The Second

NORTHERN MARCH AGAINST RACISM

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2008 12 NOON

MEET OLD FIRE STATION,WEST ROAD, OPPOSITE BARCLAY`S BANK

A Decent Life for All!  You will not divide us. Together we are stronger!

Called by: Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR)

Supported by: North Tyneside UNISON Primary Care branch, Amnesty International Newcastle group, Revolutionary Communist Group/ Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (RCG/FRFI), Youth Against Racism in Europe (YRE)

The aim of the march is to stand united against racism in its many forms, which is particularly important at a time of economic crisis, when racism is used to divide sections of the working classes struggle against deteriorating living conditions or to divert these struggles from even beginning.

In the last 12 months in the UK the cost of rice has gone up 110%, pasta, milk, bread and meat has gone up by 27%. Inflation has risen to 4.4%.

This is a global issue: since the beginning of 2008, 37 countries have had street protests and riots in response to spiralling food prices. Demonstrations have taken place in countries as far apart as Mauritania , Egypt , Cote d'Ivoire , Cameroon , Mozambique and Senegal in Africa, Uzbekistan , Indonesia and Yemen in Asia, Haiti and Bolivia in South America.

In the UK public sector workers have recently been on strike against wage cuts in relation to inflation. People on benefits do not have the right to strike, whether they are asylum seekers, people on Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity or other benefits. However, benefit increases are not in line with inflation and so the poorest sections of society are being hit hardest by economic problems.

Most asylum seekers have had the right to work taken from them by the Labour Government and so they are forced to live on benefits, sometimes in the form of inappropriate food vouchers. Many asylum seekers are being forced into destitution if they refuse to go back to so called 'safe' countries like Iraq .

There are many examples of how the Government is dividing working class people. Asylum seekers have been denied the right to work, a basic human right under article 23 of the UN Declaration. Asylum seekers used to be housed in council housing like British people, but now they are housed in a different system, whereby private companies like Angel Group are profiting from housing asylum seekers in totally substandard accommodation. In some cases, people who complain about their living conditions are forcibly relocated to a new city . British people have to sign for their benefits in job centres, but asylum seekers sign at immigration reporting centres. These are all ways in which we are divided and where divisions exist, racism can flourish.

In TCAR we understand that the problems of rising living costs, bad quality housing, homelessness, pay and benefit shortages are common struggles for many in the UK and world today. This is why TCAR is inviting all progressive individuals and organisations to join us on this march against racism, against these divisions and for a decent life for all! They will not divide us! Together we are stronger!

The march will assemble at the Old Fire Station on Westgate Road at 12noon. We will march through the West End to the city centre and there will be a public meeting in the open air at Grey's Monument from 1pm.

In order for this march to be successful we need your support. We invite you to join us on the march with a delegation and to contact us immediately if you are able to distribute leaflets and/or posters. You would be welcome to bring a stall with literature for the street meeting at Grey’s Monument. We are also keen to draw up a list of confirmed speakers for the platform at the public meeting. If there are too many speakers we will prioritize on the basis of which organisations have actively supported the march.

Financial contributions towards the costs of the march will be greatly appreciated, as in addition to publicity we hope to provide refreshments after the march and to give help with transport costs for individuals who would not otherwise be able to attend. TCAR is entirely un-funded. Even sending these letters and making phone calls is a big financial strain on us so we really appreciate all donations. Cheques can be made payable to ‘Tyneside Community Action for Refugees’ and sent to the address below.

Click here for more information

Mako Oumakani and her children, Sadate 3 years and Yasmine 9 months, face imminent deportation to Togo. They were detained by immigration police in a raid on their home in Benwell before 6am on Wednesday 4th June. The alert was sounded when concerned neighbours visited later in the day and found the door smashed in. Mako was an active member of the opposition party UFC (Union des Forces de Changement) in Togo. Extrajudicial executions, torture and disappearances are carried out with total impunity in the country, governed since 1967 by President Gnassingbe Eyadéma. Mako was arrested in 2004 for her political activities, and held for 2 weeks. Following this she fled to Britain . Both her children were born in Britain . Yasmine has suffered from serious medical problems and is currently under a one year observation at a local clinic. They have been struggling to rebuild their lives, and have formed strong links and many friends in the local community. If forced to return to Togo Mako has grave fears for the safety of herself and her children.

This is the third asylum seeker we know of being detained in Newcastle in the last few weeks, all scheduled for flights with Ethiopian Airways. If you are at risk of deportation or know anyone who is, please spread the word to be alert, especially if Ethiopian Airways flies to your country. If you have somewhere else you can stay temporarily it may be a good idea to not sleep at your usual address. TCAR will be having a stall this Saturday and Sunday at Leazes Park, Newcastle. If you are a TCAR member we uregently need to come along to the stall at some point over the weekend to make sure we have your current details and to make sure you have the current TCAR emergency number to report people being snatched. Help is also needed manning the stall, so if you have a spare hour to help please come along.

