London Indymedia

Colnbrook - more repression

Posted by the detainee support network | 08.05.2006 18:10 | April 2006 No Borders Days of Action | Migration | Repression | Social Struggles | London

"trays, plates of food , the tray rack, cutlery,and almost everything dat wasn't nailed down was used on the officers"

It was lunchtime in Colnbrook,1.00pm Sunday afternoon the 7th May, at the C-Wing, at the cafeteria point.

An Algerian inmate got into an argument with the manager on duty, over the amount of food he was entitled to,and the manager resulted to some physical contact to make his point. the inmate resented this seemingly bullying attitude of the manager and refused to pay any further attention to the manager. instead he stopped any further argument with the manager and insisted d manager stop shoving him. d manager tried to force him to leave the cafe counter,but he insisted he would not leave without his lunch,at dis d manager called 4 additional officers,on his comm. unit.

The inmate, collected his lunch and walked into his room,without any further comment. when the officers came to take him to solitary confinement (the block),he left his lunch, got up without a word and with no argument followed the manager, and 4 other officers out of the connecting door in the wing. When they had taken him out, and locked d door, the manager and officers started to beat him.

One of the fellow Algerian inmates got so irate at dis treatment bcos d inmate had not resisted at all,and he started banging on the door,in anger and frustration at seeing d beating his friend was recieving. d other 2 Algerians joined in and the remaining officers called in some more reinforcements, and six of the DCOs descended heavily on d single Algerian still banging on the door, and there and then they forced his hands behind his back, and in the process put him in a choke hold with an arm around his neck. When they brought him to the ground, most inmates who were looking on, heard his arm break,and his resultant SCREAM was what really incited all other participants in the fracas.

The injustice of 6 men beating, choking, one man and an additional 5 DCOs,fighting the remaining 2 Algerians,was too much. trays, plates of food , the tray rack, cutlery,and almost everything dat wasn't nailed down was used on the officers, and they managed to drag the injured Algerian thru d connecting door,and sealed off the cafeteria point,and the whole wing was sealed off with only d female officers left behind, until the inmates had been calmed down by the other non-violent inmates.

90% of us dat had not collected our lunch were starved till dinner time as we never got any other meal.(maybe as a punishment). at 11p.m, (after the final lockdown at 9.45p.m,) over a dozen inmates who had taken part in the riot were arrested for incitement, and other drummed up charges.these arrests were carried out,with an officer recording the process with a camcorder (of what purpose is unknown)


Posted by the detainee support network

Additions

Why don't you shut up?

08.05.2006 21:36

Personally I'have been talking over the phone to quite a few detainees who confirmed the abuse went on...I haven't seen with my eyes, that's impossible behind closed doors, thick walls and razor wire, I can only access the visit room, after being searched, fingerprinted and scanned. As for proof we have plenty of proof that detainees are regularily beaten by escorts at airports, or by detention staff in the centres, many have claims for damages - broken bones, dislocated wrists and so forth, unfortunatley no one responsible have been ever prosecuted due to thoruogh cover-up - by the so called Independent Monitoring Board, the Prison ombudsman , the judiciary, the politicians and all insitutions.

Chiara


did i read something 10 minutes ago about someone asking for proof?

08.05.2006 22:01

comments maybe been removed but heres your proof anyway.

Home Office press release re incident at Colnbrook:


A Home Office spokesperson said:

"We can confirm that an incident of disruptive behaviour occurred at
Colnbrook at lunchtime on Sunday 07.05.06. Calm was quickly restored
and no incidents have occurred since.

"During the incident, approved control techniques were used to move
one detainee to temporary confinement. A further 9 detainees were
also removed from association or placed in temporary confinement
following the incident.

"As a result of the incident, police are investigating an assault on
a detention custody officer. It would not be appropriate to comment
further while this investigation is ongoing.

"We treat our duty of care towards detainees with the utmost seriousness.

"Every report of or allegation of inappropriate treatment against
detainees is reported to the centre's (HO) contract monitor, and an
investigation into each allegation will take place. Where there is an
allegation of assault or inappropriate use of force, we also
automatically refer the case to the police for investigation. There
has been no such allegation arising from this incident.

"A comprehensive complaints system is in place at all centres, and
detainees also have the provision to raise complaints both
anonymously or in person and in confidence to the Independent
Monitoring Boards who can raise complaints on behalf of detainees.

by the way the last time approved control techniques made it to the media, the guy was seriously beaten up with injuries assessed by an outside body as consistant to his story. on the subject of proof, in a climate of retaliation it is hard for detainees to make themselves visible to the media. but, look at it this way, the homeoffice doesn't jump to make statements lightly.

heather


Update on Colnbrook Hunger Strike - 10th May 2006

10.05.2006 09:10

Update on Colnbrook Hunger Strike - 10th May 2006

Many individuals continue the hunger strike despite racial and sexual abuse, torture, solitary confinement and beatings at the hands of Home Office/ SERCO officers at Colnbrook.

[[Romeo Dzamba]] continues the hunger strike. He is now out of the secure block/unit (AKA Rule 40) after being beaten and racially abused by SERCO security officers, including a Mr. Stuart, for talking to the press. He was handcuffed and his head repeatedly hit against the floor. This was repeated in the secure/isoplation unit at Colnbrook AK Rule 40. This incident occured on Thursday 2nd May, when a young Afghanistani man on D-Wing attempted suicide and all detainees were locked in their rooms.

Romeo's full hearing of his Asylum case is on 23rd May at 10am. He has requested supporters to be present.

[[Amos Onakare Alijaibo]] also continues the hunger strike. He was scheduled for deportation on 8th May, but his efforts have paid off and the deportation was cancelled - for now. However he is still disabled from the beating he received from officers, for talking to the press. He has been in 'Healthcare' and has had various injections and tests, as has Romeo. The night before the scheduled removal, Amos's cellmate was taken from the cell and put into Rule 40/solitarey confinement/ special unit, by around 20 officers who had electronic video equipment with them too.

When questioned, the security manager Mr. Rose said that all officers have been following Home Office rules, but refused to make clear what these rules are.

We appeal for doctors, lawyers, journalists and others to accompany us on visits to Colnbrook.


 voice_refugee_forum@dalitstan.org

 http://uo.dczn.net

VOICE


Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340060.html

08.05.2006 20:22

indymedia cinema in west london

imc screener


.

08.05.2006 21:15

Proof, proof, proof.

All just hearsay - how about a bit of proof.


Proof, proof, proof.

.


.

09.05.2006 00:14

Your so called proof sound a lot different from your original story.

Perhaps you should get your xray specs on and take off the rose tined ones that make you belive that every asylum seeker is a saint.

.


if you want to carry on this debate...

09.05.2006 09:50

come to tonights indymedia west london screening where you will be shown video evidence and testimonials, click on link above for more info.

the bottome line is - Asylum Is Not A Crime!

Torture however, is.

imc screener


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