Wednesday, February 12, 2020

EU migration policy turns Greek islands into prisons for refugees — Statement by KKE

The Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) sharply criticized New Democracy (ND) government’s legislative act which introduces requisition of land and facilities for migration purposes. 

Stelios Petsas, the governmental spokesperson, announced on Monday that the current administration will issue a Legislative Act by which the state will be able to proceed with the requisition of public and private properties where new migrant camps (hotspots) will be constructed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the KKE blasts the governmental policy on the migration-refugee issue; a policy which entraps tens of thousands of migrants and refugees in miserable conditions (such as in the Moria camp in Lesbos, in Chios and other islands). 

“The government, which is total contrast with the demands of the islanders, proceeds to its dangerous plans for the creation of new restricted-closed hotspots thus condemning the Aegean islands to become the EU’s permanent big prisons, trapping thousands of refugees and migrants” reads, among other things, the KKE statement.

The same statement stresses out: “For this unacceptable and dangerous situation that has been formed in the islands in which the hotspots are located, the responsibility belongs to the government of ND, as well as the previous one of SYRIZA, as long as both accept the EU-Turkey agreement and the Dublin Regulation. The entrapment of tens of thousands people in miserable conditions creates problems in the islands as well as to the refugees and migrants themselves. Also, the repression against refugees-migrants and the government’s tolerance towards the activity of far-right groups, sharpen the situation and create tensions in the islands”. 

Moria refugee camp in Lesbos has been
characterized as Europe's "Guantanamo".
The KKE also condemns the intention of the Greek government to build “sea barriers” (floating barriers) to deter migrants flow to the islands, pointing out that such a policy will lead to the increase of drowned children, migrants and refugees. 

The Communist Party calls the people of the islands to respond to the new provocation of the government by strengthening the demand for the immediate closure of the existing hotspots, without construction of any new one camp.

In a statement, Maria Komninaka, KKE MP from Lesbos constituency, characterized the governmental legislative act as “provocative” and called the local deputies of New Democracy and SYRIZA to answer whether or not they agree with this policy. 

“The European Union’s intention to make Lesbos and the other Aegean islands a permanent place of imprisonment for refugees and immigrants must not pass”, pointed out the Communist MP.