DEUTSCH:
„Tag der Agenda der Flüchtlinge“
Protokoll des Flüchtlingscommunity-Treffens mit Aktivisten von The VOICE Refugee Forum in Jena, Samstag, 30.07.2016 https://thevoiceforum.org/node/4211
"The idea of naming a day “The Day Of Refugees Agenda” to remind everybody of the injustice we’re suffering was proposed by the women from Kiel. This event could be organized in different cities. The idea found ground by the participants. It was said that the „UN refugee day“ was initiated by members of the rich countries that participated in the wars that created most of the refugees worldwide and then cry with crocodile tears in solidarity to celebrate it. If the refugee community can declare their date of solidarity, it will be inspiring for our community struggles nationwide here and in Europe. This idea “The Day Of Refugees Agenda” will be discussed in the local groups."
Hamburg: "We are coming to you" – The refugee community needs you! https://thevoiceforum.org/node/4209
Protocol of Refugee Community Meeting with activists of The VOICE Refugee Forum in Jena, Saturday, 30.07.2016 at 18:00 h
Mr. Osaren welcomed the refugees who came and were invited to introduce themselves. He explained then the goals of the VOICE, among them that the group stands against the persecution of the refugees by the European governments and that these same governments are the countries that caused and are still causing the destruction of the refugees’ countries.
The discussion started and following problems (issues) were brought up:
1. Many refugees are suffering from racism and discrimination because of their nationalities more than others (for example Kurds, one of them slept on the street with his family).
2. Very bad treatment from the different administrations, especially bureaucracy when it comes to family reunion because usually it takes more than one year and this is very painful psychologically.
3. Many refugees want to work but they cannot because it takes a long time to get the residency.
4. There is no justice in many aspects for many refugees living in Germany: Work permit, residency, family reunion are examples and the refugees are obliged to deal with middlemen because of the administration or the German employees.
5. Corruption and theft in the camps and the exploitation of refugees.
6. Refugees not getting the monthly amount of money they are supposed to because of bad accounting.
7. A refugee from Togo explained his problem, he is been living in Germany since 2004 and his ex-girlfriend took his child away from him because he has no residency.
8. Bureaucracy is very bad in Germany; it takes many documents to accomplish a simple deal.
9. Mrs. Zubaida presented her health situation as a person with cancer but she cannot follow the treatment because she has no residency yet. She was told to pay the treatment herself but she can’t. The place where she has been living for 8 months is dirty and that exposes her easily to illnesses in the absence of her immune system.
10. No access to school or universities for those eligible (it was referred to the experience of Tawfik in Goettingen).
11. The housing problem hurts badly because it exposes us to the middlemen.
12. Minors have difficulties to meet their families back in Germany because the slowness of this process. Some of them are over 18 years old, do they lose this right now?
Because of this, the discussion was modified to adapt to these points mentioned above.
Participants were overwhelmed with the numbers of the refugees present in the meeting coming from Kiel. We were optimistic that this solidarity and exchange will help us find the solution to many problems like housing and other related issues of injustice against the refugees.
One refugee asked: Do the Germans support us? This is the answer that came out of the discussion: This is our problem and the aim is to support each other by raising the number of the voices of solidarity from the refugees and it was confirmed that we are defending ourselves against the injustice that we are facing till we get our rights back and justice for all. The refugees have almost the same problems and with the solidarity we will get our rights. We are asking to be treated as normal human beings living in this country.
Osaren mentioned that he got political asylum 20 years ago, but this didn’t stop him from continuing the struggle. And that we have the experience of many refugees in their struggles, both positive and negative as we also learnt from our mistakes but we should continue in our struggle. Every one of us has a problem but we must have solidarity with each other. Alone we cannot accomplish our goals.
The discussion was modified because of the issues that were brought out. That’s why it was suggested that the people of Kiel make a facebook blog or website and use it as platform for solidarity and for gathering tips on the refugee situations and refugee support in the city and region of the refugee community.
The refugees agreed that the family reunion is a very important issue and should be tackled as soon as possible as some families are in war regions and cannot wait longer but we should not under estimate the German culture of deportation, it is criminal.
The 2nd Day
Presence was not as stable as in the previous day, that is why we could not follow the discussion as it was planned. The Afghan refugees came and then went, they had communication problem (language). They mentioned the problems of deportation threats with the exclusion from learning German and housing problem, but they didn’t stay to follow. We wanted to make groups so that each group could discuss a different issue but that was not done. Some participants spoke about the bad treatments in their camps.
The idea of naming a day “The Day Of Refugees Agenda” to remind everybody of the injustice we’re suffering was proposed by the women from Kiel. This event could be organized in different cities. The idea found ground by the participants. It was said that the „UN refugee day“ was initiated by members of the rich countries that participated in the wars that created most of the refugees worldwide and then cry with crocodile tears in solidarity to celebrate it. If the refugee community can declare their date of solidarity, it will be inspiring for our community struggles nationwide here and in Europe. This idea “The Day Of Refugees Agenda” will be discussed in the local groups.
Also the fear of some refugees from the punishment by the state as a result of their activities was mentioned, but it was agreed that it is only through our political activities that the refugees can re-gain their respect.
The VOICE is willing to support the Kiel group but the group should be convinced they must look after themselves for solutions and to be in solidarity with other refugees.
There was a proposal from Kiel participants to initiate a refugee community group that will be founded in Kiel to fight for its rights. The possibility to call it The VOICE Refugee Forum in KIEL was mentioned.
Participants were quite happy that the women refugees are active in Kiel with the men, unlike many refugee women who do not see themselves as refugees for a common fight to unite against the injustice of the system.
The refugees from Kiel also promised to initiate refugee community meeting in the refugee lagers in every two weeks. It was also emphasized that it is important to document our discussions and the situations of refugees in our regions.
The VOICE works and exchange ideas as part of the CARAVAN network for the rights of migrants and refugees. We do not offer much to refugees as supporters network for humanitarian and social workers' political entertainment with cultural assimilation for political integration in our struggles, as we part of refugee and migrants political movement; it is you (the refugees) who are going to find the solutions as self-organized community in our struggle for self-determination against the injustice and the repressions against refugees.
Amir from Cuxhaven suggested to make a group on WhatsApp for quick exchange of ideas.
Videos were taken when some refugees were explaining their situations.
The meeting was fairly OK with numbers of the participants; There were 55 refugees or more all together in the 4 days meeting: 29 refugees from Thueringen and 26 refugees from Kiel, Bochum, Berlin, Hannover and Cuxhaven who participated.
Protocol by Refugee activists in Kiel