Office-closure-event at the IOM-Office Berlin

10.Oct.02 - To start off the International noborder-Action-Day approximately 70 people visited the office of the IOM (International Organisation of Migration) Berlin, Inselstr. 12 today. While snacks were served and music was played the visitors declared the office as closed. Several people climbed on the IOM's balcony to enroll banners (see picture) and to offer the IOM help to move out. At the same time a delegation negotiated with the IOM's twelve staff people inside.

The demand to close the office was reasoned with the IOM's role in establishing international migration policies and advocating global migration management at the cost of people's lifes. Despite the delegation's generous offer to help packing computers, paperwork and files, the surprised IOM staff was not willing to move. Instead they called the police who arrived late and confused but in large numbers.

In the meantime Mr. Profazi, Office Coordinator of the Berlin Office had agreed to talk to the delegation. He was confronted with the IOM's participation in equipping borders with technology as well as their support of deportations and detention camps. Profazi tried to justify the IOM's activities with the basic principle of wanting to "regulate" migration. He refused to know about concrete projects of the IOM like in the Ucraine that are clearly gear to destroy the possibilities of immigrants to cross borders and to enter the country legally.

The visitors assured the Office Coordinator that this action was just a start of a broader campaign against the IOM and that several other offices should expect visitors in the following days.

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