PLEIADES' PRESS RELEASE ON MILITARIZATION OF HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO REFUGEES

PRESS RELEASE The Hellenic Action for Human Rights – “Pleiades” alarms on the –literally- last minute addition to a Law voted by the Greek Parliament on Sunday 21-02-2016, titled “Measures on precipitating the Government’s work and other provisions” [Law 4368/16 (21 A'/21.02.2016)], by which the Greek Army took on “exclusively all that relates to the operation of Reception Centers and Hotspots, in regards to the transportation, accommodation, catering and health care for refugees and immigrants", "in declination of any other legal provision”. The Army will also be controlling and “coordinating” NGOs providing volunteer services to refugees. This Law was irrelevant to the rest of the context, was not pre-assessed by the Scientific Service of the Parliament (as opposed to the rest of the Law’s text which was, in accordance to the Rules of Procedure) and did not comply with the strict time-limit in which such additions and amendments are permitted by law. Nevertheless this amendment did become art.96 of the Law and its content is raising serious concerns. We strongly decry the militarization of the humanitarian response to incoming refugees and express our outmost concern on the detrimental semantics of democracy, of the threat that is implied by THE ARMY taking over on such a delicate humanitarian issue such as the reception of displaced populations fleeing war or internal conflict in the countries of origin, “exclusively managing”, from now on, according to the newly voted legislation, their housing, nutrition, transportation and medical support, as well as the activity of those volunteering in support of them. This is nothing less but an expression of a sentiment, that the refugee population is reviewed as an “invader” and “a threat to the national security and public order”. Issues under the control of the Minister of Defense have no transparency, for reasons of national security. The response and governmental bodies’ acts and omissions towards incoming refugees should be as transparent as possible, to ensure, among others, accountability. Moreover, NGOs, and especially those thousands of volunteers currently present in the island of Lesvos, who have already been alarmed by their unprecedented profiling and harassment projected in a relevant legislation voted by joint Ministerial Decision, dated 28-01-2016 currently in practice, cannot be deemed willing to be “directed and coordinated” by the Greek Army. That fact would drive them away, depriving Greece and Europe from one of its major strengths in setting first reception centers and response mechanisms for displaced persons. We can only assume that MPs voting in favor of such a legislation are ignorant of the serious implications it entails. Legalizing such a provision, without appropriate assessment, not only violates the Constitution but it can have severe consequences in oppressing the current status of automated responses. In light of the above, we urge the Greek Government - to urgently declare null art.96 of Law 4368/16 - to not deliver asylum seeking population to the “exclusive care” of the Greek Army, and not subject all relative authorities AND civil society to “army control and direction”. Such a stance would point to the regim’s de facto and de jure facismism. - to put an immediate end to the attempts to subject civil society to state control, management, evaluation by non-experts, “coordination and pre-approval of activities", rendering them governmental, instead of non-governmental, factors. The last minute amendment has as follows: “Article 96 Contribution of the Ministry of National Defense in managing the refugee crisis and setting up a coordinating body The Ministry of National Defense (YP.ETH.A.) notwithstanding any other provisions may: a. To take all necessary actions or enter into contracts with third parties for the execution of works, providing of services, supplying of goods or leases in reference to the establishment, construction and maintenance of First Reception Centres (KE.P.Y.), Welcoming Centres and Identification (K.Y.T.) and Open Temporary Reception and Welcoming Facilities for refugees and immigrants and the operation of these Facility Centres, solely in regards to the transportation, accommodation, catering and health care for refugees and immigrants. The contracting procedure of the preceding paragraph may, for reasons of urgency and unforeseen need, taken into account and for reasons of national safety or public order, which should be specifically justified, be conducted after negotiations without the publication of a contract announcement, notwithstanding of any other provisions of national law, be subjected to the application of European Union law on public procurements. b. To direct and coordinate, in cooperation with the Asylum Service and the First Reception Service, other public services and departments, as well as social institutions and non governmental organizations which assist in the functioning of the KE.P.Y/K.Y.T. and Open Reception Temporary Facilities and for Temporary Welcoming, exclusively in regards to the transportation, accommodation, catering and health care of refugees and immigrants, in accordance with everything provided in case a of this paragraph. The Headquarters of National Defense (G.E.ETH.A.) recommends a Central body for the Management and Coordination of the Refugee Crisis (KE.S.O.D.P.) to service the purposes of the preceding paragraph. A joint decision of the Ministers of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction, National Defense and Marine and Island Policy, defines its responsibilities, its staffing and every other necessary detail. Local Coordinating Centres (TO.S.KE.D.P.) are recommended with similar decisions requiring and also determining their responsibilities, their staffing and every necessary detail. 2. Expenses for actions being undertaken in context with paragraph 1 will be covered by appropriations either through the regular Budget or the Public Investment Programme in excess of the allotted appropriations of the Ministry of National Defense. From the official Proceedings of OZ Meeting of the Hellenic Parliament dated February 20, 2016 which voted the following legislation: "Measures for the acceleration of the government work plan and other provisions".

Minister of Defence, Mr.Kammenos’, previous public statements on hotspots and refugee influxes and the “Isis threat”, render the new law even more alarming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg64SjKm604 Καμμένος : ΟΧΙ HOT SPOT ΣΤΑ ΝΗΣΙΑ ΜΑΣ ( Αυγουστος 2015) Kammenos: welcoming centers attract  more migrants - no to welcoming centers no to hot spots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4OANknY5fI request for cooperation between frontex and turkey so that frontex can push back to turkey the boats and turkey to receive them as a response measure to the funds they have received

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIpJ9SSKMJ0 Kammenos’ explains in the Greek Parliament what Nato will be doing in the Aegean - push backs and transfers back to turkey (at 5:10+ minutes) “if you want to know the truth, the deal is closed and NATO ensures that whoever is caught in Greek or on Turkish waters, will be going back to Turkey”. 25-02-2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEMcunFGeiA  Kammenos:”- if europe does not support us then greece will not comply with Dublin II regulations and europe would face with the threat of isis”