Stella Pearson On January 24, Robratas Grabys, a 49 year old Lithuanian asylum seeker, was found hanged at Harmondsworth Detention Campaigners against Britain's racist asylum and was no coincidence that the Home Office had attempted to deport him two days His death was only publicised by a press release from the National Coalition The Home Office boasted that it was the first death in a detention centre for 10 neglecting to mention the deaths and suicide attempts of asylum seekers that have taken place in prisons and homes in that Just days before Robratas died, three detained Roma assum seekers attempted suicide together by drinking was ill In January 1999, Dorcas Wanjira arrived in the UK, analied for asvium on land ing and was put in detention. After 9 months, she 1993 drank a bottle of bleach and was imprisoned in Holloway - she nas since been deported Kolawole Anthony Ola from Nigeria was arrested on a criminal charge and sent to Belmarsh. Af the trial he was completel exonerated. but was kept in Belmarsh awaiting deportation, where he tried to hand himsell. He too has now been deported Kimpua Nsimba from Zaire committed suicide in Harmondsworth Detention Jamaica Centre in June 1990 James Segawa was HIV+ asylum seeker, committed Lin Yan-Guang, a Chinese and died in Belmarsh in suicide in December 1998 August 1992, where offi- All these people were cials refused to believe he remembered at a vigil out.
side the Home Office. Turan Pekoz committed organised by the Coalition suicide by immolation in for Asylum and immigration Quest House Immigration Rights (CAIR), a joint venCentre, Croydon, in March ture by the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Joy Gardner died as a Campaigns (NCADC) and result of asphyxiation by the the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR). Metropolitan Police, at People from all around the home in Horsey. North world faxed protest letters to the Home Office in response Kwanele Siziba, Joseph to Robratas' death, and the cruel, inhumane detention Begum all died by falling policy which brought it from their balconies feeing about.
For more information, immigrauon omels Herbert Gabbidon died in the custody of the Walsall [email protected] Police while they were trying unlawfully". So they are defined as non-persons and outside of the law. Immigration Officers regularly describe Third World "illegals" - with no Identity other than being levoid of status in the UK. Those who lose their claim for asylum become "Bogus".
All these definitions are used to criminalise people.
The Media On Saturday February 26 2000 1he limes rena story under the headline Refugees flock to Germany and Britain" written Correspondent. The story. about Home Office figures released the day before, was that Kniki ines nor asylum seekers than any other country in Europe bar
Outlook The London (LSA) is potentially the most interesting development on the left in Britain since the formation of the Scottish Socialist Party. ALAN THORNETT looks at the issues involved and the role of the Socialist Workers Party.
in the past many socialists have been put off long term involvement in organised politics by the divisive sectari. something for which all far-left currents bear a degree of responsibility That is why the remarkable 'RI unity waice nas accioped in the LSA seems like - Which way jump?
PRIVATISATION
CAPT CAPITALISMY will the SWP PRIVATISATION AS E • PRIVATISATION particular responsibility not dominate taings impose their own culture as And the changes need to go further. The LSA needs let its hair down a bit. It needs to be open and pluralistic and seen to be so. We create a democratic forum for discussion, whilst having an open door to new people and new ideas and even new The big unanswered question is where is all of this leading. What, for example, will happen to the London Socialist Alliance atter the It is clear that some of the CaCC this as the start of a longer term process; but the SWP not yet made up in mind.
We hope they will come down in favour of continuing to work with the rest of the left in this new way and there are positive signs. Certainly they seem to have decided that they continued relationship with LSA supporters after May.