Athens, Greece – April 20th, 2014
MURDERERS AND HYPOCRITES
WFTU Statement on the tragic deaths of hundreds of refugees and immigrants in the Mediterranean
The World Federation of Trade Unions representing 90 million workers in 126 countries of the world expresses its grief and frustration for the tragedy that took place in the Mediterranean resulting to the death of hundreds of immigrants and refugees on April 19th, 2015.
The deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean and particularly South of Italy are added to the long list of immigrants finding their death looking for a better livelihood while being exploited by smugglers.
However, these are not accidents, they are crimes. Immigrants and refugees were forced to this position by the imperialist policy of NATO, of USA and of the European Union, by their aggressiveness and intervention in Libya, in Syria, in Iraq, in Mali, in Yemen etc., by the policies of the multinationals and the plundering of the natural resources of the people in Africa and the Middle East, by the destruction and manipulation of the countries’ economies and finally by the inhumane policy of the European Union and its Governments against the migrant workers.
With anger and frustration we listen to the Heads of the Governments in Italy, in France, in Greece and other EU countries expressing their sorrow for the incident and repeating generic phrasing for “a new policy” while their countries Governments have fully supported the imperialist wars actively and while they have co-signed and fully implemented the policy of the European Union against the immigrants and refugees.
That makes them both Murderers and Hypocrites!
The World Federation of Trade Unions with its anti-imperialist and internationalist position and action denounces the murderous and hypocritical policy of the European Union and its Governments and struggles for the elimination of the aggressiveness against the people of North Africa and the Middle East, for the dissolution of NATO and for the utilization of the natural resources by the people for their own interests and for the popular development that will bring the reconstruction and the prosperity of the people.
We demand the immediate end of all imperialist interventions. We ask from the International Organizations to support the countries of origin of economic immigrants and of the political refugees.
The phenomena or racism, neofascism and xenophobia must be fully confronted.
We express our condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea.
THE SECRETARIAT
