No Platform for the IOM
Bristol No Borders | 18.06.2008 13:45 | Anti-racism | Migration | Social Struggles | World
Picket - Thursday 19th June 10pm-6pm
To coincide with "IOM Day" being held as part of Bristol's Refugee Week
activities at the Pierian Centre, Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol
To coincide with "IOM Day" being held as part of Bristol's Refugee Week
activities at the Pierian Centre, Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol
No Platform for the IOM
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) claims to
assist migrants. It is using Bristol Refugee Week to sell a positive
image of itself to refugees and asylum seekers and to the groups they
work with. In reality it’s primary function is help rich western
governments meet their deportation targets, regardless of the very real
dangers facing returning asylum seekers.
The IOM is currently targeting asylum seekers from Iraq and Zimbabwe,
stepping in with their 'voluntary return programme' at the point where
the UK government withdraws even minimum financial support. Faced with
the alternative of destitution, no access to healthcare and homelessness
several thousand Iraqis have already returned through VARRP, despite the
IOM’s representative in Iraq admitting that "the situation for those
returning is grim... many returnees are unemployed while only a fraction
have received any form of humanitarian assistance other than some food
rations.”
The IOM makes sure that it takes no responsibility for the returnees
welfare after they arrive home. All participants in the scheme are asked
to sign a waiver reading: “the IOM has no responsibility for me and my
dependents once I return [to Iraqi territory] and I hereby release IOM
from any liability in this respect.
Anyone participating in the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration
Programme (VARRP) is prohibited from returning to the UK for a minimum
of five years. Those who pay their own airfare home and receive no
assistance from the IOM are eligible to reapply in 12 months.
No Platform for the IOM:
By allowing IOM to have a day at refugee week, which should be about
celebrating the contribution refugees make to our society, the
organisers are allowing them to promote themselves as a refugee friendly
organization. Other groups that genuinly wish to support asylum seekers
and refugees could be folled into thinking this is an organisation they
can work with.
*
The IOM is a deportation agency: *those who sign up are not choosing to
return home but fleeing the poverty and destitution government policies
are enforcing onto them.
We can't allow them to be legitimised in this way. Boycott the IOM. Come
and find out more about what the IOM really does around the world.
noborders.org.uk
bristolnoborders.wordpress.com
bristolnoborders@riseup.net
Bristol No Borders meet every other Tuesday at Kebele, 14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol
Next Meeting - Tuesday 1st July - 7pm-9pm
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) claims to
assist migrants. It is using Bristol Refugee Week to sell a positive
image of itself to refugees and asylum seekers and to the groups they
work with. In reality it’s primary function is help rich western
governments meet their deportation targets, regardless of the very real
dangers facing returning asylum seekers.
The IOM is currently targeting asylum seekers from Iraq and Zimbabwe,
stepping in with their 'voluntary return programme' at the point where
the UK government withdraws even minimum financial support. Faced with
the alternative of destitution, no access to healthcare and homelessness
several thousand Iraqis have already returned through VARRP, despite the
IOM’s representative in Iraq admitting that "the situation for those
returning is grim... many returnees are unemployed while only a fraction
have received any form of humanitarian assistance other than some food
rations.”
The IOM makes sure that it takes no responsibility for the returnees
welfare after they arrive home. All participants in the scheme are asked
to sign a waiver reading: “the IOM has no responsibility for me and my
dependents once I return [to Iraqi territory] and I hereby release IOM
from any liability in this respect.
Anyone participating in the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration
Programme (VARRP) is prohibited from returning to the UK for a minimum
of five years. Those who pay their own airfare home and receive no
assistance from the IOM are eligible to reapply in 12 months.
No Platform for the IOM:
By allowing IOM to have a day at refugee week, which should be about
celebrating the contribution refugees make to our society, the
organisers are allowing them to promote themselves as a refugee friendly
organization. Other groups that genuinly wish to support asylum seekers
and refugees could be folled into thinking this is an organisation they
can work with.
*
The IOM is a deportation agency: *those who sign up are not choosing to
return home but fleeing the poverty and destitution government policies
are enforcing onto them.
We can't allow them to be legitimised in this way. Boycott the IOM. Come
and find out more about what the IOM really does around the world.
noborders.org.uk
bristolnoborders.wordpress.com
bristolnoborders@riseup.net Bristol No Borders meet every other Tuesday at Kebele, 14 Robertson Road, Easton, Bristol
Next Meeting - Tuesday 1st July - 7pm-9pm
Bristol No Borders