SUPPORT THIS DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS AND IMMIGRANTS


To protest against mass deportations.

In November 2008, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas boasted that the government is deporting immigrants at a rate of one every eight minutes. To achieve this, it is making increasing use of charter flight mass deportations. Many of these have been to northern Iraq. On 17 September 2008, 52 Kurdish asylum seekers, who had physically resisted being put on a flight two days before, were deported from Stansted airport . On 27 October, another 50 were deported. On 15 December, 46 people were deported on a Hamburg International flight via Germany. One of the deportees was taken off the plane and sent back to Britain, after wounding himself with scissors. There were charter flight deportations to Jamaica in December 2007 and March 2008, and In January 2009 the government began mass deportation, primarily of Tamils, to Sri Lanka. There has been increasing discussion of co-ordinated deportations from EU countries, and the EU border police agency Frontex is already organising operations such as the charter deportation to Lagos in July 2008, which collected 41 people from nine countries, including Ireland, France and Spain.The precise number of charter flight deportations is not known. Up until 2007, the government disclosed figures in response to parliamentary questions or requests under the Freedom of Information Act, but is now refusing to do so, on the grounds that the information is ‘commercially sensitive’.


To protest against individual deportations, which tear families apart. Anyone is welcome to bring information about their case to share with protesters and the public.


To campaign against all immigration controls. Britain is a wealthy country and has built that wealth by robbing the poor of the world. It then turns on those who come from poor countries to seek asylum or a better life.


To let the public know what Communications House is. The building looks anonymous but immigration reporting centres are places of fear for asylum seekers, who have to report to them monthly, weekly or even several time s a week. They are places of detention and qualify for inspection by the Chief Inspector of Prisons

(see  http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspect_reports/STHF-reports/2007-Communications_House_f1.pdf)


Monthly demonstration called by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!

For more information phone 020 7837 1688