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Calais update

calaismigrantsolidarity | 23.09.2009 08:27 | Anti-racism | Migration | Repression | South Coast | World

Last night activists stayed in different squats and 'jungles' around Calais ahead of the ongoing raids.



In the meantime people are left with minimal access to food, shelter, medicine or any basic support.

This is dignified Besson?

Wednesday 23 September
08.46: 1 No Borders activist arrested last night for driving with 3 Iranians in a car. Still in custody. Will send more info, only sketchy details from the police so far.

08.25: 19 people left dockside, the ‘Palestinian’ squat in the centre of Calais – everyone else has fled. We have been finding alternative acommodation for people… new arrivals all the time. Looked after three 13 year old Afghans yesterday left with nothing – they are safe now. The Pashtun ‘jungle’ is just a pile of rubbish and dirt now.

08.02: 11 arrests this morning, 2 Vietnamese and 9 Eritreans. Last night many Eritreans fled from their house (squat). The CRS just came, they cleared the area but several people managed to get away.

Callout for demonstrations at UK Border Agency offices today:

What has happened in Calais is not a matter ‘for the French’, it’s part of a coordinated European approach to curbing migration. The responsibility for the situation facing migrants in Calais rests partly with the UK Border Agency, as well as the wider UK government, whose wars many people in Calais are trying to escape. For example, many Afghans in Calais talk of the UK as “my enemy’s enemy”, ie against the Taliban. But it’s all fucked up. So they come to seek shelter in the UK.
We can’t all go to Calais, although those that can are needed. But many of us have UK Border Agency offices and staff near us. Tomorrow the Calais ‘jungle’ clearances seem set to begin.

As Pashtuns in the main Afghan jungle prepare to resist the eviction, and some start hunger strikes, we call for direct actions and demonstrations at UK Border Agency offices throughout these islands.

UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY

Asylum Screening Unit – Liverpool 1st Floor, Reliance House, 20 Water Street, Liverpool, L2 8XU

Public Enquiry Offices
Solihull – Dominion Court, 41 Station Road, Solihull, Birmingham B91 3RT
Sheffield – Vulcan House, Riverside entrance, 6 Millsands, Sheffield S3 8NU
Liverpool – Reliance House, 20 Water Street, Liverpool L2 8XU
Glasgow – Festival Court, 200 Brand Street, Govan, Glasgow G51 1DH
Belfast – 1 Drumkeen Complex, Upper Galwally, Belfast BT8 6TB
Cardiff – General buildings, Ground floor, 31-33 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales CF24 0AB

All the above Public Enquiry Offices are also biometric enrolment centres, plus
Derby – 2nd Floor, Stuart House, Green Lane, DE1 1RS
Brighton – First Floor (North Suite), 42 Frederick Place, Brighton, BN1 4EA

UKBA Customer Service Units
North West – 0161 261 1117
North East, Yorkshire and the Humber – 0114 207 2966
Midlands and East of England – 01733 847844
Wales and South West – 02920 924657
London and South East – 020 8760 8765 or 020 8760 2926

And to get through to Dover…
“Border Force Customer Service Unit – If you wish to complain about the treatment you have received at any of the United Kingdom’s sea, air or rail ports, or about immigration controls at a United Kingdom port, you should contact the Border Force Customer Service Unit, phone: 01304 664511″

Report an illegal immigrant! 0800 59 5000 (HM Revenue & Customs operate this one) It’s free, don’t call from a phone box and leave the receiver hanging

FROM BBC NEWS WEBSITE:
UK turns down ‘jungle migrants’
Some 1,500 migrants live in very poor conditions outside Calais

The UK Border Agency has rejected calls for Britain to accept some migrants from the illegal camp in Calais known as “the jungle”.

High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres had said the government should consider granting entry to those who already have large families in the UK.

He spoke after French officials said the camp would be shut down imminently.

But the UK Border Agency said genuine asylum seekers should make their claim in the country where they enter Europe.

An agency spokesman said: “People seeking asylum should do so in the first safe country they come to, those who are not in need of protection will be expected to return home.

“The decision to close illegal encampments in and around Calais is a matter for the French government and we will continue to cooperate with them on tackling illegal immigration.”

Read more at  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8262283.stm

 http://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/callout-to-demonstrate-at-uk-border-agency-offices/

calaismigrantsolidarity
- Homepage: http://www.calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com

Additions

migrants getting released onto the street with nothing...

23.09.2009 08:36

* one migrant told us that in detention the police stole all his clothes, his mobile phones and 40 euros. he walks in calais with nothing 9 minutes ago
* Eric Besson said that the jungle was destroyed for the good of the migrants. What! they are now walking the streets!! what was the point! 10 minutes ago
* They said they were given nothing. Just told to leave. But the police destroyed their home? Where do they go now? 11 minutes ago
* We have just spoken to 4 afghans who were arrested at the jungle yesterday. They have been released from detention centre 11 minutes ago

calaismigrantsolidarity
- Homepage: http://www.calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com


Comments

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Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Hidden comments

23.09.2009 09:05

Looking back at the posting 'Breaking News - calais camps being evicted', I see that 20 COMMENTS were hidden! Many explained the legal situation or wrote in support of migrants and their struggle. I don't understand why they were hidden.

Anon


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Those hiddens

23.09.2009 09:35

You say that there is much legal information - but in fact there are massive trolls and the pushing of a right wing agenda. The reasons for the hiddens are listed below. Next time you have a query please follow the guidelines and take it to the approtriate list.

The fact is Indymedia is very heavily trolled - and flamebait is posted all the time. It serves to distract from the real isseus and waste posters time.


Hiddens from "Breaking News" thread:

"Lets complain to the IPCC" - non news - the IPCC has no jurisdiction in France

"All residents to be offered asylum in France" - inaccurate - simply an untrue troll

"Who decides ?" - non news/sarcastic post outlining right wing claims - flamebait

"Believe that when I see it 'Supporter'" - reply to hidden

"I had no idea..." - discriminatory - refers to "human detritus" and "criminal vermin"

"Six Key Facts" (posted twice) - repost from migration watch/repeated content

"whypeoplemigrate.watch??" - response to hidden

"Sans-Papiers people, the legal position" - last paragraph allegedly written by no borders activist - "So. In summary: the legal procedures for residence of sans-papiers is a lengthy and complicated one. Completely the opposite to first asylum. My advice? Make sure you take your passport with you." - no borders activists would understand why some people are unable to travel with passports - troll/flamebait

"In support of "disgusted"" - response to hidden

"These are the people you are fighting for." - rabidly anti-immigrant repost from the daily Mail

"Camp now gone" - claims all camps have gone - and yet in the post above activists slept in camps last night - 'K' claims he will get to the UK for the operation he needs - this is likely to be as made up as the claim that all camps are gone

"The view of the wider public" - repost from migration watch

"Brave ?" - people should stay and fight the Taliban rather than seek asylum - flamebait

"Taliban" - more flamebait/non news

"sob story" - rising to the lies in camp now gone/ response to hidden

"Taliban comment" - response to hidden

"Now is the time for us to set an example to the people of the UK" - flamebait - key line - "Now is the time for the activist community to welcome migrants into their homes, their schools, their communities, their families." - same sarcastic tone outlining right wing claims

"Exsqueeze Me ?" - response to hidden

"@ MIgration Watch" - response to hidden








IMCista


any solidarity actions planned in London?

23.09.2009 12:36

any solidarity actions planned in London?

anon


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