'Removed'

Starting from 15th February, the Home Office 'snatch squads' started to detain individuals and families from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who have been living in the UK for several years, with the intention of forcibly 'removing' them. 27 adults and 19 children were served with the same 'removal directions': "Directions have now been given for your removal from the United Kingdom by (flight/ship) *OTTHxla4334 to Congo Democratic Republic at 21.00 hrs on Monday 26 February 2007". In the Home Office's view, DRC is now "safe to return".

The country, however, is one of the deadliest places in the world. Since 1998, over 4 million lives have been lost and, although the war is officially over, death continues at a rate of 1,200 a week. Extra-judicial execution of civilians, rape and torture are common. Recruitment of 'child soldiers' continues unabated. The infrastructure of the country's hospitals, roads and power supplies are archaic and in some areas non-existent.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in DRC recently reported that the human rights situation in the country "continues to deteriorate", as the army and police "perpetrate acts of violence against civilians and the number of reported rapes surges". A monthly assessment of the human rights situation in the DRC released by the UN Mission, known as MONUC, stated that there have been numerous cases in which Congolese soldiers and police have summarily executed and raped civilians, in some cases with apparent impunity.

Ironically, just last month John Reid, the Home Secretary, brought in a number of people from DRC under the Gateway Protection Programme (the official name given to the UK's resettlement programme) and allowed them to settle in various parts of the UK with refugee status.

Flying People to Death

XLA4334 is the code for XL Airways UK Limited, a company that charters planes. XL Airways, who have their headquarters in Crawley, West Sussex, is the new name for Excel Airways following a major re-brand. XL provides short-haul and long-haul services to European and Middle Eastern leisure destinations from its three bases of London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow. The airline also operates services from Newcastle, Bristol, Nottingham East Midlands, Birmingham, Cardiff, Humberside, London Stansted and Belfast International. Excel Airways Limited held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, which permits it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. The parent company of XL Airways is the XL Leisure Group. In November 2006, XLLG launched XL Airways France and XL Airways Germany.

When asked by the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) who the contractors for flight XLA4334 were, XL Airways said "we cannot give that information; you have to contact the Home Office". NCADC did contact the Home Office and asked them to comment on the proposed 'charter flight', but a spokeswoman said they can "neither confirm or deny if there will be a 'charter flight'".

According to data acquired under the Freedom of Information Act, the total number of 'charter flights' from the UK in the last 12 months was 79. 55 of these were to Eastern Europe, 12 to Afghanistan and 2 to Kurdistan (northern Iraq) [see Dozens of Iraqi Kurds Deported.. Again].