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22nd March 2016
"An act of wanton barbarism": Burning of Refugee's Legal Centre in Calais 'Jungle' is Condemned
Mark George QC, reacted to the news as follows: "The attack and burning is a shameful assault on the ability of some of the most vulnerable people in Europe to access legal advice about their most basic human rights and, where appropriate, their potential asylum rights in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, and is to be strongly condemned." RAPAR's current casework includes two young Afghan men, now stuck in the Calais camp after fleeing their homes last summer because of their former employment as interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan (See 27th February 2016 Channel 4 News item : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-i-oxaAyxM). Their UK-based solicitor, Shaista Raja describes how, for all the camp residents, burning their legal centre means; “these displaced people have been further fended off and denied access to basic legal rights which belong - without presumption or cost of privilege - to all human beings.” Speaking with RAPAR, the Centre's coordinator Marianne Humbersot, has described the workers suffering “many intimidations over the last weeks”,going on to point out that the fire occurred the day after their press conference profiling “the responsibilities of the French and British Governments towards protecting minors; police violence against migrants; and the tragic conditions created through the expulsions of people from the southern zone.” For MEP Julie Ward, who first visited the camp in December last year as part of a Stand Up To Racism delegation from the North West of England, the Calais Refugee Legal Centre was established to fill the vacuum left by the State, when it did not step up to assume its responsibility. Now she is demanding to know "what arrangements have been made to provide an alternative facility?" And Islington Councillor Michelline Ngongo, herself a refugee from Congo who has visited the camp on a number of occasions, is unequivocal: "The volunteer lawyers of the law centre succeeded in bringing the four young refugees from Syria into the UK last month: to deliberately burn it down is an act of wanton barbarism." Further afield, following her direct questioning last week in New York, about Calais, to Laurence Rossignol, the Junior French Minister for Family Matters, Turin based international lawyer Dr. Esohe Aghatise says: "France seems to have forgotten its proud revolutionary history of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and is letting xenophobic rhetoric cloud its judgement. As a country that prides itself on democratic values and human rights principles, by permitting this action, it is guilty of the same human rights abuses that it attacks other countries for abusing!" The Calais Head of Police - Delphine Brard - commands the CRS security services who have been filmed and photographed using violence to evict camp residents. RAPAR is now publicly asking her to explain the role of the CRS in the destruction of this Centre. CALAIS APPEAL LEGAL CENTRE HINDERING THE MISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES « They would not all die but all were stricken » Today, March 17th 2016, just prior to 6 p.m., an arson attack was committed against the wooden cabin occupied by the Calais Appeal Legal Centre. This wooden cabin, built by Carpenters Without Borders through crowd funding, was entirely burnt down.
We, the Calais' Appeal Legal Centre, express our indignation towards this attack against the only legal one stop shop available to migrants within the Calais Jungle. After the burning down of their homes, the dismantlement of the theatre and the forced relocation of the Women and Children’s Centre, today our Legal Centre, resisting dismantlement up to now, is burning as well. The team, however, is determined to pursue its mission within the Jungle, with or without a cabin. Consisting in European Lawyers and Jurists, this centre represents a formidable call for unity in defending the migrants access to their fundamental rights within the Calais Jungle. Facing dismantlement, the Legal Centre was expressly protected by a judicial ordinance of the Lille Judge in Chambers back on February 25th 2016. Since its creation on January 11th 2016, the lawyers and jurists of the centre have received at least 600 migrants, of which over 200 are minors. The centre has also registered 250 victims and assisted some of them to filecomplaints against instances of police and civil violence they have been subjected to. The majority of these cases are currently being investigated by the Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN), the Police of the Police. The dismantlement of the Southern area of the Calais Jungle, the destruction of all homes, has gutted the « places to live » that were supposedly protected by the judicial ordinance. The dismantlement broke the close ties that existed between those places and the people who attended them, an essential prerequisite to the building and existing of a social bond. The dismantlement forced people to flee from the Southern zone of the Calais Jungle to the Northern part of the slum and to other slums in the region. According to the latest associative census, few of them have found shelter in the newly built government housings, in the containers (1500 spots) or the Centres d’Accueil et d’Orientation (CAO). This arson comes after the Press Conference of March 16th 2016, organised by the Legal Centre, which was held to: Expose the social desert created around the living places protected by the judicial ordinance of the Lille Judge in Chambers and blow the whistle on the ridiculously absurd and restrictive definition that was given, including only the offering of « social or cultural services » without