In December, many activists wrote to Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter demanding the evacuation of the Greek camps. The answer came in the form of a standard letter.
The letter from Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter documents what Switzerland has done so far. It supports structures in Greece that do not allow a dignified life. It has also allowed a few children and young people to enter Switzerland, but most of them would have been able to come anyway because of the current right to family reunification. But the fact that Switzerland is now trying to make a name for itself with these people is cynical, because at the same time thousands of people without protection are still living in inhumanly precarious conditions.
We demand that rich and privileged Switzerland act in a way that opens up a new real perspective for the people on Lesbos and elsewhere. It is time to stop merely glorifying the Swiss tradition of humanitarian aid and to translate it into concrete action.
Letter of reply from Karin Keller-Sutter dated 22.01.2021
