The stories of the migrants who crossed the border and arrived in Mytilini and the stories of people from Mytilini who were involved in the self-organised and open space of reception in former PIKPA.
Life stories so different that they cross and get interwoven for a few days and then separate again, bring together spaces and practices of co-existence and solidarity while challenging the borders of “Fortress Europe”.
p.s. soon to be published also in English
Οι ιστορίες των μεταναστών που διέσχισαν τα σύνορα και έφτασαν στη Μυτιλήνη, οι αφηγήσεις των μυτιλινιών που ενεπλάκησαν στη δημιουργία του αυτοοργανωμένου και ανοιχτού χώρου φιλοξενίας στις εγκαταστάσεις του πρώην ΠΙΚΠΑ.
Διαδρομές ζωής τόσο διαφορετικές που διασταυρώνονται, διαπλέκονται για λίγες μέρες και μετά χωρίζουν ξανά, υφαίνοντας χώρους και πρακτικές συνύπαρξης και αλληλεγγύης, αμφισβητώντας τα σύνορα της “Ευρώπης Φρούριο”.
The first two corpses were found on Sunday 13th of January at 9 o ‘clock in the morning by fishermen in two different beaches of the island Chios. A third corpse was found by the coast guard around 2pm at yet another beach. According to first information by the Coroner the persons died of drowning within the last 48 hours before being found.
At the meantime on Saturday 12th of January three migrants were found alive on the island Panagia Oinousson inside fish cages. They are from Palestine and Iran. As two of them reported they had tried to reach Chips island from Cesme in turkey in the night of Thursday. Their boat turned around and they swam for more than 10 hours to reach the island. It is yet unknown if there were more persons inside the same boat.
The ceremony was carried out on January 5th, 2013 in the morning. Some of the relatives and friends as well as citizens of Mytilini came to offer their condolences. An afghan mullah lead the ceremony according to the rules of Islam.
By Anthi Pazianou / published in “Efimerida ton Sindakton”
Crossing Borders
Since last August 1,200 refugees have been arrested in Lesvos for illegal entry into Greece. This was brought about by the draconian measures on the border between Evros – Northern Greece and Turkey. In the name of ‘Fortress Europe’, refugees, mainly from Afghanistan and Syria, were forced to turn back and ultimately choose a more hazardous entry into Greece by sea.
On the 14th December 2012, 29 refugees didn’t reach their destination. According to the testimony of the only survivor, the boat in which they were travelling suddenly turned upside down. 21 corpses were recovered over the next 2 days while the rest, including children, are still unaccounted for. Continue reading In the “village of all together” waiting for the police….→
