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the report of the Grenzcamp 2001 in Frankfurt/Main From the variety of negative trends threatening the asylum seekers and other migrant groups in Germany,the Flüchtlings Initiative Brandenburg, found in the state of Brandenburg surfaced with new approaches to challenge, resist the imminent threats. One of our strategies was be permanently and actively be present in what ever forum or occation addressing the problems of refugees. The organisation sought to know more of the German groups that have been and are still defending the rights of the refugees. We are not limiting our activities on mass demonstrations without knowing the organisers, their motives and their politics. There is always a logical argument that some people have been using others as steeping stones to attain their goals. There are even some of these people attached to the main stream politics that are searching for recognition by their continous development of strategies to destroy the stength and continuity of upcoming movements and groups clamouring for their rights, others are searching for their careers.Due to these points, they compromise or downplay the politics of other groups and finally pushing these groups into abeyance. Infact, The Brandenburg Flüchtlings Initiative believes that these ingredients have completely marginalised and destroyed the strength of many refugees and migrant groups and movements that actually were strong from the start. The Brandenburg organisation also believes that one of the methods of getting out of this mess is through ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, where the asylum seekers can en mass discuss the magnitude of their problems with other groups as they feel the problems. And not the form of PASSIVE PARTICIPATION, where the asylum seekers are only brought to demonstrate without even knowing why they are on the streets, with whom they are on the street demonstrating.This second method, The Flüchtlings Initiative Brandenburg, considers it as a conspiracy to perpetuate inferior status to the refugees who have already been destroyed mentally, emotionally and physically by the German government and the government has succeeded to make the soceity develop this myth of inferiority complex on the refugees as we are only seen from the perpespective of poor economic refugees searching for survival. It was with debonair that the refugees from Brandenburg sat in the train heading to Frankfurt last year 2001 for the Grenz Camp campaign. We knew we were going to meet people who reason some how like us, struggle for us and who can actually discuss our problems with us and send them to the appropriate quaters where possible solutions could be found. It was rather unfortunate that the situation did not turn out as we thought. The refugees still met a mixed soceity like a normal German soceity. They met some very nice people and some who distant them selves from the refugees. It was strange that though some of the Germans did not refuse the problems of the refugees, did not accept the refugees in the camp. This actually broading the gap between the refugees and the Germans. In the open place where the Germans and the refugees were eating, there was a complete collapse of communication. The refugees were isolated on their benches and the Germans were found on one side. This made Tita Denis to exclaim, "We have come to the heart of one of the biggest left wing organisations in Germany but we are still segregated upon. How can we sit with people in meetings, discuss with them but some minutes later the pass you as if is a strange person one just met in the sub urban train in Berlin." The refugees found them selves isolated like motherless children. Very few people paid attention to them. This Frankfurt incident almost convinced the refugees that a large part of the German left wing is actually minimising racism and segregation existing in Germany. One other shocking incident was the existence of a barrier in the Grenz Camp. some ladies built up their tents in one part of the camp and prevented the men from trespassing. They used the white and red tape usually being used by traffic police officers, of about one hundred metres, sorounded their section and later on put a placard on the boarders restricting the men from going beyond. Tijan from The Voice African forum asked," How can a boarder be existing where the people are struggling against all forms of boarders? Is this struggle just an ideological struggle?" He wanted to go accross the tape, but he was shouted upon by some ladies. He later on concluded that " There is the law of residential restriction in the Grenz camp."It should be mentioned that this restriction was not only against the refugees men but also the Germans. This actually contradicted the slogan, "No borders ! No nation! Stop Deportation!"" It could be said that the Frankfurt Grenz camp Campaign was a success because it was the first campaign the refugees went en mass from the start to finish.The refugees mobilised the organisers of their weaknesses, forcused immense publicity on their problems and a dramatic symbolic action that revealed the underlying prejudices. The organisers of the Grenz camp are in the process to end the escalation of last year. Most of the organisers accepted the fact that a strange atmosphere existed last year because it was the very first time to have full participation from the refugees. The wish of The Brandenburg Flüchtlings Initiative is that we should not move apart. It is a great virtue to build an intergrated soceity. Our critical points are not to destroy the Grenz Camp but to perfect the continuity of the Campaign.The Grenz Camp has a great role to play in the society. brandenburg refugee initiative
`09.05.2002`

