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Deportation travel agents awarded 'deportation profiteer of the year' title

Stop Deportation | 03.06.2010 16:42 | Migration

A travel agents contracted by the UK Border Agency to arrange the forcible deportation of migrants has been awarded the title of 'Deportation Profiteer of the Year'. [1]

Campaigners from the Stop Deportation Network today presented Carlson Wagonlit Travel with the award at its main offices in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. [2]

In April 2010, CWT won a government contract to book seats on scheduled and chartered flights for immigration detainees due for deportation. The global booking agency, which specialises in business travel management, has been used by the UKBA to do what campaigners described as a "dirty business" since 2004. In the financial year 2004-5, the contract was worth almost £23million. [3]

Carlson Wagonlit Travel award
Carlson Wagonlit Travel award


An online campaign against the company, called by the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, had already started in the morning, [4] so all office doors were locked and protesters were met with rude and abusive attitudes by some CWT employees.

Having presented the company with the award, protesters went on to leaflet people working in the big office block, including CWT's employees, during their lunch break. [5] Some of them were shocked to discover that their company does not only deal with smiley business clients. After about two hours, police arrived but protesters had run out of leaflets and were about to leave anyway.

One of the protesters, who preferred to keep anonymous, said:
“While priding itself on its 'corporate social responsibility', with an alleged focus on environmental issues, Carlson Wagonlit is making millions out of flying people to their possible death and torture.

The vast majority of forcible deportations are to countries devastated by wars, armed conflicts, repressive regimes and poverty. Many deportees have been kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured and killed. Many have had to change their identities or move again to avoid persecution. People's lives are torn apart as they are split from their families and communities here and their right to freedom of movement is denied.

In light of its outstanding achievement in facilitating these crimes, Carlson Wagonlit does deserve to be added to the top of a growing list of deportation profiteers.”

The protest was part of a European Week of Action Against the Deportation Machine, from 1st to 6th June. [6]


Notes:

[1] A copy of the award certificate can be found at
 http://stopdeportation.net/sites/default/files/CWTaward.jpg

[2] Carlson Wagonlit Travel's contact details can be found at
 http://www.carlsonwagonlit.com/en/global/contact/office_locator/united-kingdom.html
Main Office: Maple House, High Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 5RF
Phone: +44 (0)20 3353 0000
Fax: +44 (0)20 7492 3043
Media Contact: Kim Derderian, Tel: +33 (0)1 41 33 60 44

[3] See  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/359875.html

[4]  http://www.ncadc.org.uk/stopthatflight.html#bookingagent

[5] A copy of the leaflet can be found at
 http://stopdeportation.net/sites/default/files/CWTleaflet.jpg

[6] The callout for the Week of Action can be found at  http://stopdeportation.net/node/40.
Details of protests and actions can be found at  http://stopdeportation.net/node/47.

Stop Deportation
- Homepage: http://stopdeportation.net

Additions

Photos

04.06.2010 13:03

CWT main office: Maple House, High Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 5RF
CWT main office: Maple House, High Street, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 5RF

the offices were locked
the offices were locked

'can we talk to the manager please'
'can we talk to the manager please'

someone from the legal department turns up
someone from the legal department turns up

we hand him a copy of the award certificate and the leaflet
we hand him a copy of the award certificate and the leaflet

leafleting outside
leafleting outside

police arrive after about 2 hours
police arrive after about 2 hours

wearing sheriff stars!
wearing sheriff stars!

Some pictures grabbed from the video footage.

Stop Deportation


Video

04.06.2010 13:05

Stop Deportation


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