Galery

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Victoria Mindova

Nineteenth day of the homeless immigrants hunger strike, who want political asylum in Greece. After the fiasco with their removal from the Law Department building of the University of Athens, where the 253 immigrants had settled, came second drama. From the classrooms, they were moved to a building on Patision boulevard and Ipirou street in the city center, where their hunger strike continued in the name of their legalization. From the very first day, the owner of the building said that the property is temporarily given for not more than 15 days until the state finds a suitable shelter for the illegal foreigners. 

GRReporter decided to visit the private house inhabited by those starving immigrants, in order to talk to them about their claims and the difficulties they experience. We wanted to make sure what their condition is, but this proved impossible. 

A middle-aged woman stood at the gateway to the courtyard of the five-story building. She was Greek with modern sunglasses and a thick jacket in this cold Saturday. I introduced myself, and which media I represent, but not much attention was paid to me. "Hi!" I repeated again in a louder voice. Only then she turned to me, showing no particular interest in my presence. I explained the purpose of my visit, but the woman said I cannot enter the building or speak with anyone, because the immigrants have a meeting. What meeting, she refused to say. 

I asked her about the state of the people inside and she succinctly said it was good. After that she remembered what she had said and added that they are struggling, but are determined to continue with the strike. She said that they are under medical supervision, but did not specify how many doctors take care of the strikers. Her sentences were terse and while answering she looked at all sides, but to me. She never did take off her sun glasses and demonstrated an obvious annoyance of my journalistic interest. The woman declined to say whether she is a member of any public organization or a member of any party. When asked whether she is just a citizen volunteer, she did not respond. Obviously she was not just a door keeper, but her role in the immigration protest was not clear. 

While we were talking two other men surrounded us, Greeks, who also did not respond to my first greeting. I had to repeat my "Hello" in order for them to answer, not very cordially. All were supporters of the immigrants’ cause. The distrust on all their faces was emblazoned, but I could not find out why. To the question: "When do you think the hunger strike will end?" the activist replied that either the government will legalize all strikers, or those people will leave the occupied house in a sack, dead of starvation. Neither the owner of the building, nor the police can make them afraid. 

I asked her what the strikers would do if the government does not pay attention to their demands because it is occupied by the tsunami of strikes and the introduction of reforms, she answered excitedly: "Fight to the end, even if this means for us to give our lives!" This was the only strong emotion the woman expressed throughout our conversation. We parted as we met - without a lot of pleasantries. She told me that I can pass by later, but could not promise to let me in the yard with the starving immigrants. 

Meanwhile the march of the 400 Kurds, who left Thursday from Lavrio to Athens to protest against the status of the refugee camps in Attica, was supposed to be towards its end on Saturday afternoon region. The Kurds started walking from the small town of Lavrio, which is about 60 km from the capital, with a goal to reach Syntagma Square in front of the Parliament.  Elevtrotipiya newspaper announced that the Kurds will be in Athens at 15:30 on Saturday, February 12 this year on Omonia Square. The information proved false. They arrived at Syntagma Square at 17:30 after their three-day protest march and after half an hour of standing in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier they left, reported zougla.gr. 

It was an ordinary day in Greece, in which different immigrant groups were trying to find their lost civil rights in a torn by inter-community strife and disagreements country.