report: "rebellious rhymes from a destroyed refugee camp"

2009-12-29

[de] [es] [fr]
the hip-hop beats ringing through the muddy, unlit streets of the burnt-out palestinian refugee camp nahr al-bared seem incongruous. but the rhymes are camp-grown - and courageous. (...) [read more]

video: "rapping against post-war misery"

2009-12-17

[عر] [de] [it] [fr] [tr]
mc tamarrod is the first and only rapper in nahr al-bared refugee camp in lebanon. since the destruction of the camp in a war in 2007, mc tamarrod is among 30.000 displaced palestinians. almost 20.000 refugees have returned to the outskirts of the destroyed camp, awaiting its reconstruction and suffering from the lebanese army's siege of the camp.

displacement, temporary housing, checkpoints, humiliation, discrimination... these are the topics that mc tamarrod angrily raps about. inspired by the hip-hop crews katibe 5 and i-voice in beirut's bourj al-barajneh refugee camp and rap groups in palestine such as ramallah underground or DAM, he decided to take up the microphone and let the world beyond the checkpoints know about the situation in nahr al-bared.

this 5 minutes clip features mc tamarrod's latest song and a short interview with the rapper. it can be downloaded here and watched here on youtube or below.

report: "refugees remain sceptical of nahr al-bared reconstruction"

2009-11-25

[de] [fr] [tr]
more than two years after their refugee camp was destroyed in a war between the lebanese army and the islamist militant group fatah al-islam, nahr al-bared refugees wednesday witnessed the start of the camp’s reconstruction. their relief is mixed with scepticism, however. (...) [read more]

image: popular art in nahr al-bared camp

2009-11-09

[عر] [de] [es] [it]
a few days ago, two displaced residents of the destroyed nahr al-bared refugee camp in north lebanon expressed their perception of the reconstruction process on a local wall...

report: "undocumented migrants run their own school"

2009-10-13

switzerland is a tough place for asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants. in zurich, they have been running a remarkable campaign for the past year, challenging the canton's asylum policy. now, they have opened their own school. (...) [read more]

report: "nahr al-bared reconstruction delays protested"

2009-10-01

since the end of august, construction equipment in the palestinian refugee camp of nahr al-bared, near the northern lebanese city of tripoli, has stood unused after the lebanese state council granted a two month moratorium for the reconstruction of the camp. nahr al-bared, home to approximately 30,000 refugees, was destroyed during a three-month-long battle between the lebanese army and the militant group fatah al-islam in the summer of 2007. (...) [read more]

report: "nahr al-bared's reconstruction in limbo"

2009-09-23

[de] [it] [fr]
since the end of august, construction machines in the palestinian refugee camp nahr al-bared are resting. the lebanese state council granted a two month moratorium for the reconstruction of the destroyed camp. (...) [read more]

report: "shattered camp revives under military eyes"

2009-08-25

palestinian refugees at nahr al-bared in north lebanon are living under tight military siege two years after a war destroyed the refugee camp. it has now become a test case for a new approach in lebanon's security policy towards palestinian refugee camps. (...) [read more]

video: "two years under siege"

2009-06-24

[عر] [de] [it] [fr]
two years after the outbreak of the war in nahr al-bared, the camp's fate remains unclear. the reconstruction of the official camp might start soon, but the army keeps its tight grip on the camp. several checkpoints, barbed wire and military posts cut nahr al-bared off from its surroundings.

nahr al-bared camp used to be a thriving marketplace in the northern lebanese region of akkar and about half its costumers were lebanese. during the war, the lebanese army has not only defeated the militant group fatah al-islam, but also completely destroyed the refugee camp. its businesses were looted, smashed and burnt, even after the war had ended. the camp's once flourishing economy was physically eliminated.

two years later, about half the camp's population has returned to its adjacent area. hundreds of businesses have re-opened, but economic recovery is seriously hampered by the tight siege imposed by the lebanese army. thus, suspicions have risen that the war's actual target wasn't fatah al-islam, but nahr al-bared's economic life.

in this 10-minute film, the co-owner of an ice cream factory, the president of the local trader's committee and the imam of the al-quds mosque speak out on the siege and its economic consequences.

the film can be downloaded here (.mpeg/316mb) and here (.mov/124mb) in good quality. it can be watched here on youtube or below.

