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Sudan Revolution Interview

T: We already know you from the Oranienplatz resistance but can you introduce yourself a bit?

A: Adam Bahar. I am coming from Sudan. I’m born in Sudan but I’m in Germany since 2012. Politically active in Sudan since 2002. I was in university fighting for the right of the people of Sudan and against the dictatorship. Also especially because I am coming and I was born in Darfur, where there is war since 2003.

That’s why my main motivation was to start something against the government. Also when I was in this time in university and I was part of a group of Sudanese students organizing themselves. We were organizing ourselves for democracy and people of Darfur.

Result out of that is that we got in trouble with the government and I had to leave Sudan. I came to Europe in 2008 and I was in different countries of Europe. I lived in Greece, Italy, France for 2 years and in 2012 I came to Germany.

T: Our first question is what is the actual situation in Sudan? There was an agreement between Forces of Freedom and Change and the military. And some organizations like Sudan Communist Party told we are getting out from this agreement. Were there other groups inside Forces of Freedom and Change that got out from the agreement?

A: Actual situation in Sudan right now: last week (17th of July, 2019), they signed on the Sudanese constitution transition process. They signed the first letter and it will be completed on 17th of August 2019.

In the first form of the new cabinet there will be 6 people from the opposition parties and 5 people from the military. They will form the cabinet together and power will be hold first 18 months by military and other 18 months by civilian government. New government is supposed to initiate after the 3 years of transition.

But it is just the first part of the whole constitution in Sudan. Second part, there will be a president, there will be a parliament and 67 percent of the parliament will be from the opposition parties which the people are inside and leading the revolution. 33 percent of the parliament will be from the people who were not really taking participation in the revolution but they were also against government and they never worked with the old government of Omar al-Bashir. And the third part of the constitution all the people like youth and women will be the part of parliament.

Sudan in the future will have a parliamentarian government and ministries will have the real power. It will not be like before with only the president having the power. Like how we are having in Germany for example. There is president but president doesn’t have so much power. In Germany there is chancellor – in Sudan we will have prime minister. Also there will be opposition parties.

The problem between the Sudanese Communist Party and the other parties is they don’t want to be a part of the government of the transition period. 5 people from army and 6 people from civilians. Because these 5 people from the army that will take part in, are accused to committing crimes against the people who were protesting in the streets. So Communist Party will not participate in this. But the communist party will be part of the future parliament, because there won’t be any army in the parliament. At the same time they will continue to take part in local politics. They will not just participate in the first level of government where the army that are being accused.

Sudan has been all the time, since 1965, the time when it gained independence from Great Britain, governed by the army. It means army is governing Sudan more than 60 years now. And to take them out completely needs some time.

T: The revolutionaries around the world are curious about how this revolution was being organized? In the neighborhoods – what were the people talking and discussing?

A: The revolution started in December 2018 and it started not because changing of the political situation but started because of the price of bread, which increased 3 times. It started in a marginalized area of Sudan called Atbara where just students of a school went out to the street and demanded to get a bread. Somehow police and security service started reacting violently against the people and killed many students. After that, other people joined this protests of the kids. And because of that, they were really angry and burned the building of the party of Omar al-Bashir, the National Congress Party. The next day people from different cities also went into solidarity with Atbara. Thats how the revolution started.

Before that, we have to also link it to the history. This is not the first revolution in Sudan. But there were two revolutions, 1946 and 1958. And all the time who were pushing for the revolution are the worker unions. When Omar al-Bashir came to power, first thing he did is to crack down all the worker unions. The idea behind it was that the worker unions cannot take any position to fight the government. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) started in 2012 to create an autonomous worker union and they first started with lawyers and doctors. Since 2012, they were just fighting for the worker rights like minimum wage etc. By this way they organized many members inside.

SPA had one demonstration register right of the workers and rise of the minimum wage. 2 days before what happened in Atbara. When they see what’s happening in Atbara they took the lead. And they changed the demand of the demonstration. Not only for the minimum wage, they called all the citizens to join them and putting down the regime of Omer al-Bashir.

This is how SPA took the lead. It was also an autonomous structure where no one knows who they are. But somehow they have been existing since 2012. They called in Facebook all citizens of Sudan to participate and organize themselves. At the same time there were local organizations working in districts called “Sudanese Resistance Committees”. It was created by people seeing themselves not a part of SPA but rather like “I need to participate in revolution”. And they made small groups consisting of 4-5 people. Those people know each other very well. By this way, 15-20 groups are created in every district. And no one knows who is inside of other groups. And they were going to demonstrations together.

At the same time, more people were joining also autonomously structured SPA and starting politically to have this demand. Then after 1 months of beginning, on 1st of January 2019, SPA made a call for a paper called Freedom and Change. In this paper there were suggestions how Sudan should be governed in the future. They said we need a democratic Sudan, this government has to go without any discussion. We don’t want Omer al-Bashir, we don’t want his government anymore. We need Sudan to be democratic country where people feel participating in politics, autonomously deciding for themselves.

They called all opposition parties if they agree on this paper to sign. For example the Sudanese Communist Party, the Sudanese Umma Party, the Sudanese Union Party signed it. And were part of the coalition. Also different political groups and civil society groups signed this paper.

There were 3 different groups who were working in revolution. One group SPA, another group local committees doing practical work mobilizing people to streets, tell them about the demonstrations. SPA was calling for the demo and organizing it.

What made this revolution successful is the local structure. You know, structure is built in this way but no one knows who is inside the structure. It was local in every place and it still exists until now. In this period of transition time of 3 years nothing will stop their mobilization and work. Every day they are doing different kinds of activism. They go to the streets, visiting the local people in the neighborhoods, visiting and supporting the people whose relatives or friends are killed. This is the structure that remained until now. This kind of structure is really helping because people will not rely on political parties still they will have their own structure in a local way. To guard the revolution and don’t let dictatorship to come again.

