On Wednesday March 28th at 1.00 in the Old/New Market Square, people gathered to protest continued deportations to the Congo. After a while the protesters walked across town to the Bridewell Police Station [next to the Magistrates Court] and made their feeling know about government policies.

The Home Office plans to deport more Congolese people from the UK in spite of evidence that it is not only still unsafe for them to return but that the situation is worsening.

In March a United Nations report described the situation there as ‘deteriorating’. The Bishop of Winchester objected recently in the Lords to government claims that the country was now safe, noting that every independent organisation with first-hand experience finds ministerial assurances of safety “simply incredible”. He said that the Country Guidance Case on March 28th, at which the situation could be re-evaluated by the government, “will hear fresh evidence of ill-treatment, torture and rape of returned refugees, both at the airport and at associated holding centres”.

Asylum seekers in Nottingham need your help in putting pressure on the government to admit that its deportation policy is wrong. No Borders Nottingham and Congolese people showed their solidarity and continued support.


******

On April 12th The Government will hold a ‘Country Guidance Tribunal’ to decide whether it is safe to send people who have fled to Britian in fear of their lives back to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But the Congo is far from safe. The situation is actually worsening.
In March a United Nations report described the situation there as ‘deteriorating’. Extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, rape, arbitrary arrest & detention by security forces and rebel groups are all increasing. Life-threatening conditions in detention facilities prevail. Security forces continue to recruit child soldiers, and compel adults and children into forced labour. Ethnic hatred is a serious problem. Journalists and human rights advocates continue to be arrested & ill-treated, while political opposition members suffer persecution and detention.

The Bishop of Winchester objected recently in the House of Lords to government claims that the country was now safe, noting that every independent organisation with first-hand experience finds ministerial assurances of safety “simply incredible”. He said that the Country Guidance Tribunal “will hear fresh evidence of ill-treatment, torture and rape of returned refugees, both at the airport and at associated holding centres”.

In spite of having evidence of all this, the government are indicating that they consider the situation safe and want to return people.

Asylum seekers in Nottingham need your help in putting pressure on the government to admit that its deportation policy is wrong. The Congolese community, Nottingham Refugee Network & No Borders Nottingham ask you to attend a rally to show on April 12th. Please come and show solidarity.

******

More indymedia posts:

Occupation at Labour Party Offices for East Midlands
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/308040.html

Nottingham Protest against Deportations to Northern Iraq (Kurdistan)
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/08/321695.html

Nottingham Police Station :: Forced Deportations Continue
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321950.html

Anti-Deportation Protest at Nottingham Magistrates Court
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/334914.html

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 http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk
 http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk

More info on Nottingham Congolese community,
Contact: Patrick Essalo 07877489626
 patrickessalo@yahoo.com


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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@gn.apc.org
Web:  http://tash.gn.apc.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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