant que la nouvelle loi va porter atteinte à leur code de déontologie ayant presté serment d'apporter une assistance médicale aux personnes qui en ont besoin.
Déplorant la situation, Michele LeVoy, la Directrice de PICUM, a déclaré que « surtout en temps de crise, la protection et la défense des droits de l'homme signifie protéger et défendre les valeurs fondamentales sur lesquelles est fondée la société européenne. Une régression des droits fondamentaux ne peut jamais être justifié ».
A la veille du grand pas en arrière grand pour le droit aux soins de santé pour tous, nous voulons réaffirmer notre ferme condamnation de ce changement de politique et démontrer notre soutien aux ONG espagnoles et les professionnels de la santé qui s’y sont opposés.
PICUM appelle à ce que les soins de santé soient à nouveau accessible à tous sans discrimination et indépendamment du statut de migration de la personne. Le droit à la santé est universel et fondamental comme maintenu par les lois européennes et internationales relatifs aux droits humains et doit être préservé pour assurer le bien-être de tous ceux qui résident en Europe, avec ou sans statut de séjour régulier.
Afin de renforcer sa position, PICUM a également signé un communiqué de presse publié par onze ONG espagnoles. Vous pouvez le lire ici.

Pour plus d’informations, merci de contacter: Nicola Flamigni, Chargé de Communication
Tel: +32 2 210 17 80, Email: nicola@picum.org


-----------------------------------------------ESPANOL-----------------------------------------------

Bruselas, 31 de agosto de 2012

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
España: Un paso atrás en el derecho a la salud para todos


El 20 de abril de 2012, el Gobierno español aprobó el Real Decreto Ley 16/2012 que modifica la Ley de extranjería, que negaría el acceso a los servicios esenciales y preventivos para la salud de los migrantes indocumentados. Esta nueva ley, que entrará en vigor el 1 de septiembre de 2012, solamente dejará a la atención de emergencia, la maternidad y el cuidado infantil accesible de forma gratuita.

A raíz de las críticas de la sociedad civil, los gobiernos regionales y profesionales de la medicina, la ministra de Sanidad, Ana Mato, decidió que los servicios de atención primaria de salud estarán a disposición de los migrantes irregulares, a condición de que se adhieran a un sistema de contribución financiera similar a un seguro privado por valor a una cuota mensual de 59,20 euros para los menores de 65 años de edad y de hasta 155,40 euros para los mayores de esa edad. Estas cuotas son inasequibles para muchos migrantes irregulares.

Inicialmente, el gobierno había justificado la adopción del Real Decreto por la necesidad de reducir el gasto público en medio de una severa crisis económica. Sin embargo, el ministro de Salud recientemente cambió de posición y afirmó que la nueva ley no está motivada por razones económicas, pero se trata de la aplicación de la normativa europea y las conclusiones del Tribunal de Cuentas, al asegurar "el principio de reciprocidad" cuando los españoles viajan al extranjero y "frenar el turismo de salud"

La aplicación del Real Decreto tendrá consecuencias graves, debido europeos e internacionales de España en materia de derechos humanos. Se prevé que la política de salud pública se verá afectada por un aumento del gasto público, como la atención de emergencia es más costosa que el cuidado preventivo de la salud.

La prestación de la asistencia sanitaria se deja a las comunidades autónomas. Asturias Cataluña, Andalucía, Canarias, y el País Vasco han anunciado que no aplicarán la ley. Otras regiones han anunciado que van a tratar de encontrar la manera de seguir aportando ayuda médica a los migrantes irregulares.

A través de iniciativas conjuntas, las coaliciones de organizaciones no gubernamentales se han opuesto a la enmienda, indicando la carga adicional para las organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Algunas organizaciones también han declarado que el Real Decreto seguirá a excluir a los migrantes indocumentados de la sociedad y fomentar una cultura de discriminación y exclusión mediante el refuerzo de las desigualdades socioeconómicas.

Los profesionales médicos han expresado sus objeciones, señalando que la nueva ley viola el código de conducta profesional, ya que han tomado juramento a prestar asistencia médica a las personas que lo necesitan.

Lamentando la situación, Michele LeVoy, directora de PICUM, afirmó que "especialmente en tiempos de crisis, la protección y defensa de los derechos humanos significa la protección y la defensa de los valores fundamentales en los que esta basada la sociedad europea. Una regresión de los derechos fundamentales nunca se pueden justificar".

