Printed by Tridant Press, Edenbridge. Published by Idolrare Ltd, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. Copyright ° 1994 TWO HUNDRED police in full riot gear were sent into Campsfield immigration prison on the evening of June 5 to beat up detainees with batons and shields.
For one hour after the police had invaded the prison, protesters outside the gates heard screams from inside.
The Home Office claims that only four people were injured in the attack, but independent witnesses saw at least seven ambulances leaving the prison.
Detainees claim that many beatings to the head and limbs were dished out, and that security cameras were turned away while beatings took place. The prison did not become silent until 3.30am.
Witnesses also claim that in desperation a detainee jumped head-first off a roof, sustained serious head injuries and is now in a coma.
The following day all detainees were confined to their rooms and did not receive food until 6pm.
The police attack followed a day of disturbances in the prison, after a successful "Close Down Campsfield" demonstration on June 4. Earlier this year 150 refugees were on hunger strike for weeks, demanding the right to be released while their appeals to be granted asylum were heard.
A week before the Campsfield disturbances, a Ghanian woman was removed from the prison, gagged and bound hand and foot. She is now in psychiatric hospital care.
On June 5, the day of the police action, Ali Tamarat was removed without warning or justification for summary deportation to Algeria.
Earlier this year he had been released after his hunger strike, but re-arrested after speaking to the press. Last year detainee Riad Kissaoui was deported to Algeria, and then tortured and murdered by the army.
16 month wait A secret Home Office document published in the Guardian on July 4 shows that on average asylum seekers wait 16 months to have their cases heard. Hundreds of new places are being created at prisons for asylum and immigration prisoners.
Campsfield and the other immigration prisons are a human rights outrage. Join the fight to close down Campsfield! JOIN the next demonstration outside CAMPSFIELD! Campsfield immigration prison, Langford Lane, Kidlington, near Oxford. Phone your greetings to the Human Rights Camp outside the gates, on 0374 946031.
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