Statement of the network afrique-europe-interact, welcome to europe and network critical migration and border regime research. If you would like to sign, please send a short mail containing name/organisation and city to fsf@antira.info.
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Freedom, not Frontex
There cannot be democracy without global freedom of movement
The dynamic of the Arab spring is emanating into the entire world. The movements of revolt in the Maghreb encourage and give hope, not only because despotic regimes that have been believed invincible were chased away. Although the direction of further developments remain open it is obvious that the domino effect of the Tunisian jasmine revolution swiftly brought back the old insight that history is driven from below. The struggles are directed against the day-to-day poverty as well as against general oppression, they are as much about better living conditions as they are about dignity, in short: “bread and roses”.
The incredible days of Midan Al-Tahrir, the Liberation Square in Kairo signify the quest for new forms of self organisation and grassroots democracy. The desire for equal rights, autonomy and a share of the economic wealth is also mirrored in the boats crossing the Mediterranean towards Europe: today casting off from Tunisia while during the last years from North and West Africa . “Exit” – to claim one’s freedom of movement and to migrate in order to find a different, better life, and “Voice” – to raise one’s voice and struggle locally, are not contradictory, they are rather mutually intertwined.
This was even more obvious during the upheavals of 1989. The vote of the feet catalysed the protest movements against the oppressive regime of real socialism. The wall fell because the people enforced their freedom of movement. This makes the rhetoric of freedom by western politicians appear even more dishonest, as it is exactly these politicians who employ the threatening scenario of a flood to characterise the movements of migration from and across Northern Africa and to the end of legitimising the deployment of Frontex, the European border agency.
The governments of the EU have courted and supported the North African rulers, and showed a hesitant and slowing position towards the movements of revolt during the last weeks. This policy is not only driven by strong economic interests, but also due to the grown collaboration in the control of migration. The more effective a despot functioned as a watchdog for the externalised EU border regime, the more he became an important “partner”. Movements of migration from Africa were to be stemmed by any means necessary.
Thousandfold death and suffering, not only at sea, but also in the deserts and in the detention camps were and are the consequences of this nefarious complicity. The sub-Saharan migrants, who today are victims of pogrom-like persecution in Libya, have been systematically disenfranchised by the regime of Gaddafi and were subject to arbitrary abuse and maltreatment. The EU paid millions to the Libyan dictator and delivered surveillance technology. A similar cooperation exists with the Moroccan ruler, and until recently with the Tunisian regime. The Arab revolutions mark a potential collapse of the EU’s brutal project of exclusion in the Mediterranean.
Through a media campaign spreading fears about the collapse of migration control, the increased aggravation and militarisation of the EU border regime — symbolised by Frontex — is being legitimised. The European border agency adds to and extends the national control systems, which have aimed at the deterrence and the criminalisation of movements of migration for many decades. Frontex will be deployed vis-a-vis the North African coast, as it is already the case at the West African coast and at the Greek-Turkish border.
The fact that Italy is given overall control for “Operation Hermes“ is consequent and shockingly honest: as a result of the collaboration between Berlusconi and Gaddafi in recent years, countless acts of unlawful push backs were carried out in the Mediterranean. Italy performed a master piece in breaking all refugees’ conventions. And it is not by chance that those who save the lives of the boat people are being criminalized, as the cases of Cap Anamur and the Tunisian fishermen whose trials are still ongoing, show.
Migrants are seeking protection or a better life in Europe. They move against a gap of wealth and prosperity, rooted in Europe’s neocolonial relations of dominance and exploitation towards Africa. Therefore Europe’s universal claim of freedom and democracy must be measured against its tratment of those who demand equal rights by migrating. Frontex stands for the expansion of a deadly border regime – there is no place for it in a free world. Death at the external borders could be history by tomorrow. However politically there is no will to do so. Instead the EU authorities are waging an outright war at the external borders.
Within the EU disenfranchisement and deportation are part of a racist daily life. “Integration” is used as a means of pressure to enforce assimilation while exploitation in the low wage sector persists. However resistance and insistence thwart the selective manner in handling migration and challenges a system containing inequality and the lack of liberties. It is not by coincidence that in these turbulent times 300 Maghreb migrants went on hunger strike in Greece demanding their legalisation. Struggles for the right to stay as well as migrant strikes are flaring across Europe, since 15 years ago Sans Papiers in Paris – especially those from Africa – went public with the demand “Papers for everybody”.
The departures occuring in Northern Africa demonstrate what is possible. They refer to a new Arab World, a new Africa, a possible new Europe. They refer to new spaces of freedom and equality, to be created in transnational struggles: in Tunis, Kairo or Bengazi as well as in Europe and in the movements of migration, crisscrossing both continents.
