EU continues pushbacks in Greece

Brutal illegal pushbacks continues in Greece, unhindered and unchallenged by EU, a statement by Aegean Boat Report says.

This morning at 06.20, it said: “a boat carrying 51 people, 20 of them small children, was brutally stopped by the Greek coast guard one kilometer from land east of Kampos, Samos north.

“Everyone was taken onboard a Greek coast guard vessel with promises to be taken to a camp on land. When everyone was onboard these promises were proven to be false.”

While the Greek coast guard vessel sat course towards the Turkish border, Aegean Boat Report added that the officers onboard threatened the refugees to give up all their belongings, phones, money and other valuable seemed to be of special interest. “Most of the phones were taken, a few managed to hide theirs, this came to good use later.

“In the sea border area between Samos and Turkey the coast guard vessel stopped, and everyone, also the children and elderly were forced into two life rafts, and left helplessly drifting in the middle of the sea.”

Continuing it said: “Three hours after they had been brutally stopped a kilometer from land on Samos, they were found by the Turkish coast guard, drifting 7 km south of Doganbay, Turkey. Everyone was taken back to Turkey and arrested.

“This happened in brought daylight, it’s strange if this wasn’t observed by Frontex who has a heavy presence in the area, by sea, air and land. These incidents rarely ends up in any reports, covered up by those who are supposed to protect human rights, human life and European values at our borders.”

Going back memory lane, Aegean Boat Report said: “Last month 2.500 people, men, women and children were brutally pushed back by Greek authorities in 71 cases in the Aegean Sea. 48 rubber boats and 39 life rafts were found packed with people, helplessly drifting.

“Not one single report was put forward by Frontex on registration of illegal activities performed by Greek authorities in the Aegean Sea in December, does this sound credible? We are talking about the biggest, best funded, most technically advanced agency in the European Union, so how come they never see any of this?”

It went on to allege that Frontex is by no means protecting “the European way of life, European values, it’s protecting “Fortresses Europe” in any way they can, by all means possible, with no regard for human rights.#StopBorderCrimes