alks

In recent weeks, the detainees have shown great resilience and solidarity. After a widespread revolt on December 23 in the three buildings of the Vincennes Administrative Detention Center [(CRA), internment camp for refugees], 11 people managed to break free on Christmas morning.

We just couldn't wait to see the look on the Vincennes CRA chief's face when, on the morning of December 25, as he was quietly unpacking his new truncheon, his henchmen called to tell him that 11 detainees had just run off.

11 detainees from CRA 2B managed to escape by breaking through the window of one of their cells, then cutting a hole in the fence. In particular, they took advantage of the fact that the surveillance cameras were not working at this location. Well done to them!

The news quickly spread throughout the buildings (the CRA of Vincennes comprises three buildings holding over 230 people in all). “Everyone's so happy to know that some of them have managed to escape, it's such a pleasure, it gives us hope,” explains one detainee.

The day before, on Saturday evening, CRA 2A and 2B were revolting at the same time. Detainees broke windows in an attempt to escape, after setting off fire alarms, setting fire to mattresses and disrupting the power supply in one of the buildings.

Meanwhile, at CRA 1, the detainees were protesting and shouting for their freedom. “As it was a mess in the 3 buildings, the cops couldn't take it anymore”, explains a detainee. “When the whole building gets together, the cops are lost.” So when the 3 CRAs decide to make a mess of things at the same time...

Faced with this widespread revolt, the cops intervened on a massive scale. In addition to tear gas and baton rounds, they brought in dogs. Many detainees were jumped on and scratched by the dogs, before being herded into the courtyards while the cells were searched. This went on well into the night, but the escape attempt failed.

It was only a postponement. The next day, the detentions in the various buildings spread the word: it's Christmas, there are fewer cops, now's the time!

And so, on the morning of December 25, the 11 people were able to escape. The story could have been even better, because a few hours earlier, in CRA 1, a small team was also trying to escape. But they were caught – after passing through the CRA enclosure nonetheless!

Since then, of course, there has been a major crackdown, with plenty of cops everywhere. On December 26, Police Prefect Nunez announced “human reinforcements, particularly on the outskirts of the site”, and the installation of new fences and cameras.

“The cops are so pissed. They haven't got a clue. They're failing,” laughs a detainee. “But now we have to be careful, because they're playing cowboys. As soon as you talk back to them, you go into solitary confinement and get beaten up. They've also let the dogs out downstairs, cut off the lights outside and brought in a new team to back them up, intervention style. But we don't care, we're on the lookout.”

Prior to this escape, there had been numerous attempts, including a successful one in mid-November (8 people escaped). The detainees also recently helped one of their own to go into hiding to avoid seeing the consul and thus delay his deportation. A few days ago, they wrote texts together to denounce detention and its conditions.

Stay the course!

https://abaslescra.noblogs.org/evasion-revoltes-et-solidarite-un-joyeux-noel-au-cra-de-vincennes/