Otopeni camp (Romania) : « We are not animals ! »

Story collected on the phone on the 13th and 14th of June 2012

Detainees from Otopeni migrants camp (Romania) keep calling Migreurop office to make their voices heard. Mr A., married to a Romanian women for nearly two years, doesn’t understand the reasons for his detention. He tells us about life conditions in the centre, his confusion and revolt.
Story collected on the phone on the 13th and 14th of June 2012

13.06.2012 - Morning
"Today, they brought our meal in a van, without any refrigeration system, by more than 40° degrees outside. The food? It is coloured water with food particles.

With other detainees, we saw agents of the centre putting back in pots food dropped on the ground. We warned all the other detainees. If they do not have enough money to well-fed us, why do they keep us locked here? No one is going to eat. We are going to have troubles.

We are 12 per room.

It is detainees who have to clean the centre.

We are not animals!

I am a graduate in economics and managements and I am married with a Romanian women. I have been before the Court with a lawyer. The judge refused my lawyer and I had to defend myself. It has been a week now and I have still not received the Court decision. I don’t know why I am here."

The afternoon, Mr A. has being put in an isolation room.

14.06.2012
"I am still in the isolation room. They have punished me because no detainee eats the dropped food.

Guardians told me « In your country, you do not have anything to eat. If you refuse to eat, we will use the force against you. »

I have knocked at the door and asked to go out to speak to the head of the centre. I want explanations!

I understand Romanian. I have heard guardians saying « Let it alone, do not speak with him ».

They allowed me to speak to translate for them, no to speak about bad-treatments.

From now, I cannot eat with other detainees. They picked me up after everybody eats and I eat alone, monitored by two guardians.

I am punished only because I told what I have seen. But I think I have the right to speak because we are not animals to eat food dropped on the floor and transported without refrigeration system by more than 40 degrees.

Is that normal? No, I do not think so. What happen here is catastrophic. It is prison-like."

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