Dear all,

Although the subject in not archaeology-related I took the liberty to write to
this list as I feel it is important and I would like to draw the attention of
the academic society as support is needed from everywhere.

In Greece about 300 ‘illegal’ immigrants are on hunger strike for 32 days now.
About 237 of them are in Athens and 50 in Thessaloniki. Those in Athens were
evicted from the Law school where they were originally received and now they
are in a private building but 110 of them are staying in tents in the yard
outside due to the limited space available. Their health is rapidly
deteriorating and the Greek government still chooses to completely ignore
them.

Their demands are as follows according to their statement:
“For us, legalisation is neither a generic nor an abstract slogan. We don’t want
proposals to be heard without us. For us legalisation means many and very
specific things. Between those, first and foremost:
The issuing – since we are entitled to it – of a proper residence and labour
permit to us, the 300 hunger strikers, who demand what should be a given for
everyone by putting our lives on the line. As well as:
- that residence permits are no longer connected to work credits
- that all who lost their permits because of the above reason are legalised
again
- the vindication of everyone whose application was rejected in 2005, after
their application submission had been accepted and after they were forced to
pay thousands of euros each
- the establishment of a permanent and open procedure for complete legalisation,
which will process applications constantly
- the abandonment of any idea of criminalising any of our comrades in solidarity
with us, who have been called as suspects of committing criminal acts by the
authorities
And many more…
Anyone who wants to seriously engage with our strike and avoid a humanitarian
crisis in Greece, should officially and directly contact us and whatever
discussion must be focused on meeting the above demands. Every human is worth a
dignified life and labour. The hunger strike shall win,
Athens – Thessaloniki”

In response the Greek government has stated yesterday that there will be no
preferential treatment to them, no legalisation and the immigration law will
not change at all, not even aspects of it reconsidered. The reasoning of the
government is that by accepting their demands Greece would be in danger,
especially with all the immigrants expected to arrive from northern Africa. All
the government had to offer was to allow the hunger strikers to apply for
asylum, which the immigrants rejected as the point of the hunger strike is not
simply to avoid paying the 50euros needed for the application.

In the meantime the majority of the mainstream media along with government
statements try to turn to ‘villains’ any alternative media and anybody who
tries to speak out in solidarity with the 300. There were even persecutions to
the head of the Law School in Athens where the hunger strikers in Athens were
originally situated and to eight members of the solidarity campaign. What is
even more laughable is that the minister of health stated that the living
conditions of the 237 in Athens (which was not helped by the recent bad
weather) has become a source of infections that can spread and tried to link
this with the increased cases of flu (the normal situation in winter) in Greece
this period. They also accused the greek left that they will have 'blood in
their hands' if something happens to the immigrants because they support them
and their demands!!!

And in reality all what the immigrants are trying to ask is to abolish illegal
labour. They came to Europe in the hope of a better life and instead they are
trapped without even being able to go back to their countries (although for
many of them that would be equal to suicide) as they have to pay 600euros in
the absence of interstatal agreements between Greece and their countries of
origin. They are being exploited, providing cheap labour in their need to
survive, and more than often they don’t even get the accreditation needed to
confirm their working hours without which they cannot start the process for
their legalisation.

These people need our support, solidarity messages for their struggle are
arriving from all over the world and more are needed. Noam Chomsky, Toni Negri
and many more have sent their support. It is the biggest hunger strike in
Europe now and it is time for everybody to act:

Fax and E-Mail the Greek authorities:

e-mails:
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]

fax numbers:
MInistry of Interior, fax: 0030 2103665089,
Ministry of Citizen Protection, fax: 0030 2103387708
Ministry of Labour, fax: 2105249805, 0030 2103213688

For more information see:
http://hungerstrike300.espivblogs.net/category/%ce%b3%ce%bb%cf%8e%cf%83%cf%83%ce%b5%cf%82/english/


As today marks the 32nd day of their hunger strike I do hope that solidarity
messages and actions will escalate,

Alex Livarda
University of Sheffield