In a statement, KEERFA expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced a rally at Eleftheria Park in Athens, on Saturday, December 21, to protest the incident.

The full statement:

The Coast Guard’s pursuit of a boat carrying refugees, aimed at forcing it back from Greek waters, led to dangerous evasive manoeuvres and ultimately to a fatal collision. Eight refugees fell into the sea, drowned, and some were mutilated by the boat’s propellers.

This tragedy adds to the growing list of refugee fatalities, including the Pylos shipwreck that claimed 600 lives. These deaths highlight the deadly consequences of the European Union’s fortress-like border policies and Greece’s role in enforcing them.

The government’s rhetoric and actions, aimed at rallying far-right support, have turned the Coast Guard into an instrument of violent border control. Refugees—women, children, and families fleeing persecution—are branded as “invaders,” and their lives are sacrificed under the guise of protecting “Western civilisation.”

Statements by Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis were met with outrage. The minister framed the Coast Guard’s actions as part of a broader fight against traffickers, declaring:

“Our goal is to eliminate this vile smuggling network. Our decision to address the issue of illegal immigration, which exceeds the EU’s capacity, is non-negotiable.”

KEERFA strongly challenges this narrative, asking why the refugees were not allowed to disembark safely. “If the aim was to stop traffickers, how does endangering everyone’s lives serve that purpose? This is akin to resolving a hostage situation by indiscriminately endangering all involved,” the group said.

KEERFA attributes the deaths to systemic racism, which it calls “the dirtiest and deadliest tool of the government.” It accuses Greek authorities of creating conditions that push refugees into the hands of smugglers by failing to provide safe, legal routes for asylum seekers.

KEERFA’s demands:

  • An end to the policy of deterrence through deadly pursuits.
  • Open, safe, and legal entry routes at Greece’s borders.
  • Respect for the right to asylum for refugees.
  • Prosecution of those responsible for the Pylos shipwreck and other crimes against refugees.

KEERFA calls for mass mobilisations, including a rally on December 21 at Eleftheria Park, a solidarity march for refugees from Palestine and Syria, and a concert on January 18 at the Architecture Faculty in Gazi to demand accountability.

The group also called for the resignation of Shipping Minister Varvitsiotis and the dismantling of what it described as “the government responsible for the Pylo shipwreck, the Tempe collision, and the murder of Kamran Ashik in Agios Panteleimonas.”

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