Re-posted from: http://www.portaloaca.com/articulos/con ... f05487%2C0 translated by me Operation Hermes begins in Madrid : racist coordinated controls in Europe post date, October 22, 2010 21:42 | post author by Beatriz Ortiz Various reports have warned of the launching this weekend of "Operation Hermes", a Europe-wide operation to control the undocumented. However, the Ministry of Rubalcaba says that this operation has already been carried out. One way or another, these controls persist. On Monday October 18 news broke that Operation Hermes was launched by the Spanish State in coordination with the Member States of the European Union, whose main objective is to improve and coordinate the work of the security forces and through the cooperation of international and European authorities, ie in all countries to establish simultaneous activities of monitoring and prevention, identification and deportation of undocumented persons. The data in this area are diverse and even contradictory, police sources have reported to different agencies and media on the increase in raids and the fact that this operation would take place this week (from 18 to 24 October), while that the Ministry of Interior they have stated that the "Operation Hermes" was held last week (from 11 to 17 October). In any case, advocacy organizations include social rights, the important thing is to be alert and to keep abreast of the implementation of this operation for people of immigrant origin who may be affected. The direct consequence of the implementation of this operation is an increase in racist controls in public areas and the main points of movement of persons (bus stations, trains and subways). What controls are racist? These identifications are made selectively. The main factor to apply to a person who they identify are their physical traits, ie, police officers requested identification to persons of foreign origin and that are likely to not have their papers in order. Efforts of various groups such as Neighborhood Brigades Observation of Human Rights and the Underground Railroad, are being made to collect information on these police actions, so that there can be data on the frequency of racist raids and the areas in which they are typically performed. Other warning systems more or less immediately warn people without papers by sms on the place that is taking a round to avoid passing through it. Initiatives such as Alert! can also participate in the documentation of the raids, this project is collecting information on racist or homophobic controls, police violence, and brutality among other things, through social networking or cell phones. Comienza en Madrid el Operativo Hermes: Controles racistas coordinados en toda Europa post date Viernes, 22 de Octubre de 2010 21:42 | post author Escrito por Beatriz Ortiz Distintas informaciones han alertado de la puesta en marcha, este fin de semana, del Operativo Hermes, una operación a escala europea de control de personas sin papeles. Sin embargo, el Ministerio de Rubalcaba asegura que esta operación ya se ha llevado a cabo. De una forma u otra, los controles persisten. El lunes 18 de octubre saltó la noticia de que se ha puesto en marcha el Operativo Hermes en el Estado español en coordinación con los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea, cuyo objetivo principal es mejorar y coordinar el trabajo de las fuerzas de seguridad, así como impulsar la cooperación de las autoridades europeas e internacionales, es decir, establecer en todos los países actividades simultaneas de monitorización y prevención, de identificación y expulsión de personas sin papeles. Los datos al respecto son diversos e incluso contradictorios: fuentes policiales han informado a diferentes agencias y medios de comunicación sobre el aumento de las redadas y sobre el hecho de que este operativo se desarrollaría durante esta semana (del 18 al 24 de octubre), mientras que desde el Ministerio del Interior han afirmado que el “operativo Hermes” tuvo lugar la semana pasada (del 11 al 17 de octubre). En todo caso, destacan las organizaciones de defensa de los derechos sociales, lo importante es poder alertar y mantener al corriente de la puesta en marcha de este operativo a personas de origen inmigrante que puedan verse afectadas. La consecuencia directa de la puesta en marcha de este operativo es un aumento de los controles racistas en las zonas públicas y los principales puntos de circulación de personas (estaciones de autobuses, de trenes y en el metro). ¿Cómo son los controles racistas? Estas identificaciones se hacen de manera selectiva. El factor principal para solicitar a una persona que se identifique son sus rasgos físicos, es decir, los agentes de policía solicitan identificación a personas de origen extranjero y que son susceptibles de tener o no sus papeles en regla. Iniciativas de varios colectivos, como las Brigadas Vecinales de Observación de Derechos Humanos o Ferrocarril Clandestino, consisten en recopilar información sobre estas acciones policiales, de manera que puedan existir datos sobre la frecuencia de las redadas racistas y las zonas en las que se suelen realizar. Otros sistemas de alerta más o menos inmediata avisan a las personas sin papeles por sms sobre el lugar en el que se está dando una redada para evitar que transiten por el mismo. Iniciativas como Alerta! también permiten participar en la documentación de las redadas, en este proyecto se recopila información sobre controles racistas, brutalidad policial o violencia homófoba, entre otras cosas, a través de las redes sociales o el móvil.
