CALAIS-ING IT BARE

Throughout the last week French police have continued with their brutal eviction of migrant squats and camps in Calais. A deportation charter destined for Kabul had been scheduled for Tuesday (6th) but was cancelled following outcry from migrant groups.

After police had broken up the Hunger Strike being staged by migrants (see SchNEWS 693), chasing the participants away, news came that the charter flight had been cancelled due to “Diplomatic difficulties”. It later emerged that the French government had pulled out on the joint British and French flight. The flight had been fiercely and loudly opposed by a coalition of 32 refugee, human rights and migrant support groups. The British flight went ahead and 25 Afghans were deported to Kabul.

The next day police evicted the migrant camp at the Calais docks, arresting 55. They then fenced off the area to prevent anyone returning.

On Thursday, more than 15 CRS vans surrounded a number of migrant squats. Police moved in, arresting over 30 migrants. Migrants personal belongings were dumped into containers before tractors razed the homes, shredding sleeping bags, mattresses and clothes.

This side of the channel, the British government have also stepped up immigration control as work continues to ensure more cells are made available in a new deportation centre. The 245 ‘guest’ rooms of an Arora hotel near Heathrow are currently being converted into prison cells to swell the number of existing places available at nearby Tinsley House and Brook House. No Borders activists staged a demo outside the proposed building on Tuesday (6th).

Word on the SchNEWSvine is that a weekend of action by international solidarity groups against continued police harassment is planned for the weekend of 16-18th. Contact your local No Borders group for more information on getting involved in the uprising anticipated in Calais over the next few weeks.

* See www.noborders.org.uk