On 12th April 2007, there will be a "directions hearing" for the Country Guidance tribunal on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This will be a meeting between the judge, the barristers bringing the case and the home office to ensure all parties have been served with the information they need. After this the date for the full hearing will be established.
We need to be out in force on 12th April, and on any subsequent tribunal dates, to show our solidarity with Congolese asylum seekers and to protest against further deportations to DRC.
Situation in DRC
Since the so-called democratic elections last year, more than 150 people have been gunned down by the security services in Bas-Congo for peacefully protesting about local election results; hundreds more have been killed in Kinshasa in violent clashes between president Joseph Kabila's guard and forces loyal to his contender in the presidential elections Jean-Pierre Bemba; tens of thousands of people have been displaced by conflict in the east of the country. Massacres, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture and rape are endemic, while thousands continue to die each week as a result of starvation and disease.
The foreign office is advising British nationals not to travel at all to eastern and north eastern DRC, and against "all but essential travel" to the rest of the DRC because the country is too unstable, yet the home office is continuing to try and remove or deport Congolese asylum seekers to a situation in which they risk losing their lives.
London - 12.00 noon
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contacts:
Liz Atherton : 07931 524654
Okito Tongomo : 07961 325167
Organised by:
Congo Support Project and supported by others, including Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
Complete list of demos on 12 April
1. Glasgow - 12.00 noon
Home Office Immigration Centre
Festival Court
200 Brand Street
Glasgow
G51 1DH
Contacts:
Matta Matabaro : 07738 444526 /
matta_matabaro@hotmail.co.uk
Dhali : 07877 577059
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and beyond, including Congo Support Project, Africa Umoja Scotland, Lisalisi, Sarco, and Karibu..
2. Birmingham - 12.00 noon
Sandford House
41 Homer Road
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QJ
Contacts:
Michael Misindu : 07984 537030
Papy Van : 07904 172214 / papyvan@yahoo.fr
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Coventry, Woolverampton, Birmingham and beyond, including Congo Support Project, CADA, COCOA, and Cité Celeste.
3. Manchester - 12.00 noon
Assemble at ;
All Saints Building
All Saints
Manchester
M15 6BH
Via ;
BBC Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M60
Onwards to and rally at ;
Peace Gardens
off Lloyd Street (behind the Town hall)
Manchester M1
Final gathering ;
Immigration Appeal Tribunal
Piccadilly Exchange
2 Piccadilly Plaza
Mosley Street
Manchester
M1 4AH
Contacts:
Innocent Empi : 07871 676129 / innonkung@yahoo.co.uk
René Mampuya : 07944 342049 / r_lundinga@yahoo.fr
Christo Carlito : 07886 319504
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Manchester, Blackburn, Liverpool and beyond, including Congo Support Project and others.
4. Nottingham - 12.00 noon
The market Square
off South Parade
Nottingham NG1
Contacts:
Alexis Mabika : 07950 545328
Patrick Essalo : 07877 489626 / patrickessalo@yahoo.com
Organised by:
Congolese Community in Nottingham, No Borders Nottingham, and Nottingham Refugee Network.
5. Newcastle 12.00 noon
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Kings Court
Royal Quays
Earl Gray Way
North Shields
NE29 6AR
Contacts:
Paty Omari Mungwande : 07958 606300 (Newcastle)
Gauthier Matho : 07956 972274 (Sunderland)
Tresor Bukasa : 07946 702652 (Middlesborough)
Organised by:
Congolese communities in the North East
6. Leicester - 12.00 noon
Leicester Magistrates Court
15 Pocklington Walk
Leicester LE1
Contacts:
Leicester - Patience: 07951 226599
Derby - Didier Matamba: 07949 282445
Stoke-On-Trent - Kean Mouko: 07930 803589 / mouko_jean@yahoo.fr
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Derby, Leicester, Stoke-On-trent and beyond, including Congo Support Project, African Initiative Support, Satelitte, African Action, Leicestershire Congolese Mutual Group, SOS Immigration, Bondeko Congolese Association, Apareco, and North Staffordshire Congolese Community Association
7. London - 12.00 noon
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contacts:
Liz Atherton : 07931 524654
Okito Tongomo : 07961 325167
Organised by:
Congo Support Project and supported by others
8. Leeds - 12.00 noon
Waterside Reporting Centre
Waterside Court
Kirkstall Road (just past Netto)
Leeds
LS4 2QB
Contacts:
Deba Lolia : 07944 105611
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax and beyond, including Congo Support Project and others.
