after the hunger strike, a new long-term action to “make visible” the plight of the refugees
The Faim aux frontières collective, whose activists ended a 38-day hunger strike in November in support of the refugees in Calais, is launching a new action. Every day, in front of the town hall of Calais, activists will take turns to denounce the fate reserved for exiles.
“In a city where exiled people are invisible, we decided to make them visible by occupying the place of the Unknown Soldier in front of the town hall”, they say in a statement. In Calais, the refugee support collective is back in service. In October 2021, Anaïs Vogel and Ludovic Holbein made their fight known in the media around the world, by chaining 38 days of hunger strike in support of exiles from the coast. Their fellow fighter, Father Philippe Demeestère, 72, had to give up after 3 weeks of deprivation.
The demands of the collective have not changed since the unsuccessful mediation attempted by the government. They demand the suspension of evictions and dismantling of camps at least during the winter break. They also demand an end to the confiscation of tents and personal effects, and the opening of a dialogue with the State on the distribution of basic necessities.
The living conditions of the Calais refugees have been documented by Human Rights Watch, which speaks of a “distress strategy proven to children and adults”. The NGO denounces “the repeated mass eviction operations, the almost daily police harassment and the restrictions weighing on the delivery of humanitarian aid and on access to this aid”.
Since the publication of this report, the situation is far from calming down on the spot, as the professionals and associations present daily observe. On the morning of January 15, a 17-year-old young man was found dead, after trying to get into a truck, probably to try to cross to the United Kingdom.
Thus, with its new action, the Faim aux frontières collective wants to once again “to be one with the humiliated bodies”. “They can’t get food, we stop eating; they can’t get drink, we stop drinking” write the instigators of the movement.
Every day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., volunteer citizens are invited to take turns in order to maintain a symbolic presence in the Unknown Soldier Square. “The idea is that there is always someone in front of the town hall. The occupants can take slots for the duration they want. It depends on availability, and also on capacities, because it’s freezing right now in Calais, and the exercise is not easy” details the associative activist Anaïs Vogel.
“The other objectives, by being present in this central square, is to establish a dialogue, to open up the debate with Calais residents, and also to show the plurality of support for refugees. Many people do not want to accept the situation and the policies which are adapted to Calais” completes Ludovic Holbein, strong of the massive support received during their hunger strike. The action began this January 15 in the morning and, with the volunteers who have already come forward, is guaranteed to last at least until Tuesday 18, while waiting for more registrations.
The activists have already decided to make a concession to their permanent presence under the town hall. They will continue to attend memorial gatherings, “highlights” of meditation, organized in Place Richelieu for each new death at the border. This will be the case on January 15, in tribute to the 17-year-old young man who died under a truck.