report: "the forgotten prime areas"

2009-06-15

[de] [fr]
the three-month-long war between the lebanese army and fatah al-islam militants in the palestinian refugee camp of nahr al-bared in northern lebanon ended on 2 september 2007. while the lebanese army has allowed displaced residents to return to some parts of the camp, the fate of other parts of the camp still under the army's control remains unclear. (...) [read more]

video: "a sip of coffee"

2009-06-11

[عر] [de] [it] [fr] [tr]
in may 2007, the battle between fatah al-islam and the lebanese army broke out in nahr al-bared refugee camp in northern lebanon. amidst heavy fighting, the lebanese army had systematically destroyed the entire camp by september 2007. two years later, nearly all the rubble has been cleared from the "old camp", the core of nahr al-bared. however, though the displaced residents grow increasingly desperate, reconstruction has yet to begin.

not only does the lebanese army keep people away from the old camp, but it also controls movement in and out of the surrounding area known as the "new camp.” anyone entering the new camp requires a valid permit issued by the army. refugees and NGOs working to revitalize the once robust economy of the camp face crippling isolation, as the marketplace of nahr al-bared is totally cut off from the surrounding villages. a flailing economy and soaring unemployment are only a few of the consequences of the destruction and ongoing siege of the camp.

this 26-minute film follows a father and his son as they attempt to deal with their unemployment. the two have been living in metal barracks for more than a year, waiting to return to their camp. by documenting issues of reconstruction, temporary housing, economy, unemployment and despair, the film touches on the daily experience of life in nahr al-bared camp.

the film can be downloaded here (.mpeg/804mb) and here (.mov/313mb) in good quality. it can be watched here (part 1/2/3) on youtube or below.

part 1:


part 2:


part 3:

report: "no work in nahr al-bared"

2009-05-24

[de] [it] [fr]
mohammad and mahmoud sat on an idle field on the edge of the palestinian refugee camp of nahr al-bared in northern lebanon. while mahmoud sang to the songs being played on his mobile phone, mohammad used his for gaming. mohammad looked up and explained, "we spend our days doing nothing. we get up and sit at the cafe for a few hours. then we go home and pray. we gather again and return to the cafe. there we sit until the evening. every day passes like this." (...) [read more]

video: "protest against barracks"

2009-05-18

[عر] [de] [es] [fr]
on 15 may 2009, several hundred residents of the destroyed nahr al-bared refugee camp in north lebanon gathered at the al-quds mosque to march along the army posts to a construction site in the south of the camp. there, yet another piece of land was flattened and the building of the fifth unit of temporary shelters for displaced families is being prepared.

in their chants, the protesters demanded the return to the old camp and the end of the siege on nahr al-bared and the abolishment of the permit system respectively. abu tayyeb of the residents' committee demanded the immediate stop of the building of the new barracks as long as the reconstruction in the old camp wouldn't start. he further criticized corruption and nepotism in the reconstruction process and asked why the rebuilding of the old camp is constantly being delayed. he hinted at intentions to actually not rebuild the camp and told the crowd: „the laying of the foundation stone on 9 march was nothing but a lie!“

the 2-minute video can currently only be watched here on youtube or below.

report: "growing resentment in nahr al-bared"

2009-05-17

[de] [it] [fr]
about two years ago, a battle broke out between the lebanese army and the militant group fatah al-islam in the palestinian refugee camp of nahr al-bared in northern lebanon. the summer-long battle concluded in september 2007 and the camp was totally destroyed - the rubble indicating that the destruction was systematic, most likely committed by the lebanese army. after several delays, the UN-mandated core of the camp, the so-called "old camp," has meanwhile been cleared of approximately 600,000 meters of rubble. yet, reconstruction hasn't begun and residents are still unable to enter the old camp, the access of which is controlled by the lebanese army, and displaced refugees are increasingly resentful. (...) [read more]

video: "sans-papiers protest for identity papers"

2009-04-08

[de]
on tuesday, 7 april 2009, more than 100 undocumented migrants and supporters marched from the refugee café "refugees welcome" to the department of social affairs and the department of migration of the canton of zurich. they demanded valid identity papers and protested against their identity cards being taken away.

