PYLOS SHIPWRECK: YET ANOTHER TRAGEDY– CONSEQUENCE OF DETERRENCE POLICIES

 

                                                  STATEMENT*

Pylos shipwreck: Yet another tragedy – consequence of deterrence policies

Athens, 16 June 2023

Seventy-eight (78) people dead and more than 500 missing after the shipwreck off the coast of Pylos are seeking justice against a policy of deterrence that led them to the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Just a few days after an agreement was reached at the Council of Ministers of the EU on the management of migration and asylum, both Frontex and the Greek Coast Guard, which had the responsibility for coordinating search and rescue, failed to provide adequate assistance to an unseaworthy vesselcarrying more than 500 people that was in distress for almost a full day, from the time they were informed, resulting in it sinking and dragging hundreds of people into its watery grave.

The shipwreck, however much it is attempted to be attributed to human errors and unscrupulous smugglers, bears the signature and the stamp of the policies of the European Union that are implemented with great consistency by the governments of countries at Europe’s borders, as is particularly the case of the Greek government.

Multiple questions arise about the actions of the competent authorities as well as Frontex itself, which from the very first moment was monitoring the vessel, but was quick to deny its responsibilities, pointing exclusively to the Hellenic Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.

Once again it is sadly necessary to point out that defendingthe principles of the Rule of Law and Democracy requires first and foremost respect for human life and dignity.

We ask:

·         For an investigation over the circumstances and causes of the tragedy and for due responsibilities to be attributed at the level of both the Greek state and the EU.

·         For the establishment of safe and legal pathways for refugees and migrants to access EU territory.

·         For the EU policy that forces member states at the external borders to act as deterrents, with the result of often tragic shipwrecks and pushbacks incidents that lead to the degeneration of the protection of human life and dignity, to be condemned.

·         For the victims of this tragedy to be granted asylum and protection.

 

CO-SIGNATORIES (in alphabetical order)

A Drop in the Ocean / Stagona (www.drapenihavet.no/en)

Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants - Greece            (www.sgdd.org.tr)

Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants –Turkey    (www.sgdd.org.tr)

Association of Conscientious Objectors (https://antirrisies.gr/)

Babel Day Centre (https://babeldc.gr/en/homepage/)

Better Days Greece    (https://www.betterdays.ngo/)

Boat Refugee Foundation  (https://bootvluchteling.nl/en/)

CEAR (https://www.cear.es/)

Ca-minando Fronteras (Walking Borders) (caminandofronteras.org/en/)

Center for legal aid - Voice in Bulgaria (www.centerforlrgalaid.com)

Citizens Assembly of Turkey (https://hyd.org.tr/en/)

Defence for Children International – Greece  (https://www.defenceforchildrengreece.org/)

Diotima  - Centre for Gender Rights & Equality (www.diotima.org.gr)

Equal Rights Beyond Borders (https://equal-rights.org)

EuroMed Rights (https://euromedrights.org/)

Feminist Autonomous Centre for research (FAC)  (feministresearch.org)

Fenix - Humanitarian Legal Aid (https://www.fenixaid.org/)

Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)  (http://www.gcr.gr)

Greek Forum of Refugees (http://www.refugees.gr)

Greek Helsinki Monitor (https://greekhelsinki.wordpress.com)

Hellenic League for  Human Rights (https://www.hlhr.gr)

HIAS Hellas (https://www.hias.org/where/greece)

I Have Rights  (www.ihaverights.eu)

 

Inter Alia  (www.interaliaproject.com)

Ivorian Community of Greece (https://www.facebook.com/IvorianCommunityofGreece/)

KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism (https://kisa.org.cy/)

Legal Centre Lesvos (https://legalcentrelesvos.org/)

Lesvos Solidarity [ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗΛΕΣΒΟΥ]  (https://lesvossolidarity.org/en/)

NetworkfortheSocialProtection of Refugees & Migrants (http://migrant.diktio.org)

PICUM (https://picum.org/)

Project Armonia (www.projectarmonia.org)

Refugee Legal Support (RLS)  (https://www.refugeelegalsupport.org)

Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) (http://rsaegean.org/el)

Refugees Welcome, Denmark (https://refugeeswelcome.dk)

Safe Passage (https://www.safepassage.org.uk/) 

Sans-Papiers Anlaufstelle Zürich SPAZ (www.sans-papiers-zuerich.ch)

SOSRacisme (www.sosracisme.dk)

Terre des hommes Hellas (www.tdh.gr) 

THALASSA OF SOLIDARITY (www.thalassa-solidarity.org)

“To Mov” PanhellenicAssociation for Women’s Rights (http://tomov.gr)

World Without Wars and Violence (https://www.kosmosxorispolemous.gr/)

