Greek police sending migrants back across the border | VPRO Documentary
595In this episode, Bram Vermeulen travels to the border of Greece with Turkey. There, a six-metre high wall is being built to stop migrants and refugees. Along the banks of the border river Evros, soldiers of the Greek army, police, and heat cameras are now active to keep a close watch on the border 24 hours a day. The Greeks have also formed a civil guard to act as the eyes and ears of the border police.
Although the wall is not yet finished, migrants or refugees are nowhere to be seen in the villages of the border region. Is this because of the tightened surveillance, COVID, or is something else going on?
Meanwhile, Greek residents complain about the emptying of the region. Young people have left for the big city or for other countries in Europe. Elderly farmers now drive tractors. An asparagus farmer is forced to turn to an employment agency in Athens, which sends migrants from West Africa to help him. They are the only Africans in the village.
When Bram Vermeulen and his film crew make their last round along the border on the last day in the area, they come across a large group of Afghan refugees. They tell shocking stories that answer all the unanswered questions. When the Greek police catch sight of the Afghans, the film crew is taken to the police station.
Direction, composition, presentation Bram Vermeulen
Camera Sven van Enckevort
Sound Simone Galavazi
Fixer Vassilis Kyrakoulis
Montage Paul Delput
Design Joost Gulien
Colour correction Gerhard van der Beek
Music Rutger Zuydervelt
Audio Editing Rob Dul
Editing Gijs Swantee, Sofoula Schalkwijk
Final editing Joyce Daamen
Production Dominiek Beltman, Regina Rijpkema
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