any homes qualifying as « places to live »; Ask the French and UK governments to keep their promises, expressed during the Amiens summit of March 3rd 2016, to proceed with family reunification of isolated minors and adults present in the Calais Jungle who have family in the UK, and support these commitments with written guarantees on delays, applicable criteria and procedures; Announce that the Legal Centre defends the interests of the 9 Iranians holding a hunger strike since March 2nd, on behalf of whom one of our lawyers is currently negotiating with the French authorities; Denounce the resurgence of civilian and police violence against migrants, which had previously immediately ceased after the Legal Centre’s previous Press Conference on February 12th; Expose the gap between the French authorities’ promises and the concrete application of those commitments. Mister Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of Interior (Home Office), had promised last February 19th, in a letter addressed to the associations, to proceed to a gradual dismantling and search for individual and adequate solutions for each expelled migrant. In reality, the dismantling was carried out brutally and hastily, in under ten days, with the help of excavators, arrests and harassment of migrants and volunteers; To note the insufficient presence of OFII, OFPRA and State mandated associations (for example: https://vimeo.com/158183028) This arson also comes after a series of intimidations against the Legal Centre by police forces and racist groups: On February 12th, following a Press Conference denouncing the impunity enjoyed by civilians and police conducting violent acts against migrants (notably that of kidnapping, torture and mock executions on minors), instances of incitement to hate and murder were published on social media against Marianne Humbersot, head of mission, and Raymond Blet, honorary lawyer of the Legal Centre, with supporting evidence. On Friday March 11th, Marianne Humbersot questioned the Sub-Prefet and the police commissioner about the obvious illegality with which the police forces under their command had been acting whilst they accompanied the company hired to dismantle the last standing restaurants in the southern zone. Indeed, she noticed that the CRS (anti riot police) were used to exercise their mandate without any visible regimental number. The bearing of such numbers is a legal obligation since a decree of December 24th 2013. Whilst she was filming this, the anti riot police physically assaulted her and tried to destroy her cell phone. A video was posted online that very day on social media. Since the video was released, new calls for the murder of Marianne Humbersot were posted, with supporting evidence. You may visit the Polyvalence website. Here :https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=2Z2Pldk3fYo&index=32&list=PLppspEuAPzkmZ5GOKBCH_jG7UmJVqPapA Here :https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BEXpA5Cb_Os&index=33&list=PLppspEuAPzkmZ5GOKBCH_jG7UmJVqPapA That same Friday, March 11th, an hour after the altercation between Marianne Humbersot and the Sub-Prefet of Pas-de-Calais, a great fire decimated the last standing restaurants in the southern zone, considerably accelerating the dismantlement’s progression. Whilst the cabin was located outside of the fire’s perimeter, over 500 meters away, the CRS asked us to evacuate the premises. Concerned by the CRS’ orders, we took the precaution to take all working documents and files home to safety that very night. During the night from Friday March 11th to Saturday March 12th, the lock installed on our cabin’s door was professionally severed, and since then, has been so 4 separate times. Our Legal Centrehas subsequently been visited and looted several times, which had never happened in over three months of existence. On Saturday March 12th, at about 1:00 PM, the CRS prevented migrants from accessing the Centre for over an hour. It was only after Marianne Humbersot phoned the Préfecture that this action ceased. However, from around 2:00 PM, and for the proceeding hour, a group of CRS positioned themselves close to the Legal Centre. After asking them the reasons for their presence there, they explained their mission was to ensure the security of the premises, whilst not even an attempt to enter the cabin without our permission was even made in 3 months of our presence. This operation clearly dissuaded the migrants to come to the Legal Centre for the rest of the day. Finally, this Thursday March 17th, just after our team left the premises locked, a fire broke out from inside the Legal Centre, without anything knowingly having been present inside the cabin which could have provoked its igniting. We, the Legal Centre, declare that: We shall not give in to threats and terror; We believe this fire to be arson, evidenced by the fire breaking out from inside the cabin; We consider this to be an attack against the members of the Legal Centre, Human rights defenders and volunteer citizens who will not accept the lack of access to fundamental rights on their own territory; We express our support to the structures still standing in the southern zone of the Jungle and salute the actions of independent associations working in the slum; We ask for an independent parliamentary inquest on the treatment of migrants by the French authorities with respect to the French, European and International applicable legal dispositions; The Legal Centre will continue its mission in the Calais Jungle as of today, with or without a standing cabin. To make a donation or for other ways to help us: https://www.leetchi.com/c/solidarite- appeldecalais Translation: Maître Elodie Journeau Yesterday morning RAPAR’s two Afghan interpreters, trapped in Calais, registered their asylum applications and have been given finger printing appointments for later this month.
