The mayor of Calais ranks amongst the most extreme Right in France!
Today (28/02), an occupied house belonging to the Municipality, located at 3 Impasse Leclercq, was illegally evicted in the early afternoon despite conclusive and legally sound evidence of it having been occupied for at least three days (meaning it should be entitled to a court case and notice under french law)!
The media had been informed several hours before the eviction and two leading newspapers in the area had published proof of occupation. “La Voix de Nord” published an article showing a picture of this proof, sealed registered letters with the sent date, Wednesday, February 26, 2014 in which there were testimonies and timestamped photos showing that the occupation of the building had been for longer than 48 hours.
The Municipality chose to deliberately ignore this evidence and demand the expulsion of the house. What reasons do they have to publicly flout the law for the umteenth time? Under the name of “municipal government” they behave like a cowboy gang, treating the law as their play thing; only respecting it when it suits their purposes, and not afraid to break it when it does not.
This morning an official from the Municipality accompanied by an officer from the municipal police and the Police Nationale visited the residence. They received the evidence of the occupation that the inhabitants provided. However, in the early afternoon seven vans of CRS accompanied by many other police cars, marked and unmarked,came to evict!
People tried to talk to the police reminding them of the illegality of theirs actions, and that a decision of the district court was necessary before an expulsion. However, the police ignored this and directly broke down the door without offering the occupants a way out. Residents and inhabitants tried to capture the actions of the police, but they grabbed the camera and threw them against the wall.
The occupants inside the building were also treated brutally, testimonies of which are being taken to make complaints against the police. Those inside were arrested, but released a few hours later without charge or even being interviewed, demonstrating once again that these expulsions are legally baseless! They seem to only have one goal: to empty the house of its inhabitants at all costs, regardless of the legality of their actions or the physical and psychological damage that this causes.
Three other occupied houses were also discovered by police during the day. Residents of these three places also provided evidence of their occupation for more than 48 hours to the media and the police. These homes do not belong to the city, but to other public institution who, for the moment, do not show the eagerness that Calais Ville does to illegally evict the inhabitants.
The complaint for illegal eviction from the house of 3 impasse Leclercq is under way, and all the original evidence was received by our lawyer and will be presented in court. We are ready to repeat this complaint for the other three places that have been opened, as long as our right to housing is not respected.
Come to Calais! Let’s make Calais sexy!!
https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/107245
Calais: Come on! Come on! Communiqué regarding the occupation of a number of buildings
We are a group of people from different countries and different political backgrounds who are fighting for the right to housing for everyone, whatever their origin. We announce that we have been occupying (now for more than 48 hours), empty and abandoned public buildings in different parts of the town of Calais, and intend to continue these occupations and maintain them as “legal squats” for as long as possible:
Who can claim to have walked in the streets of this city and not passed at least one house with bricked up windows, doors barricaded, the cellar sealed? Why leave places empty and people outside in the cold? Why spend money to condemn access to buildings rather than using them to help a precarious population?
To answer these questions that the public authorities have chosen to avoid, (for several years now) a group of individuals have set out to find collective solutions by giving life to abandoned buildings and the homeless a roof over their heads. Until now, the authorities have responded with repressive tactics that have resulted in multiple illegal evictions based on the perversion of legal procedures, manipulation of witnesses during neighborhood investigations, and the alteration of evidence.
In Calais , the discourse on the right to housing is taken hostage by the various levels of power that have continued to use the migration situation to stir up fears and fantasies about the issue of squats. In recent months this political manipulations has been incarnated in the call for the denunciation and exposure of squats; spearheaded by UMP mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart (who in reality has no real political prospects for this city) an attitude has bee established that suggests that squats and their alleged inhabitants are the origin of all the ills of the city. This poisonous atmosphere has allowed the racist/xenophobic collective “Save Calais” (whose founder is a neo-Nazi with a swastika tattoo) to germinate; their establishment occurring some what coincidentally just two days after Boucharts call for action on “the problem of migrant squats”
Remember further that two of the town halls main representatives , Philippe Mignonnet and Emmanuel Agius (who both work under Bouchart) came out to welcome ‘save calais’ to the city and to support the groups “sit-in”on Thursday, Nov. 7 outside the town hall despite the fact that organizers and participants did not hide their racism (including for example some discriminatory remarks that migrants “are harmful, three quarters of them are potential aggressors) and displayed clear affiliation with the Front National.
