Via the Athens News
RULING NEW Democracy’s immigration crackdown came under heavy fire in parliament as opposition MPs criticised the governing party’s plans to have police hunt down and lock up tens of thousands of undocumented migrants for up to a year, or until they are deported.
Despite the controversy, ND passed the get-tough law on June 24, with support from far-right Laos.
The law is the latest effort by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis’ conservative government to combat illegal immigration.
Read the full article here which includes the response of the other main political parties
GREEKS are deeply divided about how to deal with illegal immigration. The political debate has been no less divisive. Some of the key players:
“We demand social, civil and democratic rights for immigrants… We want the legalisation of all those [undocumented migrants] who live in the country, an end to the bureaucracy – and immigrants from countries that are embroiled in civil war or under occupation to be granted political asylum more easily, if they want it,” Aleka Papariga, Greek Communist Party (KKE) general secretary, speaking to reporters on June 24
“It is now exactly 12.20pm. At 12 noon our MP Theodoros Dritsas went to attend the dialogue launched by Alternate Interior Minister Mr Marko-yannakis in order to be briefed and to discuss immigration policy. And I ask you: Is this a farce? You call us to discuss the measures and at the same time the majority government, with the help of Laos, is getting ready to vote on these measures… That is why I am calling you to put these measures on hold. Don’t bring them for a vote,” Alekos Alavanos, Left Coalition SYRIZA parliamentary spokesman, speaking to parliament on June 23
“Under the first clause of this amendment, each and every immigrant – legal immigrants included – becomes a potential threat to public order. Even legal immigrants in our country, if they are convicted of a crime, even reckless driving, may find themselves without any protection and at risk of immediate deportation. As for the other articles [in the law]… they are without any logic. Make no mistake, the illegal immigration problem in Greece was created by our country’s inability to successfully negotiate at the EU level,” Pasok MP Evangelos Venizelos, speaking to parliament on June 23
But let’s not be stupid because a lot of what is being said is stupid. And I will give you just one example. I’ve heard human rights groups talk about good immigrants and talk about them with empathy. But I haven’t heard anything about the Greeks. I only hear about the immigrants, the economic migrants, the poor illegal immigrants and about us bad Greeks. And I ask: Who’s thinking about the resident of Agios Panteleimonas or Thessaloniki who is afraid to go outside. Mr Minister, for us in Ekali, the illegal immigrants are all good. The human rights advocates should go live in Agios Panteleimonas,” Laos MP Kyriakos Velopoulos, speaking to parliament on June 23
Technorati Tags: greece, immigration, migrants, law,
Citizenship Battles on February 17th, 2010
Being Greek on February 10th, 2010
Laos Against Citizenship on January 25th, 2010
The Immigration Debate on January 22nd, 2010
Lack of Humanity on November 2nd, 2009
Loading...
Just for the record, I grew up in Agios Nikolaos, next door to Agios Panteleimonas and one more Athens neighbourhood where “concerned citizens” are trying to “figure out what to do about immigration”. So hardly the pampered Ekali residence mr Velopoulos accuses of ignorance of “real life” or whatever he’s talking about.
Why do Greek politicans think everyone has such a short-term memory? The “problem” with immigration started less than a decade ago. Kendro, from Patissia to Omonoia was a shithole long before that and nobody lifted their little finger to do something about it. Fylis, Plateia Vathis, Plateia Amerikis, Metaksourgeio, Sokratous, Laxanagora… indeed those are not Ekali, Sounio or Kolonaki. They have always been neglected and ignored, left to their fate by successive governments. And now they’re gonna fix the problem by sending the dirty poor from overseas packing back to Turkey? What a brilliant idea. I wish I had a magic wand like that myself.
That’s just a big bunch of bullshit ND and Laos are selling- and Pasok or the others are not much better. Venizelos who is quoted here doesn’t even know what he’s talking about, the proposed amendment would target immigrants who were accused of any breach of the law, even before they were condemned like he says. That’s what’s so mind-bogglingly stupid -and frightening, with it.
I agree with all of that, Stassa. In every country, immigrants are a convenient scapegoat for politicians to avoid facing up to their own miserable failings.
[...] government, non-existent immigration policies and the rise of the far-right has lead to the current harsh new immigration laws being introduced in Greece. We will be seeing the introduction of internment camps where [...]
People in Agios Pantaleimonas are scared to go outside because of Golden Dawn lynching them and they’re scared to stay inside too because of Golden fucking Dawn burning their houses down.