Call to the international noborder-actioncamp in Strasbourg [July 19th - 28th 2002]
Common call of the european noborder network
02.Dec.01 - Freedom of movement and settlement are basic human needs. Migration is a fact, its autonomy could and cannot be regulated, as states and transnational organisations would want. Migration is a consequence of economic exploitation, political repression and war but also of the legitimate interest of people to find better or different living-conditions.
Free movement for everyone must become a reality which we have to fight for by any means necessary.
Freedom of movement has been a central demand in the last few years, when grassroot groups started to organise noborder-camps at different borders of fortress Europe: against the militarised borders around Europe, with their weapons, control technologies and the racist support of many people in the European countries. This is the opposite of our dreams to create a world without borders.
We are living in a worldwide capitalist system which divides people. This system of exploitation and exclusion is supported by both the internal and external borders of fortress Europe or the so called ‘schengencountry’. It relies upon racist laws and the barbarism of detention and deportation. Thousands of people have died as a consequence of the border regime.
We are currently witnessing a strengthening of the repressive apparatus of the state across the world. Whilst the control of domestic populations and the movement of people across national borders is nothing new. It has been going on at an accelerated pace since the attacks against the WTC and the‘ Pentagon as those in power have taken advantage of the cover of their ‘war against terrorism’ to push through new draconian measures of control. In Europe after the proposal of a European anti-riot policebody, we now have the project of a European arrest warrant and the adoption of common ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation. Behind this pretext of ‘fighting terrorism’ the states' real aim is to increase the control over the daily lives and struggles of everybody.
We seek to act concretely against the instruments of state control in all their multiplying forms. As part of this struggle the noborder network is organising a border-camp in the summer of 2002 in Strasbourg, France.
Strasbourg houses the Schengen Information System (SIS), a central piece of the control machine. This search and control database with tens of thousands of terminals across Europe aims first and foremost at migrants. However it is not only used at border checkpoints, but also serves to extend the state's control onto every street. The SIS can be instantly consulted to determine whether a person is wanted for deportation or arrest as well as providing other information used to monitor an individual's movements and activities.
Against this instrument of control and repression we want to be present in Strasbourg with our protest actions and our criticism of the European institutions and the interests they represent.
We aim to work against all forms of exploitation and division, by working
together to create new forms of collaboration and resistance.
We aim to create a platform for exchange of information and experience among
groups and individuals involved in different political struggles with an
emancipatory anti-capitalist perspective.
We aim to work together with self organized groups of migrants.
We aim to interconnect people working from different political practices and
coming with different regional experience.
The noborder-camp will include a variety of direct actions, from public
demonstrations to forms of ‘communication guerrilla’.
The camp will give space for a lot of international discussions and
workshops and we intend to create a ten-days-laboratory of creative
resistance and civil disobedience.
The Strasbourg camp expresses our ability to determine our own places and moments of presence, of action and communication.
We invite all interested people to come and participate, to contribute and support this international event ...
Agreed on by the European noborder network on 02.dec.2001