“Save Calais” has since extended their ‘stigmatization of squats campaign’ with a sickening xenophobic discourse, and hardline violence against people trying to find shelter. This group has become the operational arm of the mayors call to denounce squats in Calais, and has set up a system for tracking migrants and others living in squats, to identify buildings being used for shelter, and to organize actions against these people and their homes. Where it was almost impossible before to stay in Calais when you were homeless (particularly homeless and undocumented) without becoming a victim of abuses by the authorities, it is now also a struggle to avoid being the victim of nazi attacks.
Fascist Extremists, members of “Save Calais”, and manipulated residents have effectively been besieging a small farmhouse on the outskirts of Calais ( which was squatted by a couple of people in need of a home) issuing death threats, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, following and attempting to violently attack individuals going about their daily business, and consistently attempting to burn the house down- making life impossible for residence of the house attempting to carve out a semblance of a normal life. Today in Calais (and the surrounding area) being a squatter is taking the risk of being lynched , under the impassive eyes of police inaction and the defiant ignorance of the sub-prefect and prefect 1.
We can not let the arbitrary violence of a minority, hitherto unpunished, prevent us from having access to shelter and defending the need of decent housing for everyone regardless of their origins. We refuse the trivialization of these methods and the inaction of state officials, we will not sit back and do nothing, or see these events become an entrenched norm.
It would be great to have more people coming to Calais to help support and sustain our occupations, especially since we think the police are likely to try and ignore our strong evidence of legal rights as they have consistently done in the past.
Stop the rot, Squat the Lot.
1- The roles of prefect and sub prefect are something similar to district judge, combined with the powers of a council official and the CPS (crown prosecution service) in that they can take decisions on police action; whether to intervene in certain political matters etc.
Calais: Fascist attacks continue against Rue Émile Dumont, Coulogne & call-out for assembly
UPDATE 8AM Monday 24/2:
Local Calais media are reporting the demonstration of around 50 racists continued through Sunday. The fire brigade were called after a group of men were spotted nearby by neighbours with jerrycans of petrol to prepare more molotov cocktails.
ASSEMBLY AGAINST FASCISM AND FOR TOLERANCE. AND SOLIDARITY
Call-out from anti-racist residents of Calais.
Gathering with music and dance, words and food.
Saturday 1 March 2.30 PM. Place d’Armes, Calais.
We are indignant to see that hundreds of people are living in the street whilst houses are empty and abandoned. Indignant about the passivity or hostility of the authorities and for the demonstrations of fascist hatred in these last days.
These fascists do not represent Calais. There are also many more people who have been engaged for years, as individuals or with groups, in hospitality and openness.
Whether we are long term residents of Calais or passing through, we will come to share a moment of tolerance and solidarity.
Call-out from Indymedia UK, update from here.
Calais: Communiqué from people inside Rue Émile Dumont, Coulogne
Saturday’s news from the inhabitants of 122 Rue Émile Dumont in Coulogn (suburb of Calais)
“We’re writing to you again with the latest news from the front. Our aggressors have reached a new level of violence. On Saturday 22, we were attacked by intensive volleys of stones from two in the afternoon until half past midnight. Around 4.30 pm, one man who had threatened on the facebook page of ‘Sauvons Calais’ (‘Save Calais’) to kill some migrants and throw them into the canal threw a rock, from 6 metres away, which hit the neck of a friend who had gone outside to talk with some of the neighbours. When we went outside to eat in the garden, we received a rain of some 20 stones in just a few seconds. As the numerous attacks on the roof and the windows went on, the crowd shouted encouragement every time a stone hit its target. As the most violent attack of stone-throwing was going on, the collective ‘Sauvons Calais’ was publicly hosting a buffet outside with food and coffee, between 6pm and midnight. They also used laser pointers against cameras and directly into the eyes of the inhabitants (legally these can be considered as weapons in this context). There were a maximum of 80 people protesting (at about 10.30pm), the last of them left around 1am.
