We warmly welcome the 300 migrants who have arrived from the island of Crete to press their demand before the Greek government.

We fully support their struggle and are one with them in their demand for the legalization of all undocumented migrants. Their action deserves the unequivocal support, not only of migrants but especially from the Greek workers. It is imperative that the Greek government listen to the demand of the hunger strikers: regularization without pre-conditions, which is what thousands of undocumented migrants are demanding.

The presence of migrants in Greece is a painful reminder for Greek people that Greece, not too long ago, was once a migrant-sending country with its people leaving behind loved ones in their search for a better future.

Greek migrants were compelled to leave their country for the same reasons that brought migrants to Greece’s shores from different parts of the world, the majority of whom risked their lives to reach Greece, some even perishing before they could reach an island in Greece. Those lucky ones who managed to survive soon discovered they were in a nightmarish situation: being undocumented, the easy target of racial discrimination and exploitation by employers who prey on them because they are vulnerable.

It is for this reason that they have taken the risk of launching such a dramatic action. For too long they have sought help from the Greek government, which instead of helping them, has relegated them to the fringes of society, the victims of racial attacks. For too long they have been seen as criminals at the receiving end of police brutality. Having exhausted all other means to press their demand, and to get their appeal listened to, they have courageously taken the risk of launching the hunger strike.

We are supporting them because they are fighting for their full rights as citizens of Greece; for all those who are undocumented. They are also fighting for the rights of Greek workers, who have to bear the brunt of the economic crisis which was created by the elite and the powerful in the Greek society. We therefore demand from the Greek government to pass a new legislation to regularize the undocumented status of migrants in Greece.

Alliance for Migrant and Refugee Rights

KASAPI – Unity of Filipino Migrants in Greece