8. März 2011
Afrique-Europe-Interact
Welcome to Europe
Network Critical Migration and Border Regime Research
Groups
- transact!
- save-me Kampagne Freiburg
- kein mensch ist illegal – hanau
- Monitoring European Police
- Bürengruppe Paderborn
- Flüchtlingsrat Hamburg
- United 4 Iran – Bayern e.V.
- Büro für medizinische Flüchtlingshilfe Berlin
- Bundesfachverband Unbegleitete Minderjährige Flüchtlinge e.V.
- Karawane München. Für die Rechte der Flüchtlinge und MigrantInnen!
- Assoziation A Verlag, Berlin/Hamburg
- Brot&Rosen Diakonische Basisgemeinschaft, Hamburg
- Bayrischer Flüchtlingsrat
- Association contre le racisme SOS Racisme Suisse
- Stiftung :do
- Aktionsbündnis gegen Abschiebung Rhein-Main
- Archiv der sozialen Bewegungen Bremen
- Aktion Freiheit statt Angst e.V.
- pax christi Würzburg
- out of control berlin
- AG Postkolonial, Leipzig
- NoLager Bremen
- Antiracist Initiative of Thessaloniki, Greece
- Trans-It e.V.
- Bündnis gegen Abschiebung und Rassismus, Göttingen
- gruppe subcutan (Berlin)
- Zukunftskonvent
- subalterner kormoran, Hildesheim
- Landesvorstand DIE LINKE. NRW
- Forum für kritische Rechtsextremismusforschung, Leipzig
- glokal – globalisierung und politisches handeln lernen e.V.
- Eine Welt Netzwerk Hamburg e.V.
- Rote Christliche Fraktion
- Solidarité sans frontières, Schweiz
- no-racism.net
- Linksjugend [‘solid] Hannover
- Anarchist Anti-deportation Group Utrecht (AAGU)
- Zeitschrift Bürgerrechte & Polizei/CILIP
- KuKuMA – netzwerk für kunst-, kultur- und medien alternativen
- Mouvement des sans voix, membre du réseau Afrique- Europe interact
- Femmes algeriennes pour le developpement (AFAD)
- speak-netzwerk
- Gruppe grenzfrei, Münster
- no border ffm
- Coop Cafe Berlin, Heiner Bücker
- Association Beni Znassen pour la Culture, le Dévelopement et la Solidarité (ABCDS)
- anti(ra)²dio (Hamburg)
- Institut für Theologie und Politik/ Münster
- AGEF (Arbeitsgruppe Entwicklungs- und Nachhaltigkeitsforschung, Institut für Geographie, Uni Innsbruck)
- Interventionistische Linke (IL)
- Slomotion / antifa Detmold
- Flüchtlingsrat NRW e.V.
- casablanca e.v. leipzig lindenau
- Bürengruppe Paderborn
- Café Exil, Hamburg
- Infomobil Sportallee, Hamburg
- JungdemokratInnen/Junge Linke Berlin
- Interkulturelles Zentrum Don Quijote aus Münster
- GISTI (groupe d’information et de soutien des immigrés), France
- Forschungsgruppe [KriMi] Kritische Migrationsforschung, Wien
- Landesverband DIE LINKE.Bremen
- Bundesverband von Linksjugend [‘solid]
- Kölner Netzwerk kein mensch ist illegal
- D.O.R.N. [Kassel]
- Bundeskoordination Internationalismus (BUKO)
- antirassistische initiative (Münster)
- schwarzer kanal e.v.
- Antirassistischen Initiative Berlin
- revolta – antikapitalistische linke, Jena
- AG Migration & Antirassismus Attac Berlin
- Befreiungstheologisches Netzwerk
- Antirassistisches Plenum Hannover
- La Marmite aux Idées, Calais
- aktion bleiberecht freiburg
- collectif Droit de rester pour tou-te-s
- Assoziation der Abgeschobenen Malis/Association Malienne des Expulsés (AME)
- Engagierte Wissenschaft e.V.
- Emanzipatorische Antifa Münster
- All Included Amsterdam
- Transnationales Aktionsbündnis Bochum/Dortmund
- Grünen Jugend Oldenburg
- Südwind Tirol
- Frankfurt Postkolonial
People
- Jana Seppelt, ver.di Hessen
- Tobias Schmitt, Institut für Geographie Universität Innsbruck
- Dirk Vogelskamp, Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie
- Tine Maikowski
- Julian Stenmanns, Uni Frankfurt
- Fabian Georgi, Politikwissenschaftler, Institut für Sozialforschung Frankfurt a.M.