at both offices, the refugees left a letter of protest, in which they demanded official identity cards. some of the sans-papiers only have a small paper issued by their emergency centers. however, these papers won't protect them from police repression. also, they can't get certain items at the post office or borrow books in libraries with this paper.

the protesters pointed out that since the occupation of a church in winter 2008/09, systematic police controls in and around emergency centers have increased. after the occupation, the department of migration of zurich forbid the emergency centers to issue provisional identity papers. especially refugees, who have to move from one center to another every week were stripped of their identity papers.

the undocumented migrants argued, that this way they're deliberately subjected to repression. they protested against their attrition and criminalization by the authorities. neither at the department of social affairs nor at the department of migration, the responsible officials appeared to receive the letter.

the 10-minute film documents the demonstration and refugees explain the context of their protest.
it can be downloaded here (.mpeg/329mb) and here (.mov/121mb). also, it can be watched here on youtube or below.

video: "right to stay now!"

2009-03-10

[de] [es] [it] [fr]
on 19 december 2008, around 150 undocumented migrants and solidarity activists occupied the prediger church in zurich (switzerland) for more than two weeks. the squatters demanded a just implementation of the hardship provision, the abolition of the prohibition of work and the legalization of the status of all undocumented migrants.

in 2007 and 2008, several stricter laws regarding asylum and foreigners have been implemented in switzerland. there's no social aid for rejected asylum seekers anymore and the concerned persons are only entitled to receive emergency assistance. its procedure, quantity and form is up to the cantons. the canton of zurich forces people to live on only 60 swiss francs (us$ 52) per week in coupons for the supermarket chain migros. some migrants are even forced to change their accommodation (emergency shelters) weekly.

zurich is also very strict in the implementation of the so-called hardship policy. the provision for cases of hardship allows undocumented migrants, who have lived in switzerland for at least five years and have "integrated very well" to file a request for a residency permit. after checking these requests, cantonal migration authorities forward them to the federal office for migration (FOM). the canton of zurich, however, puts extremely difficult conditions and hasn't forwarded a single request to the FOM in 2008.

activists of the bleiberecht (right to stay for all) campaign have already occupied a church in zurich in 2007. during the last year, further protests and activities were organized. however, zurich's asylum policy hasn't improved and in winter 2008, many people regarded a determined action as necessary in order to push their demands forward.

the film documents the occupation of the church. undocumented migrants and activists of the bleiberecht collective explain the current problems, their demands and further aspects of the occupation in detail. they tell about the talks with the department of migration of zurich and evaluate the political results.

the 30-minute film was produced by several video activists with a-films, bleiberecht bern, bleiberecht zürich and solidarité sans frontières.
it can be downloaded here (.mpeg/706mb) and here (.mov/356mb). also, it can be watched (part 1/2/3) on youtube or below.

part 1:


part 2:


part 3:

video: "voices from the church st. jakob"

2009-01-07

[de] [fr]
on sunday, 4 january, the squatters left the "prediger" church in zurich and accepted an invitation by the church "st. jakob". by moving to this church, the preconditions for a talk set by the government official hollenstein were fulfilled. on monday, 5 january, mr. hollenstein received a delegation of sans-papiers for a talk.

in the short film, two migrants share their disappointment about the poor outcomes of the talk, once again explain their problematic situation and talk about what should happen next.

the 8-minute film can be downloaded here (.mpeg/249mb) and here (.mov/93mb). also, it can be watched here on youtube or below.

more information about the squatted church can be found on the website of the bleiberecht-kollektiv zürich.

report: "Rebellious rhymes from a destroyed refugee camp"

2009-12-29

[de] [es] [fr]
The hip-hop beats ringing through the muddy, unlit streets of the burnt-out Palestinian refugee camp Nahr al-Bared seem incongruous. But the rhymes are camp-grown - and courageous.

"I'm carrying worries / From inside a destroyed camp / I'm preparing an attack / Words that keep turning in my head / Nahr al-Bared is fenced-in with iron bars / In the newspapers they speak about suffering / Every word makes sense."

Farhan Abu Siyam, 21, is Nahr al-Bared's first and only rapper. Going by the name of MC Tamarrod (which translates as MC Rebellion), he grew up in the Palestinian refugee camps of Nahr al-Bared and Bourj al-Barajneh.

