We got the information that the activists who participated in the embassy occupation were arrested by the police.
Amongst the ones arrested (15 according to the police) inside the embassy were Rex Osa from the VOICE Refugee Forum as well as activists of the Caravan for the Rights of refugees and migrants and activists of the protest tent. The police took away two cameras from the press team of the protestmarch/protestcamp and one tablet computer. One person was beaten. The arrested were taken to cells in Tempelhofer Damm. The had to undergo identity control. 10 of them are now together in one cell, others are being kept in single cells.
Police also brutalized the activists protesting outside the embassy building by using pepperspray. At least two were also arrested. Amongst them is Mbolo Yufanyi who was brutalized outside the embassy building. His arrest took place after he entered the building to meet the leader of the police group to denounce the police and come out again. He had to be treated in an ambulance car.
There was a spontaneous solidarity demonstration of more than 100 people from the Nigerian Embassy to Oranienplatz where the protest camp is. Police even went inside the demo in order to arrest people. There are still lots of police car around the protest camp at Oranienplatz at the moment.
According to camp activists the number of persons arrested at the embassy protest and during the demonstration is 23 altogether.
To ask for more information and to protest the arrest, please phone:
Polizeidirektion Tempelhof
Platz der Luftbrücke 6
Telefonnummer: 030-46640
Fax: 030-466482
Report by The VOICE Refugee Forum Jena
Press Information:
Counter Offensive to the Nigerian Government Role in the brutal deportation of African Refugees, Nigerian and Non Nigerian Activists have taken to Occupy the Nigerian Embassy Berlin to demand the cancellation of all deportation agreement with the German State.
Deportation is only possible if a state is ready to „take back“ the person concerned and for this purpose, the German authorities would do anything to obtain traveling certificates to deport Refugees to any Country wherever they could be accepted.
Refugees are constantly summoned to forced deportation hearings where they are interviewed by Embassy Officials who would have to confirm their origin and identity through Physical appearance to aid the issuance of traveling certificates as a legitimation for their deportation.
These forced deportation hearing are randomly conducted in different German City on a monthly basis in an atmosphere of massive Police presence and abuses - From Halberstadt to Koln, Bielefeld to Karlsruhe, Dortmund to Munich, Ludwigsburg to Dusseldorf.
Enough is Enough as we have reached an Offensive threshold to say No to deportation threats and abuses because deportation is Colonial Heritage and Persecution. We are therefore provoked to unlash appropriate action against such acts that continues to traumatize and destroy Migrants and Refugees in Germany
Refugee and non-Refugee Activist have for many years condemned this routine deportation collaboration between the Nigerian Government and the German European Government through the enforcement of militarized Frontex - "Frontex being the boarder Watch dog of the European union with extended artificial Borders up to Refugee Home Countries is mandated with the responsibility of chartered deportation operations from Europe"
The January 2012 agreement between the Nigerian Government (Nigerian Immigration Boss - Mrs. Rose Uzoma)and Frontex stands as a renewed legitimation to the brutal deportation practices thus causing many deaths and Trauma for Refugees thus requiring an immediate cancellation because the same European Government who has made us refugees must be ready to take the responsibility of their act.
It is based on this Position that we are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to take immediate step to cancel all deportation agreements and collaboration between Frontex with the German State.
The obvious habit of ignoring the call for human rights can no longer be tolerated hence the decision of Nigerian Refugees occupation of the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin as a signal to more offensive counter action against their deportation collaboratory role.
As first step to cooperation, We demand a Stop to the routine practices of Forced-Mobile deportation Hearing with immediate effect (i.e.) 16.10.12 to 19.10.12 deportation hearing planned to take place at the State Police Premises, Alte Weingartner Str. 49, 76227 Karlsruhe-Durlach.
Furthermore, we are undertaken an investigation in connection with suspicion of free access for the German Immigration Service to access Biometric Data of Nigerian Passport Holders - a development from the current act of criminalization of Nigerian migrants with a direct call for President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw in case there is any of such.
We denounce every form of deportation collaboration because deportation itself is a form of racial persecution and elimination and exists on basic distinction of Europe being the progressive and developed while Africa is defined as backward.
We say No to all forms of deportation collaboration
Stop Deportation
Contact: Tel.: 017610447292
Email: thevoice_bdw@yahoo.de
The VOICE Refugee Forum