- Dr. Silja Klepp, Universität Bremen
- Mag Wompel, LabourNet Germany
- Timo Flick, Student, Uni Sao Paulo
- Franziska Brückner, netzwerk-mira.de
- Marie-Luise Ellersiek, Rechtsanwältin, Berlin (eom)
- Wilhelm Achelpöhler, Rechtsanwalt, Münster
- Saskia Kühn, Berlin
- Dr. Ramona Lenz, Migrationsforscherin, Frankfurt am Main
- Stefan Wedermann, Student der Politologie, Universität Frankfurt/Main
- Christian Dickehut, Münster
- Markus Seiwald, Österreich
- Klaus Blödow, Medienforum Münster
- Peter Berres
- Dr. Stephan Dünnwald
- Jessica Hentschel, Studentin der Islamwissenschaft, FU-Berlin
- Reto Plattner, Basel
- Prof. Dr. Annita Kalpaka, Hochschule RheinMain Fachbereich Sozialwesen
- Christoph Dahlmann
- Markus Kip, Student, Toronto/Frankfurt
- Dr. Nina Schuster, Soziologin, Dortmund
- Matthias Lehnert, Münster
- Olaf Stöcker
- Lisa Kemme
- Uli v.Sanden
- Gerd Mueller von der Haegen, Langwedel
- Ulrike Bock, Münster
- Kristine Wolf, Doktorandin am Institut für Europäische Ethnologie, HU Berlin
- Matthias Schrimpf
- Ullika Borkamp, Berlin
- Amanda Steinborn
- Alice von Bieberstein, PhD Candidate Social Anthropology, Cambridge
- Dr. Thomas Seibert, Philosoph, Vorstandssprecher Institut Solidarische Moderne, Frankfurt
- Nolten Kattentidt, Münster
- Matthias Magnussen
- Edo Schmidt, Soziologe, Münster
- Dr. Axel Troost, Leipzig, MdB DIE LINKE, Vorstandsmitglied Institut Solidarische Moderne
- Hanna Hermes
- Julia Pfinder, München
- Markus Euskirchen, [> http://www.monthlyreview.org/1107euskirchen-lebuhn-ray.htm]
- Matthias Königer
- Andrea Krüger
- Wolfgang Wodarg
- Dorea Pfafferott, Köln
- Stephan Behrendt, Witzenhausen
- G.D. aus Berlin-Kreuzberg
- Franza Drechsel
- Bernd Hüttner, Politikwissenschaftler, Bremen
- Jenni Klinghammer
- Jan Schwarz
- Otto Dieners-Konerth, Berlin
- Lena Hass, Mainz
- Luise Marbach
- Annina Fritzen, Hofheim /Ts, Antira Mainz
- Murat Cakir, Geschäftsführer der RLS-Hessen
- Philipp Einhäuser, Schorndorf
- Andrej Hunko, MdB – Die Linke
- René Jokisch
- Pia Österlind
- Sebastian Leierseder, Hildesheim
- Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Voß, Hannover
- Anne-Christin Hirsch, M.A. Ethnologie
- Thomas Atzert, Übersetzer, Frankfurt am Main
- Lukas Oberndorfer, juridikum (zeitschrift für kritik|recht|gesellschaft), Institut Solidarische Moderne
- Indre Illig, Berlin
- Laura Lambert, Berlin
- J.M. Keulers, Übersetzerin, Niederlande
- Wendelin Schmidt, Frankfurt
- Dr. Stefanie Kron, Freie Universität Berlin
- Nina Horn
- Klinzing, Berlin
- Katja Grote, Berlin
- Alexander Repenning
- Kathrin Meyer, Wien
- Rafael Maria Raschkowski, Göttingen
- Alexis J. Passadakis, Mitglied im Koordinierungskreis von Attac
- Peter Berres
- Dr. Stephan Dünnwald
- Jochen Klass, Hanau
- Helen Arfvidsson, PhD Student, The Open University, UK
- Mario Vötsch, Forschungsmitarbeiter Prostest als Medium, Luzern
- Sarah Graber Majchrzak, Historikerin Berlin
- Daniel Weidmann, Rechtsanwalt, Berlin
- Johanna Boettcher
- Claudia Stiewe
- Helge Schwiertz, Hamburg
- Simon Helling, Münster
- Anna Böcker, Gender Initiativkolleg, Uni Wien
- Harald Schröder, Ganderkesee
- Stephan Junker, Berlin
- Benjamin Krauß, 19 Jahre, Schüler
- Mag.a Karin Bischof, Institut für Konfliktforschung, Wien
- Dagmar Diesner (Filmmaker), Co-founder of Montagna Viva, Italy
- Robert H. Ziegler
- Sanata Nacro, AntiDiskriminierungsBüro Köln
- Katharina Karcher
- Prof. Dr. Sabine Hess, Göttingen
- Thomas Völker, Student Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Magdeburg
- Sören Heise
- Salih Alexander Wolter, Journalist, Berlin
- Sabine Kraushaar, Doktorandin, Leipzig
- Peter Dippoldsmann, Köln
- Regine Wittram, Köln
- Dr. Christian Scholl, University of Amsterdam
- Kathleen Heft, Initiative gegen Abschiebehaft Berlin
- Tobias Bartels
- Ulla Jelpke, MdB, Innenpolitische Sprecherin Fraktion DIE LINKE.
