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| Webjournal zum Flüchtlingskongress vom 21. April bis 1. Mai in Jena | zurück | back |
Working-group Residenzpflicht, Tuesday 25.4.
As in the previous discussions a lot of propositions for the campaign against the Residenzpflicht have been discussed and collected, we now had to talk more concretely and realistically about the main focuses in the aims and actions. Therefore, the "action-plan" was discussed again.
We agreed that the campaign has to be based on the appeal for civil disobedience against the Residence-law: the appeal to break it, together and in public. This movement can only start from the refugees themselves. They have to decide about the direction of the campaign and also have to organize it. The supporters can support it but they cannot install a movement of civil disobedience on behalf oft the refugees. Without them any campaign - be it as well as possible organized will be fruitless.
Therefore, we thought it wisely, not only to focus on a central action (e.g. 3.10. Expo Hannover). At the same time we need a foundation in the different regions of the Caravan. The regional groups should not only mobilize for central action. We also need local actions of civil disobedience and protest.
We also came to the conclusion that it is of entire importance not to divide the basic claim for the right of free movement. (by arguing about certain very severe cases of being denied moving or taking the legal consequences of the Residence-law, e.g.).
Protest actions should reach the public. They have to aim at pointing out that the refugees are victims of a policy, that knowingly deprives them of their basic human right to move freely.
In our strategies we have to rely on the experience of the civil right movements (M.L.King e.g.) We need an escalation of the campaign and the common spirit should rely on fighting together for our right to move. A lot of efforts are necessary to build up this spirit among the refugees and to develop it as our strength. In this regard the recommendation came up that such a movement must rely on strong symbolic figures, victims of the fight against the Residence-law. But not quite all agreed to this claim for "heroes" and "leaders" of the movement.
To support the civil disobedience it was proposed to:
start a broad documentation, based on regional reports, about the situation of refugees under Residence-law. They should not only document the most horrible cases but the realities of every day. A central coordination of documentation should be installed.
The supporters have to be prepared to support the refugees on the legal and financial level.
It was proposed to install a coordinating comitee. The various levels of the campaign should be discussed there: the well balance of international, national and regional actions and the different means of the campaign: the political and media level, the legal approach, the actions of civil disobedience. To got to the International Courts e.g. makes no sense on its own. As legislation always is an outcome of society and policy, we will not break it by law alone.
The proposition of a central action on 3.10. Expo Hannover was controversially discussed. But in the end we agreed that many arguments are on the side of action there: it is the national memorial day of Germany and it will be in the focus of the media because it is Germany\\'s day on the Expo. But at the same time, Expo should not be regarded as the climax of the campaign. Actions have to continue and we have to think about possibilities of further escalation. The proposition of a refugees\\' march to Berlin came up, and of a sit-in in the Bundestag (national parliament). At the same time a regional action day on a fixed date in summer should take place.
Karawane Freiburg-Südbaden introduced an action day that will take place on 27th May at a spot where three Landkreises (rural districts) meet. There, a public manifestation will take place. In a bicycle corso refugees from the Heims (camps) on the way will join in. There will be protest actions in front of the rural courts at the same time. And certainly there will be also a party and a barbecue.
Also Cottbus, where all refugees were denied the permission for Jena on order of the Inner Ministry of Brandenburg, regional actions will take place.
more propositions and recommendations:
>br>- we need international pressure on Germany and the German government
- we need an nation wide net of information both for refugees and supporters.
>- very soon a manifest has to be published, directly addressed to the refugees. During the congress, the opportunities to translate and distribute it are better than ever.
- as far as now, women are missing completely on the refugees\\' side. If we want to be successful, they have to be in the campaign as well and in the same power as men.
concrete results:
- 3.10. Expo will be national action day: to break the residence-law as mass action, in public.
- a regional action day in summer will take place.
- the documentation project shall be realized
- a leaflet addressed to the refugees will be written
For further preparation it was decided, to continue in separate working groups for refugees and supporters. The next common meeting will take place on Friday, 28.5. 14.30 hrs.
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