Lampedusa revolt: Solidarity protest in London

Protests and a general strike of the residents in Lampedusa, who do not want their island to become 'a new Alcatraz'; mass escapes involving over 1000 migrants detained in the 'reception' centre; mass hunger strikes by the migrants against their deportation to Tunisia and the inhumane way they have been treated; at least 11 suicide attempts; riots that led to the Lampedusa centre (not in line with fire regulations) to be half destroyed by fire, the 17th February, 2009. The number of persons injuried may be around 80, 60 immigrants and 20 policemen. Migrants were kept locked inside the burning centre.

THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT NEW POLICY TO DETAIN ON THE ISLAND EVERYBODY WHO ARRIVES IN LAMPEDUSA , WITH A VIEW TO BE DEPORTED DIRECTLY FROM THERE.

MINISTER ROBERTO MARONI MUST RESIGN AND THE IMMIGRANTS MUST BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE LAMPEDUSA AND CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY. THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM AND UNACCOMPANIED MINORS MUST BE GIVEN PROTECTION AND SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION.

Several thousands of migrants arrive in Lampedusa every year, risking their lives on sinking boats, and the number of arrivals has doubled since border controls have made the crossing through Spain more difficult.

MINISTER MARONI'S ATTEMPT TO DETAIN EVERY MIGRANT ON THE ISLAND HAS CAUSED AN HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY (up to 1800 people have been have been locked up in a centre that is built for 450 and can contain 800 at most!), not to mention THE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE EX-NATO BASE LORAN IN ANOTHER DEPORTATION PRISON (100 women put at risk when a fire broke out there, days before the fire in the main centre), THE MILITARISATION OF THE AREA (1000 police force present on an island of 6000 residents!), SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ASYLUM (as the nearest judge is in mainland Sicily!)
IS THIS THE PRICE TO PAY FOR POLICING EUROPE 'S SOUTHERN BORDER?

Protests in Italy continue, many migrants are still on hungerstrike , anti-racists have held solidarity demonstrations outiside detention centres where many of the migrants have been moved after the fire: in Torino, where there was a march last Saturday, 21. Feb 2009, and in Milano, where there have been protests inside the detention centre. There is also a boycott of Legacoop, involved with running the detention centre in Lampedusa and other centres.

NO MATTER HOW BRUTAL, IMMIGRATION CONTROLS CANNOT STOP THE MOVEMENT OF HUMAN BEINGS ESCAPING WAR AND POVERTY - MOSTLY CAUSED BY WESTERN IMPERIALISM AND GLOBAL EXPLOITATION!
WE STAND FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.
NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!

Lampedusa Burns: Solidarity to the migrants and the residents in Lampedusa - for an end to detention and forced expulsion

In London there will be a picket of the Italian Embassy in solidarity with the migrants on hungers strike and with the residents of Lampedusa , in struggle against the island being turned into one huge detention centre for immigrants.

Called by No Borders London and supported by No Borders UK groups, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, SOAS Detainee Support Group, National Coalition of Anit-Deportation Campaigns, Campaign Against Immigration Controls, No One Is Illegal.

Thursday 26th February
from 4.30pm to 6.00pm
Embassy of Italy in London
14 Kings Yard
London W1K4EH
(Meet at the corner with Davies Street )
nearest tube: Bond Street

Source :: indymedia.org.uk