Viraj Mendis in the country have now been exhausted. The Home Office has made it clear that as soon as the House of Lords tums down a petition for an appeal the police will be ordered to arrest and deport him. Thas could happen any day now. All efforts should therefore be made to build up the maximum pressure through letters to the pross and petitions and delegations to the Home Office.
If the Home Office succeed in deporting Viraj Mendis it will be a setback for all other anti-deportation campaigns. It will make sanctuary more difficult as a last resort to avoid deportation. With the now immigration law, so-called overstayers' will no longer be able to appeal on compassionate grounds for the right to Political Asylum
THE GUNNE COURT TIMEND TIS EULES ROR BUTICAL PAFVORES WID WANT D SAY IN TIG US. WHAT KIND OF EMPENCE WOULD BE ENOUGH?
UP D
Last chance for Viraj
Mendis
stay in the country. It will be a criminal offence to he an 'overstayer Such people will have no altemative but to seek
With the deportation of around 50 people every week from Britain trade unions are increasingly being forcedto take up the issue. The National and Local Govemment OfFicers Association (NALGO) has organised successful campaignsto protect its members from deportation. The Manchester branch of NALGO (with 9,000 members) have decided to organise a national labour movement conference on immigration and nationality in early 1989. Such a conference can become an important step forward in involving the the whole labour movement in the defence of Black people against racist and sexist immigration and nationality laws.
campaign for Viraj Mendis' right to stay is the number one priority at the moment. But a lahour movement conference on immigration and nationality can become a step forward for all anti-deportation campaigns.
Finn Jensen
Contact: Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign, North Hulme Centre, Jackson Crescent, Hulme, Manchester MI5 SAL, 2061-234 3168.
Wood, NALGO Manchester Branch Office, Ist floor, Elliot House, 3 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5NJ. 22061-834 6564
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Women's support groups: key to P&O battle THE CONTINUING P&O seafarers'strike was the topic of the major speaker at the second