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Demo in Dover, Oct 19th

nooneisillegal | 19.09.2002 09:23

Activists in France and UK are preparing to show their support for refugees and asylum seekers on both sides of the Channel on October 19th, at Dover removals center and the red-cross camp in Sangatte.

Demonstrate! Saturday 19th October 2002, 10am
Dover Immigration Removal/detention Prison
The Citadel, Western Heights, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DR

Kent Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers, CAE Paris Commite Anti-Expulsions, Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers and Barbed Wire Britain are calling for campaigners and concerned individuals to come together on Saturday, October October 19th at 10 a.m. outside Dover Immigration Removal/detention Prison England. For a demonstration and a day of (optional) actions.

We will be sending a delegation to Sangatte to show solidarity for the present occupants of the camp and to defend the right of shelter for those men, women and children who will come in future and be forced once again to sleep under the stars,and in the wet freezing conditions that are most frequent on the North coast of France.

Those who choose to remain will picket the Dover removal/detention centre and there will be actions. ( If you wish to travel to France, don't forget your Passport!!!)

The Dover removals centre and Sangatte camp.They stand on opposite sides of the channel and both symbolise the incredible injustice that faces refugees . Whilst holiday-makers pass by, men, women and children are forced into a deadly game that may cost them limbs and often their lives. They come to Britain because they have family here, because they speak English and want to work. They think that at least if they do get here there is a chance they will get a fair hearing and possibly the chance to start again, unlike in France where the acceptance rates are far lower.

Rather than campaign against that injustice, Britain is increasingly adopting the anti-refugee policies detention/deportation strategies of some countries in Europe and Australia. Now we even have countries from which no asylum claims are accepted, even though we know from organisations such as Amnesty that massive Human rights abuses are going on in those countries, primary examples being Czech and Slovak Roma,and Turkish Kurds. Without any evidence that Afghanistan is a safe place to return people to the British government, like the French and German is beginning to send people back.

Refugees are being daily terrorised by the policies that our governments seem intent on forcing upon them.The closure of Sangatte and the widespread incarceration of innocent people, men,women and children in prisons are actions of politicians that do not have respect for human life. It is up to us to ensure that refugees are given a voice until they have a chance to recover enough to tell us their stories themselves and to attempt to ensure they are treated with as much respect or dignity as we would hope for.


Asylum is a Human Right !!!

Keep Sangatte Open!!

Give Refugees a way to escape misery and claim asylum without risking their lives clinging to trains!!

End our Racist Immigration Laws !!!

End arbitrary Detention!!

Campaign for a system that gives everyone a chance of a fair hearing!!


Inquiries, further information contact:
email: goldfish1967@hotmail.com

Kent Refugee Action Network
 http://www.canterburylabour.org.uk/kran.htm

Background on Dover
 http://www.carf.demon.co.uk/feat31.html

nooneisillegal
- Homepage: www.canterburylabour.org.uk/kran.htm