On the morning of May 24th, we, Solidarity with Migrants and solidarians, gathered in the town square of Oinoi village and then marched toward the concentration camp of refugees of Oinofyta to demonstrate in support of the struggle of the residents in the Oinofyta camp. The protest focused on demanding the processing of asylum applications of the residents as many have been in the camp for close to a year without any information about their asylum status and against the abhorrent conditions and abusive management in the camp.
Meanwhile, a few hours before the scheduled demonstration, residents of the camp reported police presence inside the camp – cops went around asking people about their involvement in organizing the demonstration and their intention to join the rally. In the same vein, the camp security guards tracked movement in and out of the camp, keeping a separate list of the names of residents who exited the camp to join the protest. Security guards were filming the demonstration at all times. Finally, the management attempted to distract the camp from the action by holding a simultaneous food distribution at the other end of the camp and residents reported that they were told this would be the sole food distribution of the day. Despite these intimidation and interference tactics, many people did not hesitate to exit the camp and join the gathering in front of the gate. Intimidation tactics were applied at the demo itself as we were surrounded by police on both sides. Again, intimidation failed as residents of Oinofyta camp and solidarians stood united in front of the camp.
Together, people from many different countries, speaking many different languages, chanted slogans demanding freedom, their passports, their IDs in order for the lives to continue outside the repressive conditions of the camp system. We demanded the immediate processing of asylum applications. Residents described and denounced the unlivable living conditions and the systemic neglect and abuse of the management under Niki Balamoti. While we raised our voices together, we also continued to get to know each other. Women, men, children and families were all present in the rally.
As the protest ended, security guards tried once more to intimidate the residents and failed to do so. The next day, the management called residents who participated in the protest for information regarding their participation and has been reported the building of the wall surrounding the fence is speeding up to decrease visibility inside/outside of the camp making it even more similar to a prison. Intimidation tactics against the people must stop immediately and political rights of refugees will be protected against any attack by the management, ministry or state.
For us, this struggle is part of the broad network of antiracist struggles happening all over Greece, from south to north in Sintiki camp. It is part of the struggle against the camp system, the racist-colonial and exploitative policies of the Greek state and the EU.
We stand with the people of Oinofyta camp in the struggle for freedom and justice. We stand with them in every step as the struggle continues. We invite all solidarians to join us and fight together until freedom and justice for all prevails.
