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BMI logs protest phone numbers

Anna M | 21.11.2008 11:52 | Migration | Repression

Thursday 20th saw a phone blockade against BMI, with activists registering their dismay and disgust at a deportation scheduled for today, Friday 21st. When speaking to the switchboard activists were informed that their numbers would be 'logged' and 'passed on to the chief executive'.

BMI has scheduled a deportation flight for 1745 Friday 21st Nov. During yesterday's phone blockade every individual who phoned BMI about anything related to the deportation was told that their phone numbers were being 'logged' and that these would be 'passed on' to the cheif executive.
A reason for this was not given, and in one case at least, the person at the switchboard could not (or would not!) answer as to whether this was so that the the activists could be contacted again, or for some other reason. In this insance, too, when asked about the legality of logging phone numbers without the permission of the people involved and for unstated reasons, the switchboard operator just hung up.

I urge those who are interested to look into the legal issues surrounding this, especially if these details are passed onto a third party.

There is no law against registering a complaint. And no law against lots of people complaining at the same time. Companies cannot allow all those who complaing about a particular thing be treated as a (borderline) criminal nuisance and keep their contact details for mysterious reasons.

In bureacratic terms it seems just as ludicrous as if all those who complained about airplane leg room were singled out, then herded together, and their phone numbers all given to chief executive to play with. In terms of policy or law it makes no real sense, and so must be seen as a deliberate way to intimidate protesters.
BMI is a commercial airliner, it has no obligation to carry out deportation flights and the public have every legal right (nevermind freedom) to express their disagreement with the choices the company has made.

Anna M

Additions

One good new: deportation cancelled!

21.11.2008 15:20

The family that was supposed to fly today will not fly, thanks to new legal challenge. Thanks to everybody who phoned/ faxed and will do better next time!

one of no borders (london)


Comments

Display the following 7 comments

  1. well... — anonymous
  2. 141 — don't want to be anonymous
  3. reason for storing — anon comment
  4. response — anonymous
  5. Maybe it's so they can contact you again — Mike
  6. don't be stupid — caller
  7. 141 not enough — bobby