Abu Siyam knows that hip-hop has few takers within Palestinian society. "Many people don't like rap because they're against Western music and its elements like the beat." But he asks the community to give rap a chance, stressing that he does not sing in a foreign language, but uses Arabic. "I rap in our Palestinian dialect, in the language of the camps where I was born and grew up."

Abu Siyam says he is inspired by the hip-hop crews 'Katibe 5' and 'I-Voice' in Beirut's Bourj al-Barajneh refugee camp and rap groups in Palestine such as 'Ramallah Underground' or 'DAM' which are regarded as the founders of Palestinian hip-hop and have a style that is serious rather than entertainment-oriented.

Palestinian rappers are usually inseparable from their origins, stress their marginalised or oppressed situation and use their words as weapons in their political and social struggles. Groups direct their rhymes at the discrimination that the approximately 250,000 Palestinians in Lebanon face as well as at their own society's establishment, accusing NGOs and the political parties of being corrupt and betraying the Palestinian cause.

Abu Siyam raps about the miserable post-war life in Nahr al-Bared. Together with the autonomous media collective 'a-films', he has produced a short video clip. Gesturing in front of a bullet-riddled wall in a burnt-out building, he revisits the camp's devastating war in 2007 and raps:

"Asking me what happened? / Those who hit have run / Those who passed by have looted / And some of them have burned."

Two and a half years ago, the Nahr al-Bared camp in Lebanon's north was totally destroyed in a war between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the non-Palestinian militant group Fatah al-Islam. Two-thirds of the camp's former inhabitants now live on its outskirts in damaged homes and temporary shacks. Abu Siyam says many people sing or talk about Nahr al-Bared, "but nobody speaks out about the war, the hopelessness and oppression."

Nahr al-Bared is still closed down and designated as a military zone by the LAF which mans five checkpoints around the camp. Access is restricted and journalists are not allowed to work freely. "We're surrounded and live like in a prison. In other camps people can come and go in a normal way," says Abu Siyam. The LAF's presence in and around Nahr al-Bared is one of the main topics Abu Siyam raps about:

"I'm Palestinian and don't submit to the rule of your army / Stop building this wall! / From the first time I saw you, I knew what you wanted / 'Hey you, give me your ID, where's the permit?'"

The Lebanese army states the checkpoints and permits are necessary to preserve the safety of the people "through preventing the infiltration of terrorists and wanted people, smuggling of weapons, explosives, and illegal material." However, many refugees in Nahr al-Bared feel humiliated and oppressed by the LAF. Abu Wissam Gharib, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Nahr al-Bared, says he understands that warfare required an army, "but once the war is over, why does the army stay?" Gharib wonders why he needs to have special permit to return home to Nahr al-Bared when he can travel everywhere else in Lebanon on his ID.

Abu Siyam records in al-Mukhayyamat studio in the Palestinian refugee camp of Bourj al-Barajneh, located in the suburbs of Beirut.

"The parties are two-faced / Their authority is silly / Fortified by lies / Their politics are sick."

Abu Siyam is aware of the power of his lyrics. "We're not against the Lebanese system, but they deprive us of our rights." Palestinian youth do not see a future in Lebanon and see emigration as a way out. When a delegation from donor states recently visited Nahr al-Bared, the residents of the temporary housing units did not ask them for more aid, but for visas allowing them to emigrate.

In Nahr al-Bared the slow reconstruction and the continued presence of the LAF have led to widespread unemployment. Charlie Higgins, project manager for Nahr al-Bared's reconstruction at the United Nations Works and Relief Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) describes the economic situation in the camp as "stuck," with the economy yet to regenerate and employment situation unimproved since the war ended.

Abu Siyam hopes that whenever Nahr al-Bared is rebuilt there will be a music studio where he might record his songs. He will have to drive to Beirut to record the two new rap numbers that he is currently working on.

This report was written by Ray Smith and was published here by IPS Inter Press Service and republished by the Daily Star.

bericht: "Rebellischer Rap aus einem zerstörten Flüchtlingslager"

2009-12-29

[en] [es] [fr]
Abends in den unbeleuchteten Straßen des Flüchtlingslagers Nahr al-Bared durch knöcheltiefen Dreck stapfend irritieren die Hip-Hop-Klänge aus den Häusern und Hütten der Flüchtlinge. Doch die Reime entstanden im Camp – und sind äußerst mutig.

