Greek court acquits farmers who shot 28 migrant strawberry pickers

 We are horrified by what appears to be a case of extraordinary racism, even by the standards of the Greek state. A farmer who "admitted shooting 28 Bangladeshi strawberry pickers when they dared to ask for months of back pay" has been acquitted by Greek courts.

Over the last few years one horror story after another about the treatment of migrants in and trying to enter Greece has emerged. Far right organisations have literally got away with assaulting and even murdering migrants while the state turned a blind eye.

 We are horrified by what appears to be a case of extraordinary racism, even by the standards of the Greek state. A farmer who "admitted shooting 28 Bangladeshi strawberry pickers when they dared to ask for months of back pay" has been acquitted by Greek courts.

Over the last few years one horror story after another about the treatment of migrants in and trying to enter Greece has emerged. Far right organisations have literally got away with assaulting and even murdering migrants while the state turned a blind eye.

But this is a European problem not just a Greek problem. The EU has a common border and part of the a reason for the atrocious record of the Greek state is that it is on the borders of Europe enforcing racist EU migration controls on behalf of countries that include Ireland. The EU encourages a system of insecure labour where employers hold visa’s and workers have no protection against bullying. Such workers are essential to the EU economy, especially with regards to agriculture and the insecurity is there to keep wages low and conditions unsafe.

Thousands of migrants have also died trying to enter ‘Fortress Europe’ most of these through drowning while attempting dangerous sea crossings in overpacked boats. These deaths are all products of the system of racist migration controls designed by the EU and endorsed by the Irish state.

WORDS Andrew Flood (Follow Andrew on Twitter )