El día antes de este paso atrás importante en el derecho a la atención sanitaria para todos, queremos reafirmar nuestra firme condena de este cambio de política y nuestro apoyo a las ONG españolas y profesionales de la salud que se le oponen.

PICUM llama la atención de salud a ser una vez más accesible a todos, sin discriminación e independientemente del estatus migratorio de uno. El derecho a la salud es universal y fundamental confirmado por las leyes humanas europeas e internacionales de derechos humanos y debe ser preservado para garantizar el bienestar de todos los residentes en Europa, con o sin permiso de residencia regular.

Para reforzar su posición, PICUM también ha firmado un comunicado de prensa publicado por once ONG españolas. Puede leerlo aquí.


Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto con: Nicola Flamigni, Oficial de Comunicaciones
Tel: +32 2 210 17 80, Email: nicola@picum.org

PICUM is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that aims to promote respect for the human rights of undocumented migrants within Europe.

PICUM's bulletin is currently the only information source dedicated to exclusively reporting on the situation of undocumented migrants in Europe.

Bron :

Sign up for PICUM bulletin and follow us at  

CONTACT US
Rue du Congrès/Congresstraat 37-41, post box 5
1000 Brussels — Belgium
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Tel: +32 (0)2 210 17 80
Fax: +32 (0)2 210 17 89
E-mail: info@picum.org
Website: www.picum.org

Colombia: CNA-From Inside calls generate international solidarity with the day of disobedience - press release by Anarchist Black Cross

CNA-GB Note: I wrote this little text the beat of the CNA-from within, we join in this
document and in various latitudes expect men and women who are in struggle against
prisons, capital operation and do acts solidarity and defiance with compas both CNA-from
within and for political prisoners, prisoners of war and social prisoners who are on this
journey. ---- 40 Colombian jails enter civil disobedience ---- Beginning on 21 August of
the National Movement Colombian prison civil disobedience enters at about 40 jails and
prisons throughout the country, following the prolonged crisis in the prison system,
overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, corruption, etc.. claims of a domestic demand as the
reduced sentences, family approach, regional and procedural, non-extradition of nationals,
national labor board code and prison reform involving reclus @ s family, among others.
Also local claims as the problems of each establishment. The solution is not to build more
prisons and increase the penalties or establish more social behavior offenses.

We call for solidarity with the conference.
anarchist Black Cross-from within. A prison in Bogota, Colombia.

Related Link: http://grupobifurcacion.wordpress.com

Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca

(en) Anarkismo.net: Press release of the Mexican Libertarian

A project of free and independent A libertarian and anarchist organizations ---- To the 
people in struggle ---- We have called this talk because, as we consider relevant 
anarchist movement to make public some of our positions, but we also need to express our 
total and complete solidarity with those who are in jail in prisons around the world by 
ideology in general and in particular our fellow anarchist Mario Lopez, the last held by 
the Mexican State, the latter figure attached to large lists of political prisoner in this 
country. ---- First, we must define some of our positions to those who, for a long time 
refused to hear anything that does not suit their profits and are blind to the obvious 
social, economic and political, but also to those who, handled information and make it 
appear to anarchism as a synonym for chaos and destruction.

We believe that the basis on which rests the current normalcy of things, is based on two 
false issues and inseparable, both driving principle of violence toward individuals, 
communities and peoples alike. On the one hand is the fit of our political ability to 
decide how we live and how, rapture that is disguised under an alleged will and consensus 
of those who, underneath, appear as governed, but in reality it is a form extreme violence 
against life by those who consider themselves owners and masters of politics known as 
"political class" - and also lords of force, forming a whole called State. This imposing 
separation between rulers and ruled, based on false and repugnant democratic system, which 
seeks to upgrade every six years in this country. So we, the anarchists do not participate 
in these farces and not give our vote our right to decide about ourselves. So also our 
friend Mario is not in any sense, a supporter of the Movement # I am 132, for among other 
things, we consider it as reformist, legalistic and alien to what we believe, want and 
build. What the prosecutors and police officers testified about the bracelet I'm # 132, 
which according to Mario carrying, is but the first signs of mounting construction from 
the detention of our colleague, that we suppose they wanted to take advantage as political 
spoils because it was made five days before the election expected insults and changing 
local and national executioners.

