The Undocumented Africans "of St. Ambroise"

August 3rd, 1999

THE MAILING LIST "zpajol" (in French) France: Bogdan Wszedybil comited suicide Germany: We are sad and angry about the murder of Aamir Ageeb European demonstration in Paris, March 27th 1999 March 27th : A TRAIN IN FREE CIRCULATION ! Gli Invisiblil (Italy) Next 5 Minutes: "pajol" in Amsterdam (March 2-14th 1999) Madjiguène Cissé received the Carl-von-Ossietzky Medal (Berlin, December 6th, 1998) Solidarity Appeal issued by the Diawara Committee (December 7th, 1998) Nigerian woman killed by Belgian police in deportation attempt (September 22th, 1998) Summer camp at German Polish borderline: July 24th-August 1rst, 1998 All together! All together! by Ariane MNOUCHKINE and Hélène CIXOUS (July 16th, 1998) The Sans-Papiers defend their autonomy with new protests and occupations, by Sara CALLAWAY and Benoit MARTIN (June, 1998) The Sans-Papiers: a Woman draws the first Lessons, by Madjiguène CISSÉ (October, 1996) The struggle of the "sans-papiers": realities and perspectives, by Ababacar DIOP (April 4th, 1997) DOCUMENTA X, KASSEL (July 1997)

THREE HUNDRED AFRICAN PEOPLE have been fighting for more than two years to obtain regular permits and documents from the French authorities. Their action began with the occupation of the Church of St. Ambroise in Paris. A "college of mediators" composed of distinguished French personalities tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with the French government. Ten of them went on hunger strike for fifty two days. This case happens at a time when the French government has been criticised for its human rights violations by the international community (Report of Mr Glele-Ahanhanzo, Special Rapporteur for the United Nations, condemnation for improper detention of asylum seekers by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, report by the International Federation for Human Rights).

• The college of mediators
  • Members of the college
  • Mediators' press release
  • National conference on immigration
    • Appeal to the citizens of Europe for a new immigration policy
• "Les sans-papiers"
  • Write to them!
  • Latest news
  • Eviction from the Church of St. Bernard
  • Who are they?
  • Writings of the "sans-papiers"
    • October, 1996: The Sans-Papiers: a Woman draws the first Lessons, by Madjiguène CISSÉ
    • April 4th, 1997: The struggle of the "sans-papiers": realities and perspectives, by Ababacar DIOP
  • National Coordination of Associations for Undocumented Immigrants
  • The sans-papiers: a woman draws the first lessons (abstract)
  • Article on the sans-papiers in "Network News" (NNIRR)
  • July 24th, 1997: On the situation of the "sans-papiers" in France
  • January 6th, 1998: Lille: paperless persons in danger of death
  • April 25th, 1998: Sans-papiers: a new Wave of Protests against Deportation
  • June, 1998: The Sans-Papiers defend their autonomy with new protests and occupations, by Sara CALLAWAY and Benoit MARTIN
• Who is concerned?
  • Political Institutions
    • The Debré bill
  • Churches
  • Humanitarian, Cultural and Civic Associations
    • Appeal to end short-term visas
  • Intellectuals and artists
    • Drawing by PESSIN
    • Drawings "without papers"
    • July 16th, 1998: All together! All together! by Ariane MNOUCHKINE and Hélène CIXOUS
• Articles and essays
• International
  • Documenta X, Kassel (GERMANY)
  • Call for international solidarity
  • In Europe : GREAT-BRITAIN
  • USA: Janet Goldner's sculpture "Most of us are immigrants"

• Solidarity on the Web
• Photo gallery