Tag: Residenzpflicht

10 years of the protest camp at Oranienplatz … No reason to celebrate


I don’t want our history to be falsified: When you commemorate the protest camp on Oranienplatz, which started in October 2012, remember correctly!


Remember Mohammad Rahsepar! At the end of January 2012, Mohammad Rahsepar took his own life at a refugee camp in Würzburg. He had already expressed suicidal thoughts in December. Therefore, doctors had recommended to the responsible authorities to improve his accommodation situation. He wanted to join his sister in Cologne, but the authorities refused this because of “Residenzpflicht” – obligation of a residencefor asylum seekers. His death triggered a wave of protests throughout Germany.

His friends and housemates set up a protest camp on the street to draw attention to their situation: Camp accommodation, the voucher system, Residenzpflicht, the ban on employment and constant uncertainty. Their protest quickly spread to many cities all over Germany. Here in Berlin there was also a protest tent on Heinrichplatz.

Remember the ‘Residenzpflicht’! The ‘Residenzpflicht’ does not exist in any other European country. Its origins go back to the colonial times. The National Socialists made residence obligation in a law for forced labourers in their police regulation of 1938. In 1982, the legislators revived the regulation again and integrated it in the ‘Asylverfahrensgesetz’ (Asylum Procedure Act) for asylum seekers. Until the end of 2014, all asylum seekers had to get a permission from the immigration authorities every time they wanted to leave their district. Sometimes they got permission, most of the time they did not.

At the end of the 90s, the authorities used the residence obligation to prevent asylum seekers from engaging in political activities. For every demonstration, every congress or meeting, we had to find a way to deal with controls. At the end of 2014, the residence obligation was relaxed for some of the asylum seekers. After the first three months in Germany, it is now allowed to travel in the whole Germany without a specific permit. At least in theory. Because there are numerous reasons for exclusion from this supposed “freedom of movement”. Refugees with ‘Duldung’, in particular, remain subject to arbitrariness of the authorities. The immigration authorities can chain them to the district at any time.

By the way, the first demonstration against Residenzpflicht was in 2000, organised by the ‚Karawane für die Rechte von Flüchtlingen und Migrantinnen‘ (Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants). Since then, many refugee self-organisations, for example the Voice Refugee Forum or the ‘Flüchtlingsinitiative Brandenburg‘ (Refugee Initiative Brandenburg), have fought against the Residenzpflicht. Those who talk about the protest camp at Oranienplatz without mentioning the other protest actions of refugees in 2012 and the past of our struggles are not showing solidarity but are rather ignoring us.

Remember the Refugee Protest March! In September 2012, a group of refugees started the REFUGEE PROTEST MARCH from Würzburg to Berlin. They protested against the ‘Residenzpflicht’ and took their protest to the political leaders in Berlin. On October 5th 2012 – after one month and 600 km of walking they reached their destination. A group of activists in Berlin supported the protest march by organising a camp at Oranienplatz as a place for arrival. The camp was planned for some weeks in order to organize a big final demonstration and to plan further actions. None of us planned a protest camp that would last over a year.

Remember correctly! Oranienplatz was never occupied. Again and again there were negotiations with the district mayors that led to the Oranienplatz remaining tolerated. Those who claim that Oranienplatz was occupied are ignoring our work, the work of the activists who prepared the camp and who negotiated for years.

Many people from all over Germany came to the demonstration at the end of the protest march on October 13th 2012. It got really big. After that, there were different approaches to further actions: While one group started a hunger strike on Pariser Platz, others stayed on Oranienplatz and used it as a starting point for different actions.

In the winter of 2012, refugees from Italy joined. For them the protest camp was primarily a place of survival. They fled homelessness, hunger and a lack of prospects in Italy to Berlin. That is how Oranienplatz became a symbol for the inhumanity and cruelty of the German and the EU asylum policy. Unfortunately, we have only managed to link the different groups and interests of the refugees at Oranienplatz in single actions. The asylum system has divided us. And there were also power struggles and divisions among the supporters.

Remember correctly! Oranienplatz was not evicted by the police. It was refugees who cleared the tents of other refugees. The Senate – also with the help of so-called supporters – managed to divide the refugees at Oranienplatz.

