By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine is considering a proposed bill which would ban any book that contains “anti-Ukrainian” content.  The bill would see that all books imported into Ukraine from Russia are checked for such content.  In addition, any books that do not recognize the Ukrainian state or people, as well as those that “call for the overthrow of power” in Ukraine would be banned as well.

According to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the law proposes that the books will be assessed by a special council for “popularisation or propaganda of bodies of an aggressor state and their particular actions which create a positive image of the employees of the aggressor state, employees of Soviet state security bodies, justify or declare as legitimate occupation of Ukrainian territory.”  Halya Coynash, a member of the human rights group, brings attention to the fact that the bill does not cover anti-Ukrainian books published in other countries.

In opposition to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, characterizes the bill’s intent as “humanitarian security.”  This past April, Kyrylenko initiated a movement to allow Ukrainian law enforcement to remove any books of Russian origin from Ukrainian bookstores.

Russian publishers do not expect the proposed ban to have an effect on their businesses should the bill be passed.  According to Oleg Novikov, general director of Russian publisher Eksmo, imports of Russian books into Ukraine are already at “historical lows.”

On the other hand, the proposed ban is being criticized by Ukrainian writers.  Some say that such a ban has the potential to transform Ukraine into a police state in which state authorities have control over the content seen by the population.  Oleg Ladyzhensky, a Ukranian science-fiction writer, alleges that the Ukrainian book industry is already in crisis, and would only suffer a larger detriment by the introduction of book bans.

The ban of Russian books in Ukraine is not a foreign concept.  In 2015, Ukraine banned 38 Russian-published books on the basis that they allegedly spoke to “hate ideology” and “separatism.”

A draft of the law was adopted earlier this month by Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers.

 

For more information, please see:

The Guardian — Ukraine Prepares to Ban ‘Anti-Ukrainian Russian Books — 28 September 2016

Publishing Perspectives — Latest Ukrainian Ban of Russian Book Imports Under Consideration — 26 September 2016

Channel NewsAsia — Ukraine Moves to Ban ‘Illegal’ Russian Books — 8 September 2016

BBC — Ukraine Bans 38 Russian ‘Hate’ Books Amid Culture War — 11 August 2015

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

PARIS, France — French President Francois Hollande has made clear his “determination” to maintain the UK’s assistance in the refugee crisis, as the Calais refugee camp is set to be shut down in the coming months.  Hollande emphasizes that despite Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, they are not relieved of responsibility in the migrant refugee crisis in Europe.  Rather, Holland considers Britain’s obligations to this issue increased in accordance with their decision to leave the EU.

Hollande explains that the objectives of France are clear in that they plan to close the camp in order to “guarantee the security of people in Calais, to maintain public order, and to assure proper conditions for the migrants.”  In addition to the interests of the people of Calais, the closing of the camp is expected to solidify the “firmness’ of the French-British border.  It is Hollande’s plan to disperse the migrants currently residing at the Calais jungle to other camps across France.

On his first trip to the Calais jungle since his election in 2012, Hollande insisted that border control in the area is “watertight,” despite evidence that suggest up to 200 migrants per week are being smuggled through Calais each week.

Britain has contributed an estimated £85 million towards reinforcement of security surrounding the Calais jungle camp.   In addition, Britain is in the process of funding the construction of a concrete wall to be built along the port in Calais in an effort to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel.

Charlie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, believes that the French government needs to ensure the camp is actually dismantled as Hollande claims it will be.  Elphicke states that “Britain has already paid millions for walls and fences in Calais. Yet the French keep asking for more of our money.”  He believes the taxpayers’ money should be spent on increased security at the British port of Dover, and calls on Hollande to permanently return the migrants to their home countries.

The British Home Office responded to some of Hollande’s remarks, vowing to resettle “vulnerable” children.

 

For more information, please see:

Belfast Telegraph — MPs Hit Back at French President Over Criticism of UK Stance on Calais Migrants — 26 September 2016

Chicago Tribune — Hollande Says Britain Must Still Help with Migrants Post-Brexit — 26 September 2016

Evening Standard –Britain Must Play Part in Looking After Calais Jungle Migrants, Francois Hollande Says — 26 September 2016

The Telegraph — Hollande Sparks Row with UK by Saying it is Not Doing Enough to Help Calais Migrants — 26 September 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany —  A federal government report released by the German government warns of unrest in Eastern Germany due to far-right violence as the product of “xenophobia and racist attacks.”  The report warns that the line between protests and violence is becoming too blurred, and that the increasing violence tarnishes the reputation of East Germany as a place to do business.  Through the report, the German government urges civil society to take a stronger stand against anti-migrant demonstrations.