"Ich trage Sorgen / aus dem Inneren eines zerstörten Camps / Ich bereite einen Angriff vor / Worte drehen sich in meinem Kopf / Nahr al-Bared ist mit Eisenstäben eingezäunt / In den Zeitungen berichten sie über das Leid / Jedes Wort macht Sinn."

Farhan Abu Siyam (21) ist Nahr al-Bareds erster und einziger Rapper. Sein Künstlername lautet 'MC Tamarrod' oder zu deutsch: MC Rebellion. In Libanons palästinensischen Flüchtlingslagern Nahr al-Bared und Bourj al-Barajneh aufgewachsen, weiß er, dass Hip-Hop in der palästinensischen Gesellschaft umstritten ist: "Viele Leute mögen Rap nicht weil sie gegen westliche Musik oder Elemente wie den Takt sind," erklärt Abu Siyam. Er fordert die Gesellschaft auf, Rap eine Chance zu geben und betont, dass er nicht einer fremden Sprache singe, sondern arabische Wörter und Straßen-Slang benütze: "Ich rappe in unserem palästinensischen Dialekt, in der Sprache der Camps, wo ich geboren und aufgewachsen bin.

Abu Siyams Inspirationsquellen sind Rap-Crews wie 'Katibe 5' und 'I-Voice' aus Beiruts Flüchtlingslager Bourj al-Barajneh und Hip-Hop-Gruppen aus Palästina wie 'Ramallah Underground' oder 'DAM', welche als Gründer des palästinensischen Hip-Hops gelten. Ihr Stil ist alles andere als oberflächlich und auf pure Unterhaltung oder Kommerz aus. Palästinensische Rapper sind meist durch ihre Herkunft gezeichnet, betonen ihre marginalisierte, unterdrückte Stellung und betrachten ihre Worte als Waffen in ihren politischen und sozialen Kämpfen.

MC Tamarrod nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund. Er rappt über das miserable Leben in Nahr al-Bared nach dem Krieg. Mit dem autonomen Medienkollektiv 'a-films' produzierte er neulich einen kurzen Video-Clip. Vor einer mit Einschusslöchern überzogenen Wand eines ausgebrannten Hauses gestikulierend thematisiert er den zerstörerischen Krieg von 2007:

"Du fragst mich was passierte? / Jene, die zuschlugen, rannten davon / Jene die vorbeikamen, plünderten / Und einige von ihnen legten Feuer."

Vor zweieinhalb Jahren wurde das Flüchtlingslager Nahr al-Bared im Norden Libanons in und nach einem Krieg zwischen der libanesischen Armee (LAF) und der militanten, nicht-palästinensischen Gruppe Fatah al-Islam, vollständig zerstört. Heute leben zwei Drittel der EinwohnerInnen des Camps in seinem äußersten Bereich in beschädigten Häusern und temporären Unterkünften. Abu Siyam sagt, viele Leute hätten über Nahr al-Bared gesungen und gesprochen, "aber niemand äußert sich zum Krieg, unserer Hoffnungslosigkeit und Unterdrückung."

Nahr al-Bared ist nach wie vor abgeriegelt und gilt als militärischen Sperrzone. Die LAF unterhalten fünf Checkpoints an den Eingängen zum Camp. Zutritt ist nur mit speziellen Bewilligungen möglich, welche beim Armeegeheimdienst beantragt werden müssen. JournalistInnen können nicht frei arbeiten. "Wir sind umzingelt und leben wie in einem Gefängnis. In anderen Flüchtlingslagern können die Menschen auf normale Weise kommen und gehen," klagt Abu Siyam. Die Armeepräsenz in und um Nahr al-Bared ist eines der Hauptthemen, über die MC Tamarrod rappt:

"Ich bin Palästinenser und unterwerfe mich eurer Armee nicht / Stoppt den Bau dieser Mauer! / Vom ersten Moment an begriff ich, was ihr wolltet: / 'Zeig mir deinen Ausweis, wo ist die Bewilligung?'"

