BEFORE…….
TO THE NGO ORGANISATION
”OPEN ARMS”
Subject
A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
Dear activists,
Hereby my sincere esteem, admiration and respect
for you, doing one of the most important things:
Rescuing human lives at sea, the Mediterean sea,
which had been the grave for so many
refugees in their often fruitless attempts to reach
Europe, in the hope to find a better life.
You as only NGO organisation [since Doctors Without Borders and others
were forced
to stop their activities] [1] has managed the impossible:
To stand against the crminal European policy, instigated
by Italian racist policies [2] , to continue rescuing lives
of desperate people.
As I have read on your website, your organisation has rescued
59.395 lives from september 2015 until august 2018 [3] and I guess
more lives have been saved by you since then.
There are no words for this.
It seems normal to save lives, but in the fascist times that flourish
in Europe like poisoned snakes, it seems to me that everything
is upside down.
Fair is foul and foul is fair [4] to speak with the witches
of Shakespeare’s Mac Beth. [5]
European government and their evil associates like Frontex,
accuse you and other NGO’s of ” of acting as “pull factor” for migrants and refugees and indirectly helping smuggler networks” [6], while it is
Frontex and other EU organisations, that are consciously
put refugees in danger [7] or condemning them to remain
in Lybia in horror situations. [8]
I didn’t know your organisation until news reached me,
that Italy [again] had refused a ship acces, with migrants,
who were saved by your organisation. [9]
Only a mother and her newborn baby were admitted to
Malta. [10]
Should those European politicians, especiallty the socalled
”christian” democratic ones, see the comparison with a Child,
long ago, who was not welcome either?
I doubt it.
Anyway:
Go on with your Good Work as one of the few organisations,
that have the courage and guts [and I don’t blame others,
that were forced to stop] to save lives.
That principal obligation of mankind.
To save the right on life.
Thank you.
May the struggle for Justice go on!
And a Merry and Happy Christmas for you all
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
NOTES
[1]
‘In December 2018, MSF and its partner SOS Méditerranée were forced to terminate the lifesaving operations carried out by
the Aquarius—the last dedicated rescue boat operating in the Central Mediterranean.
“This is a dark day,” said Nelke Manders, MSF’s general director. “Not only has Europe failed to provide search and rescue capacity, it has also actively sabotaged others’ attempts to save lives. The end of Aquarius means more deaths at sea, and more needless deaths that will go unwitnessed.”
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
SEARCH AND RESCUE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/search-and-rescue-mediterranean‘
WHY NGO”S HAVE STOPPED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
15 NOVEMBER 2018
[2]
Despite limited capacity of Libyan coast guard forces and the known fate of those returned to Libya, Italy has secured explicit support from EU heads of state for its practice, tested since at least May 2017, of transferring responsibility to those forces even in international waters.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
EU/ITALY/LIBYA: DISPUTES OVER RESCUES
PUT LIVES AT RISK
25 JUNE 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/25/eu/italy/libya-disputes-over-rescues-put-lives-risk
”2. The European Council is determined to continue and reinforce this policy to prevent a return to the uncontrolled flows of 2015 and to further stem illegal migration on all existing and emerging routes.
3. As regards the Central Mediterranean Route, efforts to stop smugglers operating out of Libya or elsewhere should be further intensified. The EU will continue to stand by Italy and other frontline Member States in this respect. It will step up its support for the Sahel region, the Libyan Coastguard, coastal and Southern communities, humane reception conditions, voluntary humanitarian returns, cooperation with other countries of origin and transit, as well as voluntary resettlement. All vessels operating in the Mediterranean must respect the applicable laws and not obstruct operations of the Libyan Coastguard.”
EUROPEAN COUNCIL CONCLUSION,
28 JUNE 2018
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/29/20180628-euco-conclusions-final/
[3]
OPEN ARMS.ES
59.395 LIVES
Since September 2015 until August 2018, we have managed to save each and every one of these people, giving them a chance to reach dry land after embarking on one of the most dangerous voyages of their lives at sea.
OUR MISSIONS
https://www.openarms.es/en/our-missions
[4]
FROM SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH
ACT I
SCENE I
”
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air. ”
[5]
FROM SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH
ACT I
SCENE I
”
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air. ”
[6]
”However, these rescue operations did not last long. In its
2017 Annual Risk Analysis Report, Frontex accused NGOs of acting as “pull factor” for migrants and refugees and indirectly helping smuggler networks.
WHY NGO”S HAVE STOPPED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
15 NOVEMBER 2018
[7]
[8]
” 1. Executive summary Migrants and refugees suffer unimaginable horrors during their transit through and stay in Libya. From the moment they step onto Libyan soil, they become vulnerable to unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and unlawful deprivation of liberty, rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, slavery and forced labour, extortion and exploitation by both State and non-State actors.”
UNITED NATIONS SUPPORT MISSION IN LIBYA
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
DESPERATE AND DANGEROUS: REPORT ON THE HUMAN
RIGHTS SITUATION OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN LIBYA
18 DECEMBER 2018
[9]
THE NATIONAL
RESCUED MIGRANTS HEAD FOR SPAIN AFTER ITALY
CLOSES PORTS
[10]
”The Maltese government confirmed rescuing a newborn baby boy and his mother, 23′
THE NATIONAL
RESCUED MIGRANTS HEAD FOR SPAIN AFTER ITALY
CLOSES PORTS
[11]
NEW TESTIMONY
LUKE 2: 7
”And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
A rescue helicopter leaves after evacuating a mother and her new born baby following their rescue with other nearly 300 migrants off the coast of Libya. AFP
