Calais. Decathlon hypocritically withdraws kayaks from sale to “save” migrants
Photo credit : Archives – AFP / Three migrants attempt to cross the English Channel aboard a canoe-kayak, in 2018.
The voice of the North report several testimonials, who claims to have seen people in exile in Calais buy light boats, oars and life jackets from the Decathlon sports equipment retailer. At the same time, seven worrying disappearances of migrants who tried to row across on the same motorless boats have been reported in the region in recent weeks.
In August 2020, the body of a 28-year-old Sudanese migrant had already been found after such an attempt. For the year 2020, the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea counted 6 deaths and 3 disappearances in similar circumstances. The SNSM (National Society of Rescuers at Sea) indicates that it has frequently rescued migrants in difficulty attempting such a crossing during the last summer.
Faced with this situation, the Decathlon store in Calais decided to withdraw from sale the kayaks, inflatable boats and paddles that could be used to attempt a crossing of the strait to the United Kingdom. A decision made by some associations who fear an increase in these dangerous attempts by following the current trend. The reaction of the sign is a terrible expression of the situation, it undoubtedly only wishes to cover itself with any incrimination.
The sub-prefect of Calais, points to the limits of the brand’s approach, and for its part refuses to prohibit the sale of boats in Calais and its surroundings. The latter explained that the same boats are also sold “in supermarkets” and “on online sales platforms”. A hypocritical position for a prefecture whose criminality is no longer to be demonstrated in its management of the situation in Calais and its “jungle”
The decision to withdraw from the sale by the Decathlon brand is only a very limited “measure”, only concerning a private actor, which will not alleviate the dramatic situation of migrants in Calais which pushes them to put their lives at risk. in play this way to change countries. Migrants in Calais are in fact the target of real harassment by the police which, according to a report by Human Rights Watch does not hesitate to tear up their tents, confiscate their personal belongings or as we wrote last September to sabotage the water installations of the refugees leaving the refugees to live in precariousness and the fear of an eviction or police violence extremely cruel.
To put an end to the inhuman situations migrants face in Calais and elsewhere, it is urgent to guarantee freedom of movement and installation for all, and the sharing of working time between all in order to guarantee a dignified life in France for people. who are fleeing war, repression or misery blamed on capitalism and imperialism.