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Summary, >>Article<<, Moroccan Voices from El Ejido, Statement of the El Ejido Immigrants Commission(en) (es), Is El Ejido Europe's New Apartheid?, Photos, Human Rights Server
Two weeks on and the results, not only from our position but also in the opinion of the NGOs and the media who follow this subject, could not be more discouraging. None of the points in the agreement have been fulfilled; what is more we have observed that those responsible organisations that expressed a constructive attitude a fortnight ago have lost interest as we get to the point of implementing what they contracted to do.
We think that before examining each of the points in detail it is fundamentally important to make the following points clear:
1) Once again we want to make absolutely clear our respect and acceptance of the relevant laws, and our right to be the responsible representative of the workers side, as we, the El Ejido and District Immigrant Workers Commission, have been chosen through election. Nobody else has the right to represent the workers.
2) We wish to thank various humanitarian associations, groups for the defence of labour and social rights, as well as individuals in cultural and information sectors and the demonstrations of aid from Spanish citizens for the help and support they have lent us.
3) We express our firm determination to defend the rights of immigrants and to show our decision not to allow ourselves to be used as an expendable commodity and cheap labour.
4) We have believed and accepted the good word of all the parties who signed the agreement, we have shown our readiness to understand the position of others and have put ourselves forward to work with and collaborate with them for the benefit of all, but promises have not been converted into facts.
For this reason, before God, before the nobility and conscience of the Spanish people, and before those free and responsible people who are witnesses of this embarrassing reality that affects all labour, social and human rights; we demand that the policy of promises and manoeuvres ceases, and that the work really starts to find a remedy for each of the urgent necessities that detonated this conflict. We remember that three weeks ago this district was known as the 'powder keg of El Ejido'. Our position has been to do everything possible to calm tensions, but "the urgent measures adopted by and on behalf of the Town Hall" have been only words, there are a few hostels that do not even meet the minimum accommodation rules for prisoners. We ask ourselves, "Is this all that the Spanish State is making available? Is it only Mr. Pimentel who is embarrassed?"
The 'powder keg of El Ejido' has been without doubt a 'Pandora's box' which has revealed many disgraces and injustices that have tarnished Spain's human rights image. The same conditions of exploitation and denial of rights occurs in most of the zones where immigrants live and work. We want our voice to reach immigrants in all of the country, so that they organise themselves and defend their just rights in a civilised way.
Equally, we consider that it is a prime necessity that on next Monday's Andalucia Day demonstrations and support actions are organised tom put forward our urgent demands. For the dignity of the people of Andalucia, the demand must be made for the resignation of Enciso the mayor of El Ejido who is the disgrace of Andalucia and of Spain.
Finally we call on our brothers in the Arab and Moslem countries to express their solidarity concerning these matters.
As the Bible says: "Blessed are those who sow by the banks of all waters For those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind."
El Ejido (Almería) 25 February 2000
COMISION DE INMIGRANTES DE EL EJIDO