A March for Dignity

Saturday 3rd of January is quite an event in Ceuta. Once a year, Human Rights associations on the territory and of the peninsula unite in the city to remember the victims of the Frontier. A silent march, with rain or sun, from one of Ceuta's most active integrational institutes to the gates of the Tarajal (yes, the frontier has a nickname). The recurrence was startled by the death of 15 people trying to cross into Spanish territories. Four years ago, on February the 6th, a nearly weekly occurrence was turned into a scandalous event and human rights abuse issue, putting half of Spain in an endless debate about the inhumane conditions and illegitimate methods utilised by the Guardia Civil at Ceuta's frontier. 

Most of break-in attempts are undertaken on land, trying to find a break in the 8km border or climbing over a 6 meters tall fence. Barbed wire, regular watchposts, police patrols and noise and movement sensors make crossing via land a nearly impossible mission; nonetheless, it is a lot safer than swimming in. On February 6th, 2014, nearly 300 hopeful asylum seekers, nearly all from sub-Saharan countries, tried to access Ceuta via water rather than via land, battling a not so warm Atlantic ocean with improvised and handmade lifesavers. 

Ceuta's Guardia Civil was obviously ready for them, preparing the beach with enough riot gear to stop the invasion. Rubber balls, blanks and tear gas were all used against the 300 immigrants trying to approach the shore. The sentence, which I translated from a news article I found online, disturbs me so much I am not even able to formulate a critique, a sarcastic remark or a disgusted reaction. I am speechless at the absurdity, inhumanity and frankly, idiocy showcased by the Guardia Civil on this occasion. Not that Spain's main police force is normally any kinder; but the stupidity of this act goes beyond anything I am prepared for. Riot gear against swimming human beings? How are they going to defend themselves or at least try to survive in an unfriendly environment, with flat-fishes and sea-cucumbers?

At least 15 people drowned trying to reach the Tarajal beach. The corpses appeared on both sides of the border, with corpses appearing on both sides of the frontier. I am appalled. Not at the inhumanity displayed by the Guardia Civil, social reactions and right-wing tendencies of Ceuta, all directly responsible for the treatment reserved to people escaping war a couple thousand km down south. I am fully aware that such disgusting and relentless disinterest in human life is alive and well in Europe; what really enrages me, is the meaninglessness and stupidity of the action. Tear gas on swimmers. TEAR GAS ON SWIMMERS! In a country that recognises self-defence only when is eye per eye. The hypocrisy of Spain's law system and its application when two world converges is sadly hilarious. 

That's intentional, multiple homicides. No questions about it. 

Let's keep on marching, shouting, and imposing ourselves until

no institutionalised homicide is accepted.