During the last months we have seen the Greek State mentioning how efficiently they are rescuing people from the sea, and after the Pylos shipwreck it seemed like the authorities had changed their methods when it comes to pushbacks. It was noticed that there were hardly any life rafts found by the Turkish Coast Guard during summer, this could indicate that most probably there were not many pushbacks from land. But in fact, the border violence in Greece, and especially in the Aegean Sea, is still ongoing. In the last week alone, at least five incidents (where 6 people died and 1 is missing) of border violence made the news in the Aegean islands.
On Saturday 14th of October, the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) fired shots at a speedboat near Chios. From this incident no dead or injured were reported, but neither was the use of fire arms by the Coast Guard in their statement. The HCG stated that they stopped the boat when only the driver was left onboard. He was arrested and is accused of “Illegal entry into the country”, “Resistance” and “Disobedience”.
The next day, 15th October, a shipwreck took place near Symi island, resulting in 3 deaths. On the 17th of October there were two different incidents that also lead to the deaths of at least two, and possibly even three persons. The first incident was a man who was found dead in a boat arriving to Lesvos. The second is the case of a woman who died on a boat near Samos. The survivors of this boat reported that the operator of the dinghy fell into the sea and is still missing.
On the 20th of October another worrying incident took place near Chios, when due to the dangerous manoeuvrers to try to stop the boat from arriving at the island, the HCG vessel collided with the migrant boat. This incident ended with one dead person and 2 more hospitalized. In that case also the supposed driver was arrested and accused of “Illegal entry into Greece”, “Obligations of carriers”, “Exposure”, “Simple bodily harm” and “Fatal injury”
Despite the “explanations” by the Greek coast guard, these incidents are not isolated accidents or the result of “reckless behavior” by the people on the boats. They are a result of the violent border practices that are designed to stop people from arriving to the EU by all means. The responsibility for these deaths and injuries lies solely with the policies of the European Union.
At the same time it is the people fleeing who are the ones being criminalized and accused of the deaths of their travel companions. It seems as if European policies are following the rule that if they can’t kill them at sea or return them to Turkey they will imprison them afterwards.
More arrivals – more Pushbacks
One might assume that the practice of push backs has slowed down, with the numbers of registered arrivals to the islands rising. But if we look at the numbers the exact opposite is happening. In August 5,382 people were registered and 10,348 people in September, bringing the camps on the islands to their maximum capacity.
In the reports published by the Turkish Coast Guard on rescued boats, it shows that the number of rescues on the Turkish side due to pushbacks have increased. During the last months of spring approximately 1200 people were pushed back every month. Yet in the month of August alone, the number of people pushed back was already at 2404 and in September 3079 people were pushed back from the Aegean islands towards Turkey.
That means that currently more people are leaving from the Turkish side, more people are arriving at the Aegean islands, but also that more people are being pushed back.
Although compared to the number of arrivals, the percentage of pushbacks has decreased, this should not be mistaken as a change in the border policy of violent pushbacks but rather as a sign that, with the rising numbers of people trying to cross, the Greek coast guard seems to have reached their capacity as well.
We know that the Greek State and the European Union are trying to target people on the move, transforming the route from Turkey to Greece to an even more dangerous route that will prevent people from crossing the borders. Of course people will not stop trying to cross the border, as long as wars continue, as they are right now in Gaza or Rojava, which destroy peoples homes and force them on the deadly routes to find safety.
As long as the western countries (including Greece) – and not only – are destabilising and exploiting other countries, people will keep fleeing to reach a safe place and look for a better future.
The same countries who are supporting these wars and profit from exploitation, are constantly talking about the “migration crisis” to justify building more deadly borders to stop people from fleeing. From our side, it’s absolutely clear with whom we stand and who is the enemy that we need to fight!
Freedom of movement for all!
Open Assembly Against the Border Violence in Lesvos