Another Black Day for the Nigerian community in Ireland

national | racism & migration related issues | news report Wednesday February 25, 2009 20:13 by Joe Moore - Cork Anti Racism Network mapuche at eircom dot net 087 2994796

At present a number of Nigerian people are being checked onto a chartered flight to Lagos. These are not holiday makers but people who came to this country to seek refugee status. They are now however victims of the racist policies been implemented by the Irish government. The plane is due to leave at 9.30pm.

The immigration police were busy all day. Nigerian people from around the country were taken into custody in their local garda stations, and then bussed directly to Dublin airport. Amongst those arrested were at least two elderly women and a married man whose wife and three children have been left behind.
This is the second mass deportation to Lagos in the last two months. On December 11th, 56 men, women and children were deported. All this is taking place at a time of savage cut backs in the public service. While there is not enough money to keep hospital wards open, there is no shortage for deportations. This is evidence, if it were needed, of the racist nature of the Irish state.

The Cork Anti Racism Network has recently launched a civil rights campaign for asylum seekers, with four demands,
1. The right to work.
2. The right to third level education.
3. The closure of all deportation centres.
4. No deportations.

This campaign needs the support of all anti racists throughout the state.