Die libanesische Armee bezeichnet die Checkpoints und Bewilligungen als notwendig um die Sicherheit der Menschen zu gewährleisten, "indem die Infiltration von Terroristen und gesuchten Personen, der Schmuggel von Waffen, Sprengstoff und illegalem Material verhindert wird." Viele Flüchtlinge in Nahr al-Bared fühlen sich durch die LAF aber gedemütigt und unterdrückt. Abu Wissam Gharib, Chef der Volksfront für die Befreiung Palästinas (PFLP) sagt, es sei nachvollziehbar, dass der Krieg der Armee bedurfte, "aber wieso zog das Militär nicht ab, als der Krieg vorüber war?" Er wundert sich, weshalb er in ganz Libanon mit seinem Ausweis herumreisen kann, aber für die Rückkehr in sein Zuhause in Nahr al-Bared eine Bewilligung benötigt.

Abu Siyam nimmt seine Songs im Studio 'al-Mukhayyamat' im Flüchtlingslager Bourj al-Barajneh auf. Das Camp in der südlichen Peripherie Beiruts ist die Geburtsstätte palästinensischen Hip-Hops in Libanon und beherbergt die Rap-Gruppen 'I-Voice' und 'Katibe 5'. Beide Crews kämpfen mit ihren Worten nicht nur gegen die verschiedenen Formen der Diskriminierung der ungefähr 250.000 PalästinenserInnen im Libanon, sondern greifen auch das Establishment ihrer eigenen Gesellschaft an. Sie beschuldigen NGOs und die politischen Parteien der Korruption und des Verrats an der palästinensischen Sache. Ebenso MC Tamarrod:

"Die Parteien sind heuchlerisch / ihre Autorität dumm / verstärkt durch Lügen / Ihre Politik ist verrückt."

Abu Siyam ist sich seiner starken Worte bewusst, doch betont er: "Wir sind nicht gegen die libanesische Ordnung, aber sie enthalten uns unsere Rechte vor." Junge PalästinenserInnen in Abu Siyams Alter sehen meist keine positive Zukunft im Libanon. Emigration ist oft ihr einziges Ziel. Viele haben die Hoffnung verloren, dass den palästinensischen Flüchtlingen nach 60 Jahren Anwesenheit im Libanon doch noch Arbeits- und Eigentumsrechte gegeben werden. Als neulich eine Delegation aus Geberländern Nahr al-Bared besuchte, organisierten BewohnerInnen der temporären Unterkünfte einen Protest. Sie forderten allerdings nicht etwa mehr Hilfe, sondern Visa zwecks Emigration.

Die Zerstörung des Flüchtlingslagers und seines einst lebendigen Marktes, der stockende Wiederaufbau und die andauernde Belagerung des Camps durch die LAF haben die Verbreitung von Arbeitslosigkeit begünstigt. Charlie Higgins, Projektmanager der UNO-Agentur für Palästina-Flüchtlinge (UNRWA) für Nahr al-Bareds Wiederaufbau beschreibt die ökonomische Situation im Camp als "festgefahren." Er sagt, weder habe sich die Wirtschaft regeneriert, noch habe sich die Beschäftigungssituation seit Kriegsende verbessert.

MC Tamarrod hofft indes, dass es im Falle eines Wiederaufbaus Nahr al-Bareds einst ein Studio im Camp geben werde, wo er seine Rap-Songs aufnehmen könnte. Im Flüchtlingslager Beddawi, dem zweiten Camp in der Nähe der nordlibanesischen Stadt Tripoli, ist die Infrastruktur zwar vorhanden, aber die Produktion eines Songs kostet zwischen 200 und 250 US-Dollar. Gegenwärtig arbeitet MC Tamarrod an zwei neuen Hip-Hop-Songs – er wird wiederum nach Beirut fahren müssen, um sie aufzunehmen.

Dieser Bericht wurde von Ray Smith verfasst. Die englische Originalversion des Beitrags wurde hier von IPS Inter Press Service veröffentlicht.

bericht: "rebellischer rap aus einem zerstörten flüchtlingslager"

2009-12-29

[en] [es] [fr]
abends in den unbeleuchteten straßen des flüchtlingslagers nahr al-bared durch knöcheltiefen dreck stapfend irritieren die hip-hop-klänge aus den häusern und hütten der flüchtlinge. doch die reime entstanden im camp – und sind äußerst mutig. (...) [weiterlesen]