During all this afternoon and until about 1 am, the police (National Police and plain-clothes ‘Brigade Anti-Criminelle’) were present, up to 8 in number. They were notable in their passivity, only intervening on two occasions in total. The first time, while our friend was hit by a rock to the neck in front of their eyes, they took him into their police car for less than a minute, then let him go. Another striking event was when a drunk man arrived with a packet of fireworks, the police confiscated a few of them and then let him approach the house with the rest. Indeed they went so far as to hang the protesters’ banner on the fence, and some of them were laughing as our attackers showed their joy when the stones hit their target. The police allowed the protesters to come right up to the gates of the house, while they stood watching a metre behind.
The police left a few minutes after the last protesters and, five minutes later, a white pick-up truck parked at the corner of Rue Aristide Brillant and Rue Haut-Champs. Two men got out and walked towards us, then turned away as the police briefly drove past. The two men then returned with Molotov cocktails (beer bottles) in their hands, which they lit in front of the bus stop. One of the molotovs was thrown onto the roof. Fortunately it did not catch fire, but then they threw another which rebounded off the side of the bus stop and landed in the garden where it burned. We called the police to report the attack, they refused to listen and demanded to know our identities.
After one of us explained that he could tell them everything that happened, and could describe the attackers’ vehicle, but wanted to stay anonymous, the police left. One of us went into the garden to find the debris of the molotov cocktail. A police car drive past again and he tried to show them the evidence, but they only shone their torches in his face, refusing again to record the event. We wait with much apprehension the days to come. After the molotov attack, what next?”
Originally published on https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/communique-from-people-inside-rue-emile-dumont/
Calais: Fascists mobilise against squatters. International call-out for support and solidarity
Tomorrow, Friday 21st Feb, fascists have called a day and evening demonstration outside a new squat in Coulogne. This is the accumulation of five days of heavy fascist activity in the Calais area.
In the last few months a racist anti-migrant group, ‘Sauvons Calais’ have mobilised in Calais to ‘defend Calais from migrants’. Last week people squatted a farm house in Coulogne and since Sunday evening groups of up to 50 fascists and angry neighbours have had almost a constant presence outside the building.
The fascist’s actions this week have ranged from shouting insults at the people inside, throwing rocks, fireworks and standing there for hours on end. At 7am on Tuesday morning three fascists, who had been out drinking all night tried to break into the squat with a sledge hammer. Two of them were arrested. Members of the demonstration have also been recorded making death threats against migrants.
Today they are back outside again threatening the people inside. The fascists ‘Sauvons Calais’ facebook account has been used to mobilise people to descend on the squat.
The squat became visible last week and the squatters have gained legal status for their occupation.
As the days have gone on it seems that the number of fascists coming is increasing. The situation is getting more hostile rather than calming down. This is unprecedented fascist action in Calais. People are asking for support tomorrow and in the coming weeks…
Published on the CMS blog: https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/fascists-mobilise-against-squatters/
Calais, France: The Battle of Coulogne
Translation of article from fr.squat.net:
The spark launched by the Mayor of Calais with his call to denounce squats on facebook last October by the Save Calais page, and the handshake of two assistants to the mayor of Calais over their anti-migrant protesters in November, shows that this attack is invited to Coulogne.
Activists of Save Calais rallied in front of a recently opened Coulogne squat, a previously empty house. A banner presenting themselves as residents, with ‘alarm bells’ sounding to the real residents – in an attempt to sow the seed of fear of an invasion of migrants.
Yet no “migrants” were in the house that they tried to break the door of this morning, but people from different countries of the European Union. Additionally they punctured the tires of two bicycles belong to a Britain and Calaisien.
This puts the debate into place. Seen in a previous demo a sign: “foreigners, you don’t leave us alone with the French.” If England weighed anchor and drifted a little further, if migrants therefore went to other ports, we remain well with this question amongst us: what kind of society do we want to live in?
