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LOCK-IN in SEVILLE

mangui | 22.06.2002 12:08

100 demonstrators locked-in a church to draw attention to lock-in of migrants without papers. Surrounded by police, situation unstable.

As part of the day of demonstrations against the European Summit today in Seville and in order to draw public attention to the lock-in of migrants without papers in this city, a group of about 100 demonstrators have locked themselves into a church. They are demanding that the public institutions open negotiations with the locked-in migrants, who are presently on hunger strike.
The situation is very unstable. At this moment, the church is surrounded by police, and those inside have no water, food, electricity or physical contact with the outside. There is the possibility that the bishop will speak to them. Several members of the press are inside and have conducted a press conference. The locked-in demonstrators are awaiting the arrival of lawyers from the Sevilla Social Forum and are deciding how to proceed. Their situation is extremely vulnerable.
Stay posted for updates.

mangui
- Homepage: http://acp.sindominio.net

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update from lock-in

22.06.2002 13:07

the atmosphere is somewhat more calm now. The locked-in demonstrators have finished their assembly though it remains unresolved whether they will go out for the demonstration, and under what circumstances. They are presently negotiating by telephone with the Social Forum organizers, who in turn are negotiating with a government delegation. It is unclear whether they will be able to open negotiations with the bishop, who is a key figure for the lock-in of migrants.
There are several police officers inside the church, guarding the door and making rather erratic threatening gestures to the people inside. Outside, a large crowd of demonstrators continues to shout “No human being is illegal”.
Those locked in are hoping to convince the Social Forum organizers to reroute the demonstration this evening through the church in order to close the lock-in with a highly visible event.

mangui