- Martin Glasenapp (medico international)
- Dr. Cornelia Ernst, Mitglied des Europäischen Parlamentes, DIE LINKE
- Juliane Nagel, Mitglied des Landesvorstandes DIE LINKE Sachsen & linXXnet e.V. Leipzig
- Michael Below, Rechtsanwalt, Berlin
- Anna-Luise Müller, Berlin
- Marina Ginal
- Corinna Genschel, Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie
- Michael Martin Nachtrab, Partenstein
- Torben Lüth, Berlin
- Paula Grobbecker
- Andrea Naica-Loebell, Autorin/Journalistin/Kuratorin, München
- Bruno Quélennec, Berlin
- Alexa Schweiger, M.A. Volkskunde/Europäische Ethnologie
- Sarah Clemens
- Magdalena Grützbauch
- Alexandra Siebenhofer, Wien
- Mareike Heller
- Christian Beck, Physiker, München
- Dr Encarnacion Gutierrez Rodriguez, University of Manchester
- Steffen Stierle, Mitglied im Koordinierungskreis von attac
- Martina Pfingstl, Akademie der bildenden Künste, Wien
- Karina Goldberg
- Tobias Heinzelmann
- Margit Rodrian-Pfennig, Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Frankfurt
- Dr. Thore Prien, Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, Leibnitz Universität Hannover
- Linsenhoff, Berlin
- MdB Harald Koch (Fraktion DIE LINKE)
- Ruth Hoffer, Frankfurt
- Dr.Wilfried Hoffer, Frankfurt
- Norbert Koschmieder
- Dr Vicki Squire
- Katja Kipping, MdB und stv. Parteivorsitzende der LINKEN
- Frederik Grüneberg (Schüler)
- Athanasios Marvakis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Primary Education
- Alexander Ulrich, MdB
- Marion von Osten, Berlin
- Dorothee Vakalis, Thessaloniki
- Julie Sanchez, Frankfurt/Main
- Erica Burman, Professor of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Christiane Mende, initiative gegen abschiebehaft berlin
- Selina Moll, Neuendettelsau, Theologiestudentin
- Anat Greenstein, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Kirsten Huckenbeck, Redaktion express / MigrAr Frankfurt/Rhein-Main
- Caroline Seiler, Bonn
- Lilo Lottermoser, KPF ‘Clara Zetkin’, LV Hamburg, DIE LINKE
- Katharina Kellermann, Frankfurt am Main
- Rossella Sorte
- Paula Abrams-Hourani
- Willi Hejda – Vorstand IG Kultur Wien
- Ivana Domazet, Berlin
- Martina Mauer, Flüchtlingsrat Berlin
- Reinhild Koggenhorst-Kim
- Dr. Angela Waldegg, Frauen in Schwarz – Wien
- Lisa Müller
- András Novoszáth, Postgraduate Researcher, Open University, UK
- MMag. Bernhard Weidinger, Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, Universität Wien
- Annamaria Bokor, Wien
- Gabi Auth
- Friedrich Burschel, Referent zu Neonazismus und Ideologien der Ungleichwertigkeit der Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Berlin
- Simon Sontowski, Frankfurt am Main
- Garip Bali (Allmende e.V., Sozialberater)
- Dr. Regina Schleicher, Universität Leipzig
- Christiane Reguer, Ecrainville
- Paul Reguer, Ecrainville
- Peter Hofmeister, Student der Politischen Wissenschaft, Heidelberg
- Caroline Kim, Argentina
- Dirk Stegemann, Berlin
- Marie-Eve Cosin
- Friedrich Karl
- Anna Lauenstein
- Koray Yilmaz-Günay, Journalist, Berlin
- Wenceslas Lizé, Enseignant chercheur, Paris
- Daniela Marx, Sozialwissenschaftlerin, Universität Marburg
