Several members of Green Left joined in a protest organised by No Borders at the French embassy on Tuesday evening and I was among them. We were not allowed anywhere near the building itself and had to stand across the street. Andy Hewett from Green Left (who is also the party's Campaigns Coordinator) also read out a statement of support from the French Greens, which is here below in the original French and a translation. I posted about this last week but the images from Calais were truly horrifying.
All the more shame on Gordon Brown for making a distinctly anti-immigrant pitch during his speech to the Labour conference and for introducing policies on hostels for single parents which originated with the BNP. The Sun may have deserted them but they still have some support from the Daily Mail. I have one word for those who applauded these types of ideas at Brighton and it is stronger than "chumps". I wonder if Lord Mandelson has any concerns about Russian oligarchs becoming immigrants in this country. No? Thought not.
Calais : cachons cette misère que nous ne saurions voir
L’évacuation spectaculaire de la « jungle » est une opération de communication inhumaine et inutile qui ne règle en rien le problème de fond.La fermeture de Sangatte comme nous l’avions prévu n’a fait que déplacer le problème. Il en sera de même pour le ratissage de Calais.La grande majorité des réfugiés sont partis avant l’arrivée de la police. Quant à ceux qui ont été interpellés, que vont-ils devenir? Va-t-on les renvoyer dans un pays en guerre où ils risquent la mort en dépit des conventions internationales. Que va-t-il advenir des mineurs? Le problème n’est que masqué temporairement et réapparaîtra.Les gouvernements français et européens doivent prendre leurs responsabilités face au drame humain des réfugiés kurdes et afghans et leur donner l’asile au lieu de les chasser à coups de bulldozer. Il faut rétablir pleinement la convention de Genève en Europe au lieu de choisir la stratégie de la terreur et du désespoir. Cette opération hautement médiatique n’est qu’une mise en scène politicienne. Comme à chaque veille d’élection, le gouvernement s’empresse de secouer le cocotier des questions de migration.
Djamila Sonzogni, Jean-Louis Roumégas,
Porte-parole
Calais: hide the misery that we could not see
The dramatic evacuation of the "jungle" is an inhumane and unnecessary PR exercise that does not solve the underlying problem.The closure of Sangatte, as we predicted, merely moved the problem. It will be the same for the sweep of Calais.The vast majority of refugees had left before the police arrived.
As for those arrested, what will become of them? Will they be returned to countries at war where they risk death, in spite of international conventions. What will happen to the children? The problem has been masked temporarily and will reappear.The French and European governments must accept their responsibilities towards the human drama of the Kurdish and Afghan refugees and give them asylum, rather than sweeping them away with bulldozers.We must fully restore the Geneva Convention in Europe instead of choosing the strategy of terror and despair.
This media event was highly political. As with every election, the government is quick to stir up migration issues.
Djamila Sonzogni, Jean-Louis Roumégas
No comments:
Post a Comment