Yesterday morning, October 22, 2020, the Prefecture of Pas de Calais once again proceeded with the eviction and mass destruction of a camp. It was a place called “Unicorn Jungle”, where nearly 300 exiled people were surviving, according to the distribution of tents made by Utopia 56 a week earlier. Once again, the associations denounced the brutality and inefficiency of these operations. They do not respect the fundamental rights of the exiled.
The associations denounce the violation of the exiled people’s right to come and go. Once again, a dozen buses had been chartered to take them to an unknown destination. The authorities carried out a “sheltering” operation for at least 190 people. This “sheltering” of men, but also women and children. The uselessness of this “sheltering” operation can be seen, in particular, by the frequency of these operations.
The associations denounce the forced nature of these operations. Starting at 7:20 am, the forces of law and order disembarked with their usual armada (national gendarmerie, national police, border police, BAC, …). The consent and will of the exiled people was not taken into consideration at all. In fact, a veritable manhunt has been carried out to try to make the exiled disappear. The procedure is always the same: when a bus arrives, the exiled people are escorted by the police, preventing them from leaving.
The associations denounced the violation of the property rights of the exiled people. People are expelled without being able to take the time to gather their belongings, which are confiscated or thrown away.
Several hours after the operation, the violence is still felt when one goes to the camp. A pan of rice is still full on the fire, shoes are lying around, a tent, water cans, a little girl’s T-shirt, a blanket, …
The associations denounce the lack of respect for the right to private and family life of exiled people. The Human Rights Observers team was able to recount a hard-hitting scene in which law enforcement officials refused to allow a man to join his family on a bus.
The associations denounced the absence of the right to an adversarial process. In fact, several hours later, a single page of the ordinance on request was ostensibly displayed in the middle of the living space. This is the legal basis for eviction with authorization to use public force. This procedure makes it possible to bypass the exiled persons’ right to an adversarial process. The same grounds are used each time: public health, public safety and disturbance of public order.
Once again, the associations denounced the brutality and inefficiency of these operations. The associations denounce the violation of the fundamental rights of the exiled people, not exhaustively cited.
Refugees related groups in France https://radar.squat.net/en/groups/country/FR/topic/sans-papiers
Some squats in France: https://radar.squat.net/en/groups/country/FR/squated/squat
Groups (collectives, social centres, squats) in France: https://radar.squat.net/en/groups/country/FR
Events in France: https://radar.squat.net/en/events/country/FR
Passeurs d’hospitalités https://passeursdhospitalites.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/a-calais-la-saga-des-expulsions-continue/
