>From: Dave Manneh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Habib an example of Mr Cohen's Groups's work >Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 09:50:58 +0000 > >****************************************************** >Mr Habib, >As it so happens I just got this email this morning, >and I thouht it might help you to better understand >the work done by Mr Cohen's group. > >Regards >Dave >****************************************************** >========================== >National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) >Birmingham >Phone: 0121-554-6947 Fax: 0121-554-7891 >E-mail [log in to unmask] >========================== > >Ireland Calling - Hunger Strikers Need Your Support > >8, Algerian and Nigerian asylum-seekers are refusing food in Mountjoy prison > >Free the Mountjoy Eight! Stop - Stop Criminalising Asylum Seekers! > >Protest >6.30pm, Wednesday March 20th 2002 >Mountjoy Prison >North Circular Road >Dublin 7 >Ireland > >If you can't be there, join the international fax protest, >(model letter at end of message). > >Residents Against Racism (RAR) are urging activists to join an >international day of protest in support of the Mountjoy 8, Algerian >and Nigerian asylum-seekers who are refusing food in Mountjoy prison >Ireland. > >The Mountjoy Eight have been on hunger (and thirst) strike over >the past week, and are being held in the main prison wing, although >they should be held in the training unit as they are only being held >until deportations are implemented. > >Two of the men are Algerian, and the six are Nigerian. Of the >eight, three have Irish-born children who are Irish nationals. > >We would ask that international activists fax the Irish >'Department of Justice' on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 19th and 20th >2002), with a model letter [details of a model letter are provided >below]. > >Although details of the health conditions of asylum-seekers are >sketchy, RAR have contact with Alabi Ayende who was the first of the >asylum-seekers to go on hunger-strike.RAR advised the men to accept >fluids because of the possibilities that a thirst strike would bring >on medical intervention. > >Residents Against Racism will also be holding a picket outside >the Four Courts at 2 p.m on the same day. This is the site of an >important test case where the government is trying to deport >asylum-seekers who are parents of Irish-born citizens. If the >government proves successful in this case, it could pave the way for >a flood of deportations of parents of Irish children. > >Messages of solidarity can be emailed to be read out at the protest: >[log in to unmask]

>

>=======================================================

>Model letter To John O' Donoghue, Minister For Justice, copy, amend,

>write your own.

>Fax no: 00-3531-661-5461

>=======================================================

>

>Department of Justice:

>Minister for Justice

>John O' Donoghue

>72-76 St Stephen's Green

>Dublin 2

>Ireland

>

>Dear Mr. O' Donoghue,

>

>You are no doubt aware of the case of 8 asylum seekers,

>currently on hunger-strike in the main wing of Mountjoy prison. The

>eight men have variously been on hunger/thirst strike since March

>11th, 2002. According to the governor, two of the men are now in the

>medical wing where their lives are showing cause for concern. The

>rest of them are being monitored on a daily basis by medical staff.

>Alabi Ayende, the first of the Nigerians to go on hunger-strike, has

>told Residents Against Racism, that he is prepared to die in an Irish

>prison rather than be separated from his wife and Irish-born child.

>

>I believe that this hunger-strike can be directly attributed to

>the criminalisation of asylum-seekers under your Department's regime.

>These men have been forced to take this action because your

>Government chooses to house them in the main prison unit in Mountjoy,

>without any of the privileges afforded to innocent and vulnerable

>deportees.

>

>No doubt you are also aware of the fact that three of the men

>have Irish-born children and as such, should not be up for

>deportation as they are parents to Irish-born children, who are Irish

>citizens. The rights of parents of Irish citizens are, of course,

>laid down under the Irish constitution. Given that it requires a

>constitutional referendum to change this fact, you should not be

>trying to deport these men.

>

>I would demand that you take urgent action to a) ensure that the

>hunger-strike is ended peacefully and with the dignity and health of

>the Mountjoy 8 intact. The hunger-strikers are demanding that they be

>moved to the training unit and given privileges and rights afforded

>innocent human beings.

>

>Second, I would ask that the deportation orders be revoked as

>these men all come from Nigeria and Algeria, countries with appalling

>human rights records that are internationally documented.

>

>Thirdly, I would respectfully demand that you take ownership of

>the asylum issue in Ireland and your responsibilities under the UN

>Charter of Human Rights.

>

>Don't Make Orphans out of Alabi's Children!

>

>Don't let Alabi and his fellow Hunger-Strikers Die!

>

>Yours Sincerely,

>

>Name:

>

>Address:

>

>Country:

>

>=========================

>Please email a copy of anything sent to:

>

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