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*Close Oakington Refugee Detention Centre - Demonstration and Rally *
* Saturday March 10th *
* Assemble at 12:30pm, Parker's Piece *
* Cambridge City Centre *
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A year after its controversial opening, over 3000 refugees,
(adults and children) have so far been imprisoned at Oakington whilst
their asylum claims were "processed" under the new "fast-track"
system.

Contrary to the government's original plans, few refugees are
having their claims fully processed during their "fast-track" stay in
Oakington. A very high proportion 87% are being moved on into the
national dispersal programme or, more alarmingly, being sent to other
detention centres: or criminal prisons.

Numerous criticisms have been made against "fast tracking" - in
addition to being inhumane it is inefficient and expensive. It costs
*£1,536 per week to keep a single refugee in Oakington, (*Hansard
January 9th 2001).

Despite the strong humanitarian objections to refugee detention,
the failure of "fast-track" to meet the government's own
expectations, and the growing evidence that Britain's detention
regime is encouraging xenophobic hostility towards asylum seekers
among the general public, there has been little sign of a rethink on
the part of the main political parties.

The government continues to build new detention centres in order
to increase capacity. In addition to the Home Office detention
estate, (1,800 beds), refugees are still being held in over 45
criminal prisons. The Conservative Party has meanwhile declared its
intention to detain all refugees. Other policies which stigmatise
refugees, such as the use of vouchers instead of cash benefits,
continue to be in operation.

Refugees continue to be a political football, and a respectable
target for racist and xenophobic sentiment in the media. Cambridgeshire
Against Refugee Detention (CARD) therefore considers it important to
give those who object to the persecution of refugees an opportunity to
make themselves heard. Especially in the run-up to a general election, it
seems imperative for those who oppose racism and the inhumane treatment of
refugees to make their case in public.

We'd be very grateful if you could publicise the event in any way you can.
Posters, leaflets, and petitions are available for distribution on request.
Should you require any, or desire more information about the demo,
please email me on  dtb23@cam.ac.uk,
or phone either myself David, on 01223 700644 or Andy on 07989 453208.

David Babbs
CARD, (Cambridgeshire Against Refugee Detention)
 card@zensearch.net