Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

"It's up to us to change the way people think, because it's not always open."

  • Juliette Bergouignan spent many hours at the headquarters of the Cimade Association in Baiona. There are more and more people to serve. On the one hand, because Europe is curtailing access so far, developing new access to the Basque Country and, on the other, because the French Government has an even tougher immigration law. We talked about everything with Bergouignan.
"Uztaritzeko serorekin harremanetan sartu nintzen eta Urepelen etxe bat libre bazutela erran zidaten. Baigorriko apaiza ados zen baina parrokiako kontseiluari galdetu eta ezetza erantzun zuten". (Argazkia: Jenofa Berhokoirigoin)

At the same time EH Bai, Hemen, Cimade eta beste. Why so much militancy? It's
my life, I don't see my life alone full of work and family. I feel nationalistic and I have always been in it, especially in the field of higher education. Each has its own to bring it to the people in any village.

You're helping immigrants. New access is being developed from Euskal Herria.
Yes. They used to pass through Libya and Italy, but they are becoming more and more difficult, on other roads; on the Sahel, on Cadiz or on Melilla, on Europe. They're like water, water always has to find its way, unless it's on one side, passing through the other. That is the case. Why? Because they can't live there.

The authorities don't care.
They cannot live in their country! It's not by chance for the future, it can be by climate change, by violence, because multinationals have taken their land ... For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 22,000 hectares of land have been taken to build a huge reservoir. What are those who live there going to do? First they go to the city, try to live in the corners of the cities, and the wealthiest or the ones who get the money get away and come back. Politics is truly violent, it is a dishonour for Europe.

What work do you carry? We are doing some meetings with those of Hego
Euskal Herria. To start with, we have to know how many people spend every day, where they want to go and what their needs are. Because not everyone wants to be here, some want to go to France, to Finland, to Germany or to England. Those who go through our office are willing to stay here, but they are a minority. We must analyse the situation in detail in order to sort it out.

Photo: Jenofa Berhokoirigoin

What is the solidarity network?
It is solidarity, but it is not enough. We've set up a group called Immigrants, between Cimade and other structures. Among the various committees is the so-called 'best reception for immigrants'. It is essential to us, even if it is clear that reception should be public. But, as this is not the case, we must promote this solidarity. There are host groups in several localities, Kanbo, Bidaxun, Donapaleu, Baiona, coming soon in Donibane Garazi, San Juan de Luz... In addition, in the environment there are people who help in other ways.

Is it open to welcome?
It's up to us to change the way people think, because it's not always open. I remember we had a family from Chechnya who lived with four children in a hotel room, but had to go there. I came into contact with Uztaritze and they told me they had a free house in Urepel. The priest of Baigorri agreed, but asked the parish council and answered no. The village house also had an apartment, the mine thought the council would accept it, but no, they showed four faces and seven against. That's also Basque Country. However, almost all the houses in Urepel were pastors to America. We must not forget where we came from. Ours were also migrants. You don't identify anything today, because they're black, Muslim -- but I don't think it's just that. Nor were our brothers from the South of the War of 36 welcome, because they had our language, our culture, our religion. We have to radically change these mindsets.

The Government of France is awaiting a new law which has not been passed.
It wants to make legislation stronger. If, until now, the right to protection had been rejected, the immigrant had 30 days to appeal, now he will have 15 days to do so. So far, 45 days had been spent in the detention centres, as explained by Interior. We cannot afford that because they are innocent. Why do we deprive them of freedom! Under this law, workers affected by this measure will be able to spend 135 days. Another innovation is that they will only be able to go through the authorised steps, where fingerprints will be collected from them.

It is an effective way of signing.
Yes, but the thing is that in the first peoples who have gone to Europe they cannot afford them all. Italy cannot, Greece and Spain tampoco.Además, have a weak economy and see the head of the brow in emigration despite life; the results of the extreme right are on the rise.

In addition to punishing solidarity, they ask us to denounce the man without papers.
That's also what the law brings. While the person concerned has the right in the shadow, they remain in the reception centres called CADA, with financial assistance. The answer to this law will come very soon and the workers will be asked about the names of those who remain. Irregular situations should also be denounced by the Social Security. It's absolutely false that Macron says it's a law that involves more humanity.

Inplikazioa beharrezkoa

“Gaur egungo egoera ikusiz, etorkinen errealitatea gure mendeko arazo handienetariko bat dugula iruditzen zait. Uste dut gutariko bakoitzak behar dugula gai horretan inplikatu, egoerak hori eskatzen duelako. Erretretan izaki, Cimade elkartean nabil laguntzen. Etorkinen alde ezinbesteko lana egiten dabilen elkartea da Cimade eta tamalez, geroz eta lan gehiago ukanen du egiteko”.


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