Yoga and Sport with Refugees (https://www.yogasportwithrefugees.org)

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*The Statement is open for sign-on by email at: kampaniagiatoasylo@gmail.com

ΝΑΥΑΓΙΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΥΛΟ: ΜΙΑ ΑΚΟΜΗ ΤΡΑΓΩΔΙΑ, ΣΥΝΕΠΕΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΩΝ ΑΠΟΤΡΟΠΗΣ

 

ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ*

Ναυάγιο στην Πύλο: Μια ακόμη τραγωδία,  συνέπεια των πολιτικών αποτροπής

Αθήνα, 16 Ιουνίου 2023

Εβδομήντα οκτώ (78) άνθρωποι νεκροί και περισσότεροι από 500 αγνοούμενοι, μετά το ναυάγιο σκάφους ανοικτά της Πύλου αναζητούν δικαίωση ενάντια σε μια πολιτική αποτροπών που τους οδήγησε στο βυθό της Μεσογείου.

Λίγες μόνο μέρες μετά την επίτευξη συμφωνίας σε επίπεδο Συμβουλίου Υπουργών ΕΕ για τη διαχείριση της μετανάστευσης και ασύλου, η Frontex, όσο και το Ελληνικό Λιμενικό Σώμα που είχε την ευθύνη συντονισμού έρευνας και διάσωσης δεν κατόρθωσαν να παράσχουν επαρκή βοήθεια σε ένα σαπιοκάραβο με περισσότερους από 500 ανθρώπους που βρισκόταν σε κίνδυνο για μια ολόκληρη σχεδόν ημέρα, από τότε που ενημερώθηκαν, με αποτέλεσμα να βυθιστεί και να παρασύρει μαζί του εκατοντάδες ανθρώπους στον υγρό του τάφο.

Το ναυάγιο, όσο και αν επιχειρείται να αποδοθεί σε ανθρώπινα λάθη και σε αδίστακτους διακινητές, φέρει την υπογραφή και τη σφραγίδα των πολιτικών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης  που με περισσή συνέπεια υλοποιούν οι κυβερνήσεις των χωρών στα σύνορα της Ευρώπης, όπως κατεξοχήν η περίπτωση της Ελληνικής Κυβέρνησης.

Πολλαπλά ερωτηματικά προκύπτουν για τις ενέργειες των αρμόδιων αρχών όσο και της ίδιας της Frontex, που από την πρώτη στιγμή παρακολουθούσε το σκάφος, όμως έσπευσε να αποποιηθεί τις ευθύνες της, δείχνοντας αποκλειστικά προς τη μεριά του Ελληνικού Κέντρου Συντονισμού Έρευνας και Διάσωσης.

Για μια ακόμη φορά είναι θλιβερά αναγκαίο να επισημάνουμε ότι η προάσπιση των αρχών του Κράτους Δικαίου και της Δημοκρατίας επιβάλλουν πρώτα απ’ όλα το σεβασμό στη ζωή και την αξιοπρέπεια του ανθρώπου.

Ζητάμε:

-Να διερευνηθούν οι συνθήκες και τα αίτια της τραγωδίας και να αποδοθούν οι δέουσες ευθύνες τόσο στο επίπεδο της Ελληνικής Πολιτείας, όσο και στο επίπεδο της ΕΕ.

-Να καθιερωθούν ασφαλείς και νόμιμες οδοί για την πρόσβαση προσφύγων αλλά και μεταναστών στο έδαφος της ΕΕ.

-Να καταδικαστεί η πολιτική της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης που επιβάλλει στα κράτη–μέλη στα σύνορά της  να λειτουργούν αποτρεπτικά, με αποτέλεσμα τα συνεχή, πολλές φορές τραγικά περιστατικά ναυαγίων όσο και επαναπροωθήσεων που έχουν ως συνέπεια τον εκφυλισμό της προστασίας της ανθρώπινης ζωής και αξιοπρέπειας.

- Να χορηγηθεί άσυλο και προστασία στα θύματα αυτής της τραγωδίας.

 

ΟΙ ΥΠΟΓΡΑΦΟΥΣΕΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΩΣΕΙΣ (αλφαβητικά)

Δίκτυο Κοινωνικής Υποστήριξης Προσφύγων & Μεταναστών (http://migrant.diktio.org)

 Διοτίμα  - Κέντρο για τα Έμφυλα Δικαιώματα και την Ισότητα  (www.diotima.org.gr)

 Ελληνική Ένωση για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου (ΕλΕΔΑ) (https://www.hlhr.gr)

 Ελληνικό Παρατηρητήριο των Συμφωνιών του Eλσίνκι (https://greekhelsinki.wordpress.com)

 Ελληνικό Συμβούλιο για τους Πρόσφυγες (ΕΣΠ)  (http://www.gcr.gr)

Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Προσφύγων (http://www.refugees.gr)

ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗΣ  (www.thalassa-solidarity.org)

Κόσμος Χωρίς Πολέμους και Βία (https://www.kosmosxorispolemous.gr/)

Σύνδεσμος  Αντιρρησιών Συνείδησης (https://antirrisies.gr/)

Το Μωβ» Πανελλαδικό Σωματείο Γυναικείων Δικαιωμάτων (http://tomov.gr)

Φεμινιστικό Αυτόνομο Κέντρο Έρευνας (feministresearch.org)

Υποστήριξη Προσφύγων στο Αιγαίο (RSA) (http://rsaegean.org/el)

A Drop in the Ocean / Stagona (www.drapenihavet.no/en)

Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants - Greece (www.sgdd.org.tr)

 Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants -Turkey (www.sgdd.org.tr)

 Babel Day Centre (https://babeldc.gr/en/homepage/)

Better Days - Greece    (https://www.betterdays.ngo/)

Boat Refugee Foundation  (https://bootvluchteling.nl/en/)

Ca-minando Fronteras (Walking Borders) (caminandofronteras.org/en/)

CEAR (https://www.cear.es/)

Center for legal aid - Voice in Bulgaria (www.centerforlrgalaid.com) 

Citizens Assembly of Turkey (https://hyd.org.tr/en/)

Defence for Children International –Greece (https://www.defenceforchildrengreece.org/)

 Equal Rights Beyond Borders (https://equal-rights.org)

EuroMed Rights (https://euromedrights.org/)

Fenix - Humanitarian Legal Aid (https://www.fenixaid.org/)

HIAS  Hellas (https://www.hias.org/where/greece)

I Have Rights  (www.ihaverights.eu)

Inter Alia  (www.interaliaproject.com)

Ivorian Community of Greece (https://www.facebook.com/IvorianCommunityofGreece/)

KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism (https://kisa.org.cy/)

Legal Centre Lesvos (https://legalcentrelesvos.org/)

Lesvos Solidarity [ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ ΛΕΣΒΟΥ] (https://lesvossolidarity.org/en/)

PICUM (https://picum.org/)

Project Armonia (www.projectarmonia.org)

Refugee Legal Support (RLS)  (https://www.refugeelegalsupport.org)

Refugees Welcome, Denmark (https://refugeeswelcome.dk)

Safe Passage (https://www.safepassage.org.uk/)

Sans-Papiers Anlaufstelle Zürich SPAZ (www.sans-papiers-zuerich.ch)

SOSRacisme (www.sosracisme.dk)

Terre des hommes Hellas (www.tdh.gr)

Yoga and Sport with Refugees (https://www.yogasportwithrefugees.org/)

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*Η Ανακοίνωση είναι ανοιχτή για συνυπογραφή στο

email: kampaniagiatoasylo@gmail.com

 ------------

STOP THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN GREECE

 PRESS RELEASE

 STOP THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN GREECE

 Athens, 2^nd   June 2023

 Despite the growing outcry inside and outside Greece, at every level, from the civil society to the Council of Europe and the UN, Greece not only does not withdraw the baseless charges against the human rights defender PanayoteDimitras, but also freezes his assets and those of the NGOs he heads, with the vague allegation of mismanagement of European and other funds that supported his work.

The smear campaign against PanayoteDimitras has been repeatedly denounced by both the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe and the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and on the Human Rights of Migrants.

Despite this, Greece is escalating its revengeful targeting of PanayoteDimitras, who has denounced numerous pushbacks, even though recent reports confirm these inhumane practices, forcing the Prime Minister himself to condemn them for the first time.

Although we expected from the competent bodies and institutions, as well as from the judiciary the investigation of all the complaints that have come to light, on the contrary, we are witnessing accusations against those persons and organizations that are active on the borders of the country and receive reports and testimonies for pushbacks against refugees and immigrants, which, as they should, publicize and bring to the attention of the competent authorities.

 In this context, the organizations that co-sign this announcement demand:

 • To stop the prosecution of those persons and organizations operating in the context of their role as human rights defenders, against violations even by state authorities and institutions.

• To stop the systematic propaganda and disinformation against persons and organizations that provide protection to asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable persons in general.

• To promote the investigation of all complaints that have been brought to the attention of the competent authorities and concern incidents of illegal redeployments.

• To stop the phenomenon of violations of fundamental human rights that are systematically carried out at the borders of Greece, as well as Europe.

 We remain firmly on the side of those who defend human rights and in particular refugees and immigrants.