For example, in the last two days, one political party opened new office in Sudan and local people directly went there and asked where they took the money from to open this office. Because it was a nice place, in the middle of the country. Maybe it was funded by corruption and we don’t want corruption anymore in Sudan.

T: A woman in the revolution said: “Not the bullets but the silence is killing us.” How the people came to that point to sacrifice their life, how they came to this point? We know also that women took an important part in the revolution.

A: This has to do how much women were under repression from this regime. Because this regime of Omar al-Bashir is since 30 years like Muslim Brotherhood regime. Holding power in Sudan in the name of Islam, Sharia law. Unfortunately, when there is Sharia law, first things they do is to control woman. Women are not allowed to sit in public spaces, women are not allowed to wear trousers or other clothes, or in an area they cannot do this job because men are there. There were some universities just for women or just for men. These were happening for a long time since beginning of this government.

But in 2002 there was a law called Public Order Law with laws inside that were clearly against women. Since 2002-2003, women started to fight against this law and organized themselves. This also made women more experienced and have their autonomous structure. When this revolution started, women were already ready. That’s why when we see women on the streets it’s something normal.

Now in the new constitution paper that they signed, government has to support the rights of women. For example, in the parliament women will have a 40% quota.

We still see it’s not enough, because we need to also change the old structure of the opposition parties. Because in many parties women are not really presented. In the negotiation group there is just one or two women, the rest is men. Because of opposition parties who were not participating political work since 30 years in Sudan. They had to only work underground and that made it for women not so easy to participate. By writing this in constitution and pushing the political parties to change their structures, it will be possible for women to participate equally in Sudan.

T: People participating in the revolution didn’t really use violent methods. The reason was because they couldn’t obtain guns or was it a decision from the beginning?

A: I think you have to look to the history of Sudan. In Sudan, there has been war between North and South for 20 years. And the result of it is that South Sudan was born into new country in 2010. There is war in Darfur since 2003, there is war in Nuba Mountain and Blue Nile since 2011. And result of that more than 2 million people got killed, millions of people had to flee. Since 20 years people are getting killed and fleeing because of that reason.

People had this idea in their mind that we can not change this dictator with weapon anymore. Because also Darfur and in Nuba Mountain different groups are fighting against the government with weapons since 2003 and 2011. But they haven’t achieved anything. Because government has always more weapons. And people decided that the only method we can use is a peaceful revolution. For this, we are not going to use any violence against anyone. Because, if we use violence we are not stronger enough than the government. The government has more power to use violence and it gets supported by other countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, even Egypt. All these countries also don’t want Sudan to become a democracy.

Because civil disobedience has more success than using violence. That is what people learned from the history of Sudan. Also learned from the outside, for example what is happening in Syria. Using weapon against weapon collapses the country, but not bringing the people to power. That’s why we say all the time in Sudan, revolution is also about learning, about learning internationally from each other.

The same things happening in Rabaa al-Adawiya revolution in Egypt. All dictatorships learn from one book, but the interesting thing is that people doing the revolution they learn better than dictatorships. In Sudan, the army evicted them with violence and the army had the idea of people will be afraid, they won’t go to the street anymore and that we can hold the power. People saw it already in Egypt and they didn’t accept this. After the big massacre, people went to the streets more and more. The last demo was 30th of the July and in every city there were not less than 2-3 million people.

In Sudan, violence is not something new for us, we have had it since 30 years. This government is killing people since 20 years but people don’t talk about it. All other powers, especially Europe, because of controlling refugees don’t talk about it because of their own interests.

If you see how many people died in the revolution since 8 months maybe we can say 500-600 people. But now, revolution succeeded to reach something. But if people had used violence, maybe millions of people would have died and there wouldn’t have been any success.

T: If there weren’tany street actions, would the soldiers do a coup against the Omar al-Bashir regime? Is there is a big difference between today’s military and the Bashir’s regime?

A: First, if people did not go to the streets, they would not do anything. They are under pressure, because people are on the streets everyday. And that’s why people made the sit-in in front of the army building. This has to do for a long time with the history of Sudan, old revolutions have happened here before. People are going to streets and the army stayed on the side of the people and supported people and take the dictators out. This was happening two times in Sudan already.

For sure they would not do it, because for 30 years they didn’t do it. Because of the pressure by people they are doing. Now the difference is: people take their right on their hand. People are going to streets everyday, everywhere in Sudan opposition parties are making events, discussions and they don’t need to register. Even, it is better than what is going on in Europe. In Europe you have to call the police and ask for demonstration. In Sudan people are going to demo without telling to police. People took their right in their hand.

And in the constitution it will be written that people have the right to demonstrate. Police will not have the right stop people without any reason. Before, the Security service in Sudan had the right to do everything. They could arrest you, they could kill you. They were taking so much power from the president. But from now on it will be just an institution to collect information and give to police under the law.

T: With the Arab Spring there were revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. But the revolutions were stolen by the different powers inside the states or by the international powers. Do the people who are doing the revolution in Sudan have a prevention to stop this? Or can also Sudan revolution be stolen?

A: I don’t think so. Because, if you look at the constitution now, it will be built in a way that the old regime will not exist anymore. I think the problem with the all other revolutions in different Arabic countries is that they change the president but they don’t change the constitution. That means, people who are working for dictators still have the power and can bring us new dictators. People in Sudan learned from it. They say they need to change the whole constitution. That’s why there will be a new parliament where only people who were doing the revolution will be sitting.

The only way for the army or a dictator to come back again is to make a coup again. But also people will not accept this, people will go to streets again. Structures are not in the hands of the army anymore.