Operation Eris went up today: around ninety people appeared together at the local police station and requested their ID's to be checked... we worked in shifts, 'cause the station isn't that large... and sadly the cops buisness broke completely down, no patrols in the subway, but people with record-breaking three ID-checks during the afternoon in the station with brought along coffee and cake - quite a social gathering. But sadly the cops doesn't seem to be pleased as we promised to return again tomorrow, just in case there's really something wrong with our ID's... The official version of operation hermes around here: control of human trafficking - isn't that philanthropic?
Crazy? - Just wait for the video we will try to make tomorrow, honoring our magnificent policeforce with a boarisch g'stanzl/peruan/turkish/flamenco-serenade - we have this El Cabrero genius from Spain with us - and this guy is a gift!... and because it went so well, tomorrow we will start before noon... just to make sure we are no slaves for sale... \m/
Yeah crazy with passion, crazy like a fox, crazy like me to do direct action more than just words....I want to see it! hahaha NO PASARAN! PASAREMOS!
yes, crazy with passion, but more because it's not only "us" any more, people around here caught fire, mainly because of the stupid check ups around the subway stations in the last days - people up against the wall in underwear (and it's already cold around here...), special commando cops in the side streets, three check ups while just doing the shopping... like an occupation army? they asked for resistance, now they get it and i really hope we can manage to keep the fire burning - there is a new thing coming down from berlin to force immigrants into "integration" programs - even my daughters (2 years old!) got a letter each to apply for a german ID or report to the immigration authority... too bad that they are too young to risk anything about this. if we find a venue for monday or tuesday, we'll come up with a El Cabrero-gig and another info-event... and you can be sure we'll post the video tomorrow: concerned citizens and overstrained cop - a love story!
Todays action ended with a bit mixed feelings, I think we opened the can of worms yesterday a bit too wide/ successful, so we found the streets already under siege of a mass of black armored riot clone warriors, approximately 200 of them secured the approach to the cops cave - and despite all our passion, we could not reach it again... Noone was allowed to pass the line, but untill noon the majority of around 300 (!) townsfolks stood their ground, disputing and arguing with the clones, tensions grew as they started to move forth and back without obvious reason, we asked for the head of operations, but the clones refused to answer, while some of the musicians who were with us tried to calm the situation down and coffee and cake went around again. Some people got really upset and started to wrangle with the clones, so we were told to leave via megaphone, a fifth of the people did, but the majority still stood firm. Small groups of cops started checking ID's again, individuals were searched and I lost my bicyle to three officers who could not believe that this heap of rust and dirt wasn't stolen... Cameras and camcorders were confiscated (no souvenir shot of your favorite clone, while their documentation groups filled one album after the other) Some youths were arrested for keeping drugs and fire crackers on them, we protested because of the rough treatment, but didn't achieve anything, so tensions grew a bit more and everybody started to feel really nervous - until a few wise people recommended to retreat - and I guess it was the best thing to do in this situation. I'm not really good in retreating, and I still feel pissed about it, but only a tenth of the remaining crowd would have been able to make a stand, mostly people without experience, while the clones kept a solid block and the initiative position, so... We gathered again in an italian tavern not far from the fields, the rearguard closely followed by 50 clones in formation, around 10 entered the tavern too but left again after the owner asked them to leave, despite the clones threats of "trouble", he told me later that his father and grandfather fought in the