allodapos: KISA demonstration

Yesterday (Sunday) KISA-Action for Equality, Support and Anti-Racism, called a demonstration against the immigration authorities calling for the immediate implementation of a law regarding the long-term residency status of migrants.

Directive 2003/109/EC of the European Union says that migrants who have been legally and continuously residing in Cyprus for five years, are entitled to a permanent residency permit (one has to reside legally in Cyprus at the submission of application).Students, asylum seekers, refugees, migrants without a legal residence permit and seasonal workers are not covered by this Directive.

“The Directive has been in force since January 23, 2006 and is the first serious piece of legislation that grants rights and gives hope for a better future for migrants in Cyprus.However, the Cypriot government refrains to inform people about this Directive and has not taken the necessary measures for its implementation. On the contrary, many migrants have been arrested even though they have applied for this permit. The Migration Department and the Labour Office do not renew permits and employment contracts for people who have been residents for longer than five years in the country where they have applied for permanent residence. In some cases, migrants have already lived and worked in Cyprus for up to 15 years, without any recognition of their rights.” said Doros Polycarpou. Read newspaper article here

I'd say that there were a good 200 people at the demonstration yeseterday. We gathered at Eleftherias (Freedom) Square at 11am. Doros Michael opened the gathering with a few words on the current situtation of migrants in the country. Then a lady from the a Filipino association spoke on the rights migrants should claim from the authorities. Lastly, Doros Polycarpou (President of KISA) read out the letter that was to be pass to the Ministry of Interior. Most of the demonstrators were migrants. The Workers Democarcy were supporting the demonstration too.
Then all the demonstrators marched to the Ministry of Interior where a representative recieved them.

Below are some photos I grabbed off some video footage I took of the demo.

Demonstrators on their way to the Ministry of Interior