When in Egypt people did the revolution they just took out the only Husnu Mubarak, but the regime stayed. Exactly this is what’s happening also now in Algeria. The President of Algeria is away, but the whole constitution is there and the whole government is there.

T: Inside Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) there were different groups like the Sudanese Communist Party, but also there were  anti-capitalist Muslims with the tradition of Mahmoud Mohammed Taha. What kind of groups is there in FFC and what is their ratios as power?

A: There are really left, anti-capitalist groups like Communist Party or Republican Party (anti-capitalist Muslims, Mahmoud Mohammed Taha). There are also different communist groups like Movement of Right (Harakat Haqq). They are also part of this coalition. Then, the other side, you see also traditional parties like the Union Party and the Umma Party.

In the constitution any kind of discrimination like race, religion, gender won’t be accepted.

And all agree on this and reached this point. Now, in Sudan, the left ideology is more accepted in society, because Omar al-Bashir government did everything in the name of Islam and Sharia for 30 years. That’s why, in the future, when people go to the streets, the first things they will demand that religion shouldn’t be a part of politics anymore. Religion has to stay in mosques and churches. There has to be a clear division.

But we shouldn’t forget that Sudan is an African country where the structure is not really strong. There is big movements that don’t want capitalism anymore, at the same time there is a big group of people thinking we need to develop the country, we need to have nice buildings, like thinking in a capitalist way. The next step is to not allow capitalism get power in Sudan. This is our next fight.

For example, I’m part of different groups doing politics since 2002, now also in Germany since 2012. But we are kind of a capitalist group, thinking Sudan has to be like Europe, like Germany. An important part of us saying no to it. We say now, until revolution maybe we are friends, but after the revolution we will be enemies. We will fight against capitalism, because we see what capitalism have done to the people. We don’t want capitalism to be strong in Sudan.

T: People who are on the streets leading and joining the revolution, what are the people’s professions? Were they workers, villagers or unemployed? What are their ages, what are their classes?

A: In the beginning it was generally young people who were in the street. First 3-4 months so many young people were on the streets, especially students and workers. I can put inside the workers from the doctors till the unemployed. Also, unemployed people organized themselves and making their own block. Also women did their own block.

But the interesting thing is that the whole society participated in it. Who was not going to streets tried to organize safe places for the people when they got attacked by the police and army. When there was a demo going on and a attack happened by police, old people stayed in front of their doors, opened their door and hid young people.

People, who are out of Sudan, for example in Europe, were preparing themselves from the beginning, spread the information, did info events, organized money, did demonstrations, talked about the involvement of imperialist countries and how they don’t want revolution to be successful.

T: How was the interest to the Sudan revolution from the left wing or opposition movements in Europe?

A: Unfortunately, there was not such a big interest in it. For example, in Berlin, we were fighting hard to just bring the voice of revolution to different groups, even to the streets. We were not really supported by any group. After 3-4 months, when the revolution was getting violent by the army, different left parties tried to lighten the issue but it was not really what were hoping for.

We shouldn’t also forget that Europe has a big interest in not changing Sudan, because the Bashir regime was working for Europe since 2014, for example in Khartum Process, a deal between Europe and African countries to stop African refugees to come to Europe. For that deal, the Sudanese old government got so much money, got training from European countries to control the borders.

I was writing everyday press releases about the situation in Sudan and was sending them to all parties from SPD to the Left Party (Die Linke) and I didn’t get any answer from them. After 2 months we could get an answer from Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung to make an info event about Sudan.

2 months before, when revolution was almost successful, we had a talk with one Left Party member from Germany Bundestag. We worked together and she held a Bundestag sitting where she asked about Sudan revolution and the money Germany gave to the Sudanese old government. But not more.

We made a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany and we went inside the ministry and handed over our demands. We had also a demo in front of EU and we made a call of Sudanese people living in Europe. There, we also gave our demands to stop this deal with Sudan. Our work succeeded to put pressure in government of EU. EU stopped to give money for training the police of Sudan.

The new government will come and they will try to talk again about the deal. This is also our next step to work in Germany as Sudanese community here. Because we are sure to face deportations in Germany or in Europe. Because they will say now, Sudan is democracy then you have to go. They will try to activate the Khartum process.

Unfortunately, there is no international solidarity from left groups or even from left parties. From my side, I wouldn’t focus on leftist parties – I would focus on leftist groups. But leftist groups, they are not interested. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Sudan is far away. They never called for demo revolution in Sudan until now. And I was really thinking like: Is this about racism? This has because African people are not worth it? Are they not equal in the mind of leftists? They are really far away and cannot have any contact with African revolution?

For me, what’s happening in Sudan now, is really politically close to the leftist scene. A revolution hold by people, starting with autonomous structure, where people succeeded to kick out the dictator, where women take the lead. There was not really an interest in these issues. I’m questioning myself from time to time to understand the reason. And I couldn’t see a reason until now. But maybe we have to wait for the activists of the leftist scene to tell us why they don’t have any interest in the revolution of Sudan.

28.09. 10 Jahre – Das muss gefeiert werden! // 28/09 10 ans – ça se fête! // Sept. 28th 10 years have to be celebrated!