The other main basis of this system is what makes the fit of our ability to produce and 
reproduce our goods needed, is the legitimate private property and divides society between 
the haves and have-nots. We believe in short, as I said Pierre J. Proudhon in 1840 that 
the property is just a robbery. Theft, which of course is in the form of violence by the 
owners, and then appointed as a legitimate title. This theft primal, is what would after 
the now dispossessed had no choice but to sell their unique and important workforce.

These two bases, shape the modern capitalist system, as we saw is worth the use of 
violence, rage and strength to be justified then in terms of legal, right and normal. 
However, the capitalist system whenever it is updated and extreme violence. For us this 
means the exploitation of workers, whether the field or the city, but despite devote 
himself to work, enjoy no luxury and survive on less than the basics, and suffer hunger 
and to work under conditions of constant danger, is also reflected in the thousands of 
people who have to pay rent to live under a roof or failing that, sleeping in the streets 
in the thousands of others who have to migrate from their places of origin to get an 
operator and receive a miserable salary, in the thousands also die from lack of care daily 
from curable diseases and lower in others thousands who can not read or write because 
since childhood they were denied education, in those who are driven to perform work 
unworthy to live, in those who suffer the fury of their homes and farmland for the 
construction of new roads or shopping centers that are sure to never use, in whom, as the 
Indians are denied the right to be whatever they want to, to identify and organize under 
and by their means or are denied the space of social and cultural reproduction such as 
wirarika town, in those who make war their daily lives, as is the case for almost the 
entire population of the north of this country that is among the power struggles and 
violence among drug traffickers and the government, and we can put thousands of examples 
of this and all latitudes in the world, none have completely escaped this system of 
domination. In short, for us this system is primarily a settled form of direct violence 
against humans cluster that 80% of the world population that is neither the political 
class or the bourgeoisie.

There is the violence. This is the true attack on peace.

All this is done by creating and / or use of institutions and social and cultural values ? 
?that make the gear to work and revitalize small and large scale. Institutions such as 
schools, hospitals, patriarchy, prisons, family, all are aimed at building mechanisms of 
power and domination in different degrees. That is also why we declare ourselves not only 
against the state and capital, visible heads of domination and exploitation, but and all 
forms of power, authority and domination, fighting every day to an end, confronting not 
only the public life but to the private, everyday. That is also why we have never sought 
the conquest of power, of sovereignty, but the construction of autonomy, of emancipation 
and power relations based on equality and horizontality.

That's why we set ourselves as anarchists in other ways to understand and build our lives 
to unjustifiable and atrocious selfishness, we propose mutual support among peers, with 
its increasingly hierarchical society, we propose equality and fraternity to governmental 
or associative mediation, we propose direct action, that is, do what we want for our own 
without intermediaries; to his false peace and social democratic, unmask their war against 
the social fragmentation, we propose voluntary associations, with their verticality and 
horizontality, with its violence, self-defense referred to in the organization and 
construction of alternative livelihoods for the recovery of our independence and a 
dignified life, without masters, no gods.

Hence, this act is sample of one of the fundamental principles of our struggle: 
solidarity. We contemplate that solidarity is the basis, the bowels of any organization 
that advocates for freedom. So, recognizing Mario Lopez as an anarchist, we have done 
nothing but sympathize with him and that means, fight for their liberation, to be with him 
and his family as we can, because for us solidarity is not just a slogan provides a 
revolutionary status, but is an ethical principle that as anarchists we assume with ours, 
the exploited, with our peers. We are clear that the judicial system and political 
climate, anyone who speak out against their principles is immediately a criminal 
hypocrites, therefore, from start to asumirnos as anarchists, we know to be against its 
legality. So also distrust the laws that the system itself has done and given under its 
benefits, whims and needs. We have seen how, throughout history they are modified and 
molded to the ruling classes, we have seen also, sadly, how to lock over and over 
thousands of what their terms are called "innocent", thereby destroying their person, 
integrity and dignity.

We recognize as well that prison is not at any time a system of social rehabilitation but 
a punitive system that uses the power to engender fear, to destroy people, creating 
abnormalities, delinquencies, so that, through extreme surveillance, isolation , 
psychological torture and physical abuse end up destroying the humanity of every being. 
And that's not something that begins properly within the prison walls, but, as shown in 
the case of my friend Mario Lopez starts from the moment you fall into their clutches. Our 
colleague was subjected to strong psychological torture, having confessed to being an 
anarchist, he served for mounting a variety of inventive without any evidence to support this.

