w2eu | 14.03.2017

Despite appalling conditions in state-run camps, the government is taking repressive measures against refugee squats where specifically vulnerable persons have found refuge since the closure of the Balkan corridor

23,000-30,000 refugees currently still stay under appalling conditions in state-run mass camps in Greece. They live in tents in Moria Hot Spot, in Derveni camp in Northern Greece or Elliniko camp in Athens, in prefabricated houses in Koutsochero (18km out of Larissa City), Malakassa (Attiki) or Skaramangas Dock (Attiki).

Almost the same amount of people – 23,487 refugees – have been transferred mostly over the last months to alternative housing, i.e. in private homes, reception centres, hotels, and in host families co-ordinated and run by NGOs and funded by UNHCR mainly after having suffered in state run camps before.

Meanwhile a total of 13% of refugees in Greece have taken care themselves of their accommodation or found refugee in homes created by solidarity people for them and in refugee squats. 7,850 are estimated by the government to live in self-settled and self-financed private homes or squats out of which about 3,000 are hosted in squats – all run by solidarity and the refugees own resources.

“We tired of ruins and tired of tents. We don’t want to see anymore war, bombs, soldiers and police. We want to live in peace and not fear another loss of home. Because what we found here is home!” – refugee living in City Plaza

Declaration of the comittee of the refugees squats

On Monday 13th, early in the morning, the repressive forces of the State invaded the social space of Villa Zografou and arrested eight persons. In the same time the evacuated in a violent way the refugees squat of the Hospital in Alkibiadou street, while arresting around 120 refugees, that they transfered to the Foreigners police station – despite the horror of the tragedy already lived by refugees.

The State, while revealing its true face, goes towards a demonstration of its repression power, as he already did in Thessaloniki during the summer when he invaded the squats.

The government forgets, as expected, its leftist past, while applying the classical dogma of “sécurity and order”, following its predecessors road – the road of austerity as well as of repression. And all this play is played on the lives of the people who left their country in order to escape from the barbary and the war with the hope for a better and digner life.

“First time left”, so, and first time that this Ithaca is so full of racism, exclusion and lack of rights. Finally, if this is the Europe of the human rights, why all these people did leave the hell they were living in?

We are on the side of the nomad proletariate. For us all this demonstration of strength constitutes a casus belli. The movement, against the State and the government’s repression, will be solidar with the refugees as well as with any self organisation initiative. Because all these initiatives actually prove that people can and want to live together, without discriminations and prejudices, within antihierarchical structures.

Finally, Toscas, Kaminis and their omoiodeatis should not forget that this kind of repression is linked with the darkest hours of repression, and they should know that when History repeats itself, it is as a joke.

Solidarity is the people’s weapon

Solidarity to the squats vila Zografou and Alkibiadou

Ps1 it would be interesting if the Red Cross that koptetai for the use of the building of Alkibiadou street as a hosting centre for minors, could explain what happened to the 19 yeaes Old syrian Sabri Belhat, who is missing since seven months whereas he was under the institutions custody

Ps2 The State kicked out of Alkibiadou squat 120 refugees, exercizing so its repressive power, kept them for 17 hours at the Foreigners station and then, exercizing its antirefugee duty, left them in Omonoia at midnight.

Coordination of Refugee Squats

• Νοταρά 26 / Notara 26
• ‘Ονειρο / Oniro
• City Plaza
• Σπύρου Τρικούπη / Spirou Trikoupi
• Αραχώβης / Arachovis
• Κάννιγος / Kanigos
• 5ο Λύκειο / 5. School
• 2ο Φιλοξενείο / 2. Filoksenio
• Jasmin school
• Υπουργείο Αχαρνών 22 / Ministry Acharnon