– francais en bas – english below –

10 Jahre – Das muss gefeiert werden!

Im Jahr 2009 haben wir unseren unerbittlichen Kampf gegen Rassismus und andere Formen der Diskriminierung begonnen. Wir haben gegen das Gutschein-System, die neuen Asylgesetze, Abschiebungen, die Residenzpflicht, die Schikanen der Ausländerbehörde, und vieles mehr gekämpft.Wir haben auch Flüchtlinge und Aktivisten informiert, sensibilisiert, beraten und unterstützt.Wir haben viel gelacht, aber auch geweint, wir haben selten geschwiegen, wir haben immer eine Meinung geäußert, wir haben oft diskutiert und manchmal haben wir gestritten und 10 Jahre später sind wir immer noch hier, um den Kampf fortzusetzen.All dies war nur möglich dank der vielen Aktivist*innen, die ihre Kraft in die Kämpfe von Corasol einbrachten, sowie dank der Menschen, die unsere Arbeit von weit oder nah solidarisch unterstützten. Und es ist mit euch, dass wir die letzten Jahre und die vielen kommenden Jahre feiern wollen, und zwar am *Samstag, 28. September 2019*.Während sich der Tag auf den Inhalt unserer Kämpfe mit Workshops und einer Diskussion konzentriert, geht es am Abend um ein gemütliches Miteinander bei Essen, Musik und Tanz!
Tagsüber in der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Franz-Mehring-Platz 1):

12:00 Empfang mit Tee und Kaffee

13:00 Einleitung und Vorstellung von Corasols Arbeit diese letzten 10 Jahre

14:00 3 Workshops, zur Auswahl:

a) Women* in Exile: Frauen* in den antirassistischen Kämpfen

b) Reach Out: Empowerment-Techniken gegen Rassismus

c) Sudan Uprising: Austausch über die Unterstützungsmöglichkeiten von progressiven Bewegungen im Herkunftsland von Deutschland aus

15:00-15:15 Pause

15:30 Zusammenfassung der Workshops

16:00 Podiumsdiskussion mit mehreren antirassistischen Gruppen über ihre Erfolge

Abends in der K19 (Kreuziger Str. 19):Die Küfa wird ab 19:00 mit den Reggae-Afroblues-Beats von DJ Kef serviert.Ab 21:00 live Musik mit:- Luk & Truk (queerfeministische Liedermacher*in mit Loop-Station und Akkordeon)- Hichem (Hip-Hop, Freestyle)- Yasmin (Rap)Und DJ*s:- Douala Mboma (Afrobeats)- und Überraschung

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10 ans – ça se fête!
En 2009 nous avons commencé notre combat acharné contre le racisme et d’autres formes de discriminations. Nous avons lutté contre le systeme du Gutschein, les nouvelles lois de l´asile, les deportations, la Residenzpflicht, les tracasseries des Ausländerbehörde, etc.Nous avons aussi informé, sensibilisé, conseillé et soutenu les personnes refugiées et les activistes.Nous avons beaucoup ri mais aussi pleuré, nous avons rarement gardé le silence, toujours nous avons donné de la voix, nous avons souvent discuté et parfois nous nous sommes disputé.e.s et 10 ans après nous sommes toujours là à continuer le combat.Tout cela n´a été possible que grace aux nombreuses.eux activistes qui ont apporté leur force aux luttes de corasol ainsi qu aux personnes qui de loin ou de près ont soutenues solidairement notre travail. Et c´est avec vous que nous voulons feté les années passées ainisi que les nombreuses années à venir, *le samedi 28 septembre 2019*.Alors que la journée sera concentré sur le contenu de nos luttes avec des workshops et une discussion, la soirée sera sous le signe de la détente avec un repas et de la danse!
En journée, à la Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Franz-Mehring-Platz 1):

12 h accueil avec thé et café

13 h introduction et présentation de Corasol ces dix dernières années

14 h 3 ateliers au choix:

a) Women* in Exile: les femmes* dans la lutte antiraciste

b) Reach Out: techniques d’empowerment face au racisme

c) Sudan Uprising: échange sur les possibilités de soutenir les mouvements progressistes à l’étranger depuis l’Allemagne

15 h-15 h15 pause

15 h30 résumé des ateliers

16h podium de discussion sur les succès de différents groupes auto-organisés dans leur lutte antiraciste
En soirée, à K19 (Kreuziger Str. 19):Le repas sera servi à partir de 19h sur les notes reggae-afroblues de DJ Kef.A partir de 21, musique live avec:- Luk & Truk (chanson queer feministe avec accordéon et loop station)- Hichem (hip-hop, freestyle)- Yasmin (rap)

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10 years have to be celebrated!
In 2009 we started our relentless fight against racism and other forms of discrimination. We have fought against the Gutschein system, the new asylum laws, deportations, the Residenzpflicht, the harassment of the Ausländerbehörde, and many more.We have also informed, sensitized, advised and supported refugees and activists.We laughed a lot but also cried, we rarely kept silent, we always raised our voices, we often talked and sometimes we argued and sometimes we fought and 10 years later we are still here to continue the fight.All this was possible only thanks to the many activists who brought their strength to the corasol struggles as well as to the people who from far or near supported our work in solidarity. And it is with you that we want to celebrate the past years and the many years to come, *on Saturday, September 28, 2019*.While the day will focus on the content of our struggles with workshops and a discussion, the evening will be about fun and entertainment with food and dancing!
Over the day at Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Franz-Mehring-Platz 1):

12 h coming together with tea and coffee

13h introduction and presentation of Corasol’s work over the last 10 years

14 h 3 workshops, take your choice:

a) Women* in Exile: women* in the antiracist fights

b) Reach Out: empowerment technics to face racism

c) Sudan Uprising: exchange about the possibilities to support progressist movements abroad while being in Germany

15 h-15h15 pause

15 h30 sumary of the workshops

16 h panel discussion about the succes of different groups in their antiracist fights
Over the night at K19 (Kreuziger Str. 19):Food will be served starting from 7 pm on the reggae-afroblues beats of DJ Kef.Starting from 9 pm, live music with- Luk & Truk (queer-feminist singer* and songwriter* with accordion and loop station)- Hichem (hip-hop, freestyle)- Yasmin (rap)Party with DJ*s:- Douala Mboma (afrobeats)- surprise guest

Still marching for freedom – Ein Gespräch mit Aktivist*innen

Still marching for freedom

von No Border Frankfurt

“Still marching for freedom” – Transnationaler Kampf für globale Bewegungsfreiheit und gegen Repression

Wann: Samstag, 24. Februar 18:30 – 20:30 Uhr

Wo: Klapperfeld Ex-Gefängnis, Klapperfeldstraße 5, 60313 Frankfurt am Main

Im Jahr 2014 organisierten verschiedene Gruppen aus der refugee-Bewegung den march for freedom von Straßburg nach Brüssel. Damit wurde der Kampf für Bleiberecht und gegen das europäische Grenzregime auf eine neue Ebene gehoben und Bewegungsfreiheit konkret durchgesetzt.
Während dem Protest gegen ein EU-Innenministertreffen in Luxemburg zum Thema illegalisierte Migration kam es jedoch zu massiven Polizeiübergriffen.

