One of the forms of direct action that was much discussed at the Barbed Wire Europe conference in Oxford was the increasing number of actions being taken at airports to prevent deportations. VERONICA FAGAN looks at the campaign to prevent the deportation of Amanj Gafor and the plans to widen these forms of action. SADLY the battle to prevent the deportation ot Amanj Gafor from Britain was not finally sucessful. On August fight. 13 he was removed by boat after a four-and-a-half year struggle, during which he had sought asylum in six EU Lists that Countries Nevertheless many milestones were passed in this fight. During his seven month campaign to stay in Britain, activists stopped two ers. removal attempts by British Airways and one by Lufthansa.
A sea blockade was also rather planned but, in the end, Amanj made the decision to go - a decision that was reluc- On une tantly respected by his supporters. He had been ground down by his wholesale rejection in Fortress Europe.
He is now being held in a refugee camp Germany, Airways awaiting removal to IraqiKurdistan, from wnere ne fled for his life in 1996. An OODOSIDORISI Saddam's take off. regime, he had refused conscription into the army.
The day before his removal from the UK, Amani said "I will not beg those who do passenger not want me anymore, the flight solicitors, the governments. I know it is not people's wish, but now I want go back and "I leave behind me a new-found family in the UK - Commi nicotion those who came to visit me in solicitor. detention, the trade unionadopted me, the many supporters that I will Detention Centre. never know, the protesters who faced police lines and initially in the courts for myself and othabout the "Now, I prefer to fight, and pay the price of death for my beliefs, in Iraq, and to stand with such activities. proud in the face of tyranny BA are than beg for the from Labour's immigration human rights that Europe policies. But the chosen alterdoesn't offer any more." native, first attempt to better record: they are the remove him by plane, Amanj official German deportation fought until the last moment, transport. struggling physically against Supporters his captors who bound and mobilise people to come to handcuffed him on British the airports to stop Amanj's flight BA4715. deportation but, Amanj's struggle won the Plough action or the police. compassion of the pilot and the action was fragmented. flight crew, who refused to Airport authorities applied obscure 1950s bylaws, Passenger although they were unable to On August 3 the govern- quote which demanded protesters leave ment tried to remove Amanj the airport. secretly. He was booked as a The police acted using the on a Lufthansa from Heathrow same arguments. A photograAirport, but this was can- pher reported a scene where celled, and Amanj was re- 'protesters were booked on a BA flight from dragged away Gatwick, without any prior apparent signs of provocation, television crews were with his blocked by airport staff from being put on the flight and Amanj resisted filming the outrage." When was taken to Tinsley House banners at the British Airways, who were check-in point with slogans charge of the such as "Amanj must stay". "Deportation deportation, were annoyed "Unfasten protest at their Stand up for human rights" check-in desk; they are aware and "Stop these cruel deporof the bad image they create tations", they were asked to remove them immediately. making millions When chanting started they were asked to stop. They did manage to leaflet Lufthansa, has no the passengers them of the kind of action they were planning. On the leaflet passengers managed to were asked to demand the pilot refuse to take off and thereby prevent the deportadue to the tion taking place.
An activist managed to get onto the plane, but didn't act because - obviously and couldn't see Amanj among the passengers.
ones, they The plan was to stand up informing the passengers of what was going on until the pilot decided to take Amanj off the flight. This kind of action was initiated by the being CAGE group, who managed despite no to stop the deportation of the Zairean Salim Rambo. The intervention of the unfolded PCS (the union representing Lufthansa air traffic control workers)
which circulated the campaign's communique through is a crime". its affiliates, was very posiyour seat-belts! tive.
The reaction of the majority of passengers was very supportive. There are will be more possibilities for this kind of action at future deportations.
To send letters or messages informing of support to Amanj in Germany please contact:
AMANG GHAFUR (Ref No: 2543036-438)
LRA Auslanderbehrode Oberestadt 1-84130-Dingolfing Germany national he against airlines who help the UK Government enforce their immigration rules by carrying deportees, is to be launched on October 14th 2000.
British Airwavs are the largest carriers of deportees and make millions out of this legal trafficking'. BA are to be the first target. • If you want to be part of the action, contact National Coalition against Deportation Campaigns, 110 Hamstead Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 2QS, Phone: 0121-554-6947 Fax: 0870-055-4570 E-Mail [email protected].
Outlook