fiat-strikes in italy - "so asking for trouble is a family tradition" - cheers to him! The rest of the afternoon was spend with the discussion of the event, people were still upset and angry but without a clue what to do, none of us crazy germuns felt like promoting a more passionate modus operandi, at least some of the "ordinary" folks decided to research civil disobedience tactics for the future and many more agreed with some obvious interest. Between "us" we decided to support them with information when necessary, at least it might be a start to help self-organisation of motivated people a bit, so the frustration and anger will be more conscious/purposeful next time on the street. For the coming week two or three info- and music-events are planned, but no direct confrontation for the time being, on the way home we still saw a complete convoy of clone transporters, so we'll see how patient they are in the coming days. As I said before, we opened the can yesterday and it was fun and went surprisingly well, but today the clones surprised us, noone would have thought of a strong reaction like this - we were just not careful enough and surprise is almost everytime the key... I don't know if we get the cameras back that soon, some people made photos yesterday, but mostly with the stuff they lost today, I'll post a link if we manage to scratch at least a little bit of inspiration together... After the bad karma in Melburne I would have liked to post something more encouraging... anyway: CHEERS TO THOSE WHO TAKE A STAND! \m/
Cheers and it sounds to me that you achieved two separate types of victory, the day before catching them off-guard and today inspiring the citizens to further action. It was wise to retreat because they actually caught you off-guard today. Better to recognize the error and re-group than suffer needless losses in arrests and casualties.
yes, i absolutely agree, this was by no means a riot situation, it was not "the movement", but the people around here, mostly middleaged, far from "politix" - maybe on the brink of consciousness about their situation but still without any clue what to do. i am no angel of peace, but watching some of my favorite family tyrants working up themselves into a frenzy (because some "boy"-riot-cop pushed them around) while their warrior-prince-sons play with fire crackers - women and kids all around them - made my hair stood up and sometimes i felt more like a sheperds dog or a nurse than a protester claiming the street... the potential of the people is great, i am surprised how well they are informed about whats going on in berlin since this sarrazin-shithead blew up or about the fact that the gurmuns are a dying breed and the fucking country needs immigrants to keep running. out of anger about this "educated racism" many become very brave now, yesterday we had thrice the support of the day before, today each pair of cops on the street has to deal with citizens asking them why they are still here, some shopkeepers i visited this morning refuse service to the cops and tell them to leave the store "because this is not an occupied territory but a free land" - as the wicked non-gurmun that i am: WOW! most of them are already on permanent residence permit - but the bureaucrazy can take it back any time they claim some "important reason" and there would be no protection until a court decision is made. and this individual pressure is something to consider besides the public unrest - yesterdays underaged fireworkers and drug-culprits are already under charge and three of their families were raided by the cops in the morning, treats of "consequences" inclusive - and the youth-authorities already on the way... so let's see if the whole thing turns out to be a little Kronstadt, yesterdays aftermath-discussion got a whiff of it, vassil already mentioned that we kept maybe a bit too silent and i guess we have to consider our position about "taking the lead" in the things going on, our gentlemen see kind of a "leningrad-question": it a movement, we are only a part of it... i don't know, but i think the least we can do is to give support where ever necessary, even if it's "that" liberal for now. but the spanish comrades are just coming in to get the gig at the evening clear, so it's: PASAREMOS! & keep ol'hermes down!