Their lawyer, Orsane Broisin, explains: “From that time forward, once the finger prints are on the record, France will be considering their request to seek asylum in the UK.” During this last week these two young interpreters, like everyone else living in the Calais camp, have had to survive being evicted and/or burned out of their homes. One of the men, Abdullah (not his real name) speaking this morning from Calais, explained: “The police started to evict people last Monday (29th February). The photo we have just sent you (attached) of us two was taken last Tuesday (1st March). We could not send it before because we have not had access to any internet and we have been burned out twice from our homes in the last week.” His interpreter companion, Said (not his real name) added: “Now, people are leaving their sheds, frightened that they will be burned. We have slept in empty sheds for some nights but now we are on the South side. I am staying with a family and Abdullah is with two other Afghan men in a caravan.” One of the UK volunteers in touch with RAPAR, Megan Howell, describes the processes of eviction and follow up burnings as having become ‘normalised now’. For her: “Europe has lost any right it may once have had to bask in the glory of its reputation as the world’s custodian of human rights, freedom and democracy. The signatures of European States on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees may as well be deleted for all they’re worth, which in Calais is absolutely nothing.” * A Bonfire of the Vanities is a burning of objects condemned by authorities as occasions of sin. ENDS For further information contact Dr Rhetta Moran on 07776264646/[email protected] 3rd March 2016 Press Release - Young Afghan Interpreters Burned Out - But Staying Put (Calais)3/3/2016 RAPAR’s two young Afghan interpreters who worked for the British army for four years and who are trapped in the Calais camp http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/display/playlistref/270216, have spent the last two nights in makeshift tents on the north side of the camp, sharing with other homeless Afghan men.
Abdullah (not his real name) told RAPAR: “I went to see my friend. When I came back our caravan was burned. I don’t know who did it.” His travelling companion and fellow interpreter, Said (not his real name) added: “The same as everyone, we got burned and nowhere to go. A lot of people are homeless, and we are the same.” On Tuesday night (1st), and completely independently of these young men, Megan Howell, an English photographer currently based in Calais, reported to RAPAR that a huge fire had burned for 20 minutes http://www.rapar.org.uk/uploads/4/6/8/7/4687542/9087190_orig.jpg but the CRS* water cannon, visible and immobile, http://www.rapar.org.uk/uploads/4/6/8/7/4687542/397937_orig.jpg. remained on the motorway bridge until the fire had been put out. Afrika, a resident of the camp who has been in touch with RAPAR for the last three months confirmed this on Wednesday (2nd) morning, on the phone: “The water cannon drove up to the fire, after it was out.” When RAPAR approached a UK national media outlet on the ground in Calais, to establish whether they had captured any footage of that fire, it was told that there had not been any mainstream media presence on the camp the previous night because of ‘security’ issues. RAPAR’s two young men, Abdullah and Said, have instructed French lawyer, Orsane Broisin, to act on their behalf. Following meetings on Sunday with both men, Ms Broisin told RAPAR: “These young men must apply for international protection in France first, which will be done by the end of this week.” Speaking to RAPAR this morning (3rd March), from the north side of the camp, Abdullah explained: “They are destroying the camp, and burning the rooms at night. Some people say it is French people burning the rooms, and some people say it is refugees. I don’t know. But, from everything that has happened to them, some refugees are going crazy now. They [the French State] just want us to leave this area but there is no place outside the Jungle for us to go.” Contact: Dr Rhetta Moran 07776264646/[email protected],http://www.rapar.org.uk/ * CRS - Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité - the only official force of law and order to be seen in the Calais "Jungle" camp.