Sechs Aktivist*innen wurden anschließend wegen “bewaffneter und geplanter Rebellion” angeklagt und im April ’17 ohne konkreten Tatnachweis pauschal zu sechs Monaten Haft auf Bewährung verurteilt. Die noch ausstehenden Kosten des Verfahrens, für Anwält*innen und Fahrtkosten liegen vorraussichtlich bei rund 14 000€.

Ein Großteil der Verurteilten befinden sich weiterhin im Asylverfahren und ist durch das Urteil akut von Abschiebung bedroht. Ende Februar 2018 wird der Revision-Antrag verhandelt.

Bei der Veranstaltung werden die Aktivist_innen auf das Verfahren gegen sie eingehen und die Bedeutung des march for freedom.

Es wird aber insbesondere auch um die aktuelle Geflüchteten-Bewegung gehen, vom Widerstand gegen Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan bis zum Einfordern von gleichen Rechten für Alle in solidarity cities.

Kein Mensch ist illegal – Bleiberecht überall.
No border lasts forever.

Texte von den Angeklagten:
https://www.oplatz.net/?s=luxemburg

https://twitter.com/hashtag/luxtrial?src=hash
March for freedom: https://freedomnotfrontex.noblogs.org/

Soli Crêpes against repressioncrap!

for the 24.10: https://www.facebook.com/events/1186910981441970
for the 28.11: https://www.facebook.com/events/1492764560817537

(with english version down below)
Soli Crêpes against repressioncrap!

Am 05.10 (Do), 24.10 (Di) und am 28.11 (Di) gibt es ab 19:30 Vegane Crêpes in der B-Lage.

Bei einer gemeinsamen Aktion werden manchmal nur einige verurteilt. Was nicht heissen muss, dass sie es alleine durchstehen müssen.

Kommt gerne vorbei und teilt die info….

2014 während des March for Freedom in Luxemburg, gab es 13 brutale Festnahmen. Die Gefangenen wurden am gleichen Tag wieder freigelassen.

Nach mehr als zwei Jahren erhob die Luxemburger Behörde Klage gegen einige Gefangene. Ende Mai diesen Jahres wurden vier Aktivisten_Innen aufgrund der Anklage “bewaffneter und geplanter Rebellion” verurteilt.
Keine der angeklagten Personen konnten konkrete Tatvorwürfe gemacht werden.

Sie kriegen den ganzen Stress ab. Denn sowas kostet Energie, Zeit aber auch oft viel Geld wie Anwalt-, Prozess- und Strafkosten. Darum bitten wir euch: Geniesst die Crêpes und unterstützt, wenn ihr könnt, finanziell die Leute, die es am meisten trifft. Danke.

B-Lage: Mareschstraße 1 / 12055 Neukölln – Rixdorf
S Sonnenallee /U Karl Marx Straße /M41 Mareschstraße
http://www.b-lage.de/
https://www.facebook.com/BLageNeukoelln/

Mehr infos über das Urteil: https://www.oplatz.net/fazit-der-pressekonferenz-zum-gerichtsprozess-gegen-teilnehmer-des-march-for-freedom-in-luxemburg/
Über den March: https://freedomnotfrontex.noblogs.org/

Zusätzlich gibt es am 24.10 die Veranstaltung “Talking about the Revolution” – von „Adopt a Revolution“.

Talking about the Revolution – Erlebte Perspektiven auf Diktatur und Widerstand in Aleppo
Einführung und Gespräch zu Aktivismus und ziviler Selbstorganisation einer Stadt gegen ein gewaltvolles Regime und Islamismus. Mit dem syrischen Aktivisten Ehsan Dallal und Ansar Jasim von Adopt a Revolution
https://www.adoptrevolution.org/
https://www.facebook.com/AdoptaRevolution/

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Soli crêpes against repression!

  On Thu October 5th, Tue Oct 24th and Tue November 28th at 19:30, there are vegan crepes at the B-Lage

Sometimes only a few are condemned by a joint action. Which doesn’t mean, that they have to go it through alone.

2014 during the March for freedom in Luxembourg, there were 13 brutal arrests. The prisoners were released the same day.

After more than two years, the Luxembourg authorities filed suit against some prisoners. At the end of May, four activists were condemned with the charge “armed and planned rebellion”.
None of the accused persons could be accused of real allegations.