Let’s learn from the old mistakes instead of repeating them. Governments and parliaments are dividing us with their racist migration policies. We have to oppose this and grow even closer together.

And finally: Remember that until today some refugees who were at Oranienplatz back then still don’t have residence permits! As long as that is the case, there is no reason for me to celebrate.

Bruno Watara, July 2022

taken from the upcoming issue #10 of Daily Resistance

Solidarity with the Strike in Donauwörth, 12th of Feb. 2018

Refugee protest in Bamberg Januar 2018

by Refugee Struggle for Freedom

Donauwörth means deprivation of freedom and exploitation – for those who live there, or have to live there. In Donauwörth, the administrative district Donau-Ries, there is a reception center/ “Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung” (EA). According to the law, people have to stay there for up to two years. They are systematically deprived of all rights in order to force them to leave the country. Officially, it’s called “voluntary return.” No freedom of movement: Residence obligation (1). No freedom over the choice of daily food: canteen food. Massive exploitation through 80 cent jobs in the reception center. Deprivation of the right to work, instead: Reduced or canceled pocket money. Deprivation of the right to education. Deprivation of the right on health care, instead completely inadequate medical care.

Strike of the 80 cent job – the alleged aid organization Malteser reacts to this with threatening to reduce the pocket money. This means, on the one hand, that the right to strike is not accepted and on the other hand, that the pocket money, independent from the sallery, will be reduced.

People from Gambia from the reception center packed their stuff to go to Italy by train. Voluntary return? This is a cynical expression of the meticulously planned German racist system, that is supposed to force people to leave the country as quickly as possible.

The journey to Italy has been stopped. As far as Germany wants to throw people from the Global South out of the country, it is also forbidden to let them go. The Germanwide monopol for trains, “Deutsche Bahn” stopped the traffic around Donauwörth. Racist reactions, that it would have been the fault of the refugees, followed.

It is not their fault if they are on strike with the unworthy working conditions with a “sallery” of 80 cents per hour (2). It is the necessary consequence in the fight for an end of racism and thus the right to stay. It is not their fault that “Deutsche Bahn” stops the traffic. It seems more like a last attempt to exercise power, to prepare the ground for hatespeech against refugees and to avoid a scandal. Wouldn’t it been scandalous if people had traveled against the European Dublin law, under the eyes of German policewo*men?

Detained in a camp until the deportation is “allowed”. At the same time leaving the administrated district is prohibited. Working for 80 cents an hour. Canteen food. Poor medical care. Characteristics that are strongly linked to conditions in prisons. Waiting two years until Italy and Germany agreed on deportation to Italy. Loosing two years from your own life.
The strikers from Donauwörth announce that they will take action again, unless positive changes occur in the forthcoming talks with the authorities. Also last week they went on protest and sit ins.

******

(1) German law (§ 56 AsylG, § 61 (1) AufenthG) that forces asylum seekers to stay inside the district of the foreigners’ registration office.

(2) The Bavarian integration law created these working conditions for non-citizens, apart of the minimum wage for citizens.

We are refugees, not prisoners! Bamberg AEO camp demonstration 17th Jan 2018

deutsch

Solidarität mit dem Streik in Donauwörth, 12.02.2018

Donauwörth bedeutet für viele Menschen, die dort leben, d.h. leben müssen, Freiheitsberaubung und Ausbeutung.
In Donauwörth, Landkreis Donau-Ries, steht eine Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung (EA). Laut Gesetzt müssen Menschen dort bis zu 2 Jahre ausharren. Sie werden systematisch sämtlichen Freiheiten beraubt, um so eine Ausreise zu erzwingen. Offiziell heißt das dann “Frewillige Rückkehr”.

Keine Freiheit über das tägliche Essen: Kantinenessen
Keine Bewegungsfreiheit: Residenzpflicht (1)
Massive Ausbeutung durch 80 Cent Jobs in den EA’s
Beraubung des Rechts auf Arbeit, stattdessen: Gekürztes oder gestrichenes Taschengeld
Beraubung des Rechts auf Bildung
Beraubung des Rechts auf Gesundheit, stattdessen vollkommen unzureichende medizininische “Versorgung”

Streik des 80 Cent Jobs – Das vermeintliche Hilfswerk Malteser reagiert hierauf mit einer heute ausgesprochenen Drohung zur Kürzung des Taschengeldes. D.h. zum einen werden weder Streikrechte gehalten, zum anderen wird das davon unabhägige Taschengeld gekürzt.

