Calais Witnesses fully endorses the statement and list of demands produced at the No Border camp in Calais regarding the situation for migrants in the Calais region:
People wishing to travel from Calais to the United Kingdom are living in inhumane conditions and suffer constant harassment. In this space there is just police repression and the laws of smugglers, while groups and individuals who support the migrants are criminalized.
This repression is generated by
- outsourcing in France of the British border controls,
- the general hysteria around migration
- and the Dublin Convention (2).
We defend the freedom of movement, we are opposed to the borders of racism and discrimination. First we demand:
1. entry to the UK for all unconditionally.
2. the cessation of attacks and destruction of places of life of migrants. Access to care and showers must be guaranteed.
3. freedom of movement for all in and around Calais: the ability to mov anywhere without restrictions, harassment or fear of being arrested.
4. the cessation of repeated arrests.
5. freedom of expression for all, including migrants, the right to protest and complain to the authorities individually or collectively.
6. To stop evictions whether by charter or not to countries at war or not.
7. The end of the repression of associations and individuals who support the migrants including the provision of means of transport.
8. provide free and impartial legal advice in the UK, the rights of asylum and immigration.
9. immigration policy British arbitrary detention without time limit cannot be exported to Calais. No new detention centre can be built and particularly a structure of the Guantanamo kind.
No Border camp in Calais on 29 June 2009.
* For more information on the situation in Calais consult “the law of the
jungle” a report developed independently