They get all the stress. Because it costs energy, time but also a lot of money like lawyer, process and penalty costs. So we ask you: Enjoy the crepes and support if you can, thanks

B-Location: Mareschstraße 1/12055 Neukoelln – Rixdorf
S Sonnenallee / U Karl Marx Street / M41 Mareschstraße
http://www.b-lage.de/
https://www.facebook.com/BLageNeukoelln/

More about the judgement: https://www.oplatz.net/fazit-der-pressekonferenz-zum-gerichtsprozess-gegen-teilnehmer-des-march-for-freedom-in-luxemburg/
About the Marsch: https://freedomnotfrontex.noblogs.org/

In addition, the presentation “Talking about the Revolution” – from “Adopt a Revolution” will take place on 24.10

Talking about the Revolution – Experienced perspectives on dictatorship and resistance in AleppoIntroduction and discussion on activism and civil self-organization of a city against a violent regime and Islamism. With the Syrian activist Ehsan Dallal and Ansar Jasim, members of Adopt a Revolution.
https://www.adoptrevolution.org/
https://www.facebook.com/AdoptaRevolution/

03.08. Soli Crêpes against repressioncrap!

Vegan Crêpes against repressioncrap

Wann: Donnerstag, 03.08.2017 ab 19:30 Uhr

Wo: B-Lage, Mareschstraße 1, 12055 Berlin (S Sonnenallee)

 

Bei einer gemeinsamen Aktion werden manchmal nur einige verurteilt. Was nicht heissen muss, dass sie es alleine durchstehen müssen.

2014 während des March for Freedom in Luxemburg, gab es 13 brutale Festnahmen. Die Gefangenen wurden am gleichen Tag wieder freigelassen.

Nach mehr als zwei Jahren erhob die Luxemburger Behörde Klage gegen einige Gefangene. Ende Mai diesen Jahres wurden vier Aktivisten_Innen aufgrund der Anklage “bewaffneter und geplanter Rebellion” verurteilt. Keine der angeklagten Personen konnten konkrete Tatvorwürfe gemacht werden.

Sie kriegen den ganzen Stress ab. Denn sowas kostet Energie, Zeit aber auch oft viel Geld wie Anwalt-, Prozess- und Strafkosten. Darum bitten wir euch: Geniesst die Crêpes und unterstützt, wenn ihr könnt, finanziell die Leute, die es am meisten trifft. Danke.

Mehr infos über das Urteil:

Fazit der Pressekonferenz zum Gerichtsprozess gegen Teilnehmer des March for Freedom in Luxemburg


Über den March:
https://freedomnotfrontex.noblogs.org/

Wegweisendes Urteil gegen den Einsatz für das Grundrecht auf Asyl – Haftstrafen für vier DemonstrationsteilnehmerInnen des March for Freedom

English

Einladung zur Pressekonferenz,

Montag 22.05.17, 11:00,

Waldemarstr. 46 10999 Berlin

 

3 Jahre nach dem international organisierten March for Freedom wurden vier TeilnehmerInnen einer friedlichen Demonstration in Luxembourg-Stadt zu hohen Geld- und Bewährungsstrafen verurteilt. Der Verlauf des Prozesses und das Gerichtsurteil erscheinen bei nüchterner Betrachtung äußerst willkürlich und keinen rechtsstaatlichen Maßstäben entsprechend.

Der March for Freedom setzte ein Zeichen für das Recht auf Bewegungsfreiheit und Asyl. Menschen mit und ohne Papiere überquerten friedlich mehrere Staatsgrenzen von Straßburg nach Brüssel. Die Demonstration in Luxemburg fand am 5.6.2014 anlässlich einer Tagung der EU-InnenministerInnen zum Thema „Kampf gegen illegale Immigration” statt.

Auf dem Kirchberg kam es zum Zusammenstoß mit der Polizei. Ohne Vorwarnung versuchte die planlos vorgehende Polizei unter Einsatz von scharfen Hunden wahllos Festnahmen durchzuführen. Der Einsatz der Polizei verursachte auf Seiten der Demonstrant*innen teilweise schwere Verletzungen, herbeigeführt durch Pferrerspray, Schlagstöcke und Hundebisse. Ein schwarzer Aktivist aus Berlin-Kreuzberg wurde auf dem Polizeirevier bis zur Bewusstlosigkeit misshandelt und rassistisch beleidigt.

Den Angeklagten wurde gemeinschaftlicher Verstoß gegen Art. 269 des Luxemburger StGB vorgeworfen (Rebellion), zudem noch einzeln Körperverletzung, Sachbeschädigung, Beleidigung und Widerstand. Während des Prozesses konnten keine konkreten Tatvorwürfe gemacht werden; die Angeklagten sind lediglich pauschal wegen “bewaffneter und geplanter Rebellion” zu sechs Monaten Haft auf Bewährung und zu Geldstrafen im hohen vierstelligen Bereich verurteilt worden. Das Verhalten der luxemburgischen Polizei spielte im Prozess keine Rolle, obwohl sich ein Untersuchungsausschuss des luxemburgischen Innenministeriums damit beschäftigte. In der Urteilsbegründung wurde vollständig auf Beweise verzichtet. Trotz widersprüchlicher Aussagen der PolizeizeugInnen wurde ein drastisches Urteil gefällt, was das willkürliche und unprofessionelle Vorgehen der luxemburgischen Justiz bestätigt.

In Luxemburg ging es darum, friedlichen Protest für Grundrechte zu kriminalisieren, wie es auch in Bezug auf das Camp am Oranienplatz in Berlin versucht wurde. “Die Politik der EU ist es die Leute zu spalten, sie zu diskriminieren, aber ich habe keine Angst. Ich kämpfe für die Freiheit und ich hoffe, dass alle Leute vestehen, dass es nicht kriminell ist, für die Freiheit und für seine Rechte zu kämpfen. Wir brauchen die Solidarität der Menschen in unserem Kampf. Es geht nicht, wegzuschauen, wenn andere Menschen um ihre Freiheit kämpfen müssen”, erklärt einer der Verurteilten. Dieser hat nun als Kosequenz für seinen friedlichen Protest und die Wahrnehmung seiner Grundrechte mit seiner Abschiebung zu rechnen. Seine Sicht auf die europäische Willkommenskultur wird er und die anderen Mitverurteilten am Montag in der Pressekonferenz darlegen.