Menschen aus Gambia aus der EA in Donauwörth, packten ihre Sachen, um mit dem Zug nach Italien zu fahren. Freiwillige Rückkehr? Das ist ein zynischer Ausdruck für das penibel geplante deutsche, rassistische System, welches Menschen zur schnellstmöglichen Ausreise zwingen soll.

Die Fahrt nach Italien wurde gestoppt. Sowie Deutschland Personen aus dem Globalen Süden aus dem Land schmeißen will, verbietet es ebenso die Bürokratie sie gehen zu lassen.

Die Deutsche Bahn lies den Verkehr auf Gleisen um Donauwörth einstellen. Rassistische Reaktionen, dass es die Schuld der Geflüchteten sei, folgten hierauf.

Es ist nicht ihre Schuld, wenn sie unwürdige Arbeitsbedingungen bei einer “Entlohnung” von 80 Cent pro Stunde (2) bestreiken. Es ist die notwendige Konsequenz im Kampf um ein Ende von Rassismus und damit Bleiberecht.

Es ist nicht ihre Schuld, dass die Deutsche Bahn den Verkehr einstellt. Es scheint, eher wie ein letzter Versuch Macht auszuüben, Hetze gegen Geflüchteten den Boden zu bereiten sowie einen Skandal zu vermeiden. Wäre es doch skandalös, wenn Menschen entgegen dem europäischen Dublin-Gesetz ausgereist wären, unter den Augen von deutschen Polizisten.

Festgehalten in einem Lager, bis die Abschiebung “erlaubt” ist, sowie gleichzeitig die Ausreise und das Verlassen des Landkreises verboten sind. Arbeiten für 80 Cent. Kantinenessen. Schlechte medizinische Versorgung. Eigenschaften, die stark an Bedingungen in Gefängnissen, anknüpfen. Zwei Jahre warten bis Italien und Deutschland der Abschiebung nach Italien zustimmen. Zwei Jahre vom eigenen Leben verlieren.

Die Streikenden aus Donauwörth kündigen an wieder in Aktion zu treten, sofern nach den vergangenen sowie in den kommenden Gesprächen mit den Autoritäten keine positiven Veränderungen eintreten. Bereits letzte Woche fanden Proteste und Sitzstreiks in Donauwörth statt.

1 Residenzpflicht = § 56 AsylG, § 61 (1) AufenthG “Die Aufenthaltsgestattung ist räumlich auf den Bezirk der Ausländerbehörde
beschränkt, in dem die für die Aufnahme des Ausländers zuständige Aufnahmeeinrichtung liegt.”

2 Das bayerische Integrationsgesetzt unter Nahles und de Maizière schaffte diese Arbeitsbedingungen für Nicht-Bürger*innen, abseits des Mindestlohnes für Bürger*innen.

15 Refugee activists from The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria joined the start of the protest march from Munich to Nuremberg

Refugee Protest March from Munich to NurembergWe, 15 Refugees from The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria joined the start of the protest march from Munich with refugee residents from Dingolfing city , Passau city , Moosburg city and Gottfriedingerschwaige village , Loihcing village , Landau village .
The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria: In solidarity with protest march from Munich to Nuremberg in 2016 . For Freedom of Movement !!! March starts on 8th October in Munich to end on 21st October in Nuremberg.

We, 15 Refugees from The voice Refugee Forum Bavaria join the start of the protest march from Munich with refugee residents from Dingolfing city , Passau city , Moosburg city and Gottfriedingerschwaige village , Loihcing village , Landau village .