Please Fax Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to protest against the deportation of Mako and her children. You can use the model fax attached and copied below or write your own. Fax: 020 8760 3132
If you don't have access to a fax: There have been reports of the email method for faxing Jacqui Smith not working. Instead try emailing:Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk and start your subject ATTN: Jacqui Smith

MODEL FAX/EMAIL:
Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Buildings
2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 8760 3132

Dear Home Secretary,

Re: Mako Oumakani (HO ref: M1245907) who is currently being detained in Dungavel detention centre and due to be deported to Togo on 9th June 2008.

I am writing to you in relation to Mako Oumakani, a resident and valued community member of the community in Newcastle . I am extremely worried about her situation.

Mako was detained with her children Sadate and Yasmine, aged 3 years and 9 months, in an immigration raid on their home in Benwell in the early hours of Wednesday 4th June 2008. She is currently being held in Dungavel immigration detention centre near Glasgow , and has been told she will be deported to Togo at 9.35pm on Monday 9th June on Ethiopian Airways flight ET701. The alert was sounded when concerned neighbours visited later in the day and found the door smashed in.

Mako was an active member of the opposition party UFC (Union des Forces de Changement) in Togo. Extrajudicial executions, torture and disappearances are carried out with total impunity in the country, governed since 1967 by President Gnassingbe Eyadéma. The repressive measures taken by the Togolese security forces against the civilian population, particularly supporters of the political opposition, were intensified during and after the Presidential elections in June 1998. Amnesty International is aware of around thirty cases of individuals being apprehended, some of whom have been released without trial. These detainees represent only a fraction of those arrested for political reasons during 1998 and 1999. Among these detainees are prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for having expressed political opinions non-violently. Arrests have taken place throughout the country, in Lomé, the capital, as well as in Wawa and Lacs districts, and have affected all activists and supporters of opposition political parties. During the last decade the security forces have allegedly used torture systematically at the time of suspects’ arrest or at the time of their transfer to centres of detention. Once they are taken to a gendarmerie to be interrogated detainees are habitually ill-treated or tortured with a view to extracting information and confessions from them.

The newspaper "La Tribune africaine" of 3 March 1998 reported the arrest followed by torture and ill-treatment of AGBLELÉ Koffi and two Liberians. The three men were arrested following an identity check in Sokodé, during which the police discovered a CAR card on AGBLELÉ Koffi. The latter along with the two Liberians were reported "to have been beaten with batons in Sokodé and with rope in the gendarmerie in Lomé".

Furthermore, newspapers also give the names of those thought to be responsible for such acts. In a testimony made public in September 1995 by the "Tribune des Démocrates", KOUDAYA Richard Koukou accused a close relative of President GNASSINGBÉ Eyadéma:

"On the night of 12 March 1994 around 11 pm, X requested our transfer to his office in Camp Landja . He ordered 6 soldiers to come and torture us: corporal punishment, beating and wounds; they nearly beat me to death to make me tell the truth and this lasted for a week. Under the pressure of threats and torture I had to agree to everything that X wanted to charge me with..."

The victims encountered by the Amnesty International delegation in November 1998 also named their torturers, among whom were senior gendarmerie officials. The Togolese authorities made no response to the delegation when it passed on the names of those reported to be responsible for torture and ill-treatment, and urged that administrative sanctions be taken in anticipation of the setting up of a judicial inquiry. Amnesty International has been made aware of several cases of civilians who have died following torture inflicted in detention centres, including the premises of the national gendarmerie headquarters in Lomé. On 28 July 1998, several individuals wearing red sashes or wine-coloured clothes (an indication of support for the opposition), who were calling for a demonstration, were arrested and beaten by the security forces. Several of them died following these beatings. In addition over the last few years hundreds of civilians and soldiers have been reported as victims of extrajudicial executions by security forces linked to the Togolese government.

Mako was arrested in 2004 for her political activities, and held for 2 weeks. Following this she fled to Britain . Both her children were born in Britain . Yasmine has suffered from serious medical problems and is currently under a one year observation at a local clinic. They have been struggling to rebuild their lives, and have formed strong links and many friends in the local community.

If forced to return to Togo Mako has grave fears for the safety of herself and her children. On the grounds of respecting the Mako and her children’s human rights as well as their health and safety, we ask that their removal be halted to allow for their case to be given further consideration and that she be granted exceptional leave to remain in Britain , where she is an integral part of the Newcastle community.

Yours Sincerely