Political Declaration on the occupation of the “Grossmünster” church
Dear friends
Today, Wednesday 19 December 2007, around 2 pm 120 refugees and sympathisers occupied the “Grossmünster” church in Zurich. With this open-end church occupation we want to give a clear and peaceful sign of protest. We are protesting against the new asylum law, which is becoming effective by the 1st of January 2008. A law, which excludes and criminalizes people. A law which compels people to a minimal emergency assistance and forces them to live in collective points. A life in constant fear of jail and eviction.
We have seen no other choice then using this church occupation for calling the attention on the increasingly inhuman living conditions of many refugees and “Sans-Papiers”, who are living in Switzerland for years.
Solutions instead of Agitation
We are now confronted with laws, which don’t solve problems but only create more. People from civil war countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq or the Congo have to leave Switzerland in the next days and are faced with ruin. With a return in their country they would expect a life in poverty and misery, if not even death. And this is not doom-mongering, but bitter reality for the victims.
But we are not willing to simply accept this development. We stand for an open and honest debate on migration. A discussion, which must be solution-oriented without witch hunting campaigns on the back of the victims.
Right of abode now!
While in many European countries "right of abode" is being discussed or has already become effective and even the European Union recommends their present member states to make this changing step, right of abode is still far from being a topic in Switzerland.
This shows how the political parties in Switzerland have disbanded a solution oriented migration policy.
Instead of presenting constructive suggestions, the political agenda is being dictated by the SVP (Swiss People's Party), which worsens the situation clearly. Swiss politics has failed at this issue completely.
The negative impacts from this inadequate migration policy are yet unforeseeable.
Our claims:
We call for a right of abode for those people who have been living here for many years. Whether as "undocumented working poor", "rejected refugees" or "temporarily admitted". It can't be tolerated that people are forced to live permanently in a provisional situation for over 15 years. This condition is sickening and unacceptable!
We call on the two national churches to stand up for those who are forced to live at the edge of this society.
The churches of Zurich ought to open their doors for all human beings at christmas time and by doing so, sending out a clear sign of solidarity.
There won't be any mitigation in the area of asylum nor will there be a sustainable integration - without the right of abode.
Flight and migration are not a crime - no one is illegal!
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