We starts our journey at 5 am yesterday, 8 October 2016 and reached round Munich about 7 : 30 am on Munich mian train station . We started the protest march at 2 pm with Refugees freedom struggle group . some of the refugees continue to moving with protest march from Munich to Nuremberg. Muhammad Ali Awan , Qasim Behbodi , Ali Naseeri , Ahmed Wafa , Muhammad Noor , Abu Khalid , Edward , Sunny Mehmood and many others participating in protest march .Our best wishes and Solidarity always with our Refugees .We will rise with freedom .

We are mobilizing more refugees to join the protest march in Landshut on 12.10.2016

We are calling on activists to support our participation and to join the protest march in solidarity with refugee struggles..
We demand for unconditional Residence – Stop all deportations – For Freedom of Movement!!!March starts on 8th October in Munich to end on 21st October in Nuremberg
Statement of The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria: In solidarity with protest march from Munich to Nuremberg in 2016 http://thevoiceforum.org/node/4248

Wir verlangen ein bedingungsloses Residenzrecht – Stopp aller Abschiebungen – Für Bewegungsfreiheit!! Der Marsch beginnt am 8.Oktober in München und endet am 21. Oktober in Nürnberg
Stellungnahme von The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria: In Solidarität mit dem Protestmarsch # München nach Nürnberg 2016 http://thevoiceforum.org/node/4249

The VOICE Refugee Forum Bavaria, für die The refugee-Migrant Political Community.
For More Information and Press Contact: : Muhammud Ali Awan, Tel.: 015218222548
Email. thevoicerefugeeforum@riseup.net. http://thevoiceforum.org

protocol #5 – forming a ‘lager mobilisation’ group in berlin

free all lagers.

this is our 5th protocol to form a “lager mobilisation”-group in berlin and maybe later on in brandenburg. again, around 19 people were there – thanks to u all. please add, correct and criticize in the comment section.

protocol #5 – forming a ‘lager mobilisation’ group in berlin
1. introduction
2. weekly action + URGENT ACTION
3. next meeting

13th october 2015, 7pm at migrationsrats office – www.migrationsrat.de

address: oranienstr. 34, 10999 berlin-kreuzberg, right backyard, 2nd floor, please ring the bell, if the door is closed
next to u-station kottbusser tor


Demo Thursday, September 24: Asylrechtsverschärfungen stoppen! لتوقيف تشديد قانون اللجوء Stop the tightening of asylum law!

( english below / العربية أدناه )

Wann: Donnerstag, 24.09.2015, 14:00 Uhr

Wo: Bundeskanzleramt, Willy-Brandt Straße 1, U Bundestag/ U/S Hauptbahnhof

Am Donnerstag, den 24.9. treffen sich beim sog. „Flüchtlingsgipfel“ die Regierungen von Bund und Ländern um die Asylgesetzgebung zu verschärfen. Unter dem Titel „Fehlanreize beseitigen!“ liegt ein Gesetzespaket vor, in dem der Aufenthalt Geflüchteter in Deutschland so unattraktiv wie möglich gestaltet werden soll. Geplant sind beispielsweise die Wiedereinführung der Residenzpflicht und Sachleistungen statt Bargeld, sowie schnellere Abschiebungen durch eine Ausweitung der Liste sogenannter sicherer Drittstaaten. Trotz humanitärer Hilfeleistungen der Bevölkerung gehören rassistische Mobilisierungen und Angriffe auf Geflüchtete weiterhin zum Alltag in Deutschland. Überdeckt durch die medial inszenierte „neue deutsche Willkommenskultur“ lautet die politische Antwort der Bundesregierung weiterhin Abschottung und Abschiebung. Deshalb werden wir unseren Protest vors Bundeskanzlerinamt tragen und deutlich sagen

Das Problem heißt Rassismus
Die Innenministerkrise lösen
Asylrechtsverschärfungen stoppen

Restriction instead of welcome: grand coalition decides package of measures against refugees

https://iwspace.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/proasyl.jpg?resize=327%2C246Translated by IWS from Pro Asyl: The federal government has agreed on Sunday in the coalition committee on a package of measures on asylum policy. Under the rubric “remove disincentives” several measures of deterrence policy of the nineties have been reactivated.
On Saturday, the government had allowed with a generous gesture several thousand refugees stranded at the Budapest Central Station to enter Germany, but already on Sunday the grand coalition presented a decision which contains numerous restrictive measures, among other things.

