Leila, Soorena and Danoushm, on plane, off plane, back in Yarl's Wood
I can't believe what I'm writing here, but at 25 to six, twenty minutes after the plane should have gone, I had a phone call from Sourena on his phone. I couldn't hear a word he was saying, so asked if I could speak to someone with him. An officer said they were being removed from the plane and taken back to Yarl's Wood, and that's where they are today.
Having just spoken to Leila’s legal representative this morning he says the Home Office are ‘livid’ at what happened and want the flight rescheduling asap. It’s all still hanging on a thread…. He has spoken to Sourena. Evidently, all three of them were separated either in transit, for the flight or both, we are not sure – including 18 month old Sourena being separated from his mother! That is absolutely outrageous! Danoushm is still traumatized this morning, we hear. Sourena has scratches on his face. This is completely inhumane! Thanks to all who faxed/phoned on family's behalf.
Phil Townend
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm belong to Halifax
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/Leila.html
I can't believe what I'm writing here, but at 25 to six, twenty minutes after the plane should have gone, I had a phone call from Sourena on his phone. I couldn't hear a word he was saying, so asked if I could speak to someone with him. An officer said they were being removed from the plane and taken back to Yarl's Wood, and that's where they are today.
Having just spoken to Leila’s legal representative this morning he says the Home Office are ‘livid’ at what happened and want the flight rescheduling asap. It’s all still hanging on a thread…. He has spoken to Sourena. Evidently, all three of them were separated either in transit, for the flight or both, we are not sure – including 18 month old Sourena being separated from his mother! That is absolutely outrageous! Danoushm is still traumatized this morning, we hear. Sourena has scratches on his face. This is completely inhumane! Thanks to all who faxed/phoned on family's behalf.
Phil Townend
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm belong to Halifax
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/Leila.html
Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Democratic Republic of the Congo: Published Friday 6th February 2009
The Committee is alarmed over the grave violations committed against children by both State party forces and non-State armed groups in the context of the armed conflict. The Committee is gravely concerned that children’s right to life, survival and development are violated as a consequence of being the most vulnerable of victims in hostilities. The Committee also expresses grave concern at the very high rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality, as well as at deaths caused by preventable diseases or by HIV/AIDS, conditions all of which are aggravated by the armed conflict.
Extracts and full report can be accessed here: http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/DRCRigtsChildren.html
Crusade against the undocumented
Every day, across the UK, aggressive raids are being carried out at workplaces to root out those without papers. Britain's ethnic restaurant sector is under attack from government officials who, in their single-minded drive to meet ever higher targets for deportation, have no interest in the impact of their policies on small family businesses or the effect on Britain's high streets. Workplace immigration raids, and raids on the homes of low-paid care workers and cleaners, carried out in unprecedented numbers and resulting in unprecedented rates of removal of people for transgressing immigration laws, see family assets wiped out, families criminalised, and skilled and hard working men and women jailed or deported. Every day, somewhere in the UK, immigration officers, often with police, frequently wearing stab-proof vests, surround High Street restaurants, takeaways and convenience stores, seal exits and storm in,
Read full article: By Frances Webber, published by IRR
http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/february/ha000011.html
Sri Lanka / House of Commons / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 1007
~~To put it bluntly, the situation in Sri Lanka is nothing short of shocking. We are very concerned about the humanitarian and human rights situation there. The humanitarian situation in the north of the country particularly has seriously deteriorated since the House last debated this subject in December.
~~ In recent weeks, the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Government of Sri Lanka has become increasingly bloody and the humanitarian situation has deteriorated dramatically. Fighting has continued even within the Government-declared safe zone, and on Sunday a hospital that had been declared a no-fire zone was shelled three times.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090205/debtext/90205-0009.htm#09020541000007
Violence against Women and Children
To call attention to measures to tackle violence against women and children;
Baroness Gale: My Lords, once again we debate violence against women and children, a topic to which your Lordships' House often returns. I welcome the opportunity to do so today, if only to send a message to all the women and children who are suffering from violence in this way.
The UN defines violence against women as, "any act of gender-based violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately". It includes rape and sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriages, stalking, trafficking and sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, crimes in the name of honour, female genital mutilation and sexual harassment.
