The national secretary of the South African Young Communist League (YCL), Buti Manamela, was interrogated for hours by the anti-terrorist unit of the British police last week at Heathrow Airport in London on his way to an event on Socialism at Britain's most prestigious Colonial College, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He tells us of his experience.
Buti Manamela was detained and harassed for his political beliefs
What happened when you got to Heathrow last week?
I went to the immigration desk, where the official looked at my passport and asked me what I was doing in the United Kingdom. I explained that I was attending a bilateral meeting with the Young Communist League in the UK, as well as a lecture on culture and socialism at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). I was supposed to stay from Wednesday until Friday. I landed at 7am and was released at 1.15pm.
What were the kind of questions you were asked?
He asked me: “Who are you? What is your occupation? How do you earn a living? Do you have parents? Siblings? A fiancé?” He asked me how I could afford to fly business class to London.
What, in your view, sparked the official’s line of questioning?
I think he saw in my passport that I have been to Palestine and Cuba and that raised eyebrows.
What happened after that?
His superior came and asked me similar questions. Then they told me to wait while they checked my bank accounts. Two people then came and opened my bags, where they found an editorial by Tariq Ali on the role of the United States in Afghanistan and a book entitled What the Ruling Class Does When it Drools. They took this with notes that I had from my visit to Palestine, as well as my Exclusive Books Fanatics card. They also searched my laptop. Then two people from the anti-terrorism task-force came in and asked me questions that centred on why I visited Madrid, Cuba and Israel. They also asked for my view on the US occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as what I thought of September 11. They asked me whether I agreed with people who solve conflict through violent means. I said I disagreed with the bombing of the Twin Towers and with the US invasions of Iraq.
At which point did they let you go?
They eventually said they would let me go because I was of no use to them. But instead of releasing me I was taken into the detention room and had to take off my shoes and belt and was strip-searched. Then another guy came in, I was asked the same questions and then his superior came in and said it was my lucky day -- they were releasing me.
Did they give you reasons for detaining you for so long?
I omitted Israel when they asked me for the list of places I had visited. Secondly, that a young black boy from South Africa comes to the UK travelling business class and says he comes for bilaterals with an organisation they deem to be non-existent is suspicious for them. Compared with my salary and the fact that I was a student, it just didn’t add up for them.
I went to the immigration desk, where the official looked at my passport and asked me what I was doing in the United Kingdom. I explained that I was attending a bilateral meeting with the Young Communist League in the UK, as well as a lecture on culture and socialism at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). I was supposed to stay from Wednesday until Friday. I landed at 7am and was released at 1.15pm.
What were the kind of questions you were asked?
He asked me: “Who are you? What is your occupation? How do you earn a living? Do you have parents? Siblings? A fiancé?” He asked me how I could afford to fly business class to London.
What, in your view, sparked the official’s line of questioning?
I think he saw in my passport that I have been to Palestine and Cuba and that raised eyebrows.
What happened after that?
His superior came and asked me similar questions. Then they told me to wait while they checked my bank accounts. Two people then came and opened my bags, where they found an editorial by Tariq Ali on the role of the United States in Afghanistan and a book entitled What the Ruling Class Does When it Drools. They took this with notes that I had from my visit to Palestine, as well as my Exclusive Books Fanatics card. They also searched my laptop. Then two people from the anti-terrorism task-force came in and asked me questions that centred on why I visited Madrid, Cuba and Israel. They also asked for my view on the US occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as what I thought of September 11. They asked me whether I agreed with people who solve conflict through violent means. I said I disagreed with the bombing of the Twin Towers and with the US invasions of Iraq.
At which point did they let you go?
They eventually said they would let me go because I was of no use to them. But instead of releasing me I was taken into the detention room and had to take off my shoes and belt and was strip-searched. Then another guy came in, I was asked the same questions and then his superior came in and said it was my lucky day -- they were releasing me.
Did they give you reasons for detaining you for so long?
I omitted Israel when they asked me for the list of places I had visited. Secondly, that a young black boy from South Africa comes to the UK travelling business class and says he comes for bilaterals with an organisation they deem to be non-existent is suspicious for them. Compared with my salary and the fact that I was a student, it just didn’t add up for them.
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