Prijatelj on Thu, 2 Sep 1999 23:02:18 +0200 (CEST) |
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<nettime> Rasist state of Austria |
For more information contact Platform for a World without Rasicm in Vienna Schottengasse 3a/1/59, A- 1010 Wien RASCISM IN AUSTRIA LEGITIMATED BY LAW, DEMANDED BY MEDIA AND EXECUTED BY THE POLICE The Platform for a World without Rascism, which sees itself as a reaction to the growing terror against immigrants in Austria, is a union of many groups, initiatives, associations and private people. We are concerned to see, that rascism is not an isolated phenomenon in this country but desired, stired-up and practised by institutions. After Ahmed F. from Senegal was violently killed at his arrest at the beginning of this year and after the killing of Marcus Omofuma by the cops, the reaction was not a change of view but in contrary the rascist propaganda was intensified to produce acceptance for such crimes. In this sense, we don`t trust the affirmations of the responsible ministery for justice and the ministery of the interior, which state that the alleged biggest drug-raid of the Second Republic (25./ 26.5.99) the so-called Operation Spring, where mainly people with coloured skin were arrested had nothing to do with the murder of Marcus Omofuma. But there are too many contradictions, that make this connection clear: *) The propaganda of the Kronen Zeitung together with the FPV in the run-up to the raid *) The alleged executed bugging operation half a year before could not prevent, that a refugee-hostel in Graz former inhabited by African immigrants, now by Kosovo-Albanians was attacked by police special forces. But the cops returned, because they only seemed to need some detainees with the same colour of skin as Marcus Omofuma. *) Inhabitants of a refugee-hostel in Vienna report, that the cops had beaten up people, who were still sleeping. When they looked under bed-sheets and found white refugees, they excused for what they had done. *) From 102 arrested people had to be released more than two thirds. The accauses against the already imprisoned are very scanty the big success which the media propagate is just a bit of seized drugs which could be found by a few dealers. The alleged uncovered Nigerian drug-mafia unmasks more and more as a construct, which shall legitimate the murdering of Marcus (in reality just a few of the arrested come from Nigeria) the important thing for the responsible people was the colour of the skin. *) The accusation of the Human Right`s activist Charles O. for being the chief of the drug-mafia was reduced to his demand Leave work and join the demonstration. This very ridiculous argumentation is a warning to all people engaged, to shut the mouth. Otherwise they would have to fear massive repression by the state. This arbitrariness of the police against African people together with the growing rascist propaganda of the media has reached a new highest point with the Operation Spring, but this is already not the end: Each day there are reports of violent acts and arrests only by rascist characteristics. An article in the Kurier (3.8.99, On drug-patrol with the cops in Favoriten) speaks seriously of these rascist stereotypes. Word-for-word: The cops are especially interested in Black-Africans who starting at the Matzleinsdorfer Platz seem to supply the scene with heroin and cocain. The abuses, which the arrested are exposed of this propaganda-raid in face of inhuman practice, don`t surprise anymore: For weeks even months the imprisoned aren`t allowed to have contact with their relatives ... Unfortunately, most of the arrested got Farid Rifaat as compulsory-defender, who not only defended the neonazi Franz Radl on trial but also the three cops who are responsible for the death of Marcus Omofuma. Though this may be legal, as long as the ministery claims that both cases have no connection. But if you have noticed, how media and politics took the Operation Spring as an excuse for the death of Marcus, it looks very much like bias. The question is: Will it be more important for the lawyer to protect the three cops who have the money to pay him, or to release his African clients who are taken as legitimation before public for police-torture?After the violent death by suffocation of Marcus the public was indignant. But only for a short time as the reactions after the biggest drug-raid of the Second Republic and ist presentation in the media showed. As long as the public accepts the propaganda of rascist media that say, every African deals with drugs and therefore can be deported to death there will be no pressure on the responsible political institutions. So the defence of the three cops is much easier. This propaganda is possible as long as the dubious details of the Operation Spring are not published and the African defendants remain in prison until their condemnation. It really is in doubt that Rifaat will be serious in his defence. Moreover, it is quite strange that in a case like this in connection with a so-called criminal association a lawyer has responsibility for more than one