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the report of the Grenzcamp 2001 in Frankfurt/Main

From the variety of negative trends threatening the asylum seekers and other migrant groups in Germany,the Flüchtlings Initiative Brandenburg, found in the state of Brandenburg surfaced with new approaches to challenge, resist the imminent threats. One of our strategies was be permanently and actively be present in what ever forum or occation addressing the problems of refugees. The organisation sought to know more of the German groups that have been and are still defending the rights of the refugees. We are not limiting our activities on mass demonstrations without knowing the organisers, their motives and their politics. There is always a logical argument that some people have been using others as steeping stones to attain their goals. There are even some of these people attached to the main stream politics that are searching for recognition by their continous development of strategies to destroy the stength and continuity of upcoming movements and groups clamouring for their rights, others are searching for their careers.Due to these points, they compromise or downplay the politics of other groups and finally pushing these groups into abeyance. Infact, The Brandenburg Flüchtlings Initiative believes that these ingredients have completely marginalised and destroyed the strength of many refugees and migrant groups and movements that actually were strong from the start.

The Brandenburg organisation also believes that one of the methods of getting out of this mess is through ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, where the asylum seekers can en mass discuss the magnitude of their problems with other groups as they feel the problems. And not the form of PASSIVE PARTICIPATION, where the asylum seekers are only brought to demonstrate without even knowing why they are on the streets, with whom they are on the street demonstrating.This second method, The Flüchtlings Initiative Brandenburg, considers it as a conspiracy to perpetuate inferior status to the refugees who have already been destroyed mentally, emotionally and physically by the German government and the government has succeeded to make the soceity develop this myth of inferiority complex on the refugees as we are only seen from the perpespective of poor economic refugees searching for survival.

It was with debonair that the refugees from Brandenburg sat in the train heading to Frankfurt last year 2001 for the Grenz Camp campaign. We knew we were going to meet people who reason some how like us, struggle for us and who can actually discuss our problems with us and send them to the appropriate quaters where possible solutions could be found.

It was rather unfortunate that the situation did not turn out as we thought. The refugees still met a mixed soceity like a normal German soceity. They met some very nice people and some who distant them selves from the refugees. It was strange that though some of the Germans did not refuse the problems of the refugees, did not accept the refugees in the camp. This actually broading the gap between the refugees and the Germans. In the open place where the Germans and the refugees were eating, there was a complete collapse of communication. The refugees were isolated on their benches and the Germans were found on one side. This made Tita Denis to exclaim, "We have come to the heart of one of the biggest left wing organisations in Germany but we are still segregated upon. How can we sit with people in meetings, discuss with them but some minutes later the pass you as if is a strange person one just met in the sub urban train in Berlin." The refugees found them selves isolated like motherless children. Very few people paid attention to them.

This Frankfurt incident almost convinced the refugees that a large part of the German left wing is actually minimising racism and segregation existing in Germany.

One other shocking incident was the existence of a barrier in the Grenz Camp. some ladies built up their tents in one part of the camp and prevented the men from trespassing. They used the white and red tape usually being used by traffic police officers, of about one hundred metres, sorounded their section and later on put a placard on the boarders restricting the men from going beyond. Tijan from The Voice African forum asked," How can a boarder be existing where the people are struggling against all forms of boarders? Is this struggle just an ideological struggle?" He wanted to go accross the tape, but he was shouted upon by some ladies. He later on concluded that " There is the law of residential restriction in the Grenz camp."It should be mentioned that this restriction was not only against the refugees men but also the Germans. This actually contradicted the slogan, "No borders ! No nation! Stop Deportation!""

It could be said that the Frankfurt Grenz camp Campaign was a success because it was the first campaign the refugees went en mass from the start to finish.The refugees mobilised the organisers of their weaknesses, forcused immense publicity on their problems and a dramatic symbolic action that revealed the underlying prejudices. The organisers of the Grenz camp are in the process to end the escalation of last year. Most of the organisers accepted the fact that a strange atmosphere existed last year because it was the very first time to have full participation from the refugees.

The wish of The Brandenburg Flüchtlings Initiative is that we should not move apart. It is a great virtue to build an intergrated soceity. Our critical points are not to destroy the Grenz Camp but to perfect the continuity of the Campaign.The Grenz Camp has a great role to play in the society.

brandenburg refugee initiative

09.05.2002