Two of the hunger strikers held at Campsfield have been released.
Sita Kamara was released from the beehive detention centre on March 11 after four weeks on hunger strike.
On March 24 Anne-Marie Saman, also from the Ivory Coast, was released from Oxford's Churchill Hospital, where she had been moved in her sixth week of hunger strike - five days after her appeal had been turned down. The British government turned down 100 per cent of asylum applications from Ivorian refugees in 1994.
Although both women have gained only "temporary admission status" theirs is a huge success. The Ivory Relief Action Group celebrated at a meeting of over 200 Ivorian refugees and supporters at Lambeth Town Hall. The dislaboration of the British and French governments with arms exporters and big business in keeping the Ivory Coast dictatorship in place.
There is an increase in racism in the press and among political parties. Charles Waddle's resignation has set the tone. Jack Straw feels free to talk about "innumerable immigrants".
Mike Rahman of the National Union of Refugee Organisations predicts mass deportations of refugees and -so-called - illegal immigrants.
These moves can be stopped.
Local Labour Parties must vociferously reject Jack Straw's twisted version of reality. We must also step up campaigning and our direct material support for detainees - visits, phonecards, personal necessities etc.
The Haslar Stop the Detentions Campaign has backed calls for a National Day of Action at all detention centres and prisons holding immigration detainees on Saturday June 24. Phone 0705 832260 for details. cussion addressed the col-.. • The Campaign To Close Campsfield can be contacted at: 111 Magdalen Road. Oxford. Phone: 01865 724452; 01865 726804.