Die Karawane für die Rechte der Flüchtlinge
und MigrantInnen
Germany: Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants
2002
Asylum right is a human right!
We are here because you destroy our countries!
We refugees, in unity with immigrants and with all persons
rejecting racism and for human progress, call on you to:
Join the Caravan Tour 2002
August 17 (Bremen) - September 21 (Berlin)
During the decisive phase of the general elections in
Germany - which will mainly be fought out to the detriment of the refugees
- we will tour the Federal Republic, just as we did in 1998. Up till the
eve of election day the "Caravan Tour for the Rights of Refugees and Immigrants"
will have stopped over at more than 25 cities, towns and refugee camps
in all parts of Germany. Our aim is to strengthen the cooperation with
progressive forces, intensify the cooperation between refugees' organisations,
and to support the struggles of the refugees.
Already - since the first drastic change to the right
of asylum in 1993 - less than 4% of all applicants are recognized while
95% and more are rejected yearly. More than 50.000 people are deported
every year.
Deportation is the sharpest expression of state racism.
Asylum applicants are segregated and isolated from German
society. Many camps and hostels are situated in remote wooded areas or
on the outskirts of small villages. The residential restrictions of the
so-called "Residenzpflicht" forbids us to leave the local district. On
the one hand the state attepts to make us invisible as human beings, on
the other hand we are publicly depicted as a threat.
With the Caravan Tour 2002 we will step into the public
and overcome our isolation!
We are fighting against:
- the criminal practice of deportation and the new policy
of detention camps
- the horrible conditions for us refugees in Germany and
racist persecution
- racist propaganda in the media and from politicians
We are fighting:
- for our rights as refugees and migrants
- for those we left behind in our home countries
- against war and destruction of our countries
We will not stand idly by and watch as the right of asylum
is swept away by those who have no respect for human rights.
Join the the Caravan! For a strong solidarity movement
for our rights!
Against human alienation, against the destruction of social
relationships!
We urgently need donations! Bank account:
Initiative Grenzenlos; Sparkasse Halle; Kto: 38 13 08
546; BLZ: 800 537 62; key word: Karawane
Asylum right is a human right!
With the new "immigration law" the offensive against us
refugees has been further intensified and the last rest of a right to
asylum in this country abolished! German economic interests are the only
criteria to decide who is wanted here and who is not!
- Social exclusion and isolation and the criminal deportation
practice will increase. Employment prohibition, further reductions of
social assistance, and an increased limitation of free movement are just
a few points of this law which will be used to deny us any perspective.
On a daily basis we are humiliated by the incessant racist police controls
on the streets and denied the right to a normal and decent existence as
human beings.
- All over the country so-called transit camps modelled
on the infamous prototype projects in Oldenburg, Braunschweig (Project
X) (Niedersachsen) and Ingelheim (Rheinland-Pfalz) are being constructed
where thousands of refugees will be detained until deportation. Other
than three meals a day all social assistance is denied. This atrocious
programme will affect the majority of the appromimately 250,000 refugees
with a "Duldung" status.
- The non-recognition of asylum grounds after the date
of flight (Nachfluchtgründe) is intended to prevent our political
activities in exile. The German state wants to silence us and prevent
us from speaking out against the repression in our home countries and
to deter us from struggling for improvement. With the so-called „anti-terrorism
laws" passed in the wake of Sept. 11 our political persecution - which
yesterday was the basis for political asylum - can now be defined as terrorist
activities.
Politicians and media mis-use us in that they redirect
the social discontentment among the German population against us. The
fuel racism in order to veil the injust distribution of economic wealth.
We are here because you destroy our countries!
Many of our countries possess enormous wealth from which
the people however do not benefit. The majority of people live in absolute
misery and suffer from poverty, hunger, persecution, and war.
- This is caused by corrupt elites in our countries who
only serve their own interests.
- This is caused by the western multinational companies
who exploit our countries while refusing to make appropriate payment.
- This is caused by the western governments who, in cooperation
with the governments in our countries, prevent any progressive, socially,
and economically just development.
- This is caused by the imperialist countries who push
through their interest in a military way, continuing the devastation and
destruction of our countries.
After September 2001, as the imperialist "war against
terrorism" makes inroads into Africa, Asia, the Middle East and in Latin
America we see human lives in our various home countries becoming increasingly
worthless. Repressive regimes all over the world are using the US-led
war to silence critical voices at home. Powerful states like Britain and
Germany are following the USA with their armed forces into the hearts
of our countries in an effort not to lose out as the last resources of
the world are distributed. This new war has no respect for the sanctity
of the lives of the most oppressed people, nor for human rights in the
poorest countries in the world. As we fled our various countries to seek
safety in a foreign land, our hearts remained with our beloved ones who
are at the centre of the hard and daily struggles to liberate our peoples.
We will never for a second overlook let alone forget the unspeakable suffering,
torture and death which are the direct results of the wars and dictatorships
perpetuated and supported by the western powers. From the war in Afghanistan
to 'Plan Colombia', the endless war in the Middle East, the violation
of human rights and peoples struggles in Iran, Turkey/Kurdistan, Peru,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cameroun, Nigeria, Togo and many countries more the
end result is refugees.
WAR CREATES REFUGEES! REFUGEES DO NOT CREATE WAR!
We don't have a choice but to unite with refugees from
all nations, cultures, and languages and to fight for our rights here
and for our countries!
Anyone not rejecting injustice today perpetuates injustice
and probably will be its victim tomorrow!
Further Information:
North:
Karawane Bremen &
Koordinationskreis Hamburg
c/o Brigittenstr. 5
20359 Hamburg
email: mail@humanrights.de
free2move@nadir.org
Tel: 040-431 890 37 // 0179-485 00 98
Fax: 040-43189038
East:
The VOICE Africa Forum
Schillergäßchen 5, 07745 Jena
Tel: 03641-66 52 14
Fax: 03641-42 02 70
Karawane Halle
Tel: 0345-170 12 42
email: caravan.halle@gmx.net
West:
AGIF
Förderation der ArbeitsimmigrantInnen aus der Türkei
Grembergerstr. 249 a
51105 Köln
email: agif@gmx.de
Tel: 0173-290 26 91
Tel: 0173-771 13 95 (en/fr)