Deterrence policy as in the nineties
To avoid alleged “disincentives”, asylum seekers will in future have to stay six months instead of three in the Erstaufnahmelagern (first Reception Centers). The measure will be accompanied by the decision to impose again the Residenzpflicht to the people crammed in the Erstaufnahmelagern. The residence obligation (Residenzpflicht) that forbids them to move freely in the Federal territory. Furthermore the refugees will again receive vouchers and food parcels – according to the motto: Eat what comes from the office. In this way several instruments of deterrence and exclusion policies of the nineties, which had been liberalized step by step only in recent years, are reactivated.
The six-month placement in first Reception Centers will exacerbate the already disastrous accommodation situation. To increase the accommodation capacity two or threefold of the existing facilities will create unbearable living conditions for thousands of people, fuelling conflicts within the facilities themselves, marginalizing and stigmatizing those affected. The promise of the federal government to increase the capacity of the Reception Centers of about 45,000 to 150,000 will be impossible to achieve in the short term.

Refugee School and University Strike on April, 24th

— english below —

SCHULSTREIK | 24. APRIL | 11 UHR | ROTES RATHAUS.

MAHNWACHE  | 15 UHR | EU-VERTRETUNG, Pariser Platz

Eine einfache Frage: „Was ist der Unterschied zwischen 6m² und 8m²?“ 6m² … so viel steht einer*m Geflüchteten in Deutschland als Wohnraum zu. 8m² … so viel steht einem deutschen Schäferhund per Tierschutz-Verordnung zu. Doch das wird sich bald ändern! Ab dem Jahr 2016 stehen den Menschen, die auf ihrer Flucht vor Hunger, Krieg, Ausbeutung usw. über die Mauern Europas bis nach Deutschland kommen, 7m² zu. Im Gegenzug wird durch die Asylgesetzverschärfung die Chance auf einen gesicherten Aufenthaltsstatus in der BRD noch weiter verringert. Die Verfahren zu Abschiebung und Abschiebehaft werden so angepasst, dass sie in Zukunft noch schneller noch mehr Menschen abschieben können. Das Arbeitsverbot, mangelnder Zugang zu Bildung usw. wird dabei weiterhin aufrechterhalten.

Während die Parteien à la CDU, SPD und Grünen die rassistischen Gesetzte machen, hetzen auf der Straße neue rassistische Bewegungen wie Pegida, HoGeSa oder „Bürgerbewegungen“, wie in Marzahn, Köpenick und Buch. Und sehen ihr ach so christliches „Abendland“ in Gefahr vor sog. „Überfremdung“.

Ihnen ist es egal, dass bei der Flucht nach Europa seit 1990 weit mehr als 28.000 Menschen starben, die EU ihre Außengrenzen immer weiter abschottet und private Grenzagenturen riesige Zäune, Gefängnisse und Flotten aufbauen. Ihnen ist auch egal, dass vor allem deutsche Konzerne und Politik für die Fluchtursachen verantwortlich sind. Deutschland, als drittgrößter Waffenexporteur, verdient an jedem Krieg fleißig mit. Gleichzeitig erzwingen sie die Öffnung der Märkte in ehemaligen kolonialen Ländern, sodass Konzerne ohne Einschränkung die lokale Wirtschaft für ihre maximale Gewinnausbeutung benutzen können. Das erzeugt vor allem Armut und somit Abhängigkeit. Wo das Wichtigste der Profit ist, gibt es keinen Platz für Solidarität. Ihnen ist auch egal, dass seit der Krise des Kapitalismus der Konkurrenzkampf zwischen den wirtschaftlich starken Nationen (auch Imperialist_innen genannt) zunimmt, da jeder seine eigenen Profite sichern will. Das bedeutet mehr Krieg und mehr Ausbeutung. Weltweit sind deshalb so viele Menschen auf der Flucht wie seit dem 2. Weltkrieg nicht mehr. Allein in Syrien sind es 9 Millionen. Im Juni wollen sich genau diese Industrienationen in Bayern treffen um beim G7 Gipfel die Welt erneut unter sich aufzuteilen.