Pressekontakt Felix Sand: 015772467486

 

 
Groundbreaking Ruling against Activists for Refugees’ Right to Asylum – Jail Time for Four Participants in the March for

Freedom – Press Conference

Monday, May 22, 2017 11 a.m.

Waldemarstr. 46


Three years after the internationally organized March for Freedom, four participants in a peaceful demonstration in the city of Luxembourg have been sentenced to restrictive suspended sentences and high fines. The entire trial appeared extremely arbitrary and did not correspond to fair legal practices.

The March for Freedom set a signal for the right to freedom of movement and Asylum. People, with and without “Papiers,” peacefully crossed boarders from Strasbourg to Brussels.  The demonstration in Luxemburg on June 5, 2014 on the occasion of the European Union  Ministers of the Interior meeting on “Fight against Illegal Immigration”.

In Luxemburg at the Kirchberg, it came to a clash with the police. Without any warning and no plan, the police indiscriminately sought to arrest demonstrators using ferocious dogs. The police operation included tear gas, night sticks and dog bites which resulted in severe injuries among the demonstrators. A black activist from Berlin-Kreuzberg was suffered racist slurs and was so badly mishandled that he lost consciousness.

The arrested demonstrators were charged plotting activities which break the law of the Luxemburg Criminal Code (Rebellion). In addition there were individual charges of Personal injury, property damage, insulting an officer and resisting arrest. During the trial there was not one concrete accusation. The defendants were indiscriminately sentenced to six month suspended jail time for “armed and planned rebellion”; and fines in the high four-digit range. The actions of the Luxemburg police played no role in the trial, even though there was an ongoing investigation by the Luxemburg Ministry of the interior looking into the matter.

The Court’s conclusion was independent of any factual evidence and ignored contradictory statements made by various police officers. They reached an extreme conclusion [“armed and planned rebellion”], which confirms the arbitrary and unprofessional approach of the Luxemburg court.

In Luxemburg it was all about criminalizing peaceful protests for basic rights. The same thing was tried against the refugee camp at Oranienplatz in Berlin. One of the convicted activists said: “The policy of the EU is to split and discriminate against people. But I am not afraid. I am fighting for freedom, and I hope that everyone understands, that it is not criminal to fight for freedom and basic rights. We need solidarity of people in our fight. It is not right to look the other way when other people have to fight for freedom.” In consequence for peaceful protests and exercising his fundamental rights, this refugee may face deportation. He and others will put forward their views of the European “Welcome Culture” on Monday at a press conference.

Press Contact Felix Sand, Telephone 015772467486

Roma zurück auf den Balkan? Sicheres Herkunftsland – wie sicher ist sicher?

Roma zurück auf den Balkan? Sicheres Herkunftsland

Podiumsdiskussion

„Roma zurück auf den Balkan? Sicheres Herkunftsland – wie sicher ist sicher?“ am Mittwoch, 19. April 2017 um 18:00 Uhr

im Münzenbergsaal des neuen deutschlands, Franz-Mehring-Platz 1, 10243 Berlin.

In Serbien bestreiten viele Roma ihr Leben in illegalen Siedlungen, ohne Zugang zum Gesundheits- oder Bildungssystem. Dennoch werden Menschen, die dieser Minderheit angehören, massenhaft aus Deutschland dorthin abgeschoben – Serbien gilt als sicheres Herkunftsland. Im Gespräch mit unserem Projektpartner Dejan Marković aus Belgrad und Wenke Christoph, Europareferat der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, setzen wir uns im Rahmen einer Podiumsdiskussion über den Begriff „sicheres Herkunftsland“ auseinander und erhalten ein umfassendes Bild über die Lage vor Ort.

Referenten:

Dejan Marković (Roma Forum Serbien)

Wenke Christoph (Europareferat der Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung)

Moderation: nd-Redaktion

Die Podiumsdiskussion wird veranstaltet vom Solidaritätsdienst International e.V. (SODI) in Kooperation mit dem neuen deutschland.

Der Eintritt ist kostenlos. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter: http://www.sodi.de/aktuell/terminekalender/termin_detail/datum/2017/04/19/roma-zurueck-auf-den-balkan/ und https://www.facebook.com/events/143580779496530/.

Bericht der erster Prozesstag in #luxTrial gegen 6 Aktivist*innen des March for Freedom

We want to be free banner
english version further down!
Wir sind angeklagt als Aktivist*innen des March for Freedom. Heute war in Luxemburg unser erster Prozesstag. Sechs Aktivist*innen waren vorgeladen, vier von uns sind vor Gericht erschienen.
30 Untersützer*innen war vor Ort. Vielen Dank für die Solidarität und Unterstützung in unterschiedlicher Weise aus und in Hamburg, Saarbrücken, Trier, Berlin, Marseille, Luxemburg und vielen anderen Orten.
Morgen geht es weiter. Heute haben wir das Beweismaterial gesehen (ein Video) und Zeug*innenaussagen gehört (zwei von uns und zwei von anderen). Morgen kommen noch 4 Polizist*innen und unsere Aussagen, das Plädoyer unserer Anwältin und des Staatsanwalts. Danach kann noch Zivilklage (Schadensersatz) erhoben werden.
Wir hoffen, dass es morgen vorbei ist und nicht nochmal vertagt wird. Auch heute gab es wieder große Probleme mit der Übersetzung, sowohl deutsch-arabisch als auch luxemburgisches-deutsch konnten die Zeug*innenaussagen nur begrenzt wiedergeben. Uns Angeklagten war dadurch die Teilnahme am Prozess erschwert.
Wir machen morgen eine Pressekonferenz um 15 Uhr , im CLAE (26 Rue de Gasperich in Luxemburg). Kommt vorbei, wenn ihr könnt!
Heute waren viele Pressevertreter*innen von luxemburgischen Fernsehen und Zeitungen da.
Morgen berichten wir über den zweiten Prozesstag.
Viele Grüße aus Luxemburg
++++++++
Report on the first day of the trial against six of our fellow activists from March for Freedom #luxTrial

We’re accused as activists from March of Freedom. Today was the first day of our trial in Luxemburg. Six activist have been summoned and four of them appeared at court.

