IMA: Press Statement

Stand Strong against Fascism and Racism! Stop the Persecution of Anti‐Racist Activists in Italy! Stop the Crackdown on Undocumented Migrants in Italy and Europe!

This we say in the International Migrants Alliance as we condemn the political persecution of anti‐racist activists by the Berlusconi government in Massa, Italy.
On October 9, Alessandro of the Party of the Committees to Support Resistance – for Communism (CARC) and Samuele of Association for Proletarian Solidarity are being charged for standing up for and defending migrants.
For simply organizing an anti‐racist patrol against thugs and anti‐migrant gangsters, they are virtually branded as enemies and therefore worthy of punishment.
This is not only an outright violation of Alessandro and Samuele’s democratic rights but the Berlusconi government’s adherence with racism, bigotry and discrimination. It runs counter to the interests of all migrant workers, human rights advocates and peace‐loving people in Italy and across the world.
Italy is one of the first European countries that have legislated anti‐migrant policies like the Bossi Fini. Its crackdown on undocumented migrants in many parts of Italy has elicited strong resistance from migrant and local groups alike. Organizations like the CARC and ASP have been leading campaigns against these government‐instigated crackdowns.
The IMA stands firm in its position that migrant workers and refugees should be protected from all forms of attack. They have been made scapegoats by governments who cannot provide sufficient livelihood and support to their people during times of crisis. The European Union, for example, has issued the Return Directive which only aims to target, criminalize and arrest undocumented migrants across “Fortress Europe”.

It is in this regard that the IMA is co‐organizing with various Europe‐based and other international organizations the 2nd International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees as a counter event to the 3rd Global Forum on Migration and Development happening in Athens, Greece this November.

The assembly aims to gather migrant workers, refugees and other support organizations to discuss urgent concerns such as the Return Directive.
We call on all our members and friends to stand in solidarity with Alessandro and Samuele and all those who bravely stand with migrant workers and all disadvantaged peoples. Their situation and struggle are the reasons why we all need to band together in strengthening a global migrant movement against racism, oppression and capitalist exploitation.
Reference:
Eni Lestari, IMA Chairperson
Contact Number: (00852) 9608‐1475

International Migrants Alliance

c/o Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Ground Floor, No. 2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, HK SAR
Tel No (852) 27237536 Fax No. (852) 27354559 Email: ima.june2008@gmail.com
Website: http://internationalmigrants.org

Founded in June 2008, the International Migrants Alliance is an international alliance of 112 grassroots migrant organizations and institutions working for migrant workers.