Wir haben keinen Bock auf Rassismus in der Schule, wir haben keinen Bock, dass unsere Freunde isoliert in extra Klassen gehalten werden um dann mit 18 abgeschoben zu werden. Wir finden es zum kotzen, dass die Asylgesetze weiter verschärft werden, statt Geflüchteten ein würdevolles Leben zu ermöglichen!

Demonstration and Networking Meeting/Discussion on Friday 27.03.2015: With Refugees from Schwäbisch Gmünd

Stop Abuse! Legalize the so Called “tolerated” refugees in Germany! Stop Destroying Refugees’ Perspectives!
 
  • 2 pm Manifestation: Tiergartenstr. 15, 10785 Berlin – Landesvertretung Baden Württemberg
  • 6pm Sofra – Meeting and Eating: Köpenickerstr 189, 10997 Berlin – TEK (U1 Schlesisches Tor)
Refugees_Schwäbisch-Gmünd

Refugee Tour – Solidarity Call for Civil Disobedience from Refugee Initiative Schwäbisch Gmünd

Leke Aremu, Farook Khan, Raphael Paul, Frankline Ndam, James Ogoloma

While we await any attempt to force us into imprisonment as we excise civil disobedience against Apartheid “Residenzpflicht”, we shall embark on a Tour all over Germany to damask the repressive policies against Refugees in Germany.

The Tour will serve as a platform for exchange amongst Refugees with a critical view to the 2015 deceptive Asylum “relief” in comprehensive relation to the horrific Asylum “Compromise” of 1993 up to the hypocritical decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court in 2012.

In this tour, refugees will be informed about the “Adverse faces of Germany” enforced through arbitrary powers at different levels, the system of Refugee Isolation and control, the continuous exploitation of Refugees here and beyond the borders of Europe. Their propaganda is built on the grounds of ignorance of a “civilized” society and at the expense of Refugee’s human dignity.

Now is the time to mobilize Refugee’s solidarity and empower networking within our communities through the intimate understanding that we all face the same problems – even though the situations might appear to be different.

Our experiences have confirmed that nothing good can be expected from Imperialist States like Germany except by direct confrontation and scandal.

As your responsibility to support the revolution of the oppressed you should mobilize refugees and organize discussion events in your region. Announce your dates so as to enable us plan our schedule. We will be glad to join you for exchange.

The fight against "Residenzpflicht" has to go on! / Der Kampf gegen die Residenzpflicht muss weiter gehen!

For 25 years refugees have been fighting against “Residenzpflicht” (residence obligation). Now it has been changed again, and again politicians claim that it is abolished and many people believe them.

With our protest we triggered a, for a long time overdue, debate about “Residenzpflicht” on a national level. We showed clearly that this law is incompatible with a life in dignity. But a bit of loosening and compromises… That’s not what we have been demonstrating and struggling for for years. We have been fighting for the abolition of “Residenzpflicht”.

The facts: 

For asylum seekers in the reception center the obligatory residence stays limited to the district of the alien’s department (Ausländerbehörde) for three months. In Brandenburg for example this is the urban district Eisenhüttenstadt. They are only allowed to leave the district if the department sees “compulsory reasons” (“zwingende Gründe”). Personal needs, like seeing relatives again after a long time, are not considered.

CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION: We are all Oranienplatz and we will stay all!

This is a call for a big Demonstration on Sunday, 15th of December!

We start at Oranienplatz. From there we will go together to Alexanderplatz. There is the administration office of the Senator of Interior Frank Henkel. (Senatsverwaltung für Inneres, Grunerstraße Ecke Stralauerstraße). And we will stay for a rally over night until the ultimatum will be taken back.

We are asylum seekers in Germany. Fourteen months ago, we decided that we would no longer accept our miserable living conditions. We decided to rise up against our accommodation in isolating Lagers and against the daily discrimination we face.

We organized ourselves, escaped the Lagers, disregarded the Residenzpflicht, and began our march from Würzburg to Berlin. Arriving there, we occupied the Oranienplatz and then the former Gerhart Hauptmann-School soon after, in order to intensify our protest against German and European asylum policy.

Next Page »