A bit off-topic, but a nice example of reality in gurmoney in the time of "HERMES" Integration Courses Migrants on The Waiting List The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has released figures showing that demand for integration courses outstrips supply. With many migrants on long waiting lists, is Germany letting down foreigners who want to integrate? The demand for integration courses in Germany is clearly currently outstripping supply: about 9,000 "voluntary participants" in the federal program are on waiting lists right now. This was the figure given by the Interior Ministry in answer to an inquiry by the Left Party. Five-thousand-three hundred applicants were informed in their approval letters that they would be able to begin their courses in three months. "This control measure was made to consolidate spending," the ministry wrote. A further 3,700 migrants "are on a waiting list." According to the Interior Ministry, those interested will receive their "approval at a later date." A total of 140,000 people are currently taking part in about 16,000 integration courses nationwide. "The financial resources available to these courses are clearly not enough to meet the demand," criticized Steffen Bockhahn, budget specialist for the Left Party. "One has to wonder whether the government is really taking the issue of integration seriously." Courses Offered Since 2005 Since 2005, Germany's immigration law has required that some newly arrived immigrants take part in courses on German language and society. The law states that any new immigrant coming into Germany from a non-European Union country, must, at the discretion of immigration authorities, participate in a government-funded integration course. The course includes 600 hours worth of German language instruction and a 30-hour orientation that covers the basics of German culture, history and law. Many other immigrants, though, apply to take advantage of the free language and cultural instruction. In recent weeks, Germany has found itself in a raging debate over integration in the country. Just one week ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel generated international headlines with a speech in which she said it was an illusion to think the Germans and foreign workers could "live happily side by side." "Of course the tendency had been to say, 'let's adopt the multicultural concept and live happily side by side, and be happy living with each other'. But this concept has failed, and failed utterly." It is a debate that rears its head every few years in Germany because the country for decades ignored its large immigrant population and only took steps in recent years to create a viable integration policy. The latest salvoes in the perpetual debate came after the publication of a book by Thilo Sarrazin, a former board member of the German central bank, who portrayed masses of immigrants living in the country as being unwilling to integrate or participate in German society. http://www.spiegel.de/international/ger ... 18,00.html
http://www.portaloaca.com/articulos/con ... 19b90f%2C0 The Fascist National Democrats put the 'ore' in the spotlight Tuesday, November 2, 2010 21:34 | author Not O'Belen We are witnessing a campaign of criminalization of immigration consciously organized by the bourgeoisie, casting darkness and confusion on the public to feed the racist prejudices. The basic aim is to divide the working class immigrants and natives and divert the attention of both the fight against anti-social that capitalists want to impose on all workers, regardless of national origin, religion or culture. Antifascist Europe, all governments are tightening their immigration policies, legal changes accompanying a xenophobic discourse and an increase in police harassment. The racist raids are the order of the day (as evidenced by the Operation Hermes, developed last month), and mass media are acting as troupes of power. To all this must be added the gruesome spectacle of the mass deportations of Roma in France and other European Union countries, with the complicity of all institutions, including the Spanish government. These policies also are moving to the so-called "ore" (unaccompanied minors), and that the general tendency is to regard them as illegal immigrants rather than children, intending to go applying immigration laws rather than international child protection laws. In the Spanish state, more and more autonomous communities are trying to get rid of these children, denying them the protection (with dubious evidence to certify the age) and committing all sorts of irregularities as denounced by many groups and social organizations such as SOS Racism or Neighborhood Coordinator. FASCIST IMPUNITY This criminalization and persecution of immigrant workers and youth are the perfect breeding ground for fascist factions to act with impunity (as in the 'Raxen Report', there are about 4000 racist attacks a year in the Spanish state), we are trying to inoculate the poison of racism in our neighborhoods. Proof of this is the miserable campaign by the National Democracy against ores Oviedo, blaming foreign minors for the "insecurity" of citizens in this city. During the past week racist pamphlets have been distributed and made various concentrations on the doorstep of the Mother and Child Center, a home to host children between 0 and 18 years, both foreign and native. The passivity of the authorities in this situation is being sultry, and the campaign of criminalization of young people in the local press that is accompanying the activities of the Nazi National Democracy is disgusting. We need to respond. It is urgent that we from the political, and social unions coordinate a united campaign against the fascists, calling for their banning. And we must organize to combat the increasingly repressive policies being implemented by the government.
