TawNews

Posted By fotdmike on June 17, 2009

The following message, by Annie (TCAR communications secretary) was circulated a few hours ago…

Laureine’s personal message to all TCAR supporters is:
‘I have never ever seen such violence. They were beating the men like they were animals. They filmed the women when she was naked because her clothes were ripped off. They say if we dare to go back into the corridor they will spray us all over [with pepper spray]. We need your help from outside. We don’t have any rights in here. We need your support from outside’

TCAR member, Laureine Tchuapo and her two small children, whose rushed deportation to Cameroon was prevented with help from TCAR and No Borders campaigners at the weekend, has now found herself in the middle of a hunger strike at Yarlswood detention centre. Detainees are protesting about the poor medical attention they and their children are receiving. In the last day things have taken a horrific turn as a peaceful protest was, in the words of the detainees ‘brutally attacked’ by immigration officers. Below is a report from a conversation with Laureine and a friend correct at 5pm:

5pm 17/6/09  ‘I have just spoken to Juliette and Lorraine in Yarls Wood.  They say that about an hour ago around 30-40 guards came and took away all the men involved in the protest, as well as two women, who were naked.  There was a struggle as they pulled the men away from the women.  Juliette’s husband Steve was injured and bleeding.  In the struggle, Juliette’s child (aged 19 months) fell from her back and an officer stepped on the child.  The women are still on hunger strike.  They want press to call them.’

TCAR organised a demonstration outside Government Offices North East today to highlight the horrific government policy of administrative detention. A report will follow shortly.

As you all know, On Saturday there will be a March Against Immigration Prisons through Newcastle city centre. There will also be a march in London. If there is any way you can make it to the march, please, please try and come.

I repeat, Laureine’s personal message to all TCAR supporters is:
‘I have never ever seen such violence. They were beating the men like they were animals. They filmed the women when she was naked because her clothes were ripped off. They say if we dare to go back into the corridor they will spray us all over [with pepper spray]. We need your help from outside. We don’t have any rights in here. We need your support from outside’

Related info from Indymedia: (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432528.html)

What can you do?
If you know any journalists, please contact TCAR and we’ll give you numbers for them to phone.

We ask people to phone the main switch board at Yarl’s Wood on 01234 821000 and ask where they have taken the men and women who were taken away. When will families be reunited? When will a public inquiry be launched?

Detainee Solidarity are also organising a picket in London outside the SERCO office at 22 Hand Court, Holborn, WC1V 6JF this Friday 19th June from 12 noon to 1 pm in support of the hunger strikers.

Come to TCAR’s March Against Immigration Prisons on Saturday, 11am at Centre for Life (next to Central Station)

Background to Detention
At present there are a total of 3,105 bed spaces, in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) and Short Term Holding Facilities. And the Labour Government plans to build more detention centres to bring the capacity to 4,405 bed spaces! The first major project; Brook House Removal Centre was opened in West Sussex on the 18th March 2009. Brook House, near Gatwick airport, is the largest facility of its kind in the UK , and will house up to 426 people. As if this wasn’t enough; on the 3rd of April 2009 the Government approved plans to build Bullingdon Detention Centre near Bicester. This is set to be the largest of its kind in Europe and will hold 800 asylum seekers.

There are eleven Immigration Removal Centres in the UK . Eight are run by private companies contracted to the UK Border Agency (UKBA), while three centres are run by HM Prison Service. Every year around 2,000 children in the UK are locked up in immigration detention. While the Government pays £130 per day per child and over £3300 per week for a family of 4; These private companies such as GEO Group, Serco, Group 4 Securicor, Kaylx and Global Solutions; are making a profit from this enforced detention.

The Human cost is untold! Incidences of self-harm in immgration detention centres rose 73% in 2008 with 109 cases of serious self-harm incidents in the first 6 months alone. Dr Cornelius Katona, of the asylum charity Medical Justice, said: “There is an enormous body of evidence that says detaining asylum-seekers is bad for their mental health. These are people who are very vulnerable.” Dr Katona estimates that at least half of the UK ’s detainees suffer from mental illness. The effects on children can be more serious and long-lasting;

Quotes:
A TCAR activist argues
“Detention based on Nationality is racist. The British Labour Government and Companies such as Barclays, De Beers and Oryx make huge profits from gold and coltan mined from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo where millions are caught up in a civil war. Yet when refugees come from the Congo they are detained and deported with little regard to their human rights. They Government wants to continue profiting from these war-ravaged countries but doesn’t want to support the victims of those wars”

Bella Amandela from TCAR points out “As Refugee week illustrates, migrants can contribute a lot to British Society. Although asylum seekers don’t have the right to work-many volunteer in community groups, hospitals, schools and universities. Refugees who have immigration status and migrant workers do conribute to the economy, bringing a whole range of skills and talents. Detention centres and the New Asylum Model cast a shadow over the achievements and contributions of refugees and the whole system needs to be scrapped!”

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Categories: Deportation
Tags: bedford, hunger strike, tcar, yarl's wood