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About Church and churches
Smashing the doors of the St.Bernard Church in Paris and
the forceful evacuation of the illegal refugees by the police,
that was yesterday. A step forward had been made. The "right
of sanctuary" in the churches, that was finished. The matter
created such a stir in public opinion that many saw it as a foolish
mistake.
The status of illegal refugees is regularized on a "one
to one" basis, i.e. in dribs and drabs. Worn-out, many of
them see the squatting of churches as the ultimate means to be
heard.
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In August 2002, the St.Denis Basilica was squatted for fifteen
days. In the calm. And with the understanding of the parish priest.
But not that of the bishops of Ile de France who signed, on the
23 of September, a press release that such operations "do
not serve the cause of the illegal refugees and do not improve
their situation". In more or less well chosen words, these
bishops affirm their solidarity as long as the refugees stay
away from the churches. |
An occasional press release.? Not at all! While the bishops
of France are gathered in Lourdes, illegal refugees once again
organise a squat of a church in Paris.
The police intervene almost immediately insisting it is doing
so "on the request of the authorities". The harm is
done. From now on, we know that squatting a church does assure
no longer the security of the illegal refugees. |
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- At the Mosque of Paris
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The Committee for the Homeless and myself were received by
the Rector and the Grand Muphti of the Mosque of Paris. In the
conference room, the atmosphere was friendly. During two hours,
we felt fraternity and our exchanges were held in joy and simplicity. |
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- We had come to ask the Rector's to intervene with the
President of the Republic to tell him our difficulties and deadlocks
that the illegal refugees are experiencing. In this period where
the great religions of the world are preparing to commemorate
important spiritual events ( Ramadan, Christmas, Hannukah), we
seek a substantial gesture of regularization.
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- With no reserve at all, the Rector gave us his consent
to make the steps to contact the President. We wrote a text together.
We revised it, made changes, signed it and sent it to the press.
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The Rector thanked us for having contacted him but also to
show solidarity with the young illegal refugees for whom life
is so harsh. If it hadn't been for the Ramadan, he would have
asked us to stay for the meal. |
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- Leaving the Mosque, the young Algerians of the Committee
were happy and proud of the good reception that had been reserved
for us.
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Malian families expelled
These families have applied for low rental housing. But
with no success. To end the precarious situation of their housing,
they decided to occupy vacant apartments in an abandoned borough.
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On many occasions, police made expulsions. Families and young
children were thrown into the street. |
Those families that had not yet been expelled took them
in. Solidarity is a must! How crammed they were in these apartments
with no electricity or gas. Invited by the Support Committee,
I spent the afternoon in meeting with them.
I am moved to see these tired but determined women, these
children that can't receive schooling, these fathers who have
permits, who work but cannot find a decent housing for their
families. I never get used to this scandal. People from the press
are there, taking note of the importance of this sad situation.
A meeting is held at the Administrative building. The families
are all there standing up under the cold rain. They will stand
there for hours, surrounded by policemen while the vast well-heated
hall of the Administrative building could have been opened to
them. I am part of the delegation at the negotiating table.
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The tone is rapidly given. "Sir, women and children are
in danger!" There will be no more expulsions and 12 apartments
will be found. The rest will follow. It is dark when the meeting
ends. Everybody is there under the rain waiting for words of
hope that are not just promises. |
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José Bové
is sentenced
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I was invited by " United People For Solidarity "
in the French Upper Alps, at Embrun, for a public debate:"Poor
in their country, illegal refugees in our country: Do they have
a future?" The banquet room is filled with stands representing
solidarity organizations. It seems the whole world
is present here. |
As always, it is very important for people to have met
an illegal refugee, to know his face, to be in relation with
him. Then everything changes. If not, we keep to general ideas
and we are afraid of foreigners.
After a wonderful day of meetings, I accepted an invitation
to visit a couple from the Country Confederation union. In the
mountain where the air is so pure, they have a goat farm and
they sell cheese. With their two children, they live a happy
and simple life, close to nature. I love being with them.
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At the end of the day, we hear on the radio that José
Bové has just been sentenced and he is condemned to14
months in jail. We are filled with consternation. |
His combat against GMO is a cause that needs to be fought
because it is very engaging for the future. To send a union representative
in prison is not without consequences. Once again we feel there
is two kinds of justice. |
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