President Oxford Trades Union Council DURING January the British government held six hundred people under the Immigration Act.
Most of them are asylum seekers. Hunger strikes by over 30 Algerians have drawn attention to their demands, and many of them have now been released. Others remain in custody.
At Pentonville 13 Algerians were released after 12 days' hunger strike, the last two days without water. At Haslor immigration prison near Portsmouth, asylum seekers of other nationalities have joined 12 Algerians on hunger strike since 15 February.
Two days later at the new 220 place Campsfield immigration 'detention centre' near Oxford, 10 Algerians went on hunger strike (no solids, sugarless fluids at night only).
A lone woman hunger striker was transferred to Holloway Prison then released after 12 days. On March 4 the hunger strikers were moved to Stockton Hall private psychiatric secure unit near York. After a small demonstration and the intervention of local MP Hugh Bailey they have ended the hunger strike and are being released.
All have been held without charge or trial at the whim of all-powerful unaccountable immigration officers without legal time limit - treated worse than 'criminals'.
Campsfield 'Immigration Detention Centre' is by the airport at Kidlington north of O.™ ford. It opened on 29 November 1993 and is run for profit by Group 4.
Over a thousand Oxford people have signed a petition to the Home Office calling for Campsfield to be shut. Oxford City Council has called for the hunger strikers to be released and next month will debate a motion calling for the prison to be shut.
Over 100 Oxford university college heads, professors and other academics have now signed the letter to the prime minister calling for the release of asylum seekers published in The Guardian on 3 March.
The Campaign To Close Campsfield launched by Oxford Against Racism and Fascism and Oxford Trades Council is backed by local labour movement and student bodies, youth groups and individuals. It is backed by national bodies such as the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the National Union of Refugee Organisations.
Raise the demand to 'Close Campsfield now, Stop the Detentions' in local and national organisations. Join the demo outside Campsfield gates at 2pm on Saturday 26 March (and every last Saturday).
• Send donations to Campaign To Close Campsfield, c/o 111 Magdalen Rd, Oxford. Tel: 0865 724452.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 58 12 March 1994, Page 4