Ceuta: The Spanish right and the European Commission go out to hunt children
As happens in Palestine, barbarism shows its horrible face again in Ceuta, that is, in the European Union. We must demand help, real and immediate respect for the rights of migrants. And fight to definitively end imperialist capitalism and its inhuman brutality.
By Gérard Florenson
Feijóo has the “merit” of speaking clearly and lifting the veil on the program of the supposedly democratic right. Hoping to obtain an electoral benefit from the racist poison that his party the PP, together with their VOX allies, spread in Spanish society through rumors and lies, relies on the situation in Ceuta not only to stigmatize migrants, but also to question the few legal provisions that protect them, even if minimally, of arbitrariness.
Sánchez Government: impotence or hypocrisy?
The protection of minors is part of those norms that seemed commonly accepted. For Feijóo they do not apply in the case of Ceuta: The massive arrival of migrants would not simply be illegal immigration, but an "invasion", chosen term, Of course, for its military connotation, and therefore all migrants, including minors, They are "invaders" who must be expelled by all means, even violent. Children and adolescents were among the “invaders” therefore they are criminals and, as such, cannot benefit from the least protection.
Feijóo is reinforced in this ignominious position by the statements of European Union leaders who advocate the expulsion of all migrants arriving in Ceuta.. This convergence of statements will only surprise those who consider the European institutions a democratic umbrella, something that is not our case. Simply, Feijóo gets a little ahead: invokes a migration pact that has not yet been incorporated into Spanish legislation, while seeking to tighten its application. He knows perfectly well that his demand to immediately expel all migrants is legally inapplicable and that even the European Union has had to provide special provisions for minors., but he doesn't care: a slogan is not made to convince, but to fill the heads.
Nevertheless, You also need to take care of sensitive souls that may exist even in your own field and, for it, use a more morally acceptable argument: The true interest of children and adolescents would be to live with their families. It could be objected that family reunification can be done in a place other than the country of origin... But, especially, if very young people have risked their lives—and at least 141 have died—with or without the agreement of their families, It is precisely because not even Morocco (safe country according to Feijóo) nor did the other African countries offer them a future. The Moroccan monarchy repressed youth demonstrations. Not only the imperialist powers, linked to this authoritarian government for their economic interests, they remained silent, but they also provide the batons: They are complicit in the living conditions of the population.
It's a late decision, three weeks after arrival, three weeks in deplorable conditions despite the efforts of different associations and a part of the population to help them, provide them with food and hygiene products, accommodate them and ensure their safety. And we will have to wait at least another two weeks for this transfer!! That these teenagers are in danger, That they are the subject of sometimes insistent sexual proposals and harassed by prostitution network recruiters is a fact denounced from the beginning by the associations..
The Spanish Government plans to transfer 500 minors to the continent
The Spanish right takes advantage of this to criticize the inaction of the Sánchez Government, but above all to stigmatize migrants by taking up the vocabulary of fascists: dangerous individuals and potential rapists. He doesn't worry about it anymore than in Ceuta; in other places, These manifestations of "virility" shock him less. When movie stars, of song or sport are accused of sexual assault, the right invokes the presumption of innocence and feminist excesses that exaggerate the scope of simple displays of affection. The notion of consent and its incorporation into the law seem exaggerated to them. The "civilized" do not force women or frequent brothels where young African or Latin American girls are often forced to "work.".
But while he fires heavy artillery against Sánchez, who relaxes on the beaches of the Canary Islands while “the homeland is in danger”, and while he says that the risk for the girls lies in the perversity of their compatriots, The right could be happy about the decision to transfer the minors to protect them. The communities it governs, often together with VOX, that competes in racist escalation, They oppose taking in minors in their territory and want to multiply resources to not apply the law.
We, revolutionaries, We do not give any credit to Sánchez or his reformist "partners". The first has affirmed his "firmness" against migrants, even knowing that the law must apply, reluctantly and shuffling; wants to reconcile with the European Union, as with the Moroccan monarchy, defend against accusations of permissiveness from the right and criticize the PP's turn towards the ultra positions of VOX. His leftist allies present themselves as more humanistic, but without denouncing the ambiguities of the head of Government, which is equivalent to covering them up.
But when the Government finally takes an elementary measure to protect hundreds of minors, when their move to the continent can allow them to access decent living conditions, to a home with sanitary facilities, food and medical care, our position is clear: YES to the transfer, and as soon as possible; They have already suffered too much. And facing the right, classic or extreme, we say: hands off, respect for migrants, respect for minors!
Our position is the same as when an employer must be forced to respect social laws.. The capitalist system does not fall because of this, but those who are incapable of defending the conquests of past struggles will not make the revolution. The laws that protect, even if minimally, migrants are not a gift from the system or from the governments at their service: They are a product of the anti-racist fight.
