Stop the Criminalization of Refugee Communities

Public Meeting- Committee Room 3
House Of Lords
11.30 am on Tuesday 27th March 2001

Work of NCADC threatened by Terrorism Act

On the 27th March 2001 the House of Lords will debate an order issued under the Terrorism Act 2000 which when passed will proscribe 21 organisations making illegal, and punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment, membership of the banned organisations. They include groups from all the main refugee producing countries for example the Tamil Tigers, the PKK, Dev Sol, International Sikh Youth Federation, BabaKalsa, as well as a number of muslim organisations. The measures are a draconian attack on the rights of free speech and association with wide ranging measures preventing these organisations from operating and prohibiting any assocation or support by third parties of these organisations.

It marks the culmination of 10 years of criminalization of refugee communities and is a broad attack on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minority communities in the UK. 

Last year there was massive support to stop the deportation of Paramjit Singh and Mukhtiar Singh. The Terrorism Act 2000, will make it a criminal offence to support campaigns like these.

Another big anti-deportation campaign last year was in support of Shafiq ur Rehman. This campaign is still ongoing. If the bill is passed on Tuesday 27th March, anyone supporting this campaign could be committing an offence.

NCADC have in the past supported campaigns for Raghbir Singh and Karamjit Singh Chahal. Thousands of people marched through the streets of Britain to keep Raghbir and Karamjit in the UK. Demonstrations like these could now be made illegal. NCADC will continue to support anyone facing deportation and will challenge any attempts by the government to criminalise our activities in support of people facing deportation.

The above  meeting has been arranged on the day of the debate with the aim of bringing together the various groups affected, as part of a Lobby that will take place in Parliament and the demonstration outside. The meeting will be addressed by the groups affected and by Liberty and Louise Christian. It is hoped that a number of members of parliament will attend.

It is important to show support for these groups and make the lobby a success.

For further information, please call Stephanie Harrison on 020 7353 1633.