We consider prison as the ultimate monument of hatred of freedom, although we know that 
the bars of prisons beyond the prison and are installed in our daily lives, so, there 
imprison anyone who challenges the rules, assuming that confinement they'll shut up the 
voices of discontent and dissent. Our solidarity is complete with all who protect and 
defend the freedom struggle.

As anarchists we aim to defend ourselves from the chains that oppress us and that has led 
us to come together as a movement, to speak out in favor of real solidarity and against 
the whole system, whom we described as dangerous to desvirtuarnos Vagrancy front to 
society and show us as not worthy of being heard, to have credibility. That's what they 
did to Gut also said they had drug problems, who was arrested for that on occasion, under 
the assumption to believe that this is a dumb drug addict who raves about politics, which 
is synonymous with being an anarchist misfit . We, in defense of Mario belie it, some we 
know, we know that has never been, nor even legal drugs like alcohol and snuff 
consumption. Do not make a mockery of our colleague, we do not make a joke.

As the anarchist movement, we have always been against all power, that it makes any 
government to be our enemy, that it does now, we want to make a hunt, based on the alleged 
dismantling of a radical organization, which want to look for accomplices and allies, 
ties. It is mounting a case, where unfortunately, Mario Lopez works as a scapegoat in 
order to undermine our anarchist political stance.

Not the first time the Mexican government mounted cases and accusations against fellow 
anarchist and the libertarian movement. Remember the case of arrests at the counter in 
Guadalajara in 2004, where the anarchist movement was severely beaten, arrested several of 
its members and subject to criminal full of lies, or more recently the case of the 
anarchists and Emmanuel Victor Herrera Hernandez, who after being arrested and prosecuted 
for participating in marches (one on the memorial of the slaughter of students in 
Tlatelolco and the other in the March Against Water Forum IV), were sentenced for crimes 
invented by prosecutors.

These arrests, prosecutions and convictions are one more sign that the state take hold of 
all their resources to attack the process of organizing people and peoples, because 
despite its discourse of democracy and rule of law, are themselves the first to use its 
laws to make false accusations. For us it is clear that the State uses these and other 
means of support and legitimacy in a society increasingly disillusioned with political 
parties and their promises.

We denounce this, not because we believe in the legality of the state, which serves to 
maintain control over every aspect of social life and to monitor the population, to ensure 
its perpetuation and hegemony, which is based on domination and exploitation of peoples, 
but because it is important not to shut up what they are trying to do with our friend 
Mario, and to make known and publicly denounce the Federal District Government prepares a 
hunt for anarchists using the pretext of the arrest of our colleague and their alleged 
connections with other libertarian groups.

We realize that these arrests, police mounts and persecutions are intended to intimidate 
us to abandon our struggle for a fairer and freer world, however, declare that in spite of 
them, we organize ourselves and we will continue and extend our ideal of freedom, and 
Despite the risk of incarceration, continue to express our solidarity with Mario Lopez.

We reject and denounce the intention of the Federal District to mount a case against 
anarchism in the arrest of Mario, we know from the manipulation of facts that is happening 
in research. We recognize this as an attack assembly of the state against the anarchist 
movement.

Mario Lopez concerns us, is being attacked by the beast of the system, psychological and 
physical attacks it. We know that our colleague continues to resist, despite the gravity 
of his situation, has not been defeated. So, we announced that we as anarchist movement in 
struggle and make the necessary campaigns for the release of our colleague and prevent the 
assembly lies about you follow feeding false and distorted arguments. From here we also 
appeal to the solidarity of autonomous anti-capitalist struggle from their ability to 
perform actions for the release of Mario Lopez and attend the activities planned for this 
week began today with this press conference and continue on Wednesday, 11 July outside the 
Hospital Ruben Lenero located behind the Metro Military College at 3 pm and on Friday 13 
in the Moorish Kiosk, located in the Alameda-Santa Maria la Ribera, Buenavista-Metro after 
12 hours to participate in a political-cultural act in solidarity with Mario Lopez. Also 
call on the media and independent organizations to be alert to this situation.

No more, thank you for your assistance.
Freedom Mario Lopez, the gut

Solidarity with anarchist prisoners World

Down the prison walls

Solidarity is the heart of the struggle against the power