From last Friday (26th February) until 4.30pm yesterday, RAPAR was on the ground in Calais. On Saturday night (27th), Channel 4 News broadcast the story of our work with two Afghan men who are trapped in the camp there, having served as interpreters for the British army for four years:http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/display/playlistref/270216. At 08.30 yesterday morning, the CRS police* guarding the camp entrance by the Banksy mural under the motorway bridge refused entry to RAPAR founder, Dr Rhetta Moran who was standing beside Marianne Humbersot, the Coordinator of the Calais Legal Centre. Dr Moran offered her international press credentials (IFJ card) and asked the officers to tell her the law under which entry was being denied – they would not answer. Then, when Ms Humbersot reached the Prefecture, Delphine Brard by phone (photo attached) entry was allowed. The eviction was taking place on the south side – the other side – of the camp. The CRS had demarcated an area by surrounding it with armed police and, inside of that area, surrounding individual dwellings with more police and Prefecture officers who ‘persuaded’ inhabitants to leave. Dr Moran tried to enter this area and was pushed back, three times, by a CRS officer. Despite repeated questioning he refused to explain why he was barring her entry or why he was assaulting her. A short while later, the only national or international press who became visibly present during the morning, Al Jazeera, set up a live feed. Dr Moran telephoned Channel 4 and the Guardian. Two of the evicted people spoke in person with Dr Moran. One of the videos linked here is by Bashir, aged 26, shot from just outside the doorway of his shelter, before the French State moved in and dismantled his shelter, http://www.rapar.org.uk/calais.html. Rhetta met him on road at 3pm, as she was leaving the camp to return to the UK. Bashir was carrying the green sleeping bag you can see in this video, and his friends were with him. "The police sprayed gas outside of the houses. I left the house, and left clothes, food, phone charger, gas for cooking, everything. They were meant to give us a day to move our house but they didn't. Tonight I will stay with my brother in his shelter." She asked Bashir if she could photograph him, but he was nervous. “I have a video though” he said, “I will send you the video when I can get to the Internet.” And he did. Earlier in the afternoon, Abdurahman, aged 17 from Kapisa, Afghanistan approached her. Together, and with his friends, they went to Jungle Books - photo attached - the camp library developed with the involvement of a RAPAR member who has been in Calais since September 2015. With the help of his bilingual friend, Jan, Abdurahman described what happened to him. “I have been three months in Calais. I was sleeping in my house this morning. The police suddenly come and started to destroy my house. They did not say anything to me. I was inside. When I came out the police were all around. They pushed me and they said: “Get out, get out.” The police pushed me and my foot was twisted. I was in front of my house. I don't want the police to destroy my house therefore, when the police pushed me, I just fell on the ground in front of my house. The police start shouting “Get out from here, we are destroying your house.” They did not let me control my things, inside my tent. I was worried about my foot so looked for help for my foot. I have lost all my money and phone and clothes. All my things - everything is finished. I don't have any place to sleep. I try to manage with my friends. I am very angry.” During the entire morning, up until the point where the police moved onto the road leading through the camp with a water cannon lorry, flanked by riot police, Dr. Moran did not see any violence, at all, from any resident or volunteer. She was on the road when the first house caught fire. Residents and volunteers put it out – photo attached. She was tear gassed the first time tear gas was used by the police –video attached. This morning, speaking from Calais, Marianne Humbersot’s assessment of the legal situation is as follows: “The State is running out of time. An appeal has been put before the administrative Supreme Court and if the State manages to make people leave the camp through psychological pressure, before the judge’s decision, then it is their way to avoid condemnation. If there are no people, there is nothing to judge.” ENDS Contact: Dr Rhetta Moran 07776264646/ [email protected], http://www.rapar.org.uk/ * CRS - Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité - the only official force of law and order to be seen dealing with the refugee situation in Calais. |
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