Activists blockade Heathrow detention centre to stop deportation flight to Ghana
No Borders | 14.02.2012 18:49 | Migration
* Dozens of migrants held at the prison are due to be deported to Ghana on a specially chartered flight at midnight
Harmondsworth blockade
Eleven activists from the No Borders network [1] have locked their arms together inside heavy-weight concrete blocks, preventing the coaches carrying the deportees from leaving the detention centre. Another protester is suspending herself from a 10ft tripod made of scaffolding poles. The blockaders, joined by at least twenty protesters holding banners and chanting anti-deportation slogans, have vowed to remain in place until the flight is cancelled.
This is the second time there has been a mass deportation flight to Ghana from the UK. The first was in November last year. Charter flights are being used increasingly by European governments to deport more and more unwanted migrants to a growing list of countries, with an average of one flight a week from the UK alone. [2]
The action coincides with a week-long 'convergence' of No Borders activists from across Europe at Goldsmiths college, south London. The event's callout had called upon supporters to “take action against various aspects of the border regime in London and the surrounding areas.” [3]
One of the blockaders, Dave Leighton, 34, said: “This flight has to be stopped. Everyone, not just a privileged few, should enjoy the freedom to move and stay wherever they want or need, regardless of their nationality or bank balance. Forcible deportations reinforce a screwed-up system whereby the rich and powerful use borders as a convenient tool to divide and distract ordinary people from the real causes of inequality.”
Another protester, Yvonne Mason, 26, added: “My friend will be on that flight. He suffers from chronic injuries following his violent arrest during an immigration raid last year. He has been locked up at Harmondsworth for almost a year without access to proper medical treatment. He should be provided with care and support, not be deported against his will.”
-ends-
For further questions, please contact:
Email: noborderslondon[at-]riseup.net
Tel: 07438 185537
Notes for editors:
[1] No Borders UK is a network of groups and individuals who stand against all forms or repression and control and struggle for the freedom of movement for all. For further informations, see www.noborders.org.uk.
[2] As the government seeks to increase the number and frequency of forcible deportations, the use of specially chartered flights to more and more countries has increased significantly over the last few years. In the financial year 2009-10, there were 67 such flights, deporting a total of 2,144 people, at a cost of £10.3 million.
Every deportation is a violation of people's right to freedom of movement but mass deportation flights are a particularly sordid way to do that. On top of the trauma and hardship caused by forcible deportation, these charter flights further undermine the legal rights of deportees, as the emphasis is on filling the flight and getting rid of them as soon as possible, outside the public gaze, rather than ensuring the appropriate legal avenues have been exhausted. The UK Border Agency's Enforcement Instructions and Guidance states that "charter flights may be subject to different arrangements where it is considered appropriate because of the complexities, practicalities and costs of arranging an operation". Charter flight deportees are told that "removal will not necessarily be deferred in the event that a Judicial Review is lodged".
[3] The No Borders Convergence 2012 (13th – 18th February) is a week-long event featuring workshops, meetings and actions against the border regime. The callout and programme can be found at http://london.noborders.org.uk/convergence2012.
No Borders
Additions
update
14.02.2012 20:06
Before they arrived, the private security guards were very aggressive, attacking blockaders with dogs. They were fought off by other protesters on the scene.
Detainees had been put on the coach and had their phones taken off them, but have now had them returned.
No Borders
another update
14.02.2012 20:59
At least one person has been taken off the flight as the blockade bought time for a last-minute court injunction against his deportation. He has been living in the UK for 13 years and has family here. A few others have apparently also been taken off the flight, but this hasn't been confirmed yet.
There are currently 17 in Harmondsworth still in the waiting area, with their phones removed. At least 2 people have been taken from Yarl's Wood detention centre to the airport.
No Borders
Update
14.02.2012 23:05
No Borders
Another deportation cancelled
14.02.2012 23:35
No Borders
solidarity messages received on the press phone
15.02.2012 00:14
"I've read what you are doing on Twitter. You are heroes! Thank you all! Solidarity! I would come [and] help, but i'm not in London at the moment. I'm following the happenings on Twitter and helping to spread the word."
"Big up to all taking part in the blockade. Love from Liverpool."
And quite a few saying 'Well done', 'Good luck' and such like.
NoBorders
kettled
15.02.2012 00:38
NoBorders
arrests and deportations
15.02.2012 02:21
NoBorders
non-news?!
15.02.2012 02:44
press team
News about people on the flight and inside Harmondsworth
15.02.2012 11:07
He said many people on the flight had not been issued travelling documents, but they were still deported.
He thanked everyone for taking part in the protest, especially the people who got arrested, and said that people in the detention centre had heard what had happened.
Hopefully in the next few days there will be news from the people who were deported to Ghana.
Stop Deportation
More info
15.02.2012 13:10
Some got their flight cancelled, whilst others were deported - still trying to ascertain how many got taken off.
The coach operator, as always, was *WH TOURS*.
The one consoling aspect was that detainees were well aware of what was going on. The coach passed the remaining blockaders, and there was an emotional moment as it passed by all the kettled supporters at the front...detainees waved and raised fists as activists shouted 'No Borders, No nations, Stop deportations!' from inside the scrum.
The coach was followed by three *Reliance* vans in convoy, taking other nationals either to be deported or transferred to other detention centres.
We understand that at least one other person was taken off a seperate flight to legal action taken during the 7-hour blockade.
Details of the blockade as it happened:
http://twitter.com/NBConvergence
No Borderer
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
solidarity
14.02.2012 23:54
anon
French translation / Traduction francaise
15.02.2012 00:49
trad
hidden comment
15.02.2012 14:08
I'd like to know why the comment was hidden. Smothering dissent, however misguided, can't be right can it? I'm also solid enough in my own understanding, research and experience to not be afraid of meeting opposite opinions.
a no borders person
comment hiding - response
15.02.2012 17:10
https://lists.indymedia.org.uk/pipermail/moderation/2012-February/date.html
...which they use to report and discuss moderation decisions.
Whenever an entire article is hidden it's meant to be reported to the whole collective via that list with the reason (ie which of the guidelines it has broken). I think perhaps with comment hiding they are less strict about having to report it and give a reason. As far as I can see the hiding of that comment wasn't reported on the list.
Still, if you wanted a dialog/reason from the person who hid it, that's probably the best place to ask. Email:
moderation [at] lists.indymedia.org.uk
Personally, I feel similarly to you; that hiding should only occur in extreme cases. But there are a variety of opinions about it; some people would prefer such comments be hidden rather than have to read through reactionary opinions.
anon
Re: Hidden Comment
16.02.2012 22:18
Was this the comment signed "Daily Mail reader" and constantly referred to how everything 'would' effect them individually?
I guessed it was parody. Maybe just to close to the bone to be obvious. No idea why it was hidden though.
H