9. Cardiff - 12.00 noon
Venue to be announced - please contact the organisers directly
Organised by:
Congo communities in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bridgend and the Congo Support Project
Contacts:
Nicolas : 07956 289016
Denis : 07939 825938
Situation in DRC
Since the so-called democratic elections last year, more than 150 people have been gunned down by the security services in Bas-Congo for peacefully protesting about local election results; hundreds more have been killed in Kinshasa in violent clashes between president Joseph Kabila's guard and forces loyal to his contender in the presidential elections Jean-Pierre Bemba; tens of thousands of people have been displaced by conflict in the east of the country. Massacres, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture and rape are endemic, while thousands continue to die each week as a result of starvation and disease.
The foreign office is advising British nationals not to travel at all to eastern and north eastern DRC, and against "all but essential travel" to the rest of the DRC because the country is too unstable, yet the home office is continuing to try and remove or deport Congolese asylum seekers to a situation in which they risk losing their lives.
London - 12.00 noon
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contacts:
Liz Atherton : 07931 524654
Okito Tongomo : 07961 325167
Organised by:
Congo Support Project and supported by others, including Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
Complete list of demos on 12 April
1. Glasgow - 12.00 noon
Home Office Immigration Centre
Festival Court
200 Brand Street
Glasgow
G51 1DH
Contacts:
Matta Matabaro : 07738 444526 /
matta_matabaro@hotmail.co.uk Dhali : 07877 577059
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and beyond, including Congo Support Project, Africa Umoja Scotland, Lisalisi, Sarco, and Karibu..
2. Birmingham - 12.00 noon
Sandford House
41 Homer Road
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QJ
Contacts:
Michael Misindu : 07984 537030
Papy Van : 07904 172214 /
papyvan@yahoo.fr Organised by:
Congolese communities in Coventry, Woolverampton, Birmingham and beyond, including Congo Support Project, CADA, COCOA, and Cité Celeste.
3. Manchester - 12.00 noon
Assemble at ;
All Saints Building
All Saints
Manchester
M15 6BH
Via ;
BBC Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M60
Onwards to and rally at ;
Peace Gardens
off Lloyd Street (behind the Town hall)
Manchester M1
Final gathering ;
Immigration Appeal Tribunal
Piccadilly Exchange
2 Piccadilly Plaza
Mosley Street
Manchester
M1 4AH
Contacts:
Innocent Empi : 07871 676129 /
innonkung@yahoo.co.uk René Mampuya : 07944 342049 /
r_lundinga@yahoo.fr Christo Carlito : 07886 319504
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Manchester, Blackburn, Liverpool and beyond, including Congo Support Project and others.
4. Nottingham - 12.00 noon
The market Square
off South Parade
Nottingham NG1
Contacts:
Alexis Mabika : 07950 545328
Patrick Essalo : 07877 489626 /
patrickessalo@yahoo.com Organised by:
Congolese Community in Nottingham, No Borders Nottingham, and Nottingham Refugee Network.
5. Newcastle 12.00 noon
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Kings Court
Royal Quays
Earl Gray Way
North Shields
NE29 6AR
Contacts:
Paty Omari Mungwande : 07958 606300 (Newcastle)
Gauthier Matho : 07956 972274 (Sunderland)
Tresor Bukasa : 07946 702652 (Middlesborough)
Organised by:
Congolese communities in the North East
6. Leicester - 12.00 noon
Leicester Magistrates Court
15 Pocklington Walk
Leicester LE1
Contacts:
Leicester - Patience: 07951 226599
Derby - Didier Matamba: 07949 282445
Stoke-On-Trent - Kean Mouko: 07930 803589 /
mouko_jean@yahoo.fr Organised by:
Congolese communities in Derby, Leicester, Stoke-On-trent and beyond, including Congo Support Project, African Initiative Support, Satelitte, African Action, Leicestershire Congolese Mutual Group, SOS Immigration, Bondeko Congolese Association, Apareco, and North Staffordshire Congolese Community Association
7. London - 12.00 noon
The Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contacts:
Liz Atherton : 07931 524654
Okito Tongomo : 07961 325167
Organised by:
Congo Support Project and supported by others
8. Leeds - 12.00 noon
Waterside Reporting Centre
Waterside Court
Kirkstall Road (just past Netto)
Leeds
LS4 2QB
Contacts:
Deba Lolia : 07944 105611
Organised by:
Congolese communities in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax and beyond, including Congo Support Project and others.
9. Cardiff - 12.00 noon
Venue to be announced - please contact the organisers directly
Organised by:
Congo communities in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bridgend and the Congo Support Project
Contacts:
Nicolas : 07956 289016
Denis : 07939 825938
