Independent Inquiry into Deportations

Protest for Wednesday 12th January at the Dail – 12noon

For years it has been known among the immigrant communities and the civic society that removals from the State are with abuse and disregard for human dignity. But never before has these abuses been authentically proved as no one has managed to return to expose what had happened.

The return of the Frontex flight on 16^th December with all deportees from Greece due to technical fault is the first time it has happened in the past two decades. The narration on what happened during this flight is horrendous. It’s a matter of time that the incidence like that of the Angolan born Mr Jimmy Mubenga (Jimmy died on 12 October 2010 after an attempt to deport him to Angola on a BA flight. According to news reports Jimmy died after allegedly being restrained by three guards from G4S, a company contracted (at the time) by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) as escorts ) who lost his life during removal in UK will happen here in Ireland if no drastic measures are taken. This is why ARN is fully encouraging the Irish Refugee Council to stand steadfast on its demands for an independent inquiry and that all deportations be suspended/stopped for now.

Last week Irish Refugee Council (IRC) in response to complaints received a brief acknowledgement from the office of the Minister for Justice and a response from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) indicating that they are gathering information to establish the facts. That’s not good enough! We know this policy of ‘pick up the issue when still hot and drop it as another national issue comes’. We need an official inquiry with powers to call witnesses to be established soon. This is a chance to unveil the secret world of forced deportations. The campaigns and protests at the Dail on Wednesday 12^th Jan 2011 and at the GNIB on Tuesday 11^th Jan 2011 are of vital importance to all for social justice. On Tuesday 12:30pm Residence Against Racism are protesting at the GNIB office at Burgh Quay.

We are calling you for support to stop the dark secrecy shrouding the removal of dehumanised asylum seekers. We want the government to:

- Establish official independent inquiry with power to call witnesses on Frontex flight     of 16^th December 2010.

- Put immediate end to deportations until the inquiry reports return.

- Set-up an independent complaint mechanism where those on direct provisions like asylum seekers be able to send their complaints since they are victimized within the current direct provision system.

EVERYBODY IS EQUAL AND SHOULD BE TREATED ON THE BASIS OF EQUALITY!

Anti Racist Network (ARN)                                                        arnireland@gmail.com