- Philippe Seidel, Genf
- Marianne Blidon
- Inge Höger, MdB, DIE LINKE
- Paul Grasse, Mitglied im Sprecherrat der Berliner AG Frieden der Partei DIE LINKE
- Carsten Albrecht, Mitglied DIE LINKE. Berlin-Neukölln
- Dr. Nadja Rakowitz, Verein demokratischer Ärztinnen und Ärzte, Redaktion express
- Rudolf Lachinger, Wien
- Jasmine Bischke
- Kristin Slesazeck
- Jessica Stockburger
- Manuel Blendin
- Vera Böhmer, Lahr
- Thomas Ziegler, Marktheidenfeld
- Anne Staab,grenzfrei- Festival- Gruppe Münster
- Claudia Schwarz, Göttingen, Germany
- Petra Nendwich
- Nadine Sanitter
- Philipp Ratfisch, Hamburg
- Aline Silvestre, Gauche Unitaire, Collectif de soutien aux Sans-Papiers et demandeurs d’asile du Rhône
- Ünal Zeran, Rechtsanwalt
- Nele Simon, Hildesheim
- Daniel Liebmann, Belgique
- Beate Flechtker
- Lea Stein
- Francesca Falk
- Armin Kuhn, Berlin
- Julian Smaluhn, Hildesheim
- Nadine Henkel, Frankfurt am Main
- Ulrich Schönweiß, Stadtrat, Die Linke, Fürth
- Enno Janssen (GEW – BUKO – BDWI), Hamburg
- Kathrin Vogler, MdB, Fraktion Die Linke
- Karin Kelz, Hamburg
- Martin Mehlis
- Michel Agier, anthropologue (EHESS/IRD), Paris
- Marie CROZE
- Vincent Ferrandini- Paris 11ème
- Meryem Marzouki, Paris
- Cédric Gauthé
- Karl Fischer
- Bernadette Montmasson
- Nathalie GAYET
- Diane Barraud, pasteure, Paris
- Fabrice Riceputi, RESF 25
- Janine SARKISSIAN
- Janine Orssaud
- Timoxana, France
- Dominique ADOU, Bonneville, France
- PD Dr. Aram Ziai, Center for Development Research, Bonn
- Henri Glaser
- Prof. Dr. Helga Kuhlmann (ev. Theologie, Universität Paderborn)
- Prof. Dr. Michael Th. Greven, Universität Hamburg (Politikwissenschaft)
- Harriet Walliser, Apothekerin, Göttingen
- Tom Walliser, Gymnasiallehrer, Göttingen
- Lena Harris, Schülerin, Göttingen
- Philipp Zehmisch (Doktorand Ethnologie, München)
- Sebastian Salaske, Student der Theologie aus Münster
- Dr. Stefanie Graefe, Jena
- Matthias Blöser, Marburg
- Michel SCOTET, Verdun
- Arne Brix, ver.di, Vorstand UNI EUROPA YOUTH
- Franziska Scheier
- Fiston Massamba, Militant Congolais
- Antoine Laplan
- Estelle Daniélou, France
- Anne Hackert, St. Ingbert
- Anne-Marie Lustin , retraitée , Bordeaux , membre de Resf33, Asti33 , Fal33
- Antje W.
- Karin Kröll, Hamburg
- Jana Janicki, Hamburg
- Emmely, Einzelhandelsverkäuferin
- Maxime Hauray, Marseille
- Kathrin Henneberger, Koordinierungskreis Attac Deutschland
- Sabine Lösing, Mitglied des Europäischen Parlament, DIE LINKE
- Julia Focks
- Elke Michauk, Berlin
- Bianca Arnold
- Rasmus Andresen
- Ulrike Albert
- Christoph Mayer, Mitglied im Attac Koordinierungskreis
- Hanah Abucar
- Jean-Luc Gautero, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis
- Sarah Daum, Tübingen
- Janine et Michel ROUX, Marly le Roi
- Jayne-Ann Igel, Dresden
- Christiane Böhm, Trebur, Die LINKE
- Hardy Krampertz, Mitglied im bundesweiten Attac Koordinationskreis
- Hanni Gramann, Mitglied im Koordinierungskreis von Attac
- Lars Philipp, Dortmund
- Ulf Teichmann, Dortmund
- Helga Lenz, Humanistische Union OV Lübeck
- Hans Christian Voigt, Wien
- Maire Hickey
