Saturday April 5th 2008: Around 6.30 this morning ‘riot’ police were at Harmondsworth removal centre close to Heathrow airport, and detainees were taken away from the centre in vans. Around 30 detainees have been taken to unknown destinations, according to the news received by No Borders activists. From previous experience this looks like a typical reply from the authorities to break up protests by moving detainees to other prisons around the country and putting people in isolation.
Many thanks to Indymedia, the only independent media in the UK it seems. The lack of response from the mainstream media around the detainees’ protest has been shameful.
Yesterday morning, April 1st, from 9am, all – or the majority at least- of immigration detainees at Harmondsworth removal centre refused food and were in peaceful occupation of the courtyard.
Detainees said: ‘We are human beings, we want to be treated with dignity we shall stay in the coutyard until our demands are heard.’
On Thursday 12th April 2007, there will be a “directions hearing” for the Country Guidance tribunal on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This will be a meeting between the judge, the barristers bringing the case and the home office to ensure all parties have been served with the information they need. After this the date for the full hearing will be established. We need to be out in force on 12th April, and on any subsequent tribunal dates, to show our solidarity with Congolese asylum seekers and to protest against further deportations to DRC. NOTTINGHAM DEMO is at 12.00 noon in The Market Square. All welcome. Read more for contacts and other demos on April 12th…
Called by the Darfurian Community in Manchester.
Demonstration: Thursday 5th April at 12:00 noon.
Venue: Dallas Court Enforcement Unit, South Longworthy Road, Salford Quays, Salford M50 2GF [Map]
Congolese, Zimbabwean, Iraqi, Afghan, Somali asylum seekers of other nationalities stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sudanese, the latest targets of the Home Office’s most shameful, vile attacks.
CALL FOR A DEMO AND NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION IN UK AGAINST THE NEW GATWICK DETENTION CENTRE BEING BUILT!!!
Come to the demonstration or organise solidarity demos/actions in your own cities and towns. Saturday on the 21st of April. Demonstration in THREE BRIDGES near CRAWLEY against the new detention centre. Meet up at Jubilee Field in Three Bridges at 12 o’clock. RH10 1LQ. [Map] Called by NoBorders. Transport/information from (at least): Brighton, Bradford, London, Leeds.
Details from: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/366825.html
and also http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/366827.html
UPDATE: Don’t bother with writing to Jacqui Smith, Lovey is already at heathrow but do fax Virgin Atlantic! She is due to fly out at 20.30 hrs tonight. But below is the model fax
Lovey has been a volunteer with Refugee Action (in Nottingham) from July 2006 to 27th March when she was detained while signing on at Loughborough. Read more for more info and about what you can do to help. Continue reading Lovey Nkomo detained→
At 2pm on Saturday 29th March, on the day of the Zimbabwean elections, folks gathered to highlight the dangers that people who have fled Zimbabwe will face, if they are forcibly returned there.
Article about a deportation flight that took place last Thursday: http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=251 Extract: […] Britain?s press completely ignored the forcible deportation, on Thursday, of 60 Iraqi Kurds, who were transported back to a decidedly uncertain future on a German plane from a UK airport. Each of the 60 ?failed asylum seekers,? as they are officially known, was escorted by an armed Home Office guard funded by the UK taxpayer. The guards had previously seized the men from the detention centers at Campsfield and Colnbrook in what looked uncomfortably like a ?dawn raid.? […]. For further information on the deportation, email Dashty Jamal, International Federation of Iraq Refugees (IFIR) Secretary on: d.jamal@ntlworld.com
For freedom of movement, Against nationhood and prevention of migration by nation states, Welcoming asylum seekers and migrant workers, Against capitalist exploitation
