This article about the practices and strategies of Frontex concerning the European sea borders was published in the brochure Frontex – Widersprüche im erweiterten Grenzraum by the “Informationsstelle Militarisierung” in German. Here is a translated version without the references included in the original article.
Frontex in the Mediterranean – Of Grey areas and legalisations of a different kind
The demonstration took place in the late afternoon. The route was from the center to the harbor, where the demonstration stopped to express loud and clear, and also written the disagreement with Frontex and the greek coast guard.
Normally Frontex and the greek coast guard have their landing here:
Request for freedom from minor refugees after a hunger strike in Pagani prison, Lesvos. The Request is directed to the Authorities and to the European Union.
After the first successful prevention of the deportation of 23 refugees
in Evros on the 4th august 2009 in Samos, their was a second even
stronger action made by refugees themselves and not by organisations and
citizens.
On the 10th August there was the probably second time that
refugees were supposed to be transported to Athens and from there,
“only God knows”, where they would be brought. But the refugees in
Samos got organized and made a hunger strike on the 5ht of august. They
refused loud to enter the police prison cars screaming out loud, that they
need help and screaming: no deportation – freedom. Some solidary
people went in front of the center but the transport was cancelled.
A lot of police and military, was all around the harbour. In the closed part of the harbour a normal ferry had been landed. Then the travellers were let into the ship after getting controlled very well.
Suddenly the police seemed to be nervous. Then a public bus came around the corner. It was obviously that they were transporting refugees. The refugees were screaming “FREEDOM” out loud and waved to the people making the peace sign. The fence was opened and the bus drove throw,they parked him in front of the belly and putted their medical masks and gloves on. They brought the refugees into the belly, which is actually the parking area.
New refugees are arriving in Mytilini every day. Currently 900 people are inside the “welcome center” (= detention centre) Pagani. The intended capacity of the prison is 250 people. Since the new act from June 2009, the refugees are held inside Pagani for at least 6 month. The only “way” to get out of the prison is to be deported. Because the prison is that crowded, a deportation is expected this weekend.
Frontex boat leaves Mytilini habor, fast and almost without light. Only one dim little light signalizes the present of the boat.
As the night passes by, while the Ouzu circulates and the people are celebrating, the greek coast guard is sneaking out of the harbour: a ghost ship, leaving like criminals. Two hours before, the Frontex ship left fully illuminated. You might call it a role play: Europe having a clean slate and Greece…
In Vathy of Samos, the mobilization of local initiatives was successful. After 3 hours of seizure of the catapult, the ship departed for Theofilos to Kavala without the deportation of 60 refugees (Afghans and Somalis). The mobilization was very exiting with the refugees being synchronized through the crates with the collateral shouting “freedom”.
(Indy.gr, 04-08-09)
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