defendant, even a great part of them. In addition, people who visited the prisoners were observed by court people to prevent the possibility of arrangements. Activists of GEMMI (Association for Human Rights of Marginalized people and Immigrants) went to a deputy of Rifaat, Dr. Rast, showing him the power of attorney of one of the defendants which they needed to look into the files. He allowed this only after weeks of discussion. After all, he demanded 10 vS per copy (of a file with hundreds of pages). It seems that he wasn`t very lucky about the engagement for his clients. Though there was another lawyer who agreed to take responsibility for one of the arrested who wished a new lawyer instead of Rifaat, the Bar Council refused the application. The Platform for a World without Rascism aware of these bad conditions wrote the following letter to the minister of Justice: Vienna, 3.8.99 Dear Mr. Michalek, People who were arrested in the Operation Spring are confronted with conditions that contradict to Human Rights as visitors told us. *) After more than six weeks none of them was given hygienic articles such as teeth brushes etc. That is against the common practise, that detainees have to get supply immediately. *) They also had no possibility to change their clothes since they were arrested although there is a big depot of clothes in prison. One of the detainees even had no shoes because the belts of his sandals had torn apart. *) Nobody was told about the legal status. The contact to relatives or friends has been forbidden. As a consequence, many of them will for sure lose their jobs and flats.1 They can`t tell anyone why they don`t go to work or pay their rent. *) After two and a half month there still is no accusation. That means, the detainees still don`t know for what reason they are imprisoned. In addition, few of them actually have been visited: Most of them have no contact out of the prison-walls. They are forced to vegetate without teeth brush and clothes in prison. So we request you to remedy abuses as well as to guarantee the respectful dealing with the prisoners in the future which is entitled to them. Yours faithfully P.S. A copy of this writing is going to national and international media, institutions and organizations. With this letter we want to set a sign against the tactic of those responsible who want to achieve that way a desolidaration with the victims of state rascism. The Operation Spring is next to rascist propaganda and justification of Marcus`death also to legitimate new methods of police investigation. It is no accident that the first official bugging operation in Austria was against people with black skin. Besides of the accusation that all African people are dealing with drugs the ministery of the interior has taken the Menschenrechtsbeirat (Human Right`s Commitee) as an additional alibi. Meanwhile the authorities cut unliked organisations like the Social Service of the Airport in their work, the clique around minister Schlvgl quasi made their own smooth opposition, where suitable NGOs are sitting next to deputies of the ministery. With this the future resolutions of the ministery should be immune against anti-rascist criticism. In one hand we should not be impressed by such tactics in our anti-rascist work and in the other hand we should not split up in solidarity, because solidarity can not be divided. The division into good (no refugees of poverty, but political in the sight of the rulers in the ministery) and bad (like real and supposed drug dealers, so-called economic refugees of the imperialistic distribution politics ...) immigrants (male and female) serves just the ruling rascism and the justification of inhuman asylum-politics. Don`t let them fool you down resist, stay in solidarity! Finally we want to show that rascism doesn`t only exist in Austria. Also in other countries of Europe like Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, England and France in a short time immigrants were killed by cops on remand pending deportation or while their deportation under cruel circumstances.Information from the rasist state of Austria. Please forward further. The legal murder of people who have committed no other crime than being poor and not being born here, has become an european-wide method. That`s the reality of Schengen, against which we want to fight internationally. For further care for the prisoners we need your support. If someone wants to help, contact: Plattform f|r eine Welt ohne Rassismus Schottengasse 3A/1/59 1010 Wien/ Austria 1 The meaning of this was that for example telephone-numbers which layed at the deposit place, in spite of repeated requests weren`t given. Visiting was allowed but watched by cops. The problem was, that relatives or colleagues didn`t know that and the place where their friends are imprisoned. Meanwhile (end of august) the most of the prisoners (without a watching cop) can be visited. But some people aren`t allowed to receive visitors until today. Imp: Plattform f|r eine Welt ohne Rassismus Schotteng. 3A/1/59, 1010 Wien. 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