Communiqué by The Collective (17/01/2010)

On December 4, 2009, a group of researchers whose work focuses on nations and nationalisms, immigration, asylum and visible minorities, as well as racism and xenophobia, rose against the state organization of a "great debate" on national identity, highlighting how "slips" were inscribed, not only in such a staging, but more fundamentally in the institutionalization of this policy by a ministry. Consequently, this group called on "residents, associations, parties and candidates in future elections to demand with us the abolition of this 'Ministry of National Identity and Immigration', as it endangers democracy."

This call was heard: the press conference held on January 11, 2010, at the National Assembly was the occasion to announce it, all the left-wing parties solicited by the group (NPA, PC, PG, PRG, PS, Greens), as well as the Modem, have already committed to the abolition of this ministry. Many associations have similarly done so: Amoureux au ban public, ARDHIS, ATTAC, Lawyers for the Defense of Foreigners' Rights, This France, CIMADE, COMEDE, CRAN, CVUH, GISTI, Welcome and Solidarity Group, LDH, MRAP, RESF, SOS Racism. Unions are also associated: Sud Education, Union syndicale solidaires, Federation Syndicale Unitaire (FSU), SNES-FSU, National Union CGT-Educ'action, Federation of Education, Research and Culture CGT (FERC-CGT). Parties, associations and unions, as well as their members, are still invited to join this call, which has also opened to individual signatures: after a few days, the petition has more than 34,000. Local groups are being created in several cities (Nîmes, Avignon, Tarbes, etc.) and a Facebook group has nearly 10,000 members.

To extend this initiative, the group plans to organize a public meeting in February, at the time when the "great debate" initiated by the minister will end, and as the campaign for the regional elections of March 2010 begins.

January 17, 2010

Collective for the abolition of the Ministry of National Identity and Immigration
www.pourlasuppressionduministeredelidentitenationale.org