FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

This morning at 8.15am at the Paul Devot Dock more than 15 CRS vans
surrounded the squats of the various communities that found solace
there. Some 50 police then arrested over 30 migrants who were unable to
leave as the police had blockaded the front exit with their vans and a
new fence had been placed in the back exit the night previously which
left them caged in from all sides. A No Borders activist was there at
the time also and attempted to videotape the arrests but she was evicted
from the premises. The Chamber of Commerce then had two large blue
containers deposited for the migrants' belongings and then with the use
of tractors the destruction of the sleeping bags, mattresses, clothes
and homes of the migrants could begin.

For years, this place has served as a shelter for these communities and
activists have visited on a nightly basis to monitor the activities of
the police due to reports of beatings and the use of CS gas on the
members of the communities there. Although the people there were on
private property - a property open to everyone, which didn't seem to
disturb anyone - it is difficult to see how that justifies the
destruction of their private belongings. For the time being, we have no
idea where the arrested migrants are; we hope they will be released
shortly, they will in any case be released at some point, and then their
battle to find a place to sleep will occur once more, in the rain, the
wind and the cold.

After having refused to give these people the freedom of movement which
most European citizens enjoy, after having placed them in this
artificial and useless destitution, the state has found it useful to
worsen the poverty with this new destruction, in the sick hope that it
would push them to abandon that which they have an inalienable right to.

The state has destroyed much but the migrants are still there, and so
are we.

SOLIDARITE AVEC LES SANS PAPIERS.