Within the past year, attacks on refugees residing in East Germany have increased dramatically, including riots and arson attacks on refugee shelters.  Far right-motivated violence was far more prevalent in Eastern Germany last year, at a rate of 58.7 average occurrences per one million inhabitants.  This figure was significantly higher than the rate of 10.5 average occurrences per one million inhabitants in Western Germany.  The attacks are most commonly carried out in the Eastern German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

In 2015, Germany accepted over 1 million refugees into the country.  This movement increased support for the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is represented in all of the eastern federal states.  AfD is also known for their criticisms of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “open-door policy” toward asylum-seeking refugees.

Iris Gleicke, the federal government’s Commissioner for Eastern German Affairs, considers right-wing extremism to pose a “very seirous threat” to the social and economic development of new German states.  Gelicke, who grew up in Eastern Germany, stated that “Society should not look away when people are attacked or refugee shelters are set on fire. A lot is on the line for east Germany.”  On recent trips to Japan and California in attempt to draw investments into Eastern Germany, Gleicke claims that there was concern about whether their staff would be welcome in the Eastern German states, and whether or not their investments would be safe there.

Merkel recently expressed her regret for losing control over the refugee situation in Germany, stating that she wishes she could “turn back time” to better prepare the country for the influx of migrants.  Merkel’s statements come in the wake of her conservative’s party second electoral defeat within the last two weeks, as voters rejected her open-door policy towards refugees.

 

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post — German Government Fears Xenophobia Will do Economic Harm — 21 September 2016

Independent — Angela Merkel Admits she Lost Control of Refugee Crisis in Germany and Would ‘Turn Back Time’ if she Could — 21 September 2016

Newsweek — Far-Right Violence ‘Threatens East German Economy — 21 September 2016

VOA News — German Government Warns Against Rising Xenophobia — 21 September 2016

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

PARIS, France —  Construction will soon begin on a wall in the French city of Calais in order to prevent migrant refugees from entering the UK from France.  Calais is currently home to a migrant refugee camp known as “the jungle” which is known for its unsanitary living conditions.  Many of the migrants living in the camp refuse to register as refugees in France, because their preferred final destination is Britain.

The wall will be 13 feet high, run one kilometer long, and will cost an estimated $23 million to build.  The UK is funding the construction of the wall, while France is choosing the measures through which it is completed.  Set to be built in two sections on either side of the road, one of the goals of the wall is to protect lorries and other vehicles traveling in the area from migrants’ attempts to intercept the vehicles and climb aboard.  The wall will be constructed with smooth concrete in hopes of making it harder to climb, and will be landscaped with plants around it in an attempt to reduce its visual impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.

The wall is a joint project between Britain and France, and is one of many attempts at addressing security concerns and general displeasure with the migrant camp located on the English Channel, less than 30 miles away from the English port of Dover.  In addition to the construction of the wall, security measures have increased around the Channel Tunnel, making it more difficult for migrants to sneak on to ferries or trains which are traveling across the English Channel.

Local residents and groups question the effectiveness of the wall.  François Guennoc of Auberge des Migrants, a French aid group currently working in Calais, predicts that the wall will “just result in people going further to get round it.”  Richard Burnett, Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association, called the construction of the wall a “poor use of taxpayers’ money,” and believes that that money would be better used on increased security in the surrounding area.

After visiting the camp last week, French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced that French authorities would eventually completely dismantle the camp, however did not specify when.

Construction of the wall is expected to begin this month, and end by the end of this year.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC — Calais Migrants: Work to Start on UK-Funded Wall — 7 September 2016

CNN — Calais Wall: UK to Build ‘Big New Wall’ in Calais to Stop Migrants — 7 September 2016

The Guardian — UK Immigration Minister Confirms Work to Start on £1.9m Calais Wall — 7 September 2016

NY Times — Britain and France to Begin Work on Wall Near Calais to Keep Migrants from Channel Tunnel — 7 September 2016