DEMONSTRATE WITH US TO PROTEST AGAINST DEPORTATIONS TO A COUNTRY THAT HAS NEVER TRULY KNOWN INDEPENDENCE
Saturday 30 June 2007 at 12 noon
Starting from: Victoria railway station, Station Approach, Todd St, M3
Ending at: Peace Gardens, St Peter’s Square, M2
Saturday 30 June 2007 at 12 noon
Starting from: Victoria railway station, Station Approach, Todd St, M3
Ending at: Peace Gardens, St Peter’s Square, M2
Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) really independent?
Since ‘independence’ was given to the DRC on 30 June 1960, the country as been under the control of criminals and dictators, while its progress has been hindered by foreign interference, illegal exploitation of the Congo’s natural resources and repression, human rights abuses and conflict that have killed millions and produced thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced persons. Despite the ‘democratic’ elections in 2006, more than people were gunned down in February this year in Bas-Congo while protesting against local election results. Innocent men, women and children belonging to the politicoreligious group Bundu dia Kongo were killed while they prayed in their church. On 22 and 23 March, more than 700 people died in the capital when troops loyal to Joseph ‘Kabila’ used heavy arms in an open street battle against those backing his presidential contender Jean-Pierre Bemba. Hundreds more were seriously injured, thousands arrested and an unknown number were forcibly disappeared. In the east of the country, war between opposing groups of militias is still causing death, devastation, displacement and acute insecurity. Rape is endemic throughout the country and is used as a weapon of oppression, punishment and torture. The DRC army, police and intelligence services are all heavily involved in continuing human rights violations. Industrial loggers are being allowed to plunder the Congo’s remaining intact rainforest, upon which more than two thirds of the population depend for their livelihood. Eighty per cent of the species found in the Congo cannot be found anywhere else on earth. People are being exploited for their land. There is credible evidence of persecution of Congolese asylum seekers who are forcibly returned to the DRC. A Country Guidance tribunal due to start on 2 July will aim to determine that it is unsafe to return people under present conditions.
Contact: Innocent Empi on 078 7167 6129 /
csp_manchester@yahoo.co.uk; John Kalubi on 079 0339 0746; Camille Botembe on 077 7090 6807; Sabin on 079 0392 8616
Organised by: Congo Support Project, UDPS, APARECO, BUNDU DIA KONGO
Supported by: Refugee & Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research (RAPAR), NCADC, Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST), RESPECT, Green Party, Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (MCDAS), Greater Manchester Campaign Against Climate Change
no independence, NO INDEPENDENCE
The march will be followed at 3.30pm by a conference-debate on Congolese issues at:
Friends Meeting House, 2 Mount Street, Manchester M2.
Entry and refreshments free.
Since ‘independence’ was given to the DRC on 30 June 1960, the country as been under the control of criminals and dictators, while its progress has been hindered by foreign interference, illegal exploitation of the Congo’s natural resources and repression, human rights abuses and conflict that have killed millions and produced thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced persons. Despite the ‘democratic’ elections in 2006, more than people were gunned down in February this year in Bas-Congo while protesting against local election results. Innocent men, women and children belonging to the politicoreligious group Bundu dia Kongo were killed while they prayed in their church. On 22 and 23 March, more than 700 people died in the capital when troops loyal to Joseph ‘Kabila’ used heavy arms in an open street battle against those backing his presidential contender Jean-Pierre Bemba. Hundreds more were seriously injured, thousands arrested and an unknown number were forcibly disappeared. In the east of the country, war between opposing groups of militias is still causing death, devastation, displacement and acute insecurity. Rape is endemic throughout the country and is used as a weapon of oppression, punishment and torture. The DRC army, police and intelligence services are all heavily involved in continuing human rights violations. Industrial loggers are being allowed to plunder the Congo’s remaining intact rainforest, upon which more than two thirds of the population depend for their livelihood. Eighty per cent of the species found in the Congo cannot be found anywhere else on earth. People are being exploited for their land. There is credible evidence of persecution of Congolese asylum seekers who are forcibly returned to the DRC. A Country Guidance tribunal due to start on 2 July will aim to determine that it is unsafe to return people under present conditions.
Contact: Innocent Empi on 078 7167 6129 /
csp_manchester@yahoo.co.uk; John Kalubi on 079 0339 0746; Camille Botembe on 077 7090 6807; Sabin on 079 0392 8616 Organised by: Congo Support Project, UDPS, APARECO, BUNDU DIA KONGO
Supported by: Refugee & Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research (RAPAR), NCADC, Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST), RESPECT, Green Party, Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (MCDAS), Greater Manchester Campaign Against Climate Change
no independence, NO INDEPENDENCE
The march will be followed at 3.30pm by a conference-debate on Congolese issues at:
Friends Meeting House, 2 Mount Street, Manchester M2.
Entry and refreshments free.
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More demonstrations in London on 2-3 July
30.06.2007 10:52
Congo Support Project demo against deportations to
(un)Democratic Republic of the Congo and to highlight the legal challenge to the Country Guidance on DRC
Whitehall, opposite Downing Street, London SW1
Tuesday 3 July 1-2pm
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! monthly protest at Communications House Immigration Reporting Centre, Old Street, London EC1
DR Congo is not safe! Nobody should be deported there - well, nobody should be deported anyway, but especially to a war ravaged country where over 5 millions people have been killed. People are still dying as a result of conflict, and human rights violations, killings of civilians and recruitment of child soldiers continue. Deportees are handed over to the securety services, and if they are wanted by the authorities they are immediately detained and brought to prisons where they can easily die within a year, due to beatings, torture and lack of food. In many DRC prisons the only food is provided by volunteer orgainsations.
Close down Communication House, close all reporting centres! They are the first link in the chain of detention and deportations of asylum seekers and migrants.
People who go reporting can be detained any time. Some are so scared they cannot sleep at night before reporting.
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ No Borders/Congo Support Project