Moved By Baroness Gale / House of Lords / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 811
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0008.htm#09020540000819
End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm Campaign
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Institute of Race Relations
Hansard
The Committee is alarmed over the grave violations committed against children by both State party forces and non-State armed groups in the context of the armed conflict. The Committee is gravely concerned that children’s right to life, survival and development are violated as a consequence of being the most vulnerable of victims in hostilities. The Committee also expresses grave concern at the very high rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality, as well as at deaths caused by preventable diseases or by HIV/AIDS, conditions all of which are aggravated by the armed conflict.
Extracts and full report can be accessed here:
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/DRCRigtsChildren.html Crusade against the undocumented
Every day, across the UK, aggressive raids are being carried out at workplaces to root out those without papers. Britain's ethnic restaurant sector is under attack from government officials who, in their single-minded drive to meet ever higher targets for deportation, have no interest in the impact of their policies on small family businesses or the effect on Britain's high streets. Workplace immigration raids, and raids on the homes of low-paid care workers and cleaners, carried out in unprecedented numbers and resulting in unprecedented rates of removal of people for transgressing immigration laws, see family assets wiped out, families criminalised, and skilled and hard working men and women jailed or deported. Every day, somewhere in the UK, immigration officers, often with police, frequently wearing stab-proof vests, surround High Street restaurants, takeaways and convenience stores, seal exits and storm in,
Read full article: By Frances Webber, published by IRR
http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/february/ha000011.html Sri Lanka / House of Commons / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 1007
~~To put it bluntly, the situation in Sri Lanka is nothing short of shocking. We are very concerned about the humanitarian and human rights situation there. The humanitarian situation in the north of the country particularly has seriously deteriorated since the House last debated this subject in December.
~~ In recent weeks, the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Government of Sri Lanka has become increasingly bloody and the humanitarian situation has deteriorated dramatically. Fighting has continued even within the Government-declared safe zone, and on Sunday a hospital that had been declared a no-fire zone was shelled three times.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090205/debtext/90205-0009.htm#09020541000007 Violence against Women and Children
To call attention to measures to tackle violence against women and children;
Baroness Gale: My Lords, once again we debate violence against women and children, a topic to which your Lordships' House often returns. I welcome the opportunity to do so today, if only to send a message to all the women and children who are suffering from violence in this way.
The UN defines violence against women as, "any act of gender-based violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately". It includes rape and sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriages, stalking, trafficking and sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, crimes in the name of honour, female genital mutilation and sexual harassment.
Moved By Baroness Gale / House of Lords / 5 Feb 2009 : Column 811
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90205-0008.htm#09020540000819 End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm Campaign
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Institute of Race Relations
Hansard
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University of Manchester Student Occupation over Gaza
06.02.2009 14:36
The students have proposed a set of demands on the university's Vice Chancellor Alan Gilbert, including a boycott of Israeli goods on campus, support for a day of fundraising with proceeds to the DEC fund, and that the university end research into manufacturing arms. So far, Mr Gilbert has refused each and every one of the thirteen demands. Meanwhile, leading feminist scholar Judith Butler pledged her support for the protest at a high profile lecture at the university on Wednesday, and a host of public figures have visited the occupation in a show of solidarity.
Students at other universities have taken similar actions over the last three weeks and have been successful in their demands.
The conflict has killed over 1,300 Palestinians and injured thousands. Tens of thousands of civilians have been left homeless. Head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, John Ging, is now joining international calls for an investigation into the war crimes of the recent action, wherein Israel stands accused of using banned weapons such as white phosphorus and cluster bombs, attacking medical facilities, including the killing of 12 ambulance men in marked vehicles, and killing large numbers of policemen who had no military role.
Over 500 students attended an emergency general meeting of the students union to discuss a motion on the issue of the crisis in Gaza, whereby the students marched on University administration headquarters, the John Owens Building, to draw up a list of demands.
The peaceful occupation is planned to continue for as long as it takes to achieve its demands, and promises to welcome high profile speakers during the week.
Please see the online blog for developments:
Luke