  CO-SIGNATORIES (in alphabetical order

ACAT - Belgium (www.acat.be )

ACAT Canada (Action des chrétiens pour l’abolition de la torture) (https://acatcanada.ca)

ACAT Germany (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)  (https://acat-deutschland.de/)

Advocates Abroad (https://advocatesabroad.org/)

ADIP  Anatolıan Religions and Beliefs Platform  (www.adipanadolu.org)

ADO Alevi Philosophy Center (www.aleviocagi.org)

AMOQA Athens Museum of Queer Arts (https://amoqa.net/)

ANTIGONE - Information and Documentation Centre on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non Violence  (https://www.antigone.gr/)

Antigone - Italy (www.antigone.it)

ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth - ATHENS (http:/arsis.gr)

Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors (https://antirrisies.gr/)

Association Positive Voice (https://positivevoice.gr/)

Better Days- Greece ( https://www.betterdays.ngo/)

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (https://www.bghelsinki.org/en/)

Centre for peace studies (https://www.cms.hr/en)

Chios Solidarity (https://www.facebook.com/chiossolidarity)

Demos (www.demos.dk)

Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (www.ec-rf.net)

Equal Rights Beyond Borders (https://equal-rights.org)

EuroMed Rights (https://euromedrights.org/)

European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (www.ebco-beoc.org/)

European Centre - Albania (www.euro-centre.eu)

European Implementation Network (EIN) (www.einnetwork.org)

European LGBT Police Association (https://www.lgbtpolice.eu/)

European Network Against Racism - ENAR  (htps://www.enar-eu.org/)

 European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) (http://www.errc.org)

Fair Trials (https://www.fairtrials.org)

 Federal Association of Vietnamese Refugees in the Federal Republic of Germany (https://de.lienhoinvtn.de/ueber-uns/)

ForRefugees  (www.forRefugees.org)

Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe  (https://foref-europe.org/)

Free Humanitarians (https://www.freehumanitarians.org/)

GENTIUM - Spain (www.gentium.org)

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (www.globalextremism.org)

Greek Council for Refugees (http://www.gcr.gr)

Greek Forum of Migrants (https://www.migrant.gr)

Greek Forum of Refugees (http://www.refugees.gr )

Greek Helsinki Monitor (https://greekhelsinki.wordpress.com )

Greek Housing Netwoerk (https://greekhousingnetwork.org/)

Hellenic Action for Human Rights  "Pleiades"  (http://hahurinfo.blogspot.com/)

Hellenic League for Human Rights (https://www.hlhr.gr)

HIAS – Hellas (https://www.hias.org/where/greece)

Human Rights Association -Turkey  (http://www.ihd.org.tr/en)

Humanists International (https://humanists.international)

Hungarian Helsinki Committee (www.helsinki.hu)

Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for democratic rights (https://pdn–dikaiomata. gr/)

In-Sight Collaborative (https://www. in–sightcollaborative.org/)

Institute of Race Relations (www.irr.org.uk)

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) -OMCT (https://www.fidh.org/)

International Network Against Cyber Hate (www.inach.net)

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) (www.iphronline.org/)

Irídia-Center of Defense of Human Rights  (https://iridia.cat/en/)

Ithaca Laundry Mobile laundry unit for the homeless (https://ithacalaundry.gr)

Justice & Environment (https://justiceandenvironment.org/)

KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism (https://kisa.org.cy)

Legal Centre Lesvos (https://legalcentrelesvos.org)

LOVE-Storm - Together against Online Hate - Germany (https://love-storm.eu)

National LGBT rights organization LGL, Lithuania (https://www.lgl.lt/en/)

Network of Social Support for Refugees and Migrants (http://migrant.diktio.org)

NEVER AGAIN' Association (www.neveragain association.org)

Minority Rights Group (http://www.minorityrights.org/)

Police Action for Human Rights  (https://www.facebook.com/Police Action For Human Rights)

PRO ASYL Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Flüchtlinge e.V. (www.proasyl.de)

Race Relations (www.irr.org.uk)

Rainbow Families Greece  (https://www.facebook.com/ouraniotoksofamilies)

Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (https://www.refugeebiriyanibananas.org)

Refugee Support Aegean(RSA) (http://rsaegean.org/el)

Res Publica  (https://www.respublica.org.al/internship/)

Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR) (https://salam-dhr.org/language/en/)

SARwatchMED (https://twitter.com/SARwatchMED)

SCI-Hellas (https://www.sci.gr/)

“To Mov” Panhellenic Women Rights Association (http:/tomov.gr)

Transgender Support Association (https://tgender.gr/)

Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)  - South Korea (https://en.tjwg.org/)

Turkish Minority Movement for Human and Minority Rights

ZARA – Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeitto (www.zara.or.at) 

Watch the Med Alarm Phone (https://watchthemed.net)

World Organization Against Torture - OMCT (https://www.omct.org/)

World without Wars and Violence (https://www.kosmosxorispolemous.gr)S