30 people came to support us at court. Many thanks to you for all kinds of support and solidarity from Hamburg, Saarbrücken, Trier, Berlin, Marseilles, Luxemburg and many other places.

Tomorrow the trial will carry on. Today the evidence (videos) was shown and witnesses made their statements (two of us and two from the other side). Tomorrow four police officers will make their statements, we will make our statements and our lawyer as well as the state prosecutor will give their final speeches. Afterwards civil action (compensation for damage) could be filed against us.

We hope it’s going to be over by tomorrow and there won’t be any further prorogations. Translation was very poor again today since arabic to german translation didn’t quite capture the meaning of the testimonies and subsequent translation into luxemburgish didn’t make things any better. Therefore participation in the trial was made difficult to us, the defendants.

Tomorrow we’re holding a press conference at the CLAE (26 Rue de Gasperich in Luxemburg), 3PM. Come and join if you have time

Today lots of journalists from luxemburgish television and newspapers were watching the trial.

Tomorrow we will write an update on the second day of the trial.

Best wishes from Luxemburg

March for Freedom accused of armed rebellion in Luxembourg

March for Freedom in Brussels

global passport agains bordersStruggles are continuously taking place everywhere, people are fighting for their rights all over the globe, but our memory has an overflow of information, it tends to archive past struggles and move to the next. But we are also aware that all our struggles are connected, rights are being removed everywhere, capitalism is a predator, but feels the threat of the uprisings.

Since 2011 uprisings in several countries took to the streets, the squares were taken and people started overcoming the fear of talking aloud, and then something unprecedented happened, we were not only fighting locally but we were able to surpass our own borders and connect globally and recognize ourselves in other people’s fights.

Now we’ve taken a step back, repression has increased, “powers” want to install the culture of fear between people, and its our responsibility to overcome it.

The March for Freedom, was a self-organized initiative after taking to the Oplatz square, in the heart of Berlin, a movement for the rights of refugees, freedom of movement, right to stay, it was a powerful moment, empowering, where all different kinds of groups came together to denounce the politics of isolation, repression, segregation, violation of Human Rights in Asylum laws, and there were some wins like the withdraw of Residenzpflicht, which meant that an asylum seeker could not move out of the area where their asylum was being processed, invisible borders within Germany were built.

The MarchFreedom not frontex for Freedom aimed to march through Europe, refugees and undocumented people challenging Fortress Europe , crossing the borders, making visible their absurdity, while denouncing Asylum politics, they received support from the people living in the towns and cities on the way, creating awareness that people is people. The actions done during the march were based on tactics on civil, nonviolent resistance, on marching, peacefully crossing national borders, or visiting lagers, singing and shouting slogans to identify and unmask authorities for their inhuman migration policies, against Dublin II and Dublin III

When the March for Freedom reached Luxembourg, parallel was taking place a meeting of the EU Inner ministers. As affected by the policies discussed in a closed room, the March for Freedom asked for their right to express, the talk about their needs. A demonstration was organized in front of the Conference building where the European Council meeting dealing with Schengen. We can read their daily report. The police reacted to their presence more violently than expected, they ignored all the attempts to talk with them. Pepper spray attacks, beatings with batons, kicks and bites of the police dogs were the only answer received by the March for Freedom. During the day of action on May 5, 2014 there were thirteen brutal arrests at a demonstration on the Kirchberg in Luxemburg.

The violence used by the police is obvious and has been broadly documented,  you can check these photos, videos, even some people denounced the police abused to the Luxembourg ambassadors in their home countries. We encourage you to hear #WeRadio show about the topic.

But, two years later, and with no previous evidence, 6 activists have been accused of “arm rebellion”, and of use of violence against police. Three of the activists are asylum seekers and three are supporters of the refugee movement. The trial will take place the 5th and 6th of April 2017.

Our goal now is to make our voice loud again all over Europe denouncing the Asylum politics and the criminalization of people fighting against them. Denouncing colonial politics around the world, stop the support of dictators accomplices of EU goverments

Hopefully you’ll join us and spread the word and give support to the March for Freedom activists

you can translate, talk about it to your people, make public support statements, collect donations, sum your creativity by creating images, posters, poems, music …

# WeRadio! show with activists who are on trial after the March for Freedom 2014

Freedom not frontex

Two and a half years after the internationally organized March for Freedom, six activists are going to trial. During the day of action on May 5, 2014 there were thirteen brutal arrests at a demonstration on the Kirchberg in Luxemburg.

2 1/2 Jahre nach dem international organisierten March for Freedom sind 6 AktvistInnen in Luxembourg-Stadt angeklagt. Während eines Aktionstags am 5.6.2014 war es in Luxembourg auf dem Kirchberg zu 13 brutalen Festnahmen während einer Demonstration gekommen. Anlass war eine Tagung der EU-Innenminister zum Thema „Kampf gegen illegale Immigration.“

 

Help fund defense of asylum activists against criminal charges in Luxemburg 

(important note the case „M4F“)

Transfer funds to: Rote Hilfe e.V.

Sparkasse Göttingen

IBAN: DE 25 2605 0001 0056 0362 39

BIC: NOLADE21GOE

Spendenaufruf: Strafprozess in Luxembourg gegen AsylrechtsaktivistInnen

Spenden bitte unbedingt mit Verwendungszweck „M4F“ an:

Rote Hilfe e.V. Sparkasse Göttingen

IBAN: DE 25 2605 0001 0056 0362 39

BIC: NOLADE21GOE