For now, the Save Calais campaign prey on property; doors and two bicycles. But they already give us an indication of their choice in society to the violence they want to impose on us.
Published in French on https://passeursdhospitalites.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/la-bataille-de-coulogne/
Calais: Police evicts a Syrian squat. Another migrant killed, protests at the port
Police close and destroy Syrian squat – Since the big eviction wave in autumn 2013, most migrants in Calais are forced to sleep outside in tents. But weather and temperature are horrible at the moment. Wind and rain makes it very difficult or impossible to live like this.
On Sunday the police closed and destroyed one of last squats in Calais. Just five persons have found shelter in this house, which had been empty since months.
The Cops arrived in the afternoon, when some of the inhabitants were at home. Without any warning the Cops broke their door and entered the building. The persons living there explained to the police that they are sick and can not live outside. But they did not care about that fact. They forced the people to leave their home. The were not able to take all their personal belongings with them.
When the evicted persons went back the same day to collect their clothes, blankets, food etc., they saw that the cops had smashed and messed up everything inside the house. They had pepper sprayed beds, blankets and clothes, spilled cooking oil all over the floor and their things. They found their clothes in a puddle in the floor.
In addition, once more the cops stole personal property from migrants. Heaters, tobacco and bags were missing after this destroying mission.
Published on https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/police-close-and-destroy-syrian-squat/
Another migrant killed : Protests at the port of Calais
The successive deaths of a 17 year old Iranian migrant, who fell from a truck that he was trying to hide in to reach England on 30th January and a migrant killed by a bullet in the chest on 2nd February has caused a wave of outrage.
On 4th February, thirty migrants, mainly Syrians and Egyptians marched to the port to carry out a sit-in to demonstrate their anger at the death of migrants and the inhumane living conditions people face in Calais.
Four vans of CRS (riot police) and a few police cars were quick to arrive at the end of the port and controlled the migrants, also trying to intimidate people with insults. The CRS then filmed the control, zooming in on each migrant and activist present.
Police violence is systematic in Calais, the control yesterday is a daily recurrence of how cops like to deal with migrants : insults, provocations, checking papers and recurring harassment is the daily routine here.
The reality is that there is no intention to allow for anywhere for people to be able to live. Migrants congregate on land, blankets and tarpaulins used to protect people from cold, wind and rain that flood the tents. The living conditions of migrants are without dignity, new migrants arrive every day and it is more difficult to find blankets and clothes for them, the tents are increasingly rare and the few occupied homes are regularly expelled, illegally destroyed and tents are regularly torn and broken by the cops.
Published on https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/another-migrant-killed-protests-at-the-port-of-calais/
Calais: Report on the illegal expulsion of the squat in rue Saint-Omer, the petty maneouvres of the State
Today February 5, 2014 there was scheduled for trial an injunction against the French State and the OPH due to the illegal eviction of the squat at 221 Rue de Saint-Omer. Originally scheduled on January 22nd, the trial was postponed until February 5th. ‘Coincidentally’, the prefect waited until the day before to instruct the trial lawyers to represent him, these latter requested an adjournment, granted despite the precarious situation of those evicted from Rue de Saint-Omer .
In contrast to the OPH, the representative of the State, the prefect in this case , had not sent any documents to the other party, the evicted, until the date of trial. It is therefore only today that the court of Boulogne-sur-Mer informed the applicants and their lawyer of the conclusions presented by counsel for the State. In two pages and one staple the State rejects the application, stating that the complaints against the State should be directed to the judicial authorities of the state and not directly to the prefect.
The State and its accomplices, unpunished for 10 years, systematically expelling squats illegally, They must feel near the end of arbitrary rule? In this new case, it is no doubt that the state is playing for time, wanting to enjoy the last moments of the area of no-rights that the city is now. The system has only cracked, the impunity of the Calaisienne land speculator clique, the unscrupulous politicians and their guard dogs is coming to an end.
Meet March 12th, 2014 at 9am in Court of Boulogne-sur-Mer for the next episode.