Called by members of the West Yorkshire Congolese community and supported by Leeds No Borders around 80 people protested outside Waterside court reporting centre on Wednesday.
This was one of many demonstrations across the country as part of a campaign to stop deportations to the DRC.
The protest got good media coverage and clearly upset the Home office who seemed particulary edgy. Very few people were coming to sign at the centre and it was clear the Immigration services had told as many people as possible not to sign that day, practically closing down the centre.
Background:
Despite the so-called 'democratic' elections placing Western backed President Joseph Kabila in power the situation in the DRC remians highly dangerous.The Congo support project state that:
'the situation in the DRC shows little sign of improving, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, rape, arbitrary arrest and detention by security forces and rebel groups are increasing, enjoying continued total impunity. Life threatening conditions in detention facilities prevail, security forces continue to recruit child soldiers and compel adults and children into forced labour. Journalists and human rights advocates continue to be arrested and ill-treated, while political opposition members suffer persecution and detention'.
Yet the Home Office are still forcibly removing people to the DRC despite compelling evidence showing that they will be at great risk if returned.
Waterside Court Reporting Centre:
Leeds Waterside court plays a crucial role in forced removals to places such as the DRC. It houses the immigration services, a reporting centre, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), the management of Complex Cases Unit and also the Removals Team. It also houses the intelligence unit that 'get information from sources internally and externally allowing them to undertake or plan enforcement operations'.
Waterside has no place in our city and must close, we will continue to demonstrate outside until it does.
The protest got good media coverage and clearly upset the Home office who seemed particulary edgy. Very few people were coming to sign at the centre and it was clear the Immigration services had told as many people as possible not to sign that day, practically closing down the centre.
Background:
Despite the so-called 'democratic' elections placing Western backed President Joseph Kabila in power the situation in the DRC remians highly dangerous.The Congo support project state that:
'the situation in the DRC shows little sign of improving, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture, rape, arbitrary arrest and detention by security forces and rebel groups are increasing, enjoying continued total impunity. Life threatening conditions in detention facilities prevail, security forces continue to recruit child soldiers and compel adults and children into forced labour. Journalists and human rights advocates continue to be arrested and ill-treated, while political opposition members suffer persecution and detention'.
Yet the Home Office are still forcibly removing people to the DRC despite compelling evidence showing that they will be at great risk if returned.
Waterside Court Reporting Centre:
Leeds Waterside court plays a crucial role in forced removals to places such as the DRC. It houses the immigration services, a reporting centre, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), the management of Complex Cases Unit and also the Removals Team. It also houses the intelligence unit that 'get information from sources internally and externally allowing them to undertake or plan enforcement operations'.
Waterside has no place in our city and must close, we will continue to demonstrate outside until it does.