Sánchez is not incapable, but a maneuverer
It matters little that Sánchez has not interrupted his vacation in the Canary Islands: intervened and, when he is silent, It's to save time. He took the floor to denounce the massive arrival of migrants as an attack on the integrity of Spanish and European territories; Feijóo says "invasion" and Sánchez goes in the same direction without using the word. He took the floor to exonerate the Moroccan monarchy of all responsibility, holding anonymous mafias accountable. He defended Spanish domination over its African colonies. evidently, is responsible for the return, sometimes voluntary but in most cases forced, of the majority of migrants to Morocco. His Government sent additional police and military to "protect the border", but also to persecute the migrants who remained in Ceuta, make their lives impossible and hinder the work of humanitarian associations. Not exactly idle!
Sánchez defends himself against the accusations of permissiveness that the right directs against him and his ministers and, at the same time, must apply the laws that prohibit mass and indiscriminate expulsions. These laws are clearly insufficient and are submerged in an ocean of discriminatory texts against foreigners., but it's like with the Labor Code: There is no need to hesitate to use them when they allow you to defend yourself..
With a lot of delay, The Government applies a part of the law that protects unaccompanied minors. Just a part: only girls should benefit from the transfer. This means that the fate of the others approximately 1.500 minors remains uncertain. The law – and even the most restrictive European directives – requires its acceptance, protection and an individual examination of your situation. Nor Sánchez, nor Feijóo, Not even Mohamed VI can contravene it, and it is impossible for these minors to remain in Ceuta in good conditions.
The same happens with migrants from countries other than Morocco.. They have fled not only from misery, but also civil wars, border conflicts and deadly attacks by Islamist factions, things that both Feijóo and Sánchez have probably heard about. They have crossed Morocco to reach the gates of Ceuta, on a long and difficult journey that many do not survive. Their countries are not "safe countries", not even according to the criteria of capitalist Europe, and can benefit from the right to asylum after an individual examination of their cases. The Government knows that it cannot avoid this obligation and that it cannot return them to Morocco, that is hostile to them. He also knows that there are too many of them to stay in Ceuta in good conditions.. But, for the moment, the police have separated them from the Moroccan migrants, has forced them to leave the beach and has imprisoned them in a veritable holding camp, with at least a roof over their heads, but little more. As for what will happen next, silence.
The right and the Government debate about the health situation. The minister minimizes the difficulties, while the right calls it dramatic. The PP mocks the health of migrants and aims to protect the Spanish population of Ceuta from contagious diseases that foreigners would carry naturally.
Will Sánchez give in to the blackmail of the PP and VOX?
But if we believe not anonymous witnesses who speak to reactionary media, but to the representatives of doctors and health personnel who have been doing everything possible to heal wounds for three weeks, avoid infections, detect and treat diseases caused by misery and poor living conditions, the situation is really serious. It is aggravated by overcrowding, overcrowding and hygiene problems.
This would have required immediate action: emergency accommodation, even if they were tents, but with bedding, you showers, water and food in sufficient quantity. And furthermore, according to the doctors themselves, who have been overwhelmed, set up a field hospital with the essential material and medicines and reinforce health personnel (The Government has known how to do it for the police). Late responses, insufficient responses, denial of reality. Government's inability to deal with the situation, as the right says, that demands appearances and resignations?
If this Government is a band of useless people, overwhelmed immediately, we can tremble at the consequences of a natural disaster or a chemical or nuclear accident. It is true that the PP, seen what happened in the Valencian Country, can be discreet... And it is also true that the fight against fires has revealed the lack of sufficient resources. But we believe that the situation in Ceuta has another cause, that the Sánchez Government has a great responsibility in its worsening and that its "incapacity" is, at least in part, volunteer.
He was forced to take a measure to protect minors, but does not rush to resolve the situation of the minors. Why? He fears facing the blockade of the elected officials of the PP and VOX, because it would have to be imposed to enforce the law. The best solution for him is to let time pass, hoping that many of these children and adolescents, not seeing any exit, end up resigning themselves to returning to Morocco, whose government claims to love them.
The same happens with adult Moroccans who still remain in Ceuta.. Their living conditions are deplorable; They can only count on the associations and volunteers that help them, whose means are limited. They are not offered any accommodation and the police brutally expel them from the beaches and streets.. Being citizens of a "safe country", according to the imperialist governments, They have very few possibilities of benefiting from the right of asylum, unless they demonstrate that they are personally in danger. Sánchez is betting on their fatigue and their relations with the Moroccan monarchy to make them choose a "voluntary" return.
No person is illegal!Immediate assistance to all migrants! Democratic and social rights! Immediate and focused protection for children and adolescents! Punishment for abuses! The barbarism of European imperialist capitalism is on display! For a Europe and a socialist world without borders, governed by the workers!
