HANDS OFF MIGRANTS – STOP POLICE VIOLENCE – STOP RACISM NOW!
We, the undersigned organisations, communities and groups, are staging a demonstration on Sunday, 4 October 2009, at 11:00 a.m., starting at Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, in order to protest against and condemn the police operation “Broom” carried out on Friday, 25 September 2009, in the old town of Nicosia.
This operation, indiscriminately directed against migrants, was both arbitrary and illegal. Migrants have once again been scapegoated by the police in an alleged fight against “crime” and “illegal” migration and at least partly in an attempt to reverse the negative public image of violence, corruption and abuse of power the police have created for themselves. However, the operation, staged in full view of the media and with the whole of Cyprus watching, did nothing more than feed racism and xenophobia and falsely link migrants to crime.
Instead of meeting the legitimate concerns and demands of the residents of the old city, which include the implementation of legislation on a number of issues, such as noise pollution, traffic congestion and regulation of places of entertainment, the police victimise and terrorise one of the most vulnerable groups in society on the basis of the colour of their skin, shattering their dignity but also instilling fear and insecurity in society as a whole.
Rather that dealing with the real problems of the unacceptable living conditions migrants are facing and of their exploitation by unscrupulous landlords, the Municipality of Nicosia and other authorities have allowed their authority to be compromised by the police acting as a state within the state. The present state of confusion within all competent authorities must be immediately addressed and the police called to account. Otherwise, as in the past, the police may further exercise their brutal methods against other sections of society such as the young, people of diverse sexual orientation and other minority groups as well.
We call on the whole of society, NGOs and concerned individuals to raise their voices and join the demonstration against the police and their abuse of power, for the defence of the rights of migrants and human rights in general.
Sunday, 4 October 2009 11:00 a.m.
start at Eleftheria Square - end at Faneromeni Square
Organised by:
KISA – Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism
ALERT – Movement Against Police Brutality and its Judicial Whitewash
Awake Within the Walls - Old Nicosia Residents’ Association
Supported by:
Anatropi Magazine – Association for Recognized Refugees in Cyprus - Association in Support of Foreign Workers - Cameroonian Association in Cyprus - Congolese Asylum Seekers Association – Cyprus Tamil Association – Cypriot Kurdish Friendship Association – European Network Against Racism–Cyprus Coordination - Kurdish Democratic Committee (CDK) - Kenyan Welfare Association in Cyprus – Non-Resident Nepali Association, Cyprus – OFW Family Club-Cyprus Chapter – Stop the war Coalition – Sri Lankan Community - Tinig Pinoy-Filipino Voice Publication – Workers Democracy – Youth Against Nationalism
