On the Greek island of Lesbos, tensions continue to escalate after days of unrest following an influx of refugees, a violent response from vigilante groups, alleged human rights violations and accusations of media censorship by the Greek authorities.
A report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, sent to the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council highlighted grave incidents of violence perpetrated by the Greek authorities against asylum seekers.
This is unbelievable, horrifying footage. Thousands of refugees tear-gassed in Lesbos as they try to leave.
Over 20,000 refugees are being cramped into camp meant for 3000 people. Protests erupted as people tried to leave.https://t.co/J7QLN009JS
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) March 2, 2020
These include Greek border officials tear gassing civilians and children, the Greek coastguard using guns and poles and utilising naval boats to create waves and block unseaworthy inflatable vessels from reaching the shore.
Turkish government official passed on this video, purportedly taken this morning at 0730, allegedly showing Greek Coast Guard menacing migrants off the coast of Lesbos pic.twitter.com/SDNz0VXDRq
— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) March 2, 2020
Under international law, Greece is prohibited from using excessive force against vulnerable asylum seekers that are fleeing from mortal danger. It is also required to set out a clear system of handling and processing asylum requests in line with their obligations under EU Refugee Law, international human rights law, and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees- which Greece is a signatory to.
The Greek government has responded by invoking Article 78 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU to justify its violations, including suspending the asylum application process. This can only be invoked by the EU Council following a proposal by the EU Commission and a consultation with the European Parliament, meaning that Greece has taken steps in breach of its EU obligations.
So far, the EU has done little to help or condemn the actions of one of their Member States.
But what is the cause of the problem? The situation on the Greek islands, including Lesbos has been bad for a long time, but recent pressures from Turkey on the European Union have caused an exacerbation in recent days. Turkey announced it would no longer police its border with Greece and the country braced itself for arrivals.
Katy Fallon, a journalist on the ground on Lesbos spoke to Exit today and said that things really deteriorated after it was announced that a detention centre would be built in the north of the island. This angered some of the locals and members of right-wing groups and Athens responded by sending in riot police brandishing tear gas which further exacerbated the situation.
As refugees continued to arrive by boat, groups of locals said they wouldn’t allow them to transfer onto the shore and that other solutions would have to be found.
Those trying to report on the situation have come under attack from locals and the authorities. On Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Greek authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate attacks on reporters that are covering the crisis and to ensure the safety of those reporting on matters of public interest.
Greeks set up roadblocks around the camp and stopped buses from leaving or entering the camp and searching other vehicles that tried to pass. Fallon who was stuck inside the camp had her vehicle searched when she eventually managed to get a taxi out and she confirmed a number of violent incidents against fellow journalists.
“The situation is still precarious for journalists and for refugees. There has been a bad response from police and a lot of ‘vigilante justice’- they don’t care if you are a journalist or working for an NGO, anyone foreign is a target,” she told Exit.
My colleague @FranziEire and me just got attacked on the Island of #Lesvos driving with the car along the coast of #Moria. A group of masked and black-wearing men with sticks and stones threw stones on our car – we had to drive very fast to escape. We are safe. #refugeesgr pic.twitter.com/2C2Fu8zxRw
— Julian Busch (@JulianBusch2) March 2, 2020
Journalists Franzi Eire and Julian Busch were attacked when driving a car along the coast of Moira. A group of masked men in black threw sticks and stones at their car, thankfully they were able to speed to safety.
On March 1 a group of Greek protestors in Thermi, Lesbos attempted to block refugees from entering the country. They then attacked journalists verbally and with sticks, threw equipment into the water, beat and kicked them and chased their cars.
Erik Marquardt, a Member of European Parliament claimed that he was attacked by locals and when he tried to get police assistance, he was told that they cannot help.
In addition to physical attacks, the Greek public broadcaster ERT has been accused of censoring reporting from the islands. Correspondents are now required to get management’s approval before publishing any reports from the region, removing the degree of autonomy regional correspondents once had.
Yesterday the US Embassy announced it would be looking into reports of extreme violence and Fallon said she hopes that this will result in some arrests.
“It’s been terrifying- I haven’t wanted to walk alone on the streets at night.”
She was also keen to highlight the fact that those carrying out acts of violence are not representative of the whole population.
“Most of the locals are not like this and are showing solidarity and condemning acts of violence. This is just a minority, making their voices heard.”
Fallon intends to stay on the ground, reporting on the situation as it unfolds and she hopes that the authorities that have a duty to keep refugees, journalists, and NGO workers safe, do so.
Meanwhile, conditions in the camps continue to get worse as NGOs say the detention camp in Lesbos is at 6x capacity with more than 19,000 detainees. There are estimated to be around 1800 unaccompanied children amongst them and thousands more with their mothers, including newborn babies. They are sleeping without shelter or access to basic facilities, many more are in tents totally unsuitable for the elements.
Bill Frelick the Refugee Rights Director at Human Rights Watch condemned the Greek authorities for trampling on the human rights of refugees, particularly minors travelling alone.
“EU countries should share responsibility and relocate unaccompanied children out of Greece while ensuring that their best interests are taken into account,” he said. Frelick also called for EU institutions to support emergency humanitarian aid at the border and to put in place human and efficient measures that respect the dignity and the right to seek asylum.
“The EU Hotspots on the Aegean islands are entirely unsuitable and in some cases life-threatening places for unaccompanied children,” said Stephanie Pope, EU policy and advocacy manager at Refugee Rights Europe. “Each EU state only needs to accept a small number of unaccompanied children to end the intolerable situation these children are in. We believe the EU can do better.”
Earlier this week, a young child died as the dinghy he was travelling in capsized. Rescuers were unable to revive him and another child was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Most of the new arrivals are coming from Afghanistan, fleeing the Taliban or Al Qaeda, while some are from Syria. All are fleeing war, poverty and persecution.
Fallon explains that those she has spoken to inside the camps at Moria are all so